CUT TO:

INT. PALACE HALLWAYS - MORNING

Dhrishtadyumna and Krishnaa are walking together. Krishnaa stops at a door.

KRISHNAA

Oh, Ma had called me, Dhrishta. I'll see you during lunch.

DHRISHTADYUMNA

Alright, Drau.

She waves to him as he walks away.

Then she turns and walks into the door. The servants and guards bow as she walks in.

Inside, Prishati is running her hand over different cloth materials, lost in thought.

KRISHNAA

Mata, you called?

PRISHATI

(looks up and smiles)

Yes, vatsae. Come in.

Krishnaa comes to stand next to her mother, looking at the material covering most of the bed.

PRISHATI

Putri, I had the seamstresses bring us some materials and colours for you to choose for your svayamvara.

What do you want?

Krishnaa hums and reaches out to touch a peach coloured piece of cloth. Her gaze sweeps over the rest, and she appears to be debating inwardly.

She picks up a red silk hemmed with gold and a dark green shade with silver.

KRISHNAA

I'm torn between these two, Ma.

Prishati takes the dark green and lays it against Krishnaa's skin.

As she considers it, something comes to her mind.

PRISHATI

Putri, you well know that there will be many princes and kings at your svayamvara. I have already received some replies.

Prishati sets the cloth aside to clasp her daughter's hands and cup her face.

PRISHATI

I know you were not born of my womb, Krishnaa, yet I worry. You brought life back to us, and besides, it is the right of a mother to worry for her daughter's future.

Krishnaa raises their intertwined hands to place it over her heart.

KRISHNAA

Mata, I promise you, I will be happy in my husbands' home.

Prishati smiles, but the concern lining her face does not abate.

PRISHATI

Oh, my daughter. Politics are such a mess. And there are men aplenty in Bharatavarsha who do not view women as equals; I do not wish that you ever have to face that humiliation.

The world quiets for a second. Both mother and daughter look around, unsettled.

PRISHATI

The duties of a wife are massive, my child. If the husband's duty is to bring home sustenance, it is the wife's duty to nurture whatever her husband brings and manage it efficiently. As a queen, you will have even more duties, and I have faith you will be able to manage all of them without compromising yourself.

KRISHNAA

I will, Ma.

Prishati is somewhat mollified. She picks the vivid red silk to compare it against Krishnaa's skin.

PRISHATI

I think this would look more striking, Putri. And it is your svayamvara, after all.

KRISHNAA

I think so too, Ma. It is one of my favourite colours.

Prishati nods. But suddenly, she reaches out to Krishnaa. Krishnaa looks at her mother curiously as they sit down.

PRISHATI

One last thing, Krishnaa. Never compromise when it comes to yourself. Bend to others if you must, but do not break for others. Not even your husband.

Prishati's eyes are fierce. Krishnaa squeezes her mother's hand, and nods.

KRISHNAA

I promise you, Ma. I will handle my duties gracefully, no matter how hard the task is, and I will not bow to any who does not deserve it.

Prishati looks somewhat relieved. She dips her head, satisfied, then presses a kiss to her daughter's temple.

PRISHATI

My little flame. How will I live without you?

KRISHNAA

Time, Amba. You'll learn to.

(after a second, with a cheeky grin)

Besides, I still have Dhrishta to trouble. I'm not going to stop that any time soon.

Prishati laughs helplessly as Krishnaa puts her head in her mother's lap. Prishati strokes her hair gently.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST LANDS - MORNING

They are walking in pairs, Bhima and Arjuna up front and Nakula and Sahadeva in the back, surrounding Kunti and Yudhishthira.

Bhima nudges Arjuna, startling him out of his thoughts.

BHIMA

You haven't said anything for a while, Arjuna. What are you thinking so deeply about?

ARJUNA

(makes a noncommittal sound)

I was thinking about Maharshi Vyasa's words, Bhrata. I find myself doubting it, then questioning myself because he is a sage; his predictions must be true.

BHIMA

(frowns)

I don't know what to make of it either. How can one woman wed five men...?

Bhima falls silent, his eyes on the path, briefly biting his lip. Arjuna notices this and bumps his shoulder against Bhima's.

ARJUNA

Bhrata?

BHIMA

...I suppose we'll have to wait and see, Arjuna.

Bhima appears to want to say something more, but thinks better of it and shuts his mouth.

A group of sages appear walking towards them. One of them notices the brothers and mother.

BRAHMANA

Pranaam, fellow Brahmanas! Whence do you come?

YUDHISHTHIRA

Greetings! We hail from Ekachakra, and are travelling with our mother.

BRAHMANA

If that is the case, you must come with us to Panchala. Raja Drupada is hosting a svayamvara for his daughter, and he will give away many alms for the Brahmanas.

(he peers at the brothers)

Perhaps the Rajakumari may decide to marry one of you. She is very beautiful, the bards sing.

Bhima nudges Arjuna, and they share a lopsided silent laugh. Nakula leans in to mutter to Sahadeva.

NAKULA

(whispering)

We get the point, Bhagavan! First the dreams, next the storyteller, then Maharshi Vyasa and now these Brahmanas! How many more signs will the universe throw at us to go to Panchala?

SAHADEVA

Shush!

NAKULA

Deva!

