Panchaali's heart was unsettled as  she moved around the palace of Dwarka, "You look a bit stressed sakhi." Krishn's playful voice rang throughout the corridor making her freeze as she turned around to look at him.

"And you know exactly why I am worried." She whispered as she looked at him, tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, her voice filled with pain as her heart clench. He smiled as she looked at her, "I know that thirty six years are about to be over and hence you came here." He whispered as he cupped her cheek, "Of course I did, I would never leave you alone in such a time." She whispered as she looked at him, he smiled at her with a sweetness, "I know sweetheart."he whispered as he kissed her forehead making her sigh she looked up at him and he at her, "Don't worry whatever it is, we will face it together."  He assured her making her nod as she hugged her, "I could never leave you, I will follow you wherever you go!"  She promised making him smile, "And that's what I am worried about." He whispered making her look up at her with confusion, he just smiled as he pressed his lips to her forehead as he hugged her back.

Slowly the curse of Gandhari started taking form. The Yadav were in eternal bliss in Dwarka. So much bliss, that they forgot good conduct, morals and the importance of discipline and humility. Consequently, once when some learned men came to Dwarka, the Yadav sealed their destiny. Seeing this Panchaali was worried everyday, the words of Gandhari ringing in her ears making her heart clench. She looked at her husbands and sons, as she sat with them, they were all laughing and teasing Rajveer and Printha. She smiled, her family was happy and safe but what of Krishn's?

***

It so happened that once great sages like Vishwamitra, Durvasa, Vashista, Narada among others were on a pilgrimage. After visiting various places, they visited Dwarka to meet Lord Krishna and Balram. The Yadavas, which included Bhodakas, Vrishnis, Kekeyas and Andakas, who were once virtuous devotees of Krishna, had lost their sense of culture and discipline and were little more than hooligans. A group of Yadav boys who saw the great sages decided to play a prank on them in order to test their powers.

They dressed Samba, the son of Krishna and Jambavati, as a woman and tied many robes to his belly so he'd appear as a pregnant woman. They approached the sages and asked them to predict whether the 'lady' would give birth to a boy or a girl. The Rishis realised the truth through their divine vision and were enraged. In anger, the sages cursed them saying that the disguised boy will give birth to a lump of Iron which will destroy the entire Yadav race.

The Yadavas, shocked though they were, were too arrogant to even apologise. They left the scene, laughing off the curse as the speech of one who had lost all his sanity. Things were however very different the next morning. Sambha developed labour pains and soon delivered a mace from within him. The Yadavas were now struck with fear. They immediately rushed with the mace to Pandavas and Balram and in the presence of Krishna himself; they narrated the weird tide of events.

Balram immediately ordered, “Grind the mace to a fine powder and cast it into the sea.” The Yadavas nodded and retreated. Balram cast his gaze at Krishna, his eyes full of questions. Krishna simply smiled back. “The wheels of time are turning Bhraatashree, he said a playful smile on his face, Balram and Pandavas looked at him unquestioningly, “and Sambha has played his part perfectly.” He said cryptically, his mind was a sea of chaos, emotions all over the place, his people were about to kill each other and all he could do was wait and watch. He left without another word, leaving all of them bewildered. “What did he mean by that?” asked Yudhisthir. “I can tell you that, arya" they all turned around to the source of voice - Panchaali, her face was an emotionless mask but her eyes were storms of emotions. Her heart was squeezing painfully, the end was nearing and she was hardening her heart preparing herself for the worst, but no matter how much she tried her heart won't stop quivering with pain. 

"Thirty six year ago, Krishna prayed to Shiva for a son like him. Does that ring any bell?” Panchaali asked, her voice wobbly, Arjun, said very slowly, his eyes bright with fear, “A son like Shiva. A son like the god of destruction! Krishn wanted Sambha to aid in destruction." The men in the room felt their heart squeeze with a sharp pain as terror pulsed through their body, Sahadev even more slowly, his voice down several levels laced with agony and fear as he uttered, “Mata Gandhari’s curse. The time for her curse to act has arrived. A reward for her devotion in him .” he ended, leaving Balram and rest pandavas agape and Panchaali nodded in agreement,her heart thumping with fear of the inevitable yet a future that she didn't want to face.

Outside the palace, the Yadavas had obeyed Balram's command to the dot. They had ground the mace finely. Everything was ground except a sharp triangular piece which appeared to be very hard indeed. And then they had thrown the fine powder and the lone piece into the sea. Happy that they had taken care of the matter so easily, they returned back to their general state of intoxication and bliss.

Time rolled by everyone seemed to have forgotten about the incident except Panchaali, how could she? Her sakha,his family, the one who had always been through with her, no matter what the situation was, they stood together, never separated always united, even in the dyut when her husbands had abandoned her he, Krishn Vasudev Yadav, the great Yadav, the king of Dwarka was there with her, how can she ever leave him? They were always united, and she was determined to keep it that way. She would follow where he will go, nothing to her was more important than him, he was her one reality.

