Kunti smiled along with King Drupad, Shikhandini and Dhrishtadyumn as they explained the next ritual that they had to do. "So basically I have to walk with Draupadi on this 500 steps." Nakul asked as he looked up at the steps, from where he stood he couldn't even see the steps. "But mata let Bhraata Bheem do this I will do the other ritual." Nakul said as he tried to see the temple.

"And I and Arjun have to make earnings and necklaces for her out of this flowers? Mata let Nakul do this." Bheem pleaded as he looked at Nakul who nodded eagerly. "And I and Sahadev have to make laddoos as prasaad but mata we don't even know how to cook." Yudhisthir stated confused. "Draupadi will be with each of you but she can't speak or stay close to you. " Kunti said making them scratch their heads. What would this mean? How could this help?

"But what about Draupadi? What's her ritual?" Arjun asked as he looked from his wife to his mother, who smiled at him. "She knows what she has to do and her ritual had began since this morning." King Drupad said with a smile as he looked at his daughter.

"But for all this rituals to begin we need to walk to the temple. And you all can abandon the ritual in between if you wish but it is believed that the couple who finishes all this rituals are forever bound together." Shikhandini said as she told them, her eyes looking at her sister and pandavas.

Nakul looked at all the other couples, they all looked nervous, specifically the husbands who were looking at the steps. "May gods be with you." Kunti said as she and the others moved aside, there were twenty something new couples excluding pandavas. Nakul moved towards his wife who was looking at the ground, he wrapped his one hand around her back while the other went under her knees and picked her up making her squeak in surprise.

"Arya you don't have to do this." She whispered, her eyes met hers, Nakul smiled at her, giving her his most dazzling smile. "If this is what it takes to make you mine for the rest of eternity than I can walk 1000 steps like this." He whispered in her ears sensually as he bit her ear lightly making pleasure shoot through her, lighting every part of her body. The unknown feelings again fluttered in her as she continued to look in the eyes of her husband. For too long she had always seen them as her friends and nothing more but now all this feelings were confusing her.

She didn't understand why her heart would beat every time they were close or why she would smile for no reason as she thought of them? What was happening to her? Her heart pounded so hard that she feared that he might be able to hear it. She looked at him with a gentle smile, as he kissed her forehead, his lips lingered there a tad bit longer than it was needed.

Nakul continued to walk, it had been past three hours since they all had been walking, all the other husbands had already stopped carrying their wives as they now walked behind their husbands. The other pandavas walked beside him, Draupadi would dry his sweat every few moments.

"Arya please put me down. " She whispered, her voice breaking, she couldn't see her husband in so much strain as the heat of the sun was at its peak, "Be my strength wifey not my weaknesses, don't hold me back." He cooed in her ear as he watched a tear rolled down her cheek, she nodded and laid her head on his shoulders.

Draupadi closed her eyes, she can't let her husband suffer, she just can't watch. She joined her hand and whispered in a very slow voice, "Lord Surya Narayan if I have been a good daughter to my father and a good wife to my husbands than grant me the wish that today all the hurt and pain that my husbands may feel be transferred to me." She prayed, her words showing instant effect as all the tiredness and the body pain that not only Nakul but the pandavas were feeling just vanished.

Draupadi felt all her energy drain as sweat dripped down her body, every muscle in her body screamed with pain, she felt so tried that she couldn't keep her eyes open. They all look surprised as they looked at each other.

"What did just happen?"  Nakul asked surprised as he looked at his brothers who were not even sweating just like him. "How is this possible?" Arjun asked looking at his brothers. "Maybe this place is magical. " Sahadev suggested and the others nodded as they looked at each other.

Nakul felt Panchaali's body heat up, the sun was blazing and she was in direct light so he thought it was because of that. Soon they reached the temple, "priye we reached." Nakul whispered as he walked in the temple with his brothers, she didn't want to open her eyes.  All she wanted to do was sleep, but she forced her eyes open as she looked up at her husband.

