As he started at the Yakshasha, Shikhandi thought of his offer. The answer to all his troubles lay here. He could become a real man for a night, please his wife, and avert the war. Save his people.
He opened his mouth to accept the offer and…stopped. Why did he have to prove he was a man? He was brought up as one, he thought he was one, he had all the skills of one! He was a swordsman and a charitoter and an archer. He was the Prince, the next in line for the throne. Why did he have to prove his manliness? Was his gender only what lay between his legs? No. He was a man. He did not need to prove it to anyone.
Refusing, he returned to his palace and summoned his wife. She walked in haughty and angry, feeling wronged.
“Am I not man enough for you, my wife?” He asked looking at her.
“No! You are a woman like me.”
“I was born in the body of a woman but I was raised a man, I feel I am a man. Is that not man enough?”
“Does it matter? You cannot give me children! People will call me infertile!”
“If men can bear children then why not us? The Gods will grace us with children if our love is true.”
“How? All we will have is a boneless blob of blood and nerves! The bones and muscles come from the father!”
“And what of those men who cannot father children? Don’t they ask rishis?”
“You deceived me!”
“Did I wife? I told you what I know to be true. That I am a man. The man whose face, whose traits, whose prowess you decided were right for you. Tell me, did I deceive you? Did I utter one dishonest word?”
“No.”
The single word rang in the silence of the room.
“You can start a war, wife, over this. Or you can trust me when I say you will bear my heir and call off your armies.”
The next day the armies gathered at Draupad’s door left. Shikhandi returned to the forest and accepted the Yaksha’s offer.
He fought in the Mahabharat and avenged Amba.
His daughter was born after his death as always.
Nothing changed and yet…after that day no one dared questioned if Shikhandi was indeed a man.
A/N- My friend was going to enter this into a contest. They didn’t. What they did enter didn’t make it, which they say means their skills need to improve. So here we are asking for…Feedback?
P.S.- This story is now published as part of an anthology Once and Thereafter by Muses_Saga.
