As the Pandavas approached the hut, Kunti and Madri notice them from afar. The moment their eyes meet Sahadev's injured state, worry clouds their faces. Madri rushes forward while Kunti swiftly enters the hut, preparing to tend to Sahadev's wound.

"Sahadev !" Madri quickly takes Sahadev from Yudhishthir's arms and cradles him close, her motherly instincts kicking in, "Yeh kaise huya ?"

Bheem said, "Mata, Sahadev vriksh par chadha tha, kintu daali tut gayi aur yeh gir gaya."

"Tumne dhyaan nahi diya kya ?" Madri asked accusingly.

"Mata woh itne jaldi huya ki hum kuch kar nahi paaye..." Nakul said.

"Kintu-" "Mata !" Sahadev interrupted her.

He said, "Bhul meri hai, maine hi galti se nirbal daali par paer rakh diya tha."

By then Kunti arrived with medicinal paste and pieces of cloth in hand. Sahadev, his face contorted with pain, shook his head in refusal as Kunti approached with the medicinal paste.

"Nahi nahi !" He tried to get away.

"Nahi lagaoge toh thik kaise hoge putra ?" Kunti asked softly.

Sahadev shook his head, "Yeh lep jalta hai. Mujhe nahi lagana !"

Kunti, not wanting to escalate his distress, decided to divert his attention.

"Nahi lagana ? Koi baat nahi. Kamse kam mujhe rakt toh saaf karne do." She said.

Gently, Kunti lifted Sahadev into her arms, placing him over her lap, her touch soothing him. With a mother's tenderness, she cleaned his wounds, her hands moving with practiced care.

As Sahadev's breathing steadied, Kunti whispered softly, diverting his attention, "Woh dekho Sahadev, woh pakshi kitna sundar hai." Kunti said, pointing towards a bird perched on a nearby tree.

Sahadev's gaze followed her direction, his eyes alighting on the fluttering creature.

"Waise mujhe woh itne sacche se dikh nahi raha...." Kunti said as she dipped her finger in the medicinal paste, "Kaunse rang ka hai woh ?"

"Kala sa hai..." Sahadev said, as he gazed at the bird.

"Kala ? Oh." Kunti gently brought the paste near his arm, "Keval kala ? Koi aur rang nahi hai ?"

"Hai na... Thoda neela hai..." Sahadev said.

Taking this moment, Kunti applied the medicinal paste over his arm with gentle precision. She asked, "Kaisa neela ? Aakash jaisa ?"

"Sandhya ke aakaash jaisa..." Sahadev said.

As he focused on the bird, she skillfully applied the medicinal paste over his arm, her touch so light that he hardly noticed. Sahadev's attention shifted from his injury to the bird, his expression turning from pain to curiosity.

"Ho gaya." Kunti smiled.

Sahadev looked at the now-treated wound and then at Kunti, his eyes reflecting surprise and astonishment.

"Oh Mata !" Sahadev hugged Kunti tightly, and she chuckled warmly in response.

Madri watches them both, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She sees the deep love Kunti holds for Sahadev, treating him as her own child, while she struggles with her own guilt for not feeling the same towards Kunti's sons. She realized the stark contrast between Kunti's selfless love for all five Pandavas and her own struggle to love them as her own children.

"Mujhe toh sach mei pata nahi chala !" Sahadev said.

Kunti smiled, "Ab vishram karna. Ek saptah mei tum thik ho jaaoge."

Witnessing this tender moment, the other Pandavas share a light-hearted laugh, appreciating Kunti's maternal care. However, Yudhishthir stands apart, his expression weighed down by concern and sorrow, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He forced a painful smile before quietly leaving the place.

Yudhishthir's eyes moistening with tears as he went behind the thatched hut. The weight of responsibility and guilt pressed heavily on his heart as he struggled to maintain composure, his emotions raw and unguarded.

Suddenly Pandu arrived there, carrying a basket of flowers in his hand. The sight of his son standing with tears in his eyes caused a frown to crease his brow.

"Yudhishthir ?" Pandu approached and gently inquired about the reason for his son's distress, "Kya huya putra ?"

"Woh Sahadev..." Tears fell from Yudhishthir's eyes, "Ped se gir gaya, rakh bhi nikla..."

"Toh tum kyu ro rahe ho ? Tumhare karan toh nahi gira na ?" Pandu asked.

Yudhishthir's voice trembled as he expressed his regret, "Y-Yadi mai waha hota toh... Toh woh nahi girta... Meri wajah se huya yeh sab, mujhe apne chhote bhaiyo ko akele nahi chhodna chahiye tha..."

His words hung heavy in the air, reflecting his sense of responsibility and concern for his brother's well-being. Pandu's gaze softened as he listened to Yudhishthir's heartfelt words.

"Kintu Bheem toh tha na ?" Pandu asked.

"Woh Jyesht nahi hai... Mai hu... Sabka dhyaan rakhna mera uttardaitwa hai uska nahi... Meri bhul thi jo maine unhe akele uttari parvato par jaane diya... Mujhe nahi jaane dena chahiye tha, mujhe unke saath rehna chahiye tha..." Yudhishthir said in a quivering voice.

Placing a comforting hand on his son's shoulder, Pandu spoke soothingly, "Tumhe Jyesht bhrata ke roop mei paa kar sabhi Pandav dhanya hai. Aisa prem, aisi chinta keval ek Pita hi apne putra hetu kar sakta hai. Apne bhaiyo ke liye tum ek sarvottam Jyesht ho, putra."

Yudhishthir's heart was still heavy with the weight of his emotions. Feeling the weight of his son's sorrow, Pandu embraced Yudhishthir tightly, offering comfort and reassurance.

That day, Pandu was in awe with the strength and love that Yudhishthir had for his brothers. He knew that as long as Yudhishthir was there for the Pandavas, no harm could come to them. And with that realization, a sense of peace washed over Pandu.

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A/N

Hate him or love him, you can't deny that Yudhishthir was the backbone of Pandavas.

And reading Mahabharat, I can easily say that Yudhishthir had a tendency to self-blame. He does this in many places in Mahabharat, most prominent one being the time when Arjun had to go to 12 years of exile.