Prakriti P.O.V
We reached on the outskirts of Varnavrat at night time. Purochan was standing there with his family. Me and mother got out of the chariot and walked towards them with Pandavas. Purochan welcomed us and we started walking as he showed us way towards the Castle. I look around, there was no one here, the whole place was dead silent with darkness surrounded us.
"This place is outside of Varnavrat" Brother Yudhishthira stated because there was no one around. Purochan joined his hand and nodded with a smile "I wanted to make a marvelous Castle for you and you know that we cannot get the vast land inside the Kingdom so I made it here" he explained himself. Brother Bhima moved forward in confusion "Where is it, inside the earth" he asked in sarcastic tone. Purochan started smiling nervously "Why are you making joke Prince Bhima, the Castle is here" he said. "But why is it there no light?" I questioned as he started to walk towards the mirror. He turned his head towards me and bowed his head giving me a smile "My Liege, we don't need the light" he said, before I could ask him further, he moved the direction of mirrors and suddenly moon light reflect on them showing us the enormous Castle in front of us. I looked at its beauty, it was truly a piece of art. Arya looked at me at the same time I looked at him and we both shared a smile, impressed with the view in front of us.
"Welcome my Queen" Purochan said gesturing Mother to enter in the Castle first. She gave him a soft smile "We have to light a lamp before we enter in the Castle" she said, Purochan suddenly looked nervous "Of course, My Liege" he stuttered, smiling.
We moved forward in the Castle, Purochan's wife got the platter for ritual. Mother turned her head towards me "My daughter will illuminate the lamp" she said motioning me to move forward. I smiled and nodded my head and walked towards her. I light the lamp and Purochan's wife took the platter back. Suddenly a disgusting smell entered in my nose and I started coughing, everyone circled around me and Mother patted my back "Are you all right dear?" She asked worried, I nodded my head " I am fine, it just this place reeks of meat" I said covering my nose. It only happened after I light up the lamp. Brother Bhima started sniffing around "You are right Prakriti, this place does smell" he said, in instance Purochan wife came in front of us with scented liquid in her hand. It overpowered the smell of meat. "I am sorry My Liege, must be some animal died in the forest, the smell is coming from them" she said spraying the liquid around. "You should clean it up then" Arya said, she quickly nodded her head "We will do it first thing in the morning".
We moved forward in the Castle, Nakula quickly went to a mirror and started looking at himself while we looked around the Castle. This place is beautiful but there is something strange about it that I couldn't understand. "This Castle is magical My Liege, me and my family made it with lot of effort" Purochan said walking towards Brother Yudhishthira, he nodded his head and appreciate him "Very well Purochan, I never saw something like this before". Brother Bhima moved his eyes around and gave a impressed look to Purochan "You should give him a reward, Brother" he said. Brother Yudhishthira nodded his head smiling.
Sahadev moved forward and looked around the Castle with a frown on his face. "Are you really fine?" Arya asked from beside me, his voice laced with worry. I turned my head towards him and gave him a reassuring smile "I am Fine, Arya" I said. He sighed "I don't like this place" he murmured for only my ears.
Me too Arya, me too.
"How is this place got light during the new moon?" Sahadev asked in confusion. He is right, if there is only source of light is moon then how come this place stays illuminate in the new moon. We turned our head towards Purochan in expectation. He looked uneasy as he started stuttering "Prince, This--, It" he stumbled on his words. Before he could provide us valid answer Brother Bhima interrupted him "Who want to stay this long in this Castle, why worry in vain" he chuckled. "Think about that, this place has lots of mirror, Nakula must have been very happy" he laughed looking at Nakula who was still in front of the mirror. I giggle when suddenly Nakula moved away from mirror in embarrassment. Everybody started chuckling at this forgetting the question Sehadev asked.
"But question is realistic, how will this whole Castle get light during new moon?" Brother Yudhishthira asked curiously. "Without burning the torches, we can not get light in new moon" I said siding with brother. "I will definitely find a way before new moon" he said with confidence in his voice. "I don't think there is any way" I said, he haven't thought about the moonless sky when he was building this Castle. "No, My liege-" he started saying when Brother Bhima stopped him and looked at me "Prakriti, why are you worrying, he is saying that he will find a way then let it be" he said.
"Come on, lets explore our chambers as well " he said and we all nodded our head moving along towards the corridor.
***
I was laying down in our chamber with Arya. "Why are you unusually quite tonight, beloved" he asked. I shook my head because of my suspicion, I shouldn't worry everyone. "No Arya, I am fine" I answered him calmly. He chuckled and put his hand on my cheek "You don't even know how to lie, my beloved" he said which put a smile on my face. He knows me so well. "It just this place is strange, I don't like here" I murmured.
He smiled "That's it, I will ask Brother Yudhishthira that we should depart after the ritual" he said and I nodded my head feeling content.
