Queen Draupadi
Although many legends may have it that Draupadi was the wife to the brothers known as the Pandavas, in all reality she was really the queen of her own empire. She was gorgeous, powerful and the most eligible bachelorette in all of the kingdoms! Men from all over came to try and win the chance of taking her out on a date.
Unlike many single ladies available, Draupadi did have a daughter. There had been one man she was ever in love with and although they were never married it was a whirlwind romance that unfortunately led to a tragic death. Tanku was his name and he was a fierce warrior. The two met while he was moving up in the ranks of Draupadi's army. Her parents and advisors did not approve but being the independent queen she is she did not care. The two spent every moment with one another for a two-week period until Tanku was summoned into a battle. She would never see him again and Tanku would never be able to meet his daughter.
It had been four years since the death of Tanku and many people felt as if it were time for the queen to give love another chance. This time many wanted her to pursue maybe a lord or someone who could avoid as much danger. While at dinners and balls men were always making the attempt to ask her to dance or have a word but with one look Draupadi knew they were not worth the time of day. It was not that she was not interested in possibly loving someone else. She just knew no one could come close to her Tanku.
One morning before the sun rose Draupadi was awoke to awful news! Her daughter, Tanaka (named after her father), had been taken from her bed and was nowhere to be found. Draupadi summoned all the guards in the kingdom to go out and find her heart and soul. Not only was this her daughter but the last living bit of Tanku she had. Whenever she looked into Tanaka’s eyes she saw her lost love. Tanku spoke of wanting to have a family and he would have been obsessed with their baby girl.
Draupadi was in hysterics when one of her head guards came to her saying they had located where Tanaka was. She had been spotted in the neighboring kingdom. Draupadi began then to wonder why they did not go and bring her back? The guards then made her aware that Tanaka had been taken by Lord Jatu. Draupadi knew this was not going to be an easy task to get her daughter back.
Lord Jatu was a bitter man who had tried on numerous occasions to win over the Queen’s heart. She did not only not find him physically attractive but he had an awful personality. Not only did he believe he knew it all but also that he was the rightful heir to the throne. Jatu was holding Tanaka captive and when asked what it would take in order for Draupadi to have her back, he answered with one request…
Stay tuned to see what Jatu asks for!
Author's Note: We all know Draupadi as the wife to the five Pandava brothers from the tale of Mahabharata. She was a respected woman in the stories but not very independent. I found Mahabharata pretty confusing and there to be a lot of different characters but the one I did not question was the five brothers' wife. I mean how could you? What an awful thing to have to deal with five husbands! I thought it would be interesting to use her character and put it in a completely different light. She is this independent woman who is not only a single mom but the queen. In the original Draupadi was kidnapped by Jayadratha and here it would be her daughter now taken.
I also found it so easy to write this story that it makes me want to expand on it and continue to develop over the next few storytelling assignments. I feel as though with leaving it where I did I can really take this further and develop a true story line. I see the ability for a multitude of trials having to be faced for Draupadi and her young daughter. I think it could also relate to real life and some of the struggles single moms have to go through!
Original Story can be found on my Blog
The real Draupadi link