As the first light of dawn filtered through the palace windows, Kunti made her way to her sons' chambers, her heart heavy with concern. The whispers among the maids had reached her ears—rumors of a punishment given to the Pandavas. She needed to know what had transpired.
Entering the room, she found her five sons gathered together, their faces reflecting a mix of exhaustion and resolve. Bheema, ever the straightforward one, was the first to speak. "Mother, the punishment was meant for me alone, but these four," he gestured toward his brothers, "were there because of you."
Kunti's brow furrowed in confusion. "Because of me? What do you mean?"
Bheema continued, "Last night, when we came to you with our problem, you told us to divide it among ourselves. So, we did. We stood together in front of the temple, all five of us."
Kunti's heart swelled with both pride and worry. "But why were you given punishment in the first place? What happened?"
Bheema, with a hint of mischief, replied, "For eating mangoes, Mother."
Kunti's eyes narrowed slightly. She knew there was more to the story. Turning to Yudhishthira, the one who never told a lie, she asked, "Is that all there is to it?"
Yudhishthira, with his usual calm demeanor, answered truthfully, "There was a clash with the Kauravas, Mother. They don't want us here; they see us as threats. They even spoke of removing us from the palace."
Kunti's face grew pale at the news. She took a deep breath, her voice steady but laced with worry. "You five must always be together. You are each other's bodyguards. Promise me that you will never let anything or anyone divide you."
The brothers nodded solemnly, their bond stronger than ever. But Yudhishthira, who always sensed more than he revealed, saw the anxiety in his mother's eyes. "Mother," he said gently, "you seem troubled."
Kunti, trying to shake off the ominous feeling that had settled in her heart, replied, "I don't know, Yudhishthira. I feel... anxious. There's something in the air, a bad omen. I fear for what lies ahead."
The brothers exchanged uneasy glances. They had always relied on their mother's intuition, and her words only added to the weight of their situation. They knew that the road ahead would be filled with challenges, but they were determined to face it together, just as their mother had taught them.