A little while before...

Ananya's POV

I silently watched the Drupad war from my vantage point in the forest. I had made a makeshift platform on a tall tree that was well camouflaged among the outer layer of the forest facing the battlefield. I was intently observing the battle with the Dharshaka Yantra, which was a device that enabled us to see things at a far distance but with great clarity. I couldn't get over how advanced the technology in this era truly was. There was a special book dedicated to all such devices and equipment. The binoculars of Kaliyug could be described as a weak version of the Dharshaka Yantra!

I couldn't help but laugh as I saw Duryodhan and his brothers humiliated themselves as they lost and got captured.

Kya yodha banege re tu?

I sniggered at my own stray thoughts.

I then heard the sound of hooves hitting the sand and looked in that direction with my Yantra. It was the six Pandavas making their way towards the Chakravyuh of Drupad. I silently cheered in excitement.

As I watched, I noticed their speed slowing down for a bit. I frowned and zoomed in with my Yantra to see what slowed them down.

That's when I noticed. Huge crimson wolves!

I froze for a second as I watched those beasts in utter disbelief.

Then I recalled the warnings that I heard from the forest dwellers when I was making my way here. They warned about some beasts called Raktavrukah - a Sanskrit name that loosely translated to blood wolves or red wolves.

But these were not just red colored wolves!

They were enormous in size, like the war steeds born from the flame of the setting sun. Their coats gleamed as if they were made out of the blood of their prey. Dark golden streaks ran down their spines, like molten lava, as it disappeared into their blood red fur.

And there were fifteen of these creatures..

As few of them growled menacingly, I noticed the sheer size of their sharp teeth. They had huge razor-sharp canines. And many of them!

I gasped as my thoughts raced in absolute shock and disbelief.

Dire Wolves? The mythical and extinct Dire Wolves? Our country had the tropical varient? But didn't they exist in North American regions? Oh, what am I thinking! Ofcourse Even India had those..clearly the more dangerous version..and Drupad had them!

I observed the Pandavas tackle them. Jyesht Karn was fighting with a sword while Arjun was firing arrows. The Raktavrukah were ferocious and unrelenting. I shuddered as I saw the way it attacked. I had my bow ready, just in case they needed my assistance.

My lips curved without my knowledge as I observed Arjun's sheer precision and unmatched aura in the battle. And this was him without his Gandiv!

I watched the Pandavas as they fought in a perfect formation. Jyesht Karn and Arjun were the defence while the rest of the brothers smashed the army as they entered the Chakravyuh. All of them were absolutely brilliant, but my eyes kept going to Arjun's side.

I felt this feeling...this urge to be beside him and fight. As if this distance shouldn't be there. I frowned and shook my head to clear the weird feelings and urges. That was stupid! Huh? He is just my celebrity crush who also happens to be something like a friend? I couldn't exactly classify him as a friend. Since I had a crush..as I watched him fire multiple arrows.

I sighed as I thought, how brilliant it would be if our Indian army had some of these! Clearly, they can be trained since the beasts didn't attack a single soldier from Drupad's army...how did He manage to train them?

I was brought out of my musings as I noticed that the Pandavas' progress through the Chakravyuh was slow.

I have to help them! But how?

I zeroed in on Arjun as a particular arrow of his pierced the thick skin of the animal in a certain angle. It slowed down the creature as it actually got hit.

Arjun and I both realised it at the same time.

No! I can't let these creatures die! They could be used in the Kurukshetra!

I strung the strings of my Shakti-Dhanush, releasing the fear inducing aura. The effect was instantaneous. Everyone, with the exception of the Pandavas, froze for a few seconds. Even the magnificent wolves paused their attacks.

I chose that moment to act from my concealed spot.

I quickly chanted a mantra and fired an arrow in such a way that it split into multiple arrows and hit all the remaining wolves in the same angle as Arjun's arrows.

I whispered a sorry as the arrows pierced the skins of the wolves to release its chemicals. And sure enough, the remaining wolves collapsed.

Now, those ten remaining wolves would be in heavy coma like sleep for the next three days.

