"God bless you." Humor tinted the words of third son of Kunti, who walked in with some scrolls.

His eyes falling over his second youngest sibling, who sat sniffing, his face flushed a deeper shade of red.

Another sneeze reverberated throughout the room, making the yeilder of Gandiv grin in amusement.

"I know that rain wakes up the inner peacock in you? But why do you forget that your a human and not a bird? At least physically you are." Humor tainted the words of the one, who had won Draupadi's hand in swayamvar, his hazel eyes lit with mirth.

If there was one thing that he loved the most was annoying a cranky Nakul.

As expected the first born of Madri, shot him a dirty glare, just amplifying the amusement of Parth.

"Aw does the baby need something?" He teased, a smirk playing on the corner of his lips.

"Bhraataaaaa." Nakul whined, trying to breath through his clogged up nose, he hated cold, he hated getting sick in general.

It was one thing that made him the most cranky, his annoyance would just reach another level when he got sick.

He bit back another painful groan, his heard was splitting with an ache, that if it had been human, he wouldn't have hesitated strangling it, so it would just stop.

"And Nakul? How was your rain bath?" Bheem's amusement reverberated throughout the room, making his brothers chuckle.

"What were you thinking going out for a bath at this hour? You could have gotten seriously sick." Yudhisthir admonished, gazing at him concerned, standing beside the bed.

"Bhraata was probably trying to give peacocks a competition in rain dance." Sehdev teased, mirth shining in his words, eliciting a laughter from everyone.

Nakul shot him a glare, but it didn't really have any heat in it. "It wasn't like that." He mumbled vexed, turning his head away, folding his hands over his chest, clearly upset.

"Than what was it like? I mean I would really love to know how you shook your booty on the beats." Bheem asked, his voice faking an inquisitive tone, making the eldest son of Madri groan, the others roaring in laughter.

"Don't be so mean arya." Though the words were admonishing, laughter behind them wasn't gone unnoticed, in Panchaali's tone.

The four turned to gaze at the door, Draupadi stood, with a glass in her hand.

Dressed in a pristine white lehnga, that nearly touched the ground.

With softest of silk and a veil of sparkling net material giving her an illusion of a fairy who had descended from heavens.

Sky seemed to have been fabricated in the light blue odhni hugged her form, outlining her beauty.

Her wet dark curls that sat on one side of her shoulder, her mangalsutr sitting proudly around her neck.

Though simple, she look astoundingly gorgeous, a goddess who had descended on earth.

Rendering the five speechless, she walked ahead, completely oblivious to their state.

Keeping the glass beside the night stand, Draupadi sat beside him. "Did you take the medicine?" Concern laced her words, his beautiful ebony eyes were glassy, and watery.

He sniffed sitting back, exhaustion heavy in his form.

"He didn't." Sehdev stated, snapping out of his musings, gazing at his wife, who frowned up at him.

"Why?" Confused she faced her youngest husband, who sighed heavily, he could he would have stuffed the medicines down his twin's throat.

"Because the world knows, for once the earth could stop spinning, but Prince Nakul of Hastinapur, detest medicines of cold and fever. Since childhood, we have never really been able to get him to eat it, even Mata for that matter." Yudhisthir spoke, shooting a glare at his second youngest brother.

Nakul descipced those herbs, and never really took it.

And neither could they force him, nor could they convince him, situation was pure stress for Yudhisthir.

"Here drink this milk." Panchaali said, nodding at her husband's words. She didn't really like what she heard.

Medicines were crucial, he being a doctor knew that, they had tried taking his permission, and he clearly refused, and forcing him wasn't possible either.

Should she mix it in the food? She mentally threw that option out of the window, her husband wasn't a fool.

He was a doctor for god's sake, than how?

She wondered, gears in her mind changed constantly, trying to come up a way, there has to be one.

"No Drau, I am not hungry." He cloaked the words out, his throat itchy and dry from all the coughing.

"Anuj, have it, she is clearly worried for you." Arjun pointed out, his eyes scanning the face of the woman, he had vowed to marry.

The one with whom, he had taken seven most sacred vows. The inferno in her gaze, that usually burned brightly, was today dull with worry.

