The invite to Dhistidhyumn's wedding arrived as a golden ray of new hope for Pandavas. A new lead to Draupadi and her past.

Yudhisthir's grip tightened on the extravagant golden and silver invite. Each word though mundane secretly spoke to him about her, about their future.

After Drau was separated from him, he always felt...empty. A former shell of himself. Joy and life where cradled earlier in his dark orbs, later was barren as a dry land.

Losing your love would do that to you. Love, a simple word yet held crazy package of emotions.

She was alive. He still couldn't believe it. For how long had he thought that she was dead? Too long.

And now the news that she was alive had breathed a new life in him.

The door to the secret chamber opened. "You got the invite?" Nakul rushed in, a smile blooming on his face. One that was too genuine. His sudden stop had his twin slamminf baxk in his back.

"Give a little warning next time." The youngest pandav grumbled rubbing his nose, shooting a glare at his older twin, who snickered.

"Aw did my baby boo get hurt? Want mommy to kiss your nosie boo good baby?" Nakul taunted, his eyes lit with humor and adoration.

There was a lightness to his steps, like a boulder of weight was shifted from his back. He smiled more easily, more frequently.

It was like watching al rose bloom in early hours of a dewy morning. Beautiful. Entrapping.

Sehdev faked a glare at his older brother, grumbling under his breath as he trudged in.

The eldest son of Pandu couldn't help himself, his lips curved up.

"Yes. We'll be leaving tomorrow as planned. But the only difficulty is Mata has stated that we need to take some maids that could organize all the gifts and things." The eldest in the room stated meeting the twins' gaze.

"And why should that be a problem?" The eldest son of Gandhari asked quizzically, the trio turned to watch as Duryodhan walked in, confusion marring his features.

He was thankful for the lanterns that lit the dark room, this was one place he hated to search during the hide and seek games.

And Nakul knew all this too well, and begin the pain he was, he always chose this room. He mentally snorted at their childhood memories, what grudges he had back than.

And that ego? God those days were now an embarrassment. He couldn't believe he was the one who linked everything with his ego back than.

Smiling at the memory, he looked around the room.

Cobwebs decorated the corners, the room was still a little stuffy, even though he and the twins and dusted it to hell and back.

There was a table that had all the document evidences, maps and scrolls haphazardly piled on it.

Man how do the servants do this cleaning everyday and not get asthma?

"Earth to Bhraata Duryodhan." Teased Nakul, snapping Duryodhan back in reality.

"People here are too nosey brother. How would we talk about what we found. Women salivate to be in our company. And God knows I'm not boasting."

The eldest son of Kunti stated, moving to the rosewood table at the center of the room, leaning forward to read the maps a little better.

"Well the solution is simple to that." Bheem's voice boomed through the chamber as he walked in with Arjun.

Nakul jumped, his heart galloping hard in his chest. "Are you planning to kill me?"

"Unfortunately cockroaches can't be killed easily brother." The third son of Kunti quipped, a smirk playing on his lips, ruffling the elder twin's hair in an affectionate gesture.

Humor zipped through the air. "Did you just call me a cockroach?"

The first son of Madri gasped, his hands flying to cover his mouth, a false look of horror marring his features.

"I am the most handsome man on this planet.  Thank you very much." He said in a feminine voice, that had the others cracking up hard.

"Seriously you guys are worse than toddlers." Bheem rolled his eyes, a goody grin splitting his face in half.

"I-"

"Ha-"

"And as I was saying." Bheem began cutting of Arjun and Nakul, shooting them a warning glare, shutting up the argument before it even began.

"We take the brat."

Silence followed his statement before all the hell broke loose and everyone began talking at the same time.

"The heck?!" Nakul exclaimed, like the mere name of the girl had personally offended his existence.

He was looking forward to a few days away from the girl, his heart needed a break, it freaking needed to understand that it only ever beats for Drau and not this stranger girl.

Yet everytime she walked up to him, his heart lost its control. He hated it. This wasn't fair to his wife.

In no manner was it fair to his wife.

"It's definitely a no. We can't take her." Arjun shook his head as though emphasizing the point.

