"Our family - A circle of strength and love; founded on faith; joined in love and kept by God." ~ Subhadra

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We both quickly dressed up and slowly peeped out of the chamber to find no one in the corridor. I turned to her as she whispered to me to take a different route as it would better for us to go alone.

"What! but why?" I asked in a childish tone.

"Shh! Subhadra! Your shout will be land us in trouble... listen to me. Take this route and meet me at the entrance of the palace" she said pointing towards the other side of the corridor.

"But why do we have to go separately sister? I had arrived here just yesterday" I said.

She smiled and started, "Because in Indraprasth, if the princes spot any two maids together, they will be subject to thousand questions. Because it is common for the other palaces to send their spies to newly established kingdoms ! " I nodded and saw her walk away.

I took a deep breath and whispered encouraging words to myself. I turned to find Brother Nakul walking on the other side, fully dressed with a broad smile to attend the discussions in the assembly hall.

I wanted to laugh badly seeing him with a mind that was forcing me to tease him but my attire did not permit me. I stood there waiting for him to walk past me but to my surprise, he stopped looking at me. I managed to smile slightly.

"Who are you ? A dasi ?" he questioned.

'You made me scared but then you gave me the idea of how to escape brother! Should I thank or scold you ?' I thought smiling.

"Why are you smiling ?" he asked looking a little confused.

"Nothing Bro... I mean Prince ! You are correct, I am a new dasi in the Palace of Hastinapur" I said.

'Wait! what did I say.... Hastinapur ?' I thought.

He nodded and suddenly he said shocked, "Hastinapur ?"

I froze and said, "I mean I am new in Indraprasth ! I am from Dwarka. I came here along with Princess Subhadra !" He started thinking something when I began scolding myself.

'Subhadra ! From where did Hastinapur come ? You have gone mad ! Thank God it is Brother Nakul and not Brother Bheem or Arya ! Otherwise, I would have been in the assembly hall before brother Yudistir for further interrogation now' I thought and now looked at him.

"Okay you may go now !" he ordered and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you Prince ! I have a small suggestion for you - Please don't dress up so much for a simple discussion. It appears silly !" I said and ran away from there. I couldn't control myself from saying this to Prince Nakul.

'His confused expressions were worth the fun !' I thought walking when I bumped into someone and lost balance. I tried to support myself by stretching my hands but I sprained them in the attempt.

"Ahh...." I screamed and looked up to find Arya standing in front of me looking a little confused.

"Sorry ! I hope you are not hurt servant !" he said.

"Servant ? Can't you sense who I am ?" I screamed in pain.

"What ! Who are you ?" he asked in a tone of confusion now sitting in his knees to face me. I realised what I had told and immediately hit my head with my injured hand.

"Ah...." I shouted again.

"Subhadra ?" he asked. I nodded sheeplishly. He shook his head in disbelief and took my hands in his hands, carefully examining the wound.

"Is it paining so much ? I am so sorry I was in a hurry !" he said in a tone of guilt.

"It's fine !" I said.

"Why are you going around the palace in his attire ? What are you upto now ?" he asked me in a stern tone.

"Suspense" I said not wanting to expose the plan and he shook his head.

"Now get up !" he said helping me stand up. "Come let's go !" he said.

"Where ?" I asked him.

"What a question is this ? To our room. You need to take some rest" he said.

"But I have another task to do ! I will have to go now" I said to him. He narrowed his eyes and taking my hands in his, he began caressing the wound.

"You never listen to me ! What about this ?" he asked.

"It will heal soon" I said smiling at him. He nodded looking a little unsatisfied.

"Now you go and attend the discussion. I will meet you soon !" I said to which nodded and left.

I hurried to the entrance where I saw my sister crossing her hands waiting for me.

"Sorry ! I am late..." I muttered as she looked at me.

"Very late !" she corrected me and she pulled me by my injured hand making me shout. She saw the wound in my hands and immediately asked me what had happened. I said what all happened and she gave me a small tap on my head.

"Come let's go !" she pulled me inside the palace.

"But...." I started when she cut me in between saying, "It's more important to address your wound now dear ! We will go out any other time." I nodded sadly.

She made me lie on my bed and sat beside caressing my head as the maids entered with the royal doctor. He began applying a paste on my wound and I started shouting in pain. My sister sat comforting me and I saw all the princes enter the place with a worried look in their faces.

The doctor finished applying the paste and went to my brothers.

Doctor - She has to rest for sometime after which she will be perfectly alright.

All my brothers nodded.

Brother Bheem - Are you fine now ?

I nodded and all of them sat on the chairs in my room looking at me.

"Don't you have some important work ?" I asked them.

"Yes, we do have" Brother Yudhishtr replied smiling.

"Then why are you all not continuing the work ?" I asked confused.

"Because our dear sister is not well" I heard Brother Bheem reply.

"But...." I started when Arya interrupted me.

"Take rest now ! We will all leave only after you sleep !" I nodded smiling.

"I am indeed lucky to be in this caring family ! Thank you so much God ! They love me a lot.... I just hope we all stay like this forever !" I whispered and closed my eyes to sleep.
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