"Never trust your fears, they do not know about your strength."
~ Subhadra

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Subhadra POV

I woke up after sometime to find the room really dark. It evoked a sense of insecurity and fear. I clutched the mattress of my bed tightly and took a deep breath. I got down and walked up to the door to find it locked.

I knocked against the door to find no response. It was unusual as my chamber was at the centre of the palace which used to be busy at all times.

"What is even happening here ?" I whispered turning behind to look around the chamber. It appeared scary to me and it felt as if I had lost the courage I had.

"Who is it ?" I asked sternly to which I received the sound of drawing a sword in response. I looked around to find my sword missing from my table.

"If you have courage, show up" I shouted gathering all the courage I had. I heard the sound of someone mercilessly laughing as a silhouette appeared before me.

I tried my best to see his face but it was too dark. I saw blood dripping from the sword he carried. The sight felt scary to no end and I shut my eyes in fear. I could sense the figure coming closer to me.

"I can't lose" I reassured myself as he lifted his sword against me. Taking a breath, I raised my hands to stop the attack when the door and the curtains opened.

In the light, I saw my brother Nakul aiming at me with a wooden sword filled with butter instead of blood.

"Subhu ! You think only you can fool us ?" he said chuckling. I did not know whether to cry or to smile. I began crying and his expressions changed.

"Subhu ?" he asked. I glared at him and looked at the door to see my brother Sahadev looking confused and worried.

"Bratashri ! Even you ?" I questioned to which he reacted with a blank expression. I looked at Brother Nakul who signalled his twin to remain quiet.

"Nakul had called me here. I did not take part in his prank ! I will leave you to scold him or even punish him" he said leaving.

"What ? You are my twin ! You need to support me" Nakul shouted as Sahadev giggled and left. I turned to face Brother Nakul who was visibly ashen.

"Subhu ! Dear, take rest ! Your brother will see you tomorrow" he said as I frowned at him.

"Oh really ? You scared me to no end ! And now you are asking me to rest ?" I shouted and in no time, he ran out of the room with me following him. We woke the whole palace up by his repeated apologies and my repeated screams.

"Subhadra ! Please leave me this one time !" he said running towards the garden.

"No ! I will not spare you today. I was really anxious because of you" I shouted back. He ran into the corridor meant for men and I stood at the end not knowing what to do.

"Subhadra ! You can't really enter the chambers meant for the Princes and other men of the Palace" my mind cautioned me.

"But I can't leave him like this today" I whispered dismissing the caution I received. I quickly looked around and entered the corridor.

"Is this even in my Palace ?" I thought as I had never entered that corridor in my life till then. I tiptoed up to the chamber reserved for my brothers (the Pandavas) and took a deep breath.

I slowly opened the door to enter the chamber. I saw all my brothers sleeping peacefully on their bed. I looked at Brother Nakul who was fast asleep. No one would ever believe me that he had pranked me before.

I picked up a pot of water from the table and walked up to his bed. Beside him, Arya was asleep with his back facing me. I looked for a suitable position to splash water on Brother Nakul when Arya got out of his bed.

'Oh God ! Why is he getting up now ?' I thought as I hid myself under the bed. I saw Arya walk around the room as though he was taking a stroll around the garden.

'You don't know when and what to do at times ' I whispered as he went outside the chamber.

"Thank you God ! Luck is standing by my pranks today" I whispered rolling out of the bed. I got up and cleared the dust on my duppata when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I was startled and looked behind to find Arya smiling. "What are you doing here ?" he raised a question making me go blank. His eyes landed on the pot of water in my hands.

"Umm... I came to drink water" I said hastily as I drank the whole water in one go. He gave me a mischievous smile as though he had found out the truth and I began coughing as the water entered the wrong channel.

He immediately covered my mouth to silence me and both of us noticed brother Nakul moving in his sleep. I gasped as he immediately pulled me behind the pillar. We saw Brother Nakul sit up and look around but in no time he fell asleep again.

"From when did the Princess of Dwarka start entering the corridor meant for men ?" Arya questioned with a smile.

"Today" I whispered looking away.

"I never knew that you could do all this to play a prank on someone" he chuckled.

"What ?" I literally shouted as he signalled me to keep quiet reminding me of the location I was in. I bit my tongue while he hit his forehead with his hand as though he had lost all the hope he had on me.

"Sorry ! Actually it was he who scared me first and so I came to..." I said as he slowly placed his finger on my lips.
"I know everything" he said as I blinked at him.

"Sahadev told us about everything and I knew that you would come here to return Nakul's favor. But he did not tell us what the prank was" Arya said smiling. I explained him what had happened and he suppressed his laughter and acted as if he was serious.

"Okay ! Nakul has done his part. Now we shall play our role" he said and signalled me to come along. He walked up to Brother Nakul and handed me the pot of water as he proceeded towards the door.

"Three ! Two ! One ! Pour...." he shouted and I emptied the pot on Brother Nakul. Both Arya and I ran out of the chamber. In the corridor, we heard Brother Nakul whining and both of us gave a hi-fi to each other.

"Mission accomplished !" he said and I smiled in response.

"Yes ! Mission accomplished !" I repeated as we left the corridor.
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