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As Nisha made her way towards the exit gate with the other women, she suddenly paused and turned to face Nakul. Her heart quickened as she walked back toward him. Nakul, who had been watching her leave with a confused expression, waited for her to speak.

She stepped closer, her voice soft but determined. "Mere kaksh mein, main ne bhrata Bheem ke liye ek matke mein kheer rakha hai. Bhavan ko agg lagane se pehle khane ko bolna. Ho sake toh tum sab mil bant ke khana, kyunki aane wale samay mein hame bhrata Bheem ki shaktiyon ki bohut zarurat hogi." (In my chamber, I've kept a pot of kheer for Bheem. Make sure he eats it before the house is set on fire. If possible, share it among yourselves. We're going to need Bheem's strength in the days ahead.)

Nakul's brows furrowed, concern filling his eyes. "Aur tum—?" (And you—?)

Before he could finish his sentence, Nisha interrupted, shaking her head gently. "Meri fikar mat karo, Nakul. Ab jao." (Don't worry about me, Nakul. Now go.)

She didn't give him the chance to respond. Without another word, she turned on her heel and headed swiftly towards the exit gate from where the women were discreetly departing. As she slipped out of the Lakshagrah, Nisha moved unsuspiciously, blending in with the other women as she walked toward the end of the passage.

Meanwhile, Nakul stood still for a moment, frustrated by Nisha's abrupt exit. She hadn't mentioned whether she'd eaten the kheer or not, and that gnawed at him. Still, her words echoed in his mind. Determined, he quickly retrieved the pot of kheer from her room and made his way to Yudhishthir's chamber, where his brothers and mother were gathered.



The mood in the room was serious. Bheem, sitting in the corner, clenched his jaw tightly, clearly agitated—probably because of Duryodhan and Shakuni's treachery. Nakul stepped forward, holding the pot of kheer.

"Nisha ne ham sab ke liye yeh kheer chhoda hai aur kaha hai bhrata Bheem ko adhik hissa dena. Tum sab bhi khao, aur aap bhi aaiye, Mata Shri." (Nisha left this kheer for all of us and said to give Bheem the largest portion. You all should eat too, and please join us, Mother.)

They all sat down, sharing the kheer among themselves. A large portion was given to Bheem, who finished it in the blink of an eye, his mood visibly lightening.

Sahadev stood and quietly went to confirm if Purochan was asleep, checking every corner of the Lakshagrah carefully. After a few minutes, he returned, nodding to his brothers. "Purochan so chuka hai." (Purochan has fallen asleep.)

Bheem immediately lit the torch, the flames flickering ominously. The Pandavas prepared for their escape. But before they moved, they turned to Mata Kunti.

"Mata, sarva pratha app chaliye." (Mother, you should go first.)

But Mata Kunti, regal and commanding, shook her head. "Sabse pehle mera priya Sahadev jayega, phir main jaungi." (First, my beloved Sahadev will go, then I will follow.)

As ordered, Sahadev descended first into the tunnel. Mata Kunti followed him, her eyes filled with both strength and worry. Yudhishthir went next, then Nakul and Arjun, and lastly, Bheem, who ensured no one had seen them enter the dig.

Meanwhile, Nisha had already reached the end of the tunnel, where a large rock blocked the exit. Her bow in hand, she aimed carefully, reciting mantras under her breath. With precision, she released the arrow, and the rock shattered into pieces, clearing the path. The exit was now visible.

Nisha sat on a large rock near the tunnel's entrance, her gaze fixed on the growing fire consuming the Lakshagrah. The flames flickered higher and higher, lighting up the darkened sky. She felt a pang of worry deep within her chest. *Why am I worrying?* she thought. *Of course, they will make it safely.

But as the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity, her anxiety grew. Forty minutes passed, and she couldn't suppress her growing fear. Finally, she stood, pacing toward the tunnel, her heart racing with each step. Just as she was about to enter the tunnel again, the sound of footsteps reached her ears.

Sahadev emerged from the tunnel first, dust clinging to his clothes. Nisha hurried to him, offering her hand. He took it, though he could have easily managed on his own, and they exchanged a brief, knowing smile. Together, they helped Mata Kunti climb out of the tunnel next.

One by one, the Pandavas emerged—Yudhishthir,Nakul, Arjun, and finally Bheem. As they all gathered outside, they turned to watch the Lakshagrah, now engulfed in flames. The heat from the fire was intense, and the air filled with the crackling of wood and the distant cries of onlookers who hadn't realized the Pandavas had escaped.

Mata Kunti stood, her face pale with shock, staring at the inferno that had almost claimed their lives. The others shared her stunned silence, the weight of the moment sinking in.

Bheem, however, wasted no time. He marched directly toward Nisha, his large frame towering over her. His expression softened as he spoke, "Dhanyawad, Nisha. Tum agar mere liye kheer nahi rakhti toh ab tak main bhook se vikshipt ho jata." (Thank you, Nisha. If you hadn't saved that kheer for me, I would've been delirious with hunger by now.)

Nisha smiled warmly, shaking her head. "Dhanyawad kehke lajit na kijiye, Bhratashree. Wah toh mera dayitva tha." (Don't embarrass me by thanking me, Brother. It was my duty.)

Mata Kunti, moved by Nisha's thoughtfulness, stepped forward. With affection shining in her eyes, she gently cupped Nisha's chin, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. The tender gesture spoke of the deep gratitude and motherly affection she felt for Nisha's deeds.

In the midst of fire and peril, there was warmth—both from the flames and the newfound bonds between them.

