Who is this person?

The one question running in the minds of Aditi and Subhadra. Seeing their confused face Arjun came to their rescue "This is Bhrata Yuyutsu, son of Maharaj Dhrithrastra".

"Pranipat Rajkumari Subhadra and Rajkumari Aditi." he wished them. "Pranipat Rajkumar" greeted Subhadra, he wasn't so comfortable in being called rajkumar, but accepted the greeting anyway. "Pranipat Bhratashree" wished Aditi. Yuyutsu was beyond shocked, "Bhratashree?" he questioned Aditi. "Yes, when you are bhrata to the Pandavas, then you are a bhrata to me too." she smiled. The Pandavas and Kunti were happy seeing this, for them Yuyutsu was not less than any of the Kauravas, he was part of the family, but not everyone thought that.

Soon they all start talking and the time just flew away, everyone realized the time when Bheem's stomach growled, indicating it's time for dinner. "Mata, this is the first time bhrata hasn't eaten any snacks in between lunch and dinner, it's a mirracle, we should all remember this day" teased Nakul, the younger ones laughed out while Kunti and Yudhishtir hid their smiles. "Nakul!!!" Bheem shouted and held him by his neck, while others laughed, Yudhishtir ordered Bheem to leave Nakul. After dinner, they went back to the banters and soon slept off.

The next day after the morning prayers, everyone along with Yuyutsu were present in the Pandavas chambers. Subhadra said that she promised Dusshala to go out with her to the market and the absence of her is felt by a certain prince. And the two pranksters there didn't miss how his face fell when he got to know that Subhadra wouldn't be there with them today.

"Mitr Nakul, today Subhadra jiji isn't with us, but looks like she took someone else's heart with her, cause I can see a certain person present here, but his heart seems to be lost somewhere" stated Aditi. "Haa sakhi, the person who is always ready to talk in front of Rajkumari Subhadra, is silent in front of us, I guess he is not interested in talking with us" Nakul continued the teasing while Arjun's face became red on listening to them. "Don't know about talking, but I'm very much interested in kicking you right now Nakul" mumbled Arjun, too embarassed at being teased in front of his elder brothers and mata. "Did you say something bhrata? I couldn't hear you, the blush on your face is too distracting" laughed Nakul. "Yes bhrata, just look how red your face is, mata look at bhrata Arjun". "I am looking at him putri, I thought white suits my son the most, but now I feel red is more cute on him". "Mata!!! You too" pouted Arjun.

As everyone was laughing at Arjun's expense, a dasi came to inform that all the royals of Hastinapur are called to the Royal Court. Since Aditi is a princess of Saurashta, she isn't allowed and leaving her alone wasn't something the Pandavas wanted to do. Looking at them Yuyutsu said "It's ok, I'll stay with her, until you guys return, she is my responsibility". With a relieved smile the Pandavas along with Mata Kunti left for the court.

Aditi is very much confused by now, why isn't Yuyutsu going to the court? He's a rajkumar, he has been summoned, yet he's staying back. With curiosity she asked him "Bhrata, shouldn't you be attending the court too. The whole royal family has been summoned". Yuyutsu didn't understand what to say, he obviously couldn't say anything against his family, what if he told the truth, will she judge his family? He's in a dilemma, observing this Aditi immediately said "It's ok bhrata, if you don't want to say anything, I won't force you".

Seeing her Yuyutsu remembered the lesson he learnt from bhrata Yudhishtir, 'Even if your life depends on it, never lie. Always state the truth and follow dharma.', and isn't hiding things from Aditi in a way lying to her. "It's ok Aditi, the truth is I am not considered as a part of this family, I'm not considered as Dhritharastra putr, as I'm always a Dasi putr to almost everyone. Only Pitamah Bheeshma, Kakashree Vidur, Mata Gandhari, Mata Kunti and the Pandavas consider me as a part of this family" he sighed. He might not show it, but he does miss something. He never wanted the power of being a prince, all he wanted was the love of his family. He remembered his childhood, when his father used to feed Duryodhan and others with his own hands, and whenever he wanted to go, his mother used to stop him. The tears on missing out on his father's love were soon wiped away as a boy should never show weakness. He still remembered how Pitamaha Bheeshma would always take notice of his sadness and feed him and always tried to include him in everything, even though the others didn't like it. Vikarna was an exception, he followed dharma and respected him as a brother, but he too can't go against their elder brother. Hence he was always lonely, until the Pandavas came along and he found happiness at last. 

 "But you are son of King Dhrithrastra, so how can you be dasi putr, how can a family not love it's own member", the questions of Aditi brought Yuyutsu out of his thoughts. He heard that the rajkumari of Saurashtra is different, and now he can see it. She is too innocent, being brought up in a Palace I guess she doesn't know about different problems people face he thought. "No Aditi, they do love me, I am given the same education as other princes here. There are lot more people who struggle to get education or recognition. But my family has provided me with all the basic things" he tried to justify his families actions, even though he knew Pitamah and Kakashree Vidur made Maharaj agree to send him to gurukul along with others. He knew that he'd never be same as the other princes, but Aditi doesn't need to know that. 