Sahadeva glares at him. Nakula rolls his eyes at his twin.

YUDHISHTHIRA

We will gladly, Arya.

They continue on.

CUT TO:

EXT. A GARDEN - NIGHT

Night has fallen upon Panchala. Krishnaa is standing in the gardens, her figure illuminated by the firelight. She is caressing a flower, and she slowly looks up to gaze into the distance. She appears wistful.

A simple and slow melody plays in the background.

KRISHNAA

(sings)

O Priyavara...

Do you come to me now?

Her voice is soft and soothing; it evokes nostalgia.

Her voice transitions to a voiceover as the scene shifts to whom she is addressing.

KRISHNAA (V.O.)

Yudhishthira of steadfast righteousness,

Bhima with a love more than his arm's strength,

Arjuna of sharp focus and deeper compassion,

Nakula the most beautiful and obedient,

Sahadeva the wisest of them all,

I bow to you, my lovers!

Each of the five brothers appear as she sings about them.

Yudhishthira is pictured onscreen, a serene smile on his face as he watches his brothers.

Bhima appears; he shoves Nakula a bit but then catches him before he falls, affection visible as day on his face.

Arjuna is seen gazing at the road, stopping Kunti from stepping on thorns.

Nakula catches a glimpse of himself in the reflection of water and attempts to smooth out his matted hair, while Sahadeva laughs at him.

Sahadeva appears with a contemplative expression on his face, almost oblivious to the world around him.

We return to Krishnaa, her hand resting on a pillar as she continues to sing. The melody is a steady beat in the background.

KRISHNAA

(cont.)

I am Panchala's princess, Drupada's darling,

Agnisutaa they name me, Panchala's saubhagya,

I was born with the blessings of a past life

For five husbands yet unmet, who I desire

She walks from the gardens to the palace walls, alone and lost in her thoughts. Her gaze sweeps over the firelit city, then she looks off to the south-east. A tear rolls down her face in perfect silence.

KRISHNAA

(cont.)

I stand alone by the palace walls,

Days turn to weeks, a tear falls from my eye

I was born for you five, yet your sight eludes me,

Across forests and palaces we stand, a chasm too wide

Krishnaa reaches her hand out to nothing, coming to rest on the solid brick of the palace walls.

Lightning streaks across the sky despite it being relatively cloudless.

KRISHNAA

(cont.)

Lightning and the lotus they sing,

King of the gods in five different forms,

I am thy dark beloved, O ones who bring storms,

The celestial Shri descended from heavens they call me

Arjuna raises his head as Krishnaa's song fades into a voiceover, noticing the lightning strike. His face contorts into some inexplicable emotion, then clears as Nakula touches his arm. He smiles as Nakula mouths something to him.

The night passes. Krishnaa's next line is drawn out.

KRISHNAA (V.O.)

O Priyavara...

Shots flash by: the Pandavas and Kunti standing at a lake; them walking through open fields; laughing as they eat food; and it is clear quite a few days have passed in the few seconds.

KRISHNAA (V.O.)

Do you come to me now?

The music swells a bit, sounding more royal. We return to the city of Kampilya, now shining in the sunlight. Preparations for the svayamvara are well under way. People are hanging up flowers, sweeping the streets. Raconteurs are practising, women are gossiping about something as the children whisper excitedly to each other. Men are carrying materials around, some are building a structure, as others shout orders.

KRISHNAA (V.O.)

The city stands bedecked a bride,

Your steps bring us closer,

Closer to that divine union for which I was born,

Shankara's blessings upon us all.

Chariots hoisting flags of various kingdoms and carrying royals, all proud in desire, roll through the streets of Kampilya; Drupada greets each and every one of the kings and princes. His smile is nothing but one of a gracious host, but his eyes are scanning each man as they greet him. So do Krishnaa's brothers.

Prishati, Krishnaa and another woman inspect the jewels and silks ordered for her svayamvara. The woman, supposedly Shikhandi's wife, holds up a heavy gold necklace to Krishnaa's neck, and nods, satisfied.

KRISHNAA (V.O.)

Kings and princes may await me,

But it is the Brahmanas I choose,

Saffron garments or silken raiment,

I care not, for what I desire is you all

On the last line, the music abruptly drops. There is but a moment of silence as we return to Krishnaa by herself. She sits by the balcony. A wind stirs, blowing the curtains. Her voice is now low and vulnerable. The music is also far more simpler, going with each beat.

KRISHNAA

Will you know me when you see me?

This viraha grows more painful by the moment,

Have I not earned the right to look upon you?

(she places a hand over her heart)

Cease this agony, O my beating heart!

The sun streams on her face, and she shuts her eyes.

KRISHNAA

(cont.)

Lightning and the lotus they sing,

King of the gods in five different forms,

I am thy dark beloved, O ones who bring storms,

The celestial Shri descended from heavens they call me

We cut briefly to the surprised expressions of the Pandavas as they walk amidst the dusty main roads of Kampilya. They are obviously surprised at the display of wealth, taking in every sight as though it is about to disappear.

She then finally smiles, and all the worry and longing is cast aside. The music swells to a high before she sings the last two lines.

KRISHNAA

O Priyavara,

I hear you come for me now!

A/N: Yes, I wrote that song myself. It's pretty chunky, more like a poem than a song but I'm pretty proud of it.