Escaping is an art. The art that is rarely learnt!

Karna was still suspicious. His instincts were telling him that someone was here who was watching him.

Advika noticed his expressions which were changing from confusion to suspicion. To a stranger he would look at ease, but to her he seemed tensed. No, not tensed...stressed. He was stressed. His eyes had slight crinkles around them and his jaw was tensed. Advika wondered what was the reason, behind this sudden stress. He was at ease when they were shopping for vegetables.

" Why are you so stressed suddenly?" asked Advika, all of a sudden.

" I still think we are being followed or rather someone is following me!" replied Karna.

Karna was not shocked that Advika had picked up his stress. She had been his friends for years, so she can read him pretty well. He can read her just as well.

Arjuna was the one who was near the couple. No one wanted Jyesht to recognize their elder brother Yuddhisthira. So as a precaution they had changed places. Which turned out to be a good thing, as he watched Jyesht and the lady turn away from the crowd. They were going in a different path than the one they followed today. He followed them and signaled the same to his brothers, who were all keeping a distance.

Arjuna thought about what he heard. The lady apparently knew their Jyesht very well, as she had picked up on their eldest brother's stress. And his brother was one very experienced and commendable warrior as he picked up on being watched a lot of times. They have narrowly escaped each of the times. None of them still knows what their names were though.

He wondered what the couple would be doing now.

"Ab kaha ja rahe hai ye log? (Where are they going now?) " asked Bhima, irritated. He was very hungry.

" Haa, that's enough for today! We should go back now!" said Yuddhisthira.

" But..!!"protested the twins and Arjuna.

"No. We already know that Jyesht is an exemplary warrior. He has experience, which shows as we have had narrow escapes from the morning. I nearly got caught. I am not following the plan anymore! We can get to know him after he wins the Kala pradarshan. " said Yuddhisthira sternly.

"Parantu bhrata hum to unka nam bhi nehi jante! (But brother, we don't even know his name!) How sad is it that we don't even know our Jyesht's name." complained Nakula, with Sahadeva and Arjuna nodding along.

Yuddhisthira sighed at the troublesome trio. Can't they not give him a headache, once in a while? Then he realized he has an elder brother, who will deal with the troublesome trio..in the future! He smiled happily. His mood turning positive again.

"Bhrata? " asked Arjuna, a bit confused at Yuddhisthira mood swings. He was scolding them a few minutes ago and now he is smiling!

Yuddhisthira looked at them and scowled.

"Thik hai! (Alright)If you get caught don't blame me. But be back by sandhya kal! Bhima, are you coming?" grumbled Yuddhisthira.

Bhima nodded at Yuddhisthira. He was rather hungry, so he will return to the palace with his elder brother.

"Be careful! Don't get caught!" cautioned Bhima, before both the brothers left.

Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva looked at each other and grinned. They turned back, following the path that their eldest brother and his lady friend took.

They followed the path to a forested area, near a temple. All three blinked.

"Ab kya kare? " asked Sahadev.

" Let's do one thing! Bhrata Arjun aap waha jaiye aur Sahadev tum, waha jao (Brother, you go that side and Sahadeva you go this side)..I will go there!" said Nakul, pointing at the path that lead in to the forest, the temple and a side road respectively.

Both the brothers nodded and went to search their assigned places. Nakula also left to search the side road.

After a few moments Nakula came back to their meeting place. After him Sahadeva arrived. They waited a few more minutes but Arjuna had not arrived yet.

" Bhrata nehi aye avi tak? (Brother didn't arrive yet?) " asked Sahadeva to his twin.

" Nehi! (No!) I hope he is not in trouble!" replied Nakula, a frown marring his beautiful face.

" Chalke dekhte hai fir! (Let us go and check then)" said Sahadeva, Nakula nodded along with his twin.

Both of them entered the path. After they followed the path for a few minutes, they heard a sound of a fight. Both of them looked at each other and quickened their pace, fearing the worst. But what they saw had them stumped. Arjuna was standing behind a huge tree and was watching something as if entranced.

