CUT TO:

INT. A HALLWAY - EVENING

Krishnaa is walking through the hallways, a polite smile on her face but she is lost in thought. Dhrishtadyumna enters the hallway at an intersection, and Krishnaa notices him. She grins excitedly and rushes to hug her twin.

KRISHNAA

Finally, Dhrishta! What keeps you away so long?

DHRISHTADYUMNA

(sheepish smile)

Sorry, Krishnaa. I needed to clarify something with one of the ministers.

KRISHNAA

So you stayed away from me.

DHRISHTADYUMNA

(laughs)

Drau, come on! I saw you not 2 praharas ago.

KRISHNAA

That is 2 praharas too long!

Dhrishtadyumna laughs. Krishnaa smacks his shoulder. There is a momentary pause, and then she grabs his hand and they walk away, talking about something else.

INT. THE PALACE DINING ROOM - EVENING - CONTINUOUS

The dining hall is full of people. Servants bring in steaming dishes fresh from the kitchen, and members of the royal family are seated and chatting with each other. Krishnaa and Dhrishtadyumna enter, and everyone's eyes are drawn to them.

Smiles widen when they see the two.

DHRISHTADYUMNA AND KRISHNAA

Pranaam, Pita, Mata.

PRISHATI

Come and sit down, children.

Dhrishtadyumna sits down first next to Shikhandi and Krishnaa takes a moment to tuck her sari properly before sitting at the table.

Once the servants are done serving the food, Prishati dismisses them. Everyone begins to eat.

YUDHAMANYU

Did you clarify what you went to the Mahamantri about, Dhrishtadyumna?

DHRISHTADYUMNA

I did, Bhrata.

The matter is not brought up again.

UTTAMAUJAS

Where is Bhratrijayaa, Bhrata Shikhandi?

Shikhandi looks at his plate for a moment too long.

YUDHAMANYU

(groans)

Don't tell me you got into another fight.

PRISHATI

(sharply)

Yudhamanyu!

Yudhamanyu ducks his head but does not apologise.

SHIKHANDI

(slowly)

No, it's not that. We haven't fought in a while, but I think she's missing Dasarna.

KRISHNAA

Shouldn't she go visit Dasarna then?

Her brothers look at Krishnaa. She notices this.

SATYAJITA

It doesn't work that way, Krishnaa.

KRISHNAA

Why not, Bhrata? It shouldn't be too hard to come up with some reason to visit her maiden home. If I were missing Panchala, I would come back to visit as often as I could.

Her words seem to have struck something in her family's heart.

DHRISHTADYUMNA

(sadly)

Your svayamvara is not too far off, Krishnaa...

UTTAMAUJAS

Are you really that eager to leave us?

Krishnaa looks stricken.

KRISHNAA

Do you truly think that, Bhrata?

(after a pause)

My marriage does not mean I will forget you all. I was born for this, but divine purpose aside: you are my family. I will never be far from all of you.

Everyone shares tender smiles.

DRUPADA

You sound more confident in your future than a father could ever hope for his daughter, vatsae.

Krishnaa simply smiles.

Silence falls over the room as they continue eating. Dhrishtadyumna steals a laddoo from Krishnaa, who notices his actions and smacks him on the head. Laughter erupts around the table.

KRISHNAA

Ma! Look at your son!

Prishati adopts a mock stern look.

PRISHATI

Dhrishta.

DHRISHTADYUMNA

(with a pleading look)

Amba, I'm innocent!

KRISHNAA

Ah, so it's like that.

(smirks then turns to Prishati with a sad look)

Amba, how could you let him steal my favourite sweet?

Prishati is caught between her two children. The rest of her children laugh raucously, and Drupada has abandoned his dignity.

Krishnaa takes the laddoo back from Dhrishtadyumna when he is looking at Prishati and pops it into her mouth.

DHRISHTADYUMNA

Not fair, Drau!

KRISHNAA

(smirks)

Yes fair, Dhrishta! I only took back what is rightfully mine.

PRISHATI

(laughing)

Children, children, calm.

Dhrishtadyumna glares at Krishnaa, who scoffs at him. Everyone eventually calms down.

Some time later, when they are almost done eating, Krishnaa looks to her parents. She wants to say something.

KRISHNAA

Pitashri?