"But in my opinion love is the first thing that a person gets from his family, that is a basic need for every person. Knowledge is important, but without love and support, knowledge is just a tool that can be exploited by others. When you have your family with you, no one can make you do anything wrong, as your family will always bring you onto the right path. But without that, people might take advantage of you, but you might not know and your knowledge is used for doing adharm. So I think there isn't anything above love. Love always frees you from all bondage, it is selfless and is very important in a person's life." said Aditi

Yuyutsu couldn't believe a princess to ever have this kind of ideology, he thought all the princesses love clothes and jewellery and don't care about other things. Just now he thought Aditi might be too naive and ignorant of all the problems faced by common people. But she just left him speechless with her beliefs. Obviously a princess is the future of another kingdom, and he has seen both the Maharanis of Hastinapur handling everything perfectly, it was his mistake to underestimate a princess. "But I believe that love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. It is only what you are expecting to give. And I am ready to give everything for the good of my family." said Yuyutsu. Aditi stayed silent looking at such a selfless person. Not getting a reply from her Yuyutsu looked at her to find tears in her eyes. He immediately panicked thinking of what he might have said wrong "Rajkumari Aditi, I didn't mean to offend you in anyway, forgive me if I said something wrong" he requested folding his hands. 

"No bhratashree, don't ask for forgiveness, you didn't say anything wrong. Seeing your selfless love, I remembered my family." she spoke thinking of her family in swarg. Yuyutsu calmed down knowing the reason "Don't worry Aditi, you will soon go back to Saurashtra, till then spend time with this family, once you go I'm sure all of us will miss you a lot."

Right then a dasi came calling Yuyutsu to the court. He stared at Aditi but she assured him that she can take care of herself and asked him to go. Looking at her one last time he left to the court as she sat thinking of her family in swarg and now in Saurashtra, she is eager to meet them, know what it is like to finally have parents. To have brothers who would do anything for her even before it left her tongue. But how will she help her saviour without staying with him. She came here for him, but she can't stay for long "Hey Keshav, I know it's you who helped me through out my journey on earth. You brought me straight to the house of my saviour, you gave me a family here. Please help me in repaying him back too. How can I repay him without being with him? I have faith on you, I know you'll do some leela. Please always stay with me Keshav" she prayed.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

Meanwhile at the court there was a heated argument going on. It was time to decide who is going to be the Yuvraj. The Kauravas were sure their brother Duryodhan would become the next king of Hastinapur, though Shakuni was sure his nephew would be the yuvraj, he's still wary that Bheeshma and Vidur would do something to change the decision of Maharaj Dhrithrastr. He always despised the Pandavas, they have always been thorns in his side, they always disrupt his plans and even Bheeshma and Vidur always support them, with them here, he should be careful, use all his wit to defend his nephew's rights. He gritted his teeth watching the Pandavas but faked a smiled when Yudhishtir looked at him. 

Just as the King took his seat in the royal court, Vidur started addressing the court. All the Kauravas had broad smiles on their face, ready to cheer for their brother. Duryodhan is beaming, no one can stop him from being the king. That is when Vidur asked Bheeshma to give his blessings to the princes.

Mahamahim Bheeshma stood up and looked at everyone in the court before he started recollecting few memories of the past. He remembered the trust and love between the brothers Dhrithrastr, Pandu and Vidur. The times when they used to sit and learn from him. The time when Pandu and Vidur climbed onto the highest branch of a tree, give a call to their brother and jump off the tree to be caught by Dhrithrastr. On being told that they might get hurt, as Dhrithrastr can't see them, they answered that their brother doesn't need eyes to see them, the love for them in his heart is enough and they will always trust their elder brother blindly. Everyone present there had tears in their eyes, even the Kauravas, who remembered their childhood, before the Pandavas came into their life, how they played together. Shakuni was the only one annoyed and worried that these stories from the past would make the king emotional and melt his resolve of making Duryodhan the Yuvraj.

 Finally Mahamahim requests Dhrithrastr to honour the trust his brothers put in him and take a fair decision that is for the good of Hastinapur. As he sits down, Vidur asks Dhrithrastr to make the announcement. 

As the king of Hastinapur, Maharaj Dhrithrastr stands up, all that is running in his mind are the memories of his late brother Pandu, though he was angry that his right of being a king has been snatched away from him and given to his younger brother, he never hated him, he loved his brother more than anything, both his brothers were like his two eyes, even without sight he can see the whole world through them. He was happy to be the king, but he never wanted the death of his brother. Remembering all the times, he started speaking "I always want what is best for this kingdom, I would only select the most eligible prince as the Yuvraj. But now I am in a dilemma, the competition I conducted for deciding the Yuvaraj was also fruitless. Now the decision is difficult to make, what Mahamahim said is appropriate. Hence as a righteous king, I will follow dharma and will make a correct decision".

Everyone is eagerly waiting to hear the name their Maharaj will take. Suppressing all his emotions Dhrithrastr started "I Samrat Dhrithrastr announce that the Yuvraj of Hastinapur would be____________"

Before he could reveal the name a voice interrupts him, "May god bless the king of Kuru kingdom".

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I know all of you might have forgotten my book totally, but exams and works have been keeping me busy. ☹️😢

I just got free for a few days, and I'll do my best to update as many chapters as I can. ♥️😊

Do vote and comment. As always, I'd love to know your opinion.

Have a nice day!!!

Love

--  Ashwini ★