As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over Dronacharya's ashram, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves around Kripi's modest hut. Seated cross-legged on a woven mat, Kripi embodied grace, her silver strands framing a serene face, lines of wisdom etched deeply from years of nurturing knowledge.

The flickering oil lamp cast a soft glow, illuminating the sacred texts sprawled before her. With her eyes closed, Kripi surrendered herself to the melodious voice of young Satyashree, whose recitation of verses from the Dhanurved resonated like a divine hymn.

"त्रिपर्व पञ्चपर्व वा सप्तपर्व तथा पुनः |
नव पर्वञ्च कोदण्डं सर्वदा शुभकारकम् ||" He recited. His demeanor was tranquil, reflecting the teachings of patience and focus she had imparted.

Kripi felt the vibrations of his words wrap around her, lifting her spirit. Although the verses spoke of weapons, tactics, and the chaos of battlefields, they seemed like divine songs of the Samved, when he recited it in his voice, that was pure and resonant, and which flowed like a gentle stream, transforming the teachings of warfare into something ethereal.

As Satyashree finished his recitation, a profound silence enveloped the space, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets. Opening her eyes slowly, Kripi beheld the sight of the young prince. His dark curls framed a face radiating innocence and earnestness. In that fleeting moment, a smile blossomed on her lips, illuminating her features like the first light of dawn.

"Ati-uttam putra." she said softly, her voice tender like a mother's. "Tumhare madhur svar mei Dhanurved ke shlok bhi, Samved ke geet lagte hai."

The young prince beamed, joining his hands in reverence, the humility evident in his posture. "Dhanyawad Gurumata," he replied, his eyes sparkling with joy.

"Ab jaa ke vishram karo putra." Kripi advised, her tone imbued with maternal care.

Satyashree stood, his movements graceful. He bent low, touching her feet in a gesture of respect.

"Ayushmaan bhava." she blessed him, her hand resting lightly on his head.

After collecting a few texts, Satyashree stepped outside, the evening air cool against his skin. He held the scrolls close to his heart, his spirit buoyed by Kripi's affection, as he made his way back to his quarters beneath the twilight sky. The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers, and the distant sound of a river provided a soothing melody.

Walking along the path lined with quaint huts, Satyashree paused for a moment. There stood his elder brother Satyaki, engaged in animated conversation with the Pandavas. Laughter erupted, brightening the dusky air. Bheem, with his boisterous spirit, playfully patted Satyaki's shoulder, while Arjun, with a twinkle in his eye, shook his head and laughed at some jest. The twins, Nakul and Sahadev, shared a light-hearted chuckled, their voices ringing melodiously, while Yudhishthir smiled gently.

As Satyashree drew nearer, the sons of Pandu noticed him, their curious eyes glimmering with a friendly light.

Satyaki turned, a broad grin breaking across his face, "Kya padha aaj ki kaksha ?"

"Dhanush ke baare mei." Satyashree replied with a smile.

Arjun curiously raised a brow, "Kya dhanush banane ki vidhi padhi ?"

"Ji Rajkumar." Satyashree nodded.

"Toh Dhanush ke maap aur prakar ko acche se smaran rakhna." Arjun advised, "Gurudev tumse puch sakte hai."

Nakul, with a mischievous glint in his eye, looked at Bheem and then to Satyashree. "Ab toh tum Gurumata ke atipriya ban jaaoge, Yuyudhawan. Kadachit woh Bhrata Bheem ke laddu tumhe dede."

Bheem shot a glare at Nakul and with a swift movement, caught him by the back of his neck, making him yelp in surprise, "Arrey Bhrata Bheem !"

The other Pandavas couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, their laughter echoing through the evening air. Satyashree and Satyaki, too, couldn't suppress their smiles, the jovial atmosphere lightening the mood.

"Shubh shubh bolo Nakul." Bheem said, as he let go of his brother, "Sadev mujhe krodh dilate ho."

Satyashree shook his head, "Aap krodh mat kijiye Vrikodar. Aapke laddu aapke hi rahenge." He chuckled.

Bheem's stern expression melted into a grin. He patted Satyashree on the back, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "Dekho kitne ucch sanskar hai balak ke. Aur ek tum ho Nakul."

Nakul however just smiled, which seemed to irk Bheem even more. But before another banter could happen, Yudhishthir stepped forward, his voice calm and composed. "Suryast ho raha hai, hume sandhyavandan hetu jana hai."

The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple. The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of evening flowers, a reminder of the day's end. The Pandavas and Satyaki nodded in agreement, their minds turning to the sacred rituals.

Sahadev turned to Satyashree, "Tum bhi humare saath chalo Satyashree."

Satyashree smiled and nodded, his eyes reflecting the fading light of the day. "Awashya. Mai yeh granth rakh ke ata hu."

With that, he turned towards the thatched hut, its simple silhouette framed by the twilight sky.

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
A/N

Pandavas along with Satyaki and Satyashree 😍
A bond that will keep you entertained for sure 😂✨

Also fun fact - Bhishm Kripacharya and Vidur, Krishna Arjun and Draupadi are some famous trio of Mahabharat. One lesser known triad was of Bheem, Satyaki and Dhristadyumn. These three were one hell of a trio 🤣

NOW I'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON 4th DECEMBER ✨