Arshia POV

Krishna,Subhadra and Abhimanyu decided to accompany me and Arjun back to the Virat Kingdom.

As they entered,the 4 brothers,the king,the queen and his other sub-ordinates welcomed us.

"Stop!" Draupadi's voice echoed. The horses and chariots came to a halt as confusion arose around the era. My horse stopped beside Krishna chariot as I awaited her entrance.

She walked in with a bow, setting fire in front of Abhimanyu. His horse went crazy but he took perfect control of it. I held myself back when I realised she wanted to talk to only Abhimanyu decided and she will not entertain any interference.

"Who are you?" Her fiery eyes stared at Abhimanyu. A frown made up my face. What was she asking?

"Panchali,he is Bharata Arjun and Bhabhi shree Subhadra's son, Abhimanyu." Nakul stated,pride in his voice. I could tell that wasn't the answer to her question.

"I know that Arya Putra Nakul,but who is he actually." Her eyes moistened,her voice broke. "Abhimanyu,she doesn't want to know what everyone knows. Give her an answer,son." Arjun said,with a small smile on his face.

"Mata,I am my father's arrow. I will succeed and bring glory to his name. I am a shield to my brothers but first of all,I am mother Draupadi's son. I am her son,who vows to protect her against every evil in the world." Abhimanyu said, jumping off his horse. He walked to the fire, stepping slightly on it.

My grip on my horse's reins increased, worried about Abhimanyu.

"Control sakhi Arshia." Vasudev whispered as I snapped out of it and patted my horse, mumbling apologies.

"You are a horrible person Subhadra,how dare you give birth to my son?" Draupadi let out a watery laugh, caressing Abhimanyu's cheek.

"Jiji,gems are formed by stones but still belong to the crown on an empress. He is your son,jiji." Subhadra smiled, getting off the chariot with Arjun by her side.

I jumped off my horse,patting it and walking to the front,beside Vasudev Krishna. I saw his gaze on Draupadi,as she hugged Abhimanyu with tears in her eyes. I sighed, holding both of my hands in front of my body and looking at the view.

I miss my son so much and my heart aches. When am I going to meet him? Tears arose in my eyes,as I bowed my head and bit my lips,not trying to show any sense of weakness.

"Mata Arshia." Abhimanyu's voice called out. I wiped my tears away and looked up at him.

"I feel distant whenever I see you cry. You never share anything with me. Bharata Vrishaketu is your son,I get it but I am also your son." Abhimanyu walked to me, childishly whining. Giggles spread all around.

Abhimanyu wiped my tears away and pulled me into a soft hug. Whimpers threatened to exit my mouth. I bit my lips hard, wrapping my arms around Abhimanyu.

"I know you miss Jyesth Bharata Vrishaketu,mata but you know what the circumstances are." He whispered into my ears, pulling away from the hug and wiping the tears away.

"I was born to seek revenge for you and Jyesth Mata. I can't handle seeing tears in your and her eyes,no matter what the reason is." Abhimanyu's voice held pain. I smiled, wiping my tears and nodded at him.

"Let's go in." I smiled at everyone as Abhimanyu walked alongside Draupadi.

"Miss Vrishaketu?" Krishna walked beside me. I nodded,not paying attention to his words. My heart felt too heavy to try and pay attention to him. "You haven't met Vrishaketu for more than a decade and you are in this condition.

Imagine having to raise weapons against him.

Don't be a weakling on our side,Arshia." His voice threatened,as he walked ahead. My feet were stuck on the ground. I knew better than to avoid his words.

"Imagine having to raise weapons against him.

Don't be a weakling on our side Arshia."

I sucked my breath in. The thought of Vrishaketu being against me horrified me. I let out a deep breath as I saw almost everyone disappearing from my sight.

.

I watched Uttara serve everyone as I stood in a corner, distancing myself from any form of social-lising. I felt my appetite vanish. Informing the maid,I walked out of the room.

I hated it. I hated the burning in my stomach whenever I saw Abhimanyu with his mothers. I knew it was wrong,but I just couldn't bring myself to change. Now,that I am not only a mother to Vrishaketu,but also 8 other children doesn't help.

I walked to the swing, sitting and playing with the hem of my pale pink saree. I had no tears left to shade. 13 years of feeling pain has done wonders to me and I have matured as a person.

Looks like all the reunions happening recently have broken the image I had formed of myself. Behind the strong Arshia stood a weakling who was good-for-nothing.

"Mata!" Abhimanyu's voice woke me up. I stood up to see the 5 brothers, Vasudev Krishna, Bhabhishree Draupadi and Subhadra Jiji. Abhimanyu ran to me, embracing me. I stood firm on my spot, making sure that me and Abhimanyu didn't fall.

"Mata,where were you?" Abhimanyu pulled away.

"Son,she is still your mother." Arjun warned, sensing the informality in Abhimanyu's tone when he talked to me.

"It's fine, brother Arjun. He is more of a friend than a son to me." I ruffled his hair while he returned a grin.

"Then, shouldn't you share your pain with your friend? You still keep it to yourself when you miss Jyesth Bharata Vrishaketu." He pouted his eyes showcasing his disappointment.

"When the pain gets unbearable,I will run to you,Abhi. For now,I am fine." I patted his head.

