7 Years Later

The soft glow of the morning sun filtered into the royal kitchen, casting gentle rays onto the marble floor.

The aroma of freshly cooked rice, milk, and sugar wafted through the air as Draupadi stood by the stove, gently stirring a pot of kheer.

Her delicate fingers moved rhythmically, her long dark hair cascading down her back, and a serene smile played on her lips.

Just as she added a pinch of saffron, she heard footsteps behind her-light but deliberate. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

The hairs on the back of her neck tingled in recognition as the presence she knew so well filled the room.

"What are you doing here, sweetheart?" came the deep, familiar voice.

Draupadi's smile widened, she turned slightly, her heart fluttering at the sight of her husband, Arjun, standing with his arms folded, giving her a stern, but playful look.

"I'm cooking, my love," she replied, her voice soft and teasing.

Arjun rolled his eyes, clearly not amused by her cheeky response. "Smarty pie," he muttered affectionately, stepping closer.

"You know that's not what I meant. Why are you in the kitchen when Nakul and Sahadev have both strictly ordered bed rest for you? You know you're not supposed to do any chores."

His voice was a mixture of concern and amusement as he gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, his hands coming to rest on her swollen belly.

Draupadi leaned back into him, her head resting against his shoulder, the warmth of his embrace calming her like nothing else.

"I'm pregnant, Arya, not helpless," she said with a soft chuckle. "Besides, who else will make kheer just the way our children like it?"

Arjun sighed dramatically, though his eyes twinkled with affection as he gave her belly a loving rub.

"Well, your husband here isn't too pleased with you disobeying orders," he said, his lips brushing her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

He then bent down slightly, bringing his mouth closer to her belly, speaking softly, "And how's my little baby doing in there, hmm? Are you happy with Mata's tummy?"

Draupadi couldn't help but laugh, her heart swelling with love as she watched her husband talk to their unborn child.

"Baby is good," she replied with a smile, running her fingers through his hair as he continued to place gentle kisses on her stomach.

"Baby is good because he knows his father will pamper him just as much as he pampers his mother."

Arjun smiled against her skin, his lips trailing soft kisses from her belly to her shoulder.

"Well, if the baby is as stubborn as his mother," he said in a mock-serious tone, "I think I'll be doing a lot of pampering for the rest of my life."

Draupadi laughed again, turning her head to catch his lips in a gentle, lingering kiss.

Their connection was instant, a bond that transcended words and time.

As they parted, Draupadi rested her forehead against his, her eyes closing for a brief moment of peace.

"I'm making kheer for the children," she whispered, as if reminding herself of the task she had begun.

"They've been asking for it since morning."

Arjun placed another kiss on her cheek before straightening up, his hands still resting protectively on her belly.

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the only reason our children behave is because you spoil them with all this kheer."

"Well," she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "I think they get their sweet tooth from you."

Arjun raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended, but the grin that tugged at his lips betrayed him.

"Oh really?" he asked, turning her around gently so that she faced him. "I thought I got my sweet tooth from you, my queen."

She laughed, and in one swift motion, Arjun lifted her off the floor, carrying her away from the stove, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck.

"Arya!" she squealed, her cheeks flushing with surprise.

"You need to rest," he said firmly, carrying her over to the large wooden chair by the window, which overlooked the garden.

"If I let you cook any longer, you'll tire yourself out."

"I wasn't tired," she protested, though she didn't resist the comfort of his arms.

"Well, you will be soon," he said, setting her down gently and brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face.

"So sit here, enjoy the sunlight, and let me take care of the kheer."

Draupadi's eyes widened in surprise. "You? Cooking?"

Arjun grinned boyishly. "Don't underestimate me, Drau. I've picked up a thing or two over the years."

With that, he returned to the stove, smiling as he kept aside his angvastra with exaggerated flair.

Draupadi watched in amusement as he awkwardly tried to take over, stirring the pot of kheer with far more concentration than was necessary.

