Dwijendra went to meet Maharaj Drishadvat. Wedding preparations were going well. But there was one matter that needed discussion.

"Parnipat Pitashree." He greeted.

"Come son. How is the preparations going on?" Maharaj Drishadvat asked. He didn't want to left any stones unturned. It was his one and only daughters marriage afterall.

"Everything's going smoothly. But I'm in a dilemma regarding the invitations. There's a matter that needs your attention." Dwijendra replied.

"What's the matter?"

"Invitation for the wedding will be sent to almost all the kingdoms of Aryavart. But what about Hastinapur and Chedi? We should send invitation or not?" Dwijendra asked. Chedi Naresh Shishupal wasn't much liked by the Dravida Princes. They had a very delicate balance of peace that could be disturbed anytime. It was a wonder Dheemant returned from Chedi without causing any trouble. But Dwijendra heard Shishupal had been mocking their women court indirectly. If he tried to do that here, it wouldn't be long before swords were drawn.

As for Hastinapur, no one wanted Duryodhan anywhere near Drisana. But he was the one who represented Maharaj Dhritarashtra. And how could Gandharraj Shakuni not follow his favourite nephew?

"It would be an insult if we don't send invitation to Chedi. We can as well say goodbye to the treaty. So invitation is going there. As for Hastinapur, even though we don't like it, Pandavs are related to Hastinapur. I'm sure Rajkumar Nakul will want Mahamahim Bhismeh's blessing. Send the invitation and mention him specially. As for Yuvraj Duryodhan, I don't think he'll dare to try something here." Maharaj Drishadvat said.

Seemed like Duryodhan and Drisana would be face to face after almost six years.

This wedding was going to be rather interesting with all the friends and foes under the same roof.

"Mitra Vrisha!!!" Karna frowned looking at Rajkumari Subhadra who was coming towards him. He looked around himself. Who was she calling?

Subhadra came in front of Karna as he stood confused.

"Mitra Vrisha, I've been searching you whole day. Where were you?" Subhadra asked looking at Karna. Karna glanced around again. Who was she talking to staring at him? When Subhadra kept looking at him, he realised she was talking to him only.

Vrisha???

Mitra?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Rajkumari Subhadra, my name is Karna and I'm not your Mitra. Why are you addressing me as such?" Karna asked irritated.

"First answer my question. Then I'll answer yours. Where were you all day?" Subhadra demanded stubbornly.

"I was roaming around the town. Now tell me why were you addressing me so weirdly?" Karna answered huffing in annoyance.

"Okay. Vrisha means the one who is truthful in speech, engages in penances, keeps his vows and remains kind to enemies. All of these qualities are present in you. So when I thought to give you a special name after we became friends, I found it perfect." Subhadra said smiling broadly at him. Well. Did she really think so highly of him?

Wait.

"When did we become 'friends'?" Karna asked frowning at her.

"You forgot so soon? You have such weak memory." Subhadra said shaking her head.

"My memory is absolutely fine. But it seems you have a habit of day dreaming, Rajkumari." Karna said in a stern voice.

"I'm not day dreaming. You're forgetting. Remember yesterday you helped me in picking mangoes?" Subhadra asked.

"Yes." Karna was confused.

"Then I offered you half, but you refused?"

"Yes."

"So, you helped me without any gain?"

"Yes."

"And only a Mitra helps without any gains. So, by refusing you became my Mitra."

"Yes."

Subhadra smiled brightly at him. Karna was baffled. By refusing he became her friend?

"Wait. What? No. How? I'm not your friend. I helped you casually because you were alone. That didn't mean I became your friend." Karna said rudely. As soon as he completed, Subhadra started crying loudly. Karna was astounded.

"Why are you crying?" Karna asked.

"Because you think so low of me." Subhadra said between her loud wailings.

"What? What gave you that impression? And first stop your crying." Karna said looking around. If someone saw her crying with him, it could be troublesome.

"You became my friend and now you're refusing. You don't think I'm good enough to be your friend. You think bad of me. I'll tell bhrata Krishna." Subhadra said, not giving any sign of stopping.

