The whole city of Panchal was filled with joy and colour, as their princess of going to choose her husband. Princes across the country were attending the Swayamvar, to get the hand of the most beautiful princess in the entire world. Every other prince was getting welcomed in a very grandeur way.

Vaishnavi was looking at her sister in awe as she looked like she was made out of Elixir. Rambha or Urvashi could never compete. Vaishnavi pulled Draupadi's cheeks and said, "Awwww!!! Mann, look at this beauty! Remember Krishnaa! Choose your husband wisely, Okay! You have to live all your life with that dude!", to which Draupadi hit her softly and blushed. Vaishnavi chuckled and said with all seriousness, "But, I'm telling you, Krishnaa, I will always be with you! No matter what happens to me, even if I don't have anything for myself, I will definitely come for your help. And i always will stand by your side, no matter who is there in the other side. Remember, you are the most important person to me, in the whole world! More than anyone!". Draupadi immediately became all emotional and hugged her sister, as she was going to miss her.

Vaishnavi, chuckling her tears away, asked, "Now tell me, I've trained you right? What to do when someone crosses their line?". Draupadi chuckled with tears as well and said, "Kick their ass!". Vaishnavi laughed and ruffled her hair carefully not messing her hair up, "That's my Girl!".

While hugging, Vaishnavi asked her, "Tell me! What kind of husband do you want? Huh? What qualities does he possess?". Draupadi immediately broke the hug with enthusiasm and said, "I want someone, who stands with Dharma! Who is stronger than anyone! Who is best in concentration and control! Who is really knowledgeable in every aspect of life! And last, but not least, Who is the most handsome man in the whole world!", her eyes were screaming excitement.

'All these? Five qualities?'

Vaishnavi immediately felt something inside her heart, which was unexplainable. Since morning, she hasn't been feeling well, and a sense of pessimism was surrounding her. Draupadi shook her to get her out of her thoughts and raised her eyebrows. Vaishnavi held her cheek smilingly and said, "So it be!". Draupadi smiled sweetly and hugged her back again, while her thoughts were saying something else.

'Oh! Wait! I know someone who has all these qualities! I- Wow! He would be such a perfect match!'

They soon broke the hug and were about to go to the stage, but Vaishnavi's Dupatta got stuck to the table and got torn. Draupadi gasped at that and ordered the maids to get a new one, but Vaishnavi was not feeling good about it. She told her, "No, No it's okay Krishnaa! It's manageable!". But Draupadi did not listen to her and strictly told her to dress up with a brand new lehanga, as she didn't want her sister to wear a torn one in her wedding and left the place.

Defeated, she changed into a new one, a white lehenga, which reminded her of her first meeting with her husband, her Arjun. Smiling to herself, she went to apply Kumkum on her forehead, a very little amount only for her to see, she was married after all. Blushing to herself, she started to apply it, but a huge gush of wind made the whole Kumkum to fall on the ground and some on her lehanga, making her more anxious now. There it was, the unsettling feeling started to settle in her again.

'Why? Why is it happening since morning? I- I don't- I have to go meet that guy! Immediately!'

She wanted an end to this feeling. The last time she felt like this was when her and her brother died. But whatever she was feeling right now is surpassing that. Thinking to herself, she made her way towards the hall, but suddenly got stopped by someone, who was extending their hand in front of her. She looked at who it was, and smiled at the person broadly. "Angraj! I was about to come to you! Glad that you are here!". He just chuckled at her and looked at her with an apologetic expression, "Well, I'm here because you know...-", she immediately realised and stopped him, "Wait, don't tell me you are lost in the palace again!". He nodded his head closing his eyes, "Exactly!". She immediately laughed and shook her head at his obliviousness.

"Come with me! I'll take you there!", she said and navigated him to the arena. She thought this would be the right time to speak with him so she started, "Karn! Look! I know I'm not your special friend or something! But I'm telling what I feel like I should be telling. You can win this Swayamwar, you know? I know you are a great Archer, so you can win this", she closed her fists and tried to encourage him.