Kanha shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks as he heard his sakhi's thoughts, he moved towards her, where she sat under the huge mango tree, he laid down laying his head in her lap, startling her out of her thoughts as she looked down at Madhav, she bent and pressed her lips to his forehead, they looked at each other, their eyes speaking emotions that they could never speak as they looked at each other. Their hearts thudding in their chests sharply, Krishn traced her red swollen eyes, the dark circles under her eyes, she couldn't sleep, he too couldn't, the two smiled sadly, tears in their eyes, pain and agony squeezed their heart yet the joy was unsurpassed because though broken and shattered they stood united, "Team double Krishna, always together." The two whispered, their voices barely audible but was filled with seas of emotions, she laid her forehead against his, their hands wrapped around each other, just feeling the moment, enjoying the few moments together, leaving the few moments of peace that they had stole from time itself. 

Where Panchaali stood on one side ready to fight anyone who dared to try harm her Sakha, destiny began playing it's game. The triangular piece of the mace was swallowed by a fish. The fish was caught by a hunter, who upon finding the piece in the fish’s entrails immediately used it to craft a fine poisonous arrow. The fine powder, on the other hand, washed back ashore and deposited itself by the beautiful coast of Dwarka.

A certain grass grew in lush abundance in the area where the powder was deposited. Everything was set for the final showdown.
The Yadavas soon forgot all about their curses. The consumption of alcohol was banned in the entire kingdom of Dwarka. However, after 36 years of Mahabharat war, lots of omen used to appear in the Dwarka city. The Sudarshana chakra, Panchajanya shankh, the chariot of lord Krishna and the plough weapon of Balram disappeared from earth.

In their intoxicated state of happiness and bliss no one really paid any attention to them, no one except Panchaali, she could no longer sleep, her heart was in a constant state of fear not for herself but for her sakha, the one man, who was her best friend, her creator, her everything, he always reassured her but no amount of reassurance could erase her fear.

That day, Panchaali's heart was sunk in a despair, her soul was crying as terror like never before sunk her soul,   the pandavas and her sons and daughter were all sitting with her talking to her.

"Mata why are you so restless?" Sutsom asked as he wrapped his hand around her shoulder, she cupped his cheek, "Nothing son, just a weird fear is sinking my heart. Today none of you shall leave the palace." Panchaali ordered, "But mata." Printha began, Panchaali shook her head, "No Printhu. Nothing doing, you all will stay here." She said adamantly making them all nod. "Mata why don't you tell us a story." Shrutsen said laying his head in her lap, "Yes mata,  a story of Shrutsen's idiocy."  Abhimanyu teased his younger brother, "The tales of idiocy. " Shurtkirti added, making everyone chuckle as he and  Abhimanyu shared  a high five.

"How about tales of the archer twins idiocy." Ghatotkach teased making everyone chuckle, "bhraatashree these idiocy stories would never get over. We'll all end up staying here." Shatanik teased, "Will you guys stop teasing each other?" Prativindh said, "Nope!" The rest replied making Prativindh rolled his eyes, "That's right bhraatashree monkeys could never stop teasing each other, it's in their nature,why try?" Printha teased making everyone burst out laughing.

The pandavas looked at their children, though grown their childishness had not yet gone.  "Pitashree look at Printha." Sutsom whined, "Yes I looked at her she's very pretty." Bheem said taking his daughter's side making the others gasp in shock, "You all always take her side!" Shrutkarm whined, "Yep  we do!" Arjun said proudly, "Why not take our side!!!" Shatanika whined, "I'm sorry who are you do I know you?" Sahadev played dumb like he doesn't know them, "yes, have we ever seen this boys before Bhraatashree?" Nakul played along as he asked Yudhisthir, "Well not as far as I remember. Do you remember them brother?"  Arjun and Bheem who shook their head, "My best pitashrees!" Printha said loudly with a chuckle in her voice as she hugged her fathers in a group hug,they chuckled and hugged her back , "MATA LOOK AT PITASHREE!" Her sons whined together making Pandavas and Printha chuckle, all the humour evaporated from the environment as the pandavas and their children's eyes fell on Panchaali, who had tears streaming down her face, "What happened mata?"  Printha asked worried as she along with her fathers and brothers sat around Panchaali, surrounding her from every direction.

Panchaali shook her head as she looked at them all, her eyes meeting each ones. "You're scaring us priye." Arjun whispered as he looked at her, she shook her head, "My happiness just was too much." She whispered as she looked at them, they all glanced at each other, "please don't cry Mata!" Her sons' said together in unison, "Yes mata please don't cry!" Printha too begged, "we can't see you cry priye." Yudhisthir whispered as his brothers nodded, "How about a hug?" She said as she held her arms open, the pandavas, their sons and daughters all hugged her tight pulling her closer to them, hugging her so tight that they willed all her pain away, her eyes met with Krishn's, who stood watching them all, tears filled his gaze as a calm yet sad smile on his face, she nodded beckoning him in, he moved in, as he moved towards her, everyone pulled away as they watched the two with curiosity, Krishn smiled, "Krishn." She whispered, her voice barely above whisper, "Ha meri Krishnaa." He whispered making her choke out a sob as she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close, a sob braking free through her lips as he hugged her back, sniffling as slow tears traced down his face.

"Krishn." She whispered brokenly, "Krishnaa." His voice matched hers with pain. Everyone looked at the two with confusion and feeling of impending doom and foreboding settling in their hearts, Sahadev's heart quivered and so did the souls of the pandavas, an unexplainable fear settling in the pit of their stomach like something very bad is about to happen but the question is what?

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