"You all better take good care of your wife and my daughter." Kunti stated sternly gazing at her sons, who sat surrounding her, from every direction.

Where Nakul and Sehdev sat on her either side on the bed, embracing her hard. The other three sat on the floor facing her.

"Mata, you don't worry. I will take of my brothers, and together we'll look out for Drau." The eldest son of Kunti promised, his mother's eyes softened.

"I have no doubt regarding that son. I know that you all will look after each other." She smiled, a warm motherly one. The calmness and serenity, the five felt around their mother was something they couldn't put in words.

All the tensions, all the worries, everything would fade, the moment their head touched her. Her soft fingers, when caressed their hair, it was heaven on earth.

"As sons you all have exceptionally excelled. And I know you all will be good husbands as well. But what I want you now is to be her great friends." A softness touched her tone, while she gazed at the five.

"I want you to use this time away. To erase all this misunderstandings, and arguments that are happening. And begin a journey as partners, as lovers. Understand her." She patted their head.

"But mother we already understand her." Bheem said smiling. "Oh? Tell me what is her favorite colour?" She asked.

"Uh." The five gazed at each other, they never got a chance to ask her. Kunti chuckled,  throwing her head back.

"What happened? You understand her right?" She teased, making the five blush.

"She has left her maiden home, her family, everything she ever knew for you five. Don't you think the five of you should now focus more on her likes dislikes, what she enjoys?"

She asked animatedly, giving them a playful smile. That softened to a calming and understanding one.

Her eyes looking at each one carefully.

"My piece of advice is. Use this time wisely. She is going to be living as a maiden there.  I suggest you court her. A time between a couple's engagement and her marriage is very special for them. God has given you an opportunity to live those moments you missed on, I am sure you will use wisely."  She advised.

The five shared a look, nodding, they hugged her. Life had given them another chance to enrich their bond.

For once they could pretend to be single, head over heels in love, courting the woman they love.

Excitement shone through their orbs, heart thrumming with anticipation. A new outlook. A new prospective on this situation, and more than curse, it looked now, like a blessing. . .

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

"Where is Dhara?" Panchaali asked one of the maids, walking down the corridor.

"She's in her room you're highness." Came a timid reply. A frown made it's way on Draupadi's lips.

What was she still doing in the room? They'll get late. Everyone was waiting them, they were about to leave.

She sighed, moving towards her friend's room to check on her.

Dhara sniffed sitting in the corner of the servants quarters. Her face had dried tear marks.

"Dhara." Panchaali's voice had her jumping up, hurriedly wiping all her tears, she stood up.

No, no. She can't drag Panchaali in her mess, poor girl already had too much on her plate.

"Panchaali." Dhara called from the room, her voice hoarse from all the crying she had done.

"So here you are. Aren't you coming downstairs? We getting late to leave." Asked the princess of Panchaal, walking in hurriedly.

Her eyes settled on the face of her friend, a sharp pang pulsed in chest.

Red puffy eyes, face flushed, a mask of complete agony, that her handmaid was trying to hide between the forced smile.

"Oh no, I have got so much work Panchaali. I swear people around here can't even take care of themselves. Just look at this room, it's so dirty." Dhara complained, forcing a vexed tone in her voice.

Picking up a cloth kept on the side, she began furiously dusting the nearby table.

Her heart ached, she wanted nothing more than to curl up and cry. But she kept on the brave ask, so her friend wouldn't hurt.

Draupadi had been her one true relationship, how can she cause any form of pain to that one person, who had given her nothing but smiles.

She couldn't be so selfish.

Draupadi's heart tugged, walking up to Dhara, she wrapped her hands around her shoulders turning her around.

"Friends just don't share happiness, but pain to. I have a share of mine with you, so won't you give my right to me?" She spoke softly, her words had tears flooding in Dhara's eyes.

Who dropped the dusting cloth, wrapping her hands around hers. Embracing her fiercely.

