Whole Dravida was busy in the month long celebration of Vasantotsab and the welcoming of Krishna, Balaram, Revati, Rukmini and Subhadra. The Palace was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, lamps and colours. Yuvrani Aanandini was running from one place to another to watch over the preparations. As she rushed into kitchen to see if the offerings that was going to be distributed after the Puja among everyone, was prepared yet or not, she stopped seeing none other than Rajkumari Priyala in the kitchen instructing dasis. It wasn't everyday she came to the kitchen, but when she did everyone remembered.

"Aanandini jiji, it's good you've arrived. I was watching over the making of prasad (offering). I was thinking I should make tulsi ki ladoo (basil sweets) also. What do you say?" Priyala asked excited to try her own recipe.

"No!" Shouted Aanandini. Then on a gentle voice added, "Priyala, there's not enough time to make something new. And also the amount of it has to be sufficient for everyone. As all the ministers and guests are coming with their families and also the common people will be there. You'll be tired if you try to make sweets for everyone."

"You're right. I'll make only for family members then." Priyala said smiling broadly.

"As you wish. Where's Poornima? I told her to watch over the preparations on the kitchen. How come you're here? And where's she?" Aanandini asked.

"I was done with my other works. So I thought to check the kitchen. As for Poornima jiji, she has gone to stitch bhrata Dheemant's dhoti." Priyala replied.

"Stitch dhoti?!?!" Aanandini was beyond confused. Why would she stitch dhoti?

"Yes. Actually what happened is, Himani jiji wanted bhrata Dheemant to wear yellow coloured dhoti and Poornima jiji green. Then Drisana gave them this solution to cut both dhoti's in half and stitch it together. So the stitched one will have both colours." Priyala said chuckling.

"Poor bhrata Dheemant! This must be the revenge for gifting Drisana frog in a box." Aanandini said.

This was nothing new. Dheemant and Drisana always kept pulling new pranks on each other.

Here, Drisana was running through the corridors of the Palace with a bunch of kids chasing after her.

"Bua, you can't run away this time. We'll surely catch you." Said Chitrali, the little devil of Aanandini. Drisana had put colours on them while making Rangoli. And now they were chasing her with colours in hand. As they were running behind her Dridhaksh came and Drisana hid behind him. The kids were looking dangerously at him.

"Look kids, I have just showered and wore these new clothes. So don't even -" before he could finish Satyen, Shubhaprada's three year old son who was sitting on the shoulder of his cousin Prathamesh, threw colour right at his face as Drisana signed him to do so. Drisana giggled as the kids started laughing at their Kakashree. Their laughter ended as Shubhaprada's voice rang out, calling the kids.

"You kids are still not ready. What will I do with you all? And Drisana you? Why are you not ready yet? You know they'll be coming anytime now. And we'll have to be prepared to welcome them. And bhrata Dridhaksh, I can understand Drisana. She always becomes kid with these devil's. But you also started playing with colours. Go now. How much will you all talk? Don't waste time now. Get ready first." Shubhaprada said and went with the kids to make them ready. Dridhaksh was staring at Drisana after they were gone.

"What? The kids threw colours at you. What's my fault?" Drisana asked innocently.

"I'll tell you later. But first I need to shower again." Dridhaksh went away saying so.

As Drisana was also going to her chambers for getting ready, Daiwik caught her.

"Drisana, I'm searching you from so long."

"Why?" Drisana asked though she had an idea.

"Bhrata Dhritimat again asked me a question and if I don't give him answer, he'll not let me eat ladoos today." Daiwik told her his problem. Drisana was the only one who helped him in solving Dhritimat's riddles.

"What is it this time?" Drisana asked.

"What does brain eats?" Daiwik repeated Dhritimat's question. Drisana thought for some time.

"I don't know bhrata Daiwik. Let me think for sometime." Saying so she left to get ready as Daiwik continued thinking.

As she came inside her chamber, Tara was looking panicked. She sighed seeing Drisana.

