The maiden didn't know what to do with the situation present in front of her. Many discussions were held in the meantime, confused about either to go for celibacy for Yudisthir or for Arjun.

Draupadi was with Kunti, who was discussing deeply with Yudisthir, while the other brothers came up with the celibacy idea. "What? No! Bhrata Bheem! I can't do that! You know about me and Vaishnavi, right? Still you are talking like this? I don't have any problem with Jyesth marrying her! I have my Vaishnavi and that is enough for me!", Arjun started blabbering as soon as the idea was proposed. Bheem stood up, kept his hand on the archer's shoulder and sighed, "Arjun! You don't understand! We have no other option if you think! We are unable to get that thought out of our heads that the princess will be our-", he looked down and said lowly, "Will be Our Wife! Even if you are ready to give up on her, and if she really marries Jyesth, our minds will always be corrupted!". Nakul and Sahadev also seconded with him.

Arjun shook his head adamantly and said loudly, "I can't do that, Bhrata Bheem! I can't leave her!. Tell me, you are married yourself! How can you leave Bhabhishree! It is a tough decision for you, right? Exactly, I can't leave my wife as well! It is more than death for me!", and Arjun turned around to the other side.

Bheem agreed and said, "I know, Arjun! It is hard for me to leave my wife but-", his words trailed off, as her realised what his brother just told him. His wife?. Nakul and Sahadev were also not understanding anything. Bheem turned Arjun towards him and asked, "What did you say?". Arjun was just looking down, blinking his tears away. Not getting a reply, he asked again, with a very tender voice. "Arjun! Tell us the truth!". Arjun looked at his brothers and said, "I and Vaishnavi got married. About five days ago! Without anyone knowing".

His brothers were shocked to their cores, would be an understatement. They didn't understand why he just didn't tell them anything. Bheem sighed frustratingly and looked up, "Arjun!!! You could have just told us! Told us! Why didn't you tell!". Nakul shook his shoulders and told, "Yes, Bhrata Arjun! Why didn't you tell!". Sahadev joined as well, "This is such an important thing, Bhrata! Why didn't you atleast tell Bhrata Yudisthir when he told you to participate?". Arjun looked at them and said, "He sent me, Sahadev! Now how can I go against his orders?". Bheem shook his head and said, "You could have just told him, brat!". Arjun replied, "Tell him? He knew about us and he still sent me! I don't think he takes any decision wro-", but got cut off by Bheem, "He doesn't know, Arjun!", making Arjun widen his eyes in shock. He then realised that his brother and mother never knew about their relationship, at all.

Arjun was about to break down, just then Nakul said, "we will immediately go inform this to Bhrata! Let's go!", but Arjun stopped him. "No Nakul! If you tell this, he would take celibacy with you guys, for me! And I dont want that! He has to rule the city of Hastinapur as a King! Not me! Anyways after this, us being alive will be known by everyone. But, if he takes celibacy, that Duryodhan will become the King! And I don't want that! Please, if not for me, atleast for the future of this Aryavart, please don't tell him just now! Please!", he pleaded. Sahadev said, "So, you want to sacrifice your love?". Arjun looked at him sharply and said, "No! All my life, I've never wanted anything for myself! The one thing I ever wanted with all my heart, is her! I will never be selfish if it comes to my brother. But, I want to be selfish for her! She has high hopes, Sahadev! And I successfully crumbled it away! All I ask for is a second chance from her!I don't want to give up on her! And for that to happen, we must ask the Princess to return back to her place! And not marry any of us! I want to be selfish for once in my life, Selfish for her!".

***

They all were sitting together with Kunti. Yudisthir was conflicting about the decision he was about to take. He did not want a girl's life to be put in hell. He looked at Arjun for some support, as he won the maiden in the Swayamvar. But he noticed that the Archer himself was way too perplexed, looked like he couldn't tolerate the events that happened to him that day.

Kunti was sitting beside Draupadi, constantly giving her and apologetic look for her biggest blunder. But, Draupadi was just looking at the man who won her, who was looking like he isn't connected to the world at that moment. Draupadi sighed deeply and tears threatened to fell down her eyes. She immediately closed her eyes, not wanting them to notice that. She held her garland tightly and remembered her sister in mind, "Ishwari!".

Vaishnavi, who was speeding towards the place on Simba, while the soldiers were navigating her, felt a sudden ping on her heart. She held her chest and closed her eyes, only to envision a crying Draupadi. "No! We have to go faster!", she ordered those who are with her, making her confused with her behaviour.

Meanwhile, Yudisthir saw that all his brothers were smitten by her now, Kunti's words added fuel to the fire. Yudisthir sighed, and came to a conclusion, where there will be no potential danger in future. Hesitant, he started saying, "Princess! I think we should go by my mother's -", but the princes raised her hand, indicating him to stop. She looked up at all of them and then looked at Kunti with teary eyes, which made the latter feel more guilty.

Draupadi stood up and went to the center and started speaking, "I know what decision I am taking! And I'm completely sure that this wouldn't go wrong!", she closed her eyes tightly and remembered Vaishnavi and Krishna. She turned towards Kunti, with all the brothers standing behind her, she said, "Mata! Your words could never go wrong! I-", she choked on her words, but continued, "I will marry all your sons!", Making each and every brother get shocked beyond words.

"No!!!", a loud voice could be heard by them, a very familiar one! Arjun immediately turned his head towards that voice and saw his wife standing there with a very furious expression! He has never seen her that furious, ever. Even when he won Draupadi at Swayamvar, she wasn't that furious.

