Hey Guys!!!!

Here is the hundred and thirty fifth chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

Sorry! For the late update!

Happy Reading!!

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Third POV 

 With Kunti & Co. 

The night was a little chilly one but because the five brothers ad burnt some wood and now were sleeping cuddling their mother, the temperature had rise for them all a little.

There was a thin line between sleeping and being awake. The line of subtle consciousness. And Arjun always made a point of sticking to the line.
So, when he felt the ruffling in the bushes nearby, he sprang up from his sleep and was complete awake in mere seconds.

Yudhishthira who was not deep in his sleep yet, was surprised when he felt movement beside himself. Opening his eyes, he frowned as he gazed at the frowning little brother of his.
"Kya Ho Gaya, Aru?" (What happened, Aru?) He whisper asks, knowing that if Arjun was scanning their surroundings in such a way, there must be something wrong.

"Un jhadiyoan Mein koi Hai Bhrata Yudi." (There is someone in the bushes, brother Yudi!) Arjun mumbles back equally softly.

Now Yudhishthira slowly and as softly possible extracted himself from the arms of his mother and brothers before tiptoeing towards the bush along with Arjun. His eyes sharply scanning the area while his ears were strained to note any sound that was made to help him asses the situation.

"Arjun! Yudhishthira!" The shout of their mother, made them jump in surprise to look at the lady who looked panicked. "Kahan ja Rahe Ho tum dono?" (Where are you both going?)

"In Jhadiyoan Mein kuch Hai, Mata. Koi janwar, shayad." (There is something in the bushes. Some animal, maybe.) Arjun tells his mother.

"Toh chod do na, Kyun ja Rahe Ho wahan?" (Then leave it, na! Why are you going there?) She shrieks as Arjun walks closer to the bushes, without Yudhishthira.
The shriek awoke Bheema, Nakul and Sehdev. They were a little lost as to the happening of their surroundings.

"Wapas aajao, Arjun!" (Come back, Arjun!) Kunti calls for her son again.

"Woh nahi lotega, Mata." (He will not return, Mother.) Yudhishthira says, "Yeh baat aap aur main dono jante Hain ki jab tak use ye nahi pata chalta ki wahan kon Hai, woh wapas nahi aayega. Aap use kitna bhi Kyun na bula lijiye." (Me and both of us know that until he gets to know what is there, he will not return. However much you call him.)

Just as Yudhishthira had said, Arjun ignored whatever was thrown his way. Rather he had pulled a knife out of where he hid it in his dhoti, constantly and silently walking closer to the bushes. His sense all on their full lookout.
But he was not ready to see the sight he saw behind the bushes.

Five Rishi's were behind the bushes. Their body filled with wound and scars all over. Blood had dried over one Rishi's forehead, a long time back when he would have hurt his head open. While another Rishi's lip was burst open.
Honestly, speaking the sight was just barbaric and to bloody for even a trained warrior like Arjun's liking.

He instantly hid his knife back in the dhoti seeing the scared and horror filled look that had taken its place on all five of their faces.

"Pranipatra!" (Greetings!) Arjun joined his hands to greet the Rishi's in front of him.
"Aap log kon Hain? Aur aapki yeh dasha kaise Ho gayi, Rishivar?" (Who are you all? And how did you land in such a condition, Rishsivar?)

The Rishi now stood up slowly still wary of the man in front of them.

"Hum Panchal se aa rahein Hain. Panchal Raj, Dhrupad, ne Hume bandi bana kar rakha tha. Hum wahan se nikal bhage." (We are coming from Panchal. The king of Panchal, Dhrupad, had us in his custody. We escaped from there.) One of the Rishi's said.
Hiding the fact that the Princess Shikhandini had aided them in escaping. Just as they had promised her.

Arjun's confusion knew no bounds. Why would anyone imprison Rishi's? They cannot even defend themselves. What did Panchal Raj want from them?

"Aap humare saath chaliye, Rishivar." (You all should come with me, Rishivar!) Arjun says softly. "Mere do bhai Ayurveda ka gyan rakhtein Hain. Woh aap sab ko Theek kar denge." (I have two brothers who hold the knowledge of Ayurveda. They will help you all heal.)

