"How could you? How can you humiliate your own family like this?!" Maharani Mridulata shouted at Rajkumar Kashyap.

He stood with his head lowered. Maharaj Vriddhakshatra was standing with his back turned to him. Rajmata Vilasvati seemed equally angry. His brothers were present too.

"Mata, I didn't know. I only realized later that the marriage proposal for Rajkumari has come from Amvasthapuram." Rajkumar Kashyap replied with guilt.

"How can you not realize?! That's absurd! You've made us a laughing stock!" Rajmata said harshly.

"This cannot be forgiven Kashyap. You have tainted the name of Amvasthapuram and me. You'll have to accept the punishment now." Maharaj Vriddhakshatra said. The gravity behind those words sent chill through the occupants of the room.

"I, the king of Amvasthapuram, exile you from this kingdom!

Since this moment onwards, you will no longer be associated with the royal family of Amvasthapuram. Neither you nor anyone from this family will keep any relation or contact with each other."
Maharaj Vriddhakshatra declared impassively.

"Maharaj!"

"Pitashree, he indeed has made a mistake. But---"

"I have already decided. And my decision can never be changed. Whoever has a problem with it, can leave with him too."

***

Rajkumari Viswa waited outside the palace of Amvasthapuram. She had not been welcomed inside. Her insides churned with a foreboding feeling. What was happening? This wasn't supposed to happen, was it? She had secretly loved Rajkumar Kashyap since a long time. When the marriage proposal for her came from Amvasthapuram, she first assumed it to be for Rajkumar Kashyap only. So, she had said yes without knowing the groom was not him, but his elder brother. When she realized what she had done, she hid the truth from Rajkumar Kashyap and asked him to kidnap her.

She knew she should not have done so. But the fear of losing him and marrying someone else made her forget right from wrong. Now, as she waited for him outside the palace anxiously, she realized she should not have lied to him. As her anxiousness was increasing with time, she noticed Rajkumar Kashyap coming outside with a forlorn expression on his face.

"Arya?" She called him questioningly to know what happened.

"Pitashree ne mera tyag kar diya hai Viswa.
(My father has abandoned me, Viswa.)"

He told her about the decision Maharaj Vriddhakshatra had taken. After hearing everything Rajkumari Viswa felt disheartened. Because of her only, he got exiled from his kingdom.

"Mujhe shama kar dijiyega Arya. Mere karan hi aapko itna kathin dand mila.
(Forgive me, Arya. Because of me, you're punished so harshly.)"
Rajkumari Viswa said in a voice heavy with guilt.

"Isme tumhara dosh nehi hai Viswa. Mujhe kebal aapne karm ka hi fal mil raha hai. Tum swayam ko aapradhi maat samjho. Balki dukh to mujhe iss baat ki hai ki main tumhe Amvasthapuram mein woh samman nehi dilwa paya jiska aaswasan meine tumhe diya tha.

(It is not your fault, Viswa. I am only punished for my own deeds. Don't think yourself as the guilty one. In fact, I am regretting that I couldn't give you the respect in Amvasthapuram that I promised to you.)"
Rajkumar Kashyap replied with sorrow.

"Nehi Arya. Aap aisa maat kahiye. Mere liye aapka saath hi sarbopari hai.
(No, Arya. Don't say that. You being with me is all I want.)"
She replied with a beautiful smile.

The two of them changed their attire. Removing the expensive royal clothes and jewels, they wore the simple faded orange colored clothes. The exiled prince took nothing with him. Where he had been deprived of his father's blessings, there was no meaning of taking any material things with him. Rajkumari Viswa even in this simple clothes with no adornment looked no less regal. Manohara smiled at her husband softly before they took the road to leave Amvasthapuram. As they were leaving, Rajkumar Kashyap noticed a commotion. After a few moments he understood, his brother Rajkumar Somesh had just returned from Haraka. From the whispers going around he understood that his brother had returned with his bride, Rajkumari Yamini.

"Arya? Isn't that your elder brother?"

"Yes. Let's go. He must not see us. Pitashree has forbidden me to make any contact with anyone in the royal family."

Viswa nodded at him and the two of them passed by their troupe silently.

Irony it was!

The moment Rajkumari Viswa left Amvasthapuram barefoot, in that exact moment Rajkumari Yamini entered the city on her palanquin.

***

After a few weeks....

Raani Rudrani sat on the floor clutching the little angavastra (upper garment) of her son. Her loud sobs echoed through the otherwise silent chamber. Was there going to be an end to this suffering ever? Could a mother ever overcome the sorrow of losing her son? Fresh tears spilled from her eyes as a loud scream escaped from her throat.

Rajkumar Jayaditya entered the room silently with a gloomy expression. His feet seemed too heavy to carry his burden. The painful screams of his wife reached his ears. But he was unable to muster the courage to console her. How could he when he was the reason behind her pain only?

As he got neared to her slowly, his long shadow covered her petty frame in darkness. Just like his presence in her life had darkened her soul. Rudrani's sobs subsided but her tears didn't stop. She looked over at the man standing in front of her with guilt and helplessness evident in his face.

"How could you?! How could you do that?!" Rudrani shouted at him with all the anger and frustration she felt at that moment. Jayaditya remained silent. There was no answer that could justify his actions, so he didn't try either. He reflected on the events again questioning himself if it could have been avoided at all.

