CHAPTER 15

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Within a short time, Bhishm passed many forests, rivers and mountains with trees in them. Gangeya took care of the daughters of the king of Kashi like daughters-in-law, younger sisters or daughters and brought them to the land of Kurus.

He told about this feat to Satyavati, who was extremely pleased. Kissing his forehead, the Rajmata praised him and gave him instructions for the wedding ceremony.

The palace buzzed with the flurry of servants, arranging exquisite flower arrangements, polishing silverware, and embellishing the grand halls.

Servants scurried about, ensuring a flawless execution of every detail. Amidst all, Bhishm stood in the centre, happily orchestrating the preparations.

"Vadhuye waha se aayengi, aur Maharaj yaha se. Toh yeh dono path, pushpo se sajjit hone chahiye." He instructed the servants and attendants.

Amba quietly entered the hall, her elegant steps barely made a sound as she approached Bhishm.

"Mahamahim ?" She called nervously.

Gangeya looked at her, confused as to what she was doing at here, "Idhar kaise ana huya Rajkumari Amba ? Koi kasht toh nahi ?" He asked gently.

"Woh... Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai." She said, and then gazed at the people around, apprehensively.

"Ekant !" Bhishm ordered, understanding she wanted to talk alone. The maids, servants and attendants left with a bow.

Once they both were alone, Amba looked at Bhishm and said, "Mai Maharaj Vichitraveerya se vivah nahi kar sakti."

"Kya ? Par kyu ?" Bhishm frowned.

With a mix of vulnerability and determination, Amba confessed, "Maine pehle hi Soubha-naresh Shalva ko apna pati maan liya tha. Swayamvar mei mai unhe hi chun, varmala pehenane wali thi. Unhone bhi mera prem swikar karliya tha. Aap dharm-gyaani hai, ab aapke anusaar jo uchit ho, woh kare."

Bhishm fell silent, he didn't know whether he should just let Amba go away like so. But again, he knew that it won't be proper for someone like her, who has her heart on another, to stay in the household of Vichitraveerya.

"Samasya gambhir hai." Bhishm said, "Parantu aap chinta na kare, mai Rajmata aur Brahmano se mantrana kar, woh karunga jo sabke hit mei ho."

Assuring her like so, Bhishm went straight to Satyavati and informed her about everything. They called upon a meeting with Brahmanas and priests, and consulted them about the right course of action.

"Bina kanya ke swa-iccha se vivah karwana toh uchit nahi hoga." A priest said.

"Satyavachan. Yadi Amba ka vivah Vichitraveerya se karwa diya jata hai, toh dono ka vivah afalit hone ki sambhavna adhik hai. Dono hi ek dusre se prasann nahi rahenge." A Brahman said.

"Kripa, tumhara kya kehna hai ?" Satyavati asked.

"Mai Brahmano aur pandito ke shabdo se sehmat hu. Hume Rajkumari Amba ko Maharaj Shalva ke paas bhej dena chahiye. Waise bhi, Rajkumari Ambika aur Ambalika toh Vichitraveerya se vivah karne ki baat par prasann hai." Kripacharya said.

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The happiness of Amba knew no bounds as she saw the buildings at distance that belonged to the capital of Soubha. She, after obtaining permission from Bhishm, was allowed to go to Shalva. The princess of Kashi was accompanied by old Brahmanas and her nurse.

Her chariot halted right in front of the city gate, she was overjoyed seeing Shalva there with his ministers and guards. But he had a stoic expression on his face.

"Shalva ! Rajan !" Amba got off the chariot hastily and walked a few steps, but saw that her beloved king was unwilling to move.

Usually he would've rushed to her, and embraced her. But now he looked uninterested and displeased.

"Mahabahu Shalva, mai tumhare samaksh hu." Amba said with a nervous smile.

Shalva smiled sadly, and said, "Rajkumari, tum ab kisi aur ki ho. Mai tumhe patni roop mei ab nahi chaahta. Bhishm ne tumhe balpoorvak har liya tha. Tum meri nahi rahi, iss liye tumhe praapt karne ki mujhe ab koi iccha nahi. Mai dharm ko maanta hu, fir mai uss stree ko kaise swikar karlu, jo kisi aur ke paas chali gayi thi ? Tumhe jaha jana hai waha jaao, yaha apna samaye vyarth na karo."

Amba's eyes widened hearing his harsh words, with a heavy voice she said, "Shalva, iss tarah mujhse baat na karo ! Bhishm ke bal ke samaksh, mai asahaye thi. Aur unhone yeh apne bhai Vichitraveerya hetu vadhu praapt karne hetu kiya tha. Parantu ab mai Gangeya ke anumati se tumhare paas laut aayi hu, kyuki mere man mei koi hai toh woh tum ho. Maine kabhi bhi kisi anya purush ke baare mei vichaar bhi nahi kiya. Tum mera prem aise mat thukrao."

She sought his favours with these and many other words, yet he did not show her any sympathy. But though she spoke in this way, Shalva abandoned Amba, the way a snake discards its old skin.

Then the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi was overcome by anger. With tears in her eyes and with her voice choking with tears, she said, "Tumne mera tyaag kar diya toh mai ab waha jayungi jaha meri iccha ho ! Mai Dharmatmao ke paas jayungi, kyuki jaha dharm hai waha satya hai, aur jaha satya hai, wahi mujhe nyaye milega."

"Amba tum jaao ! Mai tumhe kisi mulya pe swikar nahi karunga ! Mujhe Bhishm ka bhaye hai aur tum Bhishm ki sampatti ho. Chali jaao yaha se." Shalva said.

Having been addressed like this, Amba departed wretchedly from the city, weeping like a female osprey.

She thought to herself that how there is no young woman on earth who faces such a difficult situation as her. She has been separated from her relatives, she has been discarded by Shalva, and there is no way now she could go back to Hastinapur.

"Kisko dosh du ?" She muttered to herself, "Swayam ko ya Bhishm ko ? Ya mere murkh pita ko jisne swayamvar aayojit kiya ? Kyu mai Bhishm ke rath se utar, Shalva ke paas nahi gayi uss din ?"

Clenching her fists she cried, "Laanat hai Bhishm par ! Laanat hai mere murkh pita par jisne mujhe viryashulk bana rajao ke samaksh rakh diya, jaise ki mai ek aisi stree hu jiska mol diya jaa sake ! Laanat hai mujh par ! Laanat hai Shalva par ! Laanat hai shrishti-racheta par !"

And although she was angry with many, and knew that a person must endure what destiny has determined, she still believed Bhishm to be the chief reason for her hardship.

She wanted revenge, but wondered who was strong enough on this earth to defeat Bhishm, the son of Shantanu and Ganga ?

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A/N

Seriously Amba... You're a girl who's a solid 10 but you fell for a guy who's hardly a 3~😒

Like you're beautiful, you're truthful in nature.... Lekin aankh ladi bhi toh kisse ?

Lappu sa Shalva hai
Ladna baa ko aave na
Dharm ka gyaan baa ko hai na
Jhingoor sa Raja hai
Isse pyaar karogi ? 💀💀

Anyway, another myth as shown in Star Plus Mahabharat, was Bhishm let's Amba go to Shalva, in swayamvar only, but in reality, Bhishm brings her to Hastinapur, it is then she reveals the truth, and then he allows her to go after consulting with Satyavati, Brahmanas and priests.

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