A zillion and ten thoughts had crossed since morning, different ways to approach them and speak to them, but the nagging fear and worry, nibbled at her.

Moving from one feet to another, she gazed at the study door ahead of her.

Hesitancy sunk it's claws in, should she? What would they think if her? What if they too certified she was crazy?

She knew they were excellent people, that they really cared for her, that they wouldn't judge, but the nagging insecurities were insistent.

Weaving a tale of horrorndrous scenarios.

Shaking her head, she pushed down the anxieties.

Everything will be fine, everything will be.

It was a constant mantra on her mind, easing it, assuring herself.

Before she lost the strength, she knocked on the door.

Her breathing coming in short pants, fidgetting, she awaited. 

Though it hardly took a second, she could almost feel the time crawl by. Making her heart hammer in her chest.

A feeling of restlessness, and suffocation, coiling within her.

"Come in." It was Nakul's voice, that reverberated through the door, breathing in deeply, she pushed it open.

The air around her seemed to tighten with pressure, making her heart clench.

Trust them.

A part of her whispered.

Stilling her palpitating heart, she crossed the doorway.

Taking careful steps in, she shut the door.

Coward.

Her conscious snapped, making her heart clench, yes she was. She was buying time more than anything else.

Turning around, she gulped, her throat dry, she walked in.

The five stood facing away from her, they were bent over a huge oak table, that had various maps spread over it.

Neither of them looked up, pointing and continuing their discussion.

"This much sadness? What's got you worried dear?" It was Bheem, who spoke, his eyes hadn't left the maps, as he moved a little marking to another side.

A confused frown made it's way to on her beautiful face.

How did he know? He didn't even look up once. She wondered, ceasing her fidgetting movements.

"How?" Confusion tinged her tone, Bheem's lips spread in a soft smile.

"A little birdie told me that's how." He teased, humor tainting his words.

When she just continued to frown, gazing at the floor, Arjun sighed heavily.

"The sound of your anklets, that's how he knew." The third son of Kunti replied, turning another leaf of the map.

His answer, was as clear as mud.

"My anklets? They speak?" Her eyes averted at her anklets, as though expecting them to pop up lips, and speak.

The five laughed, shaking their heads at her innocence.

"No Drau. The sound of your anklets vary, on how you are feeling. When your happy, you walk a little faster, as though your gliding through the air. Your anklets sing the symphony of joy." Sehdev began gazing up from the map, his eyes clashing with hers.

The soft smile on his lips, nearly knocking her heart out of his chest.

"When you are feeling playful, your feet move with the mischievous spin of  wind, your anklets playing a crescendo of fast rhythms." Arjun continued, he beamed like he was talking about the most interesting things in the world.

And not the sound of her anklets.

"But when you are sad, your feet echo a silence, one that weighs with the heaviness of your thoughts. Your anklets are quite as air.  Like all the joy from this world, had completely vanished." Sadness tainted the words of Bheem, explained.

The soulful dark chocolate eyes, gazing at her, her sadness reflected in his, almost as though he could feel it.

Like her pain hurt him, like her sadness weighed on him.

That echoing sadness reverberated through them all.

Her vision blurred, throat tightening, she gulped.

For how long had she exactly awaited for someone to understand her?

Almost a lifetime, is what it felt like.

A lifetime of wait, for someone to understand what she feels, how her thoughts work, how certain uncertainties are heavier than anything before.

A lone tear tracked down her cheek, betraying her command to stay in. Her throat tightened with a burning sensation.

Holding his arms open Bheem he beckoned her, she didn't need to be told twice.

Swallowing the burn in her throat, she moved, running across, flinging her arms around his neck, she sobbed silently.

Tears tracing down her cheeks, hiding her face in his neck.

Pressing his lips to her forehead, his arms banded around her, tightening oh so slowly, making her heart bubble with a cacooning warmth.

The second son of Kunti's arms tightened around his wife. Silent and strong, he held her.

Words were not always required when souls spoke, he wanted her to understand that no matter what, they were there.

That there isn't a reason for her to feel alone, life may not be perfect, that happiness may not always knock at their door.

But even in the silence of sadness, he was with her.

They were with her.

Always.

Forever.

No matter, who said what. Or believed what.

They were one family, and forever will be.

Running his fingers through her long, silky tresses, he pressed a kiss on her nape.

Wrapping his one arm around her back, one under her knees, he carried her back to the bed.

Sitting down with her, pressing his lips to her forehead. He sat there, holding her close.

Arjun took the seat on right, Yudhisthir on left.  The twins crouching ahead of her.

No one spoke, letting her cry.

With her every tear, something in Arjun's heart cracked, a piece of him clipping away.

The amount of pain spreading like spider's web, icing his heart over.

One blow was all it would take to shatter him.

Yudhisthir tried to maintain the calm, emotions, no matter how intense never threatened his mental peace.

