Hastinapur, outside Gajasahrya

Arjun's POV

My irises settled around the hollered face of the individual, who stood with a confident and stoic stance, yet with a calm appearance. Middle aged with bushy beards surrounding his jaws and lips with two beady, yet sharp eyes stared directly at us; or rather me. Aura, I noticed.

He carried an unnatural, attractive aura. Very intriguing, unignoring one. He was firm like a banyan tree in stance, defined with a purpose. 

He strode forward with a long sleek bow clutched in his palms, the Rudraaksh beads wrapped around his biceps and neck jiggled along and clad in saintly clothes. Brahmin, amusement followed me as his lips curved up in a small smile, "Having trouble to retrieve the ball?"

"Who are you? And why do take trouble to poke in our personal matters?" Bhrata Dusshassan flashed, appearing visibly annoyed. A spark of resentment crossed me, was that a way to greet any person? Stranger or not. 

Sahadev passed a confused glance at me while I gave a small shrug. "Hmmph, how amusing. You cannot retrieve a simple ball from the well, but look? Words sharper than arrows are escaping from your lips!" He mocked with a smirk, his swift eyeballs shifting here and there to get a combined glimpse of the hundred and five of us. Instantly, a wave of shame surpassed Bhrata Dusshassan and he gritted his teeth, looking away. 

"But Mahoday," Bhrata Bheem resumed politely, "The ball is really deep inside, it is not possible for us practically to get a hold of it." His face fell visibly, as he held the edge of the well and glanced down at the floating ball.

"True," I commented, "We were actually looking for someone elder who could assist us. Can you Mahoday?" And he definitely could, for he had a quiver wrapped around his chest and a bow. Who knows maybe he could shoot some arrows or something? Or probably make a long chain out of it?

"Born in the lineage of Bharat, yet unaware of your capabilities," He gently stepped forward and lowered himself, his eyes assessing the ball that was laying motionless inside the well, "Can get this without any effort." He glanced right into his waist were a pouch was hung around, making me squint my eyes. For some reason, I didn't want to even allow my lashes fall a bit, lest I miss his miracle?

To everyone's surprise, he pulled out some simple reeds from it and displayed it to all of us. Even the Kauravs were quiet by now, halting their whispering amidst themselves. "Simple it seems? Well, I have infused them with some mantras. They possess the same capability of weapons," He swayed his palm along us, with a half smile on his face. Is he really going to use some sort of miracle or chants? Without wasting further moments, his head snapped back into the well and before I could even blink, those reeds transformed into a long chain, inserting deep down into the well.

Rushing towards to see what had happened, we all leaned in to notice that the ball was clearly intertwined in the reeds, and as if waiting for the right moment, he jerked it up. The ball freed from the clutches of the reeds and landed in his palm. "My goodness!" A gasp left my lips, while the others sucked in a sharp breath, instantly whispering.

"Here.." He threw the ball at us, caught by Nakul instantly. 

"How--how did you-" He stuttered, gazing at the well and then back at him, while I was too stunned to react. I had thought that he would probably use some weapon, or would himself get inside the well. Or maybe get the ball with some arrows or something. But this? Was no less, no less than a miracle!

Never seen something extraordinary in my life ever. Is he himself descendant of God or something? 

"Are you some God, Mahoday?" Bhrata Bheem mouthed my exact words, "Because this, this can't be done by someone ordinary! Isn't it?"

"He seems of some renowned lineage." One of them whispered, "I think he maybe some Yaksh or Gandharv rather." Some other spoke in hushed tones.

"Mahoday? Who are you?" Jyesth finally spoke, snatching our attention towards him but my eyes with glued on that man. Inspite of our overestimations of him, he appeared unperturbed. As if it didn't matter to him at all, as if his powers were like as normal as it can be. There wasn't any line of superiority, rather knowledge reflected from his glowing face. Yes, knowledge. His face shone with acute knowledge, his eyes glistened with sincerity. 

"Who knows well about my identity except your Pitamah Bheeshm?" His smile turned from a curvy to a warm one, as he lowered his lashes and glanced at the direction of our palace. Pitamah Bheeshm did he say? He knows him? Or maybe the vice versa too-if he was someone Pitamah knew, that person must be someone highly revered!

"Go sons, inform him. Inform him of my appearance and abilities. He has a knack of recognizing people only by descriptions," He let out a tiny laughter, "Your immensely intelligent grandfather shall do what seems the best." 

★★★★★★★

Hastinapur, Gajasahrya

"Pitamah? Pitamah!" Our limbs took rushing past the corridors of the palace, all of us gathering the initiative to search for him. Couldn't wait, we had to inform him about that mysterious Brahmin. The moment he went away, all I could think was about him and whatever he did with those reeds. Miracle, right in front of my eyes? 

A tiny hope began to flicker in my heart. A tiny wish, of performing a similar deed like him. But before that, my heart yearned to again catch the glimpse of the revered soul, who just went back without speaking anything else. Very sure that Pitamah would recognize him, I began to formulate his accurate looks in my mind. Unmatched and divine. 

"Pitamah!" Pitamah Bheeshm had an amused smile on his face, as he halted speaking to some ministers and glanced us with his bluish orbs. We grinned at each other, almost bursting out of excitement as we panted, "Sons? What happened, looking so joyous all of you are?" He tittered along, glancing at the hundred faces.

"Pitamah that Brahmin!" Bhrata Duryodhan began, he too was quite enamored, there was no doubt. All the while he was speaking about him and only him, "That Brahmin Mahoday...possessing great knowledge!"

Pitamah raised an eyebrow in amusement, "Who Brahmin Mahoday?"

"Pitamah you won't believe what he did!" Unable to resist anymore I squealed, "He, he took out ball--"

"That had fallen in the well!"

"That too with miraculous reeds!"

"And yes, he told us to speak to you about him!" Jyesth's voice was too laden with exuberance, "He carries a sleek bow, a quiver, and has intense sense of knowledge flashing in his red eyes. He claimed he knows you!"

"Dron?" Pitamah irises dilated instantly, his face immediately flashing in great delight. As if he had unearthed some sort of treasure, it appeared like, "Dron has arrived to Hastinapur?" The jubilance in his voice was incredible.

★★★★★★★

A/N

Abhi maja ayega na bhidu! 🌝✨

Signing off for today!

~Kiritija Nushkie 🐨