"Rajkumari, this is the riser, this is the part of the bow that you hold when you shoot. And this here, connecting the top and bottom limb is the bow string. Once pulled, it creates the tension that moves the arrow forward." Karna was explaining to Subhadra about the bow. But Subhadra's all concentration was on the one holding the bow rather than the bow itself.

"Now look at me closely. To do this, stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart, and ensure that your feet are parallel to the shooting line. It's important to make sure your torso is facing straight forward, and stand up as straight as you can, without leaning too much towards or away from your target. Now, that you are right-handed, keep your torso forward and turn your head to the left so that your target is in view." Karna kept on explaining how to shoot the arrow. Subhadra was indeed looking at him closely. After shooting an arrow Karna asked if she understood everything, but Subhadra only kept on looking at him. Karna called her in a louder voice.

"Rajkumari!"

"What? Why are you shouting?" Subhadra asked coming out of her dreamland.

"Because you're not concentrating on learning." Karna said.

"My whole concentration is on you only Vrisha. And why you insist on calling me Rajkumari? How many times I'll have to tell you to call me by my name only?" Subhadra said pouting.

"Because you're a Rajkumari and I'm a commoner, a Soota. There's a line between us that can never be crossed." Karna said sternly. "The earlier you understand this, the better."

"But friendship and love is never done looking at these things, is it?" Subhadra asked softly. Karna stared at her eyes that showed some unknown emotion.

"It is necessary to look. You can forget who I am, but I can't. I have learned my limits the hard way." Karna said diverting his eyes elsewhere. Subhadra came closer to him.

"Then you've learned wrong. Emotions and knowledge can't be bound by anything. Because that's spiritual, material limits can't stand in their way. And you? Whose name identifies him as the cutter of orthodoxy is talking about limits? Don't you think that's a failure to your name? You can't expect to bring changes without hardships, but that doesn't teach you to leave your beliefs. You should only change if you're wrong and there's nothing wrong in love and friendship." Subhadra's eyes not once left his as she said these. Karna was surprised and contemplating her words as she moved away to pick up the bow. She could have never realised how hard her words hit him.

She was right. If he wanted to stay in limits without any hardships than he should have stayed where he was. Bringing change was never going to be easy. He did the unacceptable by learning archery and demanding recognition. But he made it acceptable. That was why he was called a Maharathi now. Yuvraj Duryodhan did accept him as such even though it was for his own gain.

As for his being a Soota, wasn't it his mission on the first place? To bring changes in society's outlook for the soota caste. For so long, he was questioning why was it so hard to accept him and respect equally as a kshatriya. Why Yuvraj Duryodhan used him in the guise of friendship? But Rajkumari Subhadra answered so easily. It was Yuvraj Duryodhan who was wrong than why should he change his outlook that a Soota also deserves equal opportunities. If Yuvraj Duryodhan thought him unworthy of even spitting at that didn't make him so. He shouldn't hesitate to be here, he shouldn't be afraid of getting humiliation or befriending royals. Otherwise he would never be able to prove soota's as deserving. These royals were the ones who affected the society most. They were the ones who could improve the life of soota caste. That was why he went to that competition of Princes in Hastinapur in the first place.

The cutter of orthodoxy was being afraid of being subjected to orthodoxy, without realising that he needed to get close to it to cut it out. He was so hurt by Duryodhan's betrayal that he lost focus and started questioning himself.

As he was lost in thoughts, a sound brought him back. Subhadra had dropped the bow being unable to manage its weight. She would need a lightweight one made for her according to her height and weight. She looked sheepishly at him biting her lower lip. She was expecting him to scold and mock her. Karna would never accept it, but she was looking cute and adorable.

"I'll make a new lightweight one for you later. Now try to hold it." Karna said picking up the bow. Subhadra tried to hold it, but it was too heavy and she almost lost her balance. Karna held her from her shoulders to steady her. As his rough hands met the bare skin of her shoulder, she felt a shiver run through her and looked upwards. Their gazes met and held each other captive without realising. Karna came out of it first and cleared his throat getting her attention.

"Let's try again."

Nakul sat looking on the verge of crying. Arjun and Karna was looking at each other while Krishna sat eating sweets without a care. Drisana, Subhadra and Draupadi stood silently.

"You want to learn 'Shabd bhedi baan' in two days?" Arjun asked cautiously pointing out two fingers to make sure. Nakul nodded slightly.

