Krishnaa~The Princess In Making ✔(To Be Edited)

13: Panchal

The house was decent sized with minimum furniture. It was dusty and empty, indicating that no one lived there. They walked around the house, searching for some hint as to what the place was, but they found nothing. "Do you want to go out?", Arjun asked, not wanting to stay here any longer. Krishnaa nodded.

He opened the front door slightly and peeped out. There was no one. "Let's go", he said. He stepped out and observed his surroundings. The houses around seemed empty, infact the entire area seemed empty. He felt Krishnaa tap him. She pointed towards the market which was partially crowded. Arjun walked stiffly, trying his best to hide his face behind the veil.

"Walk more naturally", Krishnaa instructed. "You seem suspicious". Arjun nodded and obeyed her, as they continued walking.

He was horrified to see the condition of Kampilya. Corrupt officers,greedy moneylenders torturing the poor. If this was the state of the mukhya-nagar (capital), he didn't want to know the state of rest of the Panchal. Everything he had heard was true. This place is hell.

Fear settled in this heart. He cannot imagine Indraprasth like this. He pitied Maharaj Drupad. He had dedicated his entire life to Panchal, only for it to eventually go in the hands of his corrupt brother.

His thoughts were broken when he heard the cry of a woman. He looked in the direction to see a man holding her hand and talking to her in a low voice. He couldn't hear what was being said, but it was definitely a threat. The man pushed the woman on the ground and walked away.

Krishnaa left his side and rushed towards the woman, helping her stand up. Arjun followed her and began gathering the woman's belongings, which were scattered on the ground.

"Are you alright mata", Krishnaa asked. The middle aged woman nodded. "Yes putri, thank you very much." Arjun handed her all her things and she smiled at him. "Mata was that man threatening you?", Arjun asked, concerned. The woman shook her head. "You don't need to worry about that, dear".

"You two don't seem familiar. Are you not from here?"
Krishnaa and Arjun exchanged an anxious look. "Uh we aren't from Kampilya....we came from a small village in Panchal ", Arjun answered, quickly coming up with an explanation.

"What is your name?"
"She is Malini and I am..........Brihannala", Arjun answered, introducing himself awkwardly.
"Why don't you two come to my house and stay there?", she suggested.
"No. We appreciate the offer but we don't want to trouble you and your family ", Krishnaa replied.
"I really don't mind", she answered. "And as for my family- I don't have any. I am alone."

Arjun could hear the sadness in her voice. Not wanting to upset her, they agreed.

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The woman, Uma welcomed them in her house and treated them with love and care. Her house was small yet cozy. It was calm and strangely comforting. "It's been so long since anyone, other than myself has come here", Uma commented.

"I don't mean to sound insensitive", Krishnaa started. "But where is your family?"
Her curiosity got the best of her. Arjun nudged her and gave her a stern look. Regret flashed in her eyes.
Uma sighed sadly. "My husband passed away in the early years of our marriage. There was a drought and our farm didn't yield any crop. We were unable to pay taxes and my husband was tortured to death as a punishment".

Silence. The silence in the room was deafening. "I never had children. I went back to my parents, but they refused to accept me."
There was a pause.
"Oh. Here I am telling you my sob story when I should be getting you something to eat", saying this, she rushed towards the kitchen.

Moments passed. Arjun looked at Krishnaa. She was unusually quiet. It was evident that she was reminded of her past. Her parents.
He reached out to hold her hand. To provide her some comfort, but she abruptly got up.
"I-I will go and help her", she said and ran towards the kitchen.

Arjun sighed, hoping that things would get better. For both of them.