《Journey to the Old Era (Drisana's Mahabharat #1)》Chapter 45
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Drisana was thinking how to help Nakul. What could be the answer of the riddle? Nakul looked around the market. If they had brought him here, then the answer must be around here somewhere. As Drisana was contemplating, her eyes went to a stall and her mind got to work.
Yes.
But how to tell Nakul? Her brothers wouldn't let her help him. She looked for sometime as an idea formed in her mind.
"I'm thirsty." Drisana said loudly. Nakul looked at her and Dhritimat narrowed his eyes.
"Okay. I'll tell the guards to bring water for you." Dridhaksh said.
"No! I mean I'm thirsty and I want to drink cold juice from that stall and 'for this' I need to go there." Drisana said looking pointedly at Nakul as Dhritimat glared at her. Nakul understood her meaning.
"Let's go then. I also want some cold juice." Nakul said smiling slightly.
They went near the stall and ordered juice. Dhritimat came near Drisana and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"I'm only drinking juice. Don't worry. Your answer will be given by him only. What you want to make him understand, he will." Drisana replied.
After they finished drinking, Nakul handed the first coin to the seller. Dhritimat was waiting for his explanation with raised eyebrows.
"Well. This seller has opened this stall for his livelihood. So that this could be useful to him. So this coin is for him. In other words, this coin is for this cause that helps this man in earing money. Did I spend the coin rightly, Rajkumar Dhritimat?" Nakul asked. Dhritimat nodded with a stern face.
"You still have two more to spend." Dhritimat reminded him. Nakul sighed.
As they were walking around, he saw a small temple and went near it. There sat a purohit reciting holy scriptures. He looked at Nakul and greeted him.
"Rajkumar give some donation in the name of God." He requested pointing towards the donation box. Nakul was going to put coins in it when something occurred to him. He looked at Dhritimat who stood beside him and put the second coin on the donation box. At Dhritimat's questioning look, he replied,
"The second coin is spend for that. The cause is God and I spent it on that cause. Though the coin is spent in the name of God, someone else will be benefited by it. So this coin is for that."
Dridhaksh and Daiwik looked impressed while Dhritimat was sulking.
"Aaj pratham bar bhrata Dhritimat ke sakal dekhne layek hai. (Bhrata Dhritimat's face is worth watching for the first time.)" Daiwik muttered that was only heard by Drisana and Dridhaksh. Dridhaksh coughed to hid his laugh and Drisana looked around controlling herself.
"You still have one coin left that you have to spend on no one." Dhritimat said giving Nakul a fake smile. Nakul's smile disappeared as he looked at the third coin.
Karna was trying to hide from Subhadra. That girl was driving him mad with her non-stop talking. How much could a person talk? He stiffened as someone put a hand on his shoulder.
"What are you doing, Maharathi Karna?" Nakul asked. Karna relaxed somewhat realising it was Nakul only.
"Nothing. What are you doing? I thought your would be brother-in-laws love you too much to leave you alone." Karna said controlling his twisting lips as Nakul's face showed his disdain.
"Don't ask. They're shadowing me everywhere. I escaped with difficulty." Nakul replied sighing. This time Karna couldn't hold his chuckle.
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"They love you too much." Karna said.
"Of course. The pain of love!" Nakul said sarcastically. He was still searching for no one that he needed to spend the money on.
"Do you know some no one?" Nakul asked, hoping Karna might help him.
Karna looked at him with raised eyebrows wondering if his would be brother-in-laws had managed to drive him mad even before the wedding. Then again Pandavs behaved weird sometimes.
"What happens to you brothers sometimes? Rajkumar Arjun came to my room last night to discuss something which I still have no idea what it was, then started playing chausar (gambling) and fell asleep there only." Karna said.
"Oh toh bhabishree ne kaksh se nikal diya to woh sone ki jagah dhund rahe the. Kab tak per se latak te rehte bechare. (He was only searching for a place to sleep as bhabishree kicked him out of his room. How long can he hang from trees?)" Nakul said. Arjun didn't went to Nakul's room as he was afraid of getting squashed between him and Drisana's brothers. He went to Madhav only to get disappointed as he was told Madhav could give his life for his Parth, but couldn't sacrifice his sleep hearing his snores. So, he went to Karna.
