Fiction Draupadi’s question struck his heart like a poisoned arrow. “Do you really believe that you are a selfless person?” Bhishma, the Patriarch of two kingdoms, the most venerated of all the Kauravas and the Pandavas, stood speechless before a woman’s question. Women played more role in his life than he would have ever wished. In spite of his renowned vow that he would never let a woman enter into his life, women forced their way into his life. It all started with a woman. She was the daughter of a fisherman-chieftain. Rather, adopted daughter. In reality, she belonged to the celestial realms. She had the gracefulness of a mermaid and the fragrance of musk. No wonder Bhishma’s father fell madly in love with her. It was that mad love which made a terrible demand on Bhishma. He vowed that he would never marry, that he would never have any offspring. A great sacrifice. A noble sacrifice that made his reputation as the selfless patriarch of the kingdom. That sa
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