Prishati didn't even wait for the first rays of the sun to hit the gurukul before wrapping a thick woollen cloth around to protect herself from the cold weather. Her steps were small but rushed, her hands bundled inside the cloth holding the Isha Vasya Upanishad. The bunch of pages had kept her up all night. A question had been nagging her that only Guruji could answer. Her hair, as usual, was braided and kept in a bun with rudraksha beads. Some of the strands had escaped, keen to enjoy the cold breeze. Prishati didn't give them attention as she was more interested in keeping herself warm. Her mind was occupied by her doubt. The Upanishad might be the smallest but with deeply hidden implications and double meanings, it was also one of the trickiest. Prishati was taken aback when she reached the quarters that belonged to the guru and his family. The teacher always kept his doors open showing that he was always ready to teach or to learn, but adversely today the doors to his hut were sealed shut. This was unlike Guruji, thought Prishati, he didn't even shut the doors at nightfall. She was in dilemma but she was no ordinary student, she sensed a presence behind her. In a swift motion, she turned back, her knife unsheathed but kept hidden if she had misunderstood the secrecy of the other's arrival. Her body stiffened as she realized it was none other than Devaj. She fell back two steps to maintain a safe distance for him. Not too close so that it was uncomfortable and not too far if she felt the need to attack. She hadn't sheathed her knife yet and she didn't intend to. 

"Devaj," Prishati said monotonously acknowledging him.

"He is gone," Devaj said looking at her ruefully.

"Figured that much out," Prishati said turning to leave.

"His whole family is," Devaj added. Prishati just nodded not sure of how to respond. Keen to rescue herself from this conversation she turned back and started taking hurrying steps.

"Wait!" Devaj called after her. Prishati didn't care to respond she just fastened her pace. She sensed him following her. Prishati read her surroundings. It was still pretty early and cold, she knew almost everyone would still be in their beds. She couldn't see a single student in her line of sight. Guruji's quarter was close to the forest for his meditation meaning it was farther from the student quarters. Her grip tightened around her knife but she wasn't sure she could get a  clean hit because of the thick woollen cloth wrapped around her. She wasn't very interested in discarding it, firstly because if her body temperature lowered her reflexes would become slow and secondly because she didn't want to aggravate him further. She felt him closing in on her and then she felt a grip around her left wrist still curtained under the cloth. What followed next was only witnessed by Lord Surya himself. In a matter of a second Prishati had twisted his arm forcing him down on his knees, placed herself behind him and kept her right foot on his back pushing him further towards the freezing ground and keeping the knife in her right hand close to his neck ready to attack if he attempted something foolish. Devaj was a brute but he wasn't an absolute fool he knew he would be seriously injured if he even moved an inch.

"I don't come near you not because I can't protect myself but because I prefer not to," Prishati uttered each word filled with the fire she was born with. Devaj was smart enough not to respond. 

"Next time I won't hesitate to strike that jugular vein of yours," Prishati said releasing him. The cloth tied around her had fallen to the ground and her hair had come undone just a remnant of a braid. She tossed the bundle of wool to him.

"You need it more. It was your dignity that was hurt not mine." Prishati said. Without waiting for a reply she turned away and left, her footsteps not impatient but paced. 

-:-

"What are you giving me?" Prishati prodded Parth who was enjoying the shade of the mango tree which protected him from the intense afternoon sunlight. He was lying down face up, his angavastram left to dry from a branch as Madhav had spilt water on it during lunch.

"Nothing," Parth said trying to suppress his smirk.

"Liar!  You have already told me you will be giving me something, but what is it?" Prishati said now annoyed.

"I will give it to you when I will give it to you!"Parth said enjoying their conversation now as Prishati had scrunched up her nose. He loved it when she did that. She looked like her younger self when she did it. They had both grown up significant inches but much to Prishati's dismay Parth now towered over her. But Prishati was not someone who would be called short, for an average Indian female she was quite tall. Parth had turned 17 about two months ago and Prishati was just about 30 days away from being his age. Parth had accidentally told her that he was going to give her something when she turned 17 and Prishati hadn't stopped asking him about it since.

"Ugh!" Prishati huffed and rested her head on his toned stomach, her hands folded and her face sporting a small pout. Parth smiled.

"Prishati." Parth cooed while prodding her arm with his index finger. Prishati didn't respond but her pout had dissipated. 

"Listen please!" Parth cooed again softly, knowing Prishati liked it.

"What?" Prishati said, still trying to stay annoyed.

"Do you know what is being made for dinner? Because I am very hungry." Parth said.

"Parth!" Prishati said partly annoyed and partly amused, she got up writhing out of his hold and started stomping away. Parth got up after her and started to jog after her. Prishati broke into a run, giggling. Parth joined in and caught up to her soon. He slithered his arms around her waist and hoisted her up the ground while motioning in a circle. Prishati shrieked with laughter until he put her down. She turned back facing him. His face was amusingly deadpan.

