DRAUPADI'S LAST TREK

DRAUPADI’S  LAST  TREK                                         
                                                                          By  Indrajit Bandyopadhyay

ACT-I
(A forest background in Shankri, a mountain hamlet. A river flows by. The Pandavas and Draupadi are readying for their last journey. They will trek to Heavens via Har-ki-doon valley and Yamadwar Glacier. All present except Arjuna. They stand scattered.)
Sahadeva – Where is Dhanu bhaiya?
Draupadi – Where else? Must be enjoying himself alone at the river-side.
Bhima – These rivers have fish… no? Trout….
(Arjuna comes hastily)
Yudhishthira – Any news Dhanu?
Arjuna – We must start at once.
Bhima – Is that news? What’s the hurry? Let’s catch some trout first.
Arjuna – It is already 7. Clouds will start rising by 9 and cover the peaks.
Draupadi – Why did you marry at all?
Yudhishthira – Dhanu is right. Nothing more beautiful than a snow-capped peak!
Sahadeva – Bade bhaiya, did your bowels move today? I gave you an herbal last night.
Nakula – Damn you and your herbs. Caused me constipation.
Bhima – Hah! You won’t get a gate pass to heaven with that load inside! Besides, we have to think of our safety too! Let me give you a solid punch on your abdomen.
Yudhishthira – Are we forgetting our mission? Are we ready to leave forever? Are we at peace with ourselves? Are we sure about ourselves?
(A silence descends)
Bhima – (nodding) This is our last journey. We shouldn’t have any attachment for trout!
Nakula – Yes! We are mentally prepared. Peace peace.
Sahadeva – Everything must come to an end. And we are ready to bid the world adieu.
Arjuna – Rubbish! Such negative thoughts! It would be a unique opportunity to experience the upper Himalayas from close. Crossing a glacier with bare foot! Treading over the Swargarohini…without trekking gears ….just think of that!
Yudhishthira –May all of us reach the Heavens safely! May Vishnu guide us!
Arjuna – Let’s start at once. Panchali, why are you so silent?
Yudhishthira – Yes! I noticed that too, but could not ask lest you get angry and scold!
Draupadi – (Pointing at the river) Are we right or is that river right?
Bhima – What is that?
Nakula – (Excited) Is it a conundrum?
Sahadeva – Everything is relative Pancha...I mean Bhabi...sorry to forget you are bade bhaiya’s this year!
Yudhishthira – No Dev! No more of that! We are each others now! Don’t worry Panchali; God will solve your dilemma.
Bhima – Why put the burden on poor God! Come on Panchali, cough out!
Arjuna – Hum... We are right because we are here; the river is right because it is there! Here will explore the there, and there will explore the here! Right?
(Draupadi looks lovingly at Arjuna. Arjuna smiles, and then turns away his eyes suddenly to watch the Himalayan eagle hovering over their head. Draupadi frowns.)
Bhima – Abominable habit…Dhanu won’t mend… feel like boxing his ears…
Arjuna – (Quickly jumping out of Bhima's reach!)You remember, my political shelter from you was Grandpa Bhisma’s arms!
(Bhisma’s mention brings sadness. They are silent. Bhima wants to cheer them up.)
Bhima – Hey! Don’t bring back the past. See, I’ve forgotten Duryodhana.
Sahadeva – Bhab…Panchali, I think I can guess it.
Nakula – Elementary dear Sahadeva
Yudhishthira – Dear Panchali, won’t you explain? Is it a quote from scriptures?
Draupadi – Better ask your wise brothers to explain. They are omniscient!
Yudhishthira – Brother... (He turns his head to Nakula and Sahadeva)
Sahadeva – Panchali will need a stick ... What a beautiful flower over there... (Runs)
Nakula – Well…. (He starts running towards the river) a call at last... What relief!
Draupadi – Watch it. Might be a missed call! Ha ha ha ha... Pretentious scoundrels... (Arjuna joins her in laughter)
Bhima – What’s so funny? It is nature’s nature to call us.
Draupadi – (Stroking Bhima’s chest) you speak so nice sometimes!
Yudhishthira – It is not right to doubt them Panchali. They are young in age but old in wisdom! See Sahadeva is really plucking a flower for you.
Arjuna – (restless) What are we waiting for? (Raises his voice) Naku... Dev...
