ARYAVARTA

chapter 7

At a ashram near the banks of river Ganga a young lady laid near a tree keeping her hands on her bump, this child was the last gift her lover had given to her.she cursed fate for taking him away and making her son fatherless . only 6 more weeks she has to wait to see her son ,she closed her eyes and sleep took over her in her dreams she saw a small house,her watering a beautiful garden,a white horse gazing at the sky and at the other end of the garden ,she saw a man teaching a kid archery, correcting his posture and stance,the kid hit the target and was jumping for his achievement.The man smiled at his antics and turned towards her, she woke up from her dream, a tear fall through her cheeks.she hated this dream not only it shows her a future that fate snatched from her,but also it proved the fact that she can't remember how he looked,his eyes,his laughter,all her memories of him are fainting
" You are here ,I had been looking for you everywhere, the queen asked for you, Pritha" said priyamvadha

At Hastinapur royal palace

Six months has been passed,the time to choose the next king has come, Pandu and Vidhur were in the standing in front of the empty throne of Hastinapur,
"soon a new king will be coronated ,it's like history repeating itself.tAtashree gave away his crown for his brother,fate snatched away our uncle and our incapable father became Maharaj, leading Hastinapur to endless battles, because to others Hastinapur Maharaj was a weakling.Jyesht was the perfect king strong, compassionate and dharmic.Now the future of Hastinapur lies on a blind and a weakling who can't even save his brother" said Pandu.Vidhur heard his brother,but said nothing both of them just stared at the empty throne

" Kunti , don't go far you need to be more careful now" said the queen Marisha
"Mother what will happen to him," asked kunti placing her hands over her belly indicating whom she was talking about
" The child will be given to a family.They will look after him
Your father has done all arrangements,I know it hurts to give away him,but you are also princess of kuntiboj.It has to be done to maintain your father's honour"

Priyamvadha dismissed herself from the room to give the daughter and mother personal space.she saw some soldiers whispering themselves,she became curious and eavesdropped their conversation
" It has to be done ,no excuses " said a soldier
" But it's too cruel,to kill a innocent child soon after its birth. I can't do this" said another soldier
" You have to, because if you didn't instead of that child it will be your children whom will be killed,we don't have any choice we are just soldiers whose duty is to follow our kings orders that is our dharma" said the previous soldiers
Priyamvadha fled from there and informed the queen about the Maharaj orders to the soldiers . Queen Marisha was torn apart by the treachery of her husband ,she prayed to the gods to show a way to protect her granchild.The next day the court vaidya accompanied by few maids arrived the ashram. The maids were sworn to secrecy

Hastinapur palace, chamber of Rajmata satyvati

" It's not right ,we can't do this to him" said bhishm
" We have to , for the future of Hastinapur." replied Vidhur
Bhishm looked towards Rajmata satyvati for her opinion,she nodded her head allying with Vidhur. At this moment the gaurds placed outside the chambers announced the arrival of Dhritarashtra and Pandu
Dhritarashtra and Pandu sat down on the remaining chairs after giving their respect to the elders
" So when will be jyesht coronation " asked Pandu
" We are extremely sorry Dhritarashtra but for Hastinapur it has to be done,Dhritarashtra will not be the next king we 3 had decided for the future of Hastinapur Pandu will be the best choice" said bhishm
Pandu was about to express his opinion but was stopped by Dhritarashtra.
" What's the reason you feel I am incapable to rule Hastinapur.Do I lack skills in warfare, politics, economy or is there any other reason " asked Dhritarashtra
It was Vidhur who spoke" brother,a king has to be the eyes of his empire, and"
" I can't, because I am blind" said Dhritarashtra
" It hurts us too,but it has to be done, a blind king pictures Hastinapur as weak in front of other kingdoms" said Satyvati
Dhritarashtra stood up from his chair" I never wanted to be born as a blind, tAtashree you are the one who taught me never allow anyone to stop you from achieving your right . today you had gone against what you said,or are those were just mere words which can be bent for your gain" asked Dhritarashtra
He moved towards the door and stoped at the entrance .He turned to face the others in the room
" All my years ,I had worked had to overcome my weakness, the driving force for this was the belief that my family would stand beside me at any danger and It is my duty to protect them from dangers.I accept your decision I Dhritarashtra will be an obedient dog waiting for the orders of my younger brother . Rule well Pandu this way you can atone for not being able to protect our Jyesht" said Dhritarashtra and walked away from the chamber.Pandu stood from his chair and walked away without saying anything

After some days at the ashram where kunti resides

" When I say push push harder , said a old maid
" it hurts mother it's too soon Aaaaaaaaa" screamed kunti
Princess Marisha held her daughters hands and caressed her head ,The other occupants in the room are Priyamvadha and a young maid
" Push " said the old maid kunti pushed harder with all her strength and screamed loudly.she lost her conciuosness
The old lady cut the umbilical cord of the child
" I am sorry my queen ," said the old lady and handed over the child to the queen .The queen dismissed others. she looked towards her unconscious daughter .At that moment she felt something touching her cheeks, she was stupified.
Priyamvadha too saw this .Marisha handed over the child to priyamvadha and walked towards the soldiers
" Where is the old lady and her companion" asked Marisha
" They had gone , Maharani" replied a soldier , unknown to her that they never reached their destination
" Inform king that the child didn't survive and others arrange a pyre" ordered Queen Marisha
The soldiers dispersed to do what had been ordered to them
Marisha entered the chamber and along with priyamvadha moved towards the banks of river Ganga with the child ,she saw a small boat tied near to a tree she placed the child on the boat
" Maharani ,if the king knows about this he will kill us " said priyamvadha
" I don't care,he is my grandson it's god's decision that he has to survive , otherwise why didn't he made any noise when the old lady was there in the room."
Marisha looked at her grandson and placed a kiss on his forehead
" Forgive me,my boy I don't have any other choice ,let the gods protect you.i will pray for you everyday, forgive this grandmother" Marisha pushed the boat and it disappeared in darkness moving along with the current of Ganga
Marisha and Priyamvadha later covered a pillow on a red cloth
She ordered the soldiers not to follow her and light the pillow on the pyre .To all others the child didn't survive and Priyamvadha was sworned to secrecy
Kunti woke up later, Marisha told her that the child didn't survive and they had done the last rites . Kunti didn't uttered anything ,she gazed to the ceiling ,tears fell from her eyes .she was sad and relieved at the same time.sad for not being able to spend her life with her son , relieved that he will be with his father now

Next day, the boat ended it's journey and came to a halt .The child begin to cry after not feeling the movement of boat A young lady heard this cry and moved towards the boat ,she saw a child ,on seeing his adorable and innocent face she felt a motherly feeling .she took the child and placed him near to her heart.Feeling the sudden movement the child opened his eyes,his left eyes was of brown while his right eye had a tint of blue in them along with brown
The child stared at her black eyes , causing a small smile on his face.seeing this the young lady giggled ,At that moment a young man approached her
" What are you holding?"asked the young man
The lady showed the child to him
" Where did you find him" she pointed to the boat
" Give him to me ,I will place him on the boat " he moved towards her.she stepped back surprising him and cradled the child more close to her so that no one can snatch him away
" No,I find him, he belongs to me , I will raise him as my son ,it's god's decision, otherwise of all days why we come today here for picnic" she said
" What are you saying? Have you become mad .What about his parents"
" I am his mother,his birth parents had lost their rights when they floated him away,he is my son, my KARN , GANDHARI PUTRA KARN"