Kunti rushed to the collasped form of Abhijishya. She ushered some dasis to help settle her back in bed.

"What happened, Kunti?"asked Maharani Gandhari as a dasi helped her inside the room.

"I don't know. I think she got scared for some reason,"replied a concerned Kunti. "Vyadji, please see what is wrong with her." She moved aside to make space for the Vyad.

"Everything is alright. She must have fainted due to weakness of the body. No need to worry. She will wake up in a few hours. Then she should be given something to eat. Ab kripiya kar hume prasthan karne ki anumati dein, Maharani (Please allow us to leave now Maharani)," Rajvyad said bowing his head with joined palms.

"Yes, you can go. If you are needed you shall be called," Gandhari said.

Rajvyda along with his wife left.

"Pranipaat Maharani," greeted the four young Pandavs.

"Kalyan ho," blessed Gandhari.

"Pranipaat Jyesth,"they greeted.

Yudhisthir smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. He walked towards Kunti and touched her feet.

"Pranipaat Mata," he said.

"Kalyan ho, putra," Kunti smiled.

"Did you find out who is she and from where she has come from?" asked Gandhari as she sat opposite to Kunti.

"She doesn't speak our tongue, Jyesthmata. After quite a bit of difficulty, we found her name. Her name is Abhijishya. But when we introduced ourselves, she got frightened for some reason. Then she fainted," Bheem said slightly frowning.

"It is only natural Bheem. Abhijishya devi found herself injured in a room of people who speak a different language. She couldn't even properly understand you all. She must have gone through some perilous circumstance before Arjun and Nakul found her in the forest. She must have been terrified," explained Yudhisthir.

"I agree with you, putra. This is an unusal situation. I think one of us should remain with her always to help her understand our way of life," said Maharani Gandhari kindly.

"As you wish, Jyesthmata," the pandavs agreed.

"You have spoken truly, jiji," Kunti smiled.

================================

When Abhijishya again woke up, it was late in the afternoon. She sat up quickly to look around.

She was still in the luxurious room. She sagged against the pillows.

'So it wasn't a dream huh? Shit.'

Tears came to her eyes but she refused to give in. She rubbed her eyes and forced herself to think rationally.

'Okay. So I am in Dvapar yug for some reason. I can't get myself home.' A hysterical laughter threatened to pass her lips but she smothered her giggles because at one point when she had read the Mahabharata she had wished to meet the characters so much.

'F*ck.' She roughly rubbed the few tears that had escaped and tried to breathe calmy.

'Okay. Breathe. A panic attack won't do me any favours now. Accept, adapt and move on. Yeah, yeah. Now how do I proceed from this point... need to communicate properly and stick to the Pandavs. Simple. It's fine..'

A deep voice like soothing embers broke her chain of thoughts.

"Devi, how are you feeling now?" said Arjun.

She greeted with a pranam which Arjun returned.

Then she said flatly,"Don't understand."

Arjun looked at loss because he couldn't understand what she said.

Abhijishya decided it was best of she took hold of the reins of this conversation.

"Mata Kunti, sthan?"she inquired.

"Oh, uh...Mata Kunti has gone to prepare for her daily Sandhya Aarti to Lord Narayan," Arjun said hoping she understood.

"Sandhya arti to Narayan," she said nodding her head. 'Narayan. Narayan. Wait Krishna. Dvapar yug. Mahabharat era so that means Krishna is there in Dwarka. He is God so he surely could send me back to my time.' Her mood lightened. But first she needed to a bath and get rid of these clothes.

Arjun beamed. Maybe this wasn't as difficult as he thought.

Abhijishya pointed at her weird wrappings of clothes and said," Arjun? Kapre? (Clothes)"

Arjun scrunched his eyesbrows not understanding once again.

"Vastra?" Jessy tried again.

Oh she wants to fresh clothes. Arjun nodded to show that he understood. Then he said," Dasi, get some clothes for Abhijishya devi."

"Yes, Rajkumar," a dasi bowed and left.

"Arjun. Bathroom?" Abhijishya asked.

Once again Arjun didn't understand.

"Snan?" She had a hand gesture of lifting a mug up and pouring over her head.

"Oh," Arjun nodded. Obviously she would want to freshen up.

"Dasi, Abhijishya devi wishes to bathe. Take her to the bathing place for royal women and also bring her clothes there," Arjun said.

Two dasis bowed," As you wish, Rajkumar"

The dasis helped her out of her bed. She turned towards Arjun and said,"Pranam" with joined hands.

Arjun returned the gesture and said," I'll wait in the living room outside"

She didn't understand but nodded nonetheless. She could deal with this stupid language barrier later.

================================

The bath was really royal. Probably like the ones in the most luxurious ayurvedic spas. She had the most relaxing bath of her life surrounded by naturnal scents. Her skin was clean, soft and fragnant.

