Change in Hastinapur and it's progress is evident to everyone in the entire Aaryavrat let alone the person inside the palace but there were two people in the palace that were not happy with everything. They were none other than Rajmata Kunti and her maid priyamada.

(A/n really hate both of them, don't expect any sympathy or white washing.)

The status of bith of them were low of low since dyut Sabha, no maids dare to disrespect Rajmata but same couldn't said in case of her arrogant maid priyamada. Priyamada who has enjoyed happy, content, respect and luxury till dyut sabha came crashing down to her. She used her status of personal maid of Kunti has her arrogance had no bound many other maids were constantly subjected to her rude and somewhat cruel behaviour but who can escape consequences of her actions. No there was no Pandavas or perception of them being epitome of Dharma and goodness. Her karmfal came crashing down, her status, luxury, respect were in drain and infact now in old age she has to the chores that she used to order others. No one not one maid lend a single help in 12 years. Especially after Duryodhana came out of his depression there was a through change not only outside of palace but inside of palace too. Now was not the Hastinapur sabha where only high caste come for justice but even maids go to it and justice is served unabashedly and regardless. So it lead to priyamada started paying up for her deeds her entire wealth were snatched and given to maids that she exploited. Her maid chamber which was second to royals in amenities was now with cot, pot and bare minimum things. She consider it injustice but that wasn't the case and everyone agree to it. Till now she was still personal maid of Kunti but now she has to do all worth because other maids though don't show disgust to royal mother but respect was clearly absent and she and Kunti has heard the talks of maid that if one help Rajmata nothing but un-greatfulness would be rewarded. Kunti couldn't handle it so only priyamada remain with her but with the prosperity of Hastinapur temper of Kunti flared up and Priyamada was one facing the mood swings of her. Her life was hell according to her but what could she Kunti is her last rope otherwise she would be pushed out of palace along with her family and they would have nothing absolutely nothing.

Kunti was another person, that was enraged with such progress of Hastinapur under rule of Duryodhana, first few years were ok as Hastinapur was stagnant or somewhat degrading but since Duryodhana took up charge it was progressing in scale that were unseen. Not even Indraprastha under rule of her son's has progressed this much. She was extremely worried because if theis would proceed then right of her children would never be given to them even after their punishment. They had no support, no kingdom or army that they would support them unconditionally except madra, kuntibhoj. Not even Dwarka because their relationship is tense and because of Subhadra is missing. Not only Duryodhana has support of low caste people because of change in system but he has loyalty of court too. Even Vidhur the staunch supporter of Pandavas has support to Duryodhana and she wasn't sure if she should expect support from him because entire Aaryavrat was proclaiming her children responsible for that day. The change of Duryodhana has won their heart while her children who were living life of sanyasi were blamed and that enraged her. If that was not enough Kauravas were getting blessings of revered sages too.

Many sages such as vishwamitra, vyas, etc came on occasion of Kingdom wide charity and ritual on birthday of everyone left the kingdom and those sages bless the Kauravas. Not that they gave boon to them personally but blessings of strong and prosperous kingdom were given. It resulted in Hastinapur's became a giant even in absence of Gangaputra Bheeshma so much so that no one kingdom dare to look at it with intention of attack despite having such vast lands. Sages were not reluctant to give boon to Kauravas but every time they asked salvation and betterment of citizens and kingdom nothing else. Seeing the genuineness of them the sage whole hearted gave them their blessings. Once she saw sage Durwasa here, she tried to gain his favor but once he looked at her desire went in drain because the anger, blame that was in his eyes scared her so she ran away fearing the anger and curse of short tempered sage and after that she heard he gave Kauravas boon of mighty warriors especially he gave Duryodhana boon of becoming undefeated in mace fighting and that scared her because there was almost possibility of war and here sage paved the way of Kauravas rendering her son's weak than they were. Almost all the sage blesses them in being successful in their endeavour of reuniting with loved ones.

The changes in policy and work for lower caste revolutionize the economy and milatary strength of Hastinapur. The boundary of caste was blur here so number of soldiers doubled or tripled. Not only because of missing of deterent of personality like Bheeshma and Dronacharya the Kauravas themselves came out of lax attitude and worked hard. Not that there were no skimpish around the border but it was stomped in brutal manner. Duryodhana has proved his name by might of his gada in such a way that he respected same as Balram, though there were no prominent figure like him but other Kauravas too proved their might and atleast 30 of them are now considered rathi and 10 among them are considered as atirathi. With such advantage of numbers other kingdoms feared them. Only dwarka and Brahamnagri (she accept) that were now capable to round up them. She was very scared for future of her children.

Kunti has decided by hook or crook she would get Karna on side of her son's. She will tell him the truth secretly and even if he denies then she will ask alms and free him from alm of never interfering with them. She would do everything possible for her children to have their right and none can stop her even if she ask the price of keeping Karna nine months in her wombs she would do that if possible. He was her son she has right in him not that petty Suta couple or his wife and children but her right. Through him she will let her children be Samrat and get deserve respect because just having respect of brahamnagri is enough for Aaryavrat to respect. Her children deserve better they were Devputra who has faced lot in their life be it born in forest, having crisis living in palace, in varnavrat, again living in forest, getting cursed land and after they transformed it again it was snatched from them. They were once again forced to live in forest. Just remembering the injustice to her children she gets agitated so she would do everything in her power to give them better future by any means neccecary. So what she abondoned her eldest he was living in beautiful kingdom of brahamnagri even these Kauravas were living happily in palace but it was her children that are suffering and she couldn't let it be till she was breathing.