They neared where he was standing and hid behind a tree near to Arjuna's tree Both of them looked at the scene and what they saw had their eyebrows rise.

There in a middle of a clearing with huge boulders behind the back, their Jyesht and his lady friend was fighting. With swords.

Calling it fighting won't be sufficient to describe the scene. It was dancing between two apex predators, Nakula thought. While Jyesht was forceful, unpredictable and speedy like the wind, the lady was swift, graceful and cat like very similar to water. While Jyesht was the best offense, she was the best defense. They were like two puzzle who fit together perfectly. Nakula decided he was in love. He would ask his jyesht and the lady to spar again, after the Kala pradarshan, so he could watch them as long as he wanted. He was excited as he got a sparring partner, other than Sahadeva. Though he could tell that a sword was not the primary weapon of his jyesht. The lady on the other hand seemed to prefer a sword. She was better than his jyesht with a sword.

Sahadeva used both a sword and a battle axe. His brother used a Sword as his primary weapon while he preferred an axe. But even he knew that the scene in front of him was amazing. His jyesht was so good with a sword, while the lady seem to dance around his Jyesht with quick movements, a smile on her face.

Arjuna did not know he would find such a beautiful scene of two deadly warriors sparing with each other in an intricate dance, when he followed the sounds of clashes. He was a bit disappointed though that his jyesht preferred a sword. Suddenly, without any of the three realizing the spar between the two came to an end.

" Aap ki talwarbaazi achi hai, sakha! (Your sword fighting is good, friend) "praised Advika.

" Tumse acha nehi! (Not more than you!) " replied Karna, a small smile on his face.

" Wo to hai! Acha (That is true, by the way)..you were saying about meeting Kaki. She wanted to see you remember?" said Advika.

" Yes.. parantu tum yeha akele (But you alone here)..."spoke Karna, but before he could finish Advika interrupted.

" Offo sakha, I am not a child. You should go and spent some time with Kaki! I will come in a while. I have some work." said Advika.

Karna nodded. He gathered his weapons and looked at Advika who was already looking at him, a soft smile on her face.

"Shigra ghar pohochna (Be home soon). Otherwise Radha maa will worry!" said Karna, before leaving after giving her a smile.

Immediately, before anyone can even guess she threw three daggers straight in the trees, behind which the three Pandava Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev was hiding.

" Bahar niklo shigra tum teeno!(Get out immediately you three!) If you try to run, it won't be good for you three."

Advika had seen them after they finished sparing. So she had sent Karna home, knowing if he knew he won't leave her alone. She guessed they were the one Karna was sensing from the morning.

In these fifteen years, she had not only learnt from her Guru but also from her Mother Prithvi. She could now harness her celestial powers for various things. One of them was sensing the others emotions. This not only helped in knowing various people's intentions,but also catch them if they lie.

So, here she stood with a stern look on her face a she watched the three young men coming out from behind the trees to stand in front of her. They were shuffling their feet, as they caught red handed. All three were younger to her. The middle one was probably two years younger to her , while the other two..twins most likely are good four years her junior.

"Kaun ho tum teen? Kyu humara picha kar rahe the? (Who are you? Why were you following us?) And tell the truth! I can catch if you lie!" warned Advika. All three brothers looked at each other, before looking down again.

" I am over here, not where you are looking and I don't have all day! Jaldi bolo!(Speak!) " said Advika exasperated.

She knew they do not mean any harm as their emotions seems all over the place. Their guilt could be seen clearly on their faces. She turned off her celestial powers, knowing they are harmless. She did not liking using her powers until she truly needed them.

"Betho!(Sit!) " said she, pointing towards the slab of rocks identical to each other.