His interactions with the girl had been limited, but the way she pulled him in, the way she had his heart kickstarting in a crazy frenzy, the rightness of her closeness.

It irked him. He was angry at himself not at her. The only person who had the right to make him feel all this was his wife. His Drau.

"That's a good idea. She tries to avoid you five like you have some easily contagious disease." The eldest born of Dhritrastr spoke, a thoughtful look crossing his features.

"Exactly my point. So, her interfering with our work wouldn't be a problem.And let's be honest she manages our things expertly. So, we wouldn't have to deal with shopping."

Bheem stated, he personally wanted as much distance is possible between him and the girl. But she was also their best option currently among all.

And there wasn't a thing he wouldn't do for Drau.

Yudhisthir nodded. "It is settled than Dhriti would be accompanying us. And Nakul you would be the one to tell her the news."

Nakul gazed at his eldest sibling like he had just spoken an alien language.

"Me?!"

Amusement flarred in the air.

"Yes. You."

Yudhisthir mimicked Nakul's voice, all the traces of emotions evaporated from his faces.

Mirth pulsed through him, he bit back a smile. Gazing sternly at his brother, damn if it wasn't satisfying to tease your younger sibling.

"You got  any problem with that?"  He further poked, folding his hands over his chest.

The second youngest pandavas' shoulders slouched. Did he have a choice?

"No bhraata." Of course he can't say no to his brother. He sighed rolling his eyes.

"Now that this is sorted. Can we get to the planning at hand?"

It's how the hour passed. The men discussed about their searches. But so far all they had found were dead ends.

By the time everyone was on the same page, exhaustion weighed their bones.

"Let's end this meeting here. And as per the planning we shall be leaving tomorrow early morning."

Yudhisthir stated rubbing his tired eyes, his brothers' nodded and soon the Kuruvanshi's dispersed.

******

"Okay. Just go in and tell her. Do not shout at her Nakul, repeat to self do not shout at her."

Nakul repeated to himself, taking a deep breath he pushed the door open.

He walked in, after all how difficult it could be to go and talk to a girl? After all he can talk to her civilly one time right?

His conscious snorted. He frowned.

He can do it!

"What the hell?!!!" He shouted.

Shock and confusion thundered through him, as his brain tried to process the image his eyes were sending.

Dhriti stood on her tip toes on the edge of the high rail, trying to reach something.

"Women what the heck is wrong you?!"
Panic punching his heart, his voice reaching another notch higher.

The girl had the gall to turn her head calmly and look at him, him, like he had lost his mind.

"Um...removing the ring-"

"Forget the damn ring and get the hell down Dhriti!" Nakul rushed ahead, fear piercing his soul.

"Man you are over reacting. I got it under control." Dhriti snapped back, leaning forward on her tip toes to get the ring.

"God help me woman if you don't get your pretty butt down I am going to come up and spank the crap out of it."

Nakul roared fury and concern tumbling in his chest.

Colour flared in her cheeks, embarrassment and something warm whirled in the pit of her stomach.

She pulled on the anger as a shield, and turned her head sharply. Nakul nearly had a heart failure at that moment, he held his hands open wanting to catch if she fell.

"That is no way to speak to a maiden!" She snapped.

"Maiden my ass. You get down right this instant!" He shouted, concern spearing the fury on.

She squinted her eyes glaring down at him, "You know what?! I won't!" She snapped.

Shock slapped on his face, wrath bubbling in his chest. "Dhriti." He growled, darkness veiling his face.

"You apologize right this instant!" Stubborness rang through her, as she met his dark orbs head on.

"The only apology I'll be doing is for not spanking you-"

"Don't not complete that sentence! That's not an appropriate way to talk to a lady!"

She screamed, furious beyond words. Her heart thundered in her chest with emotions she couldn't understand. 

"Are you getting down or should I come up?! Do. Not. Test. Me." He pierced each word with a lethal calmness, that had her soul quivering.

Nakul moved ahead, climbing the ladder half away, as she turned to move down from the railing. He held his hand up for her to take.

His face was set in a wrathful expression veiling the anxiety that kicked his soul till her soft velvety hand layed in his rough ones.

