Gaat Chchora - The tying of the knot. A sacred symbol of union between two souls.....for seven lives they say.
"It will be alright", they tell her, "This is not the first time this has happened. Hidimbi, too, married a human prince". Hidimbi's human consort didn't put his father in eternal sleep and send off his eldest brother into unknown dimensions while deliberately not considering the return fare, Pinki thinks sourly. Her dream of marrying Arko in tatters, the Rakkhoshi Rani is unable to imagine seven lives in enforced proximity of the gluttonous youngest Champak Brother, forget seven lives.
But freedom comes with a price and power, with responsibility. The Demon Queen must think of the well-being of all her subjects beyond that of her own. But will she lose herself in the process, trapped in an unhappy marriage with no example to guide her?
"You are brave," his brothers would tell him whenever he would go to them crying because the bully of minister's son had snatched away his sweets, "Brave boys do not let themselves be trampled over. They know what they want and take it". He'd always been too afraid to take this advice. "What if people don't like it?" he would ask and they would laugh, "Orre Rontu re! We will be there to you if you're wrong."
So, he decided to be brave. But now that a crown adorned his head and his neck awaited a garland, his brothers weren't there to tell him if he was wrong. He must be brave again, he decided, both in his role as King of the Kingdom Beyond and as husband to the woman he loved. But in the aftermath of his impulsive decision to coerce Pinki to choose him as consort and with no precedent of the youngest of seven princes being king while the others (presumably) lived, will Rontu be able to bear the pressure of his choices and come out on top?
"If there is no light, if the path before you rages with dark, then light your own heart on fire. Be the beacon. Be the spark."
The greenish-blue orbs stared at the group gathering below as she hide behind the curtain watching the crowd. Maharishi, gurus, yogis from all over were sitting infront if the large fire chanting the sacred mantras.
Her kohl drawn eyes widened as she let out a gasp,stumbling behind. Her face turned into a rosy flush as a strong hand gripped her shoulders, preventing her from falling down.
" Brother...I," She began, blushing brightly as the man placed his finger on her pale lips before walking past her. She pouted and elbowed his ribs, peering from behind him.
" I want to see! What's so special ?" She huffed,crossing her hands over her chest as she pouted.
" Curiosity Killed the Cat...Come along...if Maharaj found us sneaking around...he would be extremely displeased," The handsome man said as he gripped her hand firmly and dragged her away.
She turned her face and sighed seeing Maharaj Draupad face beaming with pride and happiness as he loudly proclaimed that Lord Shiva has blessed him and the entire Panchal nation.
" Will he ever look at me like that?," she asked in a forlorn tone causing the elder man to sigh and wrap his arms around her.
" I hope not! You my little one deserves more than his desire for revenge," Satyajit said as he pat her shoulder.
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Aaratrika's life changed the moment her parents conducted the yagna. She became the forgotten princess of Panchal in the awakening of Panchali.
Torn apart between her feelings with Hastinapur's crown prince's, she must decide if Duryodhan is worth her father's wrath or is her feelings for Yusdhistir worth her sister's marriage.
Rewritten from my original story which I took down due to some personal issues.
Aaratrika...Princess...Queen...most importantly Mahabharata's Unknown Mistress...the woman who watched every plot...scheme's...and idea and yet remain behind the shadows never to be known.