"Mata,Mamashree Krishna wants me to marry Princess Uttara. Said some 3 dynasties will combine when me and her get married." Abhimanyu whispered then last sentence, making sure I was the only one to hear it. I laughed at his innocence.

"Okay." I nodded, making sure he knew I was attentively listening to him.

"I want you to add your views too. You have every right to. Please please deny." I frowned.

"Uttara is an amazing girl,Putra. Why would you say that?"

"Mother,I have nothing against the princess. She,indeed,is very pretty but we only have 4 months to the war and what if Jyesth Mata,Jyesth Pitashree,Mata Subhadra and Pitashree Arjun told me not to participate in the war? I will just have to watch my brothers participate and I can't?" He reasoned.

My face fell when I realised how little time we have to be at war and I still haven't come up with a plan. And with this rate,I will never be able to plan something.

"What's so horrible about that? You get to survive,Abhimanyu. Why do you want to feel your own soul escape your body? Why do you want to go through that pain?" Abhimanyu frowned.

"Mata,what are you saying?" He stepped back, dropping my hands from his hands. He looked as if he was betrayed.

I looked at my hands, smiling in pain.

"If you want my opinion,marry her. If you want to participate even after your marriage, convince your parents. But if you,once again,ask me

I will never let you participate in the war. "

"Arshia." Yudhishthir called out softly, walking to me. "Are you okay? You have been so distant. You know how much Abhimanyu respects you,and adores you. He considers you as a friend,not a mother. You are above Panchali and Sub—"

"I am not above anyone,Jyesth. If anything,I am below each one of you. Now,if you allow me to leave." I joined my hands, seeking permission.

"No Arshia. For the past two years,you have not considered yourself a part of us. You physically came with us,to the exile but you were mentally always with your husband and child,which is not wrong in any way. But,you pushed away the people who were with you at that time. I cannot guarantee you that you will have Angraj Karna and the heir of your throne and the apple of your eye by your side,but all I can guarantee you is that we won't let you feel their absence.

But you don't give us a chance."

Yudhishthir's calm facade remained but his voice gave away his aggressive intent.

"Why do you want to fill the empty spaces in my life, Jyesth? A farmer who plants his own saplings is unable to take it out of the ground.

Why try to fill the spaces that you yourself created?"

"Mata,please. Jyesth Pitashree is not wishing for you—"

"Abhimanyu." He stopped hearing my voice.

"I know what Jyesth is implying but I wish he implied the same 13 yea—" I bit my tongue.

I had promised myself to never talk about this in front of the kids. They,already seem to have made their life goals to take revenge for me and Bhabhishree,it would be horrible if the same was reminded to them, again and again.

"Abhimanyu,please listen to what your father and mother advise you and I am sure they won't advise you not to fight the war." I said,venom dripping from each word that rolled off my tongue.

It doesn't matter if they have no idea what will happen in the war, isn't it obvious that each one of them had a chance to die? Isn't it obvious the kids also have a chance to receive the worst possible death?

"I will be making a huge decision in my life. I will be in a relationship that keeps me tied, forever. This will give me love to cherish and children that will bring glory to them as well as to my name. I will have to take permission from every person who holds significance in my life."

Abhimanyu turned to Vasudev Krishna.

"Mamashree,is it possible to shift the wedding by a couple of days? I need to go to Hastinapur."

"Hastinapur?" Draupadi questioned.

"It's not safe for you to go to Hastinapur,dear." Subhadra said.

"I have to inform Pitashree Karna about this,Mata and,if possible,invite him to the wedding. I am sure he won't deny this wedding" Abhimanyu smiled.

"Abhimanyu, it's your wedding. Don't invite Arya just because of me."

"Mata Arshia,I am not inviting him because of you. I am doing this because he holds significance in my life."

"When you,Mata Draupadi and my 5 Pitashree(s) where away, leaving me and my brothers, expect Jyesth Bharata Vrishaketu,in Dwarka,I remember he used to come and spend time with me and my brothers,hours actually. He used to take time out and play with us,talk about how our days went and everything. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't consider us as his children,the children of his enemies.

He taught me and Shrutakarma archery when we didn't go to Gurukul and always helped my other brothers in their weapons as well. He gave us the love and care a father gives his children. Yes,it was always not possible for him to stay by our side when he had his own child and 8 others that he had adopted,but somehow he made his place in our hearts.

He was always there,be it mentally or physically. While all of you were away,he was with us,with the children who missed their fathers." His eyes moistened as he spoke of Karna.

"We did feel your absence but when he was with us,all of it disappeared. We would always look forward to his visit every day. He would remember to write letters to us if he was unable to make it. Not just one but 6 letters, personalized for each one of us."

"He is special to me. I won't be able to marry Princess Uttara if I don't have Pitashree Karna by my side." His tears finally fell.

"Oh, Abhimanyu." Draupadi exclaimed, walking to him and pulling him into her embrace.

"It's still not advisable for you to go to Hastinapur dear. I know what Angraj Karna means to you,but you will have to ask him over a letter,son." Subhadra said,sadness lingering in her tone.

"I have held onto every parchment that had Pitashree Karna's handwriting on it. Letters are a thing between me and him."

. . . .