After a long day of introductions and formalities, the Pandavas were shown to their individual rooms in the vast palace of Hastinapura. Each room was grand, adorned with luxurious furnishings befitting royal princes. But as the brothers looked around their new, separate quarters, a sense of unease settled over them. For the first time in their lives, they would be sleeping apart.
Later that evening, the brothers gathered in Yudhishthira's room. They had grown up sharing everything—their thoughts, their joys, their sorrows, and even their space. The idea of being separated by walls, no matter how richly decorated, felt strange and disheartening.
Bhima, with his usual frankness, was the first to speak. "I don't like this at all. We've always been together, like the fingers of a hand. Why should we be separated now?"
Arjun nodded in agreement, his heart heavy with the same sentiment. "I miss the closeness we had. There was a comfort in knowing you were all just an arm's reach away. Now, it feels as if we are growing distant."
Nakula and Sahadeva, usually more reserved, also expressed their discomfort. "It doesn't feel like home," Nakula said softly. "Home was where we were all together, where we could talk to each other before falling asleep. This palace is beautiful, but it feels cold without you all around."
Yudhishthira, always the voice of reason and calm, tried to reassure them. "I understand how you all feel. This separation is new to all of us. But remember, we are still under the same roof, and this change doesn't mean we are any less united as brothers. Our bond is stronger than any distance that rooms could create."
Kunti, overhearing the conversation, entered the room with a gentle smile. She had known this transition would be difficult for her sons. "My dear children," she said, gathering them around her, "Change is a part of life, and while it may seem unsettling, it often brings growth. You are all still together, just as you always have been. Your hearts are connected, and nothing can change that. You will continue to support each other, just as you did when you shared a room. The love you have for each other will keep you close, no matter where you sleep."
The brothers, comforted by their mother's words, sat in silence for a while, reflecting on her wisdom. The grandeur of the palace no longer seemed so intimidating. Though their rooms were separate, they knew that their bond was unbreakable, forged by the trials they had faced together and the deep love they shared.
As they parted for the night, each brother carried with him a renewed sense of connection, understanding that no distance could weaken the ties of brotherhood. Their hearts remained united, and they knew that as long as they had each other, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead in the vast corridors of Hastinapura.