Hello all! Hope you are doing good. Back with the 4th Chapter. Hope you will like it! Happy Reading 💕

Date : 12th July 2021
Day : Monday

"Hoyee hoyee! Someone is blushing?" teased Krishna as all the men sat in Dyumna's room.

"The brave prince of Panchal, who has won so many battles single handedly is blushing just by hearing the name of a princess huh?" Arjun teased.

It had not even been a day of their arrival but they all bonded well with each other very well.

"It's not just any random princess Arjun. It's his bride. Princess Samhitha!" Karn corrected.

"Bhrata, not fair. Maharaj Adhirath, when will you fix the marriage of your son? I will get my opportunity that time." complained Dyumna.

"For that your brother should agree to any proposal. What to do?"

"I will stay unmarried if you keep telling the same thing pitashri. I am serious this time." Karna said.

"Even we are serious. If our bhrata Karna didn't marry, nor will I. My marriage is only after his." declared Parth.

"Karna, you have lot of pressure. What do you think of the princess of Kashi? Rajkumari Vrushali?? She's unmarried too..." Krishna said suppressing his smile.

"Huh? Vrushali?? Who is she?? I don't know anyone by that name. Nor have I met her..." Karna stammered.

"Bhrata Karna, but bhrata Vasudev didn't tell that you met her or you know her. And why are you stammering so much?" asked Advaith.

"That concludes that you know her and.." Advit left the statement incomplete.

"It is Dyumna's wedding. Not mine. So better tease him now. Not me." Karna rolled his eyes.

"Bhrata!" Draupadi coed as she panted standing by the door.

"What happened Draupadi? Everything alright?" Dyumna stood up.

"I suppose so... Bhabhi Samhitha has arrived already. And.."

"What's there in that Rajkumari? We can tease your bratha more!" said Arjun.

"No, that's not the problem. Actually, your cousins have arrived and..." Draupadi stopped.

"I get it. You-" Arjun was interrupted by the voice that Krishnaa was not expecting now.

"Pranipat Maharaj!" said Duryodhan as he joined his hands.

While Drupad just nodded, Duryodhan turned to Panchali and looked at her and said "Pranam Rajkumari."

Instantly Arjun pushed her back and glared at Duryodhan. Dyumna joined him covering Draupadi.

"Why are you so angry, bhrata Arjun?" smirked Dushyasan as he stood behind his brother.

"Putroan, you both must be tired. Go and relax for sometime. We can then have a talk." said Pandu calmly.

Duryodhan glared at Arjun and went away followed by Dushyasan. "Pitashri, I will be outside in the gardens. Please."

Pandu permitted him and there he went and sat on the bench near the pond. This journey was not seeming good at all. Firstly those thoughts about Sangeetha and him and now this Duryodhan creating a scene here.

He was angry, very angry and frustrated. He was not getting any answers nor he was finding peace. As he was in deep thoughts, he heard the clashes of sword from his right side.

He followed the sound and found a single girl swaying her sword fiercely in front of an iron statue. "Rajkumari!" he said as he stood by the door.

Panchali turned behind. Her hairs were not set, it was flying in air freely, her eyes red with fury, her face sweating heavily and her hand tightly gripping the sword with confidence.

She closed her eyes to calm herself and kept the sword aside as Arjun was staring at her in disbelief. He was seeing a girl with sword for the first time. He had heard from his father that his mother was a great fighter but had not witnessed it.

"Thank you Rajkumar, for siding me. I had at first thought that you too were like him. Sorry for that." Draupadi said her eyes bent low.

"I understand... I must say you are a great sword fighter. Your skills were just mind-blowing!" Arjun praised her.

Krishnaa smiled and said, "I am born from the fire. For the good deeds my father had accomplished, Agni Dev gifted me and bhrata Dyumna. We both are born from the fire and if anyone dares to do something then we burn them. Forgiveness is not an option every time!"

Arjun smiled at her. She was indeed bold and fierce. Confidence was in every drop of blood and she carried it gracefully. Obvious that she's the daughter of fire!! Yagyajanmi 🔥

"Krishnaa!" panted Priya. "Maharaj Drupad has called for an urgent meeting. You both are needed there."

"But what's the matter Priya?" Yagyaseni questioned.

"I don't know clearly. But I heard Vasudev Krishna saying that you and Rajkumar Arjun will get your answers now," she said.

Arjun and Panchali glanced at each other for a second and ran to the courtroom to see everyone with serious expressions on their faces.

Everyone's face was grim except Duryodhan, Dushyasan and Shakuni. They had a filthy smile and was smirking at them as if they were hatching some heinous plan.

"Mata, what happened? Anything serious?" Arjun asked as Panchali nodded.

Before Kunti could reply, Duryodhan said, "Congratulations Bharata Arjun. I didn't know that you were so quick in marital matters."

"Duryodhan!" Gandhari exclaimed, her voice grim.

"Mata, what've all these?" asked Krishnaa softly. She was clueless about what's happening there.

"Putri Draupadi, Putra Arjun, there's a truth that we had hidden from you both for many years. Before late than never, we decided to reveal it to you both which might affect your future." Drupad said, his face missing the usual smile.

Parth and Panchali looked at each other confused with a clueless expression on their dark skins. "Pitashri, please tell it. We aren't understanding anything," said Draupadi her voice too low.

"When you both were young, Panchal and Indraprasth were not allies. Kunti and Maharani Sumathi were not close friends at that time. Nor was I and Drupad. We needed an alliance at that time. Panchal was a strong kingdom for Indraprasth and Indraprasth was a strong kingdom to Panchal. So.." Pandu choked.

"So?" Arjun asked scared.

"We... We got you and Draupadi ma. Marr. Married.." Sumathi completed.

As Sumathi completed it, both Arjun's and Draupadi's worlds shook from beneath. Being shocked would be an understatement for them. Arjun stumbled back as he heard those words. He had not expected this huge blow. His instincts were right. He shouldn't have come here, he thought. But somewhere he knew that the fact would not change. Draupadi stood there numb. She didn't know how to react. She was craving to get answers all this long but now, she wished all this was a nightmare. And she does wake up from it. But no, it was the fact. She wasn't dreaming.

"Putra," Kunti whispered, her voice barely audible. Arjun stopped her in mid-way showing his hand. He was not expecting this from his mother, never! He hastily moved out of the room unable to stay there.

Draupadi too ran to her chamber unable to stop her tears. Such a big truth and she was not aware of it and no one cared to tell her until he came. Her world had shattered and she didn't think that would ever be fixed back.

*****
How's the chapter?
To be continued...