Chapter 10

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Vanshika was sitting on her bed wearing just a black cargo pant and a maroon oversized T-shirt waiting anxiously for a dasi to come and report back to her. She heard a knock and gave her permission to enter. Charumati, Dushasan's wife came in and gave her a smile and touched her feet in greeting. 

"Um.. Khush raho." Vanshika said awkwardly not used to all this. "See you don't have to do that. You are like my younger sister, hmm?" She continued. "Jiji I was saying that-" She was interrupted by a dasi coming hurriedly inside. "Maharani ki jai ho. Yuvrani ki jai ho. Maharani, yuvraj Yudhisthir had put prince Sahdev at stake." She informed making both the women shocked. 

Vanshika leaned back on bed grabbed her saree putting it on hastily checking her appearance in mirror first and grabbed some safety pins and was tucking them in her saree while walking hastily towards the sabha and then broke into a run after she placed them in their place.

She had to stop as she saw Gandhari and Kunti standing in the hallway. She greeted them and they started making talks with her. 'Arey ma and badi are not leaving me I have to get to the sabha and stop whatever is going there.' She thought anxiously. "Come on let's go meet up with Charumati dear." Gandhari said. "Mata I have to go urgently." Vanshika said looking alarmed. 

"Putri you can go after sometime." Kunti said. "Okay mata." She said in defeat as mata Gandhari looked very hopeful. They made their way to her room and then after sometime mata left and a messenger came and told her that they want her presence in the sabha. Vanshika and Charumati both were shocked as women were banned then why are they calling her now? 

"I am not coming. Tell them, whoever sent you. Throw my denial in their face." She said and the messenger went away. Vanshika knew now what was coming so she sent Charumati away telling her to take rest and took a sword in her hand anticipating Dushasan or anyone to come soon. Soon enough, Dushasan came angrily and she unsheathed the sword but a bit of darkness covered her eyes and just stood there for a moment blinking trying to make that darkness go away.

This was the only time that Dushasan needed and he came and snatched away that sword from her and threw it across the room and grabbed her by her hair. Now Vanshika was struggling against his grip and was hitting him continuously but he was stronger than her. He brought her to the sabha dragging her all the way, throwing her on the vases and walls, half the way she was on floor, struggling.  

He threw her on the floor where she got a direct hit on her stomach "Ow! Ow! Time please." She said laying down trying to catch her breath. Her head hurt like hell due to being pulled that much, eyes bloodshot due to crying and her stomach hurt much worse than her head. She stood up angrily and looked around her. Especially at her husband who was looking down not meeting her eyes. 

"LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID, ARYA!!!! LOOK AT ME YUVRAJ YUDHISTHIR!!! LOOK AT MY STATE. Is the state in which the kulvadhu of this vansh, the yuvrani of Indraprastha, the queen of Saurashtra, your wife she be brought in a sabha? SHOULD SHE BE DRAGGED BY HER HAIRS LIKE AN ANIMAL ALL THE WAY FROM HER ROOM." She screamed at him making everyone flinch. Yudhisthir looked at her eyes tears streaming down both of their faces. "I reminded you just before the game started that you said that your raj dharm and bhratra dharm is greater than your kshatriya dharm, and look what you have done!!! LOOK AT YOUR BROTHERS, DAMN IT. DO THEY DESERVE THIS? DO YOU DESERVE THIS? Do I deserve this?" She said the last part brokenly and then turned to the rest of the sabha all kept their eyes low. "Tell me did you stake Indraprastha and Saurashtra also?" She asked her husband, voice dangerously low. Yudhisthir shook his head. She sighed in relief and turned to the elders.

"Pitamaha, I greet you today like this and I want to know what you will give me today. Did you only take the vow to protect Kuru throne? Does Kuru values don't have any value? Look at me pitamaha and tell me does Bharatvansh has this tradition? Just tell me this and I will not say anything else. All this happened in front of you and you didn't oppose it. Doesn't this mean that you accepted this adharm. Doesn't this mean that you are also a part of this humiliation? If not then pick up your bow and kill those who called you kulvadhu dasi. Tell me pitamaha does the person who has lost himself in gamble has any right to stake anyone else's freedom and respect? I am asking for the answers to my questions pitamaha and this silence of yours IS NOT THE ANSWER." Vanshika said while climbing up the stairs and standing in front of Bhishm, crying.