When Arjun returned, he was met with his Mata hugging him and scanning him all over, "Tum theek hona, Putra?" (You are alright, na, Son?)

"Ji, Mata. Main bilkul theek Hun." (Yes, mother. I am perfectly alright!) Arjun smiles at his mother.
Before turning to his brothers, he says looking at Sehdev and Nakul. "Tum dono ko inhe theek karna hoga." (You both have to heal them. )

He made a point of not saying their name. The could not let their identities been blown away, they needed to act as in- suspicious as they could and keep their secrets. It was for everyone's best. 

 -- Time Skip --

Kunti was cooking food for the Rishi's along with Bheema's help as Nakul and Sehdev treated their wounds. Yudhishthira was already setting the banana leaves up as Arjun served the Rishi's water.

Once they had been served, Yudhishthira gestured to them to begin, "Khane ka sevan kijiye, Rishivar." (You all should start eating, Rishivar!)

"Main Shama chahta Hun, Rishivar!" (I ask for forgiveness, Rishivar!) Arjun apologizes, joining his hands and ducking his head. 

"Aapki koi galti nahi," (None of it is your fault.) One of the Rishi's says.

"Panchal Mein humare sath jaisa bartav Hua, tha uske bad Hume thoda dar tha." (The way we were treated in Panchal, we were a little scared after that.) Another Rishi says.

"Panchal Mein jo Hua?" (After what happened in Panchal?) Bheema frowns. "Aapke saath Kya Hua wahan?" (What exactly happened with you all there?)

"Panchal Raj, Dhrupad, ek Putra chahhte Hain. Iski liye woh humse ek yajna karwana chahhte the, Hume uska gyan nahi Hain. Toh Is baat se gussa Ho kar unhone Hume bandhi ban aliya tha." (The King of Panchal, Dhrupad, years for a son. So, he wanted us to do a Yajna. But we do not have the knowledge to conduct the same. He was angry of the same, so he made us his prisoners.) They inform the Pandeva's. 

"Par Rishiyoan par atyachar karna toh pap Hai." (But to treat Rishi like this is a sin.) Kunti says, her face an embodiment of shock. They nod in agreement, but say nothing else. 

"Aap kaise bhag gaye?" (How did you all escape?) Yudhishthira questions. 

"Maha Rishi Upyaj aur Yaj ne Yajna karne ke liye haan kar diya." (Maha Rishi Upyaj and Yaj agreed to do the Yajna.) The Rishi says. "Maha Raj ko humse koi kam nahi thi, toh suraksha kadi nahi thi, hum bhag gaye." (The King needs nothing from us now, the security was lax so we escaped.)

"Bhagawan ki daya hai!" (Thank god!) Kunti thanks the god.  

"Yajna ho raha hai?" (Yajna is happening?) Arjun asks. 

"Ji, aaj hona tha." (Yes, it's supposed to happen today.)

The brothers silently exchanged looks at it. They knew the reason behind Panchal Raj Dhrupad's yearning of a son. And it was not good at all! 

 With the Trinity 

It has been six days since the three had reached Chedi. 
They had been living near the temple these two days. Ananya would sing in the temple, Karn helped with the proceedings of the temple and Duryodhana worked in the kitchen of the temple community. 

They knew they had to leave soon but they had settled here, almost completely. Leaving from here meant to go back in the harsh environment of the forest, and it was just not in their heart to do it so soon.

Ananya bowed her head and closed her eyes as she started to sing the morning bhajan for the day. Singing praises of Ram- Sita.  

Mangal bhavan amangal hari 
 Drabahu sudasarath achar bihari 
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram 
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram 

Ho, hoi hai vahi jo ram rachi raakha 
Ko kare tarak badhaaye saakha 
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram 
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram 

Ho, dhiraj dharam mitr aru naari 
Aapad kaal parakhiye chaari 
Ho, jehike jehi par satya snehu 
So tehi milay na kachhu sandehu 

Ho, jaaki rahi bhavna jaisi
Prabhu murti dekhi tin taisi
Ho, raghukul rit sada chali aai
Praan jaae par vachan na jaai

Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram
Ram, ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram

Ho, hari anant hari katha
Ananta Kahahi sunahi bahuvidhi sab santa
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram
Ram, ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram
Ram siya ram siya ram jay jay ram 

Ananya's voice floated across the temple, in to the village.
Since, the last six days, more people had visited the temple than they did in last six months. Ananya's voice was like an angel's and everyone wanted to see the owner of this angel like voice.