"I don't think bad of you. Stop crying." Karna said again gritting his teeth. Where the hell was he trapped!

"Then you accept my friendship?" Subhadra asked lowering her wailings a bit, but as she saw Karna contemplating in reluctance, she increased her volume.

"Okay. Fine. I accept. Stop crying please." Karna said to stop her. Subhadra stopped crying immediately as if she had never been crying at the first place. Karna wanted to bang his head on the nearest wall.

"Okay Mitra Vrisha, now let's get back to the point of why I was searching you." Subhadra said smiling at him.

"Stop calling me Mitra Vrisha. You can call me by my name." Karna said irritated.

"No. I can't take your name." Subhadra said.

"Why?" Karna asked frowning.

"Aahi to karan hai ki mai aapko dhund rahi thi. Aapke nam ko lekar aak jatil prasnah mere udar mein chalang laga raha hai subhe se. (That's what I was searching for you. A question regarding your name is jumping in my belly from morning.)" Subhadra said. Karna only looked at her equally annoyed and unimpressed.

"I heard your real name is Vasusena, right? Then why are you known as Karna? Your Karnas (ears) are cute, but that's not the only good feature or unique to name you as Karna. So is it because you eavesdrop on others or you live hearing others?" Subhadra asked. Instead of getting irritated, Karna remembered the story behind his name. It was both a good and bad one.

"Neither of them. I approached Guru Drona to accept me under his tutelage, but Guru Drona refused because of his compliance with Mahamahim Bhismeh and Kuru Kingdom. I questioned him for this indifference, and for that he was unable to give a proper answer. It is then, pleased by my dedication, Guru Drona asked my father to call me Karna, the cutter of orthodoxy. Since then, I'm know as Karna only." Karna replied.

"That means you don't follow the social rules blindly, rather make your own rules based on Dharma and humanity." Subhadra concluded, satisfied with his answer. Karna looked at her.

"Why are you taking so much interest in me?" He asked solemnly.

"Because you're a very interesting person. Aab to jab tak aapke sare vhed jan na lu, mujhe santi nehi milegi. (Now until I know all about you, I won't get peace.)" Subhadra said smiling mischievously. Karna frowned again. No doubt she was Vasudev's sister. Not only by birth, but by behaviour and guile too. He had a strong feeling, this girl was going to cause some serious troubles for him.

Arjun was still trying to vent Draupadi's anger in vain. So he jumped at the idea of a tour on the city market as Daiwik proposed it. Nakul was alert. He didn't trust his would be brother-in-laws even a single bit. But he couldn't refuse either. Karna tried to oppose as Subhadra was also coming with Drisana. He had decided it to be best to stay as far away from Subhadra as possible. But Vasudev again dragged him with them.

They were roaming around the town enjoying its beauty. Arjun took Draupadi's hand and held tightly, refusing to leave. Draupadi was glaring at him.

"Leave Arya." Draupadi hissed out.

"No. I'm holding my own wife's hand, not someone else's. I won't leave." Arjun said smirking.

"What will the others think?" Draupadi said looking around to see if anyone was noticing them.

"Whatever they want. Why should we care? You didn't seem worried about them when you kicked me out of the room." Arjun said.

"If you have a problem with that, then you should mend your actions." Draupadi said sulking.

"What's the fun in mending, priye? I'm good like this only. And if I mend my actions, then whom will you get angry on?" Arjun asked teasingly.

"You seem to enjoy my anger a little too much." Draupadi said with a slight blush and lips twisting in a smile.

"Of course I do. You know when you get angry, your cheeks become red like an apple that I want to bite." Arjun said making her blush harder. Just as he said that they saw a fruit stall ahead. Arjun went towards it and brought an apple. "My dearest wife, accept this apple as a token of my love and give me a chance to bite on my own apple." Arjun said in a husky voice, holding the apple in front of her like one would hold a flower. Draupadi took the apple with lowered eyes and a smile.

As they were roaming scattered around the market, Karna saw a little girl sitting with a basket full of bangles. He went near the kid and sat in front of her.