DRUPADA

Yes, Putri?

Krishnaa takes a moment to compose herself.

All eyes are on her.

KRISHNAA

Pitashri, for my svayamvara... I...

(takes a short breath)

Can you arrange for an archery target for my svayamvara, Pitashri?

Drupada shares a brief look with Prishati.

DRUPADA

(intrigued)

Anything you want, my dear. But why archery?

KRISHNAA

I think this is something that has to happen. My grooms will come to me this way, I believe.

Her words hang in the air for a moment.

SHIKHANDI

Grooms?

SATYAJITA

She did it again! Krishnaa, at this point, you really should go back and revise your vyakarana.

She does not meet anyone's gaze but smiles privately.

CUT TO:

INT. A HUT - MORNING

Yudhishthira is lost in thoughts, sitting calmly but his fingers twiddle.

Kunti walks near him, pauses a moment, and then calls him.

KUNTI

Putra?

Yudhishthira sees Kunti and he immediately rises, smiling to greet his mother.

YUDHISHTHIRA

Yes, Ma?

Kunti's eyes wander around briefly before settling on her son in front of her.

KUNTI

Putra... I think we should leave.

YUDHISHTHIRA

(momentarily taken aback)

Ma?

KUNTI

(softly)

We've spent too long here, Putra. If you would like, I would like us to leave Ekachakra.

YUDHISHTHIRA

Where would we go otherwise, Ma?

KUNTI

(with a small smile)

If you wish, let us go to Panchala. I wish to see it.

YUDHISHTHIRA

(after a pause)

Mata, anything you wish is our command. But I do not know if my brothers will agree.

KUNTI

I will speak to them.

YUDHISHTHIRA

As you wish, Ma.

Kunti walks away, and Yudhishthira's gaze follows her. We zoom in on his face, contemplating something.

CUT TO:

EXT. A HUT - MIDNIGHT

Nakula opens the door silently. His eyes dart from side to side, and then nods to Bhima behind him.

One by one, the Pandavas and Kunti step out. The Brahmana and his wife follow them. They wear sad expressions.

BRAHMANA WOMAN

We wish you could stay longer, dear ones. But we will not hinder your journey.

BRAHMANA 1

May Bhagavan shower all of his mercy on you! May all of you stay devoted to dharma!

The six of them join hands. The moonlight reveals some tears. After a moment, they turn and walk away, one by one.

The Brahmana couple watch their retreating figures with tears in their eyes.

CUT TO:

EXT. A CLEARING IN A FOREST - AFTERNOON

Sahadeva wipes some sweat from his brow. The sun's rays filter through the canopy.

Sweat forms a sheen on the well chiselled muscles of the Pandavas; Kunti dabs at her forehead with the end of her orange sari.

They walk through the forest, one by one. Kunti walks up to Sahadeva, love and concern mingled on her face.

KUNTI

Putra, are you tired?

SAHADEVA

No, Ma. I'm fine.

Kunti purses her lips but says nothing.

KUNTI

(after a moment)

Either way, let's rest for a while, Putron.

They acquiesce. They find a large tree and begin to sit in the shade. Nobody says anything for a while, all catching their breath.

Suddenly, a sage enters the clearing. All six heads snap up.

Kunti's face breaks out into a large smile. The brothers look to Yudhishthira, questions evident in their expressions. Yudhishthira gives them a short nod.

All of them stand up. Kunti rushes to touch his feet.

KUNTI

Maharshi! Pranaam!

VYASA

(raises his hand)

Kalyanamastu, Rajamata Kunti.

Kunti rises up but her lips are pursed at the address. VYASA says nothing, only smiles. Each of the Pandavas take blessings from the sage. Vyasa blesses them.

Once they all are seated around Vyasa, his gaze sweeps all of them.

VYASA

How have you been, children?

KUNTI

We are well, with your blessings, Maharshi.

The Pandavas nod.

VYASA

Where are you going next, if that is the case?

YUDHISHTHIRA

Mata wishes to go to Panchala, Maharshi. Thus we are heading in that direction.

Vyasa nods approvingly.

VYASA

Good, vatsa. Kampilya is where your destiny lies.

The brothers share a puzzled look.

BHIMA

What do you mean by that, Maharshi?

