BUTTERFLY FROM THE FLAME (JOY AND GENTLENESS OF THE FLAME)

Chapter 7

The pandavas were just roaming around after breakfast. Balram had went to assist Nanda in some works, Draupadi had went with her sakhis (gopis) and Krishna... unknown.

The pandavas were just roaming around as they had nothing to do. As they were walking they saw many children playing along with some teenagers. As they were walking by the pond Arjun remembered the pond as it was the same pond where his and Draupadi's conversation and friendship first bloomed.

"Jiji~" a familiar sweet voice rang in their ears catching their attention. "Jiji! Come fast!" draupadi said with two matkis filled with water, one one her head and the other on her waist. "Let's go or that Krishna will come." a gopi said. 

"Bhaiya is unknown from the morning which is already a bad omen, he can pop out anytime. Let's go." draupadi said. "Lets go!" the gopi said and they all started to go towards their homes. 

The pandavas unknowingly started following them. "Tada!" krishna said appearing out of nowhere after a while. Draupadi quickly got her matki down on the ground. The gopis just froze with the matka on the top of their head and Krishna was standing there innocently.

"What happened? Weren't you all waiting for me?" Krishna asked. "Krishn! Please today! today! let us go!" Sayi said. "Yes we will be very grateful towards you we will give you makhan!" Pakhi pleaded.

"Very good deal but I am not in the mood! My yashodha maiya, rohini maiya and my only sister draupadi are there who makes the best makhan in the world why will I need yours?" Krishna asked.

"Draupadi say something to your brother!" Simma said. "What will she say? She is safe! Turn around and see." Krishna said making the gopis turn around. "Well I am safe" Draupadi said showing her free hands and two matkis which were on the ground.

"Kanha~" the gopis said in a sweet voice. "Yes?" Krishna asked in equally sweet tone. "Please let us go~" the gopis pleaded. "Okay~" krishna said and the gopis started moving. "Just joking~" Krishna said and aimed a stone at Kriti's pot resulting it to break and pour water on her.

Krishna broke few more pots of the gopis who were holding it above their heads and ran away. "Draupadi!" the wet gopis called. "What draupadi? Bhaiya was the one who did it. Don't tell me." Draupadi said defending herself.

"Plus I am his YOUNGER sister. YOUNGER I am in no place." Draupadi said. "What is the use of taking a bath in the cold Yamuna early in the morning when we are again going to bath because of Kanha." Pakhi said. 

"Now lets go. We will go and place the matka and you all change your dress." Prisha said and they all went. "I have always heard about madhav's mischiefs but now I am feeling bad for the gopis." Arjun said seeing the gopis going back some wet.

*****

"Jishnu!" Draupadi called seeing Arjun sitting by the pond where he first talked to her. "Take this." Draupadi said handing him aamras. "Thank you!" Jishnu said and Draupadi sat on the nearby stone exhausted.

"What happened? You are looking exhausted." Arjun asked. "Nothing. I was almost robbed by my own brother." Draupadi said making him chuckle. "Does he always do that? Today morning I saw him with you and the rest gopis." Arjun said. "Its his daily routine. Its like his hobby- no habit now." Draupadi said.

"Jishnu you are from hastinapur right?" Draupadi asked making him nod. "How are the royals? Meaning Maharaj, maharani, rajkumar?" Draupadi asked. "Why are you so interested in rajkumar?" Arjun teased.

"Its nothing like that. We met during childhood once that's it." Draupadi said. "They all are well." Arjun said. "Where did you learn archery from?" Arjun asked. "A little by myself and a little by guru parshuram and maharishi durvasa." Draupadi said almost choking him.