Epic Retold: The Mahabharata in Tweets (16 page)

Except for Yudhistira, we are all uneasy about the final year. We know Duryodhana will send an army of spies to look for us.

If found out, it is another twelve years in the forest for us. We would lose our allies. Nobody waits forever.

‘Why should we go into hiding?’ Arjuna asks one evening. ‘We have spent twelve years in the forest already. We should be preparing for war!’

I do not expect Yudhistira to agree. And he doesn’t. He launches into a speech about how we are honour-bound by the conditions of our release.

‘The gods will not favour those who forsake the righteous path,’ he says. ‘The stars will align with us. We need to see this through.’

Arjuna gets up and walks away. Nakula asks, ‘And what happens when we return? Will the astrologer tell Duryodhana to return our kingdom?’

‘Do not mock what you don’t understand, child,’ Yudhistira admonishes. ‘The movement of celestial bodies decides every course we take.’

Arjuna is persuaded about the year in hiding only after Krishna arrives. Krishna has brought his wife Satyabhama, which pleases Draupadi.

While the two women talk, Krishna takes Arjuna into the forest. When they return, my brother is more receptive.

Krishna explains it is in our strategic interest to go into hiding. He has thought it through, made arrangements.

‘You will spend the time in Matsya, in the palace of King Virata. You must cultivate him. When the year ends, he must become your ally.’

After Krishna leaves, a messenger comes from Hastinapur. Apparently, Dritarashtra could not help worrying about our welfare.

‘There is not a single day he does not think about the Pandavas,’ the messenger says. ‘He has not forgiven his wayward sons.’

I look at Arjuna. The blind man could not stop his pretence. He had sat silent when Dushasana dragged Draupadi into the open court.

Yudhistira responds as per custom, ‘Is Grandfather well? Please tell him the Pandavas pay their respects to him and Aunt Gandhari.’

From the messenger we learn Duryodhana has been dissuaded from performing the coronation ceremony that would make him king of kings.

‘Of course the blind man would hesitate!’ Nakula says after the messenger leaves. ‘But not out of grief for us!

‘He knows well no king would accept Duryodhana as emperor without defeating us in battle!’

Yudhistira says, ‘We must be careful. This place is not far from Hastinapur. It is not unlike Duryodhana to begin plotting again.’

A few days later, a message arrives from Uncle Vidura: Duryodhana, Karna and Sakuni are headed our way, with a posse of soldiers.

‘It is supposed to be a royal procession,’ the messenger says, ‘to drive cattle into the forests. But there will be mischief.’

Arjuna and I take to spending the days in the forest, keeping an eye out for intruders, particularly in the direction of Hastinapur.

At night, we take turns to stand guard. If they attacked us here, no one would know.

The Pandavas could disappear forever. Even if our bodies are found, they could blame it on foresters.

Prepared as we are, trouble catches us by surprise when it arrives.

I wake up hearing the sound of running feet. Without answering Draupadi who says something, I run out, grabbing my mace and spear.

Arjuna is already there. Bow strung, arrow at the ready, he is covering three soldiers. They wear Duryodhana’s livery.

As I raise my spear, they walk forward, palms raised to indicate peaceful intent. I see Nakula and Sahadeva come running. Then Yudhistira.

The soldiers bow to Yudhistira. ‘Help us,’ says one.

Duryodhana’s men. Requesting our help in the dead of night. Surely, there is some plan afoot!

Under Yudhistira’s careful questioning, the story slowly emerges.

Duryodhana, Dushasana and Karna had set out for Kamyaka early that morning. The plan was to ‘chance’ upon us and provoke a confrontation.

On their way, they had encountered a soldier from a distant land. For sport, Duryodhana had ordered his trusted men to capture him.

Unfortunately for the Kauravas, the soldier was not alone. He belonged to the army of King Chitrasena, who had a large force camped nearby.

By the time Duryodhana realized his mistake, the Kaurava posse was surrounded and captured.

‘Tomorrow, Chitrasena starts his march back,’ the soldier says. ‘He cannot be allowed to retain our crown prince as prisoner!

‘We beseech the magnanimous Pandavas to free him.’

I laugh out loud. ‘You come to kill us—but now you seek our help?’

But Yudhistira frowns. ‘Who is this Chitrasena? How did he take Duryodhana prisoner even when Karna was with him?’

The soldier does not know much. But he appears convinced that Chitrasena’s men possess strange powers.

‘We have not seen their kind of warfare before!’ the soldier says. ‘They could even become invisible!’

Yudhistira seems lost in thought. Then he says, ‘True, our cousins have wronged us. But we cannot let some charlatan ruler attack them!

‘Bhima, you and Arjuna must rescue them.’

This time it is Arjuna who laughs. ‘Rescue them? Let us thank Chitrasena! He is no charlatan—but relative of my wife Chitrangada.’

Yudhistira turns to him thoughtfully, combing his long beard with his fingers. ‘That makes the decision easier. We must get them released.’

Seeing the expression on our faces, Yudhistira paces impatiently. He says, ‘Think about this carefully. Who will emerge glorious from this?

‘What will people say when they hear the Pandavas went to the aid of their cousins who did them injury? Who will emerge stronger?

‘Think of this as diplomacy. When we look for allies after our exile, we must give rulers a reason to align with us!’

For once, I believe Yudhistira is right. He is thinking like a king. ‘It makes sense,’ I tell Arjuna. ‘We must go to Chitrasena.’

Arjuna nods. ‘It does not require both our efforts. I will leave immediately.’

