Aadhya Strength Of Pandavas novel Chapter 31

AADHYA'S POV

After reaching kampilya we started to search for a Dharamsala and we spotted an old potter, Jesth Bharata walked towards him and asked, "where can we find a Dharamshala? we wish to stay here for a few days" and he replied, "there will not be any Dharamshala available right now, are you travelers?" and Jesth replied, "yes, we came from Ekchakra and wish to go to Naimisharayan" and the potter asked, "are you Bharamins?" and jesth replied, "well we are wearing the clothes of Bharamins" and the potter said, "oh saying half-truth" and Jesth said "because I never lie" and the potter replied, "well in the half-truth there is half lie as well," Jesth looked at him and said, "yes you are correct, from now on when I say a half-truth God will punish me, but I can't say the truth, so please don't ask me questions" and understanding said, "did the ladies eat something?" hearing this we looked at each other and he said, "come inside, I will arrange for your dine and stay for few days" hearing this Jesth said, "but you shall allow us to serve you, it is mandatory, or else we won't accept your hospitality", the potter smiled and replied, "I'm an old potter, digging soil is hard for me, since you are young you dig up soil for me and I shall offer you a place to rest and dine."    

Bharata Bheem excitedly said, "then we will first serve you first, tell us where to get the soil from" giggling I said, "you always get excited hearing about food" and Bharata Arjun added, "yeah we need a little soil, we don't need to make a mountain" and the potter replied, "no no how much ever soil you get will be less, king dhrupad has ordered us to make many divas, pots and vessels, kind has organized a swayamvar for our princess," hearing that I questioned "of princess Shikandini?", he replied, "no, the deities of fire sacrifice have blessed the king with a daughter, our divine princess Draupadi, her Swayamvar will begin in few days, the person who will get married to the princess will be most fortunate" we all smiled in reply and the potter gave the information of where to get the soil from to Bharata Bheem and Bharata Arjun. 

The work was divided among everyone but the potter wouldn't except my help (bharata yudhistir, bharata nakul and bharata Sahadev helping the potter and bharata bheem and bharata Arjun getting the soil, the potter didn't accept my help so I was free). After lunch, I went to roam around the pond on the way I found a slingshot and picked it up excited since it's been long since I used a slingshot, taking it with me I went to the pond.  

I saw a lady struggling, trying to get a lotus from the pond, I took the slingshot I found earlier, picking up a stone I aimed at the lotus to help the girl, after she took the lotus, she looked up at who helped her, and I got near her, getting a proper view I was sure she is a princess or from a noble family, she gave me a small smile and said, "thank you" and I replied, "no problem" and shot at the other lotus thinking mata will like it and took the lotus and the girl asked, "where did you learn such good aiming" and I said, "well living in vaan, I should know how to use this at least" and she excitedly said, "will you teach me how to use it?", I replied "looking at you I'm sure you are a princess or from a noble family, don't you think you shouldn't trust me? and you sure you wanna learn that from me? there are many people who can teach you at your one say" and she gave a small smirk and said, "why would a shadvi harm me? Plus you just helped ,didn't you? and I would like to learn it from you and think I would like to know you more" I looked at her and said, "well if you are comfortable I don't mind teaching you."

I took out my slingshot and showed her how to hold it, use it and aim from it, giving her the slingshot for her to try, taking it she did what I told and started to get a hang of it, she was about to use it but some solider came saying, "rajkumari it's time to go, king drupad is calling you" I looked at her and realized that she might be princess draupadi and said, "rajkumari draupadi I'm sorry I didn't know it was you",  "why apologize? I was the one who didn't introduced myself and I didn't mind it plus you are my teacher now" she said showing the slingshot, I chuckled and said, "no don't call me teacher, I don't deserve that spot" she smiled and asked "so what should I call you?" I thought for awhile and said forgive me mata madri for taking your name, "my name is madri rajkumari" I said with a smile and she said, "madri since you didn't allow me to call you teacher even you call me by my name" nodding I said, "okay then, it was nice meeting you Draupadi".

"Practice what I taught you and you will master it, I shall take my leave then", she stopped me saying, "since you have started teaching me why don't you teach me completely if you don't mind can you come here tomorrow at the same time?" I thought I don't have anything to do here anyways and said, "okay then let's meet tomorrow" and we went our ways. On my way home I thought about Draupadi, she was indeed the most beautiful princess ever seen, not only her looks are admirable but her nature, her aura it felt so pure, like the fire itself, she is smart! She acted like she didn't have her guard up but I saw the soliders in the bushes, I giggled thinking about it.

Reaching the potter's home I said, "I'm here mata", receiving a "where have you been putri, was about to send Arjun to find you",  I looked at her giving apologistic look and said, "sorry mata I went for a walk, and look I got you a lotus, now please smile okay!" she smiled and took the lotus and patted my head.

I thought it's better to not tell them I met princess draupadi or else they will be worried, I can tell them once we leave from here.

