Chapter 5

" So what will we see today, Devi?" asked Bhishma, acting as spokesperson, as agreed previously.

" We will start from the place we left off," said Mahamaya, with a smile.

" I hope the noise doesn't wake up the children," said Gandhari.

" Don't worry Maharani. They slept nearly in the morning. They won't wake up so soon." said Mahamaya, assuring her. Gandhari nodded.

" I don't understand from where the children came! The room was closed," said Balrama, grumbling.

" Why with the help of the machine of course dau/Shri Balrama!" said Mahamaya and Krishna simultaneously.

Everyone did an 'O' gesture.

"How did you know that?" asked Balrama, sending suspicious glances at Krishna, who smiled cheekily.

" Dau, it's common sense. Devi Mahamaya, already told us that this machine can do wonders, right Devi Mahamaya?" asked Krishna chirpily.

" Exactly. Shri Balrama pays attention, please. I know they are from Dwapar Yuga. What I don't know is, who is their parents?" said Mahamaya, frowning at the last bit.

" They can go back right?" asked Karna, his voice a bit hesitant.

" Yes, of course, Suryaputra!" said Mahamaya, before biting her tongue. She wasn't supposed to say that.

Everyone's eyes were widened, including Karna. Kunti has paled, glancing at Mahamaya with nervousness in her eyes.

"Suryaputra?" muttered Drona. Why did this lady call him 'Suryaputra'? Did he reject a demigod?

"I apologize. I wasn't supposed to say that. It's hard not to call you ' Suryaputra', though." said Mahamaya, feeling a bit guilty at giving spoilers unintentionally.

" I don't understand," admitted Karna, his hands unconsciously tightening his hold on the body of the child, unknowingly cuddling the 4-year-old boy.

" I cannot tell you more immediately. That is the job of the machine. I am sorry." said Mahamaya. She was really feeling very guilty. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. She hoped he gets the full information soon.

"Arambh kijiye Devi Mahamaya (Let us start)" said Krishna, his face serious but his gaze was gentle. He was the one who made her slip. He knew it was necessary, with regards to what they will learn today.

" Ji! (Yes.)"

The machine again started, after creating a screen, showing from where it froze the previous day.

"Sanchi di, what made you late, today?" asked Kirti, genuinely curious.

Sanchi smiled as she stepped inside their home.

"I had some files to finish, dear. Now start eating before it gets cold. I will come after freshening up."

Kirti nodded, as Sanchi went upstairs.

By the time she came down, the sisters have started arguing on their favourite topic of discussion - Mythology and Epics.

" No Anju di(Anjali). Mahabharata is better." said Ragini.

" I prefer Ramayana. It has less heartbreak," said Archita, munching on a Samosa.

" Both the epics have heartbreak - the main theme is Sacrifice and Dharma," said Sonakshi, eating a Pani puri.

" I am confused. Which is better?" said Kirti, pouting.

" None. Both have their own sets of stories," said Sanchi, as she sat down on the floor beside her sisters.

" Agreed di. Both speak their own narratives, own interpretations and own views. It is there for us to learn from." said Anjali.

" But, in Mahabharata...there are so many emotions that it makes me cry," said Kirti, looking thoughtful.

" Cry? You know didi she was excited over Shakuni's death!" said a snickering Ragini.

All of them laughed as Kirti punched Ragini on the hand, and that started a fight between the two twins. Sanchali simply gave a small smile.

" Why were you excited though, dear?" asked Sanchi, her eyes sharp.

Kirti and Ragini stopped trying to hit each other, at her voice.

" Well, isn't Shakuni the mastermind of the Mahabharata?" asked Kirti.

" One of them," answered Anjali.

" One? Who is the other one?" asked Ragini, curious. She loved deep discussions as long as it doesn't turn into an argument.

"Krishna. Right di?" asked Sona, as she looked at Sanchi who hummed.

"Don't you think Shakuni was evil, di?" asked Archita, sensing her eldest sister's contemplative mood.

"Evil is created, never born, Archi. Darkness and Light - both are within us. It depends on us, on whom we wish to act upon. Have you wondered why Shakuni was preoccupied with making Duryodhan the king?" said Sanchi looking up to find her sisters in a pensive mood?

" Yes. Is it not because of Gandhari?" asked Anjali.

" Explain di. I didn't get it," demanded Ragini.

