Pandavas' Panchaali.

Chapter 6

"What happened?!" Karn nearly shouted as he watched Nakul drag in a crying Panchaali, the pandavas rushed to her, it had been two days since they had reached Hastinapur and she was already crying, Karn wrapped his arms around her as he pulled her in his arms, "shh,it's okay. Everything is fine." He mumbled sweet nothings as he watched Nakul pace around the room in anger, "I won't leave him! I will kill that bastard!" He swore as he continued to pace the room.

"Will you tell me what the hell happened?!" Karn shouted as she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried, hiding her face in it. "That b*stard Duryodhan!" Nakul spat, "What about him?!" Karn growled as his hands tightened on the girl in his arms,hugging her tighter and closer to him.

Nakul was about to speak when the door to their study opened and the rest of the pandavas entered in, they looked at their angry brothers and Malini crying in Karn's arms and instantly knew something was wrong, "Malini?" The four called worried as they rushed to her. "Hey what happened?" Arjun crooned as the four crouched in front of Karn.

"Malini what happened dear?" Yudhisthir asked as he rubbed her back in a soothing manner, "Did someone hurt you priye?" questioned Bheem, his voice holding barely veiled anger as he looked at her, "Does something hurt Malini? Do I need to examine you?" Sehdev asked as he examined her body for some injuries, but there was none that he could find.

Nakul began to explain to them how Duryodhan had corner Malini and had insulted her, with every word his anger just increased along with all his brothers. "I will kill him." Bheem growled, "For now no one does anything. Nakul has done the needful. What we now need to do is not leave her alone." Karn stated as he ran his fingers through the hair of the girl who had cried herself to sleep in his arms.

The five nodded at their elder brothers command, they took their places in the study and got back to work, Karn laid her on the couch in the study, he ordered a dasi to get a quilt and pillow, he laid her head on the soft puffy pillow and covered her with a warm quilt before he too got to work.

Sehdev being the planner that he was created a schedule for each pandavas to spend their time with her, so one of them is always around her. She was their responsibility and they didn't want something to harm her, he didn't know when but they all had developed an attachment to her. Seeing her hurt pained them.

Panchaali blinked her eyes open as she stretched, her eyes roamed around the room as she watched everyone working, she stood up as she began to look around the huge collection of various books. She walked around the library section that the study had, her eyes roaming through various titles, the thick manuscripts of various vedas and puranas sat proudly on different shelves, along with books on war history, martial arts, political and economical topics. Nothing really caught her attention till she came across a book that had no marking or any name on it.

She pulled the heavy journal out and kept it on the nearby table and opened it, a bright light emitted from the book making her dazzled by the bright golden light as she looked up at the pandavas who stared at her with shock, "what?" She asked confused as she looked at them, "You..You opened it?" Arjun asked dumbfounded as he looked at her, "Well of course." She said as she shrugged like it was no big deal.

"But how?" Bheem asked confused and scratched his head, "How can you open this book?" Yudhisthir asked confused, "Does that mean she is the one?" Nakul questioned, "But she's a girl." Sehdev said, "And she's not related to us in a biological manner so how?" Karn asked himself. "What are you all talking about?" Panchaali heard as she watched them talk, they all stared at her, than at the book and than back at each other. "What?" She asked as she looked at them, "years back there had been a prophecy that the person to open this book will be our fated." Arjun said, "You mean your fated?" She said trying to understand what he said, "No he means our fated, as in us pandavas." Stated Nakul, "But how can one person be fated of six people?" She questioned, "That's our destiny." Sehdev said as he smiled and moved towards her.

"And what does being your fated mean?" She asked curious as she turned her head sideways looking at them all curiously, "It varies. The book will answer your question. What do you see on the front page?" Questioned Karn, "I see a woman sitting in front of a yagn kund, six me sitting next to her." She whispered as she looked up at them, "Does this mean we'll do a yagn together?" She asked looking up at them confused, the pandavas froze as they heard her say what she saw, a yagn? It didn't seem like a yagn to them, she'll marry all six? But how the hell was that possible?

