"That's not right Vrikodar." Malini argued.

"It is Malini." Bheem argued back.

"Its not."

"It is"

"Its not."

"It is."

"Its not."

"It is."

"What are they arguing about this time?" Krishn asked as they sat on the rocks near the river bank. "The right way to fish." Nakul replied. "And whose way is right?" Krishn asked amused. "No ones, they are both wrong." At Sahadev's reply they all chuckled.

"Dharmraj see Vrikodar is not listening to me." Malini complained as she looked at Yudhisthir, who gulped in nervousness and tried to smile but failed. "All the best jyest." Arjun teased. "Malini is wrong again bhraata." Bheem stated, confidence ringing in his voice.

"Thank god! I am happy for the first time that my expertise lay in Ayurveda and not Dharma." Sahadev sighed in mock relief thanking the god, making others laugh. "Bhraata if you survive this argument, we shall meet soon and if you don't, than just know that we love you." Nakul teased and the others roared with laughter.

"Malini I don't know from where you learn all this wrong ways." Bheem complained. "They are not wrong." Malini insisted. "Of course they are." Bheem continued to argue.

"Are so not." Malini argued back.

"They sure are."

"Absolutely wrong."

"Your way is."

"No yours is."

"Why does bhraata Bheem even try this? When he knows, he can never win." Arjun asked, a loving smile on his face, "a boy can always dream." Nakul teased, making everyone laugh.

"Fine, you're right, I am wrong. Happy? I am leaving." She finally gave up and walked home, the others sighed. Now they'll have to ask for her forgiveness again. "She'll be fine." Yudhisthir said, he was sure. "Of course she will be. By the time we reach home. She will forget about the fight." Sahadev said knowing her very well, she couldn't hold a grudge to even save her life. She was just so kind and forgiving.
They were glad they had her as a friend.

Malini sat in the beautiful meadow, where all sorts of wild flowers grew, making it look so beautiful and attractive that she always forgot all about the worries. The soft glow of the sun was like a balm on her body, she relaxed and shut her eyes and slowly let herself get lost in the dream world.

***

She had not expected the change that had happened, when she retired home, instead of usual laughter there was a heavy atmosphere that felt like stone on her chest, the dark gloominess and the grief that she felt was just too much. The only thing she could remember was seeing the dead body of Mata Madri and Pitashree Pandu after that everything went blank.

Malini felt like she had died. Everything had happened so fast, one moment they were happy, and the very next the bad news had her feeling dead inside.

The death of Madri and Pandu had shaken her, two more people that she loved had left her. She felt shaken to the core, her mind felt numb, she herself felt numb, she didn't know how much she had cried but she knew that her eyes were puffy from crying.

It had been three days since they had all return to the palace of Hastinapur. Any other day, they would have been excited but not now when their dear hadn't said, ate or drunk anything.

"You need to eat something priye." Bheem pleaded, he could no longer bear the sight of her being so sad and broken. "Yes dear, you should eat something." Nakul agreed, a tear rolled down his cheek. She hadn't said a word since the death of mata Madri and Pitashree.

"Please talk to me Malini." Sahadev pleaded, his heart hurt, seeing his friend hurt like this was not something he wished to ever see again. It was like the life was sucked out of her, "Malini." Arjun pleaded, he laid his head in her lap, expecting her to caress his hair, but nothing happened, she remained still as stone.

"Move everyone." Yudhisthir ordered, he had enough, her silence was threatening to destroy the calm in him, they all followed their brothers orders. He sat on the bed and pulled her closer, he let the grief in him out through the tears as he hugged her, she didn't hug him back but soon the dam of tears bursted and she hugged him tight, her tears flowing down her cheeks, her cries piercing the silence in the room.

They let her cry, each of them held her hand as she cried in Yudhisthir's neck, who rubbed her back in a platonic manner.