(Nakula comes back. A dog trails him, wagging its tail with earnest eyes. Sahadeva comes back with two sticks. He gives one each to Yudhishthira and Draupadi)
Bhima – It has been following us for the last two days. Will it go with us?
Yudhishthira – Let it follow if it wishes so.
Bhima – Thinks we have food. Doggy... Idiot... Will be disappointed soon!
Draupadi – (some problem with the stick) It will serve us good… will support us
Bhima – What! As a food? (He bursts out in laughter. The dog hides its tail. The mountain echoes. Nakula and Sahadev join him.)
Sahadeva – Majhli bhaiya, bhabi …er… Panchali is having some trouble with the lathi
Draupadi – Yes. The grip...
(Bhima snatches it away from her and sets it right with his teeth!)
Arjuna – Final bell! You stay I start... Come on Panchali
Draupadi – (snatches the stick from Bhima) Ready dear... kadam kadam badaye ja
(All six finally start moving, leaving Shankri behind. The dog follows them, its tail again raised like a flag! They walk side by side for sometime, and then a new picture emerges. Yudhishthira trails. Bhima recedes to keep watch on him, and his advancing brothers.)
Yudhishthira – It’s O.K. brothers... Move on... No problem
Draupadi – What else do you expect? Always gaining fat with butter and ghee!
Arjuna – That’s all right. Who told you all to run? Relax and walk.
Yudhishthira – What is our destination today?
Arjuna – Why jam your brain with such thought? Forgot Krish’s karmanyebadhikaraste?
Nakula – Don’t think we can go beyond Har-ki-doon valley today.
Yudhishthira – (Exhausted, and breathing heavily) Distance distance
Sahadeva – 40 miles, a Rishi told me in Shankri
Bhima – Only 40 miles trek in a single day? What will people say!
Draupadi – Do one thing. Walk back toe. Watch Yudhi and make a world record too!
Arjuna – Look look... The first snowcapped peak in view... That sure is Swargarohini
All – Where? Where? Whoa! What a scene! No cloud today. We are so lucky!
Dog – Woof! Woof!
(All of them enjoy the sight excitedly. Curtain falls. End of ACT-I)

ACT – II

(The Pandavas and Draupadi spend the night in a cave in Har-ki-doon valley. The next morning they start their final trek. Sahadeva and Draupadi lead the group. Then follows Nakula. Arjuna next. Next walks Bhima, occasionally turning back to keep a watch over Yudhishthira, who trails as usual, followed by the faithful dog.)
Yudhishthira – It is really so arduous... this glacier. Isn’t there any shortcut to Heaven?
Bhima – (rushing) watch out watch out
Yudhishthira – Oh! Oh my God! Vishnu Vishnu!
(Yudhishthira falls. Bhima cannot do anything. The body falls straight into a crevasse. Draupadi does not even turn back.)
Arjuna – (Sadly nods) God bless his soul. His body will remain immortal in snow.
Nakula – Bade Bhaiya! What a tragic end! He deserved to go to Heaven first!
Bhima – May be he is still alive. Can’t you wait Panchali?
(Draupadi walks on. All others have to follow.)
Sahadeva – But why? He was such a great soul and never did any sinful act. He was the embodiment of Dharma! Tell us what the cause is for which Bade Bhaiya has fallen! Draupadi - Though we were all equal he had great partiality for his own Dharma. He obtains the fruit of that conduct today.
Sahadeva – But he was such a nice brother! Never boxed my ears, never exploited me! A great heart... Such generosity! Did not hesitate to share even you with all!
Draupadi – Shut up and move on.
Sahadeva – Still! Some other reasons might be there!
Draupadi – Of course there are! Arjuna won me, but Yudhi framed a peculiar rule to keep him away from me for two years. Subhadra could not have entered my life otherwise! Putting a wife as stake in a game of dice having lost himself!
Sahadeva – These reasons are for researchers. Some other reasons must be there!
Draupadi – He could not separate Sattwik and Tamashik, Vairagya and cowardice! Logocentricity does not a great man make! Always concerned with self-image!
Sahadeva – Is that all?
Draupadi – Why are you so curious? O.K. Here’s the real one. He could not play hard, was always conscious about hurting me. Got it? Kunti’s greatest failure! Undoubtedly!
Sahadeva – (agape) Aren’t you sad? Are you really so cruel? Won’t you miss him?