The group began to move quietly, their eyes glancing back one last time at the smoldering Lakshagrah, where a crowd had gathered, mourning the supposed death of the Pandavas and Kunti. The flames had consumed the palace, and the cries of the people filled the air, but none of them could afford to linger. Their journey had only just begun. They walked swiftly, but the weight of everything they had left behind sat heavily on their shoulders. Bheem's silence was especially unsettling, his usual boisterous energy now replaced with a simmering fury.

Their destination was clear—they had to cross the Ganga and head toward the Matsya kingdom for refuge. As they neared the riverbank, the cool breeze from the flowing water brought a brief moment of relief. Mata Kunti, exhausted and emotionally drained, sat down on a large rock by the shore, her face etched with grief. The Pandavas followed her lead, sitting down beside her, but no words were spoken. Bheem's jaw remained clenched, his hands curling into fists as he stared into the distance, consumed by the betrayal and danger they had narrowly escaped.

Nisha, observing the quiet suffering of the group, felt a tug in her chest. She approached Mata Kunti, kneeling beside her. Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, Nisha tried to offer comfort. "Mata..." she whispered, but the older woman responded with a rolling tear from her eyes, lost in the turmoil of her thoughts. Nisha hugged her.

Just then, Nakul walked toward them, his eyes on Nisha as he approached with something in his hands. She watched curiously as he knelt and began to unwrap the large green leaves he had carefully carried from the dig. Inside, nestled in the folds, was the kheer that Nisha had saved for them.

Nisha immediately opened her mouth to protest, "Main—" (I—), but before she could finish, Nakul quickly and gently stuffed a spoonful of the sweet kheer into her mouth. The gesture was so tender, and his touch so deliberate, that her words died in her throat.

"Tum khao, Nisha," Yudhishthir spoke from where he sat, his voice calm yet firm. "Ham ne khaya. Tum nishchint hokar khao. Tumhe bhi shakti ki avashyakta hai." (You eat, Nisha. We've already eaten. You need strength as well.)

Nisha hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting

Nisha nodded softly, her eyes lifting to meet Nakul's gaze. There was an undeniable warmth in his expression, a mixture of affection, care, and something deeper that lingered in the way he watched her. His hand, still gently offering her another bite of kheer, trembled slightly as if the weight of the moment was as overwhelming for him as it was for her. She could feel the intensity of his feelings in every delicate movement, the way his fingers brushed against her lips, the silent language between them saying more than words ever could.

Her heart skipped a beat as Nakul's eyes remained locked on hers, filled with a tenderness that made her chest tighten. He was not just feeding her out of duty, but out of genuine concern, as if ensuring she gained strength from the meal wasn't just about her physical well-being—it was about her presence, her importance to him. The quietness between them was not awkward; it was profound, a comfortable silence that wrapped around them like a soft, protective embrace. For a moment, the chaos of the world around them seemed to fade away, and all that existed was this fleeting, intimate connection.

Nisha's cheeks flushed as Nakul placed another morsel of kheer on her lips. This time, she did not resist, parting her lips slightly and accepting it, her eyes never leaving his. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and Nakul mirrored it, his eyes softening with a quiet, unspoken promise. There was something infinitely tender in the way he looked at her, as though the rest of the world could wait, and right now, in this moment, his entire focus was on her.

Others stared at the with a smile of admiration along with mata kunti, but neither of them seemed to notice. All that mattered was this silent exchange, a subtle dance of emotions they were both too cautious to fully acknowledge. Yet, in their shared glance, it was all too clear—something between them was beginning to grow, something deeper than friendship, something more than mere companionship.

After she finished eating, Nisha reluctantly pulled her gaze away from Nakul and rose to her feet. The others were already stirring, preparing to continue their journey. Arjun caught her eye from a distance, nodding subtly in her direction. It was as if he was silently asking her to do what he tought her to use her skills to help them cross the treacherous Ganga.

Nisha took a deep breath, steadying herself. She approached the riverbank, her heart still fluttering slightly from the lingering moment with Nakul. Standing at the edge of the flowing water, she bowed deeply to Mata Ganga, her hands folding in respect. She touched the cool water gently, then brought her wet fingers to her forehead in a reverent gesture, silently asking for the river's blessing to allow them safe passage.

With a sense of purpose, Nisha straightened her spine, her eyes narrowing as she pulled out her bow. Her fingers glided over the familiar wood, finding strength in its solid weight. The water surged violently before her, but her focus was unwavering. She notched an arrow, reciting mantras under her breath, each word a sacred invocation to the gods for guidance and power.

Om Namo Gangai Vishwaroopinyai Narayanyai Namo Namaha

As the arrow soared through the air, it struck the water with a sharp hiss. For a brief moment, all was still—then the mighty Ganga parted, the force of its flow ceasing just long enough for them to cross. The riverbed revealed itself, allowing them a safe passage to the other side.

Nisha stood at the edge, her heart pounding with the exhilaration of the act, but her thoughts quickly shifted back to her companions. She turned to see the Pandavas and Kunti stepping carefully into the riverbed, one by one, their expressions filled with awe and gratitude.

Once they were all across, Nisha took a final glance at the parted waters and whispered a silent prayer of thanks to the river goddess. The moment they stepped onto the opposite bank, the Ganga surged back into its natural flow, the river resuming its course as if nothing had happened.

They began walking once more, the air heavy with the weight of their journey. Nisha cast a glance at Nakul, who was walking beside her now, his gaze lingering on her as if he too was reflecting on the silent exchange they had shared earlier. Though no words were spoken, the understanding between them deepened with every step they took towards the Matsya kingdom.

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