Varanavata

"Now you too take leave, Indrasena." Yudhishthira said to his charioteer, "it has been already late. You must have been tired."

The puja Kunti had arranged in Pandu's name had just been concluded with a dinner of hundred Brahmins. The five brothers made sure that all the guests had left the palace. There was no one except Purochana himself, and their personal attendants.

"As you wish, Yuvaraj!" Indrasena bowed to Yudhishthira and turned to leave. Something churned in the Crown Prince's heart knowing that it was the very last meeting of them.

"Indrasena!" He called. His calm voice had a hint of pain that made Indrasena turn around and look at him.

"Yes, Yuvaraj?"

Yudhishthira searched for words for a while. Then decided and said, "I want to give you something, my friend! Tell me what you want."

"Give me only this promise that I shall never be deprived from the good fortune of serving you, my Prince! I do not want anything else!"

Yudhishthira's eyes were moist. So loyal, so loving he was to his master! What would his reaction be tomorrow morning? How much hurt Indrasena would have to suffer because of him!

"Who will be where for how long that is in God's hand, Indrasena!" Yudhishthira was grave, "Whatever God does is for our good only. Maybe you will get a far better master in future!"

"Why are you saying thus, Yuvaraj?" Indrasena was surprised. He knew his master too well and he did sense something that was bothering Yudhishthira but he could not express.

"Nothing. Leave it! Take care of yourself!" Hiding a sigh, Yudhishthira managed to smile. He removed a golden ring from his finger and placed it on Indrasena's palm.

"Keep this with you. This will make you feel that I'm always with you." He said, keeping an arm on Indrasena's shoulder.

"Go and take rest now." He added.

Indrasena did not feel any good from what his master said. But he was too loyal to pressurize him for opening up. Bowing to Yudhishthira, he left silently. Seeing him going, the heavy sigh escaped Yudhishthira's heart that he had suppressed for so long.

Farewell, my loyal friend! I would never forget your love!

He looked up to the sky, searching for the moon. Sky was heavily clouded since today morning. Due to storms that were blowing from time to time, even the stars were not visible, leave alone moon. As if Chandra Deva himself had covered his face in shame, seeing one descendant of his clan trying to murder the others!

His heart was squeezed in intolerable anguish, remembering a certain face that he could not even see in the moon. He had taken farewell from everyone but not from her! His last bonding, his dearest attachment was not yet taken leave of! He knew it was not even possible to send a message to her, avoiding Purochana's eyes.

What would happen to that soft-hearted Princess when she would hear that he was no more? Tears welled up in his eyes but he forced to send them back as Kunti's call reached his ear.

"Putra Yudhishthira! Do not waste more time!"

"Yes, Maa!" He managed to utter.

After tonight, nothing would remain the same. The Yuvaraj of Hastinapura would die. The beloved of Princess Devika Gouvasani would die. The one who would remain would be a living corpse of him.

Was this what Krishna wanted? Why did He let them meet then in the first place?

"Jyeshtha, where are you lost?" Bhima shook him, "we have to make hurry!"

Yudhishthira slowly goaded back to his senses and nodded. The tunnel was opened. The youngest twins were sent inside the underground passage first. Then the elder three helped Kunti to descend down.

"You and Arjuna too escape, Jyeshtha. I will put fire and run to you." Bhima said.

"Carefully!" Yudhishthira told him, and let Arjuna enter first before doing that himself. The moment he found himself under the Earth's surface his heart felt a pang of grief again.

Like each step of his was taking him away from her! Like he was betraying her love, her trust on him!

"Forgive me, Rajkumari! And forget that I have ever existed!" He closed his eyes once and muttered to himself.

The four brothers came out of the underground passage along with Kunti. As soon as they stood outside the palace of death, they saw it on fire. Bhima had begun his work. The inflammable materials caught the flames faster than they could think. Yudhishthira's heart was beating faster in worry for Bhima who was still inside.

The fire had moved from one end to other within a while. What was Bhima doing for this long? Yudhishthira's impatient eyes moved repeatedly to the end of tunnel. Soon Bhima came out of it, making him sigh in relief.

"Let us go from here soon!" Bhima whispered, "we need to cross as much distance as we can before the daybreak!"

Yudhishthira silently nodded. His brothers had already taken turn to move ahead with their mother. Before joining them, Yudhishthira paused for a while. To look back at the burning palace for one last time.

Within that unkind heat of fire, he knew it was his previous life, previous identity that was burning into ashes. With them was burning his first love that had not even been blessed by a sacred unison!

Farewell, Love! For the last time, farewell!

Within that darkness, his tears flowed silently.

***

Their journey had begun.

Princes they were, Queen she was. How difficult it was for them to walk through that thorny path, in such a darkness that even stars were not seen? Time and again they got stumbled over the stones, not seeing anything in their path. The stormy weather had added to their difficulty. Still they kept walking, for there was no other way to survive!

Kunti was having the maximum trouble in walking. The youngest twins too were no less tired. Yudhishthira silently looked at Bhima, wondering what to do in this situation.

Bhima thought a little, and then took Kunti on his shoulder and both the twins on his arms. Carrying all the three together, he started walking again. Yudhishthira's lips curved into a proud smile. Who would not feel proud of having such a brother like Bhima?

They continued walking and reached the bank of Ganga. Night fell darker. No boatman was expected to wait there for passengers at this time. Six people stood helpless for a while, not knowing how to cross the river.

"Wait, let me check how deep the water is." Yudhishthira stepped forward.

"Pranam Yuvaraj!"

Yudhishthira spun round in sheer shock. Who was following them? Could he be any spy of Duryodhana?

The man came in front of them. In the light of flambeau that he was carrying, Yudhishthira saw a face that was unknown to him.

"Who are you?" He asked, holding his breath.

"I am a boatman, Yuvaraj! Mahamantri Vidura has sent me to take you across Ganga."

"Can you prove your claim?" Yudhishthira asked again.

"I can. He has told me this, The drier of dew and the consumer of straws cannot harm them who know the secret way of a hole."

Yudhishthira sighed in relief. Drier of dew and consumer of straws, both indicated to fire.

"We have no words to express our gratitude to Uncle Vidura for what he has done to save us!" He commented.

"Let us start our journey soon, Yuvaraj! I have been instructed to take you to the opposite bank before sunrise." The boatman said humbly.

Realizing the need of what he had said, they nodded and rode on the boat immediately.

The boatman started rowing. Yudhishthira still gazed at the bank from which they were sailing. Hastinapura, his father's land was gradually going far from him. He was going away from the memories of his father, and his lady love too.

Little did he know that she too was away from her homeland at the same time! Only that she was on her way to Dwaraka, while he did not even know what awaited him in the dense forest they were going to enter on the opposite bank of Ganga!