Yudhisthir stood in front of the dark rosewood door. Huge dark forty feet doors, had fine intricate designs on them, golden handles sat proudly in the center.

His mind that usually was calm, today was in chaos. Events of the day playing in his mind.

The shuffling sound from behind him reminded him of his brothers, breaking his musings.

His gaze met Bheem's, dark brown orbs looked back at him with similar turmoil. Anawkward silence sat heavily in the air.

The mere thought of sharing a woman was uncomfortable, not something they expected. But here they were, all having a common wife.

He breathed in deeply, pushing down the thoughts, no, he can't let them overpower him now.

If it was difficult for him, he could only imagine what must the princess of Panchaal going through.

He had to do the right thing, he can't let his thoughts and feelings overpower his sense of justice.

Pushing the door open, he walked in. The awkwardness just seemed to reach to another level, as the eyes of the five brothers settled on the decorated bedroom.

Fragrant candles lit everywhere, the thick canopy of the roses embraced the bed. Oil lamps giving the room a serene glow.

Five pandavas walked in, their hearts beating anxiously.

What was supposed to be a union of love, now illicited terror of a new kind. They gulped, their eyes fluttering to the dark door and the guards behind them.

What now?

Yudhisthir thought, he knew what technically happened in every relationship. But this wasn't a normal relationship, now was it?

He never imagined in his wildest dream that, he will have to share a wife with his four brothers.

Bheem gazed at Arjun, and the twins, who gazed back at him. Awkwardness, was heavy in air, no one knew where to begin with.

This was not something they had been prepared for. The five gazed at each other, silent communication zapping in between them.

What now? And where was Panchaal Kumari? They wondered, they had heard a lot about her beauty, her intelligence and had seen how great of a woman she was.

She had practically sacrificed her whole life, made it a path of thorns to keep the word of their mother, and so their families stayed united, so Hastinapur had the right ruler, a just monarch.

They respected her, though they haven't even seen her, from the swayamvar, till the marriage, the girl had been veiling her face.

And that unseen girl, who had sacrificed her everything for their family.

Arjun cleared his throat, in an attempt to break the awkwardness that had settled in the air.

"Now what?" Nakul asked no longer able to hold back, he didn't have an habit of not knowing. He hated being out of control of a situation.

And things have been spiraling out of control, since they had decided to attend the svayamvar.

Everything had gone up in ashes since than, the simple life that he had pretty much envisioned himself to live with his mother and brothers had gone up in flames in a snap of a finger.

Suddenly, he was married to a woman, who he had never met before, and was now forced to share her with his brothers.

He didn't know how to feel, he wasn't angry, or jealous, a little awkward and lost. Love and relationships had been his thing, but this, this was not at all what he had envisioned, when he thought of his marriage.

"I don't know. " Bheem finally answered, "This is awkward." Whispered Arjun under his breath.

"Where is she though?" Sahadev finally questioned, he didn't want to take her name, or call her his wife, it would make the situation all too real according to him.

He was partly in denial, and liked it better that way.

The sound of the anklets, broke through their stupor, while they gazed at each other questioningly.

Nervousness thrummed through them, they held their breath.

They had spent most their life in gurukul, where women threw themselves at them, they usually maintained a distance, well all except Nakul and Bheem, where Nakul flirted occasionally every once in awhile.

Bheem already had a wife.

Arjun shuffled nervously, one, he along with Yudhisthir and Sahadev, were not really used to woman.

And second, they were all in an awkward wedding were none knew what their future held.

Nakul's brow shot up, as he gazed at the woman who entered through another door, a balcony most probably.

The faint glow of candles, along with her veil made it impossible to look at her face.

She nearly reached his two inches above his chest, by the looks of it.

Had a petite form, and was dressed alluringly, she looked beautiful by what he could see, all except her face.

Arjun noticed her shuffle from one feet to another, her hands interweaving, as she played with her fingers, it didn't take a genius to notice that she was nervous.

And by the trembling of her hand, more than them.

Bheem cleared his throat trying to dissipate the nervousness. Instead awkwardness zinged through the air a few notches, almost making him choke.

"Um..." He began, but than his voice disappeared, what shall he say, hello I am bheem, your third husband by law?

"Why are you standing, come have a sit." He invited pointing to the bed, trying to ease the tension in the air. The awkwardness just multiplied ten times, his eyes widened.

"Oh no. I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was if you are tired you could lay down, I mean not with us, I ... ugh..." He groaned, realising that he was just making it more worse.

"Jyest!" The three younger siblings whisper yelled, cringing mentally at his words. They didn't want to make this all the more difficult for the poor girl.

Yudhisthir wanted to facepalm, leave it to Bheem to make this all the more awkward. To his surprise, a feminine soft giggle had his head snapping up.

The melodic baritone of her giggle, had them shocked. The giggles were like music to their ears, and for a fleeting moment they felt mesmerized and lost in the sound.

She abruptly stopped, her cheeks heated, as she realised where she stood. She was greatful for the veil as they couldn't see her face.

Bheem beamed wriggling his eyebrows at his brothers, making them roll their eyes. Smirking at them, as the tension in the room dissipated.