Taking the tiredness and pain of five people was taking its toll on her, specifically since she was fasting from this morning, she hasn't eaten or drunk anything since sunrise and couldn't do so till sunset. Nakul delicately placed her on her feet, he smiled down at her. "Didn't I tell you that I'll walk a thousand steps like this if you're what I get for the rest of eternity, see I did it." He said proudly as he looked at his wife with adoration in his eyes, she smiled back at him with so much love and care that his heart almost stopped beating with all the new feelings that crashed in his heart like tsunami. The smile on Nakul's face disappeared as he noticed that her skin had turned pale, that she wasn't able to keep her eyes open. "Panchaali?" He questioned worried, he put the back of his hand on her head  and looked at her. "What's wrong with you priye?"  He asked as he gazed at her with worry in her eyes. His question had other pandavas walking towards the two.

"Nothing arya I am fasting plus the sun so I think I got a little weakness is all." She whispered as she looked at him and her other husbands, her smile strained. It wasn't a complete lie so the pandavas didn't doubt her but everyone in the family knew that Panchaali couldn't lie to safe her life.

They nodded, Bheem cupped her cheeks as he looked into her eyes, her heart beating wildly as sparks flew where he touched. "Take care of your self, I can't see you getting sick or hurt." He said in a tender voice, his gentleness touched her heart as she nodded to him.

Arjun took her hand as he pulled her near a pillar and made her sit down with her back resting against it.  "Now you relax if I see you walking around I will bind you to this pillar. " His voice laced with mock seriousness that had her giggling. "That's like our girl. This is how we love to see you; happy and giggling. And for that we can do anything." Sahadev said as he kneeled next to them, he placed the ice cold wet cloth on her forehead making her sigh in relief. "Better? " Asked Yudhisthir as he crouched next to Sahadev. She smiled adoringly at all three and nodded.

The smiled as they all stood up and got back to all their rituals, Draupadi sat there with her Mata and sister while her brother and father supervised the other rituals being done.

"Putri you're looking so pale." Kunti whispered in a concerned voice. "Yes Draupadi you're looking sick." Her sister too was worried, "no I'm fine." she assured her Mata and sister over and over again.

By the time the pandavas finished with their rituals Draupadi was supporting more bruises and was even more tired but the pandavas felt fresh. She had some burn marks from when Yudhisthir and Sahadev burned themselves while making laddoos, while her palms had many pricking wounds from the thorns that pricked Arjun and Bheem. Added to that the combined tiredness of the work and all the walk up the stairs barefoot in the hot sun had given her boils and splinters that her husbands were about to have.

The pain was keeping her drowsy, she could feel her back and tail bone hurt as Nakul had been sitting in a yagn for hours now. Once done with the rituals the pandavas moved to their Mata and wife. Draupadi was sleeping with her head in Kunti's lap who was running her fingers through her hair in a soothing manner.

Her face was covered with a veil, "Mata why have you veiled her face?" Bheem asked as he wanted to see the beautiful face of his wife. "It's part of the next ritual." Kunti said with a smile as she patted her daughter's head in a soothing rhythm. "What ritual?" Nakul asked confused, weren't they done? They had done so many rituals today.  It was a miracle thy were all felt fresh.

"You'll know but for now you will have to leave, go out take a walk and be back." She ordered and all sons left. By the time they returned, they were shocked to see that in the same clothes that Panchaali wore there stood around 100 women, who were of same color, height, body and size as Panchaali.

On seeing their faces covered with shock King Drupad laughed, "You all have to search for your wife from all this women, one is your wife others are just illusion." King Drupad said as he made a sign with his hand in a go ahead manner.

Draupadi smiled under her veil, she knew they won't be able to, it was impossible. There was just no way, no man has ever been able to succeed in this ritual, she waited with her heart beating and her body crying in pain but she held on. "This is Panchaali. " She heard all the five say together and the illusions around them all disappeared, leaving them with Draupadi. "How did you recognize her?" Shikhandini asked surprised.

"She's our soul not just our wife. " Arjun said like it was the most obvious thing, his words made her heart beat crazily.

"The sun has set, now all of you take the jewellery that Bheem and Arjun made and you all will help her wear it."  On Kunti's words the five crouched down where Draupadi was sitting, Arjun lifted her veil and their faces lost their color in fear as they noticed her skin was deadly pale, sweat beaded on her forehead. They all shared looks, worry clouding their system.

