Hello readers!!!

I have reached Chapter. I can't believe it.

Thank you all so much for giving so much love to this book. Specially the way you all accepted the Dravida concept. I was worried how a whole new Kingdom will fit into the story.

But your support and the love you showed touched my heart. 💖💖💖

Thank you, Thank you so much.

Now I was wondering what special to do to celebrate the half century and gave me the perfect idea....

So the credit for this special chapter goes to

❤❤❤❤❤

P.s. I started with mother-daughter bond instead of brother-sister.

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"Mata? You're still here?" Drisana asked, surprised by her mother's presence in her room. Her head was still in her Mata's lap as she caressed her hair.

Last night she was remembering Nakul and was unable to hold her tears. She was silently shedding tears sitting in her room when Maharani Mangalya came to her.

"Putri, look what I have got for you." Mangalya said with excitement. Drisana quickly wiped her tears and turned with a smile.

"Yes, Mata? What have you got for me?" Drisana asked.

"I've got Jasmine oil for you." Mangalya said smiling at her.

"Oil?" Drisana asked giving a chuckle.

"Yes. Oil. Now come here and sit. I'll apply it on your hair with my own hands." Mangalya ordered her daughter sitting on the couch. Drisana sat in front of her shaking her head in amusement.

"You know putri, I always wanted a daughter to pamper. Sons are dearest to mothers too. But daughters are the most treasured gift god gives. If sons are pride, daughters are self-respect." Mangalya said with a affectionate voice applying oil in her daughter's head.

"When I was pregnant with you, I dreamed a lot. I thought I'll live my childhood in yours again. I'll become your first friend, your first teacher. I'll doll you up like a little angel. I will select your clothes, apply oil in your hair, I'll play with you. When you'll take your first step, I'll walk with you. When your steps wobbled, I'll hold you. When you say your first word, I'll hear you call me Maa. When you start running, I'll chase you in the whole Palace. When you try to hide, I'll recognise you from the sound of your anklets. I thought I'll teach you to play veena and we both will play together. When you'll do some mischief, I'll scold you and get angry and then you'll hug me and give me kiss on cheeks until my anger recedes. Also when you'll get angry on me, I'll make your favourite foods myself and feed you with my own hands. I'll tell you stories, I'll caress your head and sing for you until you fall asleep." Mangalya's throat was heavy with emotions as she described her unfulfilled dreams that she saw when she held her little baby girl in her arms.

Drisana's eyes also got teary. She had enjoyed all of these with her mother in Kaliyug. But here a mother lost all her hopes with her daughter. God was graceful to her. That's why even losing one mother, she got another who loved her with all her heart. Her heart ached for both her mothers. It was conflicting. If she hadn't gone to Kaliyug, her this mother wouldn't have suffered and she would have gotten all the love of her and this family. But if she hadn't gone, she wouldn't get to know her adoptive parents. She would never have all the cherished memories that made her strong, taught her to love, to respect, to live. She turned on her Mata's hold to see a tear slipping free.

"Mata, now your putri is right here, in front of you. Still you're crying?" Drisana said wiping the tears and holding her one hand between both of hers.

"Mata, what happened can't be changed. We can't bring back what we lost. But we can cherish what we have. Right at this moment, there's nothing stopping you from fulfilling all your dreams. You can love me as much as you want. No one's gonna stop you. And you? Instead of pampering me, you're only shedding tears. This is not done. I don't like to see tears in your eyes. Promise me, you won't shed tears remembering past, rather make new memories with me." Drisana said smiling softly. Mangalya nodded her head controlling herself and smiled full-heartedly.

"Now come. I'll braid your hair." Mangalya said as Drisana turned again.

"Putri?" Mangalya called her cautiously while braiding.

"Yeah?" Drisana was enjoying the moment closing her eyes.

"You - you met him, didn't you?" Mangalya asked hesitantly.

"Who are you talking about?" Drisana feigned ignorance.

"No one." Mangalya let it go. "You know how your father and I got married?" She asked instead. Drisana frowned. Her hair was braided now. She looked at her mother. In the past year she had known about Dravida and it's history. Her father's family was mentioned but never her mother's. It just didn't came up. As Drisana shook her head negatively, Mangalya said her to keep her head on her lap.