Karna wasn't surprised too much. He had suspected it too. After the blunder Arjun created the other day, his entry back was going to take some time. Though it looked like he might be granted entry tonight.
Arjun and Draupadi suited each other. With their teasings, constant banter, sulking and convincing, the pair was really adorable. Arjun was such a ferocious warrior, but Draupadi could make him sweat with just a glare. It was his love and dedication for her that made him surrender. Karna thought about his own marriage with Supriya. He did what was right at that time. Accepting her as his wife, he had fulfilled his responsibilities as her husband. Supriya was a calm and balanced girl. She shaped herself according to the demands of being a Queen and his wife quickly, never demanding anything or causing any discomfort for him. He also gave her the respect and empathy she deserved. The best word to describe their relationship was comfortable. They were comfortable in the relation and understood each others limits, never crossing it and giving space.
The pain lodged deep inside his heart reared its head back as he remembered the time of her pregnancy. He had been overjoyed by the news, preparing to welcome his child. But like all the good things in his life that also didn't last. That time it was his negligence that cost their lives. He never knew that there was complications in her pregnancy. Supriya hid from him that the pregnancy could risk her life. She said everything was fine and he instead of making sure it really was, chose to believe her. He neglected his responsibilities by staying away most of the times during her pregnancy. A woman needed her husband the most at that time. But he failed to understand that and gave more importance to royal matters than his pregnant wife. Supriya and his child paid the price for that. He remembered the last time he saw her alive. He was going to Hastinapur as Duryodhan needed him, but reluctantly as Supriya was looking rather unhealthy and frail. He asked about it and she assured it was nothing and she only needed a few hours rest. He came back to Anga as soon as he received the news of her going to labour. But it was too late. Supriya died while giving birth and his son also lost the battle for life after a few hours. He still remembered holding that little lifeless bundle. His eyes moistened as his son's innocent face came in front of his eyes. He was so small, so soft, but so cold. In a moment, all his dreams were shattered. He was a failure. He failed as a son, he failed as a husband, he failed as a father and he also failed as a friend. People says time heals every wound. False. Sometimes, it only creates a protective layer upon it. The wound always remains fresh under that layer.
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"Rajkumar Nakul, I'm going. Tell everyone I'll return later." Karna said and went away without waiting for a reply. Nakul thought it strange but he had his own problem to solve first.
Nakul was wondering where to find no one. Everyone was there. Where was no one?
Drisana was also thinking of a solution. How can money be spent on no one?
"Rajya mein naya niyam banana cahiye chausar ko lekar. Pura din duyt mein dhan harte rehte hai, aur jo jita woh agle din aake phir harta hai. Kisike kam to aata nehi hai yah dhan. (There should be new rules placed for gambling in kingdom. These peoples whole day goes on losing money in gambling and who wins, next day comes again to lose. No one is able to use this money.)" Daiwik said looking at a group of people who were busy in gambling.
Drisana and Nakul looked simultaneously at him with widened eyes as Dhritimat slapped his own forehead.
"Bhrata Daiwik, aap kitne buddhiman hai! (You're so intelligent bhrata Daiwik!)" Drisana exclaimed with joy as Nakul rushed to the group.
"Woh to mein hu. Par meine aisa kya kar diya jo tumhe mere buddhimatta ka avhas ho gaya? (That I am. But what did I do that made you realise my intelligence?)" Daiwik asked confusingly.
Dhritimat was still glaring at a confused Daiwik as Nakul returned after losing the third coin on gambling.
"Rajkumar Dhritimat, I completed your task by spending the third coin too. I lost it on gambling and now no one will be able to use the coin. Thus, I spent the money on no one." Nakul said smiling broadly. Drisana was feeling proud on him.
Daiwik finally understood why Dhritimat was glaring at him.
