Chapter 27

The next morning was slightly chilly. The calm breezes were made it seem normal. Everyone behaved like nothing out of the ordinary occurred. There was no division of work, but somehow everyone knew what was to be done and their roles. This left me with nothing to do.

Thus, I found myself following Arjun, the only one I had talked to. I had to accept that we were more than acquaintance. It felt natural to talk to him like he was a friend.

At the moment we were searching for a village, which was small enough that no one will know us. But big enough to provide food in exchange of work. According to the maps he had learned it was supposed to be nearby. We were having a light conversation when a question popped up in my mind.

"So, why were you pointing at your brother and not teaching me how to take up arms?" I asked curious. Was there a bro code that they had?

"I don't do anything without asking my brother." He said. Was he for real? It took me a second to realize that he could lie only Yudhisthir was the one who didn't. Is it a lie? But this is dwapar yug. Maybe this isn't a lie.

"But what if he's asking you to do something you shouldn't do?" I asked curiously.

He smiled, "I trust his judgement. If he is asking me to do something it's for my best."

"But what if it isn't?" I pushed.

"It always is and you obey your elders. Why do you have so many questions about my brother anyways? Don't tell me he confessed." He asked.

"Confessed about what?" I acted feigned innocence.

Right at that moment, his entire world came crashing down. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Is there something he should confess to me? What did he do?" I added petrol to the fire.

"Nothing. It is nothing." I gave him the look. After 10 minutes of nagging and a few threats he said.

"Okay, don't mention this to anyone, forget anything I said, don't ask me anything related to confession and I'll grant you a wish." I smiled. Looking at my smile he added, "Once."

"Deal." I agreed.

"By the way, he confessed." I said in the next line. The look of regret and frustration he had on his face said another story.

I was happy that I got a promise out of nothing. I know the worth of his word. I hope he takes this with humor.

"So, what was your reply?" he asked curiously.

"I didn't reply anything." I murmured loud enough for him to hear.

"What? You must have replied something. If nothing then, an answer." He asked.

"He didn't ask me anything and I didn't get a chance to react." I answered. I didn't even get a chance to process anything. Things are just piling up.

"But what are you going to say?" he asked.

"I think we have reached. See I can see a town there." I said pointing towards a random location in order to avoid a question. At this point we were on the top of a hill and could see somethings below.

He didn't turn to look in the direction I was pointing. Instead, he pointed towards the east, laughed and said, "The town is there."

I couldn't find anything there. Don't tell me I've need specs. There would be nothing of that sort in this era. But in the end, I blamed his eyes for noticing.

"Let's go back we will return in a few days." He said and I dreaded long the way back. He didn't even take breaks. How is he even alive? I was the one who forced him several times to wait and let me catch a breath.

"I think we will have to leave Alexa behind." He said. "There's no way we can find a route for her in this dense forest and breaking trees might cause others to notice us."

I was shocked that he considered breaking trees. "I don't think bringing Alexa will be a problem." If she can grow up to be a camper, she might be able to grow smaller too. Right?

-------------------------------------------------

Five days later I was proven right. She had reduced to the size of a toy car and was now in my bag pack. We had decided to enter the town a few days after the incident so that there are fewer suspicions. We also decided to go in the town in different groups.

Bheem and Yudhisthir went out near the town and built a tree house a few kilometers away from it. Alexa would have been too noticeable in that area and from what I had heard people were still searching for us.

During the few days, I had grown close with the other Pandavas and bua Kunti. It was wrong of me judge them in the beginning. Right now, we were almost near our new residence. Staying in the jungle was not too bad. It was almost like a camping trip. I was also planning what to do about Draupadi's Swayam Var which was supposed to happen in the future. This time I will have a full proof plan. But it felt like something was missing. Like something was supposed to happen but it didn't happen.

Even after all of this, I was board out of my mind. I tried practicing weapons, but there was only so many times I could do the basics and Arjun was not ready to teach me anything. He said brata Yudhishthir will teach. But how will he teach if he's not present here? It's not like he's avoiding me, I guess. But he went out to build that god damn tree house and I can't exactly ask him to stay after what's been said. To be honest we haven't spoken a word since that incident.

I am hoping there will be a bit of change today as I will go to visit the town in the evening. I will buy something for myself with the money Krishna gave me. (Yes, he didn't send me with empty pockets.) But no excess spending as we could get caught.

-----------------------------------------------------

The evening rolled up pretty quicky and as I kept nearly all of my things in Alexa itself. So, there was nothing to arrange in the tree house. The house was not that big, just a single room. But it looked pretty great for a few days' work.

We left in towards the town in normal clothes. Well normal according to the dwapar yug. So, I had worn a skirt, bouse and a duppata. Honestly, it was comfortable. I had kept a few spare local clothes knowing that this situation would come. Others can be bought from the market.

Yudhisthir was the only one accompanying me today as others apparently had a lot of work and I obviously couldn't go alone according to bua Kunti. So, he was stuck with me.

He didn't bring up what he said the other day. I didn't say anything either. I asked him a basic question about which kind of wood he used to build the house to break the ice which turned into a long conversation on the architecture and which material had how much strength.

As I was a mechanical engineer, I knew different kinds of materials and physics which helped me keep up with the conversation, because he had very deep knowledge of the subject.

We reached the town market quicker than I thought. But not many people were around. Maybe this is what the towns look like here.

We went towards an old lady. She was selling bangles. They were just the normal ones; but I really wanted to buy them.

"Dadi chudiya kitne ke diye?" (Grandmother, what is the cost of bangles?) I asked her.

"Konse rang ke chahiye beta?" (Which color do you want dear?) she asked as she looked towards me.

"Lal rang wale." (The red ones) I pointed.

"do tambe ki mudra." (two copper coins) she said.

Before I could reach my pouch, Yudhishtir paid. I turned towards him and said, "You didn't have to pay for me."

"Don't worry about it." He shrugged.

"Haat aage lao beti." (Bring your hand in front dear) she asked and then started putting on bangles on them.

"Aisa haat khali mat rakha karo. Vaise tumhe kabhi yaha dekha nahi. Kaha se ho?" (Don't keep your hands empty. Anyways where are you from? I have never seen you here.) The old lady asked.

"I am from Dwarka." I replied quickly. Saying Hastina pur could bring questions.

"Bohot dur se aayi ho. Vivah karne aayi ho." (You have come from far. Did you come here to marry?) She asked pointing towards Yudhistir.

I flushed, "Aare nahi dadi." (No no grandmother)

Yudhisthir asked probably to change the subject, "There are very few people in the market. Did something happen?"

"Aare aapko pata nahi? Rajkumar Duryodhan ka vivah Rajkumari Bhanumati se ho gaya." (Don't you know? Prince Duryodhan has married Princess Bhanumati) and my entire world came crashing down with that sentence.

Follow me at @a.r.t.i.s.t_in_me

Also like and comment!