This was another reason the trinity should be leaving soon from Chedi. Staying in a place would increase their popularity, their identity could be revealed easily, they really did not need that right now.

"Tumhari awaj Mein toh swayam ma Saraswathi ne jaise aapna ghar ban aliya Ho." (It is as if, Goddess Saraswathi has made herself a house in your voice.) A lady who had been here since the first day says.

"Kya, Dai Ma! Aap bhi na!" (What! Dai Ma! You na!) Ananya blushes hearing the complement.

"Tujhe Kya lagta Hai? Mai mazak kar rahin Hun?" (What do you think? That I am joking to you about this?) The lady- Dai Ma- looks at Ananya affronted with the younger ladies words.

"Kya baat kar rahi Ho, Dai Ma!" (What are you talking about, Dai Ma!) Ananya keeps the sitting mat aside, before hugging the lady from behind. "Aapko sab Dai ma, bultae Hain aise hi Kya? Aapki koi baat ko nazar andaj kaise kar sakti Hun main?" (Why do you think everyone calls you Dai Ma? How can I look over anything you say?)

"Haan! Haan! Jo bhi!" (Yeah! Yeah! Whatever!) She grabs Ananya's hand and brings her in front, motioning towards the idol she asks the younger lady. "Yeh bata tu un done se kabhi lav- kush Kyun nahi mang leti? Din Raat Bhajan gate samay dimag mein kya chalta hai tere?" (Tell me this, why do you not ask for Luv- Kush from them? What goes on in your head, while singing praises lord all night and day?)

"Haye! Dai ma! Kya baat kar rahi Ho!" (Haye Dai Ma! What are you talking about!) Ananya exclaims. "Luv- Kush toh Mujhe mere Ram denge na! Yeh Ram ji Kya karenge, huh?" (Luv- Kush can only be given to me by my Ram, na! What will Lord Ram do in it?)

"Bhak pagli!" (Hey Crazy girl!) The lady whacks her, "Kya bakte rehti Hai?" (What do you talk these days, huh?)

"Kuch galt thodi bol rahin Hun, sach hi toh bol rahin Hun!" (I did not say anything wrong, did I now? I was just saying the truth!) Ananya laughs mischievously, as the lady shakes her seemingly done with Ananya. 

"Ab Kya Ho Gaya, Dai Ma? Kisi baat par aise pareshan Ho gayi?" (What happened, now Dai Ma? On what thing are you so worried about?) Karn asks as he appears suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Tujhse toh main baat hi nahi karti Ja!" (I will not at all talk with you!) Dai Ma exclaims looking away.

"Haan! Bas!" (Yes, that is it!) Karn pouts, "Galti iski aur mere saath aisa bartav?" (The fault is hers and you are treating me like this?)

"Galti teri Hai." (Fault is yours!) Dai Ma says. "Are isse ma Kyun nahi bana deta tu!" (Why do not you make her a mother, huh?)

Karn who had picked a grape and had it at that moment choked on it.
"Dai Ma!" He coughs. "Mandir Mein Kya Kya baat karti Ho!" (What kind of talks do you have in a temple?)

"Kya galat keh Diya Maine?" (What wrong thing did I say now?) Dai Ma asks. "Sab cheej ka samay hoti Hai, is sab ka samay yahi Hota hai." (Everything has a right time to be done at!) 

"Aur yeh sahi samay hai?" (And this is the right time?) Ananya questions, amused. 

"Haan! Aur naho toh kya!" (Yes, what else.) 

"Le jaun ise fir main?" (Should I take her away then?) Karn questions, grinning now that he was a little set in the matter at discussion. "Aapke Luv- Kush bana ne ke liye!" (To make the ever wanted Luv- Kush for you?) 

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How was the update for the day? 

Kunti & Co. came in finally! 

What do you think of Dai Ma's initiation? 

Are Luv- Kush truly needed, now? 

Thanks for Reading this.

Do Vote and Comment.

(2215 words.)

--Sxxxxx