Say No to Sibling Rivalry, Nakula Asserts

Check the theme here: Pandava Mahaprasthana

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The harsh summer sun was relentless as they walked nonstop since morning. They exited the Manipura kingdom, where Arjuna’s grandson ruled. His wife, Chitrangada, had passed away a few years ago. The news reached them a while after Parikshit’s death. It was a double blow to Arjuna, even if he wasn’t close to Chitrangada. They comforted him as much as they could, though Draupadi was the one who brought him peace.

Nakula patted the drops of sweat on his forehead and touched his top knot to check if any wayward grey tendrils escaped. Though his brothers teased that he didn’t have to look flawless, Nakula preferred to keep his appearance as perfect as possible. So what if he was over ninety and was on his last journey on this earth? It didn’t mean he had to stop caring.

Of course, they all took a bath twice a day and washed their threadbare clothes after every wear. Somehow, he had always looked put-together than the rest of them. He had always been a tad more handsome than they. It wasn’t vanity. It was what it was, something they accepted as a part of who they were.

Not once had Sahadeva asked why he wasn’t equally handsome when they were twins. It didn’t occur to his brother. That didn’t stop some people from trying to create rifts between the brothers. How many times since their entry into Hastinapura had the Kaurava cousins and the ladies made comments about their births and rights?

“Brother!” Sahadeva drawled. “Which apsara are you dreaming about?”

“O apsara, is it? Do tell us, Nakula. Let’s rest under that tree while you share the secret,” Arjuna added, pointing to his right.

Nakula chuckled as they took a few steps and sank onto the hard earth. “Why will I dream about any apsara when Draupadi is here?” He asked, winking at her.

She laughed. Turning to Nakula, she said, “I won’t mind if you think of apsaras. Not at this age!”

“You should, Draupadi. You are the youngest of us,” Yudhistira reminded her, passing the water pot to Bhima.

They bantered about ages and their additional health concerns for a while as the dog stretched beside Yudhistira and snored. It seemed determined to stay with them throughout the journey, and they didn’t have the heart to let it go.

Nakula grinned at his family—his four brothers and their common wife. They were his life for as long as he could remember. The bond with his brothers hadn’t changed after they married Draupadi. It was her greatness that she let none of them feel slighted or ignored.

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“Nakulaaa! Aren’t you a handsome prince?”

He turned to look at a lovely young girl, fluttering her eyes at him. Giving her a bow to acknowledge her compliment, Nakula continued to practice his swordsmanship in the empty arena. It wasn’t the first time he heard those words. While they tickled his pride, a part of him thought the constant comments were not genuine.

The girl skipped toward him, twirling her long braid in one hand and holding her long lehenga in the other.

“You should be the crown prince, with your handsome looks and strong shoulders.” She cooed and giggled.

Nakula suppressed a sigh. She was the fifth person to make a similar statement. He discussed it with his brothers and mother. They too agreed that this could be one of Duryodhana’s or Dhritarashtra’s plans to drive a wedge between the Pandava brothers.

“Some silly chit said I should be the future king because I’m the largest amongst us,” Bhima snorted. “What will I do sitting on the throne? That’s elder brother’s job, isn’t it?”

Arjuna raised his eyebrows as if he, too, had a similar encounter. Maa Kunti noticed their expressions and asked them to talk about it.

“Yes, Maa. Though it wasn’t a girl; it was some students training under Dronacharya with us. He thinks I should be the next king because Guruji called me the best archer. I said I’d rather be a warrior.” Arjuna replied.

“What about you, Sahadeva?” Kunti asked.

He nodded. “It was the cowherd, Maa. I went to check on the injured cow yesterday, and he said that despite being the youngest, I would be the best ruler of the kingdom.”

Kunti shook her head in resignation. “I was afraid of this.”

Yudhistira tried to ease her fears. “Maa, you know that if any of my brothers want to be the king, I will gladly agree? There is no need for you to worry about it. We won’t fight for the throne.”

Nakula also assured her. “Maa, neither I nor Sahadeva want to contest for the throne. Our priorities won’t change. Maa Madri always told us to follow our elder brother. We will keep her word. Trust me, please!”

Kunti gave him a watery smile and hugged him close. Sahadeva joined the embrace as he often did.

“I have complete faith in my five sons. However, I can’t help but be worried about their attempts to divide you. This won’t stop. Remember that.”

“We will,” Nakula promised, and so did the others.

