Chapter 24

Prakriti P.O.V

As we left the city, Brother Krishna was standing on the outskirts of Hastinapur with Abhimanyu in his arms, my eyes teared up as I looked at my little warrior who was looking at us in confusion. I quicken my speed and engulfed my little warrior into a hug, sighing in relief. He put both of his small arms around my neck. I broke the hug and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Mother, where are we going?" he asked in his innocent voice, my heart broke at the moment looking at my son, he has to live without parents for thirteen years. He doesn't like to stay away from us for even small amount of time, how come he is going to live away for that long. "Abhimanyu, your parents are going away for some important task until then you are going to live with me in Dwarka and getting ready to be a warrior" Brother Krishna said putting his hand on Abhimanyu's head, he looked at his uncle in confusion "Why can't I go with them?" he said frowning, I sighed but put a smile on my face for his sake. "Son" I called, he turned his gaze towards me, his eyes getting teary. "My little warrior, you have to stay with Uncle Krishna so that you can train and become capable to protect your Mother" I said in cheerful voice, his lips quivered and suddenly he started crying. My own eyes filled with tears and I hugged my son to my chest. "Sssh, my boy, we will be back soon" I said trying to reassure him, but how can I make a little kid understand that both of his parents are leaving him for his entire childhood.

Arya came forward and touched Abhimanyu head softly "Son, you are my brave boy, I know when we come back, you will be better archer than your father" he said with a smile on his face, Abhimanyu looked at me and I nodded my head. "Of course, our Abhimanyu will succeed his father" I said which put a smile on his little face and slowly he nodded his head. I wiped his tears away, "I will wait for you" he said finally and I hugged him again tightly one last time, giving his forehead a kiss. Then he moved towards his father and I walked to Brother Krishna who was looking at me in determination. "Time has come for you to accept yourself fully, Prakriti" he started saying, I nodded my head, "Find yourself in those years and prepare for the war" he said putting his hand on my head and gave me a soft smile. I smiled back and turned around to see Abhimanyu saying farewell to his family. Krishne was crying, hugging Abhimanyu as his Uncles and Father surrounded them. "Don't worry about him, he will be a great warrior" Brother said looking towards my son, I know he will be when Narayana himself will train him for war.

Slowly everyone came towards us, Abhimanyu stand beside me, I put his hand in mine. Arya moved towards Brother Krishna and joined his hands together in farewell gesture "Partha, In these twelve years, collect all the divine weapons for the upcoming war, you may need it" he said, Arya nodded his head and stand beside him. Brother Bhima walked to Brother Krishna "Brother Bhima, no one knows about power better than Hanuman, Go to Gandhamadan Parvat and pray to him" he suggested to which Brother Bhima nodded his head with a small smile on his face, next came twins joining their hands, Brother Krishna told them to pray to Ashwini kumara for the power of healing because it will be useful in the war for our army. Finally came Elder Brother and Krishne taking their leave. Brother Krishna asked them to serve sages and saints for the time being to earn dharma. One by one Pandavas and Krishne started moving forward, I joined my hands together one last time to Brother Krishna who nodded his head, I started walking towards my family when I felt a pull from behind. I looked back and saw Abhimanyu grabbing the corner of my saree and looking at me with tears running down his cheeks. I quickly moved towards him and pulled him in a hug.

I sobbed hugging him, It is the hardest thing in my life to be part away from my son. Duryodhana, I won't forgive you for the pain you have given me and to my family. I broke the hug and looked at my son, wiping his cheeks. "I have to go now, my little Warrior" with that said, I didn't wait for his reply and went away leaving a piece of my heart behind.

***

We moved towards the north, walking in the forest getting away from Hastinapur more and more. We reached at the bank of river, There was an immense banyan tree growing at the water's edge, with a hundred aerial roots, each one thick as a small trunk, spreading down from great branches. "We should rest here for a bit" Elder Brother finally said as he saw the exhausted look on our face, we have been walking for a long time now, everyone nodded their head and slowly took the seat under the tree. "I will bring some water" I said to all of them and moved towards the river, I put my hand in the fresh water and drank some water quenching my thirst. I pulled a leaf from nearby and got some water in them for my family. I went back and help them, everyone got ready to sleep as they laid under the tree. When everyone was asleep, I moved towards the river and sat beside it staring at the clear water which was shining due to stars scattered in the sky.