With the wolves out of the way, Pandavas advanced to the centre of the Chakravyuh at a fast pace. Each of them ferociously fighting their way through the onpour of Drupad's soldiers. I laughed as I saw Bhrata Bheem have fun with the soldiers.

By now, they had reached the centre as I watched the twins free Duryodhan and Dussasan from their binds.

I knew what would happen now. When I used to watch the serial in Kaliyug, this was one of my favourite parts - The fight between Drupad and Arjun. That is if nothing changed...

However, nothing could have prepared me for the real thing!

I watched Arjun manoeuvre his way out of the Chakravyuh toward Drupad with Nakul, giving him the cover by turning the soldiers' horses against their riders.

The whole fight with Drupad was absolutely mesmerizing. The way he crossed the fire created by Drupad. The way he threw his bow and rode a stray horse with the fire illuminating him from behind.

Arjun caught his bow before it could fall to the ground and shot an arrow at Drupad, which forced him to jump down from his elephant.

Arjun had him ready to surrender, but I knew it wasn't over yet.
A moment later, Drupad played his trick as five copies of his appeared such that six Drupads were facing Arjun.

I smiled as I saw how quickly Arjun figured out the position of the real Drupad when the pouch fell and the stones scattered on the sand. He had a brilliant mind!

I sighed sadly as I watched Arjun tying Drupad with a thick cord, I had to leave now. I couldn't watch the rest of the show. I jumped down from the tree branch and mounted on Bhavya.

Right after the Kuru princes left for Panchal, I had told Hastinapur elders that I was going to an ancient Mahadev temple in the opposite direction. I had convinced them that I was going to pray for the Princes' well-being and victory.

I had to get back to Hastinapur before the Princes. Otherwise, my cover would be blown.

I threw a one last wistful look at the battlefield before I set off with Bhavya as she galloped in her full speed.

.....

Third Person's POV

After tying the Panchal Naresh, the Pandavas brought them to their camp with the Kauravas following behind. The hundred brothers were feeling a plethora of emotions.

After tying Drupad to a tree, Bheem rushed towards their camp tent with his brothers following him.

The brothers watched curiously as Bheem was frantically searching for something,

"Gudiya?? Kidhar ho? Bahar aajao! Hum yuddh jeet gaye! Humne Drupad ko parajit kar bandi bana liya!"

(Gudiya?? Where are you? Come out! We won the battle! We defeated Drupad and captured him)

The other five brothers exchanged silent chuckles at Bheem's excitement.

Arjun smirked mischievously and showed silent signal to his brothers.

He then went to Bheem with an innocent face and asked,
"Bhrata Bheem, aap Anya ko kyun dhund rahe ho? Woh toh Hastinapur mein hai na?"

(Bhrata Bheem, why are you searching for Anya? She is in Hastinapur na?)

Bheem glared at Arjun and said,
"Anya yahan hai Arjun! Ussi ne toh unn teevra praniyon ka aanth kiya! Mein unn bano se pehechan gaya!"

(Anya is here Arjun! She only ended those fierce creatures! I recognized those arrows!)

Arjun was struggling to suppress a smile. Luckily, he was saved when the twins joined in.

"Parantu Bhrata Bheem, Anya toh Guru Dron ki shishya nahi hai na...." Nakul started with mirth in his eyes.

(But Bhrata Bheem, Anya is not Guru Dron's student right....)

Sahadev finished with an identical look in his eyes,
"....toh woh yudh mein bhag nahi le sakthi na?"

(....so she can't take part in the war right?)

Bheem slung an arm around each twins neck and got them closer and said loudly,
"Haan parantu durr se sahayatha toh kar sakthi hai!"

(Yeah but she can help from afar right!)

The rest of the Pandavas sniggered, looking at the helpless look on the twins face.

Just then, a majestic blue green bird with a scroll attached to its talons.
It took a low circle, flying a little above the heads of the six brothers when Arjun stepped forward and extended his forearm and gently called out with a smile,
"Kaisika!"

Kaisika promptly landed on Arjun's forearm. Arjun gently untied the letter from his talons.

His brothers exchanged looks of confusion as they looked at Arjun and the majestic bird.

