Portfolio Index

For this collection of tales, I wanted to tell the stories about the characters you don't get to see. Most of these are expanded on small parts of the original. I am always fascinated in the "what if" of every story I read. My favorite story was the first one I wrote: The Queen's Maiden. I put the most effort into this story and I love the story of Promilla and the woman she was. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed writing them!

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The Dangerous Flower: When the Pandava brothers couldn't help her, Draupadi takes matters into her own hands.

Draupadi

Draupadi's Escape: We all know how Arjun won Draupadi's hand in marriage, but what if she didn't want to marry him? What if she wanted another life?

Draupadi at her Swayamvar

Ekalavya's Tale: One man's hero is another man's hindrance. We all know Drona helped the Pandava brothers, but who was he before? Was he always looking to help?

Drona with Arjuna and Ekalavya

The River Nymphs: When faced with temptation, how do you respond? When faced with your own pride, how do you change? Look deeper into both these in this short story!

One of the mysterious sisters

The Queen's Maiden : How do you express your devotion to the ones you love? Actions will always speak louder than words. See the journey a devoted wife and maiden take to show the love of friendship and a relationship.

The Maiden with her Queen

Story: The Dangerous Flower

The court was divided with some favoring the Kurus and others on the side of the Pandava brothers. Duryodhana sat on his throne laughing at the Pandavas' humiliation. Finally, he was able to get his revenge. The crowd turned their attention to Draupadi, who had just been dragged in. So many in the court started spouting insults and some went as far as spitting on her.

“Enough,” Duryodhana’s voice boomed in the giant courtroom. “Yudhishthira sold this woman, so now she is mine. I want her taken to my chambers,” Duryodhana turned to address Draupadi directly. “You will wait for me there. I expect you to be cleaned up and presentable by the time I arrive.”

Draupadi looked up to her husbands for help. However, none of them could muster the courage to meet her gaze. Tears started streaming down Draupadi's face and she dropped her head in sorrow as the guards led her to Duryodhana’s room. When she arrived at the dimly lit room, all she could make out was a giant wooden desk that stood in front of the library that lined the wall. She turned her head and saw the monstrous bed that took up most of the room. As soon as she saw it, fear gripped her heart. The guards left and she ran to look out the window, hoping she could escape, but the only thing on the other side was a great cliff. Draupadi fell to the ground and sobbed. She repeatedly called out to Krishna for help. When she uncovered her eyes, she saw something in the corner of the grand table that looked like a plant she had once heard about. She knew the properties its leaves held and suddenly Draupadi jumped up with a plan ready.

Draupadi in the court

Draupadi went to the door and asked the guard to fetch her some water. A servant returned with a pitcher of water and two gold cups. Draupadi rolled her eyes at the cups thinking they were too over the top, but still thanked the servant and closed the door. She quickly ran to the table and looked at the plant. She had forgotten what it was called, but she remembered encountering one in her garden when she was a little princess in her father’s kingdom. She loved how the flower looked and smelled and remembered her father telling her to be like this flower. This plant looked harmless but if anyone were to ingest its roots, they would immediately die. Her father told her to look harmless on the outside but be a deadly weapon at the core.

Draupadi grabbed it by the stem and uprooted it. She tore off a small section of the root and crushed it with one of the books on the shelf. After it turned into a powder, she gently scooped up the dust and poured it into the pitcher. As she was mixing the contents, the noise that was coming from the courtroom ceased. Draupadi knew it was time and her heart pounded, fearing that this plan would fail. She had just placed the pitcher back on the tray when the chamber door flew open.

Duryodhana drunkenly stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. Draupadi hated the sight of his smirk that he gave her. “Finally! You’re mine,” he slurred.

“Finally! I was getting anxious waiting for you!” Draupadi replied, faking enthusiasm to dispel any suspicion. “Ever since I’ve laid eyes on you, I have only ever desired for this moment.”

“And what would that be, dear?” Duryodhana said with a burp at the end. Duryodhana had found his way to the chair behind his desk and gestured for Draupadi to come share his seat. Draupadi smiled at him and started pouring some water into a glass.

“I have always wanted to be yours. I hate the sight of those awful Pandavas. They are greedy and malicious. They are morons compared to you,” she replied as she walked around the table to him. She went and sat on his lap handing him the drink. Duryodhana took it without thinking and said, “You’ve wanted me?”

“Oh yes, of course! Just look at you! You are so strong and the most handsome man I have ever known,” she said as her hands held his face. “Those Pandavas should be bowing to you. Everyone can see you’re the mighty one.”