DRAUPADI'S POV

Reaching the palace I met jiji, she asked, "where were you draupadi, you took more time then usual", I smiled and replied, "well I was at the pond, I met an shadvi and she is teaching me how to use a slingshot",  she kept a hand on my shoulder and said, "aree if you wanted to learn it I or anyone you asked could teach you, why learn from a unknown person, she might not be safe you know" I giggled and said "are jiji, don't worry if she was a danger to me the guards would have taken care of her, plus see she helped me get this lotus and she has this aura of a princess, the way she walked it got me curious about if she really is a shadvi or not" jiji giggled hearing this and said, "okay then as you wish! But better be careful, I don't want you to get hurt" I smiled and nodded.

AADHYA'S POV

THE NEXT DAY

I finished my lunch and looking at mata I said, "mata I will be going to the pond again bye" she asked, "why there again putri?", I replied "well I just liked the pond here it's pretty" sorry mata I'm lying to you I just don't want you to be in worry, bharata nakul came and asked, "where are you going aadhya even yesterday you were out", I replied, "just going to the pond" , he simled and said, "well I will go with you as well, it will be good to sit there" I was about to say something but bharata sahadev said, "oh and slack off work huh! you aren't going anywhere" and bharata nakul poted saying, "why does aadhya get to go!?"

Bharata bheem said, "oh nakul are you saying you need aadhya's help to complete your share of work?" making us laugh and he said "of course not!  I don't need her help she will anyways increse my work,  I just wanted her to stay for entertaining us" hearing this made me shocked and I ran after bharata nakul and he ran behind mata and I said, "bharata nakul!!!! You come here, don't hide behind mata" before I could do anything mata held his ears and said, "is this what you say to your sister Huh? Say sorry now come on" he looked at me and I teased him by showing my tongue and he pouted saying, "I'm sorry",  I smiled and said, "I promise tomorrow I will stay with you guys and give you company." Saying goodbyes I went to the pond.

Reaching there I saw draupadi sitting near the lake, I went there and said "hello, I see you brought your own slingshot", she looked up and smiled saying "yeah it would be better, shall we start?", I nooded saying, "ofcourse", I taught her for some more time and she was able to handle it pretty well then I said, "well I have taught you all I can, now you just need practice, you should try to aim at the apple tree there" I said shooting a stone there and went to get the apple , coming back I said "well if you want a snack as well you should get it your self"  I said challanging her so she gets the motivation. After good 20 mintuie she was able to touch the apple making me amazed at how fast she is, I looked at her and she shot the apple again succesfull getting it down, I got up and went to get the apple and  got more apple for us by climbing and plucking the apples, coming down I took the apple she shot, giving her the apple I said, "well done you are a fast learner, now take a rest and enjoy the fruit you earned."

Sitting down both of us ate the apple and draupadi asked, "well are you alone?" I looked at her and said "no I have my mata and bhartashrees" she nodded and asked,  "did your bharatashree teach you how to use a slingshot" I smiled at the question remembering the time and replied, "yes, I have lived in vaan so them doing it got me interested and I learnt as well" she nodded saying, "you use it pretty good at the pond your aim was accurate,  I might have gotten hurt but you did a perfect shot, I learned from the best" I giggled hearing and said, "well I don't know about that but you are a pretty fast learner" making her smile,  then I asked, "do you like weaponry like princess shrikandini as well? I have heard she is a great fighter."

She replied "well I don't hate it or like it, plus I think we should know weaponry for self defense and I really like that jiji knows weaponry and is so brave, I really admire my jiji as a great women, my shaka once told me that there was another princess who knew weaponry and was really good with swords", I looked at her a little anxious about if she is talking about me so I asked, "which princess are you talking about?, I'm sure she is not better then princess shrikandini", she looked at me and said, "her name was princess aadhya, better then jiji or not I don't know but it's said that she fought alongside her bharatashrees with Panchal and won", I looked at her and got lost in thoughts about that time when she called me asking,  "what happened what are you thinking?" I replied, "well I was just thinking it's sad how they all died, it's said that they were very good people", she looked at me for a second and nodded.

Before anyone of us could talk a squirrel came near me to take a nut, smiling I took the nut in my hand and kept my hand down so squirrel could climb it, she came in my palm and started eating the nut making me smile, I rubbed her head softly making her happy and it snuggled in my hands more, soon a deer came and sat with us while draupadi patting the deer's head suddenly the deer went forward and ate a bite from draupadi's apple making her flinch a little, we both looked at each other and laughed, realising that I have to go back, keeping the squirrel down I got up saying, "I have to go before my mata gets worried and sends my bharatashree to search for me" which made her chuckled and say, "it's okay, it was nice spending time with you today" I looked at her and coincidentally we both at the same time said, "it felt like two shaki's were spending time with each other" making us chuckle and she said, "we sure have the same thoughts on this, so why not as well be sakhi's"

I smiled looking at her and said, "of course I would love to be your sakhi, well bye for now Draupadi" she asked "tomorrow at the same time we will meet here again right?" I was about to say yes but I remembered my promise to bharatashree nakul and said "no I can't come to meet you tomorrow, so let's meet day after tomorrow" she smiled and nodded.

AND THAT'S HOW A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP BEGAN.

NOTE :-  Alstroeneria is a flower that defines friendship.