Chapter 7 - Amba and Bhishma

Amba entered the Kingdom of King Shalva and happily went

inside the Court of the King. She saw the king being treated
for his injuries. She was about to go forward and talk to him,
when his look stopped her. Shalva was looking at her with
intense displeasure in his eyes. Before Amba could even
understand what was going on, Shalva asked her coldly, 'What
are you doing here?'

Amba looked bewildered. 'I told Bhishma that I loved you.
When he heard that...' Amba smiled at how magnanimous
Bhishma had been.... 'He sent a royal chariot with riches so
that I could marry the man I loved....'

King Shalva looked angry and coldly at Amba, 'What makes
you think I will marry you?'

Amba looked surprised and hurt and looked at King Shalva
without understanding. King Shalva said haughtily, 'Bhishma
took you by force from me. Do you think I will take what
someone has given to me, after he had grabbed it from
me...What sort of warrior do you think I am?'

Amba looked stunned and afraid. 'Shalva! What he did was
without knowing that I loved you...If he knew that....he would
never have....'

King Shalva looked furious. 'It does not matter to me, whether
he did it knowingly or not....I lost you to him...' King Shalva
said contemptuously. 'If anybody has the right to marry you, it
is Bhishma...Go!' King Shalva angrily flicked his wrists. 'Go
back to Bhishma and ask him to marry you! I do not wish to
see your face again....'

Amba looked too stunned to speak. Numb with grief and
stunned beyond words, her thoughts swirling, Amba slowly
walked back to the chariot which had dropped her at Shalva's
kingdom....
**********
Bhishma was waiting for the charioteer whom he had sent to
drop PrincessAmba. He was a trusted charioteer and Bhishma
was not worried. The thought of Princess Amba was what was
worrying him....He had brought a woman without her
permission. For a warrior of Bhishma's stature, that was an
unforgivable crime. He knew he would not rest until he knew
for a certainty that Amba was back where she belonged....

Probably deep down Bhishma felt that he had wronged Amba,
or probably he had some inkling of something wrong
happening, whatever the reason the normally calm Bhishma
was restless. He waited for the charioteer to come...

After an agonizing wait, Bhishma's sharp ears heard the
hooves of the horses entering the palace. Knowing that it
could only be Amba's charioteer, Bhishma went outside the
palace.

Bhishma was stunned and numb to find that not only had the
charioteer returned, he had returned with Amba.

Numbly Bhishma registered the fact that Amba looked like
someone had yanked the world from under her feet. She
slowly staggered out of the chariot. She looked around her
and saw everything and nothing. She walked as if in a trance.
She focused her eyes as she saw Bhishma. She rushed forward
and fell at his feet, sobbing unable to say anything.

Bhishma lifted her up and patiently waited for her to tell her
everything. The princess's hands were shaking and her voice
was trembling. Finally after a long time, she told Bhishma
everything.
Bhishma looked aghast as Amba sobbed before him. 'I....I....'
Bhishma was downcast wondering.... The suddenly his eyes
brightened. 'I will speak to Vichitraviryan!'
And so Bhishma spoke to his younger brother. 'Please brother!
Consider this! I brought Amba here along with her sisters
Ambalika and Ambika. You have married Ambalika and
Ambika. Please brother, marry Amba too!'
However for once Vichiraviryan refused to follow his elder
brother. 'No brother! It is not correct!'
'But....'
Vichitraviryan raised his hands. 'Please hear me out! I know
you bought Amba here for me! But she has already accepted
Shalva as her husband! How can Imarry her now?....I do not
think it is right!'
Bhishma pleaded with his brother some more, but
Vichitraviryan was firm. Finally accepting defeat Bhishma
went back to Amba and told her everything that had
happened.
Amba was listening to everything with listless eyes. She was
no longer interested in anything....
Bhishma was pacing the floor muttering to himself when he
looked at Amba again. 'Shalva! I will speak to him!'
Before Amba could even register what Bhishma had said,
Bhishma was out of the palace. He called his charioteer and
made preparations to go to Shalva.....
*************
'Shalva! Please listen to me!' Bhishma was in the court of a
furious Shalva. 'I took the princesses of Kasi for my brother.
At that time, I did not know....that Princess Amba loved you!'
Shalva huffed angrily. Bhishma bristled and then controlled
himself. 'She still loves you....please accept her as your wife!'
Shalva looked coldly at Bhishma. 'I loved Amba! I fought for
her, and I lost....to you! What sort of a man do you think I am?
Why should I accept someone I lost. If you are so concerned
about her well being,' Shalva said scathingly. 'Why don't you
marry her?'
Bhishma looked coldly at Shalva. He saw the firm mouth and
realized that no matter how much he asked Shalva would
never change his mind. Angrily he went back to Hastinapur.
*********

Bhishma told everything that had happened to Amba. As
Bhishma finished, Amba took in a deep breath and looked
coldly at Bhishma and spoke with hatred. 'There is no other
choice! You have to marry me now!'