In the kitchen of the palace of Panchaal stood five daasis looking at the food that they had prepared for the guards. "Are you sure about this Tara?" One of the daasis asked to their senior.

Tara was in her late forties, she wore the same cream saree like all the other maids, her hair pulled up in a bun. She had an oval face with almond shape dark brown eyes. "Yes. We have to do this. Princess Draupadi had saved us from the life of slavery and abuse. Now its our turn to save her." Her voice rang with determination as she looked at her coworkers.

"But what can we do?" The other maid asked, "Tonight that monster has organised a party to celebrate his victory. We would have to mix this in the drinks and food." Tara said as she showed them a small pouch of white powder.

"It will make them sleep for next 5 hours giving us enough time to get Rajkumari Draupadi out." She whispered as she looked at all the daasis, they all nodded and began mixing the powder with all the food and drinks, their hearts thrummed with nervousness but they all had one goal to save the life of Draupadi.

*time skip*

Tara moved through the corridors of the dark cell, it smelled horribly of rotten bodies, urine and blood. All the guards were asleep as she looked around. Her eyes filled with tears, their princess was bring kept here where even the animals couldn't survive. This hell hole was no place for a human to live.

She looked through the prisons many warriors were locked up, beaten too badly to be recognised. One of them was her son, she instantly recognised him. She wanted to run to him, to hug him, there was so much blood on him, not one place on her body had left unscathed.

Her heart was slowly breaking into pieces, memories of his smiling face, his laughter, his calling him mata came floating to her mind. She wanted to go help him, she moved ahead,her hand held out to him but than she froze, her duty called her. Her loyalties called her, she had to save Draupadi.

The pain was equal to death that she faced when she moved away from her son, she felt dead within. She saw in another cell was Rajmata Kunti, she opened the gate to the prison as she rushed in. "Rajmata please your highness get up." She said as Kunti opened her eyes, Kunti looked around.

"I'm here to get you out." Tara explained as she looked at Kunti, who nodded. Not questioning her, hearing the urgency in the voice of the dasi she knew that they didn't have much time.

They both rushed out looking at various cells trying to find Subhadra and Draupadi. Their breaths nearly stopped as they got paralysed by fear, pain like never before raked Kunti's heart as her eyes roamed on the figure that was cuffed to the walls, blood was everywhere.

Strips of skin were missing, they could hear a girl's crying voice coming from the cell too but all they could focus on was Draupadi. They had both seen her grow up, even though life had done many injustices to this girl she stood strong, always smiling making others smile but now at this moment she looked so dead.

Her skin was chalk white pale, sweat had some pieces of hair stuck to her face. Her breathing was coming in short pants, Kunti's heart would cry even when her daughter got a small cut, now it felt as though her heart was swimming in the pool of acid.

The two of them rushed in, "Draupadi! Putri!" She sobbed, as she helped her down with the help of Tara. She laid her down, her head resting in Kunti's lap.

"Mata?" Draupadi asked confused, how was mata here? The constant pulsing pain that ran through her body had her blinking back tears. Her arms burned from the strain of being pulled for so long. All she could feel was pain,like that was the only thing left in the world.

"Rajkumari!" The voice called out, Draupadi felt like she was hearing everything from underwater, she couldn't hear anything clearly. Her arms were hurting from the constant strain of her body.

Tara ran to Subhadra to help her get free while Kunti handled Draupadi. "Wake up putri we need to leave."  She whispered as she wiped the tears that fell from Draupadi's eyes. Panchaali shook her head, "no Mata I can't leave. This is my kingdom, many of the innocent people are imprisoned here. I can't leave them. I am Harshavardhan's prized prisoner, if I leave he would take out the anger on every innocent here. Thousands of people will die because I chose to run. But you mata, you need to leave with Subhadra, take her with you. Go to aryas and tell them everything." Draupadi's voice was barely audible but her words had the three women looking at her with shock.

"We can't let you make this big sacrifice! You have just been here for one day and see what he has done to you. You will die Rajkumari please leave." Tara begged, her heart breaking, she can't let her sacrifice herself for everyone here. "Yes putri you have to come with us. I am not leaving without you." Begged Kunti, tears were just not stopping.

Subhadra took Draupadi's hand in hers, "Jiji I won't leave without you." She cried as she looked at Panchaali's state. "You all have to, why are you not understanding. Mata I have to stay back, that is my dharm, to protect the people here and you two need to leave and get help that is your dharm." Draupadi pleaded, her voice breaking. She was scared and terrified,  she didn't want them to leave but she didn't want them to hold back either. The mere thought of staying back was terrifying her, but she held her fears in. She needed to this, if she left with them she would only slow them down, they would be caught before they even reach Pandavas.

Time was testing her once again, asking her to make a sacrifice that she  wasn't ready to make yet but she had to. For the people, for her family. Once again for the happiness of everyone she had to push herself in hell, for others she needed to burn through this pain.

"I don't know anything jiji. Forget the dharm please come with us!" Subhadra begged, she didn't want to leave her alone with this monster. She had seen what he was capable of. "You're asking the wife of Dharmraj to forget the dharm." Draupadi smiled, humour lacing her words. The three women sobbed, their heart hurt seeing the one woman who they loved and respected more than anyone look so broken and devastated yet right in this moment she was being the strongest. "Everything will be fine. Just go mata. Tara at the end of this corridor on the left there is a torch turn it left and it would reveal a secret door. Lead them that way and while doing so tell the two daasis clothes exchange with them." She said looking at everyone, they nodded,their heart breaking. Kunti pressed her lips on her forehead, "Take care Putri." Her heart hurt at the thought of leaving their daughter.

Kunti's heart hurt as she moved away from her daughter, her heart breaking at the thought of losing her, what if something happened to her. But with heavy hearts they moved away leaving behind Draupadi all alone to face that monster.

Draupadi watched them leave, terror coursing through her veins. She held in her cries till she knew they were out of earshot, their footsteps fading. She bit her lip as she held in her tears but once she was sure they had left she let the tears flow. "oh arya" she thought as she cried, her mind grew hazy as her eye sight blurred.

"What you did today was amazingly brave." She heard a voice whisper, she turned her head sideways and her eyes met with a beautiful woman. She had long dark hair that were tangled up, her lip had a cut on it as she bled. Dirt was everywhere on their clothes, "I did what anyone would." She replied her voice weak. "No not everyone could. You are truly very brave." The woman whispered in awe, Draupadi wanted to reply but her mind was growing hazy as dark spots danced in her vision and soon she lost her conscious.

*****

Kunti and Subhadra didn't stop as they continued to move towards pandavas. It had been straight one and half day but they had taken no breaks. Every moment their heart broke with worry what must have happened to Draupadi, only god knew how she was dealing with everything all alone.  They closed their eyes and prayed, God let her be fine. . .

*****

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