All the brothers and their mother looked at her with a horrified expression. Kunti started to speak, "Putri-", But got cut off by Vaishnavi, who raised her hand, telling her to stop speaking. She looked at all of them with an accusing look and started speaking, "Do you guys even have any idea of what you are doing? Five guys marrying one girl? How's that possible?", and she went towards a crying Draupadi, who hugged her tightly.

While hugging her, she looked at Arjun accusingly and said, "You brothers any oath of breaking women's heart?". Arjun, unable to tolerate the look she was giving him, looked down. She turned around and said, "I don't care who you all are, but I'm not letting my sister's life to be miserable! No! Not happening!", and made Draupadi look at her. All those men were ashamed and did not dare to look at her, let alone speak.

She held her cheeks and said, "Let's go, Krishnaa! You don't need these men!", and started to drag her away. But Draupadi stopped her and said, "No Ishwari, wait! I've decided!", making the future girl turn towards her with a confused look, "Krishnaa?". Draupadi nodded at her and said, "Yes, Ishwari! I wish to marry all these five brothers!".

Vaishnavi couldn't say anything anymore. Her sister wished to marry all the brothers, with a lot of determination. She gripped her hand tightly and said, "Let's go home!", and dragged her away from them, with her watching those brothers with teary eyes.

As Draupadi boarded the chariot with her brother, Vaishnavi hopped back on Simba, looking at them all again. They held an apologetic look and she didn't show any remorse to it. After scanning them all, her eyes got fixated on Arjun, who wasn't turning his head away from her, his eyes carrying a longing expression. She felt bad for a moment, but immediately composed herself, "If you guys are really sure about marrying her, come and talk to her father!", she said without looking at them and rode towards the palace. Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev looked at Arjun with a pitying expression, who was beyond repair now.

***

In the palace, Draupadi was looking at the stones Krishna gave her. They were five blue stones, each representing individual characteristics. He gifted her on behalf of the Swayamvar, and he only understood the meaning of it now. Vaishnavi was sitting beside her and was trying to change her mind from taking anymore bad decisions, but the princess of Panchal just kept on looking at the stones.

"Krishnaa! Listen to me! I'm not allowed to tell anything! But! But, if you marry them, your life will be miserable! Trust me! Call off this wedding and just marry one prince out of them!". Draupadi looked at her and said, "Ishwari! Ive already decided that I'll marry all five! If I marry only one now, my mind will not be under my control, and that's not an ideal woman's quality!". Vaishnavi realised that it's a waste of time trying to convince her, as she had already decided, and it has been already written in fate.

Defeated, she got up from her seat and was about to go out, just then, Drishtadyumn came running towards their chamber, "Vaishu! You know what? Those Brahmans! They are not Brahmans. In fact, they are the Pandavas!", he said panting. She wasn't shocked or surprised, neither was the princess. Drishtadyumn kept on talking to his sister and soon his father joined, while Vaishnavi left the place.

She sat on the slab of fountain and was deeply thinking about something. "You want Jalebi?", a voice interrupted her thoughts, and she saw that a Jalebi was in front of her. She looked at who it was and saw Krishna standing there with a smile on his face.

She gave him an accusing look and turned away, "Really! You are really asking me this, when you know what all happened today?", she said. Krishna shook his head smilingly and sat beside her, "Ishwari! As I told you-", but got cut off by her, "That I can't change anything, am I right?", she finished his sentence frustratingly. Krishna nodded his head, while she got really furious.

She stood up and said, "If that's the case, why did you make me become blood thick friends with Draupadi? Why did you guys take me out of my self realisation? Why-", she chocked at this, "Why did you make me fall in love with Arjun?", with that, she started crying and fell on her knees.

Tears, which were not shed since the morning, were coming out of her eyes nonstop. Krishna bent down and embraced her and started to console her. She held onto him tightly and started crying more. Seeing her in this state, Krishna also shed tears.

Soon, wiping his tears away, he started saying, "Ishwari! Imagine! What if, as you said, all the things happened in the right way, will there be any chance for Dharamsthapana?", she stopped crying and looked at him shaking her head in a no.

Wiping her tears, he continued, "Exactly, Sakhi! You are here for Dharamsthapana to go right! Not to stop it!". She said slowly, "Even then, how can you spoil a girl's life?", for which he shook his head and said, "No! It won't spoil her life, Trust me! Moreover, she would be more happy! And she will be the main pillar for the Pandavas and their bond to get stronger and thicker!". After a lot of consoling, Vaishnavi came in terms with reality and took the Jalebi out of his hand to eat some, since she hadn't any food that day. He ruffled her hair and informed her that he will be going to the Pandavas to talk with them.

She nodded as he left, and started to go inside the palace as well. But, "Vaishnavi!", a voice stopped her in her track, and she didn't want to face the owner of that voice. The smell of Petrichor was so strong even though it wasn't raining there. She chose to ignore him and said still not turning towards him.

"Arjun!"

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Hello my pookies! Sorry for making you guys wait! I was down with massive headache, cold and fever 🤧, so wasn't able to update in the last 2 days 🤧🤧. I'm absolutely fine now, don't worry!

And another big news is that,

*Drumrolls*

We hit 50k reads guysss.. I love you guys sooooo much! Thank you for your love and support you guys have been showing since the beginning of this story! Hope you all have a great day!

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