"Bhrata Arjun, Bhrata Karna, you two are such great archers. If you both try together, Nakul will surely learn." Drisana tried to convince them with a forced smile on face.

Arjun and Karna blinked together looking at her. Once. Twice and thrice. Then only Arjun's belly rumbling laughter could be heard on the silence of the room.

"What have your brothers done this time?" Arjun asked controlling his laughter. "Nakul you're gone anuj. People shave head on death and you'll shave head on your wedding." He started his laughter again. Draupadi was glaring at him to stop. But he couldn't.

"Itne salo se jo itna sara tel pilaya tumne aapne baalo ko, saab bekar. Aapne vivha par hi ganja banke bethna parega. Aryavart ka sabse sudarsan ganja dulha. (The oil you've used on your hair for so many years are all wasted. Now you'll have to sit bald on your own wedding. The most handsome bald groom of Aryavart.)"

"Arya, enough. Stop it now." Draupadi scolded him though she was also controlling her laugh with everyone else except Drisana and Nakul.

"Drisana your brothers could have asked for my head instead. Why they eyed my hair?" Nakul said in his crying expression.

"You'll look okay without hair too Nakul. It won't take much time to grow back. Don't worry." Drisana tried to console him. But Nakul looked at her narrowing his eyes.

"Bhrata Arjun, Bhrata Karna, why are you sitting simply? Do something." Drisana ordered them.

"We can only do one thing Drisana. We can select which turban will look good on his bald head." Saying so Arjun started to laugh again but stopped as Drisana was glaring at him.

"Bhrata Karna? You at least do something." Drisana pleaded him.

"Sorry, Drisana. It's not possible in two days. Two years maybe effective, but not in two days. More than teachers, it depends on student how much he is capable to hold. Rajkumar Nakul was under Guru Drona's tutelage. If he could have been learned 'Shabd bhedi baan' in a matter of days, he would be archer, not swordsman." Karna said with a sorry face though he also was amused.

"This is sooo good." Krishna said loudly. Everyone turned to him simultaneously. Drisana and Nakul were glaring at him hard. "I was talking about the sweets." Krishna said pointing at his sweets.

"Here my hair is at danger and you're concerned about sweets, Vasudev? Drisana." Nakul whined.

"Bhrata Krishna?" Drisana whined at him.

"What Bhrata Krishna? Your brothers keep doing this or that only. What's my fault in it? I'm not going to lose my hair in your problems." Krishna said with attitude. Drisana was pissed now. Her brothers always kept troubling Nakul since he came here. She knew why they were doing this. It was revenge for coming in her room at late nights. But they needed to understand they can't keep doing so. This was getting too much now. And these three? Instead of helping was enjoying Nakul's misery. She wouldn't spare them too.

"Fine. You can't help, can you? Now I won't ask you to help as well. Don't worry. Nakul, relax. You won't ask anyone for help now. But I promise they will fight among themselves to help you. Just wait and watch." Drisana said determinedly and left.

Dridhaksh, Daiwik, Dhikshit and Dheemant were sitting in their discussion room, laughing at Nakul's expense. They knew Nakul loved his looks and his horror stricken face was making them enjoy a little too much. Suddenly someone pulled Dridhaksh's ear from behind.

"What have you done?" Dwijendra asked angrily.

"Jyesth, leave me. I did nothing. It was Bhrata Dhritimat's idea only." Dridhaksh said crying out in pain. The rest three were searching for places to hide as Dhritimat and Devajyot entered behind Dwijendra.

"I suggested no such a thing. He's lying. I only told to cut hair short, not shave head completely. It was Bhrata Dheemant's idea." Dhritimat defended himself immediately pointing at Dheemant.

"Dheemant!!!!!" Dwijendra screamed rounding towards him as Dheemant jumped over a couch to get away.

"What Bhrata Dheemant? Are you guys small kids that came into my words? I wasn't alone Jyesth, they were with me too." Dheemant said gulping. They were well aware of their eldest brothers anger.

Dwijendra was that type of brother who took responsibilities for his brothers actions always. He would defend them in front of everyone and later beat them himself. That was what made them stronger. The brothers knew they could always count on Dwijendra to handle things, though he might punch them later.

"Do you think it's funny. Shaving someone's head is funny? I warned you all not to trouble him unnecessarily." Dwijendra shouted at them.