It is late afternoon when Arjuna returns the next day. Chitrasena and a group of soldiers accompany him.

Amidst them, their hands tied behind their backs with vines, walk Duryodhana, Dushasana and Karna. They wear no ornaments.

Chitrasena pays his respects to Yudhistira. Then signals his men to free the prisoners.

‘I have heard of what they did to you,’ Chitrasena says. ‘I wanted them to be freed in your presence.’

Duryodhana does not look up when his bonds are cut away. Yudhistira embraces him, saying, ‘Go, child. Tell Uncle we asked about him.’

The Kaurava turns, walks away without a word. Dushasana and Karna follow, rubbing the bruises on their wrists.

Duryodhana pauses at the edge of the camp. The eyes that look back at us blaze.

THE NEW RAVANA

EPISODE 23

TWEETS 58

I wait impatiently for Yudhistira to finish. He has spent the morning closeted with yet another pilgrim who wandered into our camp.

With the twelfth year nearing its end, there is much to be done. Yet my brother has no time left after his endless discussions on morality!

When the old pilgrim finally leaves, Yudhistira summons me. He has a pleased look on his face.

‘The Kauravas deferred Duryodhana’s coronation—as expected,’ he says. ‘They conducted a grand religious ceremony instead.’

Undeterred by my lack of response, he continues, ‘I am told eighteen major rulers attended, and they have promised to support him.

‘Now, he has sent Karna to several kingdoms. King Rukma of Vidarbha has refused him, but I hear some northern rulers received him well.’

I look at my brother in astonishment. He laughs. ‘Yes, that old brahmin is a spy I engage! Did you not know holy men make the best spies?

‘They can go anywhere they please without arousing suspicion. Kings and courtiers welcome them, soldiers seek their blessings!

‘And when they come to me, no one takes notice. Because they come to Yudhistira, the weak king wedded to scriptures, not statecraft!’

The years of cross-legged discussions with wandering old men—so there was a purpose to it all? I look at Yudhistira with new respect.

‘Word has also arrived from Krishna,’ Yudhistira continues. ‘Preparations for our year in disguise are complete. We need to reach Matsya …’

’ Leaving Yudhistira, I seek out Arjuna to share the news. He is in the archery area we had constructed together, some distance from the camp.

Since his return, he has spent much of his time here, perfecting the use of his new weapons. He listens intently. He asks:

‘Five men and one woman joining Virata’s staff—even if we arrive separately, surely it will raise the suspicion of Kaurava spies?’

‘Who says it will be us six alone?’ I ask, smiling. ‘Some of Krishna’s men will be arriving there at the same time.

‘And it will happen in other courts, in several kingdoms. Duryodhana’s men will have to work very hard to find us!’

I tell Arjuna about the new identities Yudhistira and Krishna have planned for us. I would be Vallabha, seeking employment as a cook.

Nakula would pretend to be a stableman. Sahadeva would try to find work as a cowherd.

Arjuna smiles humourlessly when I tell him Yudhistira plans to seek a job in King Virata’s gambling chamber. His new name would be Kangan.

Draupadi would join the court as Malini, a companion maid for Virata’s wife Sudeshna.

‘And I?’ Arjuna asks.

‘You will be Brihannala, the eunuch!’ I say, laughing. ‘You will teach music and dance to the king’s daughter!’

Arjuna too bursts out laughing. ‘I must remember to shave! And walk with mincing steps!’ He demonstrates. ‘See? Easy!’

Easy of mind with the knowledge Yudhistira is thinking our future through, I return to weapons training with greater energy.

Some days, I join Arjuna with the bow. Now I am almost as proficient with my left hand as my right. And faster than I ever have been.

Today, though, I am on my own. Hunting after several days, I am so intent on the spoor I am tracking that I almost miss the first scream.

When a second one rings out louder than the first, I abandon the hunt and race towards the camp. I know Draupadi is there alone.

Running over a hilltop, I look down at the camp. What I see makes me blind with fury.

A man in royal robes is trying to drag Draupadi towards a chariot that stands at the edge of the clearing. A soldier assists him.

I speed downhill with a bellow of rage. The soldier turns to me, sword in hand.

Ducking under his arm, I lift him up and crash him down. Draupadi has freed her hands. As I watch, she jumps out of the chariot.

The royal makes as if to jump out after her. But seeing me, his charioteer whips the horses and begins to speed away.

An arrow sings through the air. Arjuna has arrived.

Grabbing the reins from his dead charioteer’s hands, the royal attempts escape. I know he cannot get away; the trail is not made for speed.

I run downhill, crushing undergrowth to intersect the trail. By the time the chariot turns the first bend, I am in the middle of the road.

The horses rear up. Before the attacker can pick up his weapon, I knock him unconscious with a blow to his face.

Then, grabbing him by his diamond-studded leather belt, I pull him out of the chariot and drag him back to the camp.

Arjuna is there. So are Nakula and Sahadeva. Were there any others with the royal, I ask.

‘I sent back one charioteer with three bodies,’ Arjuna says. He adds grimly, ‘We will need another to send this one’s body back!’

Draupadi tells us what happened. The royal had stumbled upon the camp and, mistaking Draupadi for a jungle beauty, made advances.

When Draupadi scolded him and told him who she was, the king had laughed. ‘Five husbands!’ he said. ‘One more makes no difference then!’

‘What are we waiting for?’ Nakula asks. ‘Kill this degenerate now!’

‘Let’s first find out who he is,’ I say.

Just then, Yudhistira returns. Seeing our prisoner, he exclaims, ‘The prince of Sindhu! Why have you tied him up?’