Arjun was busy carecassing the head of bird and was about to open the scroll when Kaisika said,
"Arjun, mein jaa raha hu! "

(Arjun, I am leaving)

Arjun immediately looked at Kaisika and asked in a concerned tone,
"Abhi? Tumhe vishram nahi karna? Kuch kha lo? Jal du?"

(Now? Don't you want to rest? Eat something? Do you want water?)

Kaisika shook his head and replied,
"Tum bohot ache ho Arjun ! Par nahi! Mein jaa raha hu!"

(You are a very good person, Arjun ! But no! I am leaving)

Arjun nodded with a smile.

Kaisika took one regal look at the rest of the brothers. All of them felt as if they were being scanned. As if the bird was more than what it appeared to be. He then nodded at them and flew out of the tent.

The five Pandavas felt as if they had just passed some tests, which they had no idea about. Arjun lightly chuckled, looking at his brothers. He had gone through that and so much more within the few days since he first met Kaisika!

The five brothers had questions in their minds, and it was Karn who voiced it out,
"Arjun? Woh kiska Pakshi tha? Aur tum usse kaise jaan the ho? Aur woh kis prakar ka Pakshi hai? Ithna adhbhut..."

(Arjun? Whose bird was that? And how do you know him? And what kind of a bird was it? It was so amazing...)

Arjun smiled and replied,
"Woh Kaisika tha Jyesht...woh ekk prakar ka tota hai...usse Madhav ne Anya ko diya tha...janmotsav ke uphaar swaroop, jab woh Gurukul mein thi! Avishya yeh Anya ka hi patr hai! Ho saktha hai ki usne hume bathaya ho ki usne yahan se prasthann kar liya..."

(That was Kaisika Jyesht...he is a kind of a Parrot...he was given to Anya by Madhav..as a gift on one of her birthdays, when she was in Gurukul!
This is most definitely Anya's letter! It's possible that she has written that she has already left from here..)

As Arjun was looking at the scroll thoughtfully, he didn't see Bheem approach him from behind.

Bheem twisted Arjun's ears and said,
"Arthath tumhe gyaath tha! Ki woh yahan thi!"

(That means you knew! That she was here!)

Arjun groaned in pain and said,
"Arey Bhrata Bheem! Woh humari Yojna thi! Humne anek paristhiti ke liye Yojna banaya tha...aur yadhi kuch aur ho jo humne socha nahi toh woh Ādhyavi ke roop mein dur se humari sahayatha karegi!"

(Arey Bhrata Bheem! It was part of our strategy! We had planned for various situations...and if something happens for which we didn't think, then it was decided that she will help from afar as Ādhyavi!)

Bheem left Arjun's ear, only to bring him under a headlock,
"Aaj toh mein tumhe chodunga nahi Arjun! Abhi thode dher pehle tum mera upahas uda rahe the na?"

(I am not going to leave you today Arjun! You were making fun of me a while back right?)

Nakul grinned and commented,
"Dekha Bhrata Arjun! Bhrata Bheem mere saath yeh humesha kar the hai! Ab aap ki baari!"

(Did you see Bhrata Arjun! Bhrata Bheem always does this to me! Now its your turn!)

Arjum shot a betrayed looke at Nakul and dramatically cried,
"Areyy Bhrata chodo na ! Mein keval thitholi kar raha tha! Chodo na mujhe! Jyest Bhrata! Bhrata Yudhishthir! Mujhe bachao Bhrata Bheem se!"

(Arey Bhrata Bheem leave na! I was just joking! Leave me na! Jyesht Bhrata! Bhrata Yudhishthir! Save me from Bhrata Bheem!)

Karn and Yudhishthir laughed at their brother's plight.

Arjun saw a chance and pushed Bheem off him and ran away.
Bheem roared and chased him,
"Arjun! Bhaago math!"

(Arjun ! Don't run!)

The rest of the brothers just heard the echo of Arjun's laughter as he and Bheem disappeared out of the tent.
......

After a while, Bheem and Arjun returned to the camp.

Karn then asked Arjun to read Anya's letter.

