Time and Tide waits for none.

The clear sky with beautiful and fluffy clouds stretched for miles and miles, covering the vast expanse. The people of Hastinapura were very happy today. The streets were filled by its people buzzing about like excited bees. Their excitement and happiness can be seen on their smiles. Why should they not be happy? After all, the princes of Hastinapura were arriving today. Both the Pandavas and Kauravas were returning from their Gurukula after ten long years.

The markets were decorated with colourful flowers and clothes. The streets were filled with soldiers for protection. Many daas and daasis littered around with flower plates in hand to welcome the princes. The most beautiful of them all was the Palace of Hastinapura, that was decorated like a bride, with beautiful flowers and expensive clothes. The floor was decorated by daas and daasis in various rangolis of different shape and size, filled with numerous colours and pretty flowers.

A regal woman with blind fold on her eyes can be seen directing the daas and daasis in the corridor leading to various rooms. Behind her stood two of her chief daasis. This woman was none other than the pious lady Maharani Gandhari. Maharani Gandhari said

"Shigra apna karya sampnna karo. (Finish your work fast!) The children will be arriving soon. Malti, I need you to get my puja thali ready!"

Malti replied " Ji maharani! (Yes my Queen) "

Another woman wearing mustard yellow saree with golden white borders and wearing golden necklace was seen coming towards the Maharani Gandhari. Her mere aura spoke of serenity and austerity. A small smile played on her lips.

"Aap ki utsukta aur khushi aap ki mukh par patiyaksh hai, jiji. (Your eagerness and happiness are on your face, elder sister) I haven't seen you this happy in a long time." Maharani Kunti said.

"I know, behena. Today our children are returning. Without them the palace was so silent. Barso baad phirse khushiya ayi hai iss mehel mei behena,iska anand hai hume. (After many years, there is happiness again in this palace, I am happy about it.)"

"Ji jiji. Aap ki tayari sab ho gayi? (Are you finished with all your works?) " Asked Kunti.

"Haa behena (Yes sister). Have you seen Dushala somewhere? I don't know where this girl goes off to when I need her! " Gandhari complained.

A beautiful young girl was seen coming from behind Maharani Gandhari. The girl had luscious black hair in a beautiful style on her head. Her mischievous smile magnified her inner innocence. She signaled to Kunti with a finger on her lips. She slowly went behind Gandhari and wrapped her arms around her in a hug from the back.

"Dushala!" Gandhari said as she jumped at the sudden hug.

"Dekh rahi hai Kaki! (Are you seeing this Aunt?) Maa scolds me even when I hug her! Mujhse to koyi pyaar hi nehi karta iss mehel mei! (No one loves me here!) " pouted Dushala as she complained to Kunti.

Gandhari slapped her hand on her forehead at her daughter's words. Kunti chuckled at the duo.

"Chaliye! (Lets go!)Time is approaching for the princes to arrive." Kunti said.

Both the reverent ladies and the only Princess of the Kuru clan went towards the main gate of the palace. There present was Maharaja Dritharashtra, Mahamahim Bhishma and Mahamantri Vidura.

"Sarri tayaari ho gyai hai Rajkumar o ke agaman ki Gandhari? (Every thing is ready for the arrival of the princes Gandhari?) " Asked Dritharashtra, when he heard the payals of his wife approaching.

"Ji arya! " Replied Gandhari.

"Pranipat Jyesth! " Kunti said to Dritharashtra.

"Kalyan ho Kunti! " Blessed Maharaja.

Kunti and Gandhari did the same to Bhishma and Vidura, who blessed them happily. Huge trumpet blows were soon heard which announced the arrival of the princes. One by one chariots pulled up on the open ground. The Pandavas and Kauravas has arrived.

Gandhari did the aarti of all 105 Princes. The Pandavas took her and the Maharaja's blessing, then the blessings of their Pitamaha Bhishma and Kaka Vidur, finally coming in front of their beloved mother. Kunti pulled her five sons to her chest in a hug as relief and happiness filled her. Her mind involuntarily went to her eldest son, whom she had never gotten to hug. Her eyes had a sheen of water, but she would never let them fall in presence of company. Her heart ached at the thought of her eldest, who had given her the chance of becoming a mother. Bhima noticed his mother's glassy eyes.