Draupadi – Miss him? Yes certainly! I will miss a domesticated husband and a son!
(Suddenly Bhima slips and falls!)
Bhima – O Panchali, behold, I who am thy darling have fallen down. For what reason am I going down? Tell me if thou knowest it.
(Bhima falls straight into a crevasse. The sound of a great avalanche is heard!)
Nakula and Arjuna – Majhli Bhaiya... Majhli Bhaiya...Don’t leave us
(Draupadi won’t stop. Others despite their hesitation must follow.)
Draupadi – Come on Come on! Let him sleep in peace.
Sahadeva – Why O Why will the mighty Majhli Bhaiya fall so helplessly?
Nakula – He could not bear Bade Bhaiya’s fall.
Sahadeva – Don’t be silent Panchali. It hurts! He was so caring about us. Often beat us black and blue in our infancy, no doubt, often ate half of our total share, no doubt, but he protected us like a father... even more than that… He...
Arjuna – Taken away one by one. Now I understand what Krish meant!
Sahadeva – You must know the reason Panchali
Draupadi – Yes I know, but I doubt whether you will understand it at all!
Sahadeva – Please Panchali
Draupadi – Passion was his virtue but failure to ration it was his vice.
Sahadeva – Eh?
Draupadi – He could not balance sadism and masochism! Always played hard! Got it? No! Never mind. Grow up and you’ll understand. Now, keep mum and move on.
Nakula – Stop Stop! O God! Where is Arjuna Bhaiya gone? O God!
Sahadeva – What! The great Sabyasachhi down?
Nakula – He was not as strong as he seemed, then!
(Draupadi stops and turns back. She peeps into the deep and frowns)
Draupadi – (Shouts at the top of her voice) Go Go... Get another wife down there!
Nakula – Unbelievable! The one who heard the Gita-lecture to go down thus!
Sahadeva – Why should he fall Panchali?
Draupadi – Whole life he has been on wheels! He surely has a pair as feet!
Nakula – Why this tragic end for him, Panchali?
Draupadi – He is so dynamic. So dynamic! No compassion for stasis! Must pay for that!
Sahadeva – Should we move on or quit?
Nakula – Panchali, you stop too! Let us go back. I am scared.
Draupadi – Partha cannot fall like this. I know I know. Usual cunningness to evade me!
Nakula – Is that why you use present tense?
Sahadeva – You puzzle us.
Draupadi – You won’t understand. I have greater intuitive power than you fellows.
Nakula and Sahadeva – You have tears in your eyes Panchali.
Draupadi – That’s dust. (She rubs her eyes) Well let’s move on.
(Nakula falls.)
Nakula – Why should I, O why should I?
(As Nakula’s voice faints in the deep, Sahadeva claps in joy!)
Draupadi – So this is your real face? How can you celebrate when your twin falls?
Sahadeva – I love you Panchali. You don’t know what it was to share you with others.
Draupadi - He was righteous and intelligent. He was, however, very self-conscious of his handsome features. Never really got out of mother-fixation. That’s why he falls.
Sahadeva – Not interested! Let him go to Hell. At last you are mine Panchali. I will brook no competition any more. You are mine forever Panchali. We will live happily Panchali.
Draupadi – Good project! Why are you so angry with Nakula? And jealous!
Sahadeva – I seldom got you, in mine quota. Even then you hardly gave yourself up to me! You always had this problem or that!
Draupadi – Well Well! Then you are angry with me!
Sahadeva – No No! Why should he be considered my elder for landing first? Isn’t it injustice?
Draupadi – – Is that all? What quota you mentioned? What was the problem with your quota?
Sahadeva – Why would he get you before me? Felt like killing him sometimes. After every four years I would get you, but could hardly enjoy you! Oh! Every moment such tension!
Draupadi – Tension?
Sahadeva – Yes tension! The tension to lose you for another four years. The tension of really getting you for a single year!
Draupadi – You haven’t yet said the reason of your anger for Nakula…
Sahadeva – The rascal would often tie me up at night during my quota and enjoy you impersonating me! Isn’t that enough reason to kill him?
Draupadi – What? Is that so?
Sahadeva – Just see, how indifferently you gave yourself to me! I would be completely lost in you to notice that! What! You couldn’t even distinguish between us!! Did you ever really give yourself to me?