"Let me tell you. It's a rather interesting one. I was the Princess of Kashi. My father was Kashi Naresh Kasiraja." Mangalya said surprising her. Wasn't Maharaj Dhritarashtra and Pandu's mothers were Kashi Rajkumari's? She asked her mother the same.

"Yes. They were my great-grandfather's daughters. My grandfather Senabindu's sisters. Now listen. I had two brothers. Sudhanva and Subahu. Bhrata Sudhanva was a good friend of Magadh Naresh Jarasandh. Because of conflicts regarding this Subahu left for Himalayas to do penance. And here my father and brother fixed my marriage with Magadh Naresh.

Everything would have gone according to their wish, but something unexpected happened.

One day before my marriage I went out of the Palace secretly. I wanted to absorb the beauty of my birth place before leaving it. I was roaming at the town when someone kidnapped me. I was unconscious and when I gained consciousness the next day, I was far from Kashi and a man was sitting in front of me looking worried.

I was hell angry and started shouting. Later I got to know the man went to kidnap the girl his Brahman friend loved and mistakenly kidnapped me. He apologised and took me back to Kashi. But the damage was done and Magadh Naresh not only broke the alliance, but my father was insulted too. When I went back to the Palace, my father disowned me without hearing anything. My brother also insulted me and said to leave. I was ruined. I didn't know what to do or where to go. This society doesn't accept a girl who is disowned by her father. I was walking through the town aimlessly and the most degrading thing of my life happened.

The people, the same one who one's used to bow and respect me, started to verbally abuse me, taunt me, called me names and at one point they started to throw rotten vegetables, fruits etc. at me. Then someone threw a stone and the others started to follow too."

A cold shudder ran through Drisana hearing her mothers cold voice void of emotions. She knew this time period, this society was too harsh on women. But hearing her mother had been a victim of this society gave her goosebumps.

"I ran from there somehow. I was so humiliated, so broken, I thought to end it all. Just when I was going to jump from a clifftop, I questioned myself what was my fault. Why was I out casted? Why should I pay for something I'm not responsible for? Why was I abused? Why women has to always pay for the actions of men? Isn't that what happened with my ancestors too?

Mahamahim Bhismeh snatched the right of choosing their husbands and handed them over to his sick brother. And devi Ambika and Ambalika paid the price by becoming widows. Devi Amba stood for her rights, but was rejected by the same man she stood up for. Was she some object that someone won and someone threw out rejecting her? And Mahamahim Bhismeh? Even though he was the one who won her, told her to marry his sick brother, the same one who was marrying her other two sisters. Not even her father accepted her back. What was her fault?

So I decided, I won't be punished without any fault. I went outside of Kashi to search the man who kidnapped me. I had decided either he wanted or not, he'll give me justice. Or I'll punish him. Take his life first and then give mine. I didn't know how, but I was determined.

I searched a lot, roamed aimlessly for days and reached a small hut in the outskirts of Vindhya forest. There that man was engaged in penance.

A battered and worn out Rajkumari Mangalya reached the mountains of Vindhya where the man was said to be. She got his whereabouts from the same friend for whom he came to kidnap her. After roaming through the forest, she came upon a clearing where a Brahman was sat in meditation. No. Not any Brahman, it was the same man who kidnapped her. A unbridled rage swept through her at the sight of the man.

"Here after ruining my life, you're sitting calmly meditating? No amount of penance can wash out your sins." Mangalya's angry voice boomed through the forest.

The man opened his eyes and looked at the woman in front of him. With ragged clothes, messed up hair, several injuries on her face and body, Mangalya was almost unrecognisable. After a few moments, he recognised her and frowned at her condition. Why was she here? He had taken her back to her home safe and sound. Then what was the reason behind her being here in such a condition?

Before he could ask anything, Mangalya lost her consciousness because of exhaustion and starvation. When her eyes opened again, she was inside the hut, lying on a clean blanket. There was medicine applied on her injuries and a fire a few feet away provided warmth. It took a few moments before she registered what happened and where she was. As she sat up with difficulty and looked around the hut, the man entered with some food in hand.