"Do you want bangles? Look I have got bangles of clay, sea shell, copper and bronze also. I also have bajuband (armlet) of copper. What do you want?" The child said exitedly.

"Why are you selling these? Where are your parents?" Karna asked. He felt a pang in his heart watching the innocent kid.

"My mother is sick. So she couldn't come today to sell bangles. That's why I came. We will have to stay hungry if the bangles are not sold." The child replied in a sad tone.

"Where's your father?" Karna asked.

"He's no more." The girl said lowering her eyes. Karna felt bad for the girl. He got some coins and handed them to her. He wished he could do more.

"What do you want?" The girl asked hopefully. Karna knew she wouldn't take the coins if he didn't buy something. He took a bangle of copper randomly, smiling at the kid.

"But that's too much for it." The girl said looking at the coins. Karna was thinking how to make her agree to take it.

"Of course not. Look at this. You're selling it with so much love and we're taking it with love. Then how can this be too much in front of that love?" Subhadra said taking the bangle from Karna's hand. The girl looked baffled.

"But Mata says we shouldn't take more than it's worth." The girl said.

"Exactly you shouldn't. That's why we're giving you the real price. Afterall you're such a cute and adorable seller, you deserve this much. Am I right Vrisha?" Subhadra asked looking at Karna who nodded smiling at the girl. She accepted finally.

"So Vrisha, this is the first gift of yours to me as your friend. I'm so happy. I'll always cherish it." Subhadra said as they moved away from the girl and she wore the bangle. Karna only rolled his eyes.

Drisana saw Arjun and Draupadi teasing each other and Subhadra walking side by side with Karna talking continuously. She turned to Krishna to see him smiling looking at them too.

"Bhrata Krishna, what's going on with Subhadra and bhrata Karna?" Drisana asked him. She was asking about Abhimanyu indirectly. The sole reason of Abhimanyu's birth was the day at the Kurukshetra war where he was killed saving Yudhisthir. Also it was his son that was supposed to be the next emperor after Yudhisthir. This generation's relationships were dispersed too much to follow the next one though.

"How can I tell? It's between them only. You need to focus on your warrior. He seems to be surrounded by danger." Krishna said with his cunning smile. Thats when Drisana's eyes went to Nakul. He indeed was surrounded by danger as Dhritimat and Daiwik were on both sides of him as Dridhaksh followed behind.

Nakul nervously looked around as his would be brother-in-laws surrounded him.

"Daiwik, I've a small work for you." Dhritimat said.

"No I'm not going to do any work. You six always make me work while relaxing yourself. Tell Drisana to do it." Daiwik said. Nakul frowned. He had a bad feeling about this. They were definitely planning something.

"How can you even take Drisana's name? She's a girl. We don't make girls work. You're the youngest. You'll do it." Dhritimat said.

"No I won't. Why don't you ask Rajkumar Nakul if not Drisana? He can do it instead of her." Daiwik said pointing at Nakul. Whatever the small work was, Nakul was sure it was another of their ploy to trap him.

"What are you saying Rajkumar Daiwik? How can I come between you brothers? Whatever the work is do yourself. I'm not going to interfere." Nakul said with a forced smile.

"Rajkumar Nakul!!! We're giving our one and only sister to you. And you can't even do a small work for her?" Dhritimat gasped dramatically.

"What's it?" Nakul asked sighing. There was no point in arguing.

"That's like a good boy." Dhritimat said and handed him three gold coins. Nakul frowned. What were their intentions?

"You just need to spend these coins." Dhritimat said smiling sweetly.

"That's all?" Nakul said confusingly.

"Yes. You need to spend the first coin for this, the second coin for that and the third coin for no one. That's all." Dhritimat said.

"This? That? No one?"

"Yes."

"For whom? For what? For which?" Nakul hadn't been more baffled in his life ever.

"That you need to find. And don't worry you have a lot of time until we go back to the Palace to spend them." Dhritimat said smirking. By this time Drisana was also with them, walking behind with Dridhaksh. Seemed Dhritimat had already trapped him in one of his riddles. Nakul gave her a look that Drisana reciprocated.

Nothing much, Nakul just needed to find this, that and no one now.