Shivi

Devika woke up sweating even in this cold of month Pausha. Her sleep had not been peaceful since a couple of days. The spies of Shivi had brought nothing new from Kampilya yet. Devika was aware of the huge distance between the two kingdoms that would make a message reach late here. Her restlessness was at its peak, knowing that even if Yudhishthira was in some trouble, she was not even going to know that any soon.

Absent-minded, she rose from her ornate bed and picked up a fresh uttariya to wrap around herself, not even noticing which colour it was. Her long tresses fell under her knees. Quickly pulling them into a messy bun, Devika stepped ahead.

"Rajkumari!" Her sairindhri called out. "Your braid... I have strung this garland of your favourite jasmine..."

"Not feeling like, Sairindhri!" Devika shook her head and left. There was a noise outside her chamber. A chorus of several female voices that drew her attention.

"By Rudra, how did this happen?" Devika heard one of her maids scream.

"Hey Narayana! I can't even believe this!" Said another one, slapping her forehead. Devika frowned at their over dramatic way of chattering. Seemed like they had assembled here to gossip about something. Knowing her maids well, Devika knew that it had nothing to do with anything important but only unnecessary criticism.

"Would anybody tell me what's going on here?" The Princess asked with a calculated measure of displeasure in her usually calm voice. Her grave presence was enough to break the assembly. The maids bit their tongues for talking so loudly near the Princess's bed chamber. Soon they went back to their respective works.

Devika's eyes searched for Ratnavali as she walked along the long corridor that extended her bed chamber. It was quite unusual that her dear Sakhi had not been there for her at this time. Devika remembered that she had instructed Ratnavali to gather news from the spies as soon as they returned. Was it then...

"Hail the Princess!"

Devika looked in front. Prabhudutta, the chief spy of Shivi was bowing to her.

"What's the news from Panchala?" Devika anxiously asked. Prabhudutta's facial expressions spoke of something exciting.

"Rajkumari, the Pandavas are alive!" He gasped in excitement.

Devika exhaled, thanking all Gods under her breath. So they had finally revealed their identity in public!

"What? How could it be..." Devika struggled to do a perfect acting of being surprised. "How did you know that?"

"I'm telling the truth only, my Princess!" The spy nodded with an emphasis. "The Brahmin family who has won the swayamvara, have introduced themselves as the sons of Pandu to King Drupada. And the Lord of Panchala has accepted this marital alliance with them."

Devika nodded, trying her best to hide a smile. Must be Bhrata Krishna's plan! And it was strategically correct too. A heavy burden left her bosom. At last, the Pandavas were safe!

"Is Dwarakadheesh still present there?" Devika enquired.

"He is, Rajkumari. He himself has performed the role of grooms' brother and guardian in the wedding of Panchala Princess with the five Pandavas."

What!

"Wait! Whom did the Princess marry? Isn't it Arjuna?" Sweat broke on Devika's even forehead.

"No, my princess. Rajkumari Draupadi has married all the five brothers."

Devika's hands went cold. She almost froze where she was, not even knowing how to react.

"But polyandry is not a common practice at those plane regions of the banks of Ganga and Yamuna, as it is here in our mountainous areas." She managed to speak, still hoping that she heard it wrong. "How did King Drupada agree?" Her breath rushed faster.

"He initially did not agree, Rajkumari. But Dwarakadheesh and Maharishi Vyasa have convinced him for this."

Bhrata! You too! Didn't you know that...

Devika's heart squeezed as tears threatened to break all barriers. A stabbing feeling of betrayal drained out all her energy. She clutched the nearest ornate pillar to hold her shivering frame from falling.

"Vaasudeva has said that their union is necessary for Bharatavarsha's future. The Maharishi has ..."

Nothing had entered Devika's ears after that. As if her senses had withdrawn themselves from the wave of pain that chased her. Thankfully!

Devika rushed to her chamber to isolate herself. A shocked Prabhudutta could not figure out what made his Princess leave so abruptly.

***

All her suppressed tears rolled down Devika's pale cheeks as she made herself alone inside the closed door.

How could he forget her thus!

Devika knew that it was not a pressure of situation. It could not be. Yudhishthira indeed had fallen in love with Panchala Kumari. All five did. Otherwise how could Krishna accept this? Otherwise how could her Yudhishthira, who was always stubborn to what he thought as his Dharma, could agree with this?

What could be his fault! The famed beauty of Panchala Princess must have made him forget a face in Shivi that had been waiting long for him! Devika's heart felt like exploding.

What will happen to her now?

Her own natal home was slowly turning suffocating for her. Govasana did not like Pandavas. Regarding Suratha and Kotikasya, the less was said, the better. And Shaivya, her lone supporter in this house, he too had misunderstood her regarding alliance with Kurus. Her Bhrata, her Guru, the all-knowing Krishna Vaasudeva, did not even care for her love.

Where would Devika go now? Who was there for her refuge? The sole person on whom she had rested all her hopes, all her faith, had become someone else's today! Would he ever remember her at all?

Tears flowed more. Her entire frame shook in uncontrollable waves of emotions. She sank on ground, not knowing whom to ask for a loving embrace except mother earth.