But her one tear, seemed like a flame, that ignited a sea of fire, burning and charing away all the peace.

It sparked a need to uproot the reason of her pain, like she wasn't another human, but a part of him.

A very much breathing and living part, one that he felt pain of. One whose joys made him smile, one whose tears shattered him.

Taking her one hand in between his two, he noted the difference between their structures.

Her hand was so smaller than his, so dainty and fragile. How could he never be protective of something so precious?

So his.

Someone who was so pure and innocent, was it wrong that his heart wanted to protect her from every last pain?

Every last evil.

The darkness of the world might taint her soul. He feared that.

Like a blessing she had walked in his life, weaving every broken piece of him, with her tender care.

She had given him a family, his family. One that he had lost all hopes of ever getting back.

Could he ever forget that?

Nakul rested his hand on her left knee, rubbing it back and forth soothingly, like the motion will erase every pain.

Her every hurt, wipe away every last tear. And maybe she'll smile again.

Be the girl, who giggled in his arms, who bloomed under his touch.

The one whose gaze pulled him in like a flame pulled in moth. Gazing at that one girl, who meant it all, and more. He just sat there, like a strong pillar she can count on.

Sehdev's heart clutched, and the all too familiar sting of pain, that rolled off him everytime she cried, sparked once again.

It was almost like someone was all too slowly, squeezing his heart with sharp talons, sinking the razor sharp blades deep in his beating organ.

And he felt helpless, like he couldn't do a thing about it. Laying her hand on her another knee, in an assuring manner, he gave her a squeeze.

Bheem ran his fingers in a soothing manner, through her long tresses. Every time a drop of tear touched his chest, it sparked an intense burn, like liquid fire traced down his skin.

Sizzling and burning.

Internal wounds are more dangerous than external once, he had heard Nakul say that alot, but internal wounds like this existed he had no idea.

His bond with his brothers was pretty understandable, they were reared together, the bond was result of their nurturing.

But with Panchaali, it was all so fast, and all so intense, as though the creator himself had weaved a golden thread of love, and care.

Adoration.

Strong and ethereal.

Time seemed to have lost it's meaning, the world fading, as the six sat down absorbing the silence, that had descended over the room like a peaceful shroud.

Laying her head on Bheem's shoulder, she continued to gaze at her hands, that lay in her lap.

A serene calmness had settled in her heart, like all the fears, pain, and hatred had abandoned her.

"Yesterday, I had gone to meet Bhraata Duryodhan.  I know, I know, I wasn't supposed to. But he is family. . ." Her voice faded, taking a deep breath, she began again, Yudhisthir's hand squeezing hers in an assuring manner.

They hadn't expected her to speak, but hearing her voice was a welcome surpise.

Her voice thick with emotions.

Gulping nervously, her voice was soft when she began again.

"He was really upset. And I could see that no matter what you all say, you all were worried as well.

No matter how much you say you all hate him, but the fact that he is family doesn't change.

So, I visited him. And he wasn't. . .happy."

Bheem wanted to shake his head at her politeness. He could just imagine what she meant by 'wasn't- happy'.

She pressed her lips together, uncertain how to go ahead about it. Slowly, she began with the entire story, the pandavas listening with patience.

Their grip on her tightening every now and than.

She felt light by the time, she finished narrating the events. Completely honest word for word, laying her head on Vrikodar's shoulder, she relaxed.

It felt like a weight had lifted from her chest, she could finally breath.

Talking to someone gave this peace? She wondered surprised, playing with her fingers nervously, she waited for them to speak, to process and talk to her.

Maybe shout.

Anxiety snaked it's way around her chest, her heartrate picked up speed. Maybe, they didn't want to talk to her anymore.

Every second seemed like a year.

The rough feel of the calloused warrior fingers, had her jolting, fingers gripped her chin lightly, her dark fiery orbs clashing with ebony ones of her first husband.

Calmness reigned his features, a light curve of his lips, had her blood pumping with a vigor, making her cheeks heat.

"I am so proud of you Panchaali, that you came here and spoke your mind. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, I know it wasn't easy, and I am proud that you faced your fears."

It was his genuineness that stumped her. Polite words were spoken to her all the time, but they were just that.

Mere words, with no real emotions.

But here was this man, she wasn't sure he had stepped out of, but he was understanding her.

He was thanking her for sharing a piece of her past. There were no shouts and screams, but the genuine acknowledgement of her efforts, and if she wasn't in love before.

She knew she was now, gone forever, lost in the sea of their love. Flooded, and drowned.

There was no point of her return.

No, she was a done case.

Forever theirs.

Whether they accept her or no, this was it for her. They were it for her.

Her throat tightened, bottom lip quivered, as tears rained down her cheeks.

A wave of panic crashed through the room, as they saw her cry.

"Panchaali, I am sorry, did I say something wrong?" Yudhisthir's voice was taut, panic written all over his face I bolds.