Duryodhana chuckled, pressed the glass up to his mouth and drank the cup dry. Draupadi held Duryodhana’s hand and led him away from the table. Halfway to the bed, Duryodhana let go of her hand and fell to the ground.

“What have you done to me?” he choked out. Draupadi just stood in silence as she watched the life go out of him. It was done. Her husbands and she could go live their lives without fear of this monster anymore.

Draupadi and the poison

Author's Note: In the original story, Draupadi is forced into Duryodhana's court after Yudhishthira gambled everything away in a dice game. When she is thrown into the court, she is called names and laughed at. Then, one of the men in Duryodhana's court, Dushasana, claims that she should be put to shame and disrobed. Since her husbands cannot help her, she cries out to Krishna for help. Krishna heard her and extended her cloth so that every time Dushasana tried to remove a layer, he would find another underneath. This continued on until here was a large enough pile to make one hundred saris. With the help of a sage, Draupadi was able to win back all that Yudhishthira lost in the bet. The brothers and Draupadi return to their kingdom to plan their revenge.
Later, the brothers get invited back for another game and to no surprise, they lose again. This forced them into exile. I personally thought it was stupid that the brothers went back so I thought it would be better to end Duryodhana's life earlier. In the video, it kept talking about how powerless the Pandava brothers were so I was wondering what would happen if Draupadi won the battle for them.

Bibliography: Epified: Mahabharata Episode 45 - Draupadi Disrobed

Story: Draupadi's Escape

Vaisakha 19^th

Sunrise

Two days from now is the end of my peaceful life. I have been dreading my Swayamvar for the past few months because I do not understand why I’m not allowed to choose who I spend the rest of my life with. This old world thinking does not sit well with me, and I don’t know what to do. I love him. He is everything I have ever wanted in a husband. Ever since the first day, he’s cared for me unlike anyone has ever done before. I love being able to talk to him, and I feel as if I could talk to him for the rest of my life. He’s different than all the suitors that come to buy my love. Everyone just comments on my looks, and they tell me how pretty I am. It’s as if beauty is all I can offer if I become a wife. What about my thoughts and opinions? I’m a princess! I could run a country on my own, if I wanted to.  That’s why he is so great. He listens to what I say, and he engages me in stimulating conversations. Whenever I need a break from faking my interest in the latest sari designs or sweetest perfumes, I go find him. He’s one of the palace guards, so he never stays in one spot. I don’t mind seeking him out, though. His company is always worth the effort and he is who I want to marry.

Vaisakha 20^th

Sunrise

I sought him out yesterday. As we walked through the gardens, he said something I never expected. He told me he was in love with me. What do I do? This is the best news because I return his feelings and love him deeply, but I can only marry the one that wins my father’s challenge tomorrow. I have seen the loveless marriages royals are forced into, and I know that is not what I want in my life. I have to think of a way to make him my husband.

Sunset

The day passed so quickly. I wasn’t aware of anything I did today. I remember having my hair conditioned and brushed. I remember blankly staring on as my maidens dressed me in tomorrow’s dress to check if final alterations were needed. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He loved me. He did not say these words like the other suitors had. He said them with passion, filled with love for me. Life with him would be incredible. He would be loving and romantic, and he would care for all my needs. Even if we were living in a small hut by the river, I know in my heart I would be happy.

Vaisakha 21^st

Before dawn

This will me my last entry in this book. I leave the kingdom tonight. I have decided that I would rather have a life full of love than an unhappy marriage. We’re going to do it. My love and I are escaping tonight. Escaping seems like the perfect word for this journey. I’m leaving behind this life where I am only respected because of my status, not for my thoughts or ideas. I am finally going to be free! I leave this book behind for anyone to find. May you be encouraged to follow your own desires, and never settle for the life others choose for you.

Draupadi

Author's Note: The original story speaks about how King Drupada had a beautiful daughter named Draupadi. When she was old enough to be wed, the king asked every prince in the nearby kingdoms to come and fight for his daughter. The king had a challenge and whoever could complete the task would get Draupadi. Everyone had heard about Draupadi's great beauty, so they all came to win her hand. Many tried to finish the tasks, but none of them could even lift the special bow. In the end, Arjun was the victor. He was able to string a special bow and hit the desired target. As his prize, he was able to take Draupadi home. 

This story always stuck out to me because this idea of the guy winning the princess seems to come up in many cultures. At first, I wanted to write about the love between Draupadi and Arjun, but then I wondered what would happen if she didn't love him. I took it one step further and completely removed her from the scene to where she runs away before the challenge could even take place. Having read more about her life with the Pandava brothers, I got the feeling she was more than just the pretty face everyone saw. I wanted to show off her heroic side.