VYASA

One awaits you there, who will transform your lives from a barren desert to a lush forest, Vrikodara!

The confusion in their faces does not abate. Vyasa chuckles.

VYASA

Listen well, Panduputrah!

There was once a sage, who had a daughter. Even though she was beautiful and pure, she did not get a husband. Disheartened, she began to perform a tapasya to obtain a husband.

There is some movement in the background.

VYASA

(cont.)

She gratified Mahadeva with her austerities, and he appeared before her and offered her a boon. The woman, wanting to ensure her own welfare, asked him repeatedly for a husband with all the qualities.

Shankara knew the play of time, and he told her that she would have five husbands.

Yudhishthira's eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks at his brothers to see they wear the same puzzled expression. The first one to work it out, or some semblance of it, is Sahadeva. He stares at Vyasa, unsure of whether his thoughts are correct.

Vyasa notices their reactions but continues on with the story.

VYASA

The maiden asked him for only one husband, concerned.

But Shankara only smiled and said, "You have asked me for a husband five times, Bhagyavati! Once you are reborn in your next body, it shall be as I said."

Vyasa pauses for a second. The brothers are getting more anxious by the moment, and Kunti's expression is indecipherable, though she looks like she is putting some pieces together.

The wind rustles some leaves in the background, but it seems like the entire world is holding its breath to hear the sage's words.

VYASA

In time, that maiden was reborn in Drupada's family, as Krishnaa Parshati. She is destined to be the wife of you all! Go to Kampilya, sons. There is no doubt you will be happy in obtaining her as a wife!

We cut from Vyasa's knowing smile to the gobsmacked brothers. Each of their eyes are trained on Vyasa, not looking to the others. Incomprehension flickers on their faces, and Kunti is silent, a knowing smile quirking her lips briefly upwards.

CUT TO:

INT. A PALACE ROOM - NIGHT

It is raining. The curtains at the balcony door are fluttering in the wind, and Krishnaa hums as she fiddles with a ring on her finger.

She watches the rain pour, at peace with the sound of thunder in the background. Lightning flashes and illuminates her dark face. She does not startle, but her smile grows as she looks to the heavens.

The rain continues to pour, but Krishnaa moves away from the balcony to a corner of her room. Something massive stands there, covered by a cloth.

She runs her hand over the cloth, and then pulls it off. We see a painting.

It is the five Pandava brothers and their mother Kunti.

KRISHNAA

(in a whisper)

I was born to be yours. But where are you all now, Panduputrah?

The painting is well done. The painter has managed to capture small facets of emotion as well.

We focus on Yudhishthira. Krishnaa's fingers lightly skim over his golden features, calm and serene.

She traces the crown on Bhima's head, and then dips to his jawline. Though it is just a painting, his eyes appear to sparkle with the fierceness he is well known for.

When she moves to Arjuna, her eyes shine with no less love but her smile widens in fondness.

The rain continues to shower in the background as she traces the lithe form of Nakula.

Sahadeva is much like Yudhishthira, except his calmness is undershadowed by knowledge. Krishnaa's smile never wavers.

The five brothers done, she looks at Kunti, and she joins her hands in reverence.

Lightning flashes once more, and it illuminates Krishnaa's smile.

CUT TO:

INT. THE KING'S CHAMBER - MORNING

Drupada is dressed in royal regalia, and he nods shortly at a guard. The guard bows his head and walks away.

Another man enters.

BOWYER

Pranipata, Maharaja.

Drupada inclines his head.

DRUPADA

Did you receive my message?

BOWYER

Yes, Rajan. I would be honoured to construct the bow for Rajakumari Draupadi's svayamvara.

DRUPADA

(warmly)

You are the finest bow-maker I know, Martanda. I trust you will ensure this bow is of the finest quality. My daughter deserves no less than the best.

BOWYER

Rajan, the princess is divine. I would not seek to dishonour your trust or her purity with anything less than my best work.

Drupada smiles approvingly.

BOWYER

But, if I may ask, why do you require such a difficult bow to bend, Maharaja?

DRUPADA

(interlaces his fingers)

It is what Krishnaa asked, Martanda. And I will not give away my jewel to any ordinary man. Let the bow be such that only the gods may bend it! I will not settle for anything less.

The bowyer bows his head. Drupada dismisses him.