The pandavas tried their best, they did everything they could as they helped Panchaali in the kitchen but all they received were her half hearted nods or a smile, but the happiness of which never reached her eyes, she was lost in her own world, while she was physically with them mentally she was completely absent.

Panchaali stirred the daal, who must be preparing the food for her aryas? The daasis probably? Hopefully they'll remember to make Arya Arjun's food a bit spicy, he likes his food better. Will they add extra ghee in Arya Bheem's food, he loves the taste of it. And what about the less oily dishes for Arya Nakul? They surely won't forget that, or would they? What about Arya Sahadev's curd rice, hopefully they won't forget that, he eats that everyday during lunch with extra pepper. Would they forget? What about Arya Yudhisthir's need for simple dishes, with no extra masalas? God don't let them forget that. Would they have made something sweet for them? They love to eat sweet after their meal? And Arya Bheem's laddoos? Surely they must have made them in great stocks so he can have them when ever he feels like. God, what about his mid night snacks? Prabhu! Are the kachoris and Samosas ready? She wanted to bang her head against the wall, all this questions were driving her crazy.

She shouldn't have left in such a hurry, she should have instructed the servants. Who would do the pooja every morning? Who would get them ready? God! They can't even find their things on time! What would happen to her aryas? Even mata is not there to help them. She sighed as she cut the coriander, and garnished the daal, she instantly moved to prepare some laddoos.

"Panchaali?" Yudhisthir asked as he laid his hand on her shoulder, she snapped out of her daze and looked at her. "You look stressed priye. Won't you tell me what's wrong?" He asked, a calm and understanding smile on her face, Panchaali wanted to hold in her worries but she didn't want Yamuna to feel bad so she sighed. "Um it's nothing really my mind is just trailing back to my Aryas, I can't stop worrying about them." She confessed, her eyes shining with concern as she looked up at Yamuna. The other four pandavas froze as they heard her words, they all looked at each other.

"And what are you worried about your aryas?" Yudhisthir questioned, his face still the calm one, the other four pretended to work as they listened to her. "Everything. What is there to not worry about? I left so suddenly, I didn't get the chance to instruct the cooks or servants, anyone about anything. My aryas maybe a unit but each of them have different choices, different needs. And I being the idiot didn't even live a set of instructions back. And mata is also not there to help them, who will take care of them? Every morning I do the pooja, make sure they take the aarti before they leave the room, so everything happens shubh with them. And I wake them everyday, help them get ready, you know jiji they can't even find their things, it will be right there but no they will search the entire room. Who would help them today? My aryas even have different choices in their food selection though they'll eat anything one prepares, for they respect the food. But they have different preferences, like Arya arjun likes his food spicy, arya bheem prefers his with more ghee, arya Nakul prefers less oily, arya Sahadev needs to have his curd rice and Arya Yudhisthir, he like more simple dishes. And they need sweet dishes after their supper, and what about the snacks? My arya  Vrikodar needs his snacks, specifically his laddoos, every morning I make a few batches of fresh ones, now because of my stupidity everything there would be chaos. " Her worries flew out of her mouth one after another, the pandavas wanted to hug her and kiss her, silly girl was worried for every little thing.

Yudhisthir sighed, "Stop worrying they're men, they will take care of themselves." He assured, but she shook her head, "You don't understand..." Panchaali was cut off by Arjun, "Why don't you write a letter to the head of the servants and make your instructions clear." He suggested, he knew very well there was no way reasoning her out of her worries, the best way to get her stop worrying would be giving her a solution. She beamed happily as the worry extinguished from her eyes.

"Thank you so much!" She thanked as she ran out of the kitchen making the pandavas smile. "Smart thinking there." Bheem said as he smiled, his eyes settled on the door where his wife had left.