" Gandhari was Shakuni's sister. Very pious and brave women. She had the boon of hundred sons. When Bhishma, the son of Ganga, bought Dhritarashtra's alliance for Gandhari, he was furious. He did not want his sister to marry a blind prince. But his father Subala, though displeased, agreed on wedding his daughter to Dhritarashtra, because it would earn Gandhara the backing of a very powerful ally in Aryavarta. Gandhari on learning that her husband is blind, wore a blindfold on her eyes, to share the anguish of her husband --" explained Anjali, though she was interrupted by Archi.

" Wasn't she afraid of darkness?" asked Archita, intrigued. No matter how many times she hears this, it never gets boring.

Ragini, Sona and Kirti were listening spell-bound, though they knew it. Sanchi simply smiled and ate another samosa.

" Yes, I was getting to that part. She was afraid of darkness. So for a person to welcome her own fear, just to do something like that...was a particularly big sacrifice on Gandhari's part. I admire her drive actually. Shakuni was enraged at what his sister did to herself. He loved his sister more than he loved himself or his Kingdom. To see his sister embrace her own fear, to sacrifice so selflessly, wasn't a very happy thing for him. He wanted his sister to live a comfortable life, not one filled with her fear. But he still conceded and kept mum." said Anjali.

" The by-product was his immense resentment towards Bhishma for bringing the alliance in the first place," said Ragini, thoughtfully.

" Dislike," said Sanchi, as she leaned back against the wall.

" Dislike? Wasn't it hatred?" asked Ragini, confused.

" Not at that point. The seed was planted when the alliance came. It grew into a sapling when Gandhari sacrificed her sight. But it took something else to make the sapling into a tree of hatred." said Sanchali.

She was sitting with her legs folded, her elbows on her thighs with her chin on her clasped hand. A small smile on her lips.

" What can that be?" asked Ragini, blinking.

" Think," said Sanchi nonchalantly.

" I know! It was when Dhritarashtra was denied the throne, in favour of Pandu, wasn't it?" asked Kirti, her eyes twinkling.

" Yes, Kirti. Archita, why don't you continue, now?" said Sanchali.

" Okay. So next Dhritarashtra was denied the throne, on account of his blindness. That made Shakuni angry. First, due to Bhishma, his sister sacrificed her sight, married a blind King, then her husband even though being the eldest was denied his inheritance, therefore Gandhari could not become the queen. As Sanchi di said, the sapling of hatred grew a bit more. It was then Shakuni understood the reason behind the union of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra her boon - The promised 100 sons. Kuru clan was nearly extinct at that point. Only a few members were there. Satyavati, Ambalika, Ambika and the three - Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. Vidura was a son of a maid and Ved Vyas. He cannot be considered a complete Kuru Royal, though he was the half-brother of both the Princes. To make sure the future of Hastinapur was secure, Bhishma went to Gandhara when he heard of Gandhari's boons." said Archita, drinking a glass of water when she finished speaking.

" Oh! Bhishma cannot reproduce, because he was celibate. The females, obviously couldn't either. So the reproduction was left to the two sons - Dhritarashtra and Pandu. " said Kirti, in a matter of fact tone.

" What does this have to do with Shakuni?" asked Ragini.

" Wait, little sister, there is more. Mind, if I continue Archi di?" said Sonakshi, looking at Archita, who simply waved a hand.

All the sisters listened engrossed.

" The little tree of hatred developed even more vigorously when he saw that after the arrival of the Pandavas, the Kauravas, that is the 100 sons were being ignored even more. Duryodhan was a volatile person by nature, quick to anger. I don't really think any of the elders spent much time with them or him in particular. I mean, his parents - both couldn't see, were also busy in Kingdom works. Then who was responsible for those 100 sons? Shakuni, of course. Shakuni who loved his sister loved her sons as well. With the arrival of Pandavas, things changed. He saw that the elders, namely, Bhishma, Vidura, Kripacharya, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari...who rarely used to spend time with his nephews were now trying to find time to spend with the Pandavas. This made him think of his nephews future since according to him no one cared for them." said Sona, taking a breath.

" Hmm, but Sona di..the Pandavas, their father and one of their mother just died. Surely, that warranted a bit more love and care?" said Ragini, pointing it out.

" It did. But no one was there to tell that to Duryodhana, to show him that it wasn't wrong, or tell him why they were given preference. He only had Shakuni, who had seen the presence of Kunti and her children as a threat to his sister's happiness. To him, his sister and anything related to her mattered. No one else other than her mattered to him. He saw the entire thing as a political game. Pandu's children and wife's arrival made everyone remember their previous King, which was something Shakuni did not want, as that would not allow his sister to remain as the Maharani and later Rajmata. Therefore, Shakuni started to tell Duryodhana about the throne and how Yuddhisthira has come to snatch it away from him." said Sona, a small sad smile on her face.