"If a wife is her husband's property then my husband lost me also when he lost himself, then how was I staked? And if a wife is not her husband's property then how can he put me at stake without my permission?" She asked him making Yudhisthir look at her crying. "Answer the questions of Bhabhi, pitamaha." Arjun said from his place. "What will he answer when he himself is a question." She said moving to Vidur. 

"Kakashree Vidur people call you dharmatma and very intelligent. Then tell me is this dharm? What happened here today and whatever is happening now? You are famous to speak bitter truths. Please tell me does a husband has the right to gamble his wife? Does a servant has the right to stake anyone else's freedom?" She asked him. "Bhabhishree is right." Vikarn said standing from his place. "Vikarn. Keep quiet and sit down." Dushasan said. "Let him speak son. After all Yudhisthir has already lost Vanshika." Shakuni said.

"Who is he to lose me? Guru Drona these are all your students, aren't they? Is this what you taught them? To disrespect their elders, do trickery and treachery, to disrespect women? To bring the wife of their elder brother in a sabha like this? IS THIS WHAT YOU TAUGHT THEM?" She asked them. Her questions hit them like arrows in chest. She then turned to Dhritrashtra.

"And Maharaj, I know the last time that we met it did not go great you even disowned Bhrata Suyo and Dushala but is this your way to take revenge? Jyesht Pitashree I know you hold me responsible for Dushala's marriage with Jaydrath to be broken but look at him now do you really think that your daughter should have married this man? And if yes then tell me Jyesht Pitashree, am I not you kulvadhu? So how are you still quiet seeing all that has happened today? I ask you the same question, please at least you answer me." She requested him.

"AREY AB KYU NHI BOLTI HAI YE SABHA??? KYU CHUP HO RAKHE HAIN SAARE KE SAARE?" She bellowed. "Putri we were helpless." Bhishm said making her scoff. "Pitamah you were helpless!? Don't make me laugh." She said dryly.

"Putri please believe us. We were bound by our promise. Promise to not speak in between this sabha." He said. "So you let this adharm happen just for this tuccha promise?" She asked in disbelief. "Tell us what would you have done if you were in our place?" Drona asked. "I would've broken the promise the second this game changed into something else." She said fiercely. Just then she felt her hairs pulled and her head yanked back eyes squinting in pain.

"You don't get to talk to anyone like this dasi." Dushasan said making her eyes wide in shock. She mustered the last amount of strength she had and elbowed him and he sat back down as Shakuni instructed him. "I. Am. Not. Your. Dasi." She said threateningly. "They were not able to protect come sit on my friend's lap he will protect you." Jaydrath said. 

"Shut up das." Jaydrath ordered and the uproar that the pandavas showed quieted down just like that. "I am waiting." Dushasan said to her. "You know what you can shove that up your ass." She said. "DASI!!!" Dushasan roared angrily. 

"Why can't you sit with him, huh? After all you had a relation with Yudhisthir here before marriage what is wrong in one with Dushasan?" Jaydrath said making every evil one to laugh. Vanshika felt utterly humiliated. "You know what they call women like you? A vaishya." He continued making everyone gasp but Vanshika was only looking at her husband and brothers. 

"JAYDRATH!!!!" The 6 brothers shouted together. " I said shut up das. I am your master and you don't speak until I tell you to." Dushasan said and they continued to insult Vanshika. She was still looking at the pandavas but none showed the rage. They were just sitting there eyes shut tightly and tears flowing freely sitting on their knees with no crown or jewelry.

"Why are you not saying something Arya? Your wife is being humiliated in front of you. Why haven't you killed them yet? Why didn't you do it when your wife was being dragged here like animals? Didn't your blood boil at the scene?  WHY ARE YOU ALL SITTING THERE LIKE THAT LIKE SOMEONE IMPOTENT?" She asked them. 

