The kingdom of Panchals was shining like the brightest of star. Streets were adorned with silk veils, flowers and happiness. The path toward royal palace had flowers spreaded on it. People were busy in decorating there homes. All one could see was colours and happiness.

The royal palace looked no less than indrlok. The brownish yellow colour of walls shined like gold. Flowers adorned every single thing. Dancers, musicians, actors everyone was busy in entertaining the guests.

Every kingdom was eager to get atleast one fire born as their queen. Guests were arriving from every known kingdom. They were showered with flowers and were welcomed by Satyajeet himself.

Admist all this sat a woman clad in light yellow saree. Her hairs dancing with the cool breeze passing her balcony. Her face looked calm and serene giving no sign of her internal turmoil.

" Draupadi?" Her jiji's soothing voice calmed her senses a bit. She hugged her immediately , relaxing in her mother like embarace.

" Jiji what will happen if Rajkumar Arjun didn't come?"

" He will dear. If your love is true then nothing can bind him from not coming " Aanyati tried to calm her little sister. But her own mind was not sure if any of the pandavas will come or not.

After calming her sister a bit she decided to calm herself. Due to the guests already arriving, Draupadi was forbidden by Swarnika to come out but Aanyati wasn't. She passed through the large corridors of her palace to reach the little temple of Vishnu built beside the kridangan on her wish. Luckily none of the guests were interested in practising so she could pass without hearing any cheesy flirty line. She had experienced a lot when she was in Hastinapur.

On her way through kridangan, she saw a bow kept on a table nearby. That bow looked divine in every sense. She wasn't able to resist the urge to touch it.

She moved her hands slowly from one end to the other.

" This is not an ordinary bow devi" a heavy voice made her look around" it requires respect toward shastr (शस्त्र) and the knowledge of shastra(शास्त्र ) to lift it up "

A man clad in royal clothes smiled at her curiosity to lift the bow. Aanyati smirked. She moved her hand on the bow again and lifted it up in a second in front of him.

" I have both, knowledge of shastr and respect toward shastras "

" That's worth praising devi, not everyone can lift it up " said the man in amusement. Aanyati placed the bow on it's place.

" But don't you think, gazing at the princes is wrong for the princess having swayamvar " he said with the same smallest of smile on his lips. Aanyati chuckled hearing him.

" I think you have mistaken me to be Draupadi, I am not Draupadi, I am her elder sister Aanyati " said Aanyati with a beautiful smile." And I was not gazing any prince "

Oh! So she is the divine fire born who insulted Duryodhan by rejecting his proposal. He thought.

" Forgive me Rajkumari, I wasn't able to recognise you" he said but with a little stiffness this time.

" Neither am I, this divine bow must belong to a great warrior, who are you manyavar?" Asked Aanyati with the same smile.

" I am Angraj Karn" he replied.



The smile from Aanyati's face vanished and it didn't go unnoticed by Karn .

" You might consider it inauspicious or disgraceful to talk to a soota. " He said with a bitter chuckle.

" Why should I feel disgraceful by talking to you? You are a human like me. Caste or clan can never be the base of respect" Aanyati replied with a rigidness in her voice.

" Then may I ask the reason of this sudden vanishing of your smile?"

" You are a great warrior Angraj but I don't think my sister would like to marry you" she said the truth. He made a questioning look

" You may not be adharmi but you sides adharma" she again told the truth without any fear. Karna too knew what she meant by adharm. His smile came back to his face

" Don't worry devi, I am not here to participate. The only reason of coming here is to accompany my friend Duryodhan " he assured. Duryodhan's name was enough to sour Aanyati's mood.

" Now allow me to leave Angraj, otherwise more people will blame me for staring at them in my sister's swayamvar " Aanyati smiled saying which made Karna smile as well.

" Pranipat " with that Aanyati parted het way with Karna unaware of him being her bhrata Vasusena.

Aanyati sat in front of Vishnu's idol with a gloomy look. Her mind clouded with just one question -will they come?

" They will Sakhi" krishna came assuring her. " You are worrying more than Draupadi" he chuckled. Aanyati let out a small chuckle.

" You must go now, a lot of princes have come and if they saw you, they might demand for yours swayamvar with Draupadi's" he made a scared face which made Aanyati laught as her left for her palace from there hoping no one come across her now. But seems like God is not with her this time.

" Pranipat Durpadkanya" came a sugar coated voice .

" Pranipat Gandhar Raj " she wished with a small smile on her face.

" I am really happy for your sister's swayamvar but what about yours? Aren't you her elder?" He asked behaving like confused.

" I don't think there's any need for you to know " Aanyati replied straight forward.

" Right, right " Shakuni let out an evil chuckle" may I ask where your sister Shrikhandini is? I have heard she's a great warrior " he asked. Aanyati got his reason for so easily. A king leaves his kingdom just to support his blind sister. No. He is here to destroy the person who made his sister blind.

" Indeed she is, beaware Gandhar raj, she don't talk much, her swords speaks for her" Aanyati said smirking a little " beside finding her is a little difficult. Fox have to jump a lot to get the grapes and I hope you will never get those grapes" with those works she left leaving a surprised Shakuni behind. He understood her meaning completely. She is smart and cunning and most importantly, she don't follow Dharma blindly like others. That is the reason he wanted her on his side from the very beginning.

Sitting on her balcony, Draupadi was drowned in her own thoughts when Aanyati came.

" Why so much worry sister? It's your swayamvar tomorrow. " Draupadi smiled a bit.

" Jiji, Tara told me Angraj Karn has came. What will I do if he lifts the bow to win me" Draupadi asked not being able to hold anymore.

" You are not a trophy to win my dear. It's your swayamvar, you can choose your life partner by yourself even if someone's wields the bow. " Said Aanyati.

" But what reason will I give?"

" There's no need for any reason. It's your choice which no one can question and even if someone do so then you should say what you feel" Aanyati said with a little smile on her face. Draupadi too calmed a bit listening to her sister.

But both were unaware that someone was listening to their conversation.

Finally the auspicious day came. Aanyati herself decided to dress her sister. She choose the best of things for her. Draupadi clad in a red saree, adorned with beautiful golden ornaments shined like sun.

" Jiji, why are you tieing my hairs?"

" This is a symbol of married life Draupadi, from now on your hairs will be open just in front of your husband. " Answered Aanyati braiding her hairs and placing numerous jewellery on them.

" Remember one thing priye, never down cast your eyes. The person who can't hold others gaze is considered weak" Aanyati said placing a kiss on Draupadi's head.

" Let her would be husband shower such love on her. You come and get ready . " Shouted Moti from outside . Aanyati rolled her eyes. Finally this girl got sometime for her.

Moti dragged Aanyati out to her chamber and get her ready.

A white saree adorned her body with some light weighted jewellery. Her hairs remained open.

" Moti, its Draupadi's swayamvar not mine. There's no need for more jewellery " Aanyati protested when Moti placed more jewellery on here.

" Dress well Vriti, who knows some prince loose their heart on you "Aanyati rolled her eyes. She did not even want to sit in front of everyone in the competition but Draupadi insisted her to be there for her and she wasn't able to deny.

With one last prayer to her Narayan she stood up from her place to go. Draupadi will come later. She moved out hoping for the best....

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