Chapter 26

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Arjun and Draupadi were walking by the forest. Draupadi was trying to remember his familiar aura, voice and appearance. "Ah-" Draupadi said as she stepped on a stone. "Kumari!" Arjun said. "Its okay. I just stepped on a stone." Draupadi said. As she tried to walk her feet lost its balance and stretched its muscle. "Ouch!" Draupadi winced in pain. 

"Silly girl! Listen when told once." Arjun thought. "Kumari please wait." Arjun said and kneeled down and took her feet and checked it. "Not serious. Lets rest for few minutes." Arjun said. There was no place to sit so Arjun again knelt down making Draupadi confuse. "Kumari, sit. Its not good to stand up." Arjun said. Draupadi was hesitant for a moment but sat after Arjun signalled her to. Arjun slightly massaged her leg as they were resting.

"Have we met before?" Draupadi asked making him look up. Their faces were just inches apart from each other. "Looks like kumari forgot who she was staring yesterday." Arjun said. "So were you. But not yesterday before that." Draupadi said. "Maybe yes, maybe no." Arjun said. "You feel and look strongly familiar." Draupadi said. "Its upto you to find out." Arjun said. 

"Should we continue kumari?" Arjun asked. "Draupadi." Draupadi said. "Okay should we? DRAUPADI?" Arjun asked. "Yes." Draupadi said and stood up. Though her leg was still aching she decided to continue. After walking for a while Arjun sensed her pain in her leg and suddenly carried her in bridal style surprising her. "Ya-arya?" Draupadi said. "Your legs still not healed. And arya? Hmmm, I like it." Arjun said. "I surely know you!" Draupadi said. "Then find out." Arjun said. "Name?" Draupadi asked. 'If I say my name it won't be fun." Arjun said.

"Come on arya. After we head back and my maiyas ask me your name what will I answer?" Draupadi said. "Arya sounds nice from your mouth." Arjun said. "Arya now I am fine you can put me down." Draupadi said. "Sure?" Arjun asked making her nod. He let her down and they started walking. "We reached." Arjun said pointing at the house. The rest of the pandavas were standing outside. "They look awfully familiar. Who are they?" Draupadi asked. "They are my brothers." Arjun said.

Draupadi examined each and every brother to find them awfully familiar. She smiled and joined her hands to which they returned it with same respect. "I KNOW THEM! BUT WHO ARE THEY?" draupadi thought. "Mata? Look here what I have got." Arjun said looking at Draupadi lovingly to which she returned with a sweet smile. "I am busy right now." Kunti said. "This voice..." Draupadi thought. "Mata see na! Your happiness will know no bounds." Nakul said. "Okay then whatever you brought divide it among you six. Its an order." Kunti said shocking everybody to the core.

Everybody stood silent, shocked. Tears silently made its way to Arjun and Draupadi's eyes hearing Kunti. Kunti then got up from her pooja and turned towards the pandavas. "What happened?" Kunti asked seeing them standing numb like a statue. "Putra? This garland? Wait! Did....." Kunti said seeing Arjun standing with tears in his eyes. He then slowly moved aside revealing Draupadi shocking her to the core. "Putri Draupadi?" Kunti said shocked and astonished. 

As Kunti moved towards Draupadi, Draupadi slowly retreated her steps back making Kunti's face drop. Draupadi then ran out of the house towards the forest. "What happened? Did I just see putri Draupadi running out? Arjun why are you wearing a marriage garland?" Pandu asked. "What did you do mata?" Arjun said. "It was my mistake. I take back my words." Kunti said. "Mata you said it infront of the shivling." Karn said. "It can't be undone." Yudhistir said. "Somebody mind to explain me?" Pandu said. "Pitashree." Nakul and Shahadev said and explained everything. "You should have turned back when they said Kunti." Pandu said seeing Kunti sobbing. "Putra arjun, you are her husband go after her. Shew went towards the north. "Pandu said and Arjun quickly rushed out.

Arjun searched for Draupadi every way possible but couldn't. At last he reached the riverside to see Draupadi sitting by the river on the rock trying her best not to cry but her eyes didn't let so. Arjun's heart ached seeing Draupadi crying on the rock.

 Arjun's heart ached seeing Draupadi crying on the rock

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"Draupadi.." Arjun said making her glance him through her shoulder and remained silent. "Draupadi, please talk." Arjun said worried. "Your mata divided me among you and your brothers like an object. What am I left to say with?" Draupadi said. Arjun went infront of her and knelt down and held her hands and lifted her beautiful crying face. 

"We are finding a way

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"We are finding a way. Don't cry." Arjun said wiping her tears. "How arya? You won me by mahadev's grace, in his presence and your mata ordered me to be divided infront of mahadev. How can she take that back?" Draupadi said. "Don't lose hope dear. Pitashree, mata and my brothers are discussing." Arjun said cupping her right cheek from one hand. Draupadi caught his hand and said "Arya what if they don't find any? Will I be divided among you six brothers?" Draupadi asked and as Arjun was about to answer.

"My daughter will not be divided like an object! I don't allow!" Drupad said making the couple turn around to see Drupad standing in his chariot along with Dhristadyum, Ugrasen, Vasudev and Nanda. "Pitashree, dada, baba." Draupadi said. "My beloved granddaughter is not an object young brahmin that you will divide her!" Ugrasen said. "Maharaj-" Arjun said but was cut off by Kunti. "Its not his fault but mine! Please bhai-" Kunti said coming with the rest. "How dare you divide my daughter like an object?" Vasudev raged in anger. "Why did you even divide her in first place?" Nanda asked. "Krishnaa! Come!" Dhristadyum said. "Bu-" Draupadi said. "Come means come dear. Don't object." Ugrasen said and took Draupadi's hand from arjun's and dragging her to his chariot and driving off to Panchal.

"Bhaiya, pitashree none of them recognized me or pretended not to?" Kunti said seeing their chariot disappearing. "Even bhaiya drupad didn't recognize me. Bhaiya vasudev and nanda raged on me." Kunti said.

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