"Rajkumari where were you? Maharani has asked three times for you already. Please get ready soon." Tara said desperately. Drisana always did this. She went god knows where and Tara would be left behind to handle everything and lie.

"Don't worry Tara. I'll get ready soon." Drisana started getting ready to welcome Krishna and the others. She would be meeting them after long four years. Four years before she went to Dwarka to seek some answers and spend a long vacation with Krishna's family. Those were some cherished memories. Now they were coming here. Dravida didn't left any lackings in their welcoming.

As she got ready, Maharani Mangalya came in search of her. She had sent the dasis several times to retrieve her daughter unsuccessfully. After coming inside, she was awed watching her daughter who was looking no less than an angel.

"You're looking so beautiful my child." She said kissing on her forehead.

"That I always do Mata. Afterall I'm your daughter. And look at you. You're looking like a goddess yourself." Drisana said hugging her Mata.

"Okay. Now stop your buttering and let's go. I want to show you the gifts I've selected for Rukmini, Revati and Subhadra. See them and tell me if they'll like it or not." Mangalya said the reason she had been searching Drisana for.

"Mata, there's no need. I know you've selected the best for them." Drisana said.

"Still Putri. Come." Saying so she led Drisana to her chambers.

As she was watching over the small mountain of gifts Mangalya had chosen for them, Aanandini came to inform that all the arrangements had been made. Daiwik rushed inside just then to get his answer.

"Drisana???" Daiwik looked at her with questioning eyes.

"Sorry bhrata. I didn't get time to think." Drisana answered.

"And I didn't get answer even though thinking for -" Daiwik stopped in middle as Drisana shouted.

"Time."

"What?" All looked at her confusingly.

"Brain eats time. The more time you're given, the more you can think." Drisana said. Daiwik looked at her surprised. Why didn't it came to him?

"My favourite sister. You gave me the answer. Now no one can stop me from eating ladoos." Daiwik said exitedly and went away.

Aanandini looked at Drisana and asked, "He was searching answer for ladoos?"

"Yes, bhabishree." Drisana replied shaking her head amusingly.

"Does he not know that Priyala is making the ladoos? That too of tulsi (basil)?" Aanandini asked cautiously looking between Mangalya and Drisana as their eyes rounded. Now she understood why Dhritimat bet on ladoos.

Drisana with her parents, Dwijendra and Aanandini were present to welcome Krishna's family. After the initial greetings, Subhadra hugged her tightly. Drisana chuckled at her.

"I missed you so much." Subhadra said.

"Why haven't you come before then?" Drisana asked.

"Ask bhrata Balaram and bhrata Krishna. I was ready to visit long before. But they only had no time." Subhadra complained.

"How will they have time? Who am I to them afterall?" Drisana said looking at Balaram and Krishna pointedly.

"You're our lovely sister. That we missed very much." Balaram said smiling at her affectionately. "We wanted to visit much earlier, but couldn't because of some work. Please forgive your brothers."

"How can I stay angry at you bhrata?" Drisana said smiling brightly at him. Krishna came to Drisana.

"How are you behna?" Krishna asked smiling at her.

"As you told me to be. With patience." Drisana replied with a sad smile.

Krishna petted her head lovingly.

"Results are not far. Hope you're ready for it." Krishna said. Drisana nodded.

Rukmini and Revati also hugged her and they all started to move inside. They met all the Rajkumar's. As Daiwik met Subhadra, his cheeks coloured a bit. Drisana looked suspiciously at him. She had to warn him before his thoughts went wild. Everyone was looking weirdly at Dheemant and Dheemant was glaring at Drisana. It was hard not to stare as his one leg was yellow clothed and the other was green.

After meeting all and resting for a while, everyone seated to eat.

"Bhrata Dhritimat, I've answered your question. Now you can't stop me from eating ladoos." Daiwik said arrogantly.

"Of course. Why not priye anuj (lovely brother). In fact as a reward of your intelligence, you'll eat all of our ladoos today." Dhritimat said smiling sweetly at him.

