Prakriti P.O.V
After our stomach was full, we pulled bunch of straws and created a bed on the land. "Tomorrow, we will arrange a shelter for us" Brother Yudhishthira said, all of us nodded together, it is our life now living like Sages. We would stay here for couples of months and then move forward towards our next location.
We lied down on the grass, my eyes directly went towards the sky which was clouded today. I pushed my hand upward and removed the clouds, sky illuminated with stars and it made a smile on my face. Right now we have clouds in our life but it will be soon moved away with our hard work and love. "I still feel amaze whenever you use your power" Arya said from beside me, his eyes shining in the night, I gave him a small smile. "Are you happy?" he questioned all of a sudden, I turned my head towards him and cocked my head in confusion "Why wouldn't I be?" I asked him, he sighed and looked at the sky "We just got married and this happened" he murmured, I put my hand on his cheek, moved his head towards me and gave him a soft smile. "I am here with my family, with you, I don't need anything" I said in adoration, his face broke into a smile and he nodded his head.
Next morning, I woke up early and went towards the lake and pulled some clean water out for food. When I went back, Arya wasn't around and Brother Yudhishthira was awake as well looking alarmed. "What happened brother Yudhishthira, where is Arya?" I questioned walking towards him. I am not scared for his safety because he is capable enough to protect himself even without his bow. "There was someone behind the bushes, Arjuna went to check it out" Brother answered, I nodded my head and went to prepare food. Slowly, everyone started waking up and Brother Bhima smiled when he saw I was preparing food. Mother came towards me to help me. Just then Arya came back with some Sages who were injured and looked tired.
***
Nakula and Sahadev tended to their wounds. We prepared food for them and Pandavas served them. They quickly started eating, they seemed starved because they started eating at quick pace. Who did something like this to these Sages, they should be punished for the sins.
"Sages, I am sorry" Arya said joining his hands and looking remorseful. "There is no need to apologize, it was us who were scared so we opted to hide ourselves" One Sage said, he still looked shaken up. "Who did this to you, Sage" I asked joining my hands together not to offend them. His eyes moved towards me, his body was shaking in fear "This is a very big sin" Mother added looking at the condition of Sages.
"Panchala King Drupada" he said frightened, his voice shaking with each words. I frowned, Pandavas defeated him in a battle not too long ago. "It is not his fault, when desire and anger takes place in the heart, person firstly forget about his morals" he continued.
"He wants revenge for the disrespect" Sage said, King Drupada should feel gratitude that he is not dead or in prison besides he still have half of his Kingdom with him. Revenge can never be good for anyone. "He wants a son who can kill Drona and defeat Pandavas as well" he said, I looked at Mother while she looked shocked. "To defeat Pandavas, only one son" Brother Bhima scoffed not believing it.
"Did he get the son?" Nakula asked curiously.
"He will get it soon" he said shuddering, "You don't have to worry any more, you are out of that place now" I said giving him a reassuring smile, comforting aura surrounding them. They nodded their head and resume eating, I looked at Arya thinking about Panchala.
***
(In Dream)
"Prakrite" I heard Brother Krishna voice from behind. I turned around and he was standing in front of me. "Brother Krishna" I whispered and run towards him, he pulled me in a hug. "Are you happy?" he asked breaking the hug and looking at me giving me smile. I nodded my head "I am content" I said and he put his arm around my shoulder and we started walking on the shore.
"Why am I here, Brother?" I asked in confusion, we were in Dwarka near water. He smiled his secretive smile "Haven't you feel the change?" he asked, I raised my eyebrow in confusion.
Change?
He chuckled "She is born, the person who will play a major role in establishing virtue in this World" he announced looking happy. "Who is she, Brother?" I asked curiously, who is she that made Brother Krishna delighted.
"She arise from the fire gifted to King Drupada" he said in serious tone. Oh, but I thought King wanted a son. "She is your Fire, Prakrite" he said turning towards me. I stared at him surprised, she is a part of me.
"Don't worry Prakrite, you will understand everything in time, now go back and be with your family" he smiled putting his hand on my cheek. I nodded my head still confused but believing my brother.
"We will meet soon, my sister" he said, with that he was gone.
I woke up from my dream and sighed pulling myself in sitting position mulling over the thoughts.
She is a part of me.
After couple of days we started our journey again in South, Sages with us well. We gave them protection until we dropped them in safe place. We started walking towards a village hoping to stay there for couple of days. Pandavas made weapon for themselves for protection.
I heard the sound of hooves coming towards us, I stopped pulling Mother to stop in her place. Everyone stopped as well and Arya moved forward to look, hiding in the bushes. It was soldiers of Panchala kingdom, we quickly moved in between wilderness to hide ourselves. This place belongs to Aswathama and if he recognized us, we will be in problem. Suddenly one Sage fell down on the ground crying in pain. I could hear the hooves coming towards us. I looked at Arya and he nodded his head, we quickly moved away and hide behind a large stone.