Next morning we got ready for the ritual ceremony going to shrine to start the worship of lord Shiva. Completing the ritual together, we stand in front of the people of Varnavrat who were cheering for us. Just then some soldiers came from Hastinapur telling us that Uncle Vidur send a present for us. He pulled a sack in front of us and bowed his head. "Its a sack of rice, My Liege" Soldier said. There was something moving inside the sack as we looked at it in surprised.
Why did Uncle sent present here, he could have give us the gift after our returning?
Arya opened the bag of rice and suddenly a rat jumped out of it in Nakula's arm. We all chuckled watching it. "But why did Uncle send a rat to us?" Arya said his thoughts loud.
"Maybe it came here out of mistake" Brother Bhima concluded smiling and we nodded our head but I couldn't understand why Uncle send this all of a sudden, what is the sense of it.
"Is there any message with it?" Brother Yudhishthira asked to the Soldier. He nodded his head "He only said that if one grain of rice soiled in the earth, it comes out as multiple grains" he answered and bowed his head taking his leave.
We all were sitting in the common room as Arya recited the story how Brother Krishna and him kidnapped Rukmini sister. Nakula was playing with his rat and I was sitting with Brother Bhima and Sahadev who were playing game of dice. Brother Bhima started making jokes on Nakula about him being standing in front of the mirror all the time. They started bantering making us all laughed. Brother Bhima suddenly turned towards Arya who was chuckling "You should have seen Arjuna face when he disguised himself as a woman" he chortled, Arya stopped laughing and looked at me, I was trying to control my laugh but I couldn't when I saw the look on his face. He turned towards Brother Bhima "What will our mother thinks when she found out that the strong man of this world cook food in the kitchen like a beautiful, nice daughter in law" he started chuckling when brother Bhima glared at him. "Ask your Arya to stop!" Brother Bhima looked at me and I shrugged my shoulder in response. They started it, I am not getting into this otherwise they will start making fun of me as well. Brother Bhima went towards Arya and started play fighting with him and pushed him on the ground. I laughed when Brother Yudhishthira asked Brother Bhima to check on the food. With a pout, he took Sahadev with him scoffing at Arya. I went towards Arya and extended my arm in front of him. He smiled and took my arm, pushing himself in standing position.
"You must have looked nice as a woman" I teased him smiling and he winked at me.
***
"Its a surprise why this rat is thrashing in my palm when every animals feels peaceful" he question in confusion. "Maybe he is hungry, Nakula" I responded to him.
"Yeah, I got rice pudding for him" Sehadev said entering in the chamber and giving the bowl to Nakula who happily took it for his rat. "Is food finished being prepared?" I asked Sahadev, he nodded his head. I stand up and turned around the brothers "I should bring Mother to the Dining hall" I said and Brother Yudhishthira nodded his head. I started walking out of the room when I stopped suddenly, a distinct smell entered in my nose. This whole place reek. I shook my head and walked out of the door going towards Mother's chamber. Mother was sitting in her chamber looking at the night sky. "Greetings Mother" I said joining my hands together when I reached in front of her. She smiled and raised her hand in blessing "May God bless you".
"Mother, dinner is ready" I said , she nodded her head and stand up "Let's go, Bhima cannot wait much" she chuckled making me grin.
We moved towards dinning hall where Brother Bhima was waiting for us. But there was no one there other than him, I frowned, I thought Arya and others were coming here? Mother sit beside brother Bhima while I stayed standing waiting for others. "Where are others?" Mother questioned looking at me. "They must have been waiting for Nakula to feed his rat" I answered her, she nodded her head "We will wait for them, Bhima, you can start eating" she said and Brother Bhima with a smile started eating sweets.
"Mother, have one bite of Rice pudding from my hand" Brother Bhima said mouth full. I chuckled as Mother nodded her head and Brother took a sufficient amount in his hand and moved towards Mother to feed her. But before he could do that, Arya pushed brother's hand away, I stood there shocked looking at Arya in astonishment. "This pudding is poisoned, Mother" Brother Yudhishthira said coming towards us in worry. My eyes widened as we stared at him.
"My rat died eating this pudding" Nakula further clarified. I quickly pulled Mother in standing position terrified for her.
"We have to go, this Castle can be set on fire any time" Arya said urgently, Brother Bhima stand up as well in confusion "I am not understanding".
"This place is made up of quickly burning material, After our death by taking poison, this place is to set on fire" he said with clenched jaw, that's why this place smell different.
"This is a plan to kill us" I muttered frowning.
"Yes, and for everyone it seems like we died in accident" Arya growled in anger.
"I can't believe it, Hastinapur want to kill us" I speak in disappointment, Arya shook his head "Not Hastinapur, this must be planned my Prince Duryodhana" he stated. Prince Duryodhana can scoop this low to become the Crown Prince.
