Draupadi XIII - Keechak

Keechak's reputation as a womaniser had spread beyond the borders of Matsya and the Pandavas had given Draupadi very specific instructions in this regard. Since Keechak had returned from the front only towards the end of the Pandavas stay with King Virat, life had been peaceful for Draupadi. But now the pressure began to mount. Keechak sent instructions through the other servants, which Draupadi ignored. Her refusal stoked the fire in Keechak's loins and he decided that he would ravish her at any cost.

He approached his sister and demanded that she send Sairhandri to his room that night. Sudeshana pleaded that Saihandri was not that kind of woman. Keechak scoffed at the idea. "There is only one kind of woman," he said. Then Sudeshana informed Keechak of Sairhandri's Gandharva husbands who would surely kill him if he so much as touched her. But Keechak was not afraid. Ultimately Sudeshana flatly refused to do her brother's bidding.

"So much concern for a mere maidservant," said Keechak sarcastically. "She must have put you under a spell. Listen dear sister, you will send that harlot to my room and you will send her tonight. If she is not there then tomorrow I will leave this kingdom forever. Your husband's enemies will run over his realm within a day and you will be on the streets begging for a meal. Are you prepared to give up this life of luxury for a servant?"

Sudeshana was left with no choice. A plan was prepared. Keechak pretended to leave for the borders, but quietly slipped back into his palace and waited. He had left his bracelet in Sudeshana's chambers. That evening the Queen asked Sairhandri to return the bracelet to Keechak's room. Secure in the knowledge that Keechak was away and fully trysting her mistress, Draupadi made her way to Keechak's room.

To her horror she found Keechak waiting for her. He was drunk to the gills and greeted her with a leer. He caught hold of her and dragged her to his bed. Draupadi struggled and managed to break free. His inebriated state was a big help. A scuffle followed during which Draupadi was able to hit him on the head with some heavy object and stun him.

She furtively made her way to the kitchen and told Bhim all that had transpired. She demanded that Bhim kill Keechak immediately. Bhim explained the situation to her. Keechak will die he told her. But not at the hands of Bhim but by Sairhandri's Gandharva husbands. There were still two weeks left for the thirteenth year to end. If Duryodhana discovered them in the interim, they faced another thirteen years of exile. Bhim told Draupadi to approach Keechak the next day and apologise. He said that she should invite Keechak to the music hall the next night, when she would submit to him.

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