"Rajkumari Draupadi why didn't you go to welcome the guests?" Sumitra asked as she entered the meadow that was not very far from palace, her eyes travelled to Rajkumari Draupadi who sat under the huge tree, her eyes were closed as Riva, the little orphan girl laid her head in the princess's lap, Panchaali's hand caressing the head of the little girl.

"Mata doesn't want me there Sumitra, she's embarrassed to introduce me as her daughter, after all how can the daughter of great queen Kritika be someone like me." She repeated her mother's words, her eyes still lay shut because she knew if she opened them there would be nothing but tears, and she feared that today she won't be able to hold back.

Sumitra's heart hurt for the little girl, her experience of this world had never been good, ever since the poor child was born out of that yagn all she got was insults and hate. Tears glazed her eyes, after so many insults too she never failed to show her kindness to others. How she did that Sumitra didn't know.

"Panchaali." She whispered as she sat beside her, Draupadi mind today was not calm, all the memories from the past, one after another played in her mind, she could still remember the day distinctly when once a servant had tried helping her, the poor thing had only helped her stand when Kirti had pushed her on the floor.

Maharani Kritika had been furious, her rage filled face still made Panchaali's heart tremble as she recalled it, she had brought the whip and had whipped the poor dasi so badly, she screamed and begged, her cries filling a silence of dread in the hearts of all the people in that palace.

Panchaali had begged her mother, pleaded to her that she let the poor woman go, she had a family to feed, a little child, but all her mother did was look at Panchaali and said the words in a very cold voice, that till today scared her to death, "This is your fault, you are the reason of her death." Her voice had been soft and there was so much hatred in it that Panchaali's heart had shattered silently.

The poor woman had died, and all Panchaali could do was watch, cry, and nothing else. Panchaali opened her eyes, they were red from tears, her heart was bleeding with guilt today as she looked at the three year old child, Riva, who was looking up at Panchaali with her little innocent eyes, she laid head in in Draupadi's lap.

"Won't you sing today jiji?" She asked as she looked at her, Panchaali smiled, her eyes watery, today Riva lived as one of the royalties, as her little sister, Panchaali had paid a great price to give Riva this life, she had bargained with her mother, in exchange for Riva's happiness Panchaali would take every abuse quietly.

She owed that much to this little girl, her mother was whipped to death because of Panchaali, the guilt of which ate away Panchaali everyday, if it wasn't for her mother would be alive. Her heart was already in pieces by the hate of the family, the added weight of guilt of Riva's mother's death had crushed her heart in fine pieces. She felt so broken and shattered, all she could feel was darkness, a thick cloaking darkness of pain that always surrounded her.

She smiled as she looked at Riva's innocent face, how can I say no to my Riva." She said, with a water smile and pressed her lips to the forehead of the little girl.

***

"Arjun do you always love to come out for a walk at night?" Kirti asked as she walked beside Arjun, her eyes taking in the features of the handsome prince, "Not always." He didn't elaborate as he walked beside her, the twilight of the full moon lit the forest completely.

"So what do you like to do Rajkumar?" She asked, her hand subtly tried to move towards his, her fingers touched his and Arjun gritted his teeth, he was annoyed of her already. And his mata wanted him to marry the princess of Panchaal? The woman was annoying, she kept touching and talking, he appreciated woman who were bold but this woman had already insulted few of the daasis and was really stuck up. Her ego was bigger than her head, and he just hated that.

He sighed as he tried to calm himself down, "Rajkumari I want to be alone for awhile." He said, his voice was calm but there was a dangerous tone to it, Kirti gritted her teeth as she looked at the prince, he really was a hard headed man, there wasn't a man who hadn't fallen for her and this idiot here wanted to be alone. She turned around and left without another word.

Arjun sighed as he watched the rude girl go, he sighed, finally he was alone. He walked a bit, the cool wind caressing his hair as the sounds of the crickets relaxing him. He froze as he heard the soft voice, a voice that was singing a song, he walked further, moving towards the place where he could hear the voice coming from.

Suraj tera gardish mein hai
D

halte hua keh gaya
Phir laut ke aaunga main
Nazdeek hi hai subah

Arjun heard the pain in the melodious voice, the voice was unlike any other that he heard before, the baritone of her voice mesmerized him, made him forget about everything. His heart jolted as the intense need to meet her came over him. He hid behind a tree and what he saw had his breath hitching.

The most beautiful girl in the world sat in front of him, she had long dark hair, her lotus eyes had him entrapped. The beauty of the girl was none other, his breath came out in short pants as the intense need to go meet her came over him. He shook his head, what was wrong with him, he didn't even know her but seeing her made him feel like he had known him forever, his heart hurt as he saw the tears tracing down her cheeks. He didn't know why but seeing her cry had his heart shattering painfully.

He touched his cheek confused as he felt wetness on it, what was happening? Why did he all of a sudden feel this pain?

Gaaye ja, gaaye ja
Gham mein hai sargam
Gunguna ye dhun, gaaye ja
Gaaye ja, gaaye ja
Raat ke dhaagon se savera bun, gaaye ja..
Gaaye ja, gaaye ja
Gham mein hai sargam
Gunguna ye dhun gaaye ja

Apna hi apna kyun keh laaya hai
Kaise koi tayy karta hai kaun paraaya hai
Ek wahi rishta teri kamayi hai
Dard ke pal mein jisne tera saath nibhaya hai
Toota hua to kya sitaara tu
Kisi ka bann sahara tu..