Breaking in heart wrenching sobs. She completely shatter in her arms, her legs turned jelly, no longer able to hold her up.

It felt like the agony was crushing her from within. Draupadi sat down with her, holding her close to her chest, as she broke, her sobs filling the room.

The dreaded symphony weaving a tale of a dead heart. Hours or days, seemed to have past, or that's what it felt like, as Panchaali held her friend.

Who cried like there was no tomorrow.

Slowly her sobs turned whimpers, and than sniffles.

"Why does it hurt so much Drau? Why won't this pain just leave me? No, matter how much, I try why can't I stop loving him?" She whispered brokenly, her voice wavering.

She tightened her arms around Draupadi, leaning harder in her. Through the tears, the princess of Panchaal smiled.

"Love is not a stain on a cloth, that can be washed off. It is permanent colour on your soul." She whispered, crooning the words to her friend.

"So, this pain would last forever. Why does loving hurt so much?" Dhara  whispered shattered.

"Love doesn't hurt anyone Dhara. It is as humans are tendency to define and limit it does." She answered, a serene smile playing on Draupadi's lips, who wiped the tears of her best friend.

Dhara pulled back, blinking up at her friend. For the first time since forever she felt lost.

Draupadi reached out, running her fingers through her friend's hair. Tyding them up.

"We humans have a tendency to define everything. To understand and limit everything, don't we? Like one of diseases in Arya Sehdev's books. Where every disease has a set of characteristics, diagnosis, significant symptoms and its strengths and weakness."

Humor tainted Draupadi's words, she sat thinking of how as humans, we try to understand everything.

We try to comprehend and label everything. How we try to limit everything.

"But you know something Dhara?" She asked, with a playful smile. "What can be defined, limited, restrained and outlined is not love."

"Love is compared to god himself. And can someone till now really been able to understand the ways of god? To comprehend his greatness?" She asked, helping Dhara stand, and guiding her to bed.

The hand maid gazed at Panchaali, her mind and soul, hooking to her every word.

She shook her head muted, sitting and watching her friend, who reached in her chest, shuffling through her meager belongings.

"Our society has given a framework to everything. Love is magic Dhara, it's god's most beautiful gift." She whispered, a deeper tone interlacing with her words.

Reaching in, she picked up a lehnga, pulling it out.

She turned,  walking towards her friend, who looked at her like a lost puppy.

"Love is a magic, that no matter how you try to comprehend with a logical brain would never be able to understand." Turning to face Dhara, the princess of Panchaal spoke.

"Love cannot be constrained in condition. It cannot be measured, it cannot come or go like guest you will." A compassionate smile made it's way on her lips.

Like she spoke of a world, that only existed in fantasies. The way her eyes, shone with a sparkle, as though describing the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Love is something completely different.  You cannot love a person more than another.  When you are in love, you just. . . love. You just feel the magic, that forges a bond even between complete strangers." 

Panchaali sighed dreamily, her face taking a distant look. The warmth, the excitement, the. . . She tried to name this feeling.

To put it in words. And she failed.

It was like all the beautiful flowers in the world had suddenly settled in her heart, an ambiance of magnificence and gorgeousness to a level where nothing mattered.

"But how can a person love two people equally?" Dhara whispered, lifting her eyes to meet her friend's.

She loved Duryodhan, and him alone. She couldn't even think about another, than how can he love another?

"The society told me too that I couldn't. And for a very long time, even I thought that yes, maybe I couldn't love all my aryas, equally. That there is no way."

Panchaali began, a giggle passing through her lips. Just how stupid she had been to believe those words.

"I too once believe those words, and had menrally drawn a framework for love. That I, as a princess would meet another prince, they would fall in love and an happily ever after. "

She giggled hard, describing the musings of her days back of maidenhood.

"The perfect and ideal love story by the definition of the society." She boomed the words in a grave serious voice, mimicking an old man.

