Third Person's POV:
Karna was not allowed to accompany them—after all, he was not considered a student of Guru Drona. The label stung, but Karna had long grown used to being excluded.
The very next day, the royal princes set out to fulfill their guru's demand.
Back in Hastinapur, Dushala, Maharani Gandhari, and Kunti were all deeply worried. This was no ordinary skirmish. Maharaj Drupada of Panchal had a formidable reputation. His mastery over battlefield tactics, especially his devastating use of the Chakravyuh, was well known across Aryavarta. He was a warrior king, and his daughter, Shikhandini, had earned her own acclaim as a fierce and unyielding fighter.
Arjun was the only one among the young princes who had been taught how to enter and exit the Chakravyuh. And yet, Duryodhana—burning with pride—refused to let Arjun take command. Instead, he rallied his brothers and attacked Panchal with no clear strategy.
It was a disaster.
The Kauravas were quickly surrounded and trapped within the Chakravyuh. They fought bravely, but without coordination or leadership, their forces began to crumble.
On the other side, the Pandavas, led by Arjun, moved in with discipline and resolve. With sharp commands and impeccable unity, they fought their way through the vyuh. Arjun pierced the outermost layer with blazing arrows that spun through the air like comets, each one hitting its mark with deadly precision.
As each chakra fell, the fighting grew fiercer. Bheem swung his gadha like a storm incarnate, sending enemy soldiers flying. Nakul and Sahadev flanked their foes with agile strikes and sharp blades, never missing a beat in sync with Arjun's lead.
Finally, Arjun reached the center of the Chakravyuh, where Drupada stood tall beside Shikhandini, both armored and ready.
"Turn back, prince of Hastinapur!" Shikhandini warned, eyes blazing. "This is your last chance."
But Arjun didn't flinch. His reply came in the form of a swift flurry of arrows that disarmed her sword in seconds. The duel that followed was fierce. Shikhandini fought like fire, her speed and skill a blur—but Arjun's calm focus outmatched her.
Drupada joined the fight next, and for a moment the air seemed to tremble under the weight of their clash. It was a battle of titans—Drupada's seasoned wisdom versus Arjun's youthful precision. The clang of metal, the hum of arrows, the roar of war—it was chaos, yet Arjun stood like a wall against the storm.
Eventually, Arjun disarmed the king with a final sweeping blow that brought him to his knees—but not in humiliation. There was something noble in the way Arjun extended a hand instead of a sword.
With Drupada defeated and the Chakravyuh dismantled, Arjun turned to the task of rescuing the trapped Kauravas. He fought through more enemy lines, alone, to free his cousins.
He had hoped—naively—that this act would ease tensions. But when they returned to Hastinapur, it was clear the Kauravas only felt humiliated. Being saved by Arjun had wounded their pride even more.
Back in the royal court, Guru Drona was beaming with pride.
"You have made your guru proud, Arjun. You displayed not only strength, but strategy, control, and discipline. You, and all your brothers, have upheld the honor of your training."
But his words for the Kauravas were less kind.
"You rushed without thought. You endangered your lives and your soldiers. Learn from your brothers."
And so, the rift between the cousins only deepened.
Still, the mothers were relieved. For them, it was enough to see all their sons return—alive.
---
Arjun's POV:
As soon as we returned, the five of us went straight to Mata. She threw her arms around all of us. Her trembling hands ran over our faces, our shoulders, searching for signs of injury.
"You should've waited for your brothers before entering the heart of the vyuh," she scolded, tugging my ear gently. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"
I smiled. "Even if it's me against the world, I can't run from the battlefield, Mata. I'm a Kshatriya.Even death can't make me run away..."
Her expression changed immediately. "Don't you finish that sentence, Arjun. Don't ever speak of death so casually."
We all laughed. She was still our mother, fierce in love.
Just then, a voice spoke, soft but strong.
"But pardon me, Rajkumar. My bhrata says… sometimes you must retreat from the battlefield to win the war."
It was Rajkumari Subhadra.
She stood there in grace and divine beauty. Her eyes held mine again. Something stirred in my heart—no, in Arjun's heart. She had a pull on me I couldn't explain.
"I think I'll come by later, Bua. I don't want to interrupt this moment."
"You're not interrupting anything, Putri," Mata said, pulling her close. "Come, sit. Tell me what brings you here."
"I'm heading back to Dwarka," she said. "I came to inform you."
"Why so soon?" Nakul pouted. "Stay for a few more days."
"I wish I could. But I've only just returned from Kanyakul. My family will want to see me."
"She's right," Yudhisthir nodded. "But come back soon. And bring your brothers along."
She smiled. "I will."
And then she looked at me again. Waiting. Hoping I'd say something.
I wanted to. Gods, I wanted to tell her not to leave. That I'd miss her.
But I stayed silent.
Mata must've noticed, because the next words from her changed everything.
"Subhadra, the road from Hastinapur to Dwarka is dangerous. Arjun will accompany you to ensure your safe return."
Subhadra opened her mouth to object, but Bheem jumped in.
"No, no Subhadra. Don't refuse him. He'll be honored to go with you. And I've got a feeling… you'll enjoy the company too."
Both of us laughed nervously.
But in my heart, something stirred.
'Madhav… I think I'm finally going to meet you in person.'
____
Meanwhile,
"What?You want to burn them alive?"