He chuckled at her and said, "Vaishu! I am not interested in marrying the princess! Whatever I would do, is only for my friend, my Mitr Duryodhan!". She shook her head in disagreement, but she saw the whole batch of Kauravas coming towards them. Karn looked at her and said, "Well, thanks for showing me way, Vaishu! And thanks for trying to motivate me as well!". Duryodhan came in front of her and said, "Pranipat! Princess Vaishnavi! Mitr Karn!", to which she dramatically looked at him and kept her hand on her mouth. "Dury! Is that you?", she asked him. He dismissally said, "Hey! Why are you acting as if I'm a bad or something? I just said Pranipat! If you don't want, I wouldn't even do that!". She immediately shook her head and said, "No Dude! It's okay! And Dushy, how's your pain?". Dushasan said with enthusiasm, "It's gone, Vaishu! You are a magic!", and proceeded to high five her. She proceeded as well but stopped midway as she remembered that he can't touch her.

Ashwathama came into the scene and high fived with Dushasan, to save her from the situation. She gave him a thankful look, which he reciprocated with a nod. She turned towards Karn and said, "Anyways, Karn remember! You can win this!", but got interrupted by a middle aged persons voice, "And who are you to tell that?". They all looked at his direction and Vaishnavi let a frustrated sigh out, "Mamashree Shakuni! I don't know what enmity you have with me!". Shakuni scoffed and said, "Enmity? Huh? I just told because you never sided with us, and all of a sudden you are trying to manipulate Angraj! And, Don't call me Mamashree!", and turned his head away hesitantly. She looked at him with a weird face, as he continued, "being you Yadav's Mama is life threatening for sure!", to which she just laughed and weirdly, Duryodhan didn't feel annoyed this time. "Oh, Poor! Don't don't worry Mamashree! I won't kill you or something!", Ashwathama just enlarged his eyes and shook his head only for her too see. She immediately stopped and said, "Anyways, bye guys!!!", and sprinted away from the place. As she was in a hurry to go there, sh accidentally bumped onto a wall and hit her hand. "Ouch!", she shreiked as she felt something was stinging her hand. She looked down to see what it was, and noticed broken bangle pieces stuck to her hand. She became even more tensed as it is a bad omen. She isn't the type to believe all this, but her heart was telling her the otherwise, at the situation and time she was present in.

'K- Kanha! I don't want anything wrong to happen today!'

Shakuni scoffed at the disappearing girl and said, "Huh, Angraj don't listen to that girl! She is a trickster just like her brother!", to which Duryodhan shook his head, "Mamashree! Not everyone is against us! You know!", Dushasan nodded in agreement as well. Shakuni facepalmed and said, "You fools! She was always with that Pandavas! You remember how she helped them in defeating this King of Panchal! Huh? I can tell you many situations-", Shakuni started to speak against her, which made sense to Duryodhan and his brothers little by little. Karn also soon fell into his words, slowly being not confident about winning this Swayamvar.

In the hall of Swayamwar, everyone felt their breathing stopped as they saw the beautiful maiden in the whole Aryavart walk down the aisle. Duryodhan's jaw dropped as he saw the beauty, that Ashwathama had to remind him of closing his mouth, otherwise mosquitoes will enter.

The whole Sabha was just admiring her unparalleled beauty, a damsel who emerged out of fire itself, and wanted to attain her at any cost. She soon went towards the podium and sat on her seat, while the Prince of Panchal, Drishtadyumn was explaining to them the rules to win the Swayamwar.

She turned towards Krishna, who was sitting beside her and asked, "So, according to the rules, a person who can string this heavy bow and hit the golden target five times is the winner! Am I right, Kanha?". He turned towards her and nodded in agreement and asked, "Why did you ask it Sakhi?", to which she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Just like that! I know someone who can win this thing! And he would be the perfect husband for my Krishnaa!", and looked at Karn with a lot of confidence in him.

