The pandavas turned towards Panchaali, stepping towards her. Kunti not far behind, but they watched as Panchaali stumbled back, as she swirled around and marched towards the guest palace,  the maids guiding her.

A crack seemed to have followed in between, like a division that separated them from her. They wanted to follow her, but they stopped as Kunti held her hand out,  ceasing their advances.

"What's would you tell her that you think would ease her pain?" The question slammed in their face like a cold slap of reality, they gulped turning to their mother, who had a broken expression on her face as she turned to face them.

"What would you tell her that you think would fix the hurt that the words spoken here today have caused her?" She asked,  her voice heavy with emotions.

"This world is going to create a path of not just thorns but, of burning coals for her. The path of righteousness that this young girl has chosen would light the world for sure, but in the process would only burn her till she is nothing but ashes." The words burned her, it hurt to speak them, but that was the truth, and no matter how sour it was, it was necessary to be spoken.

Her heart cracked, it bleeded for the young girl, the one she had condemned  to hell unknowingly.  Her few words, and the poor girl had her path filled with so sharp thorn that would steal her soul.

Shred it. Till she was nothing but the skeleton of her former self.

"But that's the thing mata, fire doesn't turn ash. It blazes, and blazes bright, it turns every impurity to dust,  it reigns over it, yet is the purest of all." Yudhisthir began, the wise calm smile on his face, he was sure of it.

Not an inch of doubt lingered on his face.

"It has the capacity to burn everything, true. But, so is the truth, that it is the fire that feeds, that gives us life by letting us cook. And, after death, it  paves our way to the afterlife." Bheem continued on, his words laced with a wisdom that was beyond his years.

"It is fire, that weaves the relationship of  a husband and wife. It is fire, that is holy, and is present in every yagn and havan. Without it no holy even is complete. And Panchaali? She is born of it, rules on it." Arjun added, his voice had a shy hint of pride, sure he still struggled with his relationship to the girl, but did that mean that they won't grow together as partners?

Of course not, he knew someday they'll be closest to each other. They'll each share a unique bond with her, he was sure of that.

"The society that undestimates the fire in their kitchen, often that all it takes is a flame to turn their lives in nothing but ashes." Nakul reminded.

"Panchaali is pure, liberated, and a wise woman, they can try to cage her,  shackle her and hide behind the walls of the society.  We, pandav brothers, we will define the relationship of a man and wife again." Sahadev explained, his voice wasn't really loud, but, one could hear the surety ringing through it.

As his dark orbs gazed at his mother, whose glassy eyes met his, a faint smile on her lips.

"This relationship that we all have been bound in is unique,  true. Doesn't mean it can't be beautiful.  Every relationship is like a growing plant that needs the nurturing touch of love. The caress of friendship, it needs to be watered with trust, for it to bear the life long fruits of partnership."  Yudhisthir's thick voice rang through the place with a smile on his face.

"We'll break every shackle that the society will try to entrap her in. This relationship that we have began as friends, I don't know that if we'll ever be the normal husband and wife,  but yes,  trust me when I say this, that we will be her strongest of pillars to rely on." Bheem promised, beaming as he kept his hands on his mother's shoulders. 

His eyes meeting hers, swirling with a confidence that was unlike anything before.

"The greatest of sheild that will protect her all along, the path that will lead her to every destination she wills. We will be her partners in true sense of the words." Arjun sweared, grinning as he came up to stand beside his brother gazing down at his mother.

"We held our silence, that was the respect of sons of this family. We held our silence, this one time because they didn't know the truth, were in shock and hurt.

But, now once they have processed the situation,  if the reaction is same as Buashree Tapasya's, than it surely won't end good." The four brothers nodded, at the words of Yudhisthir.

The fury that had thrummed through them at Tapasya's words, but they had held back,  not only was she a woman, but an elderly family member. 

And also came in the fact that this was the first time, a shocker like this had stepped in their doorstep.

Plus, they didn't want to cut Mahamahim Bhism. Who, was already stepping up.

Nakul shook his head pushing back the thoughts. If he knew one thing, it was that, when you're hurt and crying, you just need someone to share that heaviness.

