It was pouring and thundering in Hastinapur, indirectly warning the Kaurav brothers of the painful punishment they are to get for insulting the innocent princess of Panchal, glow of the fire which was lighting all the lamps in the kingdom was different, it extracted more heat on that day, showing the anger of Agnidev himself for insulting his beloved daughter.

As the fire's heat was too much in every place, one room looked extremely dark, the doors which lead to the room was locked, all the windows shut, not a single lamp was lit, the mirrors in the room broken, not a single thing was proper or in place, the whole room was a mess. Sobs of a woman was heard from inside, "Govind !!" The Empress of Aryavart screamed while crying...

"Putri, Krishnaa open the door dear, listen to matha, please open the door, putri Krishnaa, I apologise for whatever happened, darling please open the door, I promise sweetheart, no one will touch you until I'm alive, please, please open the door. Krishnaa" Begged Rajmata Kunti while crying bitterly, Gandhari tried hard to console the mother and call the daughter out but in vain...

"Maa ?? Where's Krishnaa ??" Arjun came running towards them with his brothers.

Kunti got up and glared at her sons.
"Why not stake me instead of her ?? Did you forget the sacrifices she made for you all ?? How did your heart allow you to do that ??" Kunti asked raging on them.

"Sorry maa...we...." Nakul tried apologizing but Kunti cut him off.

"Sorry ?? Do you even mean to apologise ?? Did you forget how much she loved each one you ?? And today you kept quiet when she was so brutally insulted. I feel ashamed to call you my sons" Kunti shouted and went to her chamber

The already broken hearted brothers were now feeling very week, two most important women in their lives, now had lost their trust on them...

"Malini!! Open the door, one more chance dear, give us one more chance to prove ourselves..." Sahadev begged but there was no response.

The princess of Panchal wanted nothing else but to reach out to her husbands and secure herself in their embrace but never did she trust them anymore.

"Kalyani please" Yudhishtra's voice was heard for the first time after moving from the hall, guilt was eating him up. Draupadi was not angry on him, not at all, afterall he was her life, she wasn't angry on the others too but the happenings had broken her, she loved them but didn't trust them.

"Priye...open the door.. please...one more chance..." Pandavas' pleadings pierced Draupadi's heart, she didn't want them to worry so much, she was a person who never wanted to see them worried, not even a bit, but today her condition was horrible.

Their pleadings increased, only to make her sob more, she didn't want to see anyone, probably not ever in life, she has lost her honour.

She cannot bear it anymore, why should she live further even after losing her honour ??

Draupadi stepped forward to near a lamp, she joined her hands and called upon to her father, Agnidev.

"Pithashree" AgniSuta called as the lamp lit up immediately...

"Pithashree, the first time I entered the world with your blessings, I promised you to make you feel proud of me, I promised to make you feel honoured, but today your daughter stands before you, so brutally insulted by her own family infront of her own husbands, losing her honour, your daughter doesn't wish to life further pithashree, not another moment, please take the life you gave pithashree" Agnijaa pleaded while breaking down crying.

Will a father like to see his daughter in this condition ?? NO !! The lamp broke as it fell down and all the oil spilt out and the room turned dark again.

Draupadi cried more at her father's denial, did he want her to suffer too ?? Won't he help her ??

The door broke open revealing five men, Draupadi abruptly looked at the entrance to the chamber to see her husbands.

"Priye !!" The brothers called rushing towards her, she immediately got up and looked away unable to control her emotions. They sighed as their eyes' teared up at her reaction.

"Priye" Arjun called moving forward, she turned and signalled him to stop, breathing heavily due to continues cries.

"No Rajkumar !! Please don't touch me" She said making thunder fall on their heads.

"Rajkumar ??" Arjun asked in a whisper with an unbelievable look, he badly missed her "Arya". "Yes !! Rajkumar !!" She replied.

Her next words broke their hearts.
"I, DrupadNandini Draupadi declare that from today I am not PandavArdhangini, I am not the daughter in law of Maharaj Pandu, I am not Kuruvansh's Kulvadhu"

The five warriors who were by now numb by her words didn't know how to react.

"It makes us sad to be hurt by people, but it shatters our heart to be betrayed by the ones whom we trusted more than ourselves" She continued in the same low voice, she had no more energy to argue.

"I trusted you" she said with her choked voice, their hearts feeling too heavy to bear anything more.

"Please leave me alone" she said not even looking at them who were devoid of words.

The brothers didn't know how to react or what to talk. How could they talk to her ?? What will they say ??

We're sorry ?? But it's too late to apologise.
Trust us ?? But a broken glass can never become like before and if it is stuck back, the crack is still shown.

They didn't have the strength to share a look with each other too. They had no other way but to accept her decision but will they ?? Never !! She was their love, their life, their everything...