"I've also understood the meaning behind this riddle. Karmath byakti ko dhan parisram se prapt hota hai, eshwar ke varose rehne walo ko eshwar ki kripa se aur dyut kabhi kisi ka nehi hota. Arthath vaggya aur lakshmi dono se bara hai karm. (A hard working man earns money through working hard, those who remains waiting for God's grace, may only prosper if He wishes and gambling never supports anyone. In short, actions are greater than both fate and wealth.)" Nakul said smiling genuinely.
"He has become quite intelligent." Arjun said.
"He's not like you, that's why." Draupadi said making him frown.
Drisana sat in her chamber while Tara was massaging her head with tulsi oil. She had a slight headache. Today the women court was held where families and especially women came to state their personal problems and seek justice.
Often it was seen that inside the four walls of home, disputes happened and women because of their weak social standing suffered silently. They couldn't come to the royal court as it was seen as an humiliating act to drag home disputes outside. Also in front of other matters of kingdom, these might seem insignificant and women were not comfortable in stating their problems in front of the royal men and ministers. So, before Drisana came here, there was freedom given to women to come at the Palace to meet Maharani and Yuvrani for justice. But it happened seldom, as because of different responsibilities, they were not always able to meet everyone and also security issues occurred and guards used to send them away without even notifying anyone.
After coming here, Drisana noticed these problems and proposed to establish a family court consisting women. Maharaj Drishadvat was impressed with his daughters proposal and a court consisting of royal women was officially formed and acknowledged. This not only helped to bring forth the injustice and abuse done to women but also lessened the burden of responsibilities of royal court. Women had a stronger social standing in Dravida now as they had a place to state their problems where they were both heard and given solutions. The family court also handled other duties like handling the orphanage, ensuring primary education regardless of caste or gender, preparation for different celebrations and programs while watching over their expenses, giving grant-in-aid and regular donations, managing the health camps and food camp for underprivileged people etc. It wasn't easy to make it work. Many were against a women court and their inexperience also became an obstacle. But they learned and managed it with firm determination as Maharaj Drishadvat and her brothers stood supporting at every step. Now after years hardwork, with Maharani Mangalya's generosity, Aanandini's discretion, Shubhaprada's assertiveness, Himani & Poornima's orderliness, Priyala's expertise in mathematics and Drisana's wisdom, Dravida had the first and only acknowledged and accepted women court in the whole Aryavart.
The women court was not held for some days due to welcoming the guests and preparation of the upcoming wedding. But today it opened on time and Kunti, Draupadi and Subhadra joined to see the proceeding. Arjun took special permission from Maharani Mangalya to see the procedure of the court. When Drisana suggested he should come as Brihannala, Arjun asked if he could get two sarees for Nakul and Karna too as they were also joining. That shut Drisana up. All of them were impressed and awed watching the women in their elements. They had heard of the women court before. Some ridiculed it, some appreciated, some thought it unnecessary and some understood its effects. Arjun and Nakul were specifically instructed by Yudhisthir to attend the women court and understand its formation and effectiveness as he wanted to form one in Indraprasht too.
After spending the day at the court, Drisana's head protested on further thinking. As she sat closing her eyes and enjoying the massage, the familiar sound of a raven was heard.
"From where this crow comes? Always comes screaming at the wrong time." Tara said annoyingly. From previous experience, she knew it came for Drisana. Some things were supposed to be ignored and never repeated to anyone. She learned it from staying with Drisana all these years. As expected Drisana ordered everyone to leave except Tara.
After assuring no one else was present, Drisana went to the raven and took out a message.
'Wedding bells are ringing, preparations are in making,
You can break me easily without touching or seeing.'
Drisana looked at the message thoughtfully and then proceeded to burn it. When the remains of it were turning to ashes, Nakul appeared from the balcony.
"Which riddle are you burning Rajkumari?" Nakul asked.
Drisana signed Tara to leave them alone. It wasn't something new for her. She knew to not talk about Nakul's presence to anyone and also to ensure no one entered the chamber when Drisana wanted privacy. The only exception to that rule was Nakul.
"An unnecessary one." Drisana replied him.
"It's the necessary ones that gets burned." Nakul remarked. He trusted Drisana unquestioningly but also knew Drisana kept things from him.
He remembered the time when he confronted her about Dhristyadym.
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