Asmi: The Warrior of Fate

In Their World

Asmi stood at the threshold of the grand hall in Hastinapura, her heart racing with anticipation. She had only recently arrived at the court of the Kuru dynasty and already she felt an close bond with the Pandavas, yet a feeling of wariness could be sensed around Duryodhan and the Kauravas. 

Her mission though, was clear: to remain neutral while forging connections that might one day prove invaluable.

As she made her way into the hall, she spotted the Pandavas- Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjuna, Nakul, and Sahadev- engaged in a discussion over the upcoming Kalapradarshan. The atmosphere was thick with tension but Asmi felt a pull toward them.

"Hey there!" she called, her voice cheerful enough to cut through the seriousness of their conversation.

The brothers looked up, their expressions shifting from concern to curiosity. Yudhishthira smiled warmly. "Devi Asmi! We were just discussing the preparations. Would you like to join?"

"First of all, Prince Yudhishthira. Don't call me Devi and all. Just Asmi is fine. And it is for you all." She said smiling widely. "I have some ideas that might lighten the mood," her eyes sparkling with mischief.

As days turned into weeks, Asmi immersed herself in the intricacies of Hastinapura's court politics, involving with both sides. She eagerly absorbed knowledge of modern sciences, politics, and warfare, fascinated by the historical now, her present's tactics and strategies that she had studied back home.

One afternoon, as she was preparing to bake a batch of sweet treats in the kitchen, she overheard the Kauravas discussing tactics for the upcoming competition. Duryodhan's voice was grating as he shared his disdain for the Pandavas.

"Those five have no idea what's coming for them," he remarked with a smirk.

Asmi's heart sank but she decided it was time to intervene. Wiping her hands on her apron, she sauntered into the dining area. "You know, prince, knowledge is power. You might want to rethink your strategy," she said with a playful tone.

Duryodhan looked at her, skeptically. "Aur tum kya janti ho humari rannitiyon ke vishay mein?" (And what do you know about our strategies?)

With a confident smile to begin with, Asmi replied, "I know that underestimating your opponents can lead to worst defeats. You might want to observe the Pandavas' strengths instead of just plotting against them."

Duryodhan narrowed his eyes but remained silent, intrigued by her audacity.

Asmi busied herself in the kitchen, preparing delicious treats for the evening feast. Her friendship with Subhadra and Dusshala blossomed, each sharing stories as they stirred pots and kneaded dough while the attendants assisted them through.

"Do you think ideal men really exist?" Subhadra asked, leaning against the counter with a curious expression.

Dusshala giggled, rolling out a piece of dough. "Well, if they do, they must be skilled in cooking and charming enough to handle our personalities!"

Asmi laughed, adding, "And they should be strong enough to help with kitchen disasters- like this!" With that, she pretended to lose control of a bowl filled with flour, sending a cloud of white powder into the air.

The three burst into laughter, their giggles echoing through the kitchen. Just then, Duryodhan walked in, his expression shifting from annoyance to amusement as he watched the trio in action.

"What on earth is going on in here?" he asked, irritated yet intrigued.

"Just some girls talk, prince Duryodhan!" Asmi grinned while flipping her tied up braid. "Care to join us?"

Duryodhan chuckled unlike himself, shaking his head. "No but you're quite the troublemaker."

Later that evening, the palace courtyard shined with excitement as the brothers prepared for their training sessions. Asmi suggested a friendly duel.

"I challenge you, bhrata Bhim!" she declared, her eyes shining with determination.

Bhima raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You think you can take me down?"

"Absolutely! But no holding back!" she replied, adopting a fighting stance which was welcomed by weird gazes of the audience.

As the duel commenced, the Kauravas and Pandavas gathered to witness the spectacle. Asmi showcased her Krav Maga skills, fluidly dodging and countering Bhima's powerful attacks.

The two exchanged blows, each one equally matched in strength and agility. Bhim laughed heartily as she escaped his grasp and countered with a kick. "You've got some moves, Asmi!"

"I've trained for years!" she replied, a smile plastered across her face as she managed to catch him off guard momentarily.

The duel was exhilarating and it wasn't long before the crowd was cheering, both sides momentarily forgetting their rivalry. As the match progressed, Bhim eventually managed to pin her down but not without a heavy bunch of struggle.

Just when it seemed that Bhima would win, Asmi executed a swift maneuver, slipping out from under him and flipping him onto his back just like she had witnessed in Sultan. The match ended in a draw, both of them panting heavily and grinning widely.

Duryodhan, who had been observing from the sidelines, felt an unfamiliar warmth toward Asmi. "Not bad, Asmi," he remarked, hiding his admiration behind a mask of indifference. "You're quite the asset."

In the aftermath of the duel, Asmi felt a sense of unity among the brothers. They gathered in the evening to reminisce memories and laughter filled the air as she shared her amusing school incidents.

"You're like a breath of fresh air in this court!" Arjuna exclaimed, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

Kunti and Gandhari, watching their sons bond, exchanged knowing glances, their hearts getting filled up with warmth.

Later, Asmi found herself in Gandhari's chamber, where the three women chatted about life in the palace. "You have brought a lightness to our home, dear," Gandhari said, her voice filled with genuine affection.

Asmi felt tears welling up. "You both remind me so much of my own mother. It's comforting to have that connection here."

Kunti added, "You are truly one of us now, Asmi. We are grateful for your presence."

The beautiful connection was witnessed by the Kuru princes and heartwarming glances exchanged among.

As she left the chamber, Asmi's heart was full, her connection with both the Pandavas and Kauravas growing deeper by the day. And she is grateful for that.

Later that night, while moving to her guest chamber, Asmi overheard Duryodhan speaking with Shakuni.

"She's an asset, Duryodhan," Shakuni said, his voice smooth yet filled with an unsettling vibe. "If you want to secure the throne, you must win her over to our side."

Duryodhan nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "But how? She's already friendly with the Pandavas."

"Manipulate her," Shakuni suggested. "Show her that she can be more powerful with us. The Pandavas are weak in comparison."

Asmi's heart raced as she listened. She realized that her neutrality was a double-edged sword, and she needed to wield it carefully. The fine line between friend and foe began to almost blur and she felt the weight of her position more heavily than ever.

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So now, Asmi realized that it isn't as easy as she had initially thought. The palace politics, manipulations and the rivalries are taking a toll on our poor little girl's mental health.

Kanha take her away, please!

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