Puffing her chest out, she straightened her posture, and spoke like one of the elders from her kingdom,

"Where the cast, creed, religion, status, family name, of the girl and boy matches. Where a man can only love a woman. Where woman can only ever love a man. Where couple means just two. "

The two girls giggled, after calming down. Panchaali smiled a soft mysteriously, like a beautiful dream that she hid from the world.

And spoke in a soft tone, cupping Dhara's cheek.

"And like thousands others, she too had believed it. That yes, this love, happens when all this preconditions are met."

"Than and only than, one can have a fruitful and meaningful relationship." She said adamantly.

She shook her head at how naive she once was. But now, as she harbored this emotion every day in her she understood it better.

"The realm of conditions, love is unconditional. Tying in shackles, and limiting by boundaries is not something you can do with love."

A distant look appeared on her face, as she stood facing the window that poured the golden rays of warmth.

Her gaze tracing the outline of the distant city, and the forest beyond.

"Whether acceptable or rejected by the empty norms of society, it prevails like the air, free, and unbidden, and important for survival." Power rang in her words, reverberating through every wall.

"No addiction is bigger than that of love. No power greater than it, a word that single handedly has the power to rule the world, and that too without bloodshed." A smile rang through her words.

Turning she faced Dhara once again, the golden rays of the sun, created a halo around her, like an angel descended on earth.

Amplifying the radiance yellow lehnga, the elegance and grace of a true queen.

The golden flames in her dark orbs cackled, kindling warmly. Her plush soft lips, spread in a soothing soft smile.

"As a friend I'll advise you, as I have just let this feelings in me take control. Let them be, without conditions. I realised one thing."

Serenity rang through her words, the calmness and comfort, that she had with love.

"That you cannot summaries or give a booklets of do's and don'ts of love. Like I said love cannot be measured. When you are in love, you just feel it, fall for it freely, and completely. "

"You can fall for one or two, love them just as equally. Who are you and I to decide how others would feel or fall in love?" She continued on.

"Love is a feeling that is unique for everyone. Some can love equally, some pour their entire soul in one. Some men may love another, or some woman may love another woman." She detailed.

"And that is okay. The only people who have a right to decide, how their relationship will be are the people involved in it."

"Laws, societies, relatives, families. Who are we to decide how one person loves? Whom they love? Or how many they love?" She questioned softly, gazing at Dhara.

'If the people in the relationship are happy, are satisfied, are madly in love. Is it fair for us, as an outsider in that relationship to pull them apart."

"To take that one true blessing away from them? Why not just let them be? It's not like lovers ask for the sky, they just ask for the companionship of one and another."

"Similarly Dhara stop restraining your heart to what it desires. Life is too short, and love knocks on your door only once." She took her hand maids hands in hers.

"Don't be afraid, go ahead. Give Duryodhan a chance, give Pauravi and Bhanumati a chance. A chance to be your family." Her eyes locked with Dhara, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze.

"I know you have been hurt too many times, that trust doesn't come easy anymore. But this your Dury, Dhara. Don't you think he deserves a chance?"

When Dhara opened her lips to answer, Draupadi shook her head, a kind and compassionate look masking her features.

"Don't answer me, but answer your heart. If it is a yes, than you go ahead. If it is a no, you and I will sit again, you can cry and complain, you may break." She said.

"And than we pick up the shattered pieces, build ourselves together again. And move ahead, search for the love destined for you." She wrapped her hand, around her handmaid's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

"Every person has a fairytale awaiting her, it is true at times we break in love. But that doesn't mean give up on God's biggest blessing."

"He has a plan and a partner for everyone. You'll find yours. And I'll be there with you cheering all along." She added playfully, warning a watery giggle from Dhara.

"The way I found my aryas. The way destiny interwove us six. The five senses of my life. Absolutely and completely necessary for my survival. All dufferently yet equally loved."