Arjun nodded and took out the scroll which he had secured in his war dhoti.

He carefully opened it and silently read it.

He didn't realise it, but his eyes softened, and a gentle smile graced his handsome face as he was reading the letter.

And this was noticed by all his brothers. The twins grinned mischievously. Yudhishthir and Bheem had a slight understanding look in their eyes as they saw their younger brother's reaction.
Karn smiled as he had a knowing look in his eyes.

Arjun looked at his brothers and said,
"Anya ne likha hai ki usse Hastinapur ke liye prasthaan karna pada..Anyatha uske Ādhyavi ka rahasya khul jata...aur usne humari vijay ke liye bhadhai di hai!"

(Anya has written that she had to depart for Hastinapur..Otherwise, the secret of her identity as Ādhyavi would have been revealed... and she has also congratulated us on our victory!)

Out of nowhere, Nakul snatched the scroll out of Arjun's hand and darted to his previous position behind Bheem.

Arjun reacted instinctively as he said in an annoyed tone,
"Nakul! Yeh kya kar rahe ho? Anya ka patr mujhe wapas do!"

(Nakul! What are you doing ? Give Anya's letter back to me!)

Nakul grinned and said,
"Arey Bhrata Arjun, mein bas yeh dekh raha hu ki kuch aur bhi usne likha hai ki nahi..."

(Arey Bhrata Arjun, I'm just checking if something else is written or not..)

Arjun was about to go after Nakul when Yudhishthir said,
"Arjun? Usse padh ne do!Yeh Patr Anya ne hum sabh ke liye likha hai na?"

(Arjun? Let hum read ! Anya has written this addressing to a of us, right?)

Arjun nodded to his older brother and looked at Nakul with a slight glare as he read the letter, at first looking excited, but then his expression changed to frown as he said,
"Arey isme toh keval wahi likha hai jo aapne bola tha!"

(Hey, this only says what you had said!)

Arjun looked at Nakul with a sarcastic and suspicious look,
"Kyun? Tumhe iss patr mein aur kya paane ki apeksha thi?"

(Why? What else did you think that you would find in this letter?)

Nakul gulped as he had a feeling that Arjun won't leave him.

Sahadev jumped in to help his twin. He quickly took the scroll from his brother and handed it back to Arjun,
"Bhrata Arjun! Chodiye na! Aap ko patha hai na yeh kuch bhi bol tha hai..."

(Bhrata Arjun! Leave it na! You know, right, he talks anything..)

By now, Karn, Yudhishthir, and Bheem had left the tent laughing at their antics as they couldn't leave Drupad unattended for long.

Arjun nodded as he rolled up the letter and safely kept it.

He had just started to drink water when Sahadev casually continued,
"Uss din patha hai Nakul kya bol raha tha? Woh keha raha tha ki Aap Anya se Prem karthe ho!"

(You know what Nakul was saying the other day? He was saying that you are in love with Anya!)

As soon as Sahadev said that, Arjun choked on water!

He coughed a few times and had a panicked look in his eyes for a minute second before he composed himself and glared at the twins.

"Tum dono aise bathe Anya ya kisi ke bhi samaksh na karo toh hi Acha hai! Agar aise baathe agli baar karoge toh mein tum dono ko nahi chhodunga!"

(It is good if you don't talk such things in front of Anya or anyone for that matter!
Next time if you talk such things then I won't leave you both!)

The twins nodded their heads with a slight pout, and they silently exited.

As soon as they were out of Arjun's sight, they stopped and exchanged identical looks. Both of them had seen that panic in their Brother's eyes. They got what they wanted!

They grinned and walked off.

....

With the twins gone, Arjun sighed with relief.

He had to be careful with his emotions. He had just recently discovered that the feelings weren't one-sided with Anya. She hadn't realised it and they had a long way to go.

Till then, his brothers and Mother can't know!

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A/N:

I am back!!!

Hope you all liked today's update!

Please comment your thoughts and what you like/dislike.

Your comments are my motivation.

Jai Shree Krishna🙏
-Anu

P.S. : I haven't proofread it. So please forgive me if there are some typos.