Vakṣaṇī Dharmā : The Song of Mahabharat

18| Proceed With Caution

Arjun inched closer to Mrithika's sleeping figure and flicked her forehead.

Mrithika woke up with a small shriek, "What on earth"?! She frantically looked around whilst rubbing her forehead and found Arjun laughing at her.

"Ugh it's you", She expressed in disgust and leaned back against the chariot wall as if nothing happened.

"Why do you keep sleeping all the time? You're missing all the scenery, I've never seen someone as lazy as you"! Arjun exclaimed in frustration and threw up his arms in the air.

"Well, the ride lulls me to sleep I can't help it unlike you", Mrithika shrugged as eyes felt droopy once more.

Arjun rolled his eyes and asked his charioteer, Puru, to stop—waking Mrithika up abruptly. She held a look of confusion and annoyance as she saw the others stop too. She took in her surroundings and saw that they were in middle of the woods with a wide dusty path ahead of them.

"It's time for lunch", He answered her questioning gaze.

Mrithika hopped from the chariot and stretched her back and legs which gave out a mild cracking sound. The servants who accompanied them laid out the utensils and a makeshift dining camp for the royal family to dine in.

Mrithika rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat along with the Pandavas and their mother at the dining table. As she sat down, Sahadev made a beeline for the chair near hers almost knocking Arjun out of the way.

"Why the hurry"?! Arjun exclaimed as he took a chair opposite to a stiff Mrithika.

Sahadev ignored him and smiled at her. "Pranipat"! He greeted cheerfully.

Arjun shot a cautious at his youngest brother and turned to Nakul, "He ignored all of us yet greeted her first. What's wrong with him"?

Nakul smirked as he saw Sahadev busy in a conversation with the Suryavanshi Princess and answered in a hushed whisper, "He likes her".

Arjun's eyebrows shot up as he took in the information. "What"?!

Nakul nodded slyly as he jutted his chin towards the duo. "Isn't it obvious? Sahadev is seen with her almost all the time and blushes whenever she compliments him. I thought you had a very good eyesight, Bhratashree"!

"Humph", Arjun huffed indignantly at the dig on his eyesight as an ace archer but as Nakul unfolded the events that lead to his allegation, he was dumbfounded and amused.

"Mrithika and Sahadev? Pffft", he started chuckling as Nakul got to the fencing class encounter.

"I never knew our baby brother grew up so much"! Arjun snorted as he and Nakul snickered while they watched Sahadev making an attempt at prolonging the conversation.

"Also I have read the entire book you have given me, yet I still have some doubts regarding it", Sahadev said.

Mrithika raised an eyebrow, "I gave you a dictionary for it though".

Sahadev waved his hands dismissively. "No it's not about the words and meanings but about certain plot holes I've discovered".

"What book are you talking about, Sahadev"? Yudhishthir asked curiously which garnered the attention of the remaining brothers who leaned forward, Arjun and Nakul more so.

"It's a book given to me by Mrithika called Harry Potter. It's in a different language, Bhratashree", Sahadev explained as he saw looks of bewilderment clouding on his brothers faces.

"Hari Putter? Funny name", Bheem snorted.

"Which language is it"? Arjun asked knowing full well that his brother was well versed in all languages of India.