"Careful, you might burn it," she teased.

Arjun shot her a look of mock offense. "I think I can handle a pot of milk and rice, Drau," he said, though his face twisted in concentration.

Draupadi laughed, her heart feeling light and full at the same time.

She adored these moments with him-their shared teasing, the way they could go from deep conversations to playful banter in a heartbeat.

It was these little things, these precious moments of joy, that made their love so enduring.

Just then, a small voice called from the doorway. "Mata!"

Draupadi's eyes lit up as her eldest son, five-year-old Prativindhy, burst into the kitchen, followed closely by Sutsom and the rest of their lively children.

"What are you making, Mata?" Prativindhy asked, wide-eyed as he sniffed the air, his little nose twitching at the smell of the kheer.

"Your favorite," Draupadi said with a warm smile, opening her arms to him. Prativindhy ran into her embrace, his little arms wrapping around her as his siblings crowded around, eager to see what their father was doing at the stove.

Arjun turned and gave them a grin. "Pitashree's cooking," he declared proudly.

The children looked at him with skeptical expressions before bursting into laughter. "Pitashree? Cooking?" Sutsom teased, his face lighting up in amusement.

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "What? You don't believe your father can cook?"

Shrutsen, the quietest of the lot, leaned over to his mother and whispered, "We should keep an eye on Pitashree."

Draupadi burst into laughter, pulling her children close as they gathered around her. "Don't worry," she said, her eyes twinkling. "If he messes it up, I'll save the day."

"Oh really? I'll make the kheer so good it would be better than your mata." The great archer added, as he gave all his five sons a mock challenging look.

"Nobody can cook as great as my mata." Satanik proclaimed proudly, his chubby cheeks pulled back in a proud grin.

"That's right. Nobody is as good as my mother." Shrutsen agreed.

Arjun folded his hand on his chest, "Oh really? So you all are in your mother's team? What about me?"

"Aw pitashree. I am in your team." Prativindhy added, running to his father and hugging his legs.

Arjun chuckled, "Well, we shall win." He picked up Prativindhy in his arms, moving him in one hand before he turned back to the stove.

The other children giggled, as they say around Draupadi, who smiled at the whole ordeal.

Arjun, still standing at the stove, turned back to his task, determined to prove them all wrong.

But as the laughter continued to fill the room, it was clear that no matter what happened with the kheer, they had already won.

The love, the joy, and the lightness of their life together was what truly mattered.

As Draupadi watched her children tease their father, and her husband doing his best to impress them, her heart swelled with overwhelming love.

It was moments like this, these simple, precious moments, that made all the struggles, all the pain, and all the battles worth it. This was her family-her heart, her world-and she wouldn't trade it for anything.

Arjun finally stepped away from the stove, holding up the finished pot of kheer with a triumphant grin. "Told you I could do it!" he said, and Draupadi, smiling up at him with love shining in her eyes, knew without a doubt that she was home.

"Yayyy!!" Prativindhy smiled clapping his hands.

"Whether it's good or not, it's yet to be seen brother." Nakul's voice rang through the kitchen making all the heads turn to the doorway.

He leaned against the doorway along with the rest of the Pandavas. Their hearts were bursting with joy.

A peace reigned in their hearts seeing their family happy together, gave them immense peace.

"Arya?" Draupadi's smile was brighter as she saw the rest of her husbands.

Though she had been with them not long ago, she still missed them. Pink dusted her cheeks as their eyes said exactly how much they had missed her too.

"Shrutakarm is awake and hungry." Nakul said kissing his son's head, his eyes lit with fatherly love, as he caressed the baby's soft cheek.

The baby smiled up at his father, giggling as Nakul made funny faces.

Draupadi nodded smiling, as she kissed Sutsom's head, putting him down, her one hand on her stomach as she struggled to stand.

Yudhisthir and Bheem were around her before she could even move.