"I have my archery practice I will take your leave now," he said solemnly. To which Prishati burst out laughing and Parth not as composed as his eldest brother, was forced to join her.

-:-

"Archery practice?" Udyat questioned.

"Yes, how do you know?" Prishati asked mildly surprised.

"It isn't like you have time for your pleasant brother when he is around!" Udyat said smirking. Prishati chose not to reply as she was used to the taunts and well he wasn't completely lying.

"Do you know where or why Guruji is gone?" Prishati asked it was a question that had been nagging her all day. She had asked Parth but he had no clue either.

"Don't know where but there is a word he has gone to search for his absurd son," Udyat said nonchalantly. Guruputra Ashwathama had disappeared from the Gurukul about a week ago and Guruji had declared that he knew about his whereabouts but everyone knew that wasn't the case or Aradhya wouldn't have seen him sneaking out at night like a thief. What Aradhya was doing up at night was 'none of your business' according to him.

"I just hope he doesn't cause any trouble," Prishati said sighing. Udyat just nodded absentmindedly. 

-:-

"Parth come on!" Abhay whined. He was waiting for Parth to come with him to their quarters as it was already past curfew but Parth was too busy talking to his favourite person.

"Just a minute Jeshtha!" Parth replied. 

"Given you are disarmed an-" Prishati continued but was stopped by Abhay again.

"Just because Guruji isn't here doesn't mean you won't get punished, come on! And it isn't like she is running away, talk to her tomorrow!" Abhay screamed.

"Okay!" Parth said raising his hands in defeat.

"Good night, then!" Prishati said sympathetically.

"I don't know about good, but night it is," Parth said smiling ruefully and jogging up to his impatient brother. Prishati saw him go and didn't go back to her quarters until he was out of sight.

-:-

"Draupadi, wake up!" Prishati heard a hushed voice. She didn't give it much thought but her eyes flew open as she realised she had been called by a name she hadn't heard for a long time. It was her brother.

"What are you doing here?" Prishati asked in a hushed tone she didn't want to wake the other five girls sleeping peacefully.

"No time, come on!" he said dragging her by her elbow. Prishati let herself be taken but took the knife from the stool anyway. Once they were a safe distance from the quarters Prishati halted.

"What is it?" she demanded.

"Not what, who," he said grimly.

"His majesty." came a familiar voice from the foliage. Prishati stopped herself from jumping but she unsheathed her knife as a precaution. From behind the dense net of leaves and grass came a man in his mid-thirties probably, his dark green dhoti was tied military style and his face and torso were covered with a thick black cloak but even with the layers of cloth it was evident the man standing in front of them was a warrior. As the man elevated his hands Prishati tightened her grip on the knife alert for any sudden movements but the man had just removed the cloak from his face giving a view to a tanned and hardened face. His steely eyes complimented his handlebar moustache. Prishati realised why the voice seemed familiar it was none other than Vrishank who had escorted them to this very place. She had almost forgotten about him as he was ordered to live in disguise until absolutely necessary and Prishati had hoped that time wouldn't come. Prishati relaxed her body while her mind was still uneasy and sheathed her knife.

"What happened to Baba?" Prishati asked worriedly.

"Ashwathama had foolishly tried to attack Panchal, hungry for power and your sister easily defeated him and kept him as a prisoner of war not knowing that he was the son of Guru Drona. Hearing this your Guru had marched to Panchal seething in anger and almost breaking his vow of being non-violent for the rest of his life but seeing their numerical weakness, he just took his son and left. But both your father and his kingdom are severely weakened. And-" Vrishank stopped short.

"And what?" Prishati asked not really wanting to hear what was about to be said.

"And he suspects that in anger your Guru may do something irrational and harm you," Vrishank replied grimly.

"We have to leave now," Drishtdyumna said solemnly. Prishati nodded, she knew they had to leave.

"Just give me a minute," Prishati said turning to leave.

"My lady there is no time," Vrishank said hurryingly.

"I have to tell Par-" Prishati started.

"Draupadi, there is no time we need to leave now, Guruji will be here any minute." her brother stated. Prishati knew he was right but she didn't want to.

"Drau!" Drishtdyumna said tugging at her angavastram.

"Let's go." Draupadi said at last and the three broke into a run. 

She would come back. She would come back for him. She had to.

वयस्क दोनों हो रहे है

ऊंचाई नहीं बढ़ रही केवल शरीरों की

प्रेम तो दोनों कर चुके है

पर मानने को वो तैयार नहीं

बुलावा पर आया है

प्रिशति नहीं द्रौपदी को

पार्थ तो अनभिज्ञ है

की दूरियां आई है दरमियाँ

-:- END OF PART I -:-