Nakul didn't like the look of uncertainty on her face, nodding, he reached out for the glass, though the thought of drinking something, had his stomach in knots, he snapped his head back, draining the milk completely.

Her hand rubbed his palm soothingly, though a simple gesture, it assured him, more than anything before.

Her concern touched his heart like a warm caress, handing back her the glass he let himself relax back.

"You should sleep for awhile." Sehdev instructed, earning a nod from his twin. And before he knew, the exhaustion had him getting lost in the dark lands of slumber, where just peace existed.

"I wish he would take the medicines." Yudhisthir sighed, he hated seeing one of his family sick. "I agree. If only, for once he would listen to me." Sehdev stated, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"He is just so stubborn." Arjun stated, gazing at his sleeping brother, his heart hurt, if there was a way to get medicines in him, he would have taken it up, but over the years, they had learned the hardway that possibly moving mountains was an easier job, than convincing him to take medicines.

"I don't even know what to do." Helplessness rang through Vrikodar's words, while he sat next to his brother, running his fingers through his mane.

No matter how much they argued or fought, when one was hurt others all felt the pain.

And Draupadi was in awe with their bond. It was true, she too had siblings, but nothing like this five.

It was like they were merely reflections of each other, in all honesty, they were one.

When one cried, other's hand reached to wipe the tear. When one was hurt, others felt the sting of it.

Bonds like this were rare, and she admired it. Mentally praying to god, that they always stay together like this.

It was this little things about the five that made fall for them. They were so different, each one of them, a gem of its own.

She now understood what Dhara meant  when she said, that love was about giving. She would give up her everything, just to see them smile, this sadness and worry that blanketed their eyes hurt her more than her own pain ever did.

How strange was it that a month back, she was wishing to be dead. Her gaze fell over her wrists, bangles covered them, they were just marks,  scars, yet it felt like they weighed a ton.

"Let me go!!! Help me!" Terror slaughtered through her, screams of the women had her heart piercing.

Horror shackled her bones, he raised the heavy metal butcher's knife, bringing it down on the very much alive woman.

Her screams piercing off the place, it's pitch so high that it could probably be heard miles away.

Her agonised cry, rendering the young princess of Panchaal, wordless, struggling with a new vigor, she fought against the heavy mental shackles.

"Let her go!" Panchaali screamed, begging and sobbing. Dread sinking it's ugly talons in the beating organ in his chest.

Scarlet rivulets of blood filled the dark brown soil, where chunks of fleshes lay. The coppery smell of blood was heavy in air, like a thick blanket of poisonous gas,  tearing her piece by piece from within.

She screamed on top of her voice continously, relentlessly. Her throat hurt, every piece of hers did.

But, it didn't matter, she shook her head begging him. But it was like he couldn't even hear her, it was almost as if he was deaf.

Blood dripped down the shackles and her feet, metal biting in her skin, tearing it, but she continued to fight.

"Please! I am begging you! Please let her go! Please them all go!" Screaming the words of top of her words, she fell on her knees, joining her hands.

Desperation clawed her chest, she would do anything. Anything to stop this insanity.

Unadulterated glee marred his face, he dipped his fingers in the warm scarlet liquid, smelling it like it was the most exotic thing, smearing it over his face.

Grinning like a lunatic.

Mesmerized at the sight ahead of him, she watched in utter disbelief, as he raised his butcher's knife once again.

Bringing it down with all his might. . .

It was all too much, her breathing grew labored, dark spots danced in her vision, before everything turned black.

"I think it would. . ." Sehdev's voice died in his throat, Panchaali swayed her eyes rolling back.

Instincts kicked in, "Drau!" a panicked cry leaving his mouth, he lunged, his arms wrapping around her waist, before she could fall off the bed, and hit the sharp corner of the night stand.

Other three hurried beside her, their hearts pumping with worry.

The youngest son of Pandu picked his wife, bridal style, just as Bheem pulled back the quilt, worry shining in his eyes, with confusion.

Arjun adjusted the pillow under her head, just as his youngest sibling lay their wife carefully on the bed.

Bheem pulled the quilt over her chest, covering her, trying to keep himself busy from the increased stress.