"Careful Panchaali." Yudhisthir said sternly protectiveness rising in his chest, as his heart thrummed with a momentarily terror.

"Easy love." Bheem cautioned simultaneously, his hand rubbing her back, he pressed his lips to the side of her face.

The twins and Arjun watched her like a hawk, their eyes filled with protectiveness.

She smiled up at them assuringly once she was on her two feet.

"I am fine." She assured, rubbing Yudhisthir's chest, while squeezing Bheem's hand with her other one.

They nodded, but not once did their move from their wife, their grip tightening on her her, while she walked across the kitchen and to take her little baby in her arms.

"Is my baby hungry." She spoke to him in a soft baby voice, making him giggle, as he moved his hands excitedly seeing his mother.

"You are already forgetting your father." Sehdev teased, patting the butt of the little kid, who was straining in Nakul's arm to reach to Draupadi.

"Traitor." Nakul pouted with mock sadness, tickling the little boy's tummy making him giggle hard.

"Come to me, sweetheart." She whispered, holding her hands out to her son, who eagerly leaned in them, she smiled broadly wrapping her arms around him as she picked her baby in her arms.

She kissed her cheeks.

"What? I didn't even get one." Nakul whined.

"That's because you're a silly one." Arjun teased from across the kitchen, filling bowls of kheer for his sons who were standing around him.

"Let's go to the study, you all can eat there, while we do our work." He said, picking up the tray.

Sutsom ran to Bheem raising his hands up at him. "Up!" He demanded, the second Kunti laughed, as he picked him up, soon Shrutsen was behind him asking for the same treatment.

Bheem smiled picking him up as well.

Prativindhy ran to Nakul, while Shantanil ran to Yudhisthir asking for the same treatment.

"Oh so we are your rides for today." Teased Yudhisthir, picking up his son, while the first son of Madri did the same.

Sehdev wrapped his arms around his wife, picking her up effortlessly. She gasped surprised, her hands tightening around her son.

"Arya." She cautioued.

"Have some faith I won't let you and our son fall." He kissed her forehead, as they walked to the study together.

In a few minutes, Draupadi was sitting in the study.

The rain was pelting hard against the windows. This days the weather in Hastinapur had been strange, sun was present one moment, and the next rain greeted them.

She loved it.

She smiled down at her youngest son who was nursing, she kissed his forehead. Past seven years has been absolute heaven for her.

Her gaze moved to her husbands, who were sitting around with their sons sleeping around them, as they spoke about some political issues.

The boys had eaten and were put down for a nap, on the little mattresses around the study, that Nakul had designed, because they preferred having their kids around them most times.

Her eyes traced each one of them. And like every time she felt immensely lucky to have them in her life.

She could still remember the nightmares waking her up in the middle of night, tearing through her defences leaving her feelings terrified and worthless.

Those days after war had been the most challenging ones.

She had hated herself. After all, she had been an absolute burden on her family, the basic action of fighting, she couldn't even do that.

Because the mind control had been at its peak, she hated herself, she had been so weak so stupid. Useless. She didn't deserve the love that she had recieved.

"Stop right there. It's absolute bullshit and everybody in the room knows that." Nakul's voice snapped her thoughts, she blinked up at her husband.

"What? I did nothing."

Bheem squinted his eyes at her. "Missing I did nothing. We know that look."

Panchaali pretended to not hear as she noticed that her son was asleep in her arms, she picked him up, making him burp, before she put him in his crib, that was placed next to the couch.

Maybe if she ignored them long enough they'll get back to their work, and she wouldn't have to have this conversation.

She kissed her son's forehead, smiling down at his sweet face, as she put the blanket around him, tucking it in the sides.

She moved back, standing up, her heart was filled with warmth as she gazed at her little boy sleeping peacefully.

Just as she moved back, she back hit a wall.

She turned her head to look up. Arjun was looking down at her with a raised brow. "Running away from the topic is not going to help Drau."

She sighed, she should have known.