"Drau." Nakul crooned, sadness heavy in his words. "Panchi, say something love." Bheem's voice was softest, as he spoke, his heart clutching at her cries.

"Drau." Helplessness and agony, reverberated through the voice of the third son of Kunti's. His eyes gleaming with tears.

Was there something wrong?

Did they mess up?

Is she hurting? Damn it say something! He wanted to shout, her cries fueling an unexplainable ache in her chest.

Sehdev's hand instinctively shot out, wiping her tears. Seeing her cry, broke him.

"Drau?" He prompted, interlacing their fingers. She shook her head, stuffing down the cries.

"You're not angry?" She asked instead, making them all gaze at each other confused.

"Drau." Seriousness laced the words of Pandu's third born, he cupped her face between his hands, her eyes meeting his.

"I will be very honest, that yes initially were really angry, but that is because we are concerned about you. That we care about you. More than anyone before, if I am being really honest here." He began, his voice calm and understanding, a watery edge playing on it.

"I know there will be times, when you do something that we may not like, and we may shout, but it is just our fear and care for you." Bheem whispered, his voice thick, caressing her cheeks  pressing his lips to her forehead.

"We adore you, we would never want you in any sort of danger. Protecting you is our first priority, and if that is jeopardized, us being furious is only natural." Nakul explained, a soft sad smile playing on his lips.

"But Drau, we are your family too right? We may shout, we may do stupid things, but at the end of the day it is with the intention to care for you.

To protect you." The youngest twin continued, pressing his lips on the back of her hand.

"If something we do, and you don't like than come talk to us. We will listen.

Always Drau, we will always listen to you. Your wishes, your happiness, your desire, your pain, anything." Yudhisthir assured, his eyes meeting hers, he wanted her to really understand, that they actually meant every word.

"No matter how small or big, tell us. At your pace, when you are comfortable, but if you need time, than ask us that.

Tell us that you need time. And trust me, no matter how angry we are, how irrational we are being, we will.

Always Drau.

We will always listen." Arjun promised, his hazel orbs shining with utter honesty.

"In a unique relationship like ours, communication is very important.

It is the key element.  We cannot read minds Drau, if there is something that is making you uncomfortable, and something as small as a colour of dress that you don't like, tell us.

We will listen. Forcing you, terrorizing you, or hurting you is never our intention." The elder twin whispered the words, trying to reflect the matters of his heart.

"Our little family is unique, imagine we are all a body, Bhraata Yudhisthir is the head, Bhraata Bheem and I the arms, my twins the feet, our supporters. But you Drau, you are the heart.

One little twitch of ache there, and the entire body will collapse. We all feel it." Arjun uttered the words, eyes lit with a mixture of joy, and the reflection of her ache.

"I know you haven't told us everything, there is something from your past that is still hurting you.

But you are no longer alone, we are right here with you, at every step, at every cry.

We can see the pain in your eyes, and it hurts us, very much.

Drau, take your time, let us in, show us what scares you so much that you have nightmares, and I promise love we will fix it.

We will." The youngest pandav promised, he was master of scrolls, and held an ocean of knowledge.

But her one tear, and agony would explode through him, making his heart clench.

She didn't know what to say,  words had abandoned her. She had always considered them her family, but today she could feel a part of them.

A weaved significant other.

Who mattered, whose views mattered, whose opinions mattered. The feeling of belongingness, the feeling of home, the feeling of completion for the first time birthed in her.

They had become her home.

No matter where she was, she would always gravitate back to them.

Forever.

Wiping away her tears, a smile graced her lips, and they reflected hers.

"I don't know how I got so lucky to have you all. You all mean everything to me, more than myself.

It is hard for me to speak about my past, but I promise, that I will. I will." She whispered, relief and joy were sweet emotions in her chest, making her smile.

Huge grins graced their faces, "and that is all we ask." Arjun whispered, pulling her close, he pressed his lips to her forehead.

Holding himself still, for that fraction of a second, when his lips touched her soft skin, feeling her proximity.

The warmth that unfurled in him, was heart melting, he sighed, relief was a sweet emotion making her heart ease down.

"Wipe this tear, before they flood this palace." Nakul teased, flicking away her tears with his thumbs, humor tainting his words.

"Ya Drau, after all we don't want people saying that the warrior prince Nakul was flooded into unknown regions by mere tears of his wife." Bheem teased, earning a laughter from around the room.

She giggled, the musical sound of which eased their heart, making them laugh.

And just like that the shroud of sadness lifted, her giggles lighting their hearts with flames of the familiar warmth.

A sense of pride washed over Bheem, he had made her giggle. It was silly really, but the fact that she giggled because of him gave him immense pleasure.

"Jyest." Nakul warned, but there was no hit in his words.

"See Drau, he is scared so stop crying." The youngest Pandav added, making them laugh harder. . .

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