Her life was also not in roses because she was royal mother of Hastinapur because first her children were not here, second she had no respect. She was synonym of ingratitude because of just misunderstanding. Really was it so hard to understand. There was bad blood between her children and one she has abondoned. That suta mother of him has cursed her and her children and they have to suffer. Her children and he had war few days before for god sake so was out so hard to understand why she would think he was here to harm them when she saw he destroyed the soldiers guarding the palace. So what she misunderstood and slapped him, she was his elder and mother (unknown to most). Why would they call her ungreatful she was doing what she thought best for her children how would she know that Ghandhar Raj and Duryodhana have created problem for them. But no one was ready to hear what she has to, they just branded her. How dare them to raise finger at her upbringing she had single-handedly brought up children of god's so that they would be king of Hastinapur but these ingrates were blaming her instead of thanking her.

Now only few more months were left in agvat vas and she was constantly praying for their safety because she doesn't think Kauravas and Ghandhar Raj would have left searching for them. No they must have conspirating against her children so she was immerse in prayers about their safety. It is her staunch belief that her children will be safe and would come back for their right. Then entire Aaryavrat would see how good they are in comparison to these bad omen. Her children would lead the Aaryavrat in path of Dharma, these Adharm that Duryodhana is doing would cease to exist. Then she would get respect and admiration she deserves. The same fool who are blindly following adharmi king would support her children and then they would once again praise her for her upbringing.

Like this lives of two people who always has habit of blaming the world and not looking at their own deeds were spending their time. Both have one thing in common that they both are desperately hoping that Pandavas would come back and get what they deserve according to them. One could think a mother is thinking for her children but all is moh of Rajmata. Mother would pray for safety and happiness of her children but royal mother would pray for children to get kingdom. Kunti was royal mother only who wants her children betterment through luxury and she doesn't care of her daughters in law but only think she care that males would get right, who cares about female she herself former queen was reduced to mere widow after death of her husband and society is patriarchal anyway who cares about women. They were tools for getting heir and alliances.

On the other hand rest in palace of Hastinapur have dedicated their life for betterment of Kingdom. Kauravas had long ago realised their mistakes. Leaving of their mother and sister was punishment for them because they loved them and vice versa.

In his chamber alone sitting was Duryodhana who was lost in thoughts. He was thinking about everything and everyone.His mother was one constant support in their life who always praised them as boon of Mahadev not bad omen that everyone considers them and sister oh! She was only female in their generation and youngest too it wasn't wrong to say they doted her especially Duryodhana he always considered her siblings as hus children so his sister was her daughter for whom he could die but they left him. Words of Ghandhari especially her despair filled cry when she wished to be infertile or her questions give them nightmares till now. His wife and children were his life line who he loved so much that he himself couldn't describe in words but everyone left him. Oh lost in his anger he has not only lost them but he deprived his brothers of their love and care. Only wish to meet them is keeping him alive and going otherwise death would be salvation for him. The news of their well being and meeting his wife was like someone gave him Amrit so he is alive only in hope of meeting them and keeping his promise to his wife. Till he gets there one day he will not die that is boon he asked from sage vishwamitra. He didn't know if he will get their forgiveness or love back but all he wishes is their glimpse and he would die happily. This is why he asked to just see them once again and small talk from revered sage when he asked Duryodhana to ask anything for himself. He was glad that revered sages saw him someone who was redeemable because he sure doesn't think he is. Only he was reason his family was away, his brothers were facing everything because they respect him that much. When Rishi Vyas asked him his wish he asked only him to be punished for his sins and let his brothers and other be. If anyone has to die first it will be him among Kauravas not one of his brothers or family to die before him. Like this only him, sages and gods know how many such blessings he asked when he was given opportunity to aks blessings from sages. He kept on piling such blessings for his brother, father, mother, sister, wife and children so that he could be good brother, son, and father after his death whe he couldn't be in his life. Nothing left in the world exited him but we'll being of his loved one. Boons of him being powerful, undefeated, prosperous were meaningless for him now, if he could have gotten them before bhe would be happy but now it didn't matter or excites him. He didn't do all charity or other thing for himself but for well being of them. Nobody was desperate for Pandavas to finish their agyatvas than him. A day seems like year to him because he know only after that what he desire and after that if yamraj comes he would embrace him after asking forgiveness from his family. That's how he envision his end and was content with it. Repentance of this life wasn't enough of his deeds according to him. Punishment would be his salvation because he could be free from everything he has ever done. May be he was bad omen like everyone said, had he accepted that instead of denying it life would be better than this he thought.

A/n do tell if you liked it. Please comment. I did this in hurry because of promise to three person Amrit Sagar1, Anuradha 729 and Karanthegreat. Thank you for your suggestion do write if this is acceptable.