Author's pov:
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“You all know it’s her birthday today,” Mata Kunti said sternly.
The Pandavas nodded, nervous under their mother’s glare.
“And yet you still decided to shout at her,” she continued, her eyes narrowing on Bhima.
He lowered his gaze, guilt written all over his face. Kunti said no more, only served them food in silence before stepping out, flowers still in hand, to search for her daughter.
She found Mohini near the lake, shoulders trembling as she sobbed. Sitting beside her, Kunti gently caressed her head. Mohini looked up, eyes swollen red, tears trailing down her cheeks. Without a word, she threw herself into Kunti’s embrace.
“Ma,” she choked out, “I only wanted to see the city. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why do they always tell me to stay here? I feel so lonely. I know you are with me, but… you understand, don’t you?”
Kunti nodded, her heart aching for the girl. “Do not cry, my child. It’s alright. Let them come back from work I will take care of them. Dare they hurt my daughter again.” Her voice was soothing, as if pacifying a child.
“Look, I brought flowers for you. Just the way you like them.”
Mohini pulled back, her tears softening into a small smile as she looked at the blossoms. Kunti tucked the garland into her hair, smiling warmly. Mohini turned to face her.
“I hope the evil eye never falls on you,” Kunti murmured, brushing a speck of kajal from her own eye and dotting it behind Mohini’s ear.
Mohini blushed faintly at the gesture.
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The day slipped by, heavy with unspoken emotions. Mohini remained quiet, her special day ruined.
By nightfall, the Pandavas returned. Bhima carried a packet of jalebi, knowing her love for sweets matched his own. Guilt weighed on him, but he still believed they had been right: Mohini was too naïve, too innocent. The thought of her wandering the city alone where someone might steal her away made his blood run cold.
They entered the hut, Mata preparing their meal as usual. Yet Mohini was nowhere to be seen.
“Mata, where is Shree?” Arjuna asked anxiously.
“She went to fetch water from the lake,” Kunti replied, her voice cold. She had not forgiven them.
They sat uneasily, waiting. A few minutes later, footsteps echoed outside. Mohini entered, balancing a pot gracefully on her head and another at her waist. The flowers in her hair glowed softly under the lamplight, and for a moment she looked less like the lively girl they knew and more like an apsara descending with nectar from heaven.
When did she grow this beautiful? the brothers thought silently.
Mohini smiled at Mata as she placed the pots down but the moment her gaze fell on the Pandavas, her smile vanished into a frosty glare. Without a word, she turned to leave.
“Where are you going now?” Sahadeva asked, attempting a casual tone, but his voice faltered under her cold stare.
“To fetch leaves. So you can eat,” she replied curtly, before stomping out.
The brothers exchanged uneasy looks. Both women of the house were furious with them what were they supposed to do?
Soon Mohini returned with banana leaves. She laid them out with clipped movements, refusing to meet their eyes, and set aside two leaves for herself and Mata.
“Won’t you eat with us?” Yudhishthir asked hesitantly.
“No,” Mohini and Kunti answered at the same time. Both glanced at one another, startled by the synchronicity, then returned to their cold facades.
The Pandavas gulped. They were in deep trouble.
Bhima tried to lighten the mood. “Mohini, for your birthday, I brought jalebis from Ramu Kaka’s shop. Your favorite.”
Her eyes flickered toward the sweets, tempted, but she quickly looked away. “I don’t want it.”
The brothers froze. Mohini refusing sweets was unheard of. Bhima’s shoulders slumped, hurt by the rejection.
“How was your day, Mohini? Did you enjoy it?” Nakula asked carefully—though the moment the words left his lips, he regretted them.
Her sarcasm cut sharp. “Wonderful! I cried for three hours, then slept until Mata woke me to fetch water. Truly the best birthday ever.”
Silence fell heavy.
“Would you like more rice?” Mata asked Bhima icily.
“Ah no,” he muttered quickly, suddenly losing his appetite.
The meal ended in silence. Mohini and Kunti ate together afterward, while the brothers sat outside, restless and weighed down with guilt.
Finally, Arjuna broke the quiet. “Jyesth… we need to do something. We can’t bear this.”
Sahadeva spoke cautiously. “Why not take her with us tomorrow? She could spend the day with the village girls while we work. Later, we could bring her to the market ourselves. That way, she won’t be left alone, and we’ll keep her safe.”
The others turned to stare at him.
“I’m serious,” Sahadeva pressed. “This way, she’ll be with us at all times. She wants to see the world, this is a compromise. What do you think, Jyesth?”
Yudhishthir considered it, weighing their options. Arjuna and Nakula nodded quickly, eager for any chance to mend things.
But Bhima shook his head, uneasy twisting in his chest. He feared the dangers of the city too much.
“Bhrata,” Yudhishthir said firmly, “do you want Mother and Mohini to continue treating us with this silence? Or do you want peace restored?”
Bhima blinked, stunned by his elder brother’s bluntness, but said nothing.
“We’ll take that as a yes,” Yudhishthir concluded. “So it’s decided. Tomorrow, Mohini will come with us.”
The brothers nodded one by one though Bhima’s heart remained heavy with doubt.
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There goes the third chapter!!
Again this story that I am writing is fictional don't take it seriously.
So far I like this story, and if find any mistakes please sorry for that!
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(Edited)
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Man Mohini | {ON HOLD}
FanfictionMohini, a sweet, naive, innocent girl. Pushed into a Yug, full of greed, lust, danger. Her whole childhood she was loved and nourished by her grandmother. Her grandmother told her the stories of Ramayana and Krishna's childhood but never about Mahab...