Draupadi – So naughty of Nakula! Ha Ha

Sahadeva – You laugh! (Sigh) Now I have you Panchali. Only you and me and the mountains and the rivers. Let’s back Panchali. I will make a nice hut for you by a river. You will collect flowers and sing for me. Every night will be a new heaven Panchali.
(Sahadeva slips suddenly and is about to fall into a crevasse.)
Sahadeva – Save me Panchali save me.
(Draupadi rushes and catches hold of the index finger of his right hand.)
Sahadeva – Thanks Panchali. Please pull me up slowly. At last you love me Panchali.
Draupadi – Don’t be a fool.
Sahadeva – Please don’t leave me Panchali. I am a tragic character. I never got the love of my mother. I never got your love! My other wives were living willow logs!
Draupadi –We all are tragic in our own petty ways! And that’s the greatest comedy!
Sahadeva – Please don’t torment me, Please lift me up. I feel exhausted, save me.
Draupadi – I can’t save you.
Sahadeva – Then why did you hold me? You are still holding me! Don’t let me go
Draupadi – You need to face reality before leaving. That’s why I am still holding you. You are in fool’s paradise. To go to the real place you must face reality.
Sahadeva – It hurts it hurts! What other reality Panchali? Vyasa marginalized us because we were not his blood grandsons, Kunti showed me so much love because she had guilty feelings about Madri’s death, what else more real than these reality?
Draupadi – Prepare yourself Dev, before you take the final leave.
Sahadeva – So you won’t save me! How do you forget I am a father of your son?
Draupadi – That’s it! Are you sure you fathered your son?
Sahadeva – (Heart rending cry!) What? Is that Nakula’s too?
Draupadi – Nakula was never your rival dear! Every time he tied you up and entered my room, I allowed him some foreplay and then tied him up! I would tell him I have caught him and then stacking him on the bed, I would tell him I am going to spend the night with you.
Sahadeva – But you never came to me. I had to lay tied up till the morning and then it would be Nakula who would untie me!
Draupadi – Yes. That’s after I untied him and ordered him to untie you
Sahadeva - Didn’t he doubt that you never came to me seeing me tied up again?
Draupadi - Nah! I would tell him I had a tied up session with you.
Sahadeva – Who then fathered my son Panchali?
Draupadi – Who else?
Sahadeva– Krishna?
Draupadi – Idiot! Krishna No! And Krishna Yes! You lot always suspected Vasu! He was my best friend. Partha Partha Partha Partha! Tying up Nakula I would go straight to him!
Sahadeva - But how could religious-minded Sabyasachi dupe his loving younger brothers?
Draupadi - Yes, that was the problem initially. He was too religious to do such an act at first!
Sahadeva – Let me go Panchali! Please let go my hand. Please let me go down!
Draupadi – Be consoled! Thrice I raped Partha – twice in Yudhi’s quota and once in Bhima’s to mend his manners and make a gentleman out of him. He is so religious that he won’t take me willingly! What else could I do?
Sahadeva - Bade bhaiya and Majhle bhaiya’s pride gone too! Is that why Dhanu bhaiya went to banabas?
Draupadi - Why else? I was just sitting with Yudhi. No question of any intimacy! He entered, saw us and started insisting that he had committed sin and should go to banabas! That was two days after I raped him for the second time.
Sahadeva - And when was the first time?
Draupadi - On the very first night of my marriage to Yudhi in my father’s house. The moment I understood that I was to sacrifice my love to become a common thread of the Pandava pearls, the decision was taken. On the first night, I pretended to be mentally upset and physically tired, and allowed Yudhi to snore!
Sahadeva - Then you went straight to Dhanu bhaiya?
Draupadi - Ha Ha. He was shocked to see me. I shocked him further. He started avoiding me after that bout!
Sahadeva - What about the other two times?
Draupadi - Great moments! I must say! Having illicit love with a husband who is no husband!
Sahadeva – Nakula’s son is also Arjuna’s then?
Draupadi – Certainly! How could you think Satanika, equal to Abhimanyu in valour, could be Nakula’s son? How could you think I would cross the limit of three set by mother Kunti? Yudhishthira and Bhima had Prativindhya and Shrutasoma by me; Srutakirti, Satanika and Srutakarma were Arjuna’s.
(Sahadeva squeezes his hand hard, but Draupadi holds him strongly.)
Draupadi - ( smiles) One more truth you must know.
