Unique Mahabharat

On the borders of Panchal

Arjun's P.O.V.

I woke up as Surya Dev peeped out of the hills, I sat up on the bed and saw, Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev were still sleeping and Jyesht had left to go to give the water offering to Surya Dev. I smiled standing up and left to freshen up. After two hours of practising, I went back to the chamber and saw Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem and Sahadev putting on their Kavach (armours) and I saw Nakul all ready holding a hand mirror admiring himself I shook my head I slowly tiptoed to him and...

"Bhoo!" I yelled holding his shoulders scaring him

"Ahh!" he yelled scaredly and shivering, I started laughing hardly Bhrata Bheem and Sahadev laughed too

"Jun," called Bhrata Yudhisthir, I looked at him

"Anuj, Mata Kunti and Mata Madri have ordered us to proceed to the royal temple, there're waiting for's there." he said, I nodded, put on my Kavach and we left for the royal temple

In royal temple

Mata Madri took kumkum and made the tilaks on our foreheads. Mata Kunti walked to us, a dasi was holding a thali that had a small bowl and pot, Mata Kunti took the bowl and gave it to Bhrata Yudhisthir and then took the pot and poured curd

"Putro," she called, we all looked at her

"while filling a bowl with a curd... ensuring that it is properly filled, and that nothing spills over, both are important." she said curd

"We will ensure that our Shaurya pleases Gurudev, Maa. Have faith. Our strength, will not be used to torture the Panchal army nor Maharaj Drupad." said Bhrata Yudhisthir, Mata smiled put the pot back on the thali

"Vijay Bhavh." said Mata.

"Mata," called Bhrata Bheem we looked at him

"can I have that?" he asked looking at the pot of curd, Nakul, Sahadev and I laughed, Mata Kunti and Mata Madri shook their heads. Mata Kunti gave Bhrata Bheem the pot of curd and he drank it all up I smiled shaking my head. We went to the Rajbhavan entrance and took the blessings of the elders we walked over to Jyesht and touched his feet

"Pranipat, Jyesht." said Bhrata Yudhisthir

"Vijay Bhavh, Anujo." blessed Jyesht, Tara walked over to Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem, Nakul, Sahadev and me she touched Bhrata Yudhisthir and Bhrata Bheem's feet 

"Kalyan ho." they blessed her she walked over to me she was going to touch my feet but I stopped her, she looked up at me I shook my head and hugged her she hugged me back we pulled away she looked at Jyesht

"Jyesht Bhrata, you're going with them too right?" she asked, Jyesht nodded

"But I've some work to do first. I'll meet you at the Panchal borders." he said, we smiled Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem, Nakul, Sahadev and I were going to go to Gurudev 

"Arjun!" called Jyesht, we looked around stoping

"No you all go Arjun come here." said Jyesht, Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev went to Gurudev and I walked to Jyesht

"Jun, take care of yourself and your bhaiyo. I have a feeling Kul and Dev will get themselves into trouble." he said I chuckled

"If any of you get hurt, I'll hold you personally responsible." said Jyesht

"What?! Why me?!" I asked

"Because I am putting you in charge of the safety of you five." he said

"But, Jye-"

"Relax, I'm just kidding, Anuj." he said interrupting me, he said puting his hand on my shoulder, I nodded he hugged me I hugged him back we pulled away he put his hand on my head

"Vijay Bhavh, Anuj." he blessed, I smiled at went to Gurudev too

"Rajkumaro, this is the first war of your lives." he said Bhrata Yudhisthir smiled nodding

"All the art and knowledge taught by me and even your might will seem scant in this war. Because your opponent, is my mitr Drupad. From my revered pita maha muni Bharadwaj, Drupad learnt the same art which all of you have learnt from me." he said we all nodded

"Me and my Putra, Ashwathama," he said gesturing to Ashwathama

"Will not take part in the war. Because Drupad had told me that if I am proud of my art then I needed to create a warrior who could defeat him. And I have accepted his challenge. All of you must uphold the honour of your Guru." he said I smiled and we all nodded

"If anyone is fearful of this war then, I release that person from the duty of giving the Gurudakshina." he said and looked at the Kaurav

"Is there anyone who doubts my teachings and has no faith in his own competence? Is there anyone?!" asked Gurudev

"We have faith, Gurudev!" I said

"We have faith, Gurudev!" said Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem, Nakul, Sahadev and I in unison the Kauravas didn't say anything

"Splendid. All of you may proceed for the war." he said looking at bhrata Yudhisthir, bhrata Bheem, Nakul, Sahadev and me. We smiled

"And the Dhritarashtr Putro you may return" said Gurudev

"Pitashree, what are you saying?! What kind of partiality is this?!" asked Ashwathama

"It is no partiality." said Gurudev turning to Ashwathama

"It is no partiality at all! The one who doubts my teachings and has no faith in his own capability cannot be accepted by me as my shishy. I cannot ask for the Gurudakshina from such a person, Ashwathama. f I had to defeat Drupad by any means possible then I would have approached the Maharaj of Hastinapur as a trader intent on making a business deal." he said gesturing to Maharaj

"I would not have meditated and waited all these years." said Gurudev

"But we have complete faith, Gurudev." said Duryodhan

"Very well," said Gurudev

At night on the borders of Panchal

We entered the borders of Panchal. We had revised the strategy for the war Sahadev didn't understand so Bhrata Yudhisthir was explaining him the strategy for the war again, Bhrata Bheem was exercising, Nakul was sharpening his sword and I was meditating.

"Is Drupad really that illusory, Bhrata Jun?" asked Nakul

"Those who don't trust their eyesight cannot be bound by anything. The biggest victory is to gain victory over one's senses." I said opening my eyes

"Learn to control your senses like me, Dev." said Bhrata Bheem, Sahadev got up

"One who doesn't seek any happiness in his life, cannot be defeated by anyone." said bhrata Bheem

"Would you like to have a laddoo, bhrata Bheem?" asked Nakul, bhrata Bheem looked at Nakul

"Laddoo! Where is it? Do you have one? Give it! Give it!" said Bhrata Bheem, Nakul laughed pointing at bhrata Bheem and laughed we joined him

"This is my Anuj who seeks no happiness in the world." said Bhrata Yudhisthir, we all laughed Bhrata Bheem pushed Nakul to the ground. Nakul got up and dusted himself

"I have taken an oath of not eating laddoos, Bhrata Sthir." said Bhrata Bheem, Bhrata Yudhisthir smiled

"I will not even think about them. I might think about them, but I won't eat any" said Bhrata Bheem, we laughed an arrow came and landed in front of Bhrata Yudhisthir, Bhrata Bheem and my feet

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" said Bhrata Bheem raising his gada

"Easy, Bhrata Bheem I will not hurt you." I heard Tara and her Jyesht's head peeped out from behind a tree

"Tara what are you doing here?! It's too dangerous." I said, Tara stuck her tongue out 

"Pranipat, Jiji." greeted Nakul and Sahadev joining their hand and bowing their heads, Tara smiled and nodded