The three shuffled over like scolded children and sat. Advika then sat on her slab of a rock, in front of the three. She finally observed them carefully. All three were built like warriors. They walked like one too. She realized that they were not experienced, since they got caught. But she could see the markings of great warriors in them. They just needed experience, which will come with time. The middle one was lean and tall. A few inches shorter than her sakha perhaps. A good bit taller than her. Though he was wearing normal clothing, he still excluded a divine aura, very similar to her sakha. He must be the protective type since he glanced at the other two a lot of times. His aura did not seem matured though. He probably did not know about his celestial father. She knew there was five more children of demigod origins like her and Karna, in Bhulok. Her mother had let that slip during their time together. These three were probably among the five other.

The one on the right was younger to the middle. He was rather handsome like her sakha. Advika blinked. She was not supposed to think that! What was she thinking? Did she just admit that she found her sakha, handsome? No! she will deal with this thought later...not now..

Anyway, this guy was a devputra as well. He excluded the same kind of aura. His aura was not matured too. To her he seems like someone who loved helping people. He had a calm presence like a healer. He seemed like a prankster as well. He probably was thinking of various witty excuses.

The left one was similar to the right. Probably twins. He was divine too. He looked like a knowledgeable person and an analyst. His eyes seemed to take her and surroundings and pull them apart. As if he was thinking how to get out of a situation. He would be a formidable strategist in a few years. All he requires is a bit of experience.

Advika mussed with a slow smile as she observed the three. While Advika watched them, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev was also doing the same.

Arjun had seen her fight with his jyesht. She would have been a ferocious opponent, he realized, if they had decided to run. He was sure she had not showcased her full ability when she spared with his jyesht. He had not been able to see her properly, when they were tailing them. Now he realized that she was rather beautiful. No, she was very beautiful. She walked like an experienced predator. Her grace and skills were deadly and so was her beauty,he realized. She was watching them like a lioness would her prey. His instincts said she was the apex predator among them four and he knew that she knew this fact too. Her amused smile when she looked at them, proved it. She looked divine just like the spy has reported. Her aura powerful, yet soothing.His respect for her grew.

Nakul did not knew what to think about his jyesht lady friend. She seems very beautiful to him. She was older than them too. Probably a year or two older than bhrata Yuddhisthir. But she was younger to his jyesht. She looked to be very intelligent person, and his instincts says that she won't be swayed easily. So his normal excuses to buy time for his brother to think of a plan, won't work. He had no idea what to do now.

Sahadev knew none of his plans would work. This lady was an apex predator and an experienced warrior. She seemed amused by them, rather than being angry. Her beauty was truly something, but he focused on the intelligent and almost analytical glint that passed her eyes. If he was not looking for that, he would have never caught it. She was a strategist too and an experienced one. He was not experienced one, even though he knew he was good. She would defeat whatever plan he came up with ease. So he did not even try.

"I am Advika! What's your name?" asked Advika, after a few silent moments.

Arjun looked at both Nakul and Sahadev. Sahadev gave a small nod, while Nakul shrugged.

"I am Parth, on my right is Nakul, and the one on my left is Sahadev." said Arjun hoping she did not recognize him. He can say his brothers names are similar to the princes because they are born in the same year or something like that. Though it seem futile, as she simply seemed amused.

"Hmm..arthat tum ho Rajkumar Arjuna aur yeh dono hai Rajkumar Nakula aur Rajkumar Sahadeva. (So you are prince Arjuna, they are prince Nakula and prince Sahadeva)" said Advika, an amused smile on her face.

"Ummm.."hummed Arjuna not looking at her eyes.

" Abb bol bhi do (Now tell me),why were the princes of Hastinapur tailing us common people?" asked Advika, in a stern tone.

" Aap saadharan ekdam bhi nehi hai!..aur Jyesht to...(You are not like a normal person and neither is brother)"blurted Nakul. His eyes widening as he realized what he said.

Advika's eyes widened as well. Her face becoming serious in an instant. Her brain worked furiously connecting various lines to imaginary dots instantly. She slowly started to get the picture. She looked at the Princes in front of her, realizing why they were divine as well. The boon that was given to a princess, that princess and later queen was none other than Rajmata Kunti.

Wasn't it such a humbling thought? Her sakha's mother was here, in Hastinapur all along. Destiny sure knew how to play games.