"Putri" a voice came, it was Kunti who had brought food for her beloved daughter.

"What's the matter Rajmata ??" A depressed Draupadi asked looking at her.

Kunti's eyes teared up hearing Rajmata from her. She looked at her sons and signalled them to leave.

The sons of Pandu moved out of the chamber with heavy hearts, expectantly looking at their wife for one Arya but in vain.

"Putri !! I apologise in behalf of my sons" Kunti said.

"No mata...sorry Rajmata, it was not their fault, it is my cursed fate" Draupadi replied.

"No putri no !!" Kunti hugged Draupadi, the daughter of Drupad hugged her mother in law back and bursted out crying.

"No Krishnaa no !! You shouldn't cry darling, you shouldn't cry" Kunti said wiping her daughter's tears.

"Women fear to move outside alone because...they feel... insecure outside...the safest place for women is their house... supporters are their family....but look at my condition matey....in my house, my own family insulted me..." Draupadi cried her heart out "your honour is important than your life... what's the use of living anymore ??"

"No putri !! Don't say that !! Noo" Kunti tried consoling her "your father, mother, siblings, sons everyone will feel shattered after listening to the happenings and if you take such decisions it will be like pouring oil in the forest fire... don't cry dear...my sons will revenge your insult"

"But who are they to me ??" Draupadi asked breaking the hug.

"Putrii ??" Kunti asked confused.

"Who are your sons to me Rajmata ?? Husbands ?? Who let their wife be so brutally insulted ?? Those invincible warriors who saw their wife being disrobed ?? NEVER !! I say NEVER will I accept them as my husbands" Draupadi said and turned away.

Kunti who was heart broken by her words ran to her and cupped her cheeks, determined not to give up she pleaded to God mentally to change Draupadi's mind.

"No dear !! Please don't do that !! Please... you very well know how much they love you, you're their strength as well as their weekness !! They won't be able to bear it dear !! They can't..." Kunti broke down crying while she hugged Draupadi.

Ofcourse she loved them so much that words could never describe it but will her heart allow her to trust them anymore ??

"Your daughter needs time maa !!" Draupadi whispered making Kunti smile little in tears.

"Hey Ishwar !! Thank you so much !!" Kunti thanked the all mighty for changing her mind.

"Take all the time you need sweetheart" Kunti said caressing her hairs.

"Thank you maa !!" Draupadi said and drowned in deep thoughts.

Kunti looked at her daughter-in-law who had become her own daughter, she remembered how much she was loved and respected by her, and now how could she even think of losing her ??

She recalled how much each one of her sons loved her...
-The way the brothers smiled like maniacs after hearing her very name.
-The happiness Arjun's face held after knowing about the competition.
-The joy their faces had when she gave them to permission to go to the swayamvar, less did she know they were not going as Brahmins for alms but as themselves for their soulmate.
-The guilt their faces held when she gave an embarrassing yet unknown order.
-The way they came forward to go reconciling forever for her happiness.
-The uncomfort they felt when they knew she was sacrificing her life for them as they had no other option but to marry her all together.
-The happiness they felt knowing that Draupadi loved them and was comfortable with them.
-The way they pampered her like a kid.
-The way they whined in disappointment when they had to stay away from her even if it was just for few days... And more to go...

"Kunti !!" Priyamvada her friend called out breaking Kunti's thoughts.

"Yes Priyamvada ??" Kunti asked.

"Draupadi didn't have anything since morning, I've bought food for her, you should convince her to have, besides she's in a very week state, her weekness might increase if she doesn't have food" Priyamvada said making Kunti more worried.

"Give it to me, I'll somehow manage to make her eat" Kunti said making Priyamvada pass the plate of food to her.

Kunti wiped her tears and looked around for Draupadi, she smiled a bit as she spotted her in the balcony staring at the kingdom with deep thoughts.

"Putri !!" Draupadi abruptly wiped her tears and turned hearing Kunti.

"Yes maa" she asked coming near Kunti.

"Putri !! Your dinner" Kunti said hesitantly as she very well knew she would deny.

Draupadi unable to deny her mother's words by speaking gave her a pleading look which clearly said I'm not hungry.

"For me !!" Kunti gave back the same pleading look.

"Please maa !!" Draupadi said.

"Are you kidding dear ?? You didn't have a sip of water from morning and you're expecting me to leave u just like that ??" Kunti pretended to be angry.

"Tomorrow you are leaving for the forest, give this mother of your's a chance to shower her love by feeding you with her own hands" Kunti said.

Draupadi remembered her mother Kokila's words spoken long ago...
"Tomorrow you're leaving to Hastinapur, give this mother of your's a chance to shower her love by feeding you with her own hands laddu"

"Putri ??" Kunti's voice broke her thoughts.

"Feed me maa !!" Draupadi said making Kunti smile affectionately.