He wrapped his hands around her and picked her up, for a second time that day, with complete ease.

He sat on the couch, with her in his lap, as Yudhisthir sat on the other end of the couch, facing them, as he took her feet in his arms.

"Arya." She gasped in shock, as she tried to pull her feet back.

"I am not going to have this argument again with you wife." Yudhisthir's deep commanding voice wrapped around her like a solid brand of assurance and steel.

He pulled her feet in his lap, holding his hand out to Nakul, who passed him a warm bowl of oil with various herbs.

Bheem pulled the second couch easily infront of the first one, sitting on it with the twins.

Sehdev pulled back her lehnga a little revealing her swollen feet. He tsked along with his brothers.

Yudhisthir took a towel that Sehdev passed placing it in his lap, before he took the oil rubbing it in his hands, Nakul did the same.

"You really need to listen to us, this pregnancy is difficult enough without you adding more strain to it." Sehdev admonished, moving behind her as he undid her hair, and rubbed his hands in the oil.

"You cannot think like that Draupadi. I think we have had this discussion with you."
Yudhisthir began massaging her right foot while Nakul did her left.

She bit her bottom lip, her heart was thudding in her chest. "Arya...I did nothing ."

"You were thinking about yourself negatively again." Arjun whispered in her ear, biting her earlobe, making her fingers tighten on his hands, that were wrapped around her snuggly.

"I wasn't." She whispered.

Sehdev began massaging her head, running his fingers through her scalp with an expertise, making her eyes fall shut.

The tiredness that she hadn't even noticed was heavy in her bones.

"Draupadi." Yudhisthir's deep voice tugged her to the reality, her gaze locked with hers.

"We have had this conversation a thousand times over past seven years. And I would gladly repeat it again till you understand it. You were not weak or stupid. You were begin mind controled, your memory was being manipulated with. You couldn't attack Ayushman or fight with others, because literally your brain was in his control. It was black magic and a powerful one at that."

"The fact that you survived is a big thing. There would be hundreds of people saying you could have done this, done that. But none of them had lived through what you have.

You have lived through three years of trauma at Druveda's family, before that you were tortured in Panchaal and then let's not forget the mind control. Cut yourself some slack." He sighed looking at her.

He had seen countless wars, he had seen what it does to people. If half the things that were done to Drau, were done to others,  would they have survived?

The fireborn was stronger than she gave herself credit for.

"Even after being through all that, you are still the kindest person out there. That's rare Drau. Trauma usually makes people go hard from inside." Bheem's voice was laced with a note of awe.

He couldn't believe they had survived that, she had.

Mind control broke people. She felt guilty for not fighting him, but that's black magic, she couldn't have even though she would have tried.

The magic wouldn't let her. Feeling guilty over something that is beyond our control was not healthy and she needed to understand that.

"But you never lost your light. That's so rare. People think that wars are real ways to show your bravery, that cutting someone open is true bravery." Arjun caressed her cheeks, kissing her forehead.

Those days they had scared him. But now, having this moment in his life? He felt the luckiest.

"Tell me one thing, if that was true. Won't the cruelest be considered the bravest. Wars and fights happen, who killed whom isn't important." Nakul pointed out, giving her a soft understanding smile.

Gazing at her like she was a miracle in real life.

Something that slipped out of the fairy tales and now lived with them.

"Who survived what. Is really important. How much of 'you' truly survived. Though your bruised, hurt from within, you didn't let yourself die. That matters Drau. It does." Sehdev's deep voice was woven with emotions.

He blinked back his tears, smiling up at her.

She bit her bottom lip, to stop the tears that threatened to flow down, they wrapped her in a tight hug.

"This is it baby." Arjun whispered.

"This is our happily ever after." Yudhisthir whispered.

"You promise?" Her voice was threadbare, yet her heart was bursting with joy.

They gave a watery chuckle.

"We do." They chorused, as they hugged her tight.

It was indeed a happily ever after. . .

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