"Maa, aap ke ankhon mei ashroo? (Mother, why are there tears in your eyes?) " He questioned.

Kunti shook her head at the question, and smiled at her most innocent son. Before she could answer, Arjuna spoke " Are Jyesht bhrata...they are happy tears, hai na maa? (Right mother?) "

"Haa putra! " Kunti smiled, indulging them. Night fell. Kunti smiled at her son messing around with each other pulling each other's legs. "I am the most loved by Maa. I am the youngest after all!" said Sahdeva.

"Who told you that? You must be dreaming! Mother loves me the most. After all, I am the most handsome and cute. What is there not to love after seeing this face?" Nakula said, admiring his looks.

"No! I am the most loved! Mother taught me how to cook and therefore she used to spend most of her time with me! There you all go, you have the winner!" Bhima exclaimed over his brothers' voices.

"Please... I am the maa ka dulhara! (mother's darling) Right Jyesht?" said Arjuna, looking at Yuddhisthira, who blinked when the spotlight suddenly came on him.

Seeing his brothers' eager faces all around, poor Yuddhisthira was stumped! What was he supposed to do? He did not like disappointing his brothers.

Kunti suppressed her laughter at her second eldest son's expression. She smiled fondly at him, Yuddhisthira was like a open book for her. She decided to help him.

"Perhaps instead of your Jyesht you should ask me! Will I not be asked about my own choice?" Kunti teased her children.

All the four looked sheepishly at their mother. Yuddhisthira smiled at her gratefully, for her intervention.

"Batayie na Maa, Hum mei se kon hai aapke sab se agyakaari aur shresht putra? (Tell us Mother, who amongst us is your favourite son?)" Nakul asked eagerly.

"Batati hun, (I am telling you) first all of you come and stand in front of me!" Kunti replied. When all the Pandavas stood in a line, from left to right stood Yuddhisthir, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev.

Kunti stood in front of Sahadev. Her hands came to cup his cheek with her hands as she kissed his forehead. All the brothers looked curiously.

"My youngest son. You are the mind of the five. You're the most knowledgeable and intelligent, my child. Your brothers spoil you the most. They expect you to give analysis of every situation to them, so they can react appropriately. "

She then moved to Nakula. She mussed his hair as he tried to settle his hair back.

"My second youngest son. You are the healer of the five. It is your medicine and expertise in healing that your brothers trust the most. Your brothers trust you with their well-being." She stood in the middle in front of Arjuna. She patted his cheek as he smiled. "My third eldest son. You are the warrior of the five. Your brothers trust you to protect them and have their back at all times."

She moved to Bhima. She pulled his nose as he grumbled at her. "My Vrikodara. My second eldest son. You are the strength of the five. Your brothers expect and trust you to pull them through, no matter the circumstances."

Finally, she stood in front of Yuddhisthira. She patted his head and he leaned into her touch.

"You my eldest son of the five. You are dharma of the five. Your brothers expect you to show them the path which they should walk on."

Kunti came in front of all of them and finally said " It is impossible for me to love any of my sons less or more. Mere paanch putro hatheli ke paanch unglio ke tara hai, ek ke bina koi bhi karya sampnna nehi ho sakta.(My five sons are the stars of five fingers in the palm, without one no work can be accomplished.) I love all of you equally and unconditionally."

Her five sons had tears in their eyes. They came forward to hug their mother. She smiled at them and returned their hug.

"Now, go and sleep! You all must be so tired! Subhratri!(Goodnight) " Kunti said.

All five nodded and said goodnight and left for their rooms. Kunti walked to her room. The only noise that could be heard were that of her footsteps. The hallway was lined by various Mashals burning brightly as they provided light in the night. The soldiers bowed their head when she passed by. She entered her room and sat on her bed. She laid down to sleep but sleep was eons away. Seeing her sons and their bonding time had her smile. But it also lit fire to the ache in her heart.

