With tawny eyes that burned like fire at the end of the world, he held her gaze, a challenge and a question contained within that chilling stare. "Ek mahine mei chaaro vedo ka gyaan praapt kar liya, kintu fir bhi samajh nahi paati ki nashwar tan ke mariyada mei rahogi toh parmarth praapt nahi hoga."

Krishneshwari furrowed her brow, confusion swirling in her wide, innocent eyes. He turned away, his broad shoulders brushing against the guards who were momentarily taken aback by his formidable presence. She felt a pang of urgency rise within her.

"Rukiye !" She called out, desperation lacing her words. "Tan ke mariyada ko paar kaise kiya jata hai ?"

The man turned slightly, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips, but he did not look back. Instead, he melted into the throng, his presence dissipating like mist in the morning sun. Krishneshwari felt a shiver run down her spine, the weight of his words pressing down on her. The crowd swirled around her, laughter mingling with her thoughts.

Panic surged within her. This mysterious figure held the key to discover truth, yet he was slipping away. Instinctively, Krishneshwari surged forward, her small frame weaving through the throngs of devotees, her heart pounding with urgency.

The guards, robust and protective, shouted her name, trying to keep pace, but she could not be contained. She shoved them aside with surprising strength, her mind fixated only on the shadowy figure that had just eluded her. The crowd swayed and danced, ashes swirling like a mist, obscuring her view. She scanned the faces, her pulse quickening, but he was gone—lost in the sea of revelers. Frustration bubbled within her. Who was he ? What did his words mean ?

The guards encircled her protectively, their expressions a mixture of concern and authority. "Rajkumari, rajmahal chaliye." one guard insisted, his voice firm yet gentle.

"Uss aghori ko hum dhundh laayenge aapke liye." Another assured.

Krishneshwari’s heart sank. The truth she sought danced just out of reach, like shadows in the flickering torchlight. Frustration bubbled inside her.

"Toh shigreh dhundho." She commanded, turning her back on them, the weight of unanswered questions heavy in her heart. She strode towards her elephant, a majestic beast waiting, its calm presence a stark contrast to her turmoil.

------

A yawn escaped Arjun’s lips, wide and unrestrained. He quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, casting a furtive glance at Dronacharya, who stood with an unwavering gaze, immersed in his teachings. The other students, seated on the ground, appeared alert and attentive, but Arjun’s eyelids felt heavy, a peculiar sensation for the usually vibrant warrior.

Dronacharya's voice, steady and commanding, conveyed the intricacies of archery with an authority that captured the others' focus. Yet, for Arjun, the weight of fatigue bore down like an anchor, for the previous night had been spent in solitary practice, just as the night before it, and the one before that, where arrows were flying through the darkness as he honed his skills under the stars.

The Guru, his sharp eyes observing every detail, glanced at Arjun and felt a flicker of concern. The young warrior’s posture was slumped, the usual fire that burned in his gaze subdued. This was not the vigorous student he was accustomed to; Arjun was a paragon of discipline and focus. The teacher's sharp gaze lingered on him, knowing that there was something that was keeping him up at night. But what ? The question spun in Dronacharya's thoughts.

As Arjun felt Dronacharya’s gaze linger on him, he straightened his posture, forcing his eyes wide open, battling the heaviness that clung to them. The sun filtered through the banyan leaves, casting playful shadows, yet all he could feel was the weight of fatigue dragging him down.

Internally, he cursed this unexpected exhaustion; it was a rare foe that had besieged him. For most, the remedy would have been simple: surrender to sleep and awaken refreshed. Yet Arjun, in his infinite wisdom—or perhaps devotion to learning—decided he had to conquer this enemy that was robbing him of precious time where he could refine his skills and gain new knowledge.

'Yeh shatru-roopi nidra par vijay praapt karni hi padegi...' He thought to himself.

Arjun strained to absorb the teachings, he focused intently on Dron's words, each syllable a lifeline pulling him from the depths of drowsiness. The more fatigue clung to him, the stronger his resolve became. He reminded himself that true warriors conquer their weaknesses; they do not yield to them. There was no room for compromise, especially not with archery.

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A/N

When it comes to archery, Arjun ka dimag alag hi level par chalta hai 🌝