Soul connection: The first Krishna-Arjun journey

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕞𝕧𝕒𝕣

Arjun's pov

Arjun and his brothers had set out of the forest with the sole purpose of gathering news into Kampilya, capital of Panchal, one of Hastinapur's enemy kingdoms. Their mother stayed back in their makeshift hut, performing a puja.

Praying, thought Arjun ironically. What do they pray for?

Their cousins had plotted to burn them alive to prevent his eldest brother's coronation as Crown Prince of Hastinapur. They had been on the run ever since; there had seemed no point in returning to a place where they were hated so intensely. Most people might have stormed back to Hastinapur, confronting their cousin about the attempted murder and fight for the crown, but not Yudhishthir. Every ounce the peace lover, he had been the one insisting that they stayed away.

Since entering the kingdom of Panchal, they had assumed disguises of Brahmins. As such, while going out to scour the city, they could not carry weapons. Brahmins with weapons was as much an anomaly as Ksatriyas without weapons.

Their soul was still that of a Ksatriya, however, and Arjun's hands felt empty without his bow.

"What kind of news are we looking for, exactly?" enquired Nakul.

"Whether Pitamah has crowned Duryodhan, for one," said Bheem.

"What are we going to do with that bit of information?"

"It is just called staying up to date," said Arjun. "Unless," he glanced at his eldest brother, "unless jyesht is thinking to return?"

"No," said Yudhishthir. "We shall not return till we have reason to."

Sahadev, who had wandered off, returned just in time to hear that.

"Does Bhrata Duryodhan not yet having been crowned count as reason, jyesht?" he asked. "I confirmed from a family of potters."

To his brothers' disappointment, Yudhishthir shook his head.

"I am hungry," declared Bheem.

"When are you not?" chorused three voices.

"Quiet," said Bheem. "Did you spot an eatery anywhere, Sahadev?"

"Yes, but empty," said Sahadev. "The town seems suspiciously empty, if you ask me."

Now that they observed, it did seem so. The capital of Panchal was expected to be a lot busier on an afternoon. They had been here before, charging in on horses, every bit royal Ksatriyas. Itching to avenge their teacher's insult by King Drupad.

Arjun felt unexpectedly wistful. There were so many things to attribute it to. He missed Gurudev. He missed Pitamah. He missed their uncle and aunt, too, even if they were Duryodhan's parents. He missed Hastinapur.

Most of all, he missed the life of a warrior.

Moving from kingdom to kingdom in hiding, disguised as Brahmins, did not befit a warrior. He would not be surprised if his skill with the bow and arrow had died away altogether. He had had no challenge over two years now.

The twins were presently trying to solve the mystery of Panchal's emptiness, though how standing on their toes and looking around would help with that, Arjun did not know. Bheem was grumbling about dying with hunger, heedless of Yudhishthir's pacification.

A bored and listless Arjun suggested asking around for both an open eatery and regarding why the streets were so empty. They got the former first, from a passerby calling over in a friendly voice, "Are you going for the swayamvar, respected ones?"

Brahmins, at any rate, got as much respect by the public as princes.

"There is a swayamvar today?" asked Yudhishthir.

"Our own Princess Draupadi's. You would have heard of her?" He seemed to read from their expressions that they had not. "You are from another kingdom?"

"Yes, we--we come from Kuntibhoj," said Arjun. "We simply happened to be passing."

"Well, do come and witness the swayamvar ever if you do not intend to compete. Ever since Princess Draupadi was born from the fire, we have been awaiting this day. The King has organized a most unusual swayamvar--"

A swayamvar was not their cup of tea. They were hardly looking for wives to accompany them in their life in the forest and to go just to witness but not take part did not make much sense.

Yudhishthir had just started to say a polite no.

"--he has decided to give Princess Draupadi's hand to the most competent amongst her suitors," the passerby went on. "A near impossible target has been set."

Arjun perked up.

"Target?"

"Target to be hit with an arrow."

Arjun had not realized how lifeless he had been feeling till the mention of a nearly impossible target of archery set his body alive with anticipation. He turned to Yudhishthir slowly, and found him looking at him warily.

After Yudhishthir had told the stranger thank you and farewell and he had gone on his way, Arjun chose to assume a beseeching tone. "Can we not go, jyesht?"

Yudhishthir sighed. "This is not a competition of archery, Arjun. If you hit the target, which I have no doubt you will, you will up with a wife."

"End up?" scoffed Bheem. "I doubt he could ever do better. I have heard the Princess is the most beautiful woman in our land."

"We are trying to hide our identity. Do you think no one will probe into it if a Brahmin comes and wins the Princess's hand? And what are we going to tell King Drupad?"

"How can you think so much on an empty stomach, jyesht?" Bheem wondered.

Nakul went into exaggerated fits of laughter above Arjun and Sahadev's normal laughter. Yudhishthir frowned at them all.

"Come on now, there is not much news to be got with the entire population at the swayamvar," he said. "Let us return to Maa--"

"But, jyesht," Arjun persisted.

Knowing the reasons his brother had pointed out against it being a good idea, he did not know why he wanted so badly to go to this swayamvar. A true challenge at archery he had not had in ages? A beautiful princess's hand he had a good chance of winning? 

Something interesting in their life to break the monotony?

But to him, it felt none of them. It was simply as if a magnet pulled at him steadily.

He must go to the swayamvar. He must go to the swayamvar.

"Do you want to go that badly?" asked Yudhishthir.

"Yes, please. Please, jyesht--"

"All right," said Yudhishthir, resigned. "On your head be it."

Arjun exchanged a grin with Bheem. With their jyesht around, no mess they created could be on their head. He would sort them all out.

***

A/N: Just a drawing I made today to honour my Madhav-Parth and am quite proud of.