***

"Krishna, I'm going to get some flowers for the pooja. " Panchaali said as she hurriedly picked the basket, Krishn smiled as he stretched, "All alone in a new place? It's not a good idea meri Krishnaa." He stated as he looked at her, she smiled, "I'll come too!" Nakul said making Krishn smile, Nakul straightened his pink saree, how does women even handle this thing? He mentally thought as tried to straighten it for what felt like hundredth time. How does Panchaali wear all this? Nakul thought as he tugged at his blouse, he felt constricted. Panchaali smiled and nodded as the two left.

Panchaali veiled her face, "I think we should take this trail." Nakul stated as he pulled Panchaali with her, "you are so beautiful. " They heard a manly voice state, the two froze, Nakul's hand clenched as his jaw set, this man dared put his eyes on his wife. "You've got an admirer!" Panchaali whisper to Nakul making his heart freeze. Admirer? And for him? But he's a man, oh wait no, he is a woman right now! Nakul wanted to bang his head on the closest trunk of a tree.

"Devi who are you?" A man in his late twenties asked, he felt Panchaali squeeze her hand as she giggled. Nakul gulped, as his eyes met with the deep brown ones, he wore royal clothes making Nakul want to bang his head. "We are traders. " Panchaali whispered as she looked at her tongue tied friend.

"Devi, I am a very straight forward person. I don't believe in hiding my emotions, I am Lakhan, the son of the leader here,  I would like to ask your hand in marriage. If you don't mind?" He stated confidently, Nakul was flabbergasted, marry? And a man? Like heck he is going to marry a man! He himself was a man! How can he marry a man?!

"Niharika?" Panchaali called, "Yes." Nakul replied to his wife. "Yes! You're answer is a yes! I am so happy! Tonight itself I'll get my father and come to your place." He stated excitedly not giving Nakul a chance to speak, who was desperately trying to talk, the man turned around and left. What the hell just happened?? Nakul thought as he looked at his wife who pulled back her veil and looked up at him.

"Oh I am so happy for you! Love at first sight is just so amazing!" His wife excitedly whispered, Nakul wanted to cry! Like hell it was love at first sight! It was mess at first sight! He and marry another man? What the hell was destiny doing?

"Let's go home!" Panchaali said excitedly, "but the flowers... " He was cut off by his wife who was already pulling him in the direction of the house.

"Krrrrrrrrishnaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Panchaali came running in as she loudly called her Sakha, everyone came running out in the aangan, worry masking their features. Krishna came in the front as he wrapped his arms around his heavily breathing Sakhi, "Sakhi? Are you alright?" He questioned, worried. She pulled back and gave him a huge smile, "you won't believe what happened?!" She stated excitedly making everyone laugh at her child like excitement.

"Oh really? What has my choti all so excited?" Balram asked as he gave a fond smile to Panchaali, and caressed her head with brotherly affection.  "You won't believe what happened dau?!" She exclaimed again as she wrapped her arms around his wrist.

"Okay okay. Sit down. Relax , drink this and tell." Sahadev stated with a smile as he pulled her to sit down and gave her a glass of water, all the pandavas were very happy except Nakul, who was frustrated and angry.

Panchaali began to narrated excitedly, her hands moving animatedly as she looked at all them, telling them what happened. Rukmani, Satya and Kunti who didn't know the truth were so very happy.

"Aw congratulations!" Satya and Rukmani said simultaneously patting her cheek, "I'll get the sweets!" Kunti said happily as she moved in, "I'll get the things to remove her nazar!  Panchaali, Satya , chalo help me." Rukmani ordered taking the two woman with her.

The moment they left Nakul's smile dropped as everyone bursted out laughing, "Aw my anuj is getting married." Bheem teased as he was rolling on the floor with laughter, "Niharika ki shaadi!" Sahadev teased. "Mujhe piya ke ghar jaana hai!" Arjun began to sing, "Mujhe mere piya ke ghar jana hai!" Bheem and Sahadev continued, Yudhisthir, Vasudev and Balram were laughing so hard that tears were tracing down his cheeks, and Nakul? He glared at everyone . . .

***

DO VOTE AND COMMENT!

****