"That's enough. Dushasan, what is insult and what is honor for a vaishya. So, rob her of her clothes. Let us also see how our dasi looks." Jaydrath ordered him. "DUSHASAN DON'T YOU DARE DO IT. I WILL CUT OFF YOUR HANDS." said Bheem and Suyodhan together. "Then tell her to take off her clothes by herself." Dushasan said and when Vanshika didn't move, he took one corner of her saree. Vanshika's eyes widened and she started to retaliate. She started to pray to Krishna. 'Hey Keshav! Hey Bhrata! Save my honor. Save my honor, hey Giridhari.' She prayed mentally. "Pull Dushasan get her naked." Jaydrath ordered and Dushasan started pulling the saree. Every adult and Pandavas lowered their eyes shutting them and shaking their heads tears flowing from their eyes.

Flashback(On the day of Rajsuya yagna);

After the yagna was completed, Vanshika noticed the wound on Krishna's finger. She took his hand in hers, examined it and tore a piece of her saree and wrapped it around his finger. "Now the blood will not flow and it also won't catch any infection." She told him. "Thank you Vanshu. When the time comes I'll repay the debt of every fiber of this piece of saree." He promised her. She just smiled at him.

Flashback Ends;

Krishna kept adding cloth to her saree. Dushasan kept pulling but was startled by the amount of cloth that had piled up on the floor. Every pandava raised their eyes and looked at the scene in shock. Vanshika just kept chanting Krishna's name in her mind and every elder who was once looking down now looked at them tears streaming on their face. The guilt and remorse that was on Yudhisthir's face till now was joined by a bit of relief. Dushasan kept pulling but got tired when the pile reached almost his height and collapsed down. Vanshika also fell on her knees mentally exhausted.

Dushasan kept pulling at her saree but was not able to reach the end. It seemed like endless. Eventually he got tired and collapsed near the heap of cloth that had formed by him pulling. Vanshika was still chanting Krishna's name and opened her eyes to look at Dushasan. "ARE YOU ALL SASTISFIED? PITAMAHA, KAKASHREE, MAHARAJ, GURU DRONA? AREY BE GRATEFUL THAT MY FATHER DIDN'T OPEN HIS THIRD EYE AND BURNT YOU THE MOMENT YOU TOUCHED ME DUSHASAN." She screamed and then turned to the pandavas who were sitting there looking at the floor crying silently her face hiding in her hands. 

Bheem stood up. "All the Kshatriyas in this world listen, all those who have left this world also listen and those who are about to come should also listen. What I am about to say has never anyone said this and nor anyone will ever. Till I don't tear this Dushasan's chest apart in the battlefield and drink his blood, I won't show my face to my ancestors. This is my oath." He announced angrily making Dushasan scramble away from him in fear. 

"Hey Maharaj, the hurt honor of this family has come to you with a question and is now crying with her face hidden in her hands. Please answer her questions." Vidur said crying. "You all have knowledge of dharm. And Vanshika's questions are related to dharm. And being quiet even after knowing the answers is equal to speaking half lie. and not giving correct answer is equal to full lie. So tell me, will you take the accusation of half lie or full lie on your head? Because none of us has the courage to speak full truth. But still we can't remain silent. We have to at least say to her 'Ae Vanshika get up gather your tears and insult and go to any other sabha because this sabha consists of dead people." He said and sat down on his seat crying.

She stood up throwing the fallen pallu over her shoulder.

"Wow! What a great sabha it is! A woman gets insulted in front of you all and no one says anything and that said woman is the kulvadhu of yours. God knows what fate do other women have in this country. Kakashree Vidur, Pitamaha Bhishm, Jyesht Pitashree and Acharya Drona, with you being in this sabha a lady's disrobing was attempted. In this coward and shameless sabha, I, Vanshika, Daughter of Mahadev and Mata Parvati, Wife of Indraprastha yuvraj and daughter-in-law of Hastinapur king, I curse you all that-" Vanshika shouted but was interrupted by a shout of "Nhi" from Gandhari.

"No putri. Kunti please take me to my daughter-in-law Vanshika. Kunti brought her there and Gandhari hugged her. Vanshika started crying and Gandhari was consoling her. Kunti couldn't bear seeing her beloved daughter-in-law who was also her niece in this state and turned to the kuru elders. But before she could say anything Gandhari turned to Dushasan.