Yudhisthir sat near her head, Sehdev on her on side facing Yudhisthir,  while Arjun and Bheem hovered around protectively.

"What happened to her?" The eldest son questioned, no longer able to hold himself back, concern bubbling in his chest like a poisonous broth.

"Just a moment bhraata." Sehdev whispered, checking her vitals. A pregnant silence fell over the room, concern escalating.

"High blood pressure." He stated, after his evaluations. "But how?" Arjun asked, confused. "Most probably worried for Nakul." Bheem concluded, his eyes softening, as they settled on her.

"Yes, I think so too. She had been looking too upset when we told her about him not taking the medicine." Sehdev pointed out, earning a nod from his brothers, who agreed to his words.

"Let her rest today, we too we'll do our research work from here only." Yudhisthir stated, his brothers nodding in agreement.

"Dev give her some medicines, and let me know what they are, so incase you are busy, we could give her." Arjun asked, making his youngest brother nod at his word, as he began explaining the different packets and when to give them. . .

"How are you feeling?" Yudhisthir's words greeted Nakul, who sat up yawning.

"Like I had been asleep forever, and am still tired." He cloaked, his throat dry, another yawn passed through his lips.

"Drau?" Confusion marred his face, noticing his wife sleeping beside him. What had happened to her?

"She fell unconscious, high blood pressure. Possibly increased stress." Bheem informed, worry marring his face, as he ran his fingers through her hair, sitting beside her head.

Nakul wanted to kick himself, worrying her was the last thing he needed, had he just taken the medicine, than this possibly wouldn't have happened.

His heart felt a heaviness, like it was suddenly made of stones. He hated seeing her unwell, and the fact that it was possibly because of him, had his blood boiling.

Her smiling face flashed in his mind, the few precious moments that he had spent in rain with her, flooding his senses.

She made everything better for him, just her presence relaxed him, and now that she was unwell,  a weird restlessness had settled in him.

He wanted to fix everything, he wanted to get her back to good health. The same smiling and giggling Drau, who at his one touch melted in his arms.

Who was timid, but around them bloomed into the most beautiful version of herself.

Who gave him those little smiles, made funny comments, and giggled at his jokes.

"Did you give her medicine?" The question was directed at Sehdev, who sighed heavily, his shoulders were sagged, like the weight of the world had settled on it.

"I will once she wakes up." He stated, his eyes fleeting time and again back to his wife. Even after trying his level best, he couldn't focus on his work.

He knew she would be fine, that it wasn't something serious, but it did nothing to  elevate the worry for her.

Absolutely nothing.

She was still lost, still unconscious. And that for some reason drew him bonkers with concern.

Gazing at her, and his brothers, Nakul took a deep breath, before holding his hand out.

"Give me my medicines."

Silence.

Utter silence.

The four gazed at their brother astounded, like he had suddenly popped up a second head.

He wanted to take medicines?

"What?" Nakul asked annoyed, come on it wasn't such a big deal?

Who was it kidding? It was. He, himself, would have never believed what he had heard.

Annoyed, at his brothers, and at himself, and world in general, he reached out for the packets on the night stand.

He gazed at them, stupid things. Stupid medicines of cold. He would rather take any herbs, instead of this ones, they were annoying to no end.

They tasted crap, they were disgusting. And a hundred different reasons flooded his mind, why he shouldn't take the medicine.

His gaze settled on his wife, she, one reason why he should.

How was this one reason outweighing hundred others, was beyond him. But it was.

For Panchaali, he was making exceptions he never made before. He was feeling things that he never felt before.

And surprisingly it gave him happiness, which was insanity.

He had most probably lost a screw or two, it was his conclusion. Nonetheless, losing himself in her, for her, felt good.

His eyes focused on her face, tracing every finer detail, that pulled him in. Entrapped him, and drew him partly crazy.

One face, that made him forget everything. Not just by the sheer beauty it possessed, but the soul that resided in that body, one person around whom his world was starting to revolve.

She had become the sun of his universe, where his mind and heart seemed to orbit around without a conscious effort.

Not breaking his contact from her face, he poured the contents of the packet in the water, and with one last final look, he bottomed up the glass.