Sahadeva – I don’t want to hear, I have had enough
Draupadi – No! You must hear
Sahadeva – Believe me, I am at peace with myself. Duped elder brothers and Nakula comfort me.
Draupadi – Don’t want to know who your father was?
Sahadeva –  The twin Gods – the Ashwins! Who else?
Draupadi – Fool! No God can ever father a man! You had a human father.
(Sahadeva squeezes his hand even more violently)
Sahadeva - Please please! Let me go.
Draupadi - (laughs) So eager to go? Believe me, this would comfort you more.
Sahadeva – Haven’t you ever felt any love for me Panchali?
Draupadi – I pity you, that’s why I insist you must hear this.
Sahadeva – I have nothing to gain now! I have nothing to lose now!
Draupadi – Yes! You still have something to gain. No one not even Partha knows this. I once overheard Kunti, Krishna and Vyasa. They drew a promise out of me in Partha’s name that I would not reveal it to any living human being!
Sahadeva – So you consider me dead already?
Draupadi – Do you or don’t you want to hear?
Sahadeva – Please do tell me. I never had a mother. Did I have a father?
Draupadi – Yes! Dhaumya, the priest, was your father!
(Sahadeva is successful at last in releasing his hand. The next moment he vanishes!) Draupadi - ( laughs loudly) Ha Ha all gone. No not all! Partha cannot die like this. He must be on to some expedition. Took opportunity of my unawareness! ( She looks down into the abyss) Partha Partha, I know you are there.
(There is no response. Only the sound of wind is heard. Draupadi waits a minute or two and then walks on. The dog follows. Curtain falls. End of ACT –II)

ACT-III


(Draupadi walks alone. The dog follows her. The sound of thunder is heard. The sound gradually transforms into the sound of a chariot. An old brahman is standing on her way on the slopes.)
Brahman - ( surprised) Who are you lady, and what are you doing here?
(Draupadi too is surprised to see a Brahman at this height. She observes him top to bottom. A queer smile plays on her lips like an untimely bloom in winter! She then fixes her eyes into his. They are so direct so penetrating!)
Brahman - (visibly in discomfort) Who are you? What are you doing here?
Draupadi - Stop acting. You are Indra, the lord of the Gods.
Brahman - (completely taken aback) How the Hell … I mean … by Heavens …!  Draupadi - (smiles with a flash in her eyes) Only Indra can lick with his eyes a 120 year old face-breast-waist-hip-thigh thus! Change this unfashionable outfit and come in your own. Won’t you?
Brahman - (relieved to hear such an easy solution) Certainly certainly gracious lady. Pardon me, just a moment.
(He goes behind a rock. Out comes Indra the next moment with a bouquet of Parijata.) Indra – Welcome lady. Please (hands over the bouquet with a slight bow)
Draupadi – Thank you. Is it real Parijata or plastic?
Indra – What’s that? No no it is hundred percent real, just as you are real, sweet lady.
Draupadi – Still womanizing eh?
Indra – (Shy) I have never seen a more beautiful lady than you. If you are ten out of ten, Tilottama is 8.5, Urvasi is 8, Menaka is 7.5
Draupadi – Stop Stop! I am not walking on the ramp or contesting in Ms. Universe!
Indra – What’s that? O I forget! This Kalpa is technologically more advanced than the previous one. Yudhis could reach here alone with a dog then! By the way where’s the dog? Ah! There it is. Repetitive programme with a little variation!
Draupadi – Yudhishthira reached here alone? How could he with such a pot belly?
Indra – I don’t know. I heard he did in the previous Kalpa. May be the laws of physics were different those days! But laws are evolving, I see!
Draupadi – You are right! This is a far more advanced Kalpa! We were born again. This time to avenge a great wrong! I must confess I was not aware of this purpose until recently. But something kept flashing in my mind as I walked alone! Now I understand!
Indra – Forget it. Please allow me to take you to Heaven. All the pleasures of Paradise await you there. My humble throne awaits you! But first, the usual set of questionnaires. Draupadi – Very businesslike! Do I have to give an interview?
Indra – No No! Please don’t take it like that! I will feel hurt. Just formalities!
Draupadi – Go on.
Indra – Right. Number one, you cannot take that doggy with you.
Draupadi – Who wants to? It has been Yudhi’s pet! He fell, and now it’s after me! Opportunist! Did not even stop to take a look at him. Will it help me search Partha? Certainly Not!