The pandavas gave her a strained smile and looked at each other, "I'll go meet mata Kunti." She said as she skipped out of the room, the pandavas all moved towards the book, their breath hitched as each brother saw a series of pictures of them getting married to her before the book was shut, with a last picture of all six of them putting a chudamani on her head.

"What is this?!" Nakul nearly screamed, confusion and worry was heavy in the air as all brothers looked at each other, what did this mean? They wondered, how could they all marry one girl, what confused them more was the image was golden, signifying it being a great dharm. How could this be dharm? The book shut on its own and flew back to it's shelf, taking it's place back, leaving them with so many questions and not one answer.

Panchaali smiled mischievously as she sat in the common room, soon Duryodhan would be here she thought as she hid behind a couch, she counted till three and the door was pushed open, she bit back a laugh as she watched the bucket of glue fall on him making him shout, she pulled the string next to her making the window open and all the chicken feathers blew at him, sticking to him. For a last blow she tripped the bucket on top that hung with a hanger making it's content fall on him as the smell of urine filled the room.

"WHO DARED TO MESS WITH ME?!" He shouted making people run towards him as Panchaali bit her fist to stop herself from laughing out loud, she sneaked out of the window and out in the gardens, pretending to take walk out.

Everyone in the family ran towards Duryodhan, the smell of urine had them cringing, Nakul, Bheem, Sehdev, and Arjun began to laugh as Yudhisthir and Karn smirked, the pandav patnis giggled as Gandhari and Kunti bit back a chuckle too.

"Mere bache what did you do?" Gandhar raj said cringing, Duryodhan tried to rub his face free but it just got worse, "Bhraatashree finally you revealed your true self." Nakul teased making everyone sink in another fit of laughter, "you really look so beautiful." Bheem added as he rubbed the tears from the corner of his eyes.

"But who did this to you?" Gandhari asked, "This is all that Malini's doing!" He growled as he got frustrated from trying to remove all the feathers. "What is my doing?" Malini's voice rang as she entered the room, "oh! So sad who could do this to you Rajkumar?" She pretended to be worried making Duryodhan growl, "Stop with your act already I know you have done it!" He shouted,"oh no Rajkumar how can I make you this half cooked stinky hen, I was out in the gardens all along." She said in a serious tone as everyone around her fell in bouts of laughter, "Half cooked stinky hen?" Bheem mimicked her and laughed harder.

"Enough everyone! You shouldn't mock such a good man!" Malini said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes, "You stay away!" Shouted Duryodhan, "you really don't have to worry about people getting close Rajkumar because the way you stink people would maintain their distance for life time. " she said as Duryodhan growled marching out making everyone laugh.

"Ouch Subhadre that hurts!" She whined as Subhadra pinched her ear between her forefinger and thumb, "How many times have I told you to not mess with others?" She chided Panchaali, "Oh come on Subhadra let her be, it was just a joke." Devika said, "You don't understand jiji, what if he decides to do something drastic. You know Duryodhan is an egotistical man!" She said worry lacing her words, "And this is no Dwarka where you can just prank people and not worry about consequences Malini." She continued, "Oh ho Subhadre you are getting worried for no reason."Vrishali said as she pulled Panchaali free from Subhadra's hold. "Quit worrying so much Ms worrywart." Hidimbi said, "And give us a smile jiji." Karenumati requested, "Come on smile jiji." Vijaya added. "Sorry subhu." Panchaali said cutely as she pouted, "quit being so adorable." Subhadra said as she pulled in her a hug, her eyes meeting with Arjun's, worry shining in her gaze, her husband gave her a reassuring smile making her smile in return, she pulled back as she cupped Panchaali's cheek, "I really don't know what I would do if something happened to you?!" She said worried as tears filled her gaze, she smiled at Subhadra, "oh ho, for the avatar of Yogmaya herself you cry a lot."she teased making Subhadra give a watery laugh. "And don't worry nothing shall happen to me!" She assured giving Subhadra a bright smile. . .

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