Disgust.

It thrummed through him violently, as his contorted in weird expressions, trying to erase the taste of what felt like  the sourest thing on this planet.

Sourer than bitter gourd and neem, was this crap, draining another glass of plain water, he tried to get rid of the taste.

Shuddering in disgust, he sat back, breathing heavily.

And this is why he hated this herbs, they were down right crap, down right stupid.

Freaking weird crap that he despised with every last of his fiber. His eyes settled on his wife, a smile tracing on his lips.

But it felt good.

For once it felt good, because she would have nothing to worry about now.

The back of his fingers caressed her soft luscious skin, in a soft, and soothing manner going up and down.

He would end every root of her trouble, it didn't matter what was the cost.

Bheem felt like he had stepped in an alternate universe. This was his younger brother?

This was Nakul?

He couldn't believe it, the boy who had nearly set the entire infirmary on fire, because he didn't want to take medicines for cold, just took them?

Had there been an alien abduction, and he didn't know?

A look around, assured him that he wasn't the only one shocked, his brothers were too.

"Drau." Nakul's concerned voice had the four, snapping out of their rumination.

Draupadi thrashed, her face contorted in terror, sweat beaded on her forehead.

"Drau." The four rushed beside her.

"Wake up it's just a nightmare." Arjun called, shaking her, "Drau! Wake up!" Yudhisthir called, half panicked.

She thrashed harder, trying to get rid of the grip, tears traced down the corner of her eyes.

"Drau!" Sehdev's heart was breaking, fear tightening it's rein around his heart.

"Drau!" Worry thrummed through Bheem, what in the heaven was happening?

Her eyes flew open, terror masking her features, breathing coming out in short pants.

Nakul hugged her hard against himself, his arms tightening around her.

"Hey, it's okay. It was just a nightmare." He crooned, rubbing his back, his heart clutched, he felt trembling in his arms.

Worry marred their faces, while they gazed at each other, questions running through their mind.

Nakul rubbed her back, in a soothing manner. "Easy love. Deep breaths." He whispered, rubbing her back. Pressing his lips to her forehead.

Bheem held her hand in his, concern contorted in him.

Nakul held her, rubbing her back in a soothing manner. Time seemed to pass at a slower rate.

Time seemed to have slowed down, the horrifying loop of images, playing in her mind on a repeat.

His arms tightened around her, pulling her in a world of comfort, rubbing her back, as Nakul mumbled sweet nothings in her ear.

"Everything is fine. You are safe." Arjun's reassuring voice broke through her haze of terror.

"Look at me, it's alright." Bheem whispered, laying her hand over his chest, his reassuring soulful gaze held hers.

"Match your breathing with mine." He coaxed soothingly, as she forced herself to relax, blocking out all the images, trying to focus on him.

"Deep, long breaths. Easy, everything is fine. You're safe." Yudhisthir's calm words, anchored her to the reality, making her take deep long breaths with Bheem.

"You're doing so good." Arjun's encouraging words, had her gulping in oxygen.

The fog of fear slowly dispersed, making her thundering heart calm down slowly. Adrenaline faded, her body relaxing against her husband's.

For very long, none spoke. Letting her collect herself, and for once she was grateful.

She was grateful, for there weren't any questions, that like in Panchaal no one was shouting at her for disturbing their sleep.

Calling it all a drama, and attention seeking.

"It's okay." Yudhisthir cooed, gazing at her, she breathed in deeply, his eyes shining with worry.

Where she was used to seeing annoyance, they had assurance.  Her throat burned, making her bottom lip wobble.

How could they be so kind? She wondered, hiding her face in Nakul's neck, breathing in his comforting fragrance.

She felt his lips press on her forehead, making her heart zap with a soothing warmth.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sehdev crooned, rubbing the back of her hand, her eyes meeting his.

She shook her head lightly, she didn't even want to think about it.

Not now.

Not ever.

It was past, she had locked it up, than why was it resurfacing again?

She expected some sort of protest, or at least a silver of annoyance in them, but all she saw in their eyes was concern.

Pure, unadulterated care and concern.

And for what felt like the millionth time she wondered, how had she gotten so lucky. . .

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