Panchaali had reached out to them as a friend, and they will surely won't disappoint her.

Kunti sighed, her shoulders partly relaxing in relief. "You all have taken away half my worries. I hope that this gadbandhan of trust never breaks. Be blessed children." She whispered, grining softly, as she turned and moved to her room, leaving behind the five to do their own thing.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The guest palace bedroom that Panchaali was situated in, had a theme of soft peach and white. 

It was a grand lavish room that had all sorts of comforts one could think of. The grand king size bed,  with soft white frame, was situated in the center of the room.

With peach colour sheets, duvet and pillows sitting proudly on them. A soft mauve carpet set at the foot of the bed, with a pale dressing table opposite to the left hand side of the bed. 

The huge white ceiling to floor length windows, with peach and white drapes, that over looked the green huge south forest, was held open.

It was where the princess of Panchaal stood. Her odhni no longer hiding her face, it sat on her head, her beautiful face was flushed from crying, the doe shaped dark eyes, that her mother said reminded her of the raging fire, were today subdued.

The inferno in them barely burning, as tears resised in them. The huge moon in the sky, showered its twilight in the room, it's glow creating the only source of light in the room that was submerged in darkness.

Just the way she felt. Where there should have been great celebrations, songs of love, and blessings of elders on her new beginning of life.

Instead what had she received? The tag of a whore. And just like that, the waterworks that she had thought had finally stopped, graced her again with their presence.

Not one cry had left her mouth, she didn't want to sob, but the tears,  they just spilled regardless of what she thought.

She blinked back another set, as she laid her head on the side of the widow,  standing peacefully overlooking at the forest that was submerged in the darkness, just the way her life had.

Words could probably alter someone's life to such a great extent? She had never possibly imagined it.

A few string of words,  and her life had become the home of darkness.  Ironic right? The daughter of fire, one that ends every darkness, was trapped in the thickest of all.

With no hope for light, whatsoever. 

She didn't really blame anyone. Not her family, not Kunti,  not her husbands and surely not her inlaws.

What was the point anyway? What does blaming anyone ever achieve? Does the hurt that was caused disappears?

Only hates births from it, a feeling that ruins every last of your mental peace, and that was something she craved alot at this point of time.

"Yuvrani, the food has been served." Came the voice of one of the maids, "Please take it away. I am not hungry." Her voice was thick, and hoarse with emotions.

She licked her lips, that had dried from all the crying. She wanted to drink water, but it felt, like a ball had been lodged in her throat, that prevented her from drinking anything.

"Where is Panchaali?" Yudhisthir asked on entering the palace to one of the guards, who were assigned for her protection.

The guard bowed, his eyes focused on the ground. "Her highness is in the left wing." He answered softly.

The nodded, turning and marching ahead, where every room was lit with lanterns, one was submerged in darkness.

So, it didn't take a genius to know where she really was. The five brothers moved towards her room, the guards on either side bowing as they passed.

"Where are you taking the food?" Asked Bheem, frowning as he saw the untouched food being taken out of her room. The maids bowed, their eyes focused on the floor.

"Yuvrani has refused to eat. She requested that we take the food and leave her in peace,  Rajkumar." Whispered a maid, her voice tinged with sadness, as she gazed at the  floor. 

Bheem's frown deepened, who abandons food? Food fixes every hurt.

Not meeting the eyes of the princes, out of respect. She felt sorry for the young princess,  god seemed to have written her fate with black ink.

"Give that to me." He stated, "Rajkumar?" The maid asked confused, "Give me the platter." He commanded holding his hands out, the maid did so, bowed and left.

"Let's go." Arjun said,  as they moved towards  her chambers. Just as they were about to enter,  spears blocked their path.

"What is the meaning of this?" Growled Bheem, not a bit liking that this soldiers dared to disrespect his elder brother. 

The soldiers bowed their head, "I am sorry your highness. We mean no disrespect, but we are just following the orders given explicitly by Yuvrani, that under no conditions,  anyone is allowed to enter her chambers." Stated a guard, his eyes focused on the ground. . .

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

DO VOTE AND COMMENT!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