"Putro a invite has come from King Druva his daughter, Rajkumari Rajnandini is getting married. She is a good friend of our Draupadi so it's her special request that we attend the ceremony." Kunti said as she walked with her Yudhisthir, who nodded but a frown marred his face.
"Mata Panchaali is eight months pregnant now, travelling would be too risky." He said as Kunti nodded, "Well that's true son but Rajnandini is a very special friend of hers, if she is not able to attend her wedding she would be upset." She stated, her words were true and making Panchaali see the reason of her safety would be impossible, her pregnancy hormones were messing with her emotions, and the pandavas were usually the ones taking the burning end of it.
"Why don't we do one thing, we can invite the princess and her husband here for a function that we organise after their wedding. That way Panchaali would be happy." Yudhisthir suggested making his mother nod, "Also putr we need to do the pooja for Panchaali and the baby, so they are both healthy and happy. I was thinking the Kali temple would be perfect as Panchaali is her great devotee." Kunti suggested, "Oh that's a good idea, we can keep the pooja and invite the princess as a surprise for Panchaali on the same day. She would love it. " Dharmraj suggested happily and his mother nodded in approval, "I think I should rest now a bit. Why don't you go and check whether my daughter has eaten or not?" Kunti suggested and her son nodded as he watched his mata leave.
He moved to the Kali temple in their palace, knowing that his wife would be there. As he entered he heard the sniffling and sobbing sounds, he rushed in recognizing the sound of his wife.
The temple was grandly decorated as they entered in they saw that the guru mata sat in front of Draupadi trying to calm her down, a glass of water in one hand and other cupping their wife's cheek, that were wet with tears.
"Maharani please calm down, everything had been fine than Prajapati Daksh was later beheaded by veerbhadr." Guru mata said trying to pacify the queen, who just shook her head and cried harder.
Dharmraj moved forward, seeing their king enter everyone fell on their knees, guru mata moved back near the wall, giving the king the space, Yudhisthir kneeled in front of her, his face taking in her crying expression, his heart broke as he watches the love of his life cry. "What happened priye?" He asked, his voice coming out chocked, as his heart beat faster with anticipation of some bad news.
She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his as she looked up at him, he cupped her cheeks as he wiped her tears with his thumbs. "Easy princess. Shhhhh little one, tell me what happened. And I shall make it all good." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, she fisted his angvastr as she cried harder, his hand caressing her swollen belly, feeling the baby move as though the baby too could sense the restlessness of his mother, he rubbed stomach in an assuring motion trying to calm the mother and child both.
"Prajapati Daksh didn't do right, he... He humiliated his daughter a...and the devs just watched? How could they?! She died arya because how her father humiliated her." She cried, her heart out, Yudhisthir looked at the goddess's statue helplessly, he made the gesture with his hand for everyone to leave them alone, and they did.
"Panchaali, priye, it was meant to happen, how would mata parvati would have born if mata sati hadn't died." Yudhisthir tried to pacify her, "but I still hate how she was humiliated, I don't like it arya. It was so very bad. Why humiliate her like this?" She cried, he rubbed her back, "Nothing happens without a cause love. Prajapati Daksh needed to be taught a lesson. This world needed to understand that a woman's humiliation shall always lead to destruction." Yudhisthir's voice rang throughout the room, "A woman has many forms my love, she is a mata, a sister, a wife and so many more. The base of our men world is you women, so innocent and giving. But when this innocence is taken for granted than Kali is born, the goddess of destruction. She who than destroys the egos of men that they are strong. Who believe that they are invincible. Every woman has Kali in her, a woman doesn't need anyone for her protection, she is self sufficient. All she needs to do is realise it." His words had Draupadi nodding, he wiped her tears as he helped her up to stand, his arm wrapped around her waist. Her head resting on his shoulder, like always Yudhisthir's words had resolved all her doubts. He always had the capability to do that, she had no idea how he did that but he always managed to do it.
*****
Panchaali sat with her eyes closed, her hands caressing her eight month baby bump. A gasp left her mouth as she felt the baby kick, her eyes flew open as she looked around the room, her eyes moving to the writing table where Yudhisthir sat.
"Arya come here!" She called excitedly, he looked up from his papers to his very pregnant wife, who was smiling excitedly at him. "What happened priye?" He asked with a smile on his face, his eyes taking in her form, with time she had been more beautiful. Pregnancy suited her, he smiled as he stood up and walked towards her.
"Arya feel this." She said excitedly as she put his hands on her stomach, he caressed it, feeling his child there. A smile spread on his face as he felt a little strong thump against his hand. A little strong kick, that had his heart filling with joy.
"He kicked!" Yudhisthir exclaimed, as he looked at her, it wasn't the first time but it felt like it was. He was very proud of their child, it may be girl or a boy he didn't care. But feeling the kick like this was just a miracle in itself, the first touch of their child that he ever felt.
He kissed her stomach, "You make me so happy dear baby. Pitashree is already excited to meet you." He whispered as he kissed her swollen stomach, his eyes met with hers and she smiled at him. "You are going to be an extremely good mother." He whispered as he moved back to sit next to her, "I am really not sure arya. I have never really had a mother in my life, never seen a baby before except our gardener's, how am I supposed to know how to be a good mother?" She whispered, her heart filled with so many doubts. She had never really had a childhood like a normal child, all she had were the three years with her pandavas and mata Kunti but how is a person to care for a new born.
How would she ever do that? Yudhisthir could see the worry in his wife's eyes, he put his lips against hers as he cupped her face, she instinctively kissed him back, her eyes shut, his touch making her forget everything except him and their child that moved in her womb making her presence known.
He laid her back on the bed as he pulled back, hovering over her, not putting his body weight on her, "Stop worrying you will be a fabulous mother." He whispered as he kissed her lips lightly before he moved to sleep next to her, he slept on his side, his hand supporting his head as he looked down at her.
"What should we name our baby?" She asked as she looked up at him, "We aren't going to name him priye, we have decided to invite sage Vyaas for this good deed." He whispered making her smile.
"Arya do you think everything will be fine during the birth." She asked as Yudhisthir put his arm under her head, making it act like a pillow. "Just wait and see, everything will be fine, in no time you will be playing with our baby." He said, with a smile on his face, just thinking about such a beautiful future had her smiling.
She could just imagine, the little baby in her arms. He pressed his lips to her forehead as saw the smile on her face, a chapter was soon going to being, a new chapter to their life, with a child. He couldn't believe it, after being through so much they had reached this stage of parenthood. He just prayed that from now on his family may always be happy and healthy.
Panchaali had given him a new happiness in life, the happiness of being a father and he was lucky enough to share this happiness not just with the woman he loves but his brothers too. . .
*****
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