The next day after Pandavs left, Drisana was helping Devika in chores. She was thinking how to know if Devika would agree to marry Yudhisthir for her own happiness or not. Devika is a very simple and soft-spoken girl. How to know her actual thought about Yudhisthir and marriage?

"Jiji, you're such an expert in all these chores." Drisana said. Devika only smiled in reply.

"Jiji, you are so kind hearted and caring. You've captured everyone's heart in these months. I wish you would always remain with us only. " Drisana said.

"Where will I go?" Devika asked, still with her smile.

"No. Not now. I was talking about when you get married. You'll leave us to start your new life. By the way, have you thought about marriage?" Drisana asked casually. Devika froze in her place. She hadn't given any thought to marriage.

"No. I never thought about such things." Devika replied.

"Then you should think. I think you should also choose a nice groom for yourself." Drisana said with enthusiasm. Devika only smiled slightly.

"What do you think about Jyesth?" Asked Drisana. Devika stopped and looked at her.

"What do you mean?" Devika asked with widened eyes.

"No. I mean that you respect him so much. And why not? Afterall he has done so much for you. If anyone does what he has done for you, you'll feel gratitude for them of course. Right?" Drisana said.

"No Drisana. I don't respect him because he's done so much for me. Yes, I feel gratitude for it. But I respect him for his personality. I am amazed by his knowledge and righteousness. I feel inspired by him. His calm nature bewitched me. The way in every situation he takes in consideration of everyone before making any decision is truly admirable." Devika said with a dreamy smile and Drisana was smiling so broad, her cheeks would start to hurt after sometime.

"Yes, that's true." Drisana said.

Yudhisthir was thinking about Bheem's words. Yes, he was right. He should give the choice to Devika and trust her to make the right decision. He decided to talk to Devika.

At noon when the pandavs returned, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev were asking Drisana what happened with gestures as they knew she was going to talk to Devika. Drisana gave a smile confirming that everything was fine.

Here Yudhisthir was searching a opportunity to talk to Devika and finally finding one he started after clearing his throat.

"Devika, Mata was thinking about your marriage." Devika's breath lodged into her throat hearing that.

"But why?" Devika whispered.

"You are a daughter for her. She wants you to settle. What do you think about it?" Yudhisthir asked carefully.

"I don't want to leave you all." Devika said in a soft voice.

"Mata was thinking about marrying you of to me." Yudhisthir said looking anywhere but her. Devika's head instantly snapped at him.

After a few moments of awkward silence she said stammering, "what is the comparison between you and me? I'm not worthy of you. Nor can I ever be."

"Don't think like that. You underestimate yourself Devika. You're a very brave and stable person. I don't want you to feel pressurised or obliged to marry me. It'll be your decision based on your happiness. I trust you not to insult me by saying yes only thinking about what I've done for you." Yudhisthir said and left.

The next few days passed without events as Devika was thinking about Yudhisthirs words. Yudhisthir was calm from outside. Drisana thought it best not to interfere and let Devika made her mind in peace. Afterall standing with Dharmraj at every situation was not going to be easy and it should be solely her decision. Though no one told her their real identity and no one was concerned about her being Sootputri, Drisana knew it was going to come up when they returned. She was sure Yudhisthir would tell her everything if she decided to marry him.

Devika finally took her decision and told Yudhisthir that she wanted to marry him. Though Yudhisthir was happy hearing that, he still had to tell her about their reality.

After hearing everything Devika said that it didn't matter who he was as she wanted to marry the man, not his stature. If he saw her as worthy of himself, she wouldn't have any problem with his past.

Yudhisthir told Kunti about Devika's decision and she couldn't have been any happier. Her eldest was getting married. Everyone was happy and teasing the couple as their marriage date was fixed.

"Jyesth, I want laddos made by bhabishree at your wedding." Bheem said. Yudhisthir was looking at him not knowing what to say.

"Bhrata Bheem, kabhi to buddhi ka prayog kar liya kijiya. Ab kya bhabishree aapni vivha ka prasang chor, aap k liye laddo banai! (Use your brain sometimes. Now sister-in-law will make laddos for you at her own wedding?)" Nakul said.

"Kya karu Nakul? Ab Drisana ko to kuch aata hai nahi, barna usa hi kehta.(What to do, anuj? Drisana don't know anything, otherwise I would have told her.)" Bheem replied.

"Bach gaya mei. (I'm saved)" Nakul muttered.

"What?" Bheem looked at him with a frown.

"Nothing. First let Jyesth get married. Then bhabishree will continue making laddos." Nakul said. Seeing an opportunity Arjun started.

"Jyesth, now that you're getting married. Think about our Nakul too. Bechara kab se pratiksa kar raha hai. (Poor guy is waiting since a long time)" Arjun said mischievously. Nakul was instantly red. Yudhisthir smiled.

"Drisana said yes?" Bheem asked. All were looking at him with raised eyebrows. He had to ask that when a blind person could see the two? Bheem got it.

"Parantu ak samassa hai. Nakul vivah kar lega, toh aadhi rat ko mei meri sahaita k liye uthaunga kise?(but there is a problem. If nakul gets married then whom I'll wake to help me at mid nights?)" All were looking at each other and then simultaneously turned to Sahdev. Sahdev's eyes rounded and he muttered while gulping.