She gave them reassuring smile, "I am fine." Her words were weak but the pandavas nodded, not that they believed her but because they wanted to get over with all this and return to the temple where they would take care of her. Their movements were swift as they began to help her,  their eyes widened in surprise as the y felt her hot skin, she was boiling with fever, their hearts hurt. Yudhisthir was helping her with the flower bangles, he touched her hand and she gasped in pain, hearing her gasp his brows furrowed as he turned her hands, she tried to prevent it but he was too strong, he and the pandavas sucked in a breath as their eyes landed on her palm, it was red and had many pickles on it,with little blood here and there. Bheem took her another hand and turned it to see that it was in same condition. Things began to fall in place, "We aren't feeling tired or any hurt because somehow you are taking it on yourself." Sahadev pointed out, his mind running a mile. She lowered her eyes and bit her lip, there was no point in denying it.

The other fours eyes widened as they recalled all the injuries or bruises that they got today and miraculously healed. Arjun revealed the burn marks that he and Yudhisthir had gotten while cooking, they were present on her hand just below her elbow.

Nakul took her feet in his hand and turned them sideways to see the soles, they were red and had boils on them with dried blood on them. The five glared at her, their eyes hardened with anger while their hearts quivered with terror and concern for her. They were angry because she took their pain, one thing that the five wanted was to protect her, pamper her, make her happy and not suffer. Seeing her hurt more than any physical injury ever could. Draupadi looked at the ground as her husbands tenderly readied her, being mindful of every injury. And within moments she was ready.

Yudhisthir wrapped his arm around her waist and made her sit up properly, their concern was building along with it was building their anger. They had felt how hot her skin felt, they notice when they were helping her with the jewellery. "Mata now that the sun is set we were thinking about making her eat and drink something." Yudhisthir said, his voice hard with anger as he glared at his wife, his mother nodded as she and the others left to talk outside, giving them sometime alone.

The moment they left Bheem picked her up and made her sit in his lap. "Arya. . ." She tried to protest but was cut off by him, "I am holding patience with you by just a thin thread so don't test it." He growled making her stay still. Her back was against his as she laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her as he nuzzled his face in her neck breathing in her soothing fragrance, trying to hold in the hurt and the anger that he felt at himself, what was so difficult for her to understand that she was what mattered the most not this injuries. What was so difficult about understanding such a simple thing?

Arjun sat next to her with a bowl of cold water and a cloth, he dipped the cloth and put it on her head, his eyes watered as they fell on the burn marks, he should have known, oh his sweet little girl was hurt because he couldn't pay attention.

Nakul rushed in with some lep that he made, while Yudhisthir came in with a plate of food, Sahadev came running in with some herbs and sat next to them while he crushed them.

"Feed her first, she may not be able to handle the pain once I apply the lep. It has some very sharp herbs to kill the infection if they might have set in since the wounds were left open for so long." Nakul's words made all the pandavas look at their wife with worry. They gulped in fear as they looked at her, they were the strongest warriors they could handle anything but when it came to her in pain, they were not just scared, they were terrified.

"Open up princess." Yudhisthir commanded as he brought a bite of food to her lips. "No arya please. . ." She whined, her voice soft. "Don't be stubborn little one or I'll have to bind you and force you to eat." Arjun threatened, his worry for her just increased. He knew well enough that making her eat or drink medicine would be a task, and he remembered that he pain tolerance was very low. It wasn't her fault, even during their stay in forest they made sure that she never really got hurt or sick, but now seeing her in this condition was a tight slap on their face.

They knew that she didn't know much about the world, she was the youngest to them all. They knew that Sahadev who was youngest among the pandavas and she was nine years younger than him, she may have looked like a nine year old when she was brought to their house but she was just a day old. Now after twelve years Sahadev was 21 and chronological age of hers was way less than what she looked, though she looked like a young woman of 19 years.

They have always protected her innocence from everything, just not physical but mental as well. And seeing the interaction that King Drupad and his family had with Draupadi, which was next to nothing,  it was clear that all the knowledge that Draupadi had was from those three years she spent with them. She was very innocent and that was one of the many reasons why they were so over protective of her.