"We have to kill him now" Brother Bhima said moving away, Arya stopped him shaking his head in denial "Mother asked us to stay hidden and we can not kill Guru's son" he said.
"We should move further in the forest" Brother Yudhishthira said and we nodded in response, waiting for Aswathama to move away.
"Soldiers, find this whole place for those seven people" he shouted commanding his army. We quickly moved in the forest running in opposite direction. We hide behind a tree when we heard him coming closer. "I will distract him" I murmured and opened my palm, moving my fingers, wind started swaying in fast pace and dust started flying and making hard to see.
"We should go" I said urgently, Brother Yudhishthira took Mother's hand in his and we started running away from him. Suddenly we reached infront of magical forest. "Brother Yudhishthira, take Mother and Prakriti with you, I will keep watch" Arya said.
"Go on, Nakula and Sahadev" he said looking at his younger siblings in hurry.
"Arjuna, be careful" Brother said nodded his head and moving in the direction of forest. I looked at Arya and he blinked his eyes giving me reassuring signal. I nodded and moved towards the forest with others.
We moved inside the forest and Arya joined us after some time. We started walking and looking around staring at the dark forest. There wasn't even a ounce of rays from the sun.
"We should get out of this place" Brother Bhima said moving his eyes around. He pulled a tree out to make way but the tree fall back in place again. This place is magical, how will we get out of this place? "This is magical place, we can't seem to find the way" I said narrowing my eyes, looking around. "Mother, you should rest for sometime" Arya said letting her sit on a stone.
"It isn't a right time to rest son, we should find a way to get out of this place" Mother said worried.
I sat beside her "Don't worry Mother, we will find a way soon" I said with a small smile, she nodded her head.
***
"This is demon territory, only demon King can let us out of this forest" Arya said pulling the cloth that was tying around his waist and laying it on the floor. "How can you even think about rest, Arjuna, we have to search for the demon and kill him" Brother Bhima said in aggressive tone. I smiled as Arya started chuckling "This place is magical, we can't find him" Brother Yudhishthira said smiling. Brother Bhima looked confused "Then, how will we get out of this place?".
"Because he will come to us" Arya said walking towards Brother Bhima. I chuckled, Brother still haven't understand. "Bhima, because they are cannibal and we are their food" Brother Yudhishthira said making him understand.
"They will find us, just like you find Ladoos" Arya chuckled.
"Don't worry, Brother Bhima, I will protect you" Nakula said laughing. I shook my head smiling. Brother Bhima scowled at him "You will get stuck in his teeth, not even going in his stomach" he said laughing making us all laugh.
"I will be the one to kill him" he announced.
***
I tossed and turned in my sleep. Face of a girl flashing before my eyes. She was standing in the fire joining her hands with a loving smile adoring her face. She moved out of the fire walking down the stairs, fire trailing behind her in a long drape. She looked so pure and innocent.
"With fiery fire on face, with fire breath and with the purity of fire, I have emerged from the fire to serve you" she said, her voice sending warmth to my heart.
I gasped and pulled myself out of the sleep. I moved myself in sitting position and heaved a sigh, I was in the forest with my family, Just then Arya woke up looking around alarmed. "What is it, Arya?" I asked him as he woke up so suddenly. "I can hear someone crying" he said roaming his eyes around. Everyone wake up after that, sitting and looking around. Arya pulled his bow in his hand and quickly stand up started running in the direction from where he heard the voice of crying. "Arjuna" Mother yelled in panic as I pulled myself up and try to follow Arya. "Prakriti, he will come back soon, you stay here with us" Brother Yudhishthira said calmly, I looked at him and he nodded his head so I stopped in my track and waited for Arya to come back.
He came back couple of minutes later with a woman with him. I looked at the woman with raised eyebrow. I could see through her demeanor, they walked towards us, all the while the woman stared at Brother Bhima with a blush on her face while Brother Bhima stared back in fascination. A smile pulled on my face looking at them both. "Who is she, Arjuna?" Mother question looking at her in curiosity. "She is stuck here and alone crying nearby that why I got her here in our protection" he said, Mother walked up to her and put her hand on her shoulder "My family will protect you" she said in reassurance. "Brother Bhima will protect you" Arya joked walking beside Brother Bhima. He came out of his thoughts and quickly nodded his head "Of course, if mother said so, I will definitely protect you" he said in loud voice, the woman stared at the ground shyly and we started smiling. He is so smitten with her.
"What is your name, Daughter?" Mother asked. "And how did you come here?" she continued.
Woman looked startled for a second but pulled herself and told us that her family was lost here and demons killed her parents and then she started crying hugging Mother. Mother comforted her and pulled her towards us. "Now we should leave" Brother Yudhishthira said.