This morning he had gone to the riverbank for Surya arghya (worshipping of sun). The calm and cold water of Mata Shubra (Ganga) flowed gently. As he finished his prayers, he found an old woman standing afar and staring at him.

"Aap yeaha aakeli kya kar rahi hai, Kaki?
(What are you doing here alone, Kaki?)" He asked to the woman, approaching her.

"Aapka hi pratiksha kar rahi thi Rajkumar.
(I was waiting for you only, Rajkumar.)" The woman replied with a smile.

"For me?" Jayaditya frowned a little.

"Haan. Maine suna hai ki Suryadev ki archana ke paschat aap manchaha daan dete hain?
(Yes. I heard you give whatever donation one asks for after praying to Suryadev?)" The woman said questioningly.

"Jii, ye satya hai. Aapko bhi daan cahiye?
(Yes, it's true. Do you want donation too?)" He confirmed with a smile.

"Haan, Rajkumar. Kintu mujhe vay hai, ki jo main mangu, aap yo dene mai asamarth honge.
(Yes, putra. But I am afraid what I ask for will be too much for you.)" The woman replied with doubt coloring her voice.

"Aisa nehi hoga. Aapko jo cahiye nissankoch ho kar kahiye.
(It won't. Ask whatever you want without hesitation.)" Jayaditya said after giving a short laugh. ,He might have a few shortcomings. But being a miser wasn't one of them.

"Aap nischit hain na Rajkumar?
(Are you sure, Rajkumar?)" The woman asked again, still in doubt.
"Kya aap bachan dete hain, jo main mangungi aap denge?
(Do you promise to give me whatever I ask for?)"

"Bachan ki koyi aabasakta hi nehi Kaki. Aapko jo cahiye, aap keh sakti hain. Kintu pherbhi aapki santusti ke liye, main bachan deta hu, ki aapko nirash nehi hona parega.
(There's no need for a promise Kaki. Ask whatever you want. But still for your satisfaction, I promise, you won't face disappointment.)"
He replied.

"Barsho purb, maine aapne putra ko kho diya kuch karanbash. Mere paas aabasakta ki haar bastu hai Rajkumar, kebal ek Putra ki atirikt. Ek Putra jo mere cita ko mukhagni de, mera pind daan kare, mujhe moksh pradan kare.
Baas ek Putra ka hi aavhab hai mujhe. Kya aap mujhe daan mei aapka Putra pradan karenge Rajkumar?

(Years ago, I lost my son due to some unavoidable circumstances. I have everything I need Rajkumar, except for a son. A son who will give fire to my deceased body, will complete the rituals of my funeral, will do the pind daan (offering homage to the departed soul) and release my soul from this world. I only need a son. Will you give me your son as daan, Rajkumar?)"

"My son?!" Jayaditya's face froze in shock hearing her demand.

"Haan Rajkumar. Aapka Putra. Aap to Putra pherse prapt kar lenge. Kintu yeadhi aap mujhe aapna Putra daan karenge, toh mujhe aapne jeevhan ke iss antim prahar mei ek sahara mil jayega. Denge aap mujhe aapna Putra daan mei?
(Yes, Rajkumar. Your son! You can attain sons again. But if you give your son to me as a donation, I will have an anchor at this last stage of my life. Will you give me your son in donation?)"

"How could you give my son in donation?!" Rudrani shouted again, standing to face him.
"Who gave you the right to do so?! Who?!"

"Rudrani, listen to me." Jayaditya tried to gently hold her arms, but Rudrani jerked away from him.

"You have no right to do so! He is my son! I am his mother! My right on him comes before you! Then how can you give him away without my permission?!" She asked being furious.

"Rudrani, I was helpless!"

"No! You were not! You betrayed me today! You snatched my son from me!" Rudrani said as the unstoppable force of emptiness surrounded her.

"You're right. I have wronged you. But I can do nothing except apologizing now." Jayaditya said, lowering his head.

"I don't want your apology! I want my son!" Rudrani's anger only increased by his words.

"I am sorry." Jayaditya whispered helplessly.

"Your sorry won't heal the wound you've given me today, Arya. It won't!" Rudrani replied shaking her head in disappointment.

She fell down on her knees from the force of her sobs again. Rajkumar Jayaditya could do nothing except watch her while a lone tear escaped his eyes too.

"I will leave Amvasthapuram tomorrow." Raani Rudrani declared after composing herself.

"Rudrani!" Jayaditya stared at her determined face in surprise.

"I cannot remain here with you anymore. I will leave and I will not return until my son returns to me."

"You can't ---"

"This is my vow, Arya. You took away my son from me. Now I am snatching myself from you. I will not return to you until I get my son back."

After telling him about her decision, Rudrani left him alone there as Jayaditya kept staring at the empty room representing the hollowness he felt inside.

***

***

Welcome to a new Mahabharat!

I hope you're getting it thora thora..

You must have guessed it by now.

Rudraditya is.......... Karna!

Ruko jara, sabr karo! Kavach kundal aa hi raha hai.

And Jayaditya will be the Bhismah of this story.

A married Bhismah! 😅😅😅😁

Rajkumari Viswa and Rajkumari Yamini will be the Gandhari and Kunti.

Ever wondered what would have happened if Kauravs were the one born in the forest instead of Pandavas?

Well.... let's find out.