Swarnakavya ~ The Tale of Madrinandana

03| Handsome Prince

Nakula recovered completely within two days. He has already started to participate in his daily duties of Ashram. All princes of Kurus woke up and started performing the daily routine activities assigned by Dronacharya. They took bath one after the other and started to clean the Ashram. Some broomed the surroundings and few were gardening. Few took up the responsibility of arranging the weapons and some went to cattle shed.

Yudhisthira and Duryodhana were chopping the firewood. Amidst of this also Duryodhana and Bhima didn't missed to pull each other's leg. It was then when Suryanarayana showed his presence completely. Arjuna and Sahadeva were in the cattle, Nakula alone went to fetch water for Drona's household and to rest works.

Nakula, who is now the handsome lad of nineteen tightened his antariya firmly and picked up the mud pots.

" Gurumata, anything else needed?" He asked Kripi politely, who sat making garlands for Maheshwara.

" No my child, it's enough" She smiled and resumed her works.

Nakula nodded and turned to leave for the nearby fresh water pond to fetch water.

" Wait wait" another voice stopped Nakula. He turned to see Virajas, the youngest Dhratarashtra approaching him. He fixed his antariya and greeted Kripi before taking few more pots to fetch water.

" What's the matter Bhrata?" Nakula asked. Among all Kauravas, Viraja was close to him.

" Why don't you just call me as Viraj?" Virajas wore an irked face.

" Tch tch! How's that possible either? You born before me, you are elder to me" Nakula said dramatically.

Virajas rolled his eyes and sighed. Both of them broke into laughter. Keeping away the differences and quarrels, these two cousin brothers shared an adorable bond, friendship perhaps or even more than that.

Both of them arrived at the nearby pond which was used by the people who resided in that forest. Numerous ladies also arrived there to fetch water for the household works but stood admiring Nakula and his extreme handsomeness even forgetting their works.

" Nakul, they are gazing at you" Virajas whispered and nudged him.

Nakula felt naturally embarrassed by the presence of many ladies who were especially drooling at him constantly. He just glared Virajas and nudged him forward quietly gesturing him to fill water in the pots.

" Beautiful ladies, kindly gives us way to fetch water" Virajas asked the ladies making his way in between the crowd and dragged Nakula also with him.

" Being utterly handsome is harmful " Nakul hissed as her quickly tied the pots to the carrier without even wasting a single second more, while Virajas had a hard time suppressing his laughter.

" You don't have any other works to do or what? Get the water and leave" a sweet but loud voice of a female hits the crowd all of a sudden.

The ladies quickly grabbed their things and hurried off to finish their work as they recognized the voice very quickly, it belonged to the daughter of the tribe's chieftain, Kala.

" Thanks " Nakula said and walked forward with his water carriage.

" Veera!" Kala called out for Nakula as she ran behind them.

" Yes please" Virajas turned back and displayed his ever charming smile ho Kala.

" Not you " she just dusted him off her way and stood in front of Nakula making Virajas frown.

" I am Kala, daughter of the tribal chieftain. I am spellbound by your beauty Veera. I wish to be yours forever. Please accept my proposal and please make me your wife." She expressed her desire. Kala's age must have reached hardly sixteenth year. Like the other girls of her age she just selected a prince who charmed her eyes with his beauty. She just didn't care about other factors.

Nakula just wore a half smile and looked up at her " forgive me, I cannot accept this proposal", he denied gently much to her dismay.

" Why? Am I not beautiful? Is that because, I am a tribal girl?" Kala was not ready to accept the defeat, her eyes welled up in no time which cleanly displayed her childish soul which has no idea about the world outside her tribe.

" Nakul, poor girl" Virajas patted his friend's shoulder.

"I am in gurukula at present, that means I am practicing Bramhacharya at present. I have elder brothers and mother too who would ultimately decide my wedding. Tell me now how can I give my consent? " He asked Kala, who didn't have any answer to reply.

" Our worlds are different, I want to go back now " Nakula smiled and left the place tucking Virajas along with him.

" Why did you replied soo rudely?" Virajas huffed as he fixed the stick properly on his shoulder.

" Then? Should I get married to her at instant?" Nakula replied.

" If I were you then I would have definitely accepted the proposal. But what to do god didn't give the handsomeness that you bear" Virajas restarted his dramatic self.

Nakula rolled his eyes and glared his friend but yet somewhere in his heart he felt proud of his charm.

Kala wasn't the first to react in this way for Nakula's beauty. Whenever he went to fetch water from the pond, ladies of tender age always adored him forgetting their work. Afterall Nakula cannot show off his pride and happiness for his beauty as it may look odd infront of other.

" Beauty won't run the life though, I am an able swordsman, Archer, warrior and a prince too. She didn't considered these facts to propose me" Nakula replied.

Both of them kept the carrier down infront of Drona's household as they both reached the ashram back.

" Why are you beating around the bush dear brother? Simply say you didn't liked her " Virajas didn't took more time to decode the his words which were shaded by unwanted practical approach.

Nakula faked a cough agreeing with his words indirectly and pulled out his sword to begin his practice.

" Ladies are behind you because your beauty but " Virajas paused and coughed.

" But what?" Nakula asked passing another sword to Virajas inorder to perform a duel.

" Some Apsara would descend on earth and as soon as you see her you would be carried away too right? That day I will also see, these swordsmanship, Archery, warrior things would knock your brain or not" Virajas said sarcastically clashing his sword with Nakula's sword.

Nakula defended the blow but Virajas word did knocked his brain this time.

" Can I ever meet someone whom would I desire to marry instantly?" He thought for himself.

" Nakula and Virajas" the voice of Drona pulled Nakula out of his thoughts.

" Pranam Gurudeva " both of them bowed down to greet him.

Drona blessed them at first, " both of you be ready today, you will be executing your knowledge into action" He said before leaving the arena.

Nakula and Virajas looked at each other blankly.

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Vatsu❤❤❤