Everything around him faded and the only thing that mattered to him was her, the beautiful girl, he didn't know who she was but for some reason his heart fluttered every time he saw her.

Mmm..
Gaaye ja, gaaye ja
Raat ke dhaagon se savera bun, gaaye ja...
Gaaye ja, gaaye ja
Gham mein hai sargam
Gunguna ye dhun gaaye ja

Ho.. aankhoon mein rakhna sapne tu kal ke
Tujhko lekin untak jana hoga khud chal ke
Majhdharon se tu haar nahin jaana
Saahil tujhko paana hoga lehron mein dhalke
Hai zindagi wohi jo chalti hai
Yeh girke hi sambhalti hai

Aa...

He sighed as he watched her, she had finished the song, but the pain that was in the song was palpable. What could have hurt her so much? A intense need to protect her came over him, he had to fist his hand to stop himself from going over there and taking the girl in his arms, where she belonged.

Life for Arjun had always been clear and today too it was, he wanted this girl as his and there was nothing that could stop him from making her his. He smiled as he put his hand on the tree, "you'll be mine beautiful." His voice soft as his heart jolted with happiness at the thought of her being his.

***

"Rajkumari Panchaali I think we should leave." Sumitra said Panchaali shook her head, "you leave Sumitra, take Riva with you. I want to be alone for awhile." She whispered, Sumitra nodded and picked up a sleeping Riva and left.

Arjun looked at her from behind the tree as he sneaked up on her, his feet as light as snow, "Rajkumari Panchaali." He whispered the name that the dasi had called her, so this was the Panchaali that Madhav was talking about, does that mean that Madhav knew that he'll be attracted to Panchaali? Of course he did! Arjun thought as he looked at the girl, how should he meet her now.

Just as he was thinking, he watched as she stood up and began to walk, he followed her, he knew it was wrong but he was curious, Arjun wanted to go and shout at this girl for being alone in the forest at this hour, it wasn't safe for her.

Her leg slipped and she was about to fall when he jumped out of his hiding place and wrapped his hand around her waist. Sparks ignited where they touched, making their hearts jolt. Their eyes clashed and it was like everything else faded, the two looked at each other, their hearts beating in a sync, making them forget about everything else.

"Thank you." She whispered softly, as she pulled away, instantly filling a pang in her chest as she missed his warmth, her arms wrapping around herself. "What are you doing out at such a late hour?" He asked, the question that was on his mind for so long. "Just taking a walk." She replied softly, her voice was so melodious, he wanted to hear more of it.

"My name is Arjun." He whispered, his face looking at her beautiful face, the smile on her face lit his heart, "My name is Draupadi." Her voice was soft as she introduced herself, she never really talked to strangers but looking at him felt like he was trust worthy.

Her heart jolted as she saw a smile on his face, he was so handsome and strong. "Where are you from? I have never seen you around." She asked as they began to walk together under the twilight of the moon, the soft wind playing with her hair as this handsome man made her heart flutter.

"I am from Hastinapur. Do you usually take a walk out here?"  He asked, a smile blooming on his face, a peace settled on his heart like never before. "Yes. I do. Oh Hastinapur is a very huge city. I have heard a lot about it." She replied with a smile, "Don't mind but I am going to ask something very special from you." He said, she smiled as she looked up at him, his tone was playful, he had expected her to be scared but she just smiled, the innocence in her eyes had his heart pummeling.

"That is?" She asked just as playfully, he couldn't hold back the smile, "Would you be my friend?" He asked as he looked at her hopefully, he was mentally praying that she would say yes. "Hmm that really is a big thing that you asked from me." She said, her voice teasing him, he looked at her and smiled at her cute expression.

"But I never had friends before so I don't know how to be a friend." Panchaali admitted, she was sad, now he too won't want to be friends with her, who would want to be a friend with a freak like her?

Arjun smiled at her innocence, he wanted to pinch her cheeks she was just so cute. "Indeed it is a big problem. So why don't you do one thing?" He asked making her look up at him with those innocent eyes of her, the desire to make her his was increasing each passing moment.

"Why don't you let me lead the path of our friendship?" He suggested making her smile at him, "so friends?" He asked as he held his huge, rough hand out, he couldn't stop himself the need to touch her was strong. "Friends." She agreed, her voice cheerful as she laid her soft small hand in his huge strong callous ones.

Pleasure zapped through their arm making the too pull back their hands in shock, "What was that?" She asked confused and scared, Arjun beamed at her innocence, "A sign that will be together forever." He said cryptically, she nodded as he took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. Red touched her cheeks as she blushed making Arjun smirk at her.

"How old are you?" He asked, and instantly regretted, who asks a girl their age? Like really? She looked up at him with her same innocent smile, "That's a tricky question to answer, you see I was born out of a yagn a few months back, so my chronological age is even less than one." She said making him raise his brow at her with surprise, "that's interesting." He whispered, "I think I should return now it's getting late." She said even though her heart didn't want to say goodbye. "Good night Draupadi." He whispered as he let her hand go, "Good night Arjun." Hearing his name from her mouth had him smiling, he didn't know why but he wanted her in his arms. He didn't want to let her go but he had no choice as he watched his beautiful angel leave.

***

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