The chariots rolled back into the ashram, the familiar sights and sounds of the training ground greeting them. Other students, engrossed in their daily practices, barely registered their arrival. The princes dismounted, their faces grim, the encounter with Eklavya leaving a lingering shadow over their spirits.

Arjun looked visibly distressed. His face was flushed, his eyes glazed over, and he stumbled as he stepped down from the chariot. His brothers, sensing his distress, exchanged worried glances.

"Kya huya Arjun ?" Yudhishthir, his brow furrowed with concern, gently placed a hand on Arjun's shoulder. His body was burning hot. Yudhishthir quickly placed his hand on Arjun's forehead. The heat radiating from his skin was alarming. "O Maheshwara, tumhara sharir to tap raha hai !"

Nakul and Sahadev didn't hesitate to step forward and gently touched Arjun's forehead and body.

"Bhrata ko jvar huya hai." Nakul said, seeing clear signs of fever on Arjun.

"Bhrata, parnkutir mei chaliye, mere paas jo aushadhi hai use grahan kar aap kal tak swasth ho jaayenge." Sahadev urged.

Arjun, his mind a haze, barely registered their words. He felt weak, utterly drained, as if all his strength had been leeched away. The incident with Eklavya, the crushing disappointment, the relentless training, it all seemed to have taken its toll.

"Gurudev.... Mujhe Gurudev se milna hai..." He mumbled, his voice raspy.

Bheem, sensing his brother's determination, hesitated. He knew Arjun was not in his right mind, his fever clouding his judgment. He gently gripped Arjun's arms, his gaze searching his brother's face.

"Tumhe vishram ki awashyakta hai, Arjun." Bheem said, his voice firm and gentle.

Arjun looked at his brother, his eyes filled with a desperate longing. "Nahi Bhrata.... Mujhe Guruvar ke paas Jana hai..." He said, his voice barely a whisper.

Bheem saw the pain, the confusion, the raw, unfiltered emotion reflected in Arjun's eyes. He gently released his grip, his heart aching for his brother. Arjun, his movements unsteady, rushed towards the wrestling arena where Dronacharya usually instructed the students at this time. The other Pandavas, their faces etched with concern, followed close behind.

They found Dronacharya in the center of the arena, surrounded by the Kauravas. Duryodhan, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, was recounting the events of the day, emphasizing the extraordinary skill of the unknown archer. Dronacharya, listening intently, nodded occasionally, his face a mask of impassivity.

The sudden arrival of the Pandavas, led by the fever-stricken Arjun, broke the spell. All eyes turned towards them. Arjun, ignoring the curious stares of his cousins, walked directly towards Dronacharya. As he stood before his Guru, his anger, like a dying ember, flickered and died. He could only look upon Dronacharya with a mixture of reverence and awe. Such was his devotion.

He bowed his head, his voice trembling slightly. "Guruvar," he began, his tone surprisingly gentle and affectionate, "Uss raatri ko aapne sneh aur prem se mujhe aalingan de kar kaha tha ki mujhse shresht aapka koi shishya nahi hoga. Fir aapka dusra ek shishya, nishad-raj ka putra, woh hum sabse uttam kaise hai ?"

The question hung heavy in the air, charged with raw emotion. Dronacharya, his expression unreadable, looked at Arjun, his gaze filled with a mixture of concern and surprise. For the first time, Dron saw the disappointment in Arjun's eyes, the hurt that lay beneath the surface. And he couldn't bear it.

He had always seen Arjun as a special student, a prodigy destined for greatness. He had poured all his knowledge, all his experience, into training the young prince. To see that faith shattered, to witness the pain in Arjun's eyes, was more than he could bear. Moreover, the very premise of Arjun's question left him bewildered. He had never taught the son of the Nishada king.

Dronacharya, his heart heavy, placed a gentle hand on Arjun's shoulder. "Mujhe iss Nishad-kumar ke paas le chalo, putra." he said, his voice calm and measured.

Arjun, surprised by Dronacharya's response, looked up at his Guru, his eyes filled with confusion. He led the way, the other princes exchanged worried glances, but Dronacharya had spoken, and they knew better than to interfere.

Both Dron and Arjun ventured towards the forest. They walked for what seemed like hours, the dense foliage obscuring the sunlight. Finally, they reached the clearing where they had encountered Eklavya. The battle-hardened Nishada prince was there, practicing with the same focused intensity as before.

Dronacharya, upon seeing the young man, felt a jolt of recognition. It was Eklavya, the prince of Nishadas who were allied to Jarasandh, the one he had specifically denied as a student, out of consideration for his other pupils, who were Kurus and Yadavas. He then noticed a crudely fashioned idol of himself, placed conspicuously beside Eklavya. This was an act of defiance, a blatant disregard for Dronacharya's decision.

Upon seeing Dronacharya standing before him, Ekalavya's face lit up with an expression of pure joy. He immediately dropped his bow and arrows, his eyes wide with excitement. He rushed towards Dronacharya, falling to his knees and prostrating himself on the ground.

"Gurudev !" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion, as he touched Dron's feet with his head. "Apne shishya ka pranaam swikar kare !"

Dronacharya stood in silence, observing Ekalavya. The prince had shown himself to be lacking in virtue. By falsely posing as his disciple, Ekalavya had sought to gain recognition and prestige, to be known as a student of the renowned Dronacharya, without ever truly obeying him. This was not the kind of student he had envisioned. This was a young man driven by pride and a thirst for personal glory, a dangerous ambition that could have far-reaching consequences.

Dronacharya raised his head, his gaze fixed on the Nishada prince. "Yadi mujhe Guru maante ho, toh Gurudakshina do."

"Awashya acharya !" Ekalavya, overjoyed at Dronacharya's acknowledgment, beamed. "Aap jo kahe, mai woh aapko dene ko sajj hu ! Aap keval batayiye, mai aapko kya de sakta hu ?"

Arjun, watching this exchange with growing unease, felt a knot of confusion tighten in his chest.

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A/N

You know whot-
Fortunately it was Dron who found Ekalavya.... Had it been Bhishm, who found an enemy prince lingering in their kingdom....