Draupadi whined breaking Arjun's chain of thoughts, "Please little one. . ." He whispered and she opened her mouth, Yudhisthir fed her, while Arjun put the cold water strips on her head.

After a few bites she turned her head sideways, "Arya please. . ." She begged him, Yudhisthir shook his head. He took the glass of water and brought it to her lips, she gave him a pleading look but he gave a stern one making her pout. She drank the water as she felt Bheem caress her arms soothingly.

Yudhisthir kept the plate aside, "I'll go and tell mata we'll be staying the night here in this temple. We can't shift her now, it's night even if one of us gets hurt she'll bare the pain and injury and no way I am going to let that happen." He said and without waiting for a reply knowing well that she'll protest.

"Shhhhh little flower you are in enough trouble as it is so don't add to it."  Nakul chastised lightly, Arjun got up and brought some mattresses bedsheets and pillows, while Bheem took over his work.

Bheem got up with her and laid her down on one of the mattresses, while Yudhisthir came in. Bheem laid her head in his lap as he continued to put cold water strips on her head, Yudhisthir sat on her one side and took her one hand in his. Arjun sat on her other side taking her other hand in his, Sahadev came and sat next to her, "Bhraata Arjun make her drink this, it will reduce her fever as well as heal the boils and make her drowsy so she doesn't feel much pain." He said as he passed the herbal mixture to Arjun who nodded, Sahadev had always been more sensitive to her emotions and pleas, he always gave in and one of the worst torture was seeing her in pain and he could never bare that.

"Arya. . ." Her voice faded as she saw the stern expressions from all her husbands, she coughed as she took the sip of the bitter drink. "Shhhhh its alright, take it easy angel and drink it." Bheem urged her as he rubbed her back in a comforting manner. She held her breath and in one breath swallowed everything.

"That's like my butterfly." Sahadev complimented, the drink did its trick and everything around Draupadi turned fuzzy. "I'm sorry little flower." Nakul whispered as he took the lep and began to apply, Yudhisthir held her one hand and leg while Arjun held down the other. She cried out in pain, making the pandavas heart crack, "Aryaaaa. . ." She called out in pain, when in pain a person always calls out to the person whom they are the most closest to and love the most, to many it is mother but for her it was pandavas, they have always been the most closest to her. Their bond was unlike any other.

"Shhh angel we are here." Bheem's eyes teared as she hid her face in his lap and gave out a sharp cry. Sahadev bit his lip to stop himself from pushing his brother away. Nakul's hand quivered as he tried to apply the lep, his eyesight blurring from all the tears.

Yudhisthir mumbled sweet nothings to her as he tried to hold back his protective side that was trying to come out and break Nakul's hand. Arjun felt her hold on his hand tighten and he squeezed back, trying to assure her that everything will be fine.

Once done with her feet Nakul pushed the bowl away, he gave it Arjun. "I can't do this bhraatashree please." He begged as one after another tear traced down his cheeks. "This is torture." Sahadev's voice was agonized as he looked at his elder brothers. Bheem was the strongest, could crush anything and kill anyone but seeing her in pain he felt like he was the weakest, the most helpless person.

Yudhisthir knew it was his responsibility so he held out his hand for the bowl, only the burn marks and palms were remaining so he blocked everything and just did it, he didn't think, he didn't hear just did it. "Aryaaa..." she screamed out in pain making the other four pandavas hold on to her, Yudhisthir threw aside the stupid bowl once done. He took her in his lap, Arjun took her feet in his lap. While Yudhisthir rubbed her back as she fisted his angvastr. "All done. You're fine now." He whispered as he rubbed her back, assuring himself rather than her.

Soon her cries turned quite as she slipped in a deep slumber, Yudhisthir caressed her head as he rested his chin on her head. The pandavas all looked at each other, their faces showed relief, they all looked at the girl in  Yudhisthir's arms, not even death scared them but one cry of this girl had the capability to break them. They each kissed her forehead, and turned to the direction where the gods statue rested and prayed for the health and happiness of their girl. . .

***
H

ey everyone!

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