"Bhrata Bheem k liye bhi kanya dhundna parega.(I'll have to search a girl for bhrata Bheem too)"

Everything went perfectly as Yudhisthir and Devika got married without much hassle. Yudhisthir was going to Devika when Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev came asking him some random questions. Yudhisthir knew what his brothers were trying to do but couldn't say anything. Bheem came to his rescue as he captured Nakul and Sahdev into headlocks. Arjun was immediately gone.

"Murkh, Jyesth ko aahi rokh kar rakhhoge, Toh kakashree kaise banoge? (Idiots, If you stop him here only, then how'll you become uncle?)" Bheem said with a serious face to them. Yudhisthir who was somewhat relieved seeing Bheem became red with embarrassment.

Here, Devika was sitting adorned in floral ornaments. She was nervous as this was the first time she'd be alone with Yudhisthir after the marriage got fixed. Yudhisthir came looking calm and collected even though he was equally as nervous as her.

"You're looking beautiful." Yudhisthir said to break the awkward silence, not that it wasn't true. Devika remained silent.

"Davika, I wanted to apologise. Every girl dreams a lot about their marriage. But I couldn't give you much." Yudhisthir said after a while.

"Don't apologise. I've got you who is beyond any dream. I don't need anything else except you." Devika said still looking down. Yudhisthir smiled hearing that. Then lifting her face, Yudhisthir looked at her eyes and said,

"Then you'll have me. Not only in this life but all the lives after this. No matter what, you'll always find me beside you. I promise you from this day, my happiness will be yours and your sorrows will be mine. My success will be yours and your honour will be mine. No matter what problems we have to face, we'll be together, always."

Drisana was standing outside looking at the moon. The sky was looking too beautiful or maybe it was the effect of love. Nakul came from behind whispering,

"It is a sin to stare at the moon without your loved ones."

"So, what punishment will I get for this sin?" Drisana asked being amused.

"The punishment is you have to bath at the moonlight with me for the rest of your life." Nakul said pretending to think a little.

"I accept." Drisana said with a smile.

"Now that Jyesth has gotten married, our wedding won't take too long, my Hridaya. (Heart)" Nakul said taking her hands into his. Drisana blushed looking down.

"Someone said blushing was my job?" Nakul said teasingly.

"Yes, but your face doesn't show in between these long beard and matted hairlocks. One can't understand you're human or bushes." Drisana said teasing him back.

"Excuse me! You're talking to the most handsome men of Aryavart." Nakul said with attitude.

"And you're talking to the Hridaya of that man." Drisana said locking her hands behind his neck.

Days were passing in bliss for them. Even though there wasn't much, there was no shortage of happiness in the house. If only it remained that way!

As expected, one day Kunti heard the wailings of that Brahman family that gave them shelter. Upon enquiries, she came to know about Bakasura, a Rakshasa who ruled that region. That Rakshasa lived at a place near town and as per his order, one household had to send one cartload of rice, two buffaloes and one human being for his food everyday. The next day was that Brahman family's turn.

They were arguing on who should go to Bakasura. The Brahman wanted to go as the protector of his family. The wife argued saying he was the earning member of the family, so she would go. Their daughter said she'd go as she would leave them anyway when she'd get married. That only made the three of them crying harder in grief.

Kunti, not able to bear their state anymore said one of her son would go with the food. The Brahman refused saying he couldn't abandon a family that had come to him for protection. Kunti assured him that her son was capable of killing that Rakshasa.

Devika and Drisana both were worried about it. Devika, because she had no idea of Bheem's ability and Drisana, because the swayamvar of Draupadi would lead after this.

When the Pandavs returned, Kunti told her sons about her commitment. Bheem gladly agreed to go.

Next day, Bheem set out with the food cart for the place where Bakasura lived. He successfully killed the Rakshasa and Bakasura died giving a loud cry which was heard by the whole town and his relatives. The other Rakshasas were angry but afraid at the same time. They swore to take revenge one day and left.

Bheem left the body at the gate of the town and left unobserved, but the suspension was on that Brahman family. So, Yudhisthir thought it best to leave Ekachakra.

As they started their journey again, Drisana was feeling anxious. Nakul noticed her and asked about it.

"Just thinking about the journey ahead." Drisana said smiling slightly.

"I know what you're thinking about. That when your marriage is going to happen, right? Don't worry. I'll talk to Jyesth right now." Arjun said from behind and before they could stop him he went ahead to Yudhisthir. Nakul and Drisana looked at him wide-eyed.

"Jyesth, Drisana has a problem." Arjun said with a serious expression.

"What happened to you, Drisana?" Yudhisthir asked with a worried expression.

"Nothing Jyesth." Drisana forcefully shaked her head.

"What nothing? She's in deep tension, Jyesth." Arjun said.

"Why?" Yudhisthir asked being confused.

"Her marriage is pending that's why." Arjun said still looking serious.

Nakul and Drisana were both looking beetroot red. Sahdev and Bheem were laughing out loud while Kunti and Devika chuckled. Fighting a smile, Yudhisthir said,

"Don't worry Drisana. Once we find a place to stay, we'll make the arrangements."

'Oh earth! Please split.' Drisana thought and looked at Arjun. His expression said it loud and clear 'It happens when you try to blackmail me.' Nakul was looking equally as mortified.