Empire of Righteousness (When it Ends)

Chapter 205 : Kurukshetra (Part 12)

Bheema tries to calm Hidimba down who is as angry as a volcano. After their marriage, it was the first time Bheema went back to the forest. He left without saying goodbyes also. Whey did he come? To kill his grandson.

Draupadi is numb. Bheema and Hidimba's words aren't reaching her ears. She is looking keenly at Barbarika's severed head.

"I hold nothing against you, Swami. Nothing! I don't envy your beloved wife. I embraced Draupadi with love and affection only. How could you take my grandson away? How many times you met him? Tell me! How many times!" Hidimba screams in anger.

Ahilawati looks back to find her husband, his brothers are running here as well. It's all clear to her now. Her mother in law had no idea and looking at the guilty face of everyone, they until today never told her.

That's why she was surprised when her mother in law mentioned in letter to bring Barbarika here.

"Mata! Please call down!" Ghatotkach tries to calm his mother.

"He Vayuputra Bheema! Answer me! You must answer me! Why you killed my grandson only because of a possibility? You came that time only to kill him. Who gave you the right?" Hidimba yells, "Draupadi! Draupadi! Look at my eyes. And answer me. How much more blood do you need to satisfy your ego? Here! I will slit my head. Take as much as you need."

Hidimba jerks Draupadi almost pushing Bheema sideways, "How dare you? How dare you call my son here now? Your weren't satisfied by taking his father's name away from him? Only the sons you bore will be your husbands lineage. You want to clear your path completely, don't you? My grandson is no more. You need my son now!"

Bheema knows Hidimba's anger has crossed all limits. She won't hesitate to hurt Draupadi now. Her nails have grown and her eyes are red.

"ENOUGH!" Bheema grabs Hidimba's writs and drags her away.

Hidimba protests and screams at Draupadi but Bheema's grip doesn't lose. He drags her from the mountain away from Draupadi to somewhere else.

Yudhisthira gulps at the scenario. He slowly approaches Draupadi and holds her shoulders.

"You knew..." Draupadi whispers.

It wasn't a question rather a realization on her part.

Yudhisthira fears in his heart. What answer shall he give his Kalyani? Maybe lying to her wasn't a good idea. They didn't lie actually. They just didn't know how to tell her...

Draupadi is looking at Yudhisthira with hurt, pain and betrayal. Bheema never told her...Her Bheemasena lied to her... Yudhisthira too...who can she trust now?

"Even Sakha didn't," Draupadi realizes.

She takes steps towards Barbarika's head, "Putra, tell me. What was so important that your grandfather wanted your head?"

Barbarika tells her the entire incident without sugarcoating or normalizing.

"And you sacrificed without any second thoughts..." Draupadi says as he finishes explaining.

"Dadishree, Dadashree Krishna comes and talks with me everyday here. Mahamahim Bhisma also vowed without thinking of consequences. That resulted in this war. If he vowed to stay by the righteous, he could have again and again made the king of Hashtinapur a righteous person. I made the same mistake. Vowed by my mother's name," Ghatotkach's face drowns in sadness.

Ahilawati is crying seeing this state of her son.

The cruel realization falls on Draupadi. Krishna saved them. Again. If Barbarika still decided to fought, at one point he would need to be killed. It can be his father, uncles or even grandfathers. That sorrow and pain would have been hard for them to overcome.