"You're not alone little flower." Yudhisthir promised, "and never will be, we will always be there for you." Bheem assured . "Friends for forever Malini." Nakul stated. "That no one could ever separate." Sahadev added. "Forever together Malini, through difficult and happy times alike." Arjun promised.

Her heart was overwhelmed and for the first time in days she smiled. She will be alright, she had them. Her friends. "Where's Kanha?" She asked as she looked around for her friend, "He had to return, though he left this for you." Arjun said as he gave her a peacock feather that made her smile, they were happy that they had got their friend back.

Nakul fed her as others talked, they all soon moved out to take a walk. "Oh see the all the vanavaasee are out. Oh and this time with the bhikshuni. Let me guess what they are up to. To go get bhiksha. Old habits die hard." The boy sneered, Malini was shocked, there was such hate in his words, why did he hate them so much when she had clearly done nothing to him.

"Dushasan!" Bheem warned, the boy in front of me. "Bheem, no, he is our brother." Yudhisthir stopped him before he could take a step forward, Draupadi could feel the anger in between all the others, but the only thing holding them back was Yudhisthir.

"Ya vanavaasee listen to your brother, he knows that if you dared touch me. I will throw you out like how one throws a fly that has fallen in milk." Dushasan taunted and his brothers laughed with him.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked at him, her anger sparked when he tried to push Sahadev, "How dare you!" Draupadi shouted, "Dare touch him again and it won't end up good for you." She warned, her eyes were blazing with anger.

"You stupid girl!" He spat as he moved towards her, the younger four pandavas tried to move forwards. Dushasan tried to push Nakul when her anger just blazed, a fire ignited and created a wall between the pandavas and Kauravas.

"Malini. . ." Yudhisthir kept his hand on her shoulder and tried to pull her back, Dushasan was shocked, as the shock worn off, fear set in, his eyes looked from fire to the furious face of Malini before turning around and running along with his brothers.

The pandavas laughed, all except Yudhisthir who had a mask of peace on his face as he watched Malini, who calmed down and began laughing with others. "Malini next time they'll know better than to tease you." Bheem said making others chuckle.

"Let's go and meet mata, Malini." Sahadev said as he walked with the others towards Kunti's room. Malini was mesmerized to see so many beautiful ornaments and vases, so many people resided there.

"Unlike forest there is all too much chaos here. No calmness." She stated as she walked with the others, who guided her towards the room of their mother but she found it difficult to remember the way.

"Dharmraj this place is so big and has so many people in it." Her words were laced in awe, the others smiled at her cuteness, she was so fascinated with her new surroundings.

Malini was shocked to see the huge door, "Would I ever be able to open this door myself?" She questioned, her words laced with disbelief had everyone laughing.

"That's a question that time shall answer." Arjun replied as Bheem pushed the door open. Kunti sat on her bed with Gandhari while they talked. Malini was surprised to see the band that was tied around the eyes of the pretty woman.

"Pranipat Mata." Malini said softly, the two women turned towards her, "Putri!" Kunti ran towards her and wrapped her arms around her little body as she sobbed. She couldn't believe her eyes, she had been so worried, for so long she and even Gandhari sat with her, trying to make her say something but failed miserably. Now that she stood in front of her she couldn't believe her eyes.

"I am sorry mata for worrying you so much." She apologised, she didn't mean to make anyone worry. "Shhhhh it's alright dear. Now that you are alright, see how everything will be back to normal. Putri meet Maharani Gandhari. " Kunti introduced her to Gandhari who smiled.

"Pranipat Maharani." Her sweet voice had Gandhari beaming with happiness, "Stay Blessed Priy Malini." Her words were laced with sweetness that made Draupadi smile. "I hope you like it here Malini. I have a daughter too, I am sure you two will get along very well." Gandhari said, she didn't want the poor girl to feel left out here.

"Mata I'll let you two rest now. I shall meet you tomorrow." Malini bowed and took her leave, as the women nodded.

***

A few days later.