I closed my eyes and looked in the near future, how our twelve years are going to be spend. Suddenly a hand was on my shoulder disturbing me from concentrating. I turned my head around and saw Arya standing behind me. I made room for him and he took a seat beside me. For couple of minutes, no one spoke, there was a calm silence around us as we stared at the water. "I am sorry" he spoke all of a sudden, I sighed and looked at him "This is not your fault, Arya, It wasn't anyone's fault" I said but he shook his head "What is the meaning of me being a great archer if I can't protect my own wife" he said, his voice lowering. I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. "Like I told you before, it wasn't our fault, it was fate which will be the base of destruction of Adharma" I responded trying to assure him. I am not angry at him, not at anyone for that matter, I know the people who are wrong, who created the situation like that for us. Their time is limited now. Finally he nodded his head and I put my head on his shoulder staring at the clear water.

***

Next day, Leaving the shelter of the banyan, we started walking towards north again until we arrived on the banks of the midnight-blue Yamuna, with the help of my power, we crossed the river and moved along the river. After walking some way, We came to the Saraswati, her currents golden by the setting sun. On her banks, we saw a lush jungle that seemed to call out to us: its presence was so tranquil, deeply inviting.

"It is the Kamyaka vana. I have hunted here once." Arya said looking at the forest in front of us. "I have heard many rishis live in this forest. Let us build an asrama and spend part of our exile here" Elder brother decided as we stared at the forest, everyone gave their consent and we entered in the forest. It was night fall as we looked for the suitable place to make hut for us. We came at a cleaning and saw two fiery eyes blazing at us. The moon provide us light and we saw an enormous demon standing before us. "Who are you, strangers, whose flesh is so fragrant? Why have you come out from your cozy homes to make me a meal?" he said in awful voice, he started slowly walking towards us, He was tall as two men and his skin shone a dull green. His hair was long and tangled and he was covered from head to foot in slime and filth; otherwise he was quite naked. His head was, like Hidimba's, half a great bat's and he had wings behind him and fangs like needles in his mouth with which he drank the hot blood of creatures he preyed on, from the look on his eyes, he is thinking of us as his next meal. Arya moved his bow forward in attacking position, Brother Bhima eyes began to shine, he was ready to kill.

"I am Kirmira, King of the jungle. Dare you not answer me, humans? I asked who you are" he growled, dust flew around at his growl. Elder Brother took few steps forward "We are the Pandavas. I am Yudhishtira and these are my brothers Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Nakula. We have been banished for thirteen years from Indraprastha. This is our queen Panchali and this is my brother Arjuna's wife and a Yadava Princess, Prakriti" Elder Brother introduced us, the demon laughed, his eyes shining with mirth. He roamed his eyes around and it stopped on Brother Bhima, he licked his lips in hunger. Brother Bhima moved forward "This beast comes as a Godsend for me to vent my wrath" he said with a roar and sprang at the demon. They started fighting, their blow shook the earth as they attacked each other with punches, Brother Bhima has so much pent up in himself, we could see in his attack. He leapt up, caught the demon's ankles and pulled him down. Quicker than thinking, he tore off his wings. Kirmira screeched, subliminally, truly like a monstrous bat. Brother Bhima pulled him on to his lap and, with a wrench, broke his back like a twig.

Demon screamed from the top of his lungs in the silent night. We stared at the scene from the side line, he lay twitching in death's spasms, until life left him and he grew still. Brother Bhima roared in anger as we walked towards him, with my fire, I burnt the corpse of the demon turning him into ashes. Everyone embraced Brother Bhima and then we moved forward finally founding the place for our home.

We spend a week in the Kamyaka forest, we were sitting together in the tree after finishing our meal when Elder Brother spoke. "The terms of our exile are that we must spend twelve years in a remote and inaccessible place, far from the habitations of men. This vana hardly fulfills those conditions. My own inclination is to find a jungle where rishis live, where we can pass our exile profitably" he said.

"You must decide where we should spend these twelve years" I asked him.

"Somehow, I think you have a suggestion to make, Prakriti" he smiled looking at me, I nodded my head and turned my gaze at Arya who understood my gaze and nodded his head. "On our time of penance, me and Prakriti passed through a forest that may be the place you are looking for. It is called the Dwaitavana and it isn't far from here" Arya said, I remembered the time when we spent in that forest, there are lots of hut of saints and sages who we served in our time. Elder Brother looked at Brother Bhima who nodded his head in response and we decided to moved towards Dwaitavana.

The Dwaitavana was indeed near the Kamyaka and we arrived there in a few days. This was a different kind of forest, lighter, full of open spaces. It was more a vast and untamed garden than a jungle. There seemed to be no fear here and fine lakes abounded, overgrown with lotuses. The trees, too, were sturdier and grew further apart than those in the Kamyaka and their branches were homes for koyal, chakravaka and peacock. There were no demons and it fairly bristled with the asramas of rishis. We build a home near the lake and started living there.