A shy dust of redness stained her cheeks, her heart skipping a beat, just at their thought.

"Love is a extraordinary miracle in an ordinary way. It touched me, and changed my life completely.

Whether they reciprocate it or no, is their choice. But loving them utterly, and completely is my right. After all, I am Pandavas' Panchaali. . ."

She whispered, a distant look falling on her face, a grin playing on her lips.

Dhara smiled, wrapping her arms around Draupadi. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Always." Panchaali teased, pressing her lips to her forehead. "We are waiting. Come outside."

The princess of Panchaal rubbed her arms, with a final smile, she walked out.

The tornado of chaos calmed in Dhara, she sighed, sitting back, and for once life didn't seem so chaotic anymore, maybe just maybe, she had a chance to fall in love too. . .

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

"Where are this women? They were the one who wanted to go and now they are late!" Dushasan grumbled, straddling a black stallion, dressed as a commoner.

"Have patience son they'll be here soon." Gandhari said, a smile playing on her lips.

"There they are!" Kunti exclaimed, on her words everyone turned to the gates.  The wives of Duryodhan and Dhara were dressed in a simple white lehnga, their hair sat free, dressed as commoners.

Duryodhan smiled from where he stood, in matching silk white dhoti and angvastr. Dressed as a merchant.

Sughanda wore a simple lavender lehnga. The pandavas continued to look at the door, where was their wife?

The all too familiar 'rhim-jhim' of her anklets had them looking at the door. Their breaths hitched, for a moment everything faded, they watched her walk out.

She had changed out of her earlier yellow lehnga. Instead now wore a simple dark grey lacey frilly lehnga. That hugged her waist, and flared out at the end.

A simple odhni, drapped around her body. A turtle neck long sleeved blouse fit on her form.  Her long dark tresses were half braided and half left loose.

She looked phenomenal. A trail of white jasmine flowers clipped in her hair.

"She is got to be kidding me." Arjun swore under his breath. She wanted to go out like this, he could only imagine the line of admirers.

"Drau." Nakul sighed dreamily, grinning at his wife. His heart trusted hard against his chest, those all too familiar sparks overwhelming his body.

She looked phenomenal.

Sehdev almost reached out to touch her hair, was she for real? She glowed with a beauty that soothed his heart.

The radiance of the sun and soothing twilight of the moon, all wrapped up in one hour glass figure that made this woman.

Yudhisthir straightened, words dissolving in his mouth, where he stood watching his wife, walking in with Dhara.

Dharmraj's eyes traced her figure, gorgeous. Was the one word echoing in his mind.

He barely held back the urge to tuck back, the rogue curl that played sensually on her neck, with each sway of the wind.

Tracing that smooth skin that he was itching to trace under his hand.

"Beautiful." Bheem whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. Holding onto himself, he watched her walk up to them.

"You all should get moving now, if you want to cover distance soon. Since it's a seven day journey, we are sending along the soldiers, chariots, tents and all. Two kingdoms before you reach your destination, you can take over your false identities. Let the soldiers and royal tents, extra horses be in the far forest, so no one doubts you."

Dhritrashtr informed, his voice taking up a serious note.

"You all be safe, and return home soon, have loads of fun. But also be safe, we'll miss you." Gandhari smiled, advising all.

"Yes. Come home soon." Kunti stated, smiling warmly at all the kids of the family.

After warm hugs and goodbyes, the women got on the chariot, as man took up the horses, before they all began their journey.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

"Why is it so hot out here?" Grumbled Pauravi, wiping the sweat beaded on her forehead. "I swear, it is usually hot today." Dhara agreed, fanning herself with her odhni.

A week of travelling and they had finally reached their destination. "This is your assigned area." The organizer of the festival stated, pointing at the an open area in between the forest.

"We are really sorry. This year there have been too many entries hence we are running out of space." The lady organizer apologiesed, giving them a sympathic look.