Although the toilets here were plain odd. There was a hole that went who knows where. She had to do her business there. Anyways, she had bigger things to worry about than toilets.

She looked at the clothes that she would wear. It was white lehenga embroidered with gold threads, a long wide strip of cloth and a pink veil. The dasi looked slightly exasperated but she guided her through the dressing process. It took time but finally she was ready.

She was wearing a white embroidered tube top and lehenga with the veil adjusted to cover her front chest and stomach going over her left shoulder.

The dasi dried her hair with some sort of incense. She tied it up in a low messy bun.

Her eyes bulged at the jewellery. She wasn't wearing those. No way. And it would irritate her injuries. So she just put on jhumkas.

Pleased with her look, she asked," Dasi, please take me to Rajkumar Arjun." Now that she was in more or less stable mindstate she decided to use proper honorifics. Afterall, she didn't want to have her head chopped off because she insulted or offended some royal. She didn't think the Pandavs and Kunti would do so if the scriptures were to be believed but she was sceptical about the other people.

The dasi thankfully understood and took her towards the living room which was a room adjoined to the bedroom she had been in. Probably used by guests to meet people because bedrooms were personal.

She found Arjun in deep conversation with Nakul. She greeted them with pranam which they graciously returned.

Nakul's breath hitched now that he looked at her properly. She looked ethereal. He frowned slightly seeing the blotches of purple and yellow surrounding her neck. He wondered what had happened to her before Bhrata Arjun and he found her in the forest.

Abhijishya stood a bit awkwardly not knowing what to do. She wished she had Google translation with her right now.

"Abhijishya devi, please have a seat," Arjun said gesturing to a space surrounded by cushions.

Abhijishya smiled gratefully and sat down on the floor facing Arjun and Sahadev. She noticed there were no chairs anywhere. A good portion of the floor was covered in a thick carpet and sheets. Cushions were placed in such a manner that one had two on each side and one at the back.

"Sukriya, for taking care of me," said Abhijishya but saw a familiar confused look on Arjun's face. Nakul seemed to be in deep thought. Most probably he didn't even hear her.

"Nakul, help me here. I can't understand what she is saying," Arjun said to his brother. "Nakul," this time he shook his brother slightly.

"Yes Bhrata. She looks very beautiful," said Nakul absentmindedly.

His eyes widened and he saw an amused Arjun looking at him. "Uh... I mean... she...uh looks nice in these clothes... no no I mean that she looks well now that she has healed not that she looked bad earlier..." he stammered. Arjun outright laughed at his embarrassed brother who was now looking as him pitifully.

Abhijishya wondered why they were laughing. She was sure she didn't look ridiculous or maybe she did. She huffed.

"Are you guys laughing at me?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

Nakul looked alarmed and glance at Arjun but he was too busy chuckling.

"Oh right. You don't even understand anything I say," she said. And nope she wasn't pouting.

"Rajkumar Arjun. Rajkumar Nakul. Dhanyavad." She hoped they understood why she was thanking them.

"It is our duty, devi. You do not need to thank us," Arjun smiled now that he had recovered from his fit of laughter.

Abhijishya picked up words like duty and not thank us. She got the gist of what he was trying to say.

She shook her head and simple joined her palms and said," Dhanyavad."

Nakul and Arjun nodded accepting her gratitude.

"It is time for dinner now. Mata kunti has asked you to accompany us. You shall meet the Maharaj, Pitamaah and other family then," informed Arjun.

Abhijishya understood something about Maharaj that means Dhritarastra and Pitamaah so that means Bhisma. So she assumed probably they were taking her to meet them. So she followed the princes.

The corridors were wide and decorated with well placed mashal wall lamps. So it was well lit. The atmosphere was pleasant. Abhijishya wondered which time of the year it was. The soldiers stood one on each side. They kneeled down as Abhijishya passed with Arjun and Nakul. No one was wearing shoes inside the castle.

Abhijishya hoped shoes were in use or else it would be a pain to walk barefoot on the ground.

Thankfully, no one opted for conversation because she was tired trying to decipher what was being said to her.

They walked inside a big hall of sorts. The ceiling was made of crystals which illuminated the entire room with the light of a single mashal. It was as good as any tubelight.

There was gigantic table in the middle and rows of flat cushiony ashans were placed on both sides.

Abhijishya's eyes widened seeing so many people. Most probably the kauravs. She recognised Bheem and Sahadev. Maharaj was still absent.

Mata Kunti was standing speaking to a young girl who seemed to be a princess by the look of her clothes.

On seeing her sons and Abhijishya she beckoned them inside.

A.N. - That's it for this chapter. Vote and comment people. Also thank you for showing so much love and support. If you like this story, please add this to your reading list.

I am already working on the next chapter.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")