The flow of the river was just like the flow of my thoughts.

I stood in the cliff and watched how the river didn't change its course of direction, what might come in its path.

Not stopped by any obstacle. Just flowing as though it didn't care about the obstacles.

"Its true, the river flows along its path, what might come in its path. But even the river needs to change its course along with the time. Nothing is permanent in this world except for the word 'CHANGE' which is always permanent."

I turned around to see who the speaker was and it was him.....

With whom few minutes before my father fought.

And I recalled what all happened few hours before....

*************************

Few hours before :

After he left my heart kept wandering.

The only thing my inner voice kept saying to me was "Run Draupadi, you need to protect your father."

And when I reached the gate of palace I saw all the soldiers of our kingdom lying unconsciously. And there he stood in his chariot, aiming his gadha towards my father.

Didi tried to rise her weapon but her weapon was dragged into his gadha.

Pitashri tried to fight but his gadha pulled even pitashri's sword towards it. I saw pitashri falling down, as the gadha approached him.

"No" I said and ran. I stood in front of pitashri as a shield and told him, "If you want to kill my pitashri, you need to first kill me."

I saw him with drawing his weapon and he had a sly smile on his face.

I didn't turn around to see my father, but left the place silently. For I knew very well that by now his so called self respect would have got hurt, and I didn't wish anymore to hear of his harsh words.

As I left the palace, didi came running asking me to return and apologise to pitashri. But no, I wouldn't do it. When I wasn't at wrong why should I apologise. She tried to convince me a lot but no, I wanted to know the purpose of my birth, and it will be found only when I leave this place. I gave an adieu to her and left. To my destination. To find who I am.

*************************

"How did you ever stop my gadha?" He asked me.

"What kind of mantra you used Rajkumari?"

"Please teach me it." He pleaded to me.

I looked at him puzzled.

"No I didn't use any kind of mantra." I told him.

"No you have. If you don't tell me then I will jump off from this cliff."He threatened me.

"I didn't use any mantra. I only wanted to protect my father at that moment. Nothing else."I said annoyed of his action.

"Oh... I understood now. You have used the mantra 'LOVE'"He said.

"Uhf... now you can freely die, by jumping from this cliff." He said.

"When did I tell you that I am going to give up my life?" I asked him.

"I am just trying to know about myself, and the purpose of my birth."

"Oh really? then why are you searching it here?" He asked.

"To know about yourself, you need to first search it from the depth of your soul. And your soul emerged from your birthplace Draupadi" He said.

"But tell me something do you really know who you are? Isn't strange that humans want the world to know them but in reality they themselves don't know who they are."

"Wow what an insight!!" I smiled at him.

"Then how am I supposed know myself?" I asked curiously.

"Follow the path of Dharm.... The path of dharm has five basis... Knowledge, love, justice, devotion and courage.... You asked me the reason behind your birth right? The reason is your meant to acquire these five basis in your life Draupadi....By the grace of god your destined to bring a change in the Kuru clan.... Through you, dharm shall be established in this world Draupadi..." He said in a very confident tone.

"To attain this, remember you should always follow these five basis in your life Draupadi..." He gestured.

"Let's leave for your prosperous life" He said with a smile.

He was doing miracle on me. And I knew it.

"Can we?" He asked me, stretching out his hand, "To take you to the right path" He said.

"Who are you really?" I asked him.

He turned around to look at me with a mischievous smile.

"Me?" He said with the most innocent smile.

"I am a shepherd.... My friends call me as Govind" He said with warmth in his tone.

Surely he had the capability to make people dance on his leela.

With that we both proceeded to the palace.

**********************

As I entered the palace, the scene that occurred that day morning flashed into my mind.

A daughter abides to her father's words but you seem to be so stubborn.

I don't wish to anymore call you as my daughter.

You are banished from Panchal.

Get lost from my sight. I don't wish to you see anymore.

Will my father again banish me?

Has he realised his mistake?

Was he genuinely sorry for his behaviour?

On our way back Govind told me how my father has understood his mistake and has apologized to his friend Guru Dronacharya.

He also wanted to apologise to me.

But I didn't want my father to bend infront of me.

No, never. Never in my lifetime.

The pride of every daughter is, her father's raised head.

As I walked into the court I saw my father's guilt stricken face.

He was indeed genuinely sorry.

Tears welled my eyes.

As soon as my tears escaped my eyes, my father's hand reached out to wipe it off.

"No more tears putri.... You will no more shed tears.... If you happen to shed tears it means I am no more alive putri.... I am sorry for my behaviour... I beg for your forgiveness-" I stopped him mid way.

"No pitashri.... A daughter always wanna see her father's raised head... You should not bow before me.... It is enough you realised your mistake... A king should only bow down for God and for his people" I said as I wiped my father's tears.

"Maharaj.... Don't you think it is right age for Draupadi to get married?" Govind raised question.

Just now I was wondering about my birth purpose and here my friend wants me get married.... So soon....

"You are right Vasudev.... But my putri is priceless.... She is rare and cherish able.... Most valuable things are guarded by the highly skilled warriors.... And one such warrior will only guard my daughter as her husband. The one who makes his enemy's heart tremble with fear, the one who respects his enemy after his defeat is the one who will hold my daughter's hand" Pitashri declared.

Clearly it was evident he had already chosen my groom. But who was he?

"Arjuna.... My student.... The qualities which you say is of my student Arjuna.... The one who respects his defeated enemy.... The one who creates fear in the heart of his enemy just by his valour.... Gandivadhari Arjuna" Guru Dronacharya said with pride.

Who was this Gandivadhari?

As though Govind read my thoughts he replied...

"Rajkumar Arjuna... The prince of Hastinapur...."

"But Vasudev... I heard that Rajkumar Arjuna along with his brothers and mother died in a fire at Varnavata.... "Pitashri asked worriedly.

"My students have the ability to bring rain for an entire kingdom.... I am sure they would have survived this fire...."Guru Dronacharya said with high level of confidence.

"If it is so then let me arrange for a grand swayamvar which can be won only by the world's best archer."Pitashri declared.

With that the discussion of my marriage for that day got over.

***************************

Days passed by and my mind was filled with so many questions and thoughts.

Before my swayamvar was set to take place it was necessary for me to learn few things that I should be knowing as a princess.

Also my father was so particular in finding Rajkumar Arjuna. He sent his portrait to all neighbouring kingdoms and also assigned spies to get info about him.

Mean while I was trained by few basic martial arts simultaneously my mother taught me household works that a wife as well as a queen should be performing. I was given the knowledge of all vedas and puranas. Though I basically had knowledge about the devas and gods, I was given knowledge that a princess should receive.

Apart from my learning hours, I was filled up with information regarding our neighbouring kingdom.

But all these didn't help me out. I wanted to know about Rajkumar Arjuna in detail. If my father had great hope that he will win the competition then where was he?

Why was he and his brothers living in hideout?

Are they really alive or dead?

These questions of mine was always left unanswered until he came.... Govind...

*************************

A/N:-

Hi all... I recently got few requests to update... So here you go.... Sorry people for making you all wait.... I will try my level best to be regular in my updates. And yes please check into my other works:

Historical fictions:

•The Doomed Princess

•Mahabharat - A Tale of  War ofJustice vs Injustice

Romance:

•The Virgin Bride

Please leave your valuable comments and feedback for these works of mine too🙏🙏🙏

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Yours,

Rithushree.