100. Led Several Horses to Water but Alas! They refused!

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Arjun drove his white horses like a madman

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Arjun drove his white horses like a madman.

The speed was so wild that even Draupadi's long, thick braid whipped behind her, untamed by the rushing air. 

But who could blame him? His brothers were at Hastinapur, and the grand celebration must have already begun.

Maharaj Dhritarashtra, in all his indulgence, had turned what should have been a simple dyut sabha, a mere game of dice among family—into an extravagant spectacle. Arjun had heard from his messengers about the absurdly lavish sabha hall the Kuru emperor had built, its floors practically drowning in jewels 

A bit much, wasn't it?A gambling match didn't need this much spectacle. 

It all seemed excessive. Unnecessary. Suspicious.

But that wasn't what gnawed at him. No, what truly unsettled him was the fact that his brothers were alone in that treacherous place.

Hastinapur had once been their home—the first true home they had ever known. Before that, they had wandered through forests, moving from one uncertain refuge to another, never staying long enough to belong. It was a kind of home filled with happiness but not stability. So when they arrived at the palace, they had allowed themselves to believe they had found a place of permanence. Stability.

Not anymore. Not when every step within those walls had to be measured, every word spoken with caution. 

So as it turns out, it was quite natural for him to be worried sick for his brothers and wanting to be with them as soon as possible. He gave a sharp jerk to the horses again to drive them forward.

"Arya! Slow down! This is madness! Are you trying to throw us off the chariot?" Panchali had been quiet for some time, her knuckles white as she gripped the side for balance, but when the chariot nearly lifted off the ground after a particularly sharp turn, she had had enough.

But Arjun did not slow. He did not even glance at her. His jaw was clenched, his dark brows furrowed.

 "No," he said, his voice hard as steel. "We must reach there as soon as we can. We have no time to waste."

Draupadi scowled, pushing strands of wild hair out of her face. "No time? We will not reach anyone if we crash this chariot into a tree!" She grasped his arm, trying to steady herself. "Arya, listen to me! What madness has taken hold of you?"

"I am just worried."

"I know you are worried, Arya," she said. But if the horses collapse from exhaustion, we will not reach them at all! What good will it do then?"

Arjun gave a curt shake of his head. "They will not collapse. They are strong. They will carry us." He flicked the reins once more, urging the horses to maintain their blistering pace.

Draupadi sighed in frustration. "You are impossible!" she muttered. "And by the way I did not like the way you talked to Devashree. You should not have taken the tone with her. She was only looking out for us."

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