"So this may sound a little awkward, but what is your name?" Nakul asked, curiously, gazing at the girl, who shifted on her feet once again.

"Ow! What the heck?" He exclaimed, as Bheem landed a chop on his head. "Little brother, did you forget the ritual she is not allowed to speak or show her face to us." He reminded beaming down at his brother, who rubbed the back of his head.

"Why? And how long does it last?" He asked, curiously, "And this is the reason I tell you to pay attention to your surroundings, and not be lost in your mind." Teased the second eldest pandav, making the elder twin roll his eyes.

"It is kind of an ice breaker for the newly weds, kind of a game, where the grooms can use any method to make their brides speak, or see their faces. The brides are suppose to prevent that from happening." Arjun explained, smiling at his brother, who had his mouth opened in an 'o' shape, as he nodded, showing his understanding.

"Wait, so you cannot talk?" Nakul asked, she nodded making him sigh. "Well, what if I have a question and I need and answer?" He asked scratching his head.

Her anklets and the bangles clanked as she moved towards the writing table in the corner of the room.

She took some papers and ink, and sat on the floor in front of the couch, so she was level with the small table.

They watched, as she wrapped her heena laced fingers around the quill and dipped it in the red ink.

She swirled it on the paper. They moved closer, curious as to what she wrote.

What questions do you have Rajkumar?

Nakul raised a brow, surprised. "You know how to write? I thought you were born just like two months ago. That makes me sound like a pedophile..." He grumbled the last part, making her bite back her giggle, as the others chuckled.

Yes, I learned.

She wrote, "Well that's awesome. Took me years to properly learn, than again I was born as a kid." He shrugs, sitting down opposite to her.

A sadness bloomed in her heart, childhood was basic to all, but she missed on it. People said it was the most beautiful part of their life, but she never had any.

She pushed the sad thoughts back, as she noticed the awkwardness return. Her fingers moved across the page, before she could stop herself.

Yudhisthir took the page, as she held it up open to her.

I do not really know how our marriage will work to be honest. However, I do not expect any of you to be pressurized to you know...take this marriage to another level.

I do not know how else to say this, so I think I am just going to be blunt about it.

Can we please begin our relationship as friends, I mean, if we can move ahead from there, and if naturally the bond of love grows, than good.

Or else we can forever be friends, I mean you can always marry another, have kids, I am not hampering your life that way.

But I don't want you to do things towards me out of the sense of duty, if you want to do something, do it because you want it.

For instance now, if you want to be here, than do it because you want it. Not, because of a ritual, or it is your duty, or because to make me happy, because trust me nothing hurts more than knowing that someone is forced to do something, and not out of their free will. . .

So can we be friends?

A silence fell over the room, as the eldest brother finished reading the words. For a moment, they stopped and gazed at her.

Really watched her.

What was this girl?

Was she real?

Or was this all just an imagination?

The storm of questions that were raging in their minds moments ago, had now completely calmed down, what seemed impossible hours ago, now seemed natural.

She understood, and that's what mattered.

"I am surprised to be honest. And relieved too. You have no idea how much your words have eased me. We don't know what kind of husbands we'll make, but we make half a way decent friend if you let us. So friends?"

Yudhisthir asked, his voice held a smile in it, and so did his lips.

Relief marred his features, Panchaali grinned behind her veil, she nodded enthusiastically making them chuckle, she was adorable, they had to admit it.

"Wait, we need to figure out another way of communication, what happens when we are in public and she wants to say something? Who knows how long this ritual thing will go on?" Nakul questioned, the others nodded in agreement.

"Well that's true." Arjun agreed, he gazed at his bride, as along with his brothers he began to think.

His eyes settled on her bangles and anklets.

"I have got an idea." He exclaimed excited making their heads snap at him. "What is it?" Sahadev asked curiously.

"Her bangles." Arjun pointed, "Bangles don't talk anuj." Bheem teased, making everyone chuckle, earning an eye roll from him.

"No, what I meant was she could use them, for instance if you want to say no, clank it once. If a yes, clank it twice, and clank them sharply when you wanna say stop." He explained.

"Do you understand?" He asked, she raised her one hand and softly moved her hand, the bangles clanked, once. She repeated the motion and they clanked again the second time.

Arjun beamed, "See it actually works." He teased, making his brothers smile and nod.

"So what do we get if we win this ice breaker?" Sahadev questioned curiously, Panchaali bit her lip, this was not how she had expected the night to go.

Where she had imagined a complete disaster, she was actually enjoying herself.

She shrugged, she really didn't know if there was a prize for this ritual. Mischief sparkled in her heart, as she jotted the words down.

I will tell you a letter of my name, every time one of you actually succeeds.

"Wait! So you are not going to tell us your name as well?" Nakul practically whined, from where he sat opposite to her, he nearly groaned as she shook her head negatively.

"How is that fair? You already know our names, and general things about us. We know nothing about you." Complained Nakul, he practically whined, for some reason this girl interested him unlike anyone before.

The mischievous aura, and the happy to go personality pulling him in. She bit her bottom lip, as she scrawled down the words.

Ask me anything Rajkumar, except my name.

He read out loud.

A smirk plastered on his face.

Let the game begin. . .

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