She did not know how long she sat thus. Before a loud noise reached her despite the closed door. It was her maids who loved gossiping over others' faults more than anything else.

"Shame on that man who has lusted on his own brother's wife!" Someone remarked.

"Heard that their mother ordered them to share the bride equally." Replied another one.

"I'm sure it's that lusty eldest Prince's trick to befool his mother so that he can snatch away the bride from his brother! Such evil minded men can do anything to satisfy their wish."

Devika's ears felt hot as her jaw gritted. Anger leapt up in her large eyes.

How dare they insult her Yudhishthira?

The Princess rose to her feet, wiping out her tears in a quick hand. The door cracked open, making the maids stop abruptly.

"Stop right there!"

The women stood rooted, too shocked even to move. They had never ever seen this form of their Princess.

Her long, open hair dangling in the wind like ashes from funeral pyre. Her otherwise doe-like soft eyes had turned crimson. She appeared like Kaalarupini Devi Shyamala herself, who would not tolerate any evil word or deed.

"Do you even know whom you are talking about?" Devika continued in the same tone. "He is Dharma, the righteousness incarnated on earth! How could you find fault in his deeds?"

No one could speak. Her sole voice reverberated from the large pillars and walls.

"Whom did you call lusty? The one who is praised by sage Vyasa as Dharmanitya, the eternal shelter of Dharma? The one in whom Krishna Vaasudeva finds no fault? Do you know him even more than them?"

"Rajkumari!" Ratnavali moved closer. "Pray, calm down!"

"I can calm down only when the Kuru Yuvaraj's name will be taken with reverence here! Do tell these foolish women not to say a word against him!" Devika demanded.

"They won't! Please calm down, my Princess!" Ratnavali pleaded again.

"Ratna, sprinkle some sacred water from river Saraswati in the palace. The place where Dharma is insulted gets impured!"

Holding Devika in her consoling arms, Ratnavali hinted her companions to leave the place. As the surrounding became silent, Devika sensed that her heart had calmed down. The initial feeling of betrayal and complaints had washed away. Defending Yudhishthira had given her the much needed peace and the foresight she had lost out of grief.

She had just realized that she still loved Yudhishthira, and there was no power in this universe that could reduce her never-ending love for him! All the complaints felt redundant now. Despite of everything that had happened, her inner being could never turn away from him.

His love defined her very existence, no matter whom and how many times did he marry!

If the love is so undying, could it matter anymore whether she became his wedded wife or not? Does anything matter at all, except a sole wish to see him doing well?

Shame on you, Devika! How could you be so mean to shed tears when he is happy? She chided herself. 

Undemanding, everlasting love had replaced all the storm within. Devika took a deep breath, thanking every auspicious being for saving her love from all dangers.

Thank you, Panchala Kumari! You have given a new life to him that he deserved! This Princess of Shivi will be forever in debt to you!

"What are you made of, Rajkumari?" She heard Ratnavali. "You are defending that very man who has just broken your heart? The one whom you..."

"No!" Devika raised her palm. "Do not breath a word, Ratna! Keep it within yourself! Do not let this world know that I love Kuru Yuvaraj!"

"Truth cannot be hidden thus, my Princess! It's you who once told me so!" Ratnavali sighed.

"Sometimes truth also needs to be covered for a greater good, dear friend! I'm grateful to Panchala Kumari. Without her, my Yuvaraj could never have returned to this safe life after years of troubles! She indeed has been his saviour, his lifeline. The least I can do to express my gratitude to her is not coming between her and her husband's conjugal happiness!"

Ratnavali stared at Devika's pale yet determined face for a while.

"How will you survive after that, my Princess?"

Devika's lips, now devoid of its natural redness, curved slightly.

"He is alive, Ratna! He is safe! He has secured alliance with powerful Panchalas which will soon return his lost throne to him. What more could I have asked for?"

Ratnavali's eyes were moist. She had loved Devika as a sister since their childhood. She could not see her thus.

Devika suddenly turned to leave, as if remembering something. Fearing that she might harm herself, a worried Ratnavali followed her. She saw her Princess rushing to the garden, where her unfinished garland lay withered.

Devika caressed the garland with all her passion, as if that was her wedding garland, soon to adore her choisest groom's neck.

A cool breeze passed over, making some dried leaves fall over her open hair. Closing her eyes, Devika imagined Yudhishthira's face. The handsome, happy face that she had seen last in Satyabhama's wedding.

May that serene smile never leave him!

Devika opened her eyes. The garland she had made for him had withered. Poisonous ants had taken over the delicacy of her favourite flowers. Now it could not adorn but only hurt whoever would wear it!

Just like her fate!

Stay happy with your wife, Yuvaraj! If my love is true, I will unite with you in next birth, for sure! Till then, give me permission to perform tapasya to make myself worthy of you!

The fresh teardrops falling from her eyes could not revive the withered garland anymore.
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Author's note: Polyandry was not very uncommon in mountainous regions like Himalayas and Shivi, or in deserts like Matsya. Devika's own family had witnessed a polyandrous wedding. Yudhishthira told Drupada that they had seen polyandry in childhood in those places of Shatasringa, maybe in some sages. K. M. Munshi, the author of Krishnavatar series also supports this.