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The Pandavas have settled in a small hut near the borders of Panchal. They realised they were spotted by spies of Hastinapur in Ekachakrapura and decided it wasn't safe for them or the people there to stay there.
Sahadev and Nakul were helping in cleaning the humble hut while Arjun and Bheem went out to gather food.
Yudhishthir sat with his mother, arranging things for cooking lunch.
Prakriti on the other hands felt restless. She had heard rumours of the Princess of Panchal attaining marital age, or how the King was thinking of arranging a Swayamvar. The memory of her conversation with the God of Fire.
"Kanha....How do I change something that is bound to happen? Something that is fated..?"
Prakriti's thoughts were cut off abruptly when she heard Kunti call for her.
"Putri, Arjun and Bheem are back with the alms they have recieved. I shall complete my daily prayers, be a dear one and divide the food between my sons." Kunti smiled, brushing her hair out of her face endearingly.
"Sure." Prakriti gave her strained smile, the older woman's words adding to her already piling stack of worries.
"Ah, Madhavi." Arjun greeted her with a smile, "Come! I have a surprise for you."
"What... exactly-" Prakriti gasped as she walked out of the hut. Her eyes widened in excitement as she looked down at the large stack of sugarcane that lay among the alms collected.
"How did you....?" She asked in confusion as she didn't remember sharing any conversation about her love for the fruit with Arjun.
"Not me. It was Jyesth. We met him on our way back, he stopped us to drop these before asking us to hurry back and that he'll be back soon." Arjun shrugged, smirking slightly when he saw light specks of red in the said girl's cheeks.
Prakriti felt her ears and cheek warm up at the thoughtfulness of the oldest Pandava. She remembered sharing a story about Dwarka, how she fought with her brothers for sugar cane. She didn't think he will remember the information.
"Ah....right. Thank you...I must thank him when he returns." Prakriti cleared her throat loudly.
She helped Arjun and Bheem put down the food they have collected. She sat down, dividing the food into five parts for the brothers and keeping some for herself and Kunti.
She gently placed each fruit on clean banana leaves. As usual, a vast portion of it was given to Bheem, the rest was equally divided.
Soon enough the brothers sat around the area, waiting for her to finish her work, patiently. As she placed a bunch of wild berries on Nakul's portion she stared at the basket that contained one last fruit.
"Oh. Who get's the last one?" Arjun asked, already digging into his portion of fruits.
"Mata or Madhavi can have it, I suppose." Yudhishthir suggested, glancing slightly at the said girl.
"No." She shook her head. "I've already seperated some for ourselves."
"Maybe I should have it, to nourish my handsomeness." Nakul teased.
"Do you want to offend Raja Vrikodar Nakul?" Sahadev gasped.
"Just vote on it." Prakriti chuckled.
"We have always shared everything amongst ourselves. It is how we stay together and strong." Arjun explained.
Prakriti's smile faltered.
"Oh well then what do we do in a situation like this? Take a bite of it each?" Bheem asked, annoyed.
YOU ARE READING
WHEN THE STARS ALIGNED / A Mahabharat AU
FanfictionTime, something exempt from the shackles of nature, it is independent, curious and ever-changing. It almost never bowed to anyone. So when time decided to play a little, chaos was right behind her, striding confidently as if he knew it was his time...