"Dushasan you disrobed you bhabhi. Now disrobe your mother also. Why are you quiet, you shamless fool." She said crying. Now, Kunti's anger was rising, she again turned to the elders. "In this bharatvansh, where not even a single hand ever reached even the clothes of a dasi, in that kuru royalty, the successor of king Bharat's hand reached your daughter-in-law's clothes and you didn't say anything. You didn't even fear the extent to which her curse can go, Bhratashree. If she says then ground will deny giving you food, moon will deny giving you moonlight, sun will deny giving you sunlight and river will deny giving you water. Your army also can't stop the curse of this woman, Jyesht. Your army can't even stop it. " Kunti announced angrily. Gandhari was still crying and she turned to Vanshika.

"Putri, I request you don't curse them. Don't curse them. However they all are, they are my family. They are your family. Your pitamaha Bhishm, Kakashree Vidur, Jyesht Pitashree, Guru Drona, please forgive them, putri. Please forgive them." Gandhari cried to her. "I will forgive rest everyone but Dushasan, Jaydrath, Gandharraj Shakuni. I will never forgive them. Never." She said angrily. "I understand dear. I understand but please don't curse them. You also say something, aryaputra. I know you can't see but you can listen, you can think." Gandhari said turning to her husband.

"Yes Gandhari is right, I cannot see, but I can hear, I can understand. I am saying this with my ancestors, Tatshree Bhishm, panduputras and daugher-in-law Vanshika as my witness that the present and future of this nation should never forgive me. Putri Vanshika come here." Dhritrashtra said descending down his throne. Vanshika went there her head spinning. She stopped in front of him. He kept both his hands on her head. "Putri if you have forgiven me, then ask for any boon." He told her softly.

"I ask for the freedom of yuvraj Yudhisthir. So, that our children won't be called the children of a servant." She said sabilising the spinning in her head a bit. "I give Yudhisthir his freedom. Ask something else putri." He said. "Now, I ask the same for every other pandava and with freedom their weapons and chariot also" She said and Dhritrashtra granted her the boon and asked her to ask for something more. Now, all the pandavas (remember, pandavas include Suyodhan also).  "I am sorry pitashree but a kshatriya lady doesn't have the right to ask for more than 2 boons." She said holding Gandhari's arm for support as her head started spinning more and black spots started to overcome her vision.

"But a father has the right to give. So, I give Yudhisthir back whatever he has lost today." Dhritrashtra said angering Shakuni, Dushasan and Jaydrath. "But pitashree, all that belongs to me. How can you give it back without my permission?" Dushasan asked angrily. "Shut up, Dushasan. Haven't you done enough?" Dhritrashtra said angrily turning towards the source of the voice. "He is right maharaj. Okay but we want Yudhisthir with all his brothers and wife to go to 12 years of vavas and 1 year of agyatvas. If they are not found in that 1 year span then they get their rajya and stuff back and if they are found, then they have to repeat the cycle." Shakuni offered. 

Just then, the sabha doors opened with a bang and came a very angry Karn inside. "Yes yes mamashree perform all the treachery you can. Are you not satisfied with whatever you have done till now?" He asked. "I thought everyone would be so happy bonding together over a game but I hear a complete opposite thing after coming here. How can you let this happen pitamaha?" He continued. "Jyesht." Vanshika cried and ran in his arms. Karn hugged her close to his heart whispering nothings in her ear. After consoling her he separated himself and took out his bow to strike but before he could even stretch the string, Vanshika collapsed unable to bear the pain in her head and stomach. 

Before anyone could react, Yudhisthir came to her side, lifted her, bowed his head to his elders and left to his chambers with Vanshika in his arms. 

****

After this part I am certain that a chapter with this much emotion s not meant for me. In the two days I wrote this, either I was feeling all the emotions that all the characters were feeling making me almost go mad or as always smile or laugh in serious situations. Seriously, hadd hai mere liye!

Anyways, Please vote and comment.

Will meet you in the next part, till then,
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Good Night, Jai Hind. 

And Happy Janmashtami in advance! Vaise advance bacha nhi h but still my mummy says that new day starts at 4 am not 12 am so.... Whatever let me leave this topic otherwise I will start ranting about this ;)


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