Malini
During the thirteenth and final year of their exile, the Pandavas along with Draupadi assumed secret identities. She became Malini the Sairandhri, a maid who specializes in at least one form of the art and Draupadi was an expert florist and stylist.

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I am gonna use this name for this story for initial few chapters.

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The symphony of  flowing water always offered her peace and solace, once that she could never put in words.

Draupadi dipped her little feet in the crystal clear water, a sigh passed through her lips, her face a mask of calmness, she felt at peace.

"Putri, why are you sitting there alone?" Kunti asked, her voice rang with curiosity as she moved towards her, a peaceful smile spread on her face.

"Mata this place is so beautiful, for some reason whenever I look at it, I feel at peace. Like the touch of a mother. She's the mother of Pitamah, right mata?" The little girl questioned, her voice filled with a calmness, that had Kunti smiling.

"Yes putri, this is Ganga river, the holy one. She is the most purest, the mother of Pitamah Bhism. She is the one who gave him such great values and made him the man he is." She answered, smiling at her friend's daughter.

She was exactly like her mother, curious and joyous, but her smile slowly disappeared as she recalled how staying with King Drupad had broken her.

She's not the same, and feared never she will ever be.

"Mata, is it true that Mata Ganga always appears when her son calls?"

The little girl turned her head sideways to look at the woman who had given her the love of a mother, when her very own father had ordered her exile.

Her little heart hurt thinking about it, she was just so confused.

What had she ever done to deserve that? Why wasn't her father happy the way he was when her brother Dhrishtadyumn was born from the very same yagn?

"Yes, she does." Kunti answered nodding, a confused look spread on her face, her brown orbs searching the little girl's face.

"But why do you ask such a question?" She inquired as she continued to make a mala from the flowers that she and Draupadi had collected.

"Do all Matas come when their child calls?" The little girls voice wavered,her throat tightening a bit, as she asked the question, her chest felt heavy as the rejection of her parents sat on her heart like a huge rock.

"They do." Kunti replied subconsciously, as she lost herself in the work, "What binds a mother to her child so closely mata?" Draupadi asked as she faced the beautiful Ganga river, looking away from Kunti, she didn't want to worry the woman who had loved her like a mother, she never wanted anyone to worry because of her.

What was the point?

She's insignificant.

She's nothing.

"Loves does my sweet. The most purest of bond, that has the capacity to to bind the strongest of beings, that no one can conquer. Love can conquer everything. It is the most beautiful thing, that binds the family together just like this mala." Her voice took a loving tone as she looked at the beautiful mala.

A slow tear dropped down her cheek, as she looked at the flowing crystal clear water.

"Putri, would you come  with me? Or would you like to sit here some more?" Kunti asked as she put the flowers and malas in the basket.

Dusting off her clothes as she stood up, straightening her clothes.

Her mind too busy to recall all the work that remained.

"I want to spend some time here mata." Her words were soft, that had Kunti nodding, as she turned around and let the child enjoy her peace. "Be home before it's dark priye." She reminded as she walked back.

The little white pigeon stared at the little girl, as her a tear traced down, followed by another, leaving it's marks on her soft cheeks, the pigeon flew in the sky, before it came to a part of the forest where a cluster of six boys were playing hide and seek.

"Where are you Bhraata Bheem?" Nakul asked as he looked around searching for his brothers.

The pigeon flew and sat on Nakul's shoulder, he looked at the little bird as it cooed in his ears, delivering its massage.

He frowned, "Why is she sad?" He asked himself, as he turned around and sprinted in the direction of the Ganga river.

The tress rustled as the thudding of five feet sounded as they jumped out of the trees.

"Nakul!" They called out together.

"You are meant to find us not the other way round, that's not how the game works." Bheem lightened the mood as the others chuckled.

"He didn't turn around?" Sahadev asked. "Maybe it's the nature's call, he couldn't ignore." Arjun teased making others chuckle harder.

"Or maybe someone needed him."

Kanha hinted, the four brothers looked at their cousin,

"Who would?" Yudhisthir asked curiously,

"take a guess bhraatashree." Krishn smiled charmingly as he saw the realization dawn on their faces, and they all sprinted too.

Kanha laughed, his sweet laughter ringing in the forest as he saw the four run in the direction where his Sakhi was.

But slowly the smile vanished,

"Harden your heart brothers soon it will be time for Sakhi to return her home. Leaving you all behind." His voice was tinged with sadness, but the hope for the future meetings eased his heart.

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Nakul tiptoed as his friend came in his sight, she sat in the waters with her legs dipped in, he quietly sat next to her.