He enveloped hers, his grip tightening on her. The anxiety eased a little. 

His dark gaze locked with her brown ones, he tugged her sharply.

Fear flayed her heart, but it instantly vanished the moment she slammed hard in his chest, the warmth of his breath caressed the soft skin of her nape.

She turned her face to look down at him. His dark orbs captured her brown ones. Electricity zinged up from where they were touching the other.

Her soft frame fit his perfectly like they were two pieces of the same puzzle. His grip tightened on her waist.

Another tug and she was completely in his strong warrior arms. Her blood sang in her veins, pumping furiously.

Nakul leaned down, his lips just a thread away from hers. Magic swirled in the air, as though the world vanished around the two.

In that suspended moment, it was just them. He wanted to lean closer to her, to kiss those soft pillowy lips.

Those eyes mesmerized him, and called to a part of him that was hidden way beyond.

A primal, more instinctive part of his called to her. As though it recognized the missing part of his soul nestled in hers.

Wrapping her in his strong muscular arms, like she was the most precious cargo, he carried her down to the floor.

The grip of anxiety finally vanished.

"You are one fool of a woman." He snapped, the fury and fear from earlier returning with vengeance.

She squinted her eyes. The magic spell of love vanishing.

"Me?! You are the idiot who is screaming for no reason. And let me go you creep!" She snapped right back.

"Creep?"

"Yes creep." She snapped.

He loosened his grip, allowing her to fall on the ground. Dhriti hit the floor, "You!!! Why did you do that?!" She snapped.

"You wanted me to let you go right? I did!" He quipped giving a one shoulder shrug.

She stood up glaring up at him. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Wrong with me?! What in the heaven is wrong with you?! What were you doing up there! You could have died!" He gritted his teeth, the thought of her getting hurt gutted him.

"Excuse me?! Died? Aren't you being a little dramatic?! And I was getting the ring. I promised Roshni she had thrown it up there by mistake-"

"I could get you a zillion rings! A ring is not freaking worth your life!" He snapped, something dark flashing in his eyes. The usual humor evaporated.

His face set in hard lines, his hand shot out wrapping around her wrists as he slammed her back against the nearest wall.

Gripping her shoulders he towered over her. Darkness swirling in his gaze, as he glared down at her.

"You will never endanger yourself, did you hear me?" He hissed, his grip brusing her shoulders.

She whimpered, "You're hurting me." A soft cry left her lips. He growled sounding so much like an animal, as he shook her.

"Did you hear me?" He hissed.

"Ye...yes." She whimpered. 

She stood frozen, as he leaned forward wrapping his arms around, pressing his nose in the crook of her neck.

He breathed her vanilla fragrance in. Anchoring himself, calming the storm of emotions, the fear that raged inside his heart.

The fear of losing her almost blanked his mind. It was like he was back to the cursed night he lost his Drau.

The thought had his arms tightening around her.

Her heart pulsed erratically, warmth seeping in her chest. Her arms hung loosely at her side, not really certain what to make of him, the situation and her emotions that were in utter chaos.

She wanted to forever be wrapped his his strong arms. She felt protected, cared for.

The feathery caress of his lips on her nape, had her heart thundering. He nuzzled her nape.

"Be ready tomorrow you will be leaving with me and my brothers' for Hastinapur. I don't want an argument, it's an order. We leave early morning tomorrow. "

And just like that he stepped back, snatching away the warmth that cooconed her a moment ago.

His hard cold gaze was like a slap of reality, before he turned on his heels and moved towards the door.

He halted near the door, his hand resting on the knob.

"You endanger yourself again, and I swear to God servant girl, you will be crying for mercy."

He didn't wait for a reply, slamming the door shut behind him.

Dhriti blinked, uncertain as to what to make of the situation.

A coldness seeped in her bones. The warmth she felt in his arms had abandoned her.

"Demon prince." She grumbled, walking out of the place and to her room. Preparing for the next day, after all she didn't want to provoke the anger of the unruly young prince of Hastinapur. . .