Her eldest son. Her Suryaputra. Who knew where he was? How was he? She was his mother, yet she did not know his name. Her earning to meet him and shower him with love and care, was getting unbearable day by day.

She had seen him only once. That also not face to face. She remembered the day very clearly. It was during the vanvaas when Pandu and Madri were still alive.

Flashback

A young and beautiful Kunti walked around the forest near the ashram she was staying in with her family. She smiled as she remembered her three sons' antics. Yuddhisthira was five, Bhima was four and Arjuna was three. Her other two sons were still small. Both were only one year old. They had just started to toddle around.

She picked a flower going near the river side. She looked up at the sun to see the time, but found her breath catch. There on the cliff that faced the river, stood a figure of a child around eleven to twelve years old. That was not what had shocked Kunti. No, what shocked her was his brilliant Golden kavach and kundal, that had radiance just like the sun. It could be seen even from a distance.

He was facing the sun, whose rays seem to highlight his face and bathe his entire figure in light. His hands were joined in the traditional gesture of greeting. His head bowed. Kunti's heartbeat was fast. One can see tiny droplets of water on her brow. She could not see anything other than the child's curly hair, his kavach and kundal. She dropped her eyes for a second to wipe the sweat of her brow with the edge of her pallu and calm her heart.

When she looked up again, he was gone! Kunti's eyes moved here and there. Frantic to see the child again. She even took detour on top of the cliff to see where the child went, but he was nowhere. She thought she must be dreaming. But the dream was too real. She walked back dejected.

Her saree edge got stuck on a bush nearby. She bent to untangle it. When she got up, her eyes caught something glinting in the sunlight. She stretched her hand to take it and found a gold ring. It had a red stone on it with the marking of a sun in gold. She looked wide eyed at it. Her heart started to beat fast again as she clutched the ring. She again looked here and there to see if the child is nearby. It must have been the child's. The shape of the ring was too small to be a man's. It must have fallen accidentally.

Flashback ends

From that day onward, Kunti's heart had earned for her first son. She had gathered courage and told Pandu, her husband about her son before marriage, about her Suryaputra. He had looked shocked but had understood and was even delighted at having another son. Madri had also looked happy, thinking about a son with the radiance of the sun. He must look divine, was what Madri had said to Kunti, at the middle of the night as they sat looking at the moon.

When Kunti had told her family about her eldest son, she had thought that they would parityaag her. She had thought she may lose her family, but after seeing that child, hope and courage had bloomed within her. She had prayed to Lord Narayana, asking that her family may accept her eldest with open arms. When they had been so happy with her, accepted the knowledge, she had seen a happy future with her entire family at one place.

'But when had happiness stayed for a long time?' Kunti thought as memories of years past assaulted her mind.

Pandu had searched the entire area for weeks, but had not found any child with a divine Armour. He had even asked around, but the answers found was disappointing. Most did not know such a child. The ones who knew said they had seen the child only once but he had never come around that area again. Apparently, the villagers and ashram dwellers who had seen him had searched for him too but could not find him.

"Such a divine child. His radiance was just like the sun. He would grow into a powerful person." They had said.

Pandu had smiled but his heart had fell. When he had reported this to Kunti and Madri, Kunti's eyes had been filled with tears. Not been able to see his priye's eyes filled with tears, he had promised to write a letter to Hastinapura and conduct a wide search for their eldest child.

He even wrote the later that day, ready to be sent at the break of dawn the next day. But tragedy struck the family then. Because the next day, she had found her husband dead and Madri crying over his dead body.

Then everything happened so fast. Her husband's funeral, Madri's sati, her children and her return to Hastinapura and her children going to Gurukula. So many years had gone by. Time has sped by, yet her heart had continued to ache. Kunti remembered her sons' antics during dinner.

A sad smile crossed her lips, she thought "You my eldest of my six sons, you would have been their heart. They would have revolved around you as you would have kept them on their respective path, just like the sun." Kunti closed her eyes as she laid. Tears fell down her cheeks behind her closed her eyelids as her heart ached with longing. The night's darkness covered the city and her tears till the next dawn.