Nakul rode back toward the palace, the bangle he had purchased for the mysterious girl tucked safely within his robe. His mind raced with thoughts of her-the way she had passionately argued with the seller and how her eyes had lit up with excitement. Who was this woman, and why did she have such a strong impact on him?

As he crossed the palace gates, his heart felt a strange mixture of anxiety and eagerness. It was odd, considering he had never felt this way before, especially for someone he hardly knew. "Get a grip, Nakul," he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the thoughts.

Inside the palace, Yudhishthira noticed Nakul's distracted demeanor as he entered the main hall. "कहाँ खो गए हो, अनुज?" ("Where are you lost, younger brother?") he asked with a gentle smile.

Nakul quickly composed himself, offering a small smile in return. "कुछ नहीं, भ्राताश्री। बस नगर भ्रमण से लौटा हूँ। नगर वासियों से आपकी प्रसंशा भी सुनके आया हूँ | " ("Nothing, elder brother. I just returned from a stroll around the city. I also heard your praise from the city people.") He refrained from mentioning the incident at the fair, unsure why he wanted to keep it to himself.

He approached Mata Kunti, who was sitting in her chamber, her face serene yet slightly tired. "माता, आपके लिए कुछ लाया हूँ," ("Mother, I brought something for you,") he said, placing the beautifully wrapped gold bangles in her hands.

Kunti's eyes softened as she gazed at the delicate jewelry. "बहुत सुंदर हैं, पुत्र। भगवान तुम्हारा भला करे वत्स|" ("They are beautiful, my son. May god bless you.")

Nakul bowed his head, touched by her words. "आपके लिए लाया था, माता," ("I brought them for you, Mother,") he replied softly. mata kunti kissed his forhead with a motherly affection.

As he turned to leave, he glanced at the other bangle tucked within his robe. His fingers traced the delicate designs absentmindedly, wondering if he would ever meet the girl from the fair again.

**Nisha's POV**

The fair had left Nisha in a whirlwind of emotions. She hadn't been able to purchase the bangle, and the bargaining had left her slightly embarrassed. But Adrika's cheerful spirit soon pulled her out of the mood as they were walking back to the palace.

"तुम्हें वो चूड़ियाँ इतनी पसंद थीं ?" ("You really liked those bangles, didn't you?") Adrika asked, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

Nisha sighed, and said. "हाँ, पर क्या करूँ? दाम बहुत ज्यादा था।" ("Yes, but what could I do? The price was too high.")

As they wandered back toward the palace, Nisha couldn't help but glance at every jewelry stall they passed, still longing for that exquisite navy-blue bangle. "काश मेरे पास पैसे होते," ("I wish I had enough money,") she thought to herself wistfully.

The palace came into view, and with it, reality settled back in. She had a duty to fulfill here, to keep her wits about her in this ancient world where she didn't belong. For now, her desires for thoese bangles can wait.

But little did she know, the very bangle she had set her heart on was already on its way to finding her, carried by none other than Nakul, the prince whose eyes had unknowingly captured hers during the celebration.

-----

The next day evening

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over Hastinapur. Nisha and Adrika were making their way back from Queen Kunti's chambers after a long day of cleaning. The palace, with its sprawling courtyards and majestic halls, was bustling with the evening activities of the royal household.

As they walked, Nisha's mind was abuzz with thoughts about the history she was so eager to uncover. She suddenly stopped, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Adrika, noticing the sudden halt, looked at Nisha with a puzzled glance.

Nisha turned to Adrika and asked, "Adrika, kya iss mahal mein pustakalay hai?" (English translation: "Adrika, is there a library in this palace?")

Adrika's face lit up with understanding. "Haan, Pitamah Bheeshm ke kamare ke paas jane ke liye hame mahal ke paschim ki aur jaake daayin lena hota hai na, par raj pustakalay ke liye hama baayein lena hoga." (English translation: "Yes, to reach Pitamah Bheeshm's chambers, you have to head west and then turn right, but for the royal library, you need to take a left.")

She explained the directions with an elaborate hand gesture, making Nisha's curiosity even more piqued. The thought of exploring the palace library, where she could delve deeper into the history of the dynasty, was irresistible. As a historian, Nisha's curiosity was always insatiable, and this was another opportunity to quench her thirst for knowledge.

Nakul's Perspective

The evening had been a whirlwind of activity, and as I made my way back to my room, the night's chill hung in the air. The dinner had been sumptuous, but I was restless. My usual routine was to crave adventure, not the mundane rituals of palace life. As I chatted with my brothers Arjun and Sahadeva, I had voiced my discontent with the monotony. "I don't want to sleep so early. I need something more," I had said, my voice carrying the familiar longing for exploration.

Arjun, ever the one to indulge my whims, had looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Meet me on the palace grounds with your sword in half an hour," he had said, his tone leaving little room for argument. I had been momentarily puzzled by his sudden challenge but had shrugged it off, embracing the spontaneity. And now, here I was, engaged in an intense sword-fighting practice with Bhrata Arjun.

We had been at it for over an hour. The first two rounds had ended in my favor, albeit with some difficulty. Sword fighting was my forte, but Arjun was no slouch. His skill had matched mine, making the last round a fierce contest that concluded in a tie. As we took a break, catching our breath, I sat down on the ground beside him.

"Bhratashree, main jaa raha hun. Mujhe bohot neend aa rahi hai aur thakan mehsoos ho rahi hai," I said, feeling the exhaustion settling in. (Translation: "Brother, I'm going now. I'm feeling very sleepy and tired.")

Arjun chuckled, a teasing edge to his voice. "Itne mein thak gaye, Anuj? Aaur neend bhi agayi?" (Translation: "You're tired already? And sleepy too?")

I stood up, folding my hands in a gesture of respect more like in a dramatic way. "Ab main aapki tarah to needrajeet nahi hun na, Bhratashree. Mujhe neend bilkul ayegi hi nahi." (Translation: "I'm not as sleep-resistant as you, Brother. I'm sure I'll fall asleep soon.")

Arjun waved me off with a grin. "Theek hai, theek hai, jao. Main bhi kuch der baad chala jaunga." (Translation: "Alright, alright, go. I'll head off in a little while too.")

Before he could say more, I gave a quick bow and hurried towards my room, gripping my sword tightly. As I approached the west gate of the palace, a sudden noise caught my attention. It was the sound of something falling. Curious, I turned my gaze towards the source, which surprisingly came from the library.

Authors POV

Nakul's curiosity increased, as he went towards the library entrance, his saw a sight that made him stifle a chuckle. The guard at the library entrance was fast asleep, leaning against the wall in a manner so peaceful that even Nakul, on his royal bed, could not match his tranquility.

Nakul shook his head, a bemused smile on his face. He gripped his sword tightly, his instincts alert despite the late hour. He approached the entrance quietly, his footsteps muffled on the marble floor.

As he drew closer, the guard's serene slumber continued undisturbed. Nakul took a deep breath, deciding to investigate the noise that had caught his attention. His heart raced with the thrill of discovery, adding a dash of excitement to his otherwise tired evening.

With a final glance at the sleeping guard, Nakul carefully pushed open the library door, the creak of the hinges mingling with the quiet of the night. He stepped inside, ready to uncover whatever secrets the library held, driven by the curiosity of the moment.