Kunti paced her room, the scroll laid on the floor, tears traced down her cheeks, she knew sooner or later, this day would come when she would have to say goodbye to her putri. Her heart twisted painfully as she recalled the words from letter, her best friend was no more in this world, and as her last wish she wanted Draupadi to live with her family.

"Dasi, go and get Malini." Kunti ordered and the dasi bowed and left, "Mata what happened? Why are you crying?" Sahadev asked as he stood near the door with Nakul, they shared a worried look before running in and wrapping their arms around Kunti.

"What happened Mata?" Nakul questioned, his heart beating wildly in his chest. "I have a feeling Mata, like something bad is going to happen. That's what I was here to tell you. What happened Mata, please tell us, you're worrying us." Sahadev pleaded, his lower lip wobbling as tears traced down in his cheeks.

"Malini has to return her home Putro." She choked the words out, they all turned around shocked as they heard a gasp from the doorway, there stood Malini with Dushala stood there, shock marring their faces.

They walked in still shocked, as though they couldn't believe what Kunti had said. "Mata Kunti you're joking right? My Sakhi doesn't have to return right?" Dushala begged Kunti, wanting her to say that she was joking, she had just found a friend and she didn't want to lose her at any cost.

Kunti knelt down and held her arms open, the two girls ran in her open arms and cried. The two brothers were just as shocked, a sharp pain shot through their heart like someone was squeezing it, the very thought of being separated from their friend had them feel miserable.

Nakul ran out to call his brothers, he was sure they'll be able to do something, that they'll somehow convince mata to not send them away.

He searched the entire palace, but they were nowhere to be seen. He returned back to Kunti's room, they had all calmed a bit, the air was thick with sadness, resignation was all that was left.

A tear rolled down his cheek, they'll forever be incomplete now. Without Malini they'll never be complete, who will he argue with? Who will he tease? Who's hair will he ever comb and do different hairstyles for?

He felt like a piece of him was being torn away from him, she was their family never had he dreamt that someday she'll be taken away from her. Maybe when she got married, but even that was too far in the future, not so soon.

"The carriage is ready Maharani Kunti." A soldier bowed as he came with the news. Nakul ran and hugged Malini so did Sahadev and Dushala. "Please don't leave Malini." Nakul pleaded, tears streaming down his face.

"Yes Malini please don't leave." Sahadev begged, he knew that Malini's mata has died and she needs to leave, he knew he shouldn't stop her but she was his best friend, his family. How can he just let her go?! Malini was their family, how could fate do this to them? What had they ever done to deserve this separation?

Malini took a deep breath, she'll have to be strong, she'll have to give them hope even if it is a lie. She knew Mata Kunti was bound by her promise to her mata to not reveal her identity and that once she reached Panchaal she won't ever be able to contact them.

"I'll come visit. We'll meet again." She promised and really hoped that someday she will. She pulled back from others, they all looked at her with sad eyes. "Don't move. I'll be back soon. " Nakul said as he ran out, she nodded, Sahadev and Dushala helped her pack her stuff along with Kunti.

"This is for you, we made it. You always wanted one, this was the present for your birthday. . ." Nakul held the doll out to Malini, he had slowly tip toed in the room. He didn't know if she'll like it or not, he really hoped she did.

Tears traced down her cheeks as she looked at the beautiful doll in Nakul's hand, she could no longer hold back, she wrapped her arms wrapped around his neck as she hid her face in his shoulder and cried. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She mumbled in between her sobs, she than hugged Sahadev, who hugged her just as hard.

He was always the shy one, the quite one. Who was calm as a sea, he didn't talk much but he always made a point through his actions to show that he cared. She pulled back, "thank you so much Sahadev, I will always treasure it." She said softly as she hugged the doll close to her chest. The two brothers nodded.

The whole palace seemed to be submerged in pain and sadness as everyone stood near the gates of Hastinapur waving goodbye to the little girl who had managed to sneak in all their hearts. Tears rolled down their cheeks while some sobbed as they watched her leave. . .

***

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