"You do know when you cry you look like a monkey?" Nakul teased, his heart lightened as he saw a small smile appear on her face.

"So you were spying on me again with your birds?" She accused, sending him a mock glare.

"Who me? I would never." He lied, his eyes glinting with happiness, his voice held the note that showed that he was lying.

"Nakul you liar. I won't spare you." She threatened mockingly as she ran behind him, who had already sprinted away.

"Oh Really Malini, would you even be able to touch me?" He questioned her in between his laughter, "of course I would, and I shall kill you then." She warned as she ran behind the him.

"Ever killed a mosquito in your life?" He laughed as he teased her more.

"And there I thought they were in trouble, they are playing. " Bheem stated as he came to a halt next to his brothers,

"She really is adorable when she laughs." Sahadev said as he watched the two run and smile. "But not so much when she's angry." Arjun joked making others laugh.

"Don't let her hear that or she might create that little fire wall around you the next time she is angry" Yudhisthir teased Arjun, as he looked at his brothers who chuckled.

"Dharmraj look at him, he is teasing me again." Malini complained making Yudhisthir smile, "Nakul enough, let's go and continue the game of hide and seek, Vasudev is waiting for us."

On hearing the order from their jyest they all nodded and moved towards the place where Kanha was awaiting.

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"Malini where are you?" Arjun called out, his thirteen year old self had searched for her everywhere but for some reason he couldn't just find her.

"Madhav I can't find her." He complained his voice slightly panicked.

Draupadi bit her lip to prevent the giggles from bursting out, she looked at all her friends, they were everything for her.

She couldn't believe that she was so nervous and scared when she had first met them.

Five strange boys, all bigger than her. But they instantly became friends, and from the very moment, they have been inseparable.

"Sakhi must be around Paarth, do not worry, we shall find her." Krishn reassured, he knew very well where his sakhi was but he wanted the pandavas to find her by themselves.

"Malini! I am going to eat all the laddoos alone, if you don't show up soon." Bheem threatened, but everyone knew it was a lie, he wouldn't eat without her.

"Bhraata Bheem, even I don't believe that, try something better." Nakul tried to lighten the mood, "maybe we should look this way." Nakul suggested as he looked at the trees on the right.

"And I shall go this way with Madhav."  Arjun suggested, "I don't think it is wise to get separated, soon the sun will go down." Yudhisthir reasoned, he was the eldest, almost sixteen, it was his responsibility that everyone stayed safe.

"But bhraata, we all know what a trouble magnet Malini is, we need to find her soon before she hurts herself." Sahadev stated, his voice laced with worry, no one could deny the fact that Malini was a trouble magnet, a sweet one, but a trouble magnet none the less. If she was not with one of the pandavas, than more often than not, she ended up in some form of the trouble, everyone's  worry just increased for their little friend.

"Malini! Come out! This is no longer funny princess." Yudhisthir stated sternly, his eyes looking at the woods around. Krishn smiled as he pointed up in trees subtly, he too could sense the worry and had finally decided to end the misery of his cousins. 

Draupadi smiled and giggled softly behind her hands as she saw all her friends, searching for her. Oh, they would never be able to find her.

Arjun followed his line of sight, and there sat Malini, with a soft mischievous smile on her face. His heart instantly lightened as he saw the soft smile, the one smile that had the power to ease all his worries.

The pandavas sighed as they saw that she was fine. They all shared a look before nodding, mischief sparking their eyes.

"Bhraata Yudhisthir, I don't think  we will be able to find her anytime soon. I I think we should leave, you know it's gonna be night soon." Krishna began, his voice was laced with mock seriousness as his eyes sparked with mischief as a plan began forming in his mind.

"Madhav is right bhraata, I have heard that bears come out at night, they specifically love the soft meat of young children." Arjun played along, the others suppressed their laughter as they could see the distressed look on Malini's face from the corner of their eyes.

How dare they?! Draupadi thought. Are they really planning on leaving me alone here? With those bears? What if it comes out and kills me? The image had her shuddering.

"Yes, yes bhraata, Arjun is right. I have heard pitashree telling mata that after sunset tigers roam in this areas and they love to eat humans." Bheem added his own two cents making Malini jump in the tree. "Oh bhraata!And don't forget about the wild snakes." Nakul continued, Sahadev kept his silence, he knew she would be scared and would soon want someone to hug her, now if everyone is going to make her angry, he might as well be on her good side.

"Oh yes, and I have often heard mata state that there are ghosts on the tree branches, that often punish the one who dares to trespass in their areas." Yudhisthir decided to play along. He knew this would do the trick.