"We should go, we have to stop Purochan and take him to Hastinapur for punishment" Arya said enraged. I pulled Mother with me and we started walking towards the entrance of this place. Mother was lost in her thought, she haven't spoke a word. Brother Bhima started talking how is he going to kill Prince Duryodhana after this. Mother stopped suddenly in her track looking lost. I turned my head towards her in worry "Mother, we should go" I said, my whole body tense, we have to stop Prince Duryodhana.
"We are not going to do anything" Mother said all of a sudden, tears threatening to escape from her eyes. All the brothers turned around and come towards us. "How can we stop? Duryodhana made a plan to kill us, to kill you" Brother Bhima said gritting his teeth in anger. "We are not going back to Hastinapur" she said crying.
"I can not go back to the place where they always try to kill my sons" she said, forcing the word out. I stood there frozen listening to her. "Hastinapur is not our home now, every time I fear for all of you" she said, tears falling from her eyes.
"But Mother, Brother Yudhishthira is crown Prince" Nakula said not believing at all.
"We don't want any throne" Mother cried and then started talking about King Pandu, how he left the throne and stayed in forest.
"But what about Justice, Mother" Arya asked in anger.
"There will be no justice in Hastinapur until King Dhritarashtra is on the throne" she said staring at Arya who looked at her in pain.
"My life is my five sons and my daughter, I don't need anything" she said crying and sat on the floor, I pulled myself towards her and pulled her into hug "If you want this then we will do as you say Mother" I said, tears appearing in my eyes. I couldn't see my Mother crying. She cried in my arms as everyone came towards us and hugged Mother. "We won't go back to Hastinapur" Arya said crying.
"What about Dwarka, It is our family now when they will find the news of Sister Prakriti death, won't they wage war on Hastinapur?" Sahadev questioned as we broke the hug. I gave Sahadev a watery smile and shook my head "No, they won't, Our supposed death will seem like an accident so there will be no need for the war" I explained, Brother Krishna know everything before hand so It won't be a problem.
"We should move before any one finds us" I said, everyone nodded in response, I helped Mother to stand up and we started walking to get out of this place without any one noticing. "This way" Brother Yudhishthira said as he opened a large door, fire sprout out from the door spreading around us. This whole place will burn down to ashes in just few hours. We have to hurry. "There is no other way now, Purochan has lighten the whole place around" Brother Bhima gritted his teeth. "You have to use the weapon to stop this fire" he said turning towards Arya.
"No, if fire die down, everyone will know that we are alive" Brother Yudhishthira suddenly call out, he is right, we can't let anyone know about us.
"But Walls are melting down brother" Nakula said worried.
"Brother Yudhishthira, Madhava told me the story of Goddess Saraswati, we have to find a way beneath earth" Arya said as realization dawn on his face.
"Good idea" Brother Yudhishthira said after mulling over it.
"We should move out from here" I said quickly, fire was coming closer to us. It won't do anything to me but it can definitely hurt my family. We moved in the other direction searching for a place which have less fire so that we can dig a tunnel. Me and Mother were walking in the middle, I have my arms around her, Arya was behind us and others were in front of us for our protection. Suddenly a chandelier fell from the ceiling, I quickly pulled Mother back before she could get hurt. "Mother" Brother Yudhishthira said from the other side in panic. Arya quickly came towards us and stand closer. We searched for a way to get out but fire was spreading quickly. There was no way for us.
Use your intelligence and calmness whenever you face any problem.
I remembered Brother Krishna advised before we parted away. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my heart beat. I am nature, I can handle this situation. Brother Bhima tried to come towards us but his foot stuck on the ground in fire. "Bhima" Mother yelled in horror.
It's time for them to know about my true self, I promised myself that I won't use my power in front of others but this is my family and they have every right to know.
"Mother, everything will be fine" I said in calm voice and moved forward.
"Daughter"
"Prakriti"
Both Mother and Arya yelled in panic watching me walking towards the fire. As I walked on the fallen chandelier absorbing the fire from the ground making a clear path for us. "Come on, we should go" I said turning towards Mother and Arya. They looked at me in shock, their mouth wide open. "I will explain everything later" I reassured them, Arya quickly pulled Mother and we started walking towards the remaining pandavas. They were looking at me in amazement. "This whole place will burn out quickly, come on" I said in my serene voice, they followed me, wherever my feet fall on the ground, fire died down. I moved my arms and fire around us slowed down. We reached towards a chamber where all of pandavas weapon were. I stopped myself and looked at them. Confusion, amazement, shock were written on all of their faces. "Brother Bhima, we should start digging the tunnel here" I said gesturing in the middle of room. He quickly came towards me and gave me a smile punching with full force on the ground creating a large hole. "I will take it from here" I murmured, he looked at me in shock "How are you going to do this?" he asked, I smiled and moved towards the hole and with a flick of my hand, I created a tunnel before my eyes using my earth element.