Dog - (can hardly bear anymore. It sounds like conch-shell!  ) ooooooooah ooooooooah
Indra - (puzzled thinking Draupadi could not hear him properly) I was telling that you cannot …
Draupadi – I have already answered
Indra – I think you couldn’t hear what I said! The dog…
Draupadi – Rubbish! I can even hear the hammering of your heart. It's beating 144 times a minute!
Indra - ( very pleased) all for you, sweetheart!
Draupadi – Even to this so soon? Have you forgotten you are my father-in-law?
Indra - (shaking his head violently) no no never! That old Vyasa and that rogue Krishna had done this harm! The old and new scheming shams! It was their propaganda!
Draupadi - (cutting him short in a commanding tone) Hold your tongue! So, Partha was Pandu’s biological son? Is that true?
Indra – Of course! What a hotchpotch of birth of the Pandavas! But Sweet lady, at least don’t be under any misconception about me! Kunti never thought of calling me at all. I knew her for over a long time. She had such high-voltage charms! Had she uttered the very first syllable of her mantra...?
Draupadi – You would have gone running! Won’t you? Disgusting! On to your formalities!
Indra – Yes yes! About the dog!
Draupadi – That is answered. I won’t take it with me.
Dog - ( in clear human tone) Ahem Ahem!
Draupadi - (startled. She shakes her nice long fingers at Indra threateningly) Now! What is this game up to?
Indra - (quickly standing between the dog and Draupadi, in a rather consolatory tone to the dog) wait! I am arguing your case. Dear lady  ...
Draupadi – Answered!
Dog – Ahem Ahem!
(Indra searches for words, makes gesture of despair, and scratches his skull!)
Dog - (suddenly standing on two legs, he says in human voice) Enough of this nonsense! Damn your argument! You don’t know how headstrong she is!
Draupadi - (smiles derisively) Now now! Revelations!
Indra - (trying hard to manage the situation) Who told you to reveal yourself so soon?
Dog- ( very angry) Damn! See lady, I had had enough of you for these three days. Let me introduce myself and go my way. I am Dharma, and I am not Yudhishthira’s father anyway!
(Draupadi laughs loudly. Indra and Dharma starts!)
Dharma - (very prosaic) Bye lady. And next time Indra you allot me such a task! And see what I do! (Dharma leaves with heavy sounding foot steps.)
Indra - (all apologies) I am sorry sweetheart. These fellows won’t take training on chivalry. My head hangs in shame. I see I have to make the training compulsory.
(He is about to resume his chivalrous best, when Dharma re-enters, startling Indra!)
Dharma - (shaking his left hand index at Indra) and do send my fees immediately.
Indra - (pulling long face) O.K, O.K. Now please... Don’t bamboofy me any further, for Heavens’ sake. I’ll sanction double, now if you please to take leave.
Dharma - (giving a side glance at Draupadi) remember that. (Exit)
(Draupadi faces the peak, which is now draped in the reddish-golden hue of the setting sun. Indra goes behind her.)
Indra - (looking at the peak and then at Draupadi’s swan neck) Beautiful isn’t it?
(Draupadi does not respond. She now turns towards the deep. Indra goes closer to her, very close, and is getting rapt in her odour. Draupadi spreads her arms like wings of a bird, as if a swan is about to float in the blue sky. Indra has the irresistible desire to wrap her with his arms. He hesitates.)
Draupadi - The earth is a better Heaven than yours.
(Indra smells her and is about to take her in his arms.)
Draupadi - (seems so near yet so far) Partha is right. Always right! He understood it long before. That’s why he left us. But he cannot forget me! He must be waiting for me down there. I hear his call!
(Draupadi’s disheveled hairs spread out like bright clouds at sunset. She waves her arms slowly and stands on her toes at the brink.)
Indra - (shaking his head as if to bring himself back to reality) What are you doing? You will fall!
Draupadi - (turning her head in a whiff) You eve teaser! Don't think I could not see what you were trying to do! Stay away
( Indra pulls back with a jolt!)
Draupadi - Good bye. I am coming Partha
(These are her last words as she jumps nay, floats in the emptiness with the red Swargarohini peak as the background. Indra makes an attempt to catch her, but in vain.)
Indra – O queen of Arjuna, O queen of Arjuna (falls down dejected) May you find him beloved queen of Arjuna!
(Curtain falls.)