"No worries at all. We will manage." Yudhisthir assured, smiling at the old lady, who gave him a relieved smile.

"You all need anything just let me know, you know where to find me." With that she turned and left.

"Huh? How are we going to stay here?" Asked a puzzled Bhanumati, Duryodhan smirked, "Why? Weren't you all so adamant on staying alone? So we are staying here in the forest." He teased, he was already in trouble, he might as well apologies for this as well later.

"Excuse me what is that supposed to mean?" Pauravi asked, glaring at her husband. "Oh you know, alone in the forest, there could be anything coming your way, a wild animal, a ghost or something else, how will you handle that?"

She wanted to claw the smug expression on his face. "Are you all saying we women can't take care of ourselves?" Sugandha asked, raising a questioning brow at her husband.

"Is that a lie that I am speaking?" He challenged back. "Women tend to get scared faster than men." Nonchalance rang through the second Kaurav as he shrugged his shoulder.

"What logic is that?" Dhara snapped. "A sane and verified one." The eldest Kaurav shot back. "You think we women can survive on our own? That we fear easily?" She asked carefully.

Duryodhan pressed his lips together, glaring down at her. "Yes."

"Than here is the challenge Rajkumar Duryodhan Kuruvanshi, we women will survive alone. And in next two days, we will prove that men get afraid too."

Duryodhan snorted, along with a few laughs from his brothers. "All the best." He taunted. "Don't come crying to me when you lose."

"We shall see who wins and who loses." Pauravi retorted.

"Oh so here is the first challenge, go to the second campsite and put your tents there. If you can survive alone why stay here with us?" Dushasan stated smirking.

Duryodhan's head snapped towards him, his face etched with fury. "Yes we will." The women agreed, picking up their luggage and moving ahead.

"Arya." Panchaali's voice rang through the place, just as she walked in the clearing carrying a few blankets, that they had forgotten in the carriage.

The pandavas walking in from the other side, carrying one thing or another. "Yes dear?" Yudhisthir answered, setting down the bag of some necessities.

"I was-"

"Drau! What are you doing here? You are with us. You are not staying here. It is a question of a women's dignity now." Pauravi stated firmly, her hands resting on her waist, giving the wife of Pandavas a chiding look.

"Huh?" The wife of Pandavas and the son of Pandu gazed at Pauravi quizzically.

"Yes! You know men think that women get scared easily, that we can't survive alone." Explained the first wife of Duryodhan, glaring at her husband.

"Huh?" Draupadi just blinked, she was gone like for fifteen minutes and they fought again.

"What is there to think it is truth." Nakul blurted, in a teasing manner, four heated glares shot towards him.

His brothers ready to murder him, first of all they were on thin ice with their wife,and now this.

Nakul bit his tongue, eyes widening as he realised what he had blurted. "Excuse me?!" Draupadi asked, her eyes glaring at all her husbands.

"I-"

"See! All men are the same!" Pauravi screeched, not letting Draupadi reply, before she began, tugging her at their new campsite.

"You-" the four growled at Nakul,who paled. "Forget about him! This one here has done most damage suggesting our girls stay alone!" Duryodhan growled, glaring at his younger brother, whose eyes widened.

"I-"

"You what?" Snapped Bheem, "Alone in forest? All women? Have you any idea how many perverts there are around here?" He growled, the second son of Gandhari paled.

"Sorry Jyest. I was just joking." Dushasan whispered, gulping the ball of lodged in his throat.

"Enough. What's done is done. Now we need to rectify this." Yudhisthir stated, his voice though calm had a ring of concern lacing within.

The eldest son of Kuruvansh, who was a master of control lost every last of it, when it was his wife in question.

Breathing in deeply he reigned in himself, she was safe. There was no immediate danger.

And that was probably the only thing that eased him back, from marching over and carrying her back over his shoulder.

He didn't give a damn what the world thought, when it was question of his wife, there were no limits he wasn't willing to cross. . .

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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