"You should focus on your earth element, maybe someday you will need it" Brother Krishna said with a secretive smile on his face.
Brother Krishna kept hinting about this from time to time, preparing me. He knew I would be in this situation one day.
"We should go" I said, Mother came towards me putting her hand on my cheek "My daughter really is a nature" she said happily, I smiled at her. First brother Yudhishthira went inside the tunnel, then Nakula taking Mother with him. Sahadev followed them with Brother Bhima, Arya stand beside me "Come on, we better go" he said, I shook my head. "My work is not done yet" I said, he furrowed his eyebrow in confusion. I outstretched my hands in front of me pushing all the fire that I absorbed creating a ball of fire. "I command you to go back to the person who called you in the first place" I said, with a loud roar, fire started spreading away finding path for itself. "What was that?" Arya asked looking astonished.
"It was justice by nature" I said calmly.
***
From the tunnel, we traveled to the forest safely. Everyone was silent during the journey thinking about last night. "We can not live in Prince's attire" Brother Yudhishthira said, he is right we cannot stay like that. "We will disguise as Sage, Brother Yudhishthira" Arya said thinking over.
"Great idea, we will disguise as Brahmin travelling towards south moving towards the place where memory of Father and Madri mother are " Brother said, I saw them once before their death. "We will reach from where our life started" Brother announced smiling. I put hand around Mother's shoulder giving her a reassuring smile.
We will be fine.
We moved towards the center of forest, discarding our royal attire and putting Sage clothes. We started walking in the forest to find a good place to rest. We have been travelling since last night. "So you can control fire and earth" Brother Yudhishthira stated walking beside me, I shook my head "Not only these two, I can control all elements" I responded, Brother Bhima came beside me and laughed "So our Prakriti is actually nature in herself" he said, proud evident in his eyes.
"Its all about belief Brother Bhima, if you believe that I am nature then I am and if you don't then I am not" I replied.
Its all about belief.
"After last night, I definitely believe in you" he laughed making me smile.
"We all believe in you" Brother Yudhishthira said smiling. I looked at Arya, he gave me a understanding smile and I sighed in relief.
Arya and Nakula went to search for food. Mother was sitting against a tree thinking. Sahadev was collecting twigs while Brother Bhima removing stones away. Brother Yudhishthira trying to create fire so that we could cook some food. I walked towards brother Yudhishthira and sat beside him, he was rubbing two stones to create fire. "May I?" I asked trying to help him. He turned towards me and gave me small smile and nodded his head. I lighten up my index finger and created the fire. He then moved towards the woods making weapon from the wood.
Suddenly brother Bhima walked towards Arya and Nakula who brought food for us. "You have bring the food" he said smiling and looking at the food in hunger. I chuckled and walked towards Mother who looked sad.
"Duryodhana can take the throne but he can not take my teeth and stomach" he smiled making us laugh. "As long as I can eat, I am happy" he continued. Everyone gathered around us and sat in circle. Mother was lost in her thoughts. Arya looked at me and I nodded my head "Mother" I said, she comes out of her thoughts and looked around her, giving us small smile. "Mother, we all are very hungry, serve us food" I smiled. She looked at the food and at me. "Daughter, this time you serve the food for all of us" she asked, I nodded my head and distributed the food in two half, first half I gave to Brother Bhima who smiled looking at the food and the other half I distributed equally for the rest of us.
"Start eating" Mother said, looking unhappy and lost. I looked at Arya to do something and he nodded his head.
"Mother, I remembered something" he started, Mother looked at him with interest. "When we arrived in Hastinapur for first time, during dinner, Grandfather told us to eat food without bending your arm, Can you tell us how to do that?" he asked her. She thought but shook her head in the end. Brothers shared a smile among them and Arya extended his hand towards Mother holding fruit in his fingers, one by one each one of us extended our hand towards her. She finally gave us a genuine smile and a tear slide down from her eyes. With my other hand, I wiped the tears away and she looked at me smiling eating the fruit from my hand and then from others as well.
"Mother, until we are together you are not going to cry" he said wiping her tears again. "Until we are together, we don't need to bend our arm or bow our head before anyone" he continued. Mother wiped her tears and extended her arm to feed Arya who extended his arm towards Brother Yudhistira who extended his arm in front of me. I opened my mouth and eat the fruit, turning towards Mother and feeding her. We feed each other with a smile on our face until Nakula spoke "But I am not gonna feed Brother Bhima everyday, everyone have to take a turn" he chuckled making us all laugh in joy. Brother Bhima scowled at him and took Nakula in his arm eating the carrot from his hand and ruffling his hair chuckling.
"As long as we are together, we will be happy" I said to Mother who nodded her head with a smile.