Krishna turned towards her and asked, "And who is that?". She replied with a lot of confidence, "Karn! Ofcourse! He is everything a girl could ever ask for, Kanha! I'm sure she would definitely be happy with him! And not get shared by five people!", she ended sadly, remembering how sad her sister's life would turn out if she marries Arjun. She was so glad that she came in between them, and made sure that he would not marry her sister.

'Thank god! Draupadi is a very important person in my life! I can't stand anything going against her! She is like my kid and also mother! But- But, why do I get this immense sadness in me! Something is not adding up! I feel like- I feel like I missed something somewhere! Or I'm gonna miss!? I- I don't feel good. Ha! Haha! It must be how I'm gonna miss her after her marriage! Haha that's it! I hope that's it!'

Krishna asked her, "Do you really think he would play for himself? He would most probably do anything for his friend Duryodhan!". Vaishnavi looked at him seriously and said, "And if that ever happens, I will fight for my dear sister! I would fight the world for her! I would do anything for her Kanha! That innocent soul only deserves the best!".

Krishna looked at her and caressed her head with a sad smile on his face, "Ishwari, somethings, sometimes, no matter how you try to stop it, it will always happen because it is already written! And yeah, I made sure that nothing wrong will happen today, as you asked me!", which made her confused. As she was about to speak up, The atmosphere became windy, the smell of mud before rain hit her like a truck.

The Petrichor.

'Arjun!'

She immediately searched for him in the crowd, and spotted a group of Brahmans entering, four of their faces looking way too familiar. But instead of smiling, she was frowning at his presence there.

'Why is he here?!!'

Bheem slowly said to the Archer, "Arjun! How are you sure that she is here?". Arjun just looked at him and started to say, "I-", but immediately stopped and closed his eyes as the smell of mud before rain hit him too.

The Petrichor.

With closed eyes, he said, "She is here, Bhrata Bheem! There!", and pointed his hand towards a direction, still with his eyes closed. Bheem looked around and spotted her, exactly at the direction where his brother was pointing at. Bheem looked shocked and hit his brother on his back. "Oh ho, you lovesick guy! Come, let's go to Bhratashree!", Bheem said to his younger one and went towards the area, where the Brahmans are seated. Nakul saw them coming and said, "Only Sahadev is missing! He is with mother for guarding, otherwise he would have witnessed it as well!", to which all the other three brothers nodded in agreement.

Soon, one by one prince came forward to take part in the Swayamvar, only to lose terribly. Forget about hitting the target five times! Forget about hitting the target only! Forget about even stringing the bow! They couldn't even lift it, the bow! Every other prince defeatedly went back to their seats.

Karn was looking at Vaishnavi, who was gesturing him to go for it, giving thumbs up. But due to Shakuni's intervention, he was unsure about participating. Duryodhan told, "Mitr! Go win this Swayamwar on my behalf! I want to win that beauty!". Karn looked at him and half smiled. He went ahead to participate and touched the bow. But still, even the slightest of doubt that Vaishnavi could be betraying his best friend was killing him. He wanted to win for him, but also lose for his sake. Being unsure, he tried to lift the bow, which was super heavy. Vaishnavi had her fingers crossed, so that Karn could win her.

Everyone saw that he was finding it difficult to lift the bow up, which worried Vaishnavi. But, Draupadi was smiling all along, as she was not ready to accept anyone else as her husband other than Arjun. But to her disappointment, he lifted the bow up, and started to string it. Vaishnavi silently did a 'yay' to herself. Closing his eyes with utter unsureness in his heart and proceeded to string the bow. But something happened, which totally disappointed Vaishnavi, and increased her anxiety more. She gasped loudly, making Krishna look at her sadly.

'N- No!'

Karn couldn't string the bow!

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