Though as she looked at the Rajkumar she realized that she did not have all the pieces of the puzzle.

"Rajmata Kunti! " whispered Advika, softly, though all three of them heard.

" Aap janti hai? (You know?) " Arjuna asked, a bit shocked and a bit hopeful.

" Aha.. Haa gyaat hai (Yes, I know). Your eldest brother also knows that he is a Suryaputra!" said Advika, her eyes roaming over all three of them.

" Jyesht ko pata hai unke mata aur pita kon hai ? (Does brother know about his parents?) " asked Sahadev.

" Nehi!(No) He does not know about his mother or father. But he knows about his celestial parent."replied Advika.

" Oh! Aap jyesht ko kaise jaante hai? (How do you know about brother?)" asked Arjun curious.

A soft smile appeared on Advika's beautiful face.

"Your eldest brother is my best friend. We have known each other for years! Where is the older two among you?"asked Advika.

"They left after you convinced jyesht to participate! Dhanyavad,apne aisa kia nehi hota to saab garbar ho jata! (If you haven't convinced him, it would be problematic)" said Sahadev. Advika chuckled.

" Abb tum logo ko jaana chahiye! Sandhya kal hone ko hai! (You should all leave now. It is nearly evening time.)" said Advika, as she got up.

" Ek aur prashna puchne ki anumati hai? (Can I ask another question?)" asked Arjuna as he also got up. Advika nodded her assent.

" Does jyesht truly have a divine kavach?"asked a very curious Arjun. Nakul and Sahadev leaned to here the answer too.Advika looked at the three eager faces and then said very mischievously

" Wo to Kala pradarshan mei hi pata chalega! (You will find that out in the Kala Pradarshan) Where is the fun knowing before than the correct time?"

____________________________________

Kunti walked toward the common room in their corridor. She had not seen them from the entire morning. They had left for a weapon exhibition, an exhibition no one knew about. They had left even before she woke up! How could they? She wanted answers and she will get them from her sons!

She entered the threshold. She heard, "Her name is Advika and she is jyesht best friend. Apparently, they have known each other from years." recited Arjun to his brothers, unaware of his mother standing behind him.

None of the Pandavas have noticed Kunti entering the room, so all of them jumped.

"So, you all went to an exhibition of weapons that no one has any idea of and met a girl who happened to be your jyesht's best friend? asked Kunti, sternly.

The Pandavas all looked wide eyed at their mother, who raised an eyebrow at them. They shuffled and exchanged looks, finally deciding to tell the truth.

"Wo maa(actually Mother)..we did not go to any weapons exhibition?" said Nakul, almost as if questioning rather than saying.

" Wo to gyaat hai! (I am aware of that) Now will you all tell the truth?" asked Kunti.

She took a seat gracefully on a chair. Her sons sat around her. Then one by one they all narrated the events of the morning.

Kunti's eyes widened at her sons antics. She smiled as she heard all the details about their adventure. Various emotions were passing by her. She was proud of her eldest, amazed that he was so near her and she had no idea!

She did not know who Advika was....as her sons did not manage to get much information, but she was excited to meet the girl. She wanted to know what kind of a person she was. Her other sons seems impressed with her.

But above all she was proud of her eldest. He had crossed all his difficulties gracefully and with a sturdy determination. She was excited to know about his capabilities. She wanted to se how he looked and how he behaved. She wanted to know his favorites and all sots of things about him. She cannot wait for the day of Kala Pradarshan. The day she could hug her eldest.

"Oh no! We forgot!" exclaimed Sahadeva, looking morose.

" Kya hua?(What happened?) " asked Bhima, absolutely confused.

" We forgot to ask her about jyesht name!" said Sahadeva, wilting like a flower and pouting.

Arjun and Nakul slapped their foreheads, while Yuddhisthira and Bhima shared a look. Kunti let out a chuckle.

A new dawn was coming. It won't be easy! It will be filled with various Choices and its reaction on future events.