"Wow. What love between brothers! Dau, you'll also eat my laddos today." Krishna said. Balaram's jaw slackened.

"You're offering your ladoos to me?!!!" Balaram wondered if Krishna was alright or not.

"Why not, Dau? Afterall love increases by sharing. So today I'll give you my laddos. And you'll have to accept if you love me." Krishna said.

"Ok. As you say." Balaram was suspicious though.

As the ladoos were brought, Dhritimat and his brothers gave all their ladoos to Daiwik who was thanking Drisana in mind. On the other hand Balaram looked at the ladoos as Krishna gave his share to him. Both the unsuspecting victims took one ladoo in mouth and the reason for the generosity of their brothers were clear to them as the bitterness of basil hit their tongue. Daiwik looked at his brothers with accusing eyes and Balaram with a glare that Krishna royally ignored. Devajyot didn't even looked at their way as he was guilty of leaking the information of Priyala's attack on kitchen.

"By the way Rajkumar Dheemant, where have you gotten this two coloured dhoti?" Krishna asked mischievously ending the smirk in Dheemant's face. His amusement at Daiwik's condition vapourised as he remembered his own dhoti condition.

After lunch, Drisana came out of the Palace with Subhadra, Rukmini, Revati, Himani and Poornima to see the fair that was going on and would last the whole month. All the girls were roaming at the town looking at the celebration going on. People were throwing colours, eating sweets, market was decorated with various items that was showcased in temporary shops. As they entered the fair, some women came and put flower garlands around their necks after greeting them.

"Why are they putting garlands on the girls neck, jiji?" Subhadra asked Drisana.

"Here in this fair of Vasantotsab, if an unmarried girl chooses someone as their life partner, they can offer this garland as a token of their love and if accepted by the other, the society is bound by law and tradition to get them married and everyone has to honour their decision." Drisana explained to her.

"And what if the girl is already married?" Asked Revati.

"Then they'll put it-"

"On their husband's neck only."

Himani and Poornima replied her.

"I really like this tradition. Isn't it similar to swayamvar? But much better as no one is pressurised to choose." Subhadra said exitedly.

"Yes. That's right." Drisana replied.

"So, when are you putting garland around some lucky ones neck, Drisana?" Revati asked mischievously. If only she knew how her words twisted the knife lodged deep in Drisana's heart.

"Yes, jiji. When are you going to get married? I'll have a lot of fun at your wedding." Subhadra said.

Rukmini noticed the pain that flashed in Drisana's face for a moment and then Drisana forced a smile on her face and moved to look at some handcrafted showpiece. There was no shortage of proposals as it presented an opportunity to make relation with Dravida. But as promised Drisana's family hadn't pressurised her in this matter. Even the mention of it was too painful for her to bear.

Rukmini came beside her.

"This wait is too much, isn't it? When all the heart wants is to flee away." Rukmini said casually.

"Mine is too badly injured to want anything or make sense. I've learned to ignore it's continuous screaming." Drisana said. The thought of her heart increased the pain that had become a constant companion to her. This bleeding organ that resided inside her wasn't hers in the first place.

"I understand. Love is so strange. Even being the most beautiful, it brings out the most ugliest feelings too. I hope your wait ends well." Rukmini said with a sad smile.

"It has to. Otherwise you'll be a widow. " Drisana said looking pointedly at her. Rukmini gave a nervous chuckle at that. She didn't doubt Drisana's words. There is nothing more dangerous than a woman scorned.

While they were roaming around in the market, someone was keeping a close eye on Drisana, waiting for the right moment to act. She couldn't escape this time and no one would be able to save her. As Drisana went a little far away from the others, her observer got the opportunity he was waiting for.

Drisana suddenly felt someone pulling her behind a shop that was temporarily built. She got scared. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to kidnap or attack her. Her hand immediately pulled the dagger out that she always carried. Before she could pierce the dagger into the throat of the man, he caught her hand.