"We thought to check what he would do if it came to his favourite looks. Will he keep his word or not?" Daiwik said meekly covering his ears.

"Keep his words? Words that you put on his mouth forcefully? By shaving his head? Are you guys nuts?" Dwijendra asked incredulously.

"We were really not going to go through it. It was only to scare him. We would have backed off once he agreed to do it." Dhritimat tried to explain.

"It was a very ugly and poor method to test him. Have you forgotten he's our would be brother-in-law? Have you forgotten Drisana loves him? This is humiliation. Don't forget he is Maharaj Pandu's son, a renowned warrior, an knowledgeable physician, Ashvineya Nakul. He doesn't need to partake in these stupid game of yours. But he's tolerating this because he respects us as Drisana's elder brothers and understands our concerns. We have no right to humiliate someone like this without any reason." Dwijendra shouted at them.

"You're absolutely right Jyesth. But his face was worth watching." Dheemant muttered the last part. Dwijendra looked at him angrily, then smiled sweetly.

"Devajyot, close the door please and make sure no one enters." Dwijendra ordered his brother in a sweet voice as the rest gulped and cursed Dheemant. Devajyot, the only other one not involved in this stupidity, went outside closing the door. Hearing the sounds coming from inside he couldn't decide either he was lucky he wasn't there with them or unlucky as he missed their faces.

"Why Drisana called us here?" Dridhaksh wondered loudly. He was sitting in the living room with his brothers, Rajkumar Nakul, Rajkumar Arjun, Maharathi Karna and Vasudev. Drisana called all of them here to share some exciting news. What it was, no one knew.

"Rajkumar Dheemant, what happened to your eye?" Krishna asked looking at his blackened eye.

"I fell down accidentally." Dheemant said sulking.

"So sad. And you Rajkumar Dhritimat? What happened to your hand?" Krishna asked again as Dhritimat was cradling his right hand.

"I fell down accidentally." Dhritimat replied sulking.

"Very sad? Rajkumar Daiwik? What happened to your neck?" Krishna asked looking at the cloth wrapped around his neck.

"I fell down accidentally." Daiwik croaked out through his sore throat.

"Wow! I mean what love you brothers have. Girte bhi sath sath hi hai. (You even fell down together.)" Krishna said smiling mischievously at them.

Just then Drisana entered with her sister-in-laws, Draupadi and Subhadra. They brought sweets for everyone with broad smiles on face. All of the men were instantly alert. It was never a good sign when pissed off women's suddenly come with sweets and smile. Drisana gave extra ones to Krishna.

"Behna, no excuses are needed to eat sweets. But your smile is telling me there is something. What's it?" Krishna asked nervously. He shouldn't have poked the bear earlier.

"Bhrata, you all were so happy and pleased hearing about that bet between Bhrata Dridhaksh and Nakul. So, I thought to multiply your pleasure." Drisana said with excitement.

"How?" Dhikshit asked frowning.

"Actually Bhrata Dhikshit, I went to Pitashree to tell him about your prowess." Drisana said making her brothers eyes widened in horror. Their father had no idea about this. He would make a paste of them if he got to know.

"And he was so impressed that he has declared if the groom in my wedding becomes bald then all of the family members will follow his example to honour him except Pitashree of course. Which means Nakul won't shave his head alone, all of you would follow him too." Drisana announced smiling brightly at them.

Utter silence followed the statement as all the men stared at her in absolute, unadulterated horror.

"We three too?" Arjun asked cautiously clearing his throat.

"Of course Bhrata Arjun. You three are family too, aren't you? Or are you thinking of insulting Dravida's Maharaj and your brother by going against his order?" Drisana asked looking at him with an innocent expression.

"But Drisana -" Krishna started but was stopped by Subhadra.

"I know Bhrata Krishna what you want to say. I was thinking the same. Drisana what would we do with so many hairs?" Subhadra pretended to contemplate. Every men present gasped looking at her except Nakul who was controlling his laughter.

"Good question Subhadra. Let's go. We'll think about it till then you all think which turban will look good on your respective bald heads." Drisana said sweetly and left with the ladies. As soon as they left the men in astonishment, Nakul brust out laughing.

"Well. I can shave my head happily now. Etihas ka pehla aisa vivha hoga jaha dulha bhi ganja, barati bhi aur ladki wale bhi. (This will be the first wedding of history where groom will be bald along with groomsmen and men of bride's side too.)"