While they hadn’t expected the coveted attempts to escalate to physical attacks, Duryodhana’s plans to eliminate them surprised no one.

It was during their years in disguise that Arjuna won Draupadi’s hand in swayamwara. Did Nakula feel jealous of his brother’s luck at winning such a mesmerizing bride? Never!

Even when he felt attracted to her, he knew he wouldn’t say or do anything to make her uncomfortable or drive a wedge between him and his brothers. It wasn’t as if there was a lack of female attention. Wherever they went, Nakula’s features turned heads. Young women came forward to help, giving him shy looks from underneath their lashes.

However, for a while, he had worried about how Draupadi would adjust to polyandry, that too, when the threat of his uncle and cousins still loomed over their heads. Nakula guessed why Arjuna went into a self-imposed exile soon after they built Indraprastha and settled in their new kingdom. There was too much at stake.

Fortunately, his fears turned out to be unnecessary.

He stood at the entrance of Draupadi’s room in her quarters. Arjuna returned from his exile with a new wife, Subhadra. Nakula knew it had hurt Draupadi, though she bore it with grace and welcomed the bride with a smile.

“Nakula! Why are you standing there? Come in.” Draupadi said when she noticed him. She sank into a plush chair with a slight wince.

“Are you in pain, Rani?” He asked, rushing to her side. She had given birth to Bhima’s son a fortnight before. Like his father, little Sutasoma had a sturdy build. It wouldn’t have been easy birthing him. Nakula saw how the horses struggled to deliver when their foals were bigger than the average size.

She cupped his cheek in her hand and smiled. “I’m better now. Healing takes time, doesn’t it?”

Nakula nodded. He sat on the footstool, holding her hand in his. “I came to discuss our previous agreement.”

When Arjuna wrote to Yudhistira seeking permission to marry Subhadra, Draupadi said she would spend her next year with Nakula and Sahadeva after that.

“What about it?”

“It isn’t necessary. You can… continue with the original agreement.” He murmured. Nakula knew Draupadi and Arjuna had a connection they didn’t have with others. It didn’t matter to him. However, he also didn’t want to be a step-in for his brother.

“Why would I do that when I want to be with you, Nakula?” Draupadi asked. She leaned to brush his hair from his forehead and placed a soft kiss. “You brothers are so unique that you cannot replace one another. I chose all five of you, and I intend to enjoy the love and attention you lavish on me… Do you think I don’t know what I want, or did you decide you don’t want a wife who already gave birth to two kids?”

“Draupadi! How can you say that? Why will I disrespect your choice?” Nakula protested. A part of him guessed she said it to get a rise out of him. “Aren’t they my sons, too?”

“Then there’s nothing to discuss. Once my three-month self-care period ends, I will move in with you. Don’t forget you said we could go riding every day!”

“Of course, Rani. How can I dare to disobey your orders?” He teased.

She laughed, easing his head onto her lap. He moved closer to wrap an arm around her waist and settled his face into her saree folds. Draupadi ran her fingers through his hair, teasing him that they were silkier than hers.

Not once during their years together did Nakula wonder about her feelings for him. She understood his need for space while giving him the love he craved. They had a special bond built on mutual respect for their individualities and their determination to keep the family together.

During the negotiations before the war, Duryodhana made a sly comment that he would share the kingdom with Nakula and Sahadeva if they broke away from his brothers. It came in a roundabout manner, through their Uncle Shalya, the raja of Madra.

“He continues to be evil.” Sahadeva spat, vibrating with anger. “How dare he think we are like him!”

Even when Duryodhana, Dushasana, and Karna insulted Draupadi in the sabha, they instigated and pitted the brothers and their wife against each other. Arjuna refused to let Bhima take the bait. Though Nakula hated Yudhistira’s weakness during the game of dice, he knew he wouldn’t express it in public. The brothers and Draupadi would deal with it amongst themselves. They had too, during the thirteen years of exile.

Because no matter what, they were each other’s family.

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“He is back with the apsara again…” Arjuna mock whispered.

Nakula elbowed his brother in the ribs.

“Oww!” Arjuna huffed and poked him with his finger. “I’ll get you for this.”

“You are worse than kids sometimes!” Draupadi declared, waving a finger at them.

“How else will we entertain you, Rani?” Nakula winked at her.

Draupadi rolled her eyes.

Yudhistira chuckled as Bhima and Sahadeva guffawed.

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