"Yes. Maharshi Manikanta was once the King of Kashgira and an ancestor of the present royal family, but he eventually gave up the throne and became a sage. At some point during his life as a sage, he was captured along with other Rishis by a Rakshasa tribe."
Subhadra paused.
"The Rakshasa princess who held them captive fell in love with him."
Draupadi listened more carefully now.
"They eventually had twins. Ayush and Kaal."
She placed the two figurines beside one another.
"Kaal was born as a Rakshasa. Ayush was born as a Manushya."
Draupadi looked between them.
"Their mother eventually freed Manikanta and Ayush from captivity, but she kept Kaal with her."
Subhadra put the second figurine down.
"Ayush was raised and trained by Maharshi Manikanta."
Draupadi blinked.
Subhadra continued almost immediately.
"And Manikanta himself was a disciple of Brahmarishi Vishwamitra."
Draupadi blinked again. "The same Vishwamitra who trained Lord Rama?"
"Yes."
Subhadra looked at her.
"That is why Ayush is considered such an extraordinary warrior."
Draupadi stared at the little clay figure for a moment.
Then she slowly turned toward Subhadra.
"Sister-in-law, you are explaining a great deal about Prince Ayush."
Subhadra sighed.
Draupadi's eyes narrowed playfully. "Does Brother Karna favor him?"
Subhadra smiled faintly. "Who knows what is in your brother's mind?"
She shook her head.
"He never tells anyone. He simply says that everything happens according to fate."
Draupadi smiled slightly. "That sounds like Brother Karna."
Subhadra picked up both figurines again. "But if you ask me, both have their advantages and disadvantages."
She raised Duryodhana first.
"Prince Duryodhana has already gained considerable experience governing Bhagirathi Pradesh. He has the strength, military experience, and the backing of one of the greatest kingdoms in Bharatvarsha."
Then she raised Ayush.
"Prince Ayush is a Maharathi who comes from a very unusual lineage. But Kashgira is isolated, and he has spent most of his life away from the political affairs of the other kingdoms."
She placed both figures beside each other.
"So one is a Powerful mace warrior who comes from a kingdom that stands at the center of Aryavarta's politics, while the other is a Maharathi from a kingdom hidden away in the Himalayas."
Subhadra tilted her head.
"What do you think, Draupadi?"
Draupadi remained quiet for a moment.
Her fingers rested against the edge of one of the clay figures.
"I don't know."
Then, after a small pause, she added softly, "The only warrior men I have known personally, apart from my twin brother Dhrishtadyumna, are Brother Karna and the men I have heard about from others."
Subhadra listened.
"When the subject of my marriage first came up, I only wished for someone who would be like Brother Karna." Draupadi lowered her eyes. "Kind. Caring. Dharmic. And a great warrior."
Subhadra's expression changed slightly.
Draupadi continued, "Father told me that among the princes he knew, the one who came closest to having those qualities was Prince Arjuna of Hastinapur."
Subhadra suddenly became still.
For a moment, she did not respond.
Then she spoke carefully.
"Draupadi..."
Draupadi looked at her.
"Prince Arjuna and his brothers, along with their mother, died more than two years ago."
Draupadi nodded. "I know."
Her voice was quiet. "I am only saying what Father told me."
She looked down at the figurines again.
Yet something strange had happened the moment she spoke Arjuna's name.
Arindama.
The thought came into her mind without warning.
She could still remember the young Brahmin standing before her, the calmness in his face, the way he had handled the horse, and later the enormous bow at the temple. She had not seen him for some time now.
*Where is he?*
She did not know why that question suddenly mattered so much.
Her father was preparing for her Swayamvara. Princes and kings were arriving from across the land. Soon she would have to stand before them and make the most important choice of her life.
And yet her thoughts had somehow returned to that unknown Brahmin.
Arindama.
She wondered whether he was still living somewhere in Kampilya.
Perhaps he had already left.
Perhaps he had gone to another city.
Perhaps she would never see him again.
"Draupadi?"
Subhadra's voice brought her back.
Draupadi looked up.
Subhadra smiled.
"So, what do you think? Are you interested in hearing about the other kings and princes?"
Draupadi looked at the little clay figures spread across the floor.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
***
At almost the same time, Karna was walking through another part of the palace with Drupada.
The two men had been discussing the same matter from a very different perspective.
The Swayamvara was approaching, and although Drupada had confidence in the challenge he had arranged, he was still curious about the people who might actually succeed. His daughter was not merely going to be married. Whoever won her would become connected to Panchala, and Drupada wanted to know which of the assembled warriors possessed enough skill to overcome the challenge.
"Maharaj," Karna said as they walked, "among the archers whose abilities I have heard of, only a select few can certainly be considered capable of fulfilling the condition."
Drupada looked toward him.
"Who?"
Karna answered without hesitation. "First, Mahamahim Bhishma. Second, Dronacharya. Third, Ashvatthama. Fourth, Prince Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishpura. Fifth, Prince Bhurishrava of Bahlika. Sixth, Prince Ekalavya of the Nishada. Seventh, Prince Ayush of Kashgira. And eighth..."
He paused.
"Arjuna."
Drupada's expression changed immediately.
"Bhishma and Drona are not candidates for the Swayamvara."
Karna nodded.
Drupada continued, "And after I decided to abandon my hatred toward Drona, things changed further. Drona accepted Dhrishtadyumna as his disciple and is teaching him. Ashvatthama has also begun treating Draupadi as his sister. He will not participate."
He thought for a moment.
"We have no alliance with Pragjyotishpura, and the Nishada prince will not be participating either. As for Arjuna..." His voice became quieter. "He is dead."
Drupada looked at Karna.
"So will this ultimately become a contest between Prince Ayush of Kashgira and Prince Bhurishrava of Bahlika?"
Karna shook his head. "I only said those men have a chance. That does not mean the other participants have no chance."
Drupada raised an eyebrow.
"Even Duryodhana?"
"Even Duryodhana." Karna's answer was simple. "If he remains focused, he can accomplish the feat."
Drupada stopped for a moment. "Duryodhana? You are saying it because he is your brother-in-law..."
Karna turned toward him. "His relationship with me has nothing to do with his ability."
Drupada's face hardened. "I allowed the old enmity between Panchala and Hastinapur to end. I extended peace to their kingdom. That does not mean I wish to give my daughter to Duryodhana. And you know the rumors. Many still believe he was behind the deaths of the Pandavas."
Karna remained calm. "The case was tried in Hastinapur, Maharaj Drupada. That matter is over."
Drupada gave him a doubtful look.
"The official conclusion was that Purochana was responsible for the incident. The punishment that followed was not insignificant. Shakuni was exiled to Gandhara, and Duryodhana was kept away from the capital for almost two years. Unless the Pandavas return alive and personally state that Duryodhana targeted them, we cannot declare him responsible for their deaths."
Drupada gave a faint, dismissive snort.
"How can they return alive?"
Karna did not answer immediately.
The question lingered between them.
Drupada believed the Pandavas were dead. Almost everyone did. The kingdom had accepted it, the court had accepted it, and history had already begun to treat the five princes as figures belonging to the past.
But Karna knew something Drupada did not.
He knew that death was not the end of their story.
Somewhere beyond the palace walls, five young men who were supposed to have died were still alive, still hidden, and still moving through the world under names that did not belong to them.
Karna continued walking beside Drupada, his expression unchanged.
He had no intention of revealing their secret.
Not yet.