"What was your name again?" I asked her, smiling internally. She looked at me in panic "Pallavi" she uttered slowly. I nodded my head and gave her soft smile. We started walking further in the forest, my eyes met Arya and we shared a smile. Brother Bhima continuously stared at Pallavi and we all chuckled at his behavior. "Where are we going, Brother Yudhishthira?" Nakula asked in uncertainty. "We are going towards South" Brother Yudhishthira responded.
"Yes, this is south, you can smell meat from here" Pallavi said suddenly gesturing towards the south. "This whole place reeks" Brother Bhima said looking around. She nodded her head "Yes, but this is smell of food, I mean food for demons" she stumbled on her words. I stared at her knowingly, "There is also smell of fruits" she further said, Brother Bhima started smiling at the name of food. "Can you tell us where we can find the fruits for lunch?" he asked and she smiled in return nodding her head.
"Then we must hurry, we can not let brother be hungry anymore" I said smiling, Brother Bhima looked at me with fake glare and everybody started laughing. Brother Bhima went to arrange fruits for us as we stand there waiting for him. I moved towards Pallavi giving her a small smile. "You are not afraid anymore, are you?" I asked her, she turned her head towards me and shook her head looking in the direction where Brother Bhima went "Not anymore" she said.
Brother came back with lots of fruit and we sat in a circle and started eating them. I extended my hand towards Mother and feed her, she smiled and took a bite of the fruit. Sahadev pushed his hand with a fruit in front of me. With a smile, I took the bite, this way we finished our food but Brother Bhima was different story, he was eating fruits all the way staring at Pallavi who was sitting opposite to him, they both started doing a little competition. I raised my eyebrow at the scene as both burped after finishing the food. "For the first time without eating from Mother's hand Brother Bhima got satisfaction" Nakula joked and we chuckled.
***
At last, Pallavi disclosed her real self that she is Hidimbi, sister of the Demon King Hidimba. She was sent here to take us to her village so that demons could feed on us, but she fell in love with Brother Bhima and she wouldn't want to hurt us anymore. I already knew of her identity but she wasn't like other demons, she seemed pure and unharmed. She told us that her Brother is very cruel King and torture his subjects so Brother Bhima decided to kill the King and released the demons from his grip. We entered in the village and Brother Bhima challenged the demon King and emerged victorious, as per the rule he became the new King and marries Pallavi in the Kingdom. Before marriage, Pallavi promised Mother that after the birth of her son she won't persuade us to stay here anymore and Mother agreed on this.
After couple of months
The day has come, Sister Pallavi was about to deliver the first child of our family, son of Brother Bhima. After the time we spent here, lots of things have changed, the subjects of this Kingdom is happy now, they don't fear their King anymore all because of Brother Bhima. Their looks have changes as well, with long beard, they looked like a perfect Sage and no one could recognize them anymore.
"Son, You have become the father now" Mother announced, her face breaking in joyful smile. I was in the cave with Sister Pallavi, her child was happy and healthy child. "Congratulation, Sister Pallavi, you are a Mother now" I said smiling happily, she gave me her rare small "Congratulation to you as well Prakriti, he is your nephew" she said looking at her child with so much love. I nodded my head "Of course he is" I said in caring tone. Suddenly her facial features changed, she looked sad all of a sudden. "What happened, sister?" I questioned confused, she was happy a moment ago. She sighed and tears appeared in her eyes "This moment is both joyful and sad for me, Joyful because of my son's arrival and sad because I have to part away from my family" she said, tears falling from her eyes. I wiped the tears away and gave her a soft smile "But we will always remains in your heart" I said, our time in this forest is up now and we have to move on to our journey. I just hoped I could have stayed with my nephew for a bit.
I helped Sister Pallavi to move outside of cave with her son going towards Mother and Pandavas who were waiting outside with a smile on their face. I moved towards Brother Bhima and touched his feet "Congratulations, Brother Bhima" I smiled, he looked so happy with the news, he put his hand on my head and gave me his joyful smile then I walked away from there and stood beside Mother as Pallavi walked towards Brother Bhima with their son in her arms. He took his son in his arms looking at him proudly, I looked at Arya and smiled a soft smile, he smiled back in response.
I am so happy right now.
"Anoint his forehead with your blood, Vrikodara, only after that he will attain his youthfulness" Pallavi said smiling at her son. We stared in confusion at them at the ceremony. Brother Bhima pulled a knife out and cut his finger, smearing the blood on his son forehead. In front of our eyes, small child transformed into a young man. We looked at the scene flabbergasted as Brother Bhima son stood before him reassembling him so much. Everyone cheered for their new King. One by one he took blessing from all of us. Brother Bhima named him Ghatothkach.
With tears, we took farewell from Pallavi and my nephew leaving the magical forest behind.