The sun rays kissed Panchaali's face, while she blinked her eyes open, a yawn leaving her mouth as she stretched, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes.

Her life had taken such twists and turns she couldn’t even believe.

One moment she was spending the best time of her life with arya Bheem, the other, she was watching all of them leave.

A sigh passed through her lips, her heartfelt heavy at the thought of them not being around.

None of them had wanted to leave, but they had to, the riots, in their kingdoms were increasing way too much, five different parts of the kingdoms had suddenly rioted, the crowd there had been so wild, and harsh, that hundreds had died.

If they hadn’t left urgently, only god knew what would have happened.

She recalled how hesitant the five had been to leave.

She rolled her eyes, a smile slipping on her lips, how much can one worry?

She knew they loved her a lot, a smiled appeared on her face.

What can go wrong in her own palace? Between her own people?

There were so many daasis and vedh here to care for her.

Surely, she could stay here for a week.

Her hand rubbed her baby bump, as if she was blessing her unborn with good fortune.

Being a mother was the best feeling in the world, a smile curved up on her lips.

The thought of being a mother had her smiling for no reason.

She pressed her lips in a sweet smile, before she got up from her bed, and moved gathering all the essentials and left to get ready in the private bath.

All these days she had been visiting the palace temple in the mornings but she decided to visit the Shiva temple and meet the  high priest Raghupati to find some solutions.

She quickly finished her bathroom rituals and wore the finest garment and jewellery, her mask to hide the concern from others.

Fine garments and clothes always made her appear confident.

It wasn't that she was a highly demanding queen.

But those were the masks to hide the turmoil she faced.

All were fooled except for her aryas, who could make out the smallest pain she felt easily. 

A sigh passed through her lips, no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't stop thinking about them.

They were always present on her mind, like a sweet memory that made her smile for no reason.

She got ready and walked out in the corridor where she met a dasi. 

"Listen dasi. Could you please send Mala to me? " she requested with a gentle smile, her face shining with joy.

She never treated them bad. And was kind to all. 

She couldn’t understand, how some people could be harsh to others, it went against everything that she had learnt.

"Your highness Mala is on leave as her son has mild fever. I am her neighbour Kamal she sends me to help you. "  replied the dasi.

Concern marred her face.

She could see no child in pain, begin a soon to be mother, Panchaali now understood better the feelings of being one, she could never imagine something going wrong with her child.

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, the mere thought of her child getting sick had her heart clutching with fear.

"Ask the Royal Vaidya to pay her a visit. And Kamla please get the palanquin ready I wish to visit to the Shiv after the palace temple Pooja is done. " She voice was soft, requesting, a calm smile on her face, trying to mask the concern she felt for the child.

The dasi bit back a smirk, what a fool this woman was, she really says please to her bloody maid?

She wanted to snot. But held her head low.

She recalled Shakuni’s words about her being a sweet and easily trusting woman, he was indeed right, this woman was a complete fool.

She recalled how Shakuni had kidnapped Mala Panchaali's loyal maid, just so Kamla could replace her, and send Panchaali to the Kali temple to meet High Priest Bhringu. 

She smirked evilly and was lost in thoughts when Panchaali snapped her fingers in front of her eyes and chuckled.

 " Where are you lost Kamla? You are fine? Should I ask the Royal Vaidya to check your pulse too? " She giggled, teasing, her hand caressing her swollen belly.

She smiled looking at the new maid, who flushed and lowered her head, shaking her head.

Panchaali wanted to make her feel comfortable, she knew commoners often felt intimated when they were around the royals, and she really didn’t want Kamla to feel that. 

The dasi feared of getting caught for a moment but on hearing Panchaali's words she sighed in relief, indeed she was a fool.

The dasi wanted to laugh, how can someone be so stupid? She wondered.

"Your Highness, if you allow shall I advise something good for the bright fortune of our kingdom. I may be low in caste to advise the royal. But the concern you show for us and my sister Mala, I feel to reciprocate some good too the Royal highness.”

Panchaali's heart was touched at her kind gesture.

Kamla hardly knew her, yet she was here showing concern, her simplicity touched Panchaali.

She promptly agreed to the dasi's request, nodding at her to continue.

"Your Royal highness, the famous high priest Bhringu of Magadha has visited directly to the Kali temple in the outskirts of our kingdom after a penance for 12 long years. People say he has a solution to every problem which seems difficult to be solved. Plus, his blessing not only get good fortune to people but the unborn too.”

Kamla eyes at Panchaali's swollen and smirked mentally, mothers and their sense to protect their child, she rolled her eyes as she thought, stupid mothers can do anything for their children, foolish creatures.

She continued, 
"Your Royal highness. He plans to return to Magadha in order to conduct a holy sacrificial ritual for their kingdom's welfare. If we leave for the temple now, we would surely be lucky enough to meet him. Hence your highness I request you to proceed urgently to the temple. I will make the arrangements quickly. You shouldn't wait to inform anyone. Trust me I shall inform in your behalf. " 

Panchaali's mind travels to think all about her husbands’ constant state of worry due to the riots, her unborn, and her kingdom's welfare.

She focussed on each and every word Kamala shared with her and decides to proceed without wasting a second.

What was the harm in trying?

After all it would only do to good to everyone.  

She gave a slight smile to Kamla for showing concern for their welfare and assures her to visit the temple immediately.

Kamala mentally smirked, bingo, the fool is on her path to destruction.

She thought as a sadistic joy thrummed through her.

She signalled the other men who were with her from the lobby window to arrange the palanquin and leaves the palace instantly before getting caught.

Before leaving she tied a message of, Panchaali's arrival to the temple, to the pigeon's feet and send him away.

The death of Panchaali was now inevitable, with the pandavas gone, who will save her?  

***

A little far away from the palace Panchaali felt sudden heaviness on her eyelids.

She assumes it to be her weakness as she is now two bodies. And let's sleep embrace her. 

 In sometime she feels a sudden thump as the palanquin was placed on the floor, that had blinking her eyes open.

She gently placed her hand on her swollen belly and gets out of the palanquin. 

Her eyes move around, looking at the greenery that surrounded huge cave temple ahead of her, she watched as a man descended down the temple stairs, and bowed, before asking her to follow him up.

He ensures her that Kamala had informed that she might visit before the priest leaves for Magadha. 

That was a bit strange, how could she inform him in advance?

When they just spoke in the morning?

She nodded her head, not saying anything, as she gazed at the man following him.

Something strange stirred in her, unlike every other temple this one didn’t give her the usual sense of calmness, it had a strange eerie vibe around it.

As she moved in, a shudder travelled down her body, a coldness settling in her heart, like the rest of the temple.

Navigating her way through the temple was proving to be difficult with the darkness that resided there.

Her heart pulsed in her chest, anxiety building in the pit of her stomach.

The air here was stale making her frown. What sort of place was this? She wondered as a gruff voice has her turning around. . .

***

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