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Nakul breathed heavily, his sword zing through the air, clashing against the soldiers', who were all sweating heavily, trying to do their best.

The young prince had just marched in the practice arena and had demanded a practice session.

And for past three hours straight had been raining on them like a tornado ready to destroy.

Even being ten against one, the prince was winning every round.

Something had upset him, it was clear as day, but who would ask him? Certainly not them.

He lunged, kicking and moving his sword with lethal precision taking three guards out. Knocking out them clear.

Karn watched from the shadows, as his younger sibling rained hell upon the soldiers.

"Sehdev take this one." Yudhisthir sighed calling out for his youngest sibling from where he sat beside his elder brother.

"Ya go and save our soldiers before the lover boy decides to kill everyone." Bheem grumbled from his throne beside Yudhisthir and Duryodhan, who yawned watching the sparing match.

"He is doing pretty good though." The eldest son of Gandhari chimed.

"And our soldiers need extra training if they can't handle Nakul. That's just ridiculous 10 versus 1 yet they are losing."

Arjun frowned gazing at the soldiers.

"Well pardon my soldiers if they can't defeat the world's best swordsman." Bhism chimed as he walked through the door, gazing his grandsons.

"Pranipat pitahmah." The men chorused.

"Be blessed my sons." He smiled gazing at his great grandchildren.

Seeing them all together gave his heart pleasure that he couldn't put in words.

"It is an immense pleasure to see all my children together." His lips curved up, gazing at each one of them adoringly.

"It is a result of your blessing on us Pitahmah." Karn replied.

"Karn, my son, this old man has gotten all the happiness in this one life time.  Seeing you all everyday together is a sight I have prayed everyday to see."

The men smiled, each one standing to give him a hug. He held his grandchildren close, happiness bursting in his chest.

Pulling back he turned to watch Sehdev as he reached the center of the arena waving the soldiers away, who slumped in relief rushing away from the first son of Madri.

Nakul swung his sword, it clashed hard against Sehdev's.  Fiery sparks flew around, auras zinged through the air, making it difficult for anyone to draw a breath.

Power rippled in the air, had the fine hair on everyone's body standing.

"Nakul what is wrong with you?!" Sehdev hissed, attacking his twin with a precision.

"Nothing!" The elder twin growled animalistically.

"Do not lie. Something is definitely off with you." The youngest pandav ducked as the sword zapped from above his head.

Yudhisthir picked up a sword, and jumped in arena. Followed by the rest of the pandavas.

"You have lost your damn mind." Bheem snapped, as Nakul attacked, he ducked hands shooting out to wrap around his wrist.

Bheem twisted his wrist, as Sehdev attacked, making Nakul loose his grip. Arjun and Yudhisthir grasped each of his leg, while Sehdev and Bheem took a control of his hands.

"Let me go!" Nakul boomed.

Karn and Duryodhan snickered from where they sat. The four snorted gazing down at the elder twin with mirth.

"If you say so." Bheem quipped.

And the four flung him up in the air, Nakul shouted but was caught back by the four.

"Tell us what is wrong?" Arjun pipped up.

"No!" Nakul snapped, and was flung in the air again.

Pitahmah chuckled with the others. Just as the four caught him back.

"You ready to share now?" Yudhisthir teased.

"No!"

"Have a safe ride up there!" Sehdev hollered as he was shot up again.

"You ready to share?" Arjun asked grinning like a fool.

Nakul grumbled the shadow of his wrath lightening.

"You guys are bullies. I'll tell you later."

"No more anger issues?" Bheem asked raising a brow.

"No." Nakul sighed.

The four shared a look before throwing him up again, and turning around to move to their dais.

Nakul screamed like a banshee, before he hit the ground, pain jarring his back. He coughed sitting up, rubbing his sore back.

"What was that for?" He grumbled, rubbing his butt as he stood up.

"For being a bully." Bheem hollered walking ahead not one turning to look back.

The first son of Madri grunted, grumbling as he followed his siblings.

Duryodhan leaned on Karn, the duo laughing like dying hyenas.

"You all are insane. . ."

Pitahmah sighed, rubbing his face tiredly.

Somethings just never change. . .

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