They heard a girly scream before anyone could even continue, faster than they had ever seen before Malini got down from the tree. Everyone bursted out laughing, all except Sahadev, who gave her a smile, he was amused but knew better than to show.

Her cheeks heated, as anger sparked within her. "I am not talking to anyone of you. You all are so mean. All except for Sahadev."  She stated as she moved towards their hurt, "but Malini..." without listening to Arjun, she kept on moving.

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Kunti, Madri and Pandu watched all the children, their amusement just increased with every passing minute. "What do you think happened today Jiji?"  Madri asked amusement lighting her words. "I think the boys must have pranked her again." Kunti laughed as she looked at her childhood best friend's daughter, who was the queen of Panchaal. 

Draupadi was her birth name but it was something only she knew, the girl who was born out of fire of the yagn. The girl who was a gift to this world from the gods, who was destined to change the entire Aryavart, but she was also the unfortunate child whom her father hated so much so that he didn't want to see her.  Hence her mother had decided to send her here, and that was probably the best decision because Kunti felt like the little girl was meant to be a part of this family.

Her sons had instantly accepted her and the sweet darling was now the apple of their eye. "Pitashree please help us, please tell Malini to talk with us." Bheem whined like a child making his father laugh. "Priy putr, you all have dug your own grave so keep me out of this." Pandu's voice was laced with laughter as he saw his second eldest son pout. Making him and his two wives laugh.

"Sakhi." Krishn began but Malini turned another way. "Let me feed you today than." Sahadev said out loud, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he teased the others, who glared at him.

Malini nodded, she fed Sahadev a bite, and he reciprocated. Kunti smiled amused as she watched the others staring at Malini and Sahadev, not one of them touched their food, they never would. It had been their own little custom over the years that the boys had developed, no one would eat until Malini had fed them.

"Aw, aren't they cute Jiji?" Madri adored the little girl, "they all are." Kunti agreed. "What do you think priye, would our little princess feed them?" Pandu asked amused at the antics of all their children. "Of course she would." Madri replied confidently. "They would never break their little customs for anything."  Kunti added.

Seeing the sad faces of others Draupadi sighed, she moved towards the others. As she fed all the others a bite, and just like that all the anger was forgotten.

She and the others went to the sleeping area of the hut as the three elders talked in the kitchen area. "Lets get the grass beds ready for everyone." Yudhisthir suggested, as they all nodded and began doing just that.

Soon everything was ready, Malini sat on the floor in front of Nakul, who ran the wooden comb through her hair. Krishn and Arjun sat talking to each other, while Bheem sat near them and added to the talk when needed, Sahadev and Yudhisthir sat reading some scrolls.

The soothing rhythm of Nakul running the comb through her hair was relaxing her, she really was so lucky, she had found such a loving family even when her very own father hated her.

She could still remember the day crystal clear, three years back when she had stepped out of the yagn, she had been just a child, that looked no more than six years, who was expecting to meet a family that would love her, but reality is not always like the expectations. She learned that the hard way, her little heart squeezed, as she recalled the words of her father. "Take her away before I kill her!" Her mother had instantly rushed away with her, fearing the wrath of her angry husband and handed her to a soldier with some instructions, and just like that, she was taken away and dropped in the lap of mata Kunti and Madri, who had accepted her like a daughter and not a disgrace.

It has been three years, yet it hurt, it hurt too much to think about it. It hurt so much that she often found  difficult  to breathe through the pain. It hurt to think that she was thrown out like some garbage, was she really so worthless? Maybe. Her family left her, how long before everyone here would too?

Nakul continued to hum but quit it once he realised that she was not relaxing like she usually did. Krishn quietened as he looked at his Sakhi who was submerged in the dark abyss of her mind.

Arjun and Bheem too looked at her, something was not right. Yudhisthir looked up, he had gone through more than half the scroll yet Malini had not yet demanded that he tell her a story, that was strange.

He looked up and Sahadev did too, she was quite, her hands wrapped around her knees that were pulled closer to her chest, her chin rested in her folded knees as her eyes remained closed.

Nakul looked at his brothers, they all shared a worried glance. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, in a comforting manner, pulling her closer to his chest, so her head rested on it. She turned around slowly and hid her face in his neck, she didn't sob but he could feel her tears.

It broke his heart, he felt helpless in that very moment, she was their friend, and friends are meant to help each other, share the pain, than why was it that she was hurt and he could do nothing?

All the others moved around her, they sat with her, no one said a word, they knew actions spoke louder than words, they were there for her, in pain and happiness, like true friends should be.

Her heart warmed at the silent support that she felt from her friends, there wasn't always the need for words between them, the silence was enough, it conveyed feelings more than words ever could. . .

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