BUTTERFLY FROM THE FLAME (JOY AND GENTLENESS OF THE FLAME)

Chapter 4

As draupadi was sitting near the pond she felt a strong presence of somebody behind her and she turned around to meet a boy two year older than her around the age of Krishna. "Your name... Ar- nono I shouldn't." Draupadi said shutting her mouth.

"What you shouldn't?" Arjun asked sitting besides her. "Your name." Draupadi said. "Why? What's wrong in my name?" Arjun asked. "Nothing!" Draupadi said. "Then?" Arjun asked. "You are the same age as bhaiya. How can I call you by your name? And what should I call you?" Draupadi asked.

"Whatever you want." Arjun said. "How can I? You say." Draupadi said. "Back your bhaiya called me parth. Call me parth." Arjun said. "So parth! Where are you from?" Draupadi asked. "Hastinapur." Arjun replied. 

"Why are you so quiet?" Draupadi asked. "Me?" Arjun asked. "Then who else is there beside you here that I call parth?" Draupadi asked. "I am not quiet at all when I am with my parents." Arjun said. "But you didn't talk yesterday or today morning. Bua was right there!" draupadi said. "Well.." Arjun said not having anything to say.

"i heard you have 100 brothers is that true?" Draupadi asked making him nod and proceeded to ask many more questions. Some were normal but most were weird. "From where do you get these many questions from?" Arjun asked being amazed by her many weird yet logical questions which were pouring on to him non- stop.

"Brain?" draupadi asked confused. "From where else can we?" Draupadi asked. Arjun just nodded knowing she will fire back the answer with more weird, unsolved mystery like weird questions. Draupadi was about to ask something again but something else caught her eyes.

"Parth! Uncle taught you bow and arrow right?" Draupadi asked. "Yes, why?" Arjun asked. "then you must know hoe to throw stone at the target right?" draupadi asked making him nod. Draupadi then took a sharp stone and gave it to him. "Aim at those grapes at the far left." Draupadi said.

"THOSE ARE MY FAVORITES!" both of them exclaimed

"You want to eat those?" Arjun asked making her nod. "Stay right under it to catch." Arjun said and Draupadi went and stood under it with her pallo spread wide. And in no time Arjun hit the target perfectly and the grapes fell in her pallo.

"Parth these look sweet!" Draupadi said and Arjun again shot another stone again hitting the target perfectly. Draupadi then quickly came and sat placing her pallo on the ground and started eating with Arjun while talking.

They found many things in common. Arjun and Draupadi were the emperor and empress of weirdness. The things which normal people found extremely weird looked extremely normal for them. They both loved the same kinds of food, talking to themselves, imagining random things, fashionista etc. etc.

They then heard shouting and hooting catching their attention. "What happened?" Arjun asked. "Bhaiya must have stole some makhan." Draupadi said. "Stole?" arjun asked. "Wanna eat? He must have stole from Sumitra kaki." Draupadi said. "Is that fine?" Arjun asked. "Absolutely!" Draupadi said. "But isn't it bad?" Arjun asked. "Don't worry I will bring in a right way." Draupadi said.

"How?" Arjun asked. "Simple I will say to Sumitra kaki." Draupadi said. "So you are going against your brothers?" Arjun asked. "Who said I am going against my brother? I am instead bringing him to the right path." Draupadi said. 'Actually taking my revenge." Draupadi whispered to herself but Arjun heard it. "Okay go ahead." Arjun said and Draupadi stood up and went to Sumitra who was right the other side of the lake.

"kaki! Somebody broke into your house!" Draupadi said. "What?" Sumitra panicked. "Don't worry nothing is stolen. But.." Draupadi said. "But?" Sumitra asked. "The door of the room where you keep makhan was open." Draupadi said. 

"What! Who must that be is that kan-" Sumitra said but was cut off by Draupadi. "I think it was a monkey as yesterday too a monkey got inside Sushma kaki's house." Draupadi said making Sumitra nod. "But.." Draupadi said. "But?" Sushma asked.

"Does a monkey have a peacock feather? because I think I saw a peacock feather so did parth!" Draupadi said pointing at Arjun making him shocked. "Really?" Sumitra asked Arjun who was baffled hearing Draupadi.

"He is an archer and has archer eyes kaki! Even he saw!" Draupadi said making Sumitra believe. "Do monkeys have peacock feather?" Draupadi asked innocently. "No they don't but I know one monkey who does. Thank for informing." Sumitra said and went towards krishna's side.

"Just wait for few minutes I have made the order." Draupadi said. "I thought I was about to die when you mentioned me." Arjun said. "Don't worry I won't let you to." Draupadi said sitting down. After few minutes Sumitra came towards them with two bowls of makhan.

"Take you two for informing me." Sumitra said giving them a bowl each of makhan. Arjun and Draupadi then started eating. "This is delicious!" Arjun exclaimed. "This is the first time in am eating makhan." Arjun said making Draupadi surprised.

"Why? Don't the royals of Hastinapur eat makhan?" Draupadi asked. "Well we haven't ate yet." Arjun said making Draupadi even more surprised. "Ladoo! Arjun!" Yashodha called. "Yes maiya/bua! Coming!" the duo said.

*****

"Bhaiya... Dau.." Draupadi whispered. "Yes.." Krishna and balram whispered. "By now everybody should be asleep. Its 1 in the morning." draupadi said. "Yes dau. Now even I even more hungry." krishna whispered. "Then lets go!" Balram said and the trio slowly without making any sound got out of their room.

The pandavas weren't feeling sleepy so they thought to go out of the room for some fresh air. As they were standing by the window they heard some whispering.

"dau!" krishna whisper yelled. "Shhh" balram and Draupadi said. "Okay but can we go a little faster? I am extremely hungry." krishna whispered. "Have some patience!" draupadi whispered. Draupadi was catching the end of Balram's angavastram and Krishna was catching the end of Draupadi's pallo walking slowing without making any noise.

The pandavas were just watching them with amused and questioning look by their formation. They then entered a room and closed the room shut. The pandavas went near and kept their ear trying to hear them.

"Yeah yeah." "bring it! bring it" "slowly slowly!" "A little left." "now to the right" "Perfect" "Perfect" "Bravo!" "Well done" "Balram dau ki jai!" "next next" "balram dau vijay ho, vijay ho" 

Were the few whispers they heard. "Is a fight going on that they are cheering?" Bheem whisper asked. The door suddenly open making them almost lose balance. "Hungry?" Draupadi asked from behind the door. "Somewhat." they said. "Come come." Krishna said and passed them two pots of makhan and they all started to eat.

Draupadi then wrapped all the empty pots neatly like it was never opened before and handed it to Balram who stood on the chairs like spiderman and kept them back in place. They all then went back to their rooms to sleep.