"That…Okay, but we will not be living there that long. The moment my friend fulfils his promise, Our family will be shifted to another place but you can still send your Prince to me, I will be honoured to teach the kids born from the boon of Mahadeva."
Drona took a moment to process the offer of Kripa. The logic and reason used by Kripa were impeccable, Even if Drona wanted to refuse he can't as Kripa did not ask him to come with him as a Brother-In-Law but as a friend.
If he rejects the offer of his not only he will hurt Kripa with this sentence it would also be an insult to the friendship they share, he did not want to lose that friendship, So he had to agree to put aside his pride for once.
It would also be hard to explain the reason behind the refusal as he was going to ask for help from his other friend, So there Kripa played his word game well not giving him a way to counter him.
"Arya, I am happy that you agreed but I still wanted to ask, What we're talking about is I giving Drauni (Ashwatthama) a mixer of flour and water as milk? how do you know? "
Kripi was smiling with joy right now, When she heard Drona agreeing with her brother because now her son did not need to suffer anymore and can be happy, Not pretending to be one but genuinely happy.
But the question of her Arya asking for forgiveness was still lingering in her heart, She did not understand what he was talking about. How can she trick her son like that?
It's like betraying the trust her son has in him, She as a mother never let that happen to her son not being able to trust or believe her. There would be no bigger punishment than this one for any mother in this world.
"I…I once again pleaded for the forgiveness of that Priye, I can't even imagine what kinda hurt and pain you must have felt at that moment, But I know it was the cruellest punishment for you.
I had a nightmare about this last night. That's why I went and asked everyone but I was not able to get milk in alms, No I couldn't get anything in alms today. I am the culprit for your anguish."
Drona once again felt a sharp pain in his heart hearing the words of Kripi, He thought she was trying to hide it from him preventing him from feeling even more guilty and getting hurt but this action of hers hurt him more than harsh words of hers ever could.
Today he wandered everywhere he could. He even on foot walking past the borders of this kingdom in search of a glass of milk. He knew what would happen if he didn't get milk today but he felt helpless when no one gave him anything.
He even thought of breaking the rule of only asking from 7 households but he decided not to as this conduct is not pious, A good Brahmin should only get what he is given, Never have to want to have more as it would only bound him to this illusory world and become hurdles to get the Moksha (Salvation).
But this journey of his is not a waste of time as he realises that no matter how powerful he is or how much he is revered throughout the world but if he can't even provide for his family, It is all useless.
This is the time when he remembered the promise his friend gave to him when they were studying together in his father's sage Bharadvaja. His friend who is now king of the Panchal kingdom, Drupad said to him that come he becomes a king, Drona can ask for anything even if he is the half kingdom and he will give it to his friend.
Before Drona did not think much about it as what is the use of a kingdom for someone like him? But now he decided to go and cash in that promise, Not to ask his half kingdom but just one cow and a few bags of gains will be sufficient for him and his family.
Unfortunately, Drona still has not realised the duality of the human heart, If there is someone who can become the best saint-like person it will be from the human species but it is also true that the same person also holds the potential to become the evilest being.
It might be the reason why humans are treated differently and given special care as that trait makes us different from all others, But poor Drona does not yet know that the human heart changes faster than the chameleon changes colour when they get what they wanted.
so he told kripacharya " I will be going to panchal to meet my gurukul friend Drupad to ask him to fulfill his promise after that i will think about hastinapur."