"You're awake. Good. You got me afraid for a while. I brought this food for you. You need to eat." The man said in a calm voice. Mangalya looked at the offered food with a blank expression. She took it after a while and concentrated on eating only. Her all energy seemed to leave her as she met him finally.

"Will you tell me what happened with you and how you came to be here?" That man asked as she finished eating. Mangalya looked at him for a long time and then narrated her story.

"I'm sorry for what happened, Rajkumari. You never said anything about your status or marriage. I would have gone with you to clarify any misunderstandings if I knew. It was never my intention to hurt you. I already apologised to you. If you want to punish me, I'll accept that gladly. Tell me what can I do to reduce your pain?" The man asked after hearing everything.

"I want my respect back that got snatched because of you. There's no reason for me to live without it. I lost everything." Mangalya said crying miserably. What punishment could she really hand to him when he himself accepted his mistake?

"I can go with you to Kashi. But I don't think Kashi Naresh will hear me. The society won't accept you and you'll be miserable if not killed or worse." The man said contemplating. Mangalya shuddered thinking about the fate worse than death.

"There's an ashram of Rishi Vyas in Vidharbha Kingdom. You can take shelter there hiding your identity if you want. You'll be protected there and will be able to start fresh." The man suggested. Mangalya nodded contemplating hard. She didn't have any other option. "I can take you there in a few days if we start tomorrow."

With that decided, they started towards the ashram the next day. After a few days, they reached near the ashram. In these several days, the man looked after Mangalya and protected her. She got to know about his kindness and righteousness. He was indeed a good man. Before they entered the ashram, the man stopped and turned to her.

"Devi, I know I have done a grave mistake by kidnapping you mistakenly and probably you'll never forgive me. That's why I'm afraid to say this. But I'll regret it forever if I don't." Mangalya was confused seeing his hesitation.

"Will you marry me?" Mangalya was beyond surprised by his question. "I'm not saying this out of pity. I really like you and I want to give you the respect you deserve. It will be an honour for me if you accept my proposal. You're free to refuse of course." The man said hurriedly. Mangalya stood there for a long time contemplating while he remained silent and patiently waiting.

"I'll marry you."

That one decision gave my life a new direction. On that same day we got married and he took me to his home to meet his parents. Imagine my surprise, when he brought me in front of the Maharaj and Maharani of Dravida and declared them as his parents."

Drisana's smile got bigger hearing the last part.

"After that your Pitashree always looked after me. I was shown a side of society towards women that's too ugly and unjust. That's why Dravida is more liberal and kind regarding women's rights." Maharani Mangalya finished her story.

"Did you go back to Kashi?" Drisana asked.

"No. They never accepted me back. It was only after my brother Subahu came back that he wrote to me after hearing everything. After Yuvraj Yudhisthir's crowning ceremony, Rajkumar Arjun was sent to Kashi because of some conflicts and he defeated my father and Sudhanva. A part of Kashi came under the control of Hastinapura. When Subahu returned, this portion was given to him. He visited me after that." Mangalya replied while caressing her daughter's head.

"There is one more thing you should know Putri." Drisana looked upwards at her mother expectantly.

"There's a curse in our family. I was pregnant for the third time when one day Rishi Durvasa came here. Everyone is aware of his short temper. Your father was worried as I was pregnant and was unable to serve him properly. More than pleasing the Rishivar, his attention was on me and angered by this, Rishi Durvasa cursed your father to bear the burden of his dead lineage." Mangalya said in a grave voice remembering that fateful day.

"What are you saying Mata?" Drisana gasped.

"Yes. When we asked for forgiveness, Rishi Durvasa calmed down and gave us a blessing that if we have a daughter, then she'll be the protector, not only to our lineage, but to the whole Aryavart." Maharani Mangalya said looking lost in thoughts.

"That's why we wanted a daughter so desperately and did penance to get you. But when we lost you again, all our hopes shattered." Mangalya sighed heavily and looked at