Bibliography: Epified: Mahabharata Videos: Draupadi's Swayamwara

Story: Ekalavya's Tale

I was almost there! Years of training and dedication had gotten me this close to the temple. I could see the palace where the great guru, Drona, resided. It was late in the evening when I reached the top of the mountain, so I decided to make camp in a nearby cave and go see the great guru early in the morning. Arriving early would show my dedication to the art, right? He would surely accept me as soon as he saw how eager I was to be his pupil.

I sat by the fire and looked on to the temple. The stories of the great Drona reached my home in the depths of the forest. Drona was known to be the most skilled warrior, archer, and thinker ever. My father had told me awe-inspiring stories of Drona fighting battles and conquering beasts three times his size. As I thought of Drona’s conquests, my arm started throbbing again. I looked down to see the blood had seeped through the bandage. With my stronger hand, I quickly unwrapped it and placed the tip of one of my arrows into the fire. After the stone started to burn red, I gently placed the arrowhead onto my cut. I fought back the urge to remove the searing stone from my arm, knowing that if this tiger bite became infected, it would be the end of me. I tore another piece of cloth and bandaged my arm once again. I took one last look at the palace and laid down to rest.

The sunlight shone through the cave opening, waking me. I rose and went to the stream to wash my face and tried to look presentable. My future rested on today. I packed up the rest of my pack and headed to the great palace. The palace that held my future.

I finally reached the steps leading to the guru. Since he had come here to be alone, he only required a few helpers, so the temple was nearly empty. I walked into a great auditorium expecting the guru to be there, but to my disappointment, he was nowhere to be seen. As I turned to leave, I saw someone sitting outside on the balcony. This had to be the guru! Overjoyed, I rushed to greet him. When I reached the doorway, I saw it was the great Drona, but he was in deep meditation. I quietly set my pack down and walked over to sit across from him and waited. I closed my eyes to honor his meditation.

I don’t know how much time passed but I opened my eyes when I heard him stir. He quietly looked at me and I bowed to the ground.

“Guru, my name is Ekalavya. I have traveled away from my home, trekked dangerous terrain, and fought off beasts of the jungle to come ask you a simple question,” I said. Since my face was to the ground, I couldn’t tell how the guru had reacted to my statement, but he remained silent.

“I wish to be trained by you. I am a skilled archer and I believe with your training, I can be the best,” I said with my heart pounding in my chest. I had practiced these words continually over the past few years. I had trained just so I would be good enough to be eligible, and here I was. I was finally about to get my dream.

“No,” he said. I did not expect the guru to be so straightforward with his answer. I lifted my head to look up at him, wondering what I had done wrong.

“Child, I have devoted myself to the warrior class. Therefore, I can only train you if you are a Kshatriya, and from your silence, I assume you do not meet these qualifications,” Drona said in a very direct tone. He did not wait to see if I had a response and walked away into the auditorium I came from. As he left me on the floor of his balcony, I sat staring at the floor. Thoughts raced around in my head. How could this have happened? I had trained all my life and I thought I was more than qualified. Did my caste really matter that much? How could he judge me in an instant? He had no idea of my skill with the bow, or the potential that I knew I had.

I knew  I could  be the best archer there ever was. Once I realized this, the thoughts stopped filling my head and I could see clearly. If  Drona wasn’t going to train me, I will just have to do it on my own. I stood up, grabbed my pack, and walked straight out of the palace, not looking back. Drona and I will cross paths in the future, and when we do, I will show him what he missed. I will become the greatest archer without his help.

Ekalavya

Author’s Note: The final scene of the story I read this week ended with the story of Ekalavya. He met the Pandava brothers as they were traveling through the forest. The brothers were amazed at his incredible archery skills. However, Arjuna was frustrated because this stranger challenged his archery skills. Arjuna asked who Ekalavya's guru was, and he said it was Drona. Furious that Drona would betray him, Arjuna took Ekalavya back to their camp to ask Drona about the whole thing. Drona said he had no knowledge of this pupil. Ekalavya explained how he had once come to Drona to become a pupil, but Drona rejected him because of his social standing. Ekalavya decided to teach himself, and he used a cut out of Drona as encouragement. The story ends on a sad note because Drona asks Ekalavya to cut off his right thumb. Drona did this because he knew that without his thumb, Ekalavya could not be the greatest archer. This would allow Arjuna to take that title.

For the above story, I expanded on the meeting between the guru and the eager student from Ekalavya's point of view. I was surprised when I heard Ekalavya's story. We often read a story and think the protagonists wouldn't do anything wrong. This story shows that even though the great Drona was Arjuna's hero, he was Ekalavya's obstacle.

Bibliography: Epified Mahabharata: Ekalavya's Story