The mother daughter duo sat down as the mother fed her daughter with love.

"Putri...why don't...you...you..." Kunti fumbled while she wanted to tell her something.

"What maa ??" Draupadi asked worriedly.

"Why don't you go check on them ??" Kunti asked in one go refering to her sons.

"I...uh...I will mata !!" Draupadi said giving her a nervous look.

"If you want to rest then it's fine dear, I'll go and check on them" Kunti said seeing Draupadi dillemic look.

"No maa !! No excuses or compromises in duties" Draupadi said smiling.

"No Krishnaa !! I don't want you to go to as a dutiful wife to your husbands but as a lover to your soulmates" Kunti said caressing her hairs.

"They need you and you need them" Kunti said and moved out of the chamber not giving Draupadi a chance to talk.

Draupadi chuckled bitterly at her condition. What a lovely bond she shared with her husbands till today, without any misunderstanding, with so much love, but one small game shattered everything.

Draupadi took a deep breath and gathered courage to go and meet them.....

[In Pandav's chamber]

Yudhishtra was in deep thoughts, guilt, anger and etc was eating him up.

Bheem gritted his teeth in anger, it looked like anyone who stood before him might burn into ashes.

Arjun clutched the Gandiv in anger !! It looked like it may crush in his angry grip.

Nakul's sword clashed with the logs, he was sharpening them, he needed it to behead heads.

Sahadev, the most patient and intelligent man he was called but today he looked like the most restless and helpless man on Earth.

What else is expected from them ?? They saw their beloved getting insulted and ofcourse that was a wound in their hearts.

"I'm no longer your wife !! I will not accept you as my husbands" Her words rang in their ears making them fist their hands.

It pained their hearts to even think of staying away from her !!

Sounds of anklets neared their room making them freeze in their places.

Their hearts skipped a beat. She ?? Was it her ?? She came to them ?? Even after so much ??

The brothers shared a curious look filled with tears, bombarding themselves with questions.

"Sleep !!" Nakul whispered.

"What ??" Questioned the others in a chorus.

"Maybe she's here to take something important, she shouldn't feel uncomfortable with us here, and if we sleep act then she might feel a bit comfortable" Nakul said.

The others nodded and got on their beds expect the eldest brother.

Act in front of her ?? Your Ardhangini ?? Wouldn't she take us wrong ?? He thought.

No it's ok !! I don't want her to be uncomfortable, I'm ready to do anything for her happiness !! He thought and laid beside his brothers.

The five closed their eyes, badly hoping that nothing goes wrong anymore.

The beautiful wife of Pandavas entered the chamber with her head hung low, not sparing a glance at her husbands.

The silent room disturbed her a bit, she lifted her head and looked at her husbands sleeping peacefully yet a little disturbed look on their faces.

A small smile played on her lips seeing them sleep. The princess of Panchal moved forward and seated herself beside them.

Less did she know her actions and close contact was making their hearts skip beats.

She couldn't help caressing their hairs one by one.

The brothers were shocked. They wanted to open their eyes and confirm whether it was really her.

"Arya" her whisper made them want to squeel in joy. It was probably the first time she called them Arya that day.

"I'm sorry" her next words made their hearts heavy with guilt.

"Why is she sorry ??" They thought...

"I know I was harsh !! I apologise for that but I need some time" she said admiring them sleeping.

"Take all the time you want but don't ignore us priye please, we can't bear something like that." They wanted to say.

But !! Wouldn't it be embarrassing for her if they jump up and say "we were acting" ??.

Draupadi got up and went to the corner where quilts were folded and placed on a rack.

She picked two big quilts, came near them and covered them with the quilts. She took the small fan and fanned all the lamps. The room became dark.

Draupadi assuring that her husbands were comfortable, slowly closed the doors of the chamber and moved out.

Heavy sighs were heard, the brothers jumped up on the bed.

"Was it a dream ??" Nakul asked.

"Ouchhhh" Nakul whined as Arjun pinched him.

"Did it pain ??" Arjun asked.

"Yes !! Will it be like cuddling ??" He asked with a grumpy face.

"Then this isn't a dream" Arjun said.

"Quiet both of you" Sahadev shouted annoyed at his brothers.

"She needs time !!" Yudhishtra whispered.

"Yes jyesth !! She forgave us" Bheem said making everyone smile.

"It's time to prove ourselves, we should make her trust us again so that she feels comfortable as before" Arjun said making others nod.

"What if she doesn't ??" Nakul asked with worry pooling in his stomach.

"Let's hope" Sahadev's words made them sigh and lie on the bed, drowning in deep thoughts...

What's gonna happen next ??

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Hey friends !!
Hope you enjoyed reading,
Please let me know your views.
Next chapter - "A blissful reunion"
Target - 40+ votes & 100+ comments
Stay safe,
Bye !!★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★