"Was he right though?" asked Kirti, tilting her head slightly to the right.

"Who knows?" said Archita shrugging, "But that man is perhaps the most intelligent human to be ever born, so messing with him isn't advisable. He could have been great if he had not followed his demand for revenge."

"If the elders had simply done their job...perhaps the matter wouldn't have been messed up so much..who knows? These little things matter, you know. Perhaps, they tried...it didn't go as planned or something messed up..who knows...5000 approx years have passed, it's hard to say, what is the truth or just folktales.." said Anjali.

" Even Folktales have a point of origin to them, di. So, Shakuni indirectly became the reason behind Duryodhana's obsession with the throne. It makes me wonder if Bhishma and the other elders even knew the names of those 100 sons, other than Duryodhan, Dusshasan and Vikarna? Did they know what they liked or what they did not like? What each of their personality was? I mean, you can't say everyone was the same as Duryodhan or Dusshasan or Vikarna. Each person is unique and must have individuality." said Kirti, thoughtfully.

Screen freezes.

Silence. Pure silence was in the lounge. No one said a word.

The entire starting scene had been heavy. Duryodhan wasn't meeting anyone's eye. He was watching the face of the small girl on his lap, sleeping with her cute face. She proved a good distraction, from the stares he was getting. He removed a small curl, which was disturbing her sleep. The girl simply seems to cuddle more into him, in response. Her cute smile making even him smile a bit.

Krishna, though he was not smiling, his eyes were merry. The girls were questioning things even before they are here. He loved it, actually. After all, if someone doesn't question, how will one find answers? How will they know what is right and wrong?

Balrama felt a headache incoming. He was thinking of future headaches that were sure to come. What was going on here?

" I apologize Putra. I couldn't spend time with all my children," said Gandhari, tears freely flowing down her milky cheeks.

" Mata, let it be. I am not a child now," said Duryodhana, not looking at her.

" Devi Mahamaya, can we continue?" asked Karna, this time, knowing his friend was becoming uncomfortable.

" Before that, I have a question," said Ashwathama, interrupting before Mahamaya can speak.

Duryodhana gave a grateful glance at his friends, who was taking the attention off him. It was obviously noticed by everyone since they were looking at him. Karna simply smiled, while Ashwathama was looking at Mahamaya, who gestured him to speak.

" How come the scene started right where we left yesterday? Doesn't time flow in Kali Yuga?" asked Ashwathama, confused.

" Of-course. It does, but differently from Dwapar Yuga. I don't wish to go to specifics, as it will be a long explanation. Shall we begin again?" said Mahamaya.

At everyone's nodes and smiles, the hesitant ones of the elders - Bhishma, Drona, Dhritarashtra, Vidur, Gandhari and Kunti, the contemplative ones of the Pandavas - Yuddhisthira, Bheem, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, the calm nods of the three friends Duryodhana, Karna and Ashwathama and the peaceful smiles of the two divine brothers - Krishna and Balrama, the screen started to play again.

" Didi, isn't it also said that on the day Duryodhana's birth, there were ill omens all around?" said Archita, her lips pulled in a small frown.

" Yes, though I don't know how true it is. Many had said that the Mahabharata is full of complexities, especially of a psychological nature. What do you think, Ragini, Kirti, Sona...Sanchi di?" said Anjali, her eyes had a small excitement in the anticipation of a new perspective.

Five pairs of eyes focused on their eldest sister. Sanchali smiled at their eager eyes.

" I am not always right, you know," she said exasperated.

"Of course we know..but your perspective makes the situation interesting. You have a way of saying things that makes us see a different angle," said Archita, a matter-fact of tone.

All of the sisters nodded agreeing with her words.

" Hmm...I won't say I am right, but personally speaking, I do not believe in superstition. These omens are nothing but superstition, in my opinion. I believe that monsters are made not born. If someone like Mahamantri Vidura, the son of the revered sage of Ved Vyas, the grandson of Sage Parshara, being one of the most intelligent men of the Dvapara Yuga, believed in the omens more..made me really sceptical. I mean if you treat a kid like he is the second coming of evil, what do you expect him to become? The paragon of goodness? I am talking about the child Duryodhana, though, not the one who was in the middle of Dyut Sabha." said Sanchi, her voice rather cynical.

Screen froze.