A narrow rope bridge swayed over a gorge near Hastinapura, its weathered planks creaking under the strain of a brisk wind. Far below, a river roared through jagged rocks, its white waters crashing in a thunderous spray that rose in misty clouds, catching the midday sun in faint rainbows. The bridge stretched taut between two cliffs, its ropes frayed but strong, trembling with every gust, while wooden targets—red-painted discs—hung from poles along its length, rocking wildly. The air was sharp with the scent of wet stone and pine, a precarious perch high above the abyss, ready to test the princes' balance and focus.
Drona stood at the bridge's start, his lean frame steady on the cliff's edge, his tattered white robes fluttering faintly in the breeze. His gray hair was tied back tight, and his dark eyes gleamed with a stern, expectant fire as he faced the Kuru princes. In one hand, he held his staff, its tip planted firm in the rocky soil; the other rested on the bridge's rope, testing its sway. The princes gathered behind him, their tunics damp with sweat from the climb, their bows in hand as they peered down at the roaring river, then up at the trembling span.
Bhima rocked on his heels, his massive frame towering over the group, his broad grin flashing wide as he slapped his bow against his thigh. "A bridge today, guru?" he said, his voice booming over the river's roar, his laugh rumbling loud. "This is a wild one! We walking or smashing across?"
Drona turned to him, his expression calm but unyielding, his voice cutting through the wind with steady force. "Walking, Bhima," he said, his tone deep and firm, steadying the moment despite the sway. "And shooting. You'll cross this bridge and hit those targets mid-step. Balance is everything. Fall, and you're out."
Bhima's grin widened, his eyes glinting with glee as he laughed again, the sound bouncing off the cliffs. "Balance?" he said, his tone bright and eager, grabbing his bow with a grunt. "I'll stomp right over! These targets won't know what hit them! Let's go, guru!"
"Step light," Drona replied, his voice dry and patient, pointing at the bridge. "One at a time. Shots when you're steady. Begin when I call."
Arjuna stepped up beside him, his lean form quiet and composed, his sandals scuffing the stone as he studied the swaying bridge. His tunic fluttered in the wind, his breath even, and his dark eyes traced the targets with a calm focus. "Balance and aim," he said, his voice soft but clear, shouting just enough to carry over the roar. "This is tough, guru. How many targets?"
"Five," Drona said, his gaze settling on Arjuna with a flicker of warmth, his tone firm. "Spaced across. Move sure, shoot true."
Nakula and Sahadeva slipped forward together, their lithe forms weaving through the group, their twin grins flashing as they eyed the bridge. "This is our kind," Nakula said, his voice quick and light, nudging his brother with an elbow. "Right, Sahadeva?"
"Made for us," Sahadeva replied, his tone swift and bright, nocking an arrow with a nod. "We'll dance it!"
The princes lined up, their boots crunching gravel, the bridge creaking as the wind tugged it side to side. Bhima went first, his massive frame stepping onto the planks with a loud groan, the ropes stretching taut under his weight. "Here I come!" he shouted, his voice ringing loud, the bridge swinging wild as he lumbered forward. He drew his bow, his muscles bulging, and fired at a disc swaying ahead. The arrow whistled off, lost to the gorge below, and he laughed, gripping the ropes as the bridge bucked. "Ha!" he said, his tone bright and unbothered, cursing the wind with a grin. "This thing's alive! I'll get one yet!"
"Slow it, Bhima!" Drona called, his voice steady and firm, gripping the cliff's edge. "Steady your feet first!"
"Steady?" Bhima said, chuckling as he took another step, the bridge lurching hard. "I'm steady as a mountain!" He fired again, the arrow veering wide into the spray, and he flailed, laughing loud as he caught the ropes. "This is a beast! I'm swinging more than shooting!"
"You're swinging it," Drona said, his tone dry but kind, shaking his head. "Off now. Let them try."
Bhima stomped back, the bridge rocking in his wake, his chest heaving as he flopped onto the cliff with a grin. "No hits!" he said, his voice loud and cheerful, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I've tamed that monster my way!"
"Tamed?" Drona said, his tone dry and amused, waving him aside. "It threw you off. Watch."
Arjuna stepped onto the bridge, his movements light and sure, his sandals barely creaking the planks as he braced against the sway. The wind tugged at him, but he moved forward, his bow drawn, his breath slow and even. "Focus," he murmured, his voice soft and lost to the roar, aiming at a disc rocking ahead. He fired, the arrow cutting through the gusts to strike clean with a thud, and he smiled faintly, stepping on. His next shot hit true, pinning a second disc, and he called back, "Two," his tone calm and steady, his focus unshaken.
Drona's eyes gleamed, his voice warm with pride as he shouted over the wind. "Two?" he said, his tone lifting slightly, steady despite the roar. "Solid, Arjuna! Keep it up!"
Nakula danced onto the bridge next, his lithe form gliding over the planks, his grin wide as he drew his bow. "Here we go!" he said, his voice quick and thrilled, the bridge barely swaying under his step. He fired mid-stride, his arrow striking a disc with a clean thud, and he laughed, moving on. "One!" he called, his tone light and bright, glancing back at Sahadeva.
Sahadeva followed, his steps swift and synced, his bow steady as he aimed at another target. "My turn," he said, his tone swift and sure, loosing his shot. The arrow hit true, pinning a disc, and he grinned, calling out, "One!" as he glided forward. They struck two more in tandem, their shots graceful and precise, and bounded back together, their laughter ringing over the roar.
"Three each!" Nakula said, his voice quick and triumphant, bumping fists with Sahadeva as they reached the cliff. "We owned it!"
"Smooth as silk," Sahadeva added, his tone bright and swift, nodding at his twin. "That's us!"
"Good," Drona said, his pride clear, his staff tapping the stone as he smiled at them. "Agility shines, boys. Strong work."
The bridge creaked and swayed, the river roaring below as their efforts echoed through the gorge—Bhima's wild swings, Arjuna's steady hits, Nakula and Sahadeva's graceful strikes. Bhima leaned forward from his perch, his grin wide as he waved his bow. "You lot make it look easy!" he shouted, his voice loud and teasing, laughing through the wind. "I nearly flew off! Give me another go, guru!"
"One was enough," Drona replied, his tone dry but fond, shaking his head. "You'd break it, Bhima. Stay put."
"Break it?" Bhima said, chuckling as he sprawled back, his chest heaving. "I'd ride it down laughing! This is fun!"
Arjuna struck two more discs, his arrows cutting through the sway with clean thuds, his steps light and unshaken. "Four," he said, his voice soft but firm, crossing back to Drona with a nod. "It's about feeling the move."
"Feeling it?" Drona said, his awe clear, his staff tapping as he met him. "You've mastered it, Arjuna. That's focus."
Nakula and Sahadeva hit one more each, their shots gliding true, and they leapt off the bridge, their grins wide. "Four!" Nakula called, his voice quick and thrilled, stretching his arms. "Close call on that last one!"
"Still got it," Sahadeva said, his tone bright and swift, brushing his hands together. "We're a match for anyone!"
The sun climbed higher, the gorge glowing with its light, and Drona called them in, the bridge swaying wild in the wind. "Enough," he said, his voice ringing clear, his staff tapping once, twice. "Arjuna, four hits, steady and true. Nakula and Sahadeva, four each, graceful shots. Bhima, none."
Bhima laughed, hauling himself up, his chest heaving as he wiped his face. "None's my score!" he said, his voice loud and cheerful, grinning wide. "But I've got the best swing! That bridge knows me now!"
"Knows you and hates you," Drona said, his tone dry but amused, shaking his head. "Skill holds it, Bhima. You'll learn."
Arjuna set his bow down, his breath steady, his smile warm and quiet. "It's alive up there, guru," he said, his voice soft and honest, glancing at the bridge. "Had to move with it."
"You did," Drona replied, his pride clear, clapping Arjuna's shoulder. "That's balance, Arjuna. Body and mind."
Nakula nudged Sahadeva, his grin wide as he stretched again. "Four's a haul," he said, his voice quick and light, brushing his hair back. "We danced it!"
"Next time, five," Sahadeva replied, his tone bright and swift, mirroring his twin's grin. "We'll outstep Arjuna yet!"
"Try it," Arjuna said, his voice calm and teasing, smiling at them both. "I'll be waiting."