🔶🔹Ŧħōʂɛ Ðāÿʂ ļŋ Ęxîɭɛ🔹🔶

~*~ A Father's Misery~*~

Disclaimer: This chapter contains the idea of self harm. By the story, the writer does not aim to promote the idea of self harm and it has been added just for the sake of the plot. Reader's discretion is advised.

##Flashback## [1]

More than a year had passed since Arjun had left on the quest for the celestial weapons. The rest of the Pandavas and Draupadi were very sad and restless in absence of Arjun. They knew that the third Pandava's journey was not an easy trek and was full of life-threatening situations at each and every step. Moreover, since the day some passing by sages had informed them about Arjun's austerity, their agony had increased by hundred times. All their time was spent worrying about Arjun.

Draupadi was most inconsolable. She used to cry day and night remembering Arjun. In her every prayer addressed to Lord, she asked that Arjun should achieve his objective and return safely, as soon as possible. Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev always ensured that at least one of them was always there with her to hold her tight in the moments of distress and wipe away her tears.

But there was someone who was all alone. Loneliness tends to increases a person's suffering but he had become used to carrying the burden of sorrow. Though, Sahadev tried to stick with him but he forbade him, for he did not want him to be the reason for rift between the twins. He had sensed that Nakul was displeased whenever Sahadev tried to speak in his favor. 

On multiple occasions, directly as well as indirectly, they had condemned Yudhishthira for their plight. Once their allegations took such a bitter turn that the son of Dharmaraj had, for the first time, doubted his dharma, which was his very essence. Though Sage Brihadashva, that day, helped the eldest Pandava to come out of his dilemma but he could not stop Yudhishthira from holding himself responsible for everyone's distress.

The incident is of one such morning, Panchali, as usual was busy with daily chores. Her Aryas' were busy in arranging for food, timber and other items of daily needs. Nakul, having completed his work, entered inside the cottage to rest for a while. He was welcomed by the delicious aroma of payasam. He watched with amusement as to how their empress, like a commoner, had completely engaged herself in household responsibilities.

Panchali, having already felt the presence of her Arya, said, "Arya, do you remember, whenever I made payasam at Indraprastha, how Sutasom [2] would remain sitting in the kitchen, so that only he could get the first bowl of payasam." Nakul nodded his head in affirmation; Panchali continued, "And Shatanik [3] used to snatch away that bowl of payasam and make his bhrata run around him across the whole palace. It's not that I served him less. As per him, payasam from his bhrata's bowl tasted much sweeter." Panchali's eyes were filled with tears, while a mesmerizing smile was adorning her lips. It seemed as if she was reliving the incident while narrating it.

Nakul too added, "You know Priye, even me and Majhle bhaiya, were like this during our childhood. Mata used to feed me and Sahadev, by her own hands, while our other brothers ate themselves. So, I used to tease majhle bhaiya that my food was more delicious than his and after that there was no end to his tantrums. As a result, he used to get scolded by mata." While saying so, Nakul went towards Panchali and took her into a side hug.

He continued, "You know Panchali, most part of our childhood was filled with bitter experiences at Hastinapur. Then, when our sons were born. I thought, we will forget those bitter experiences when we will watch our children growing in front of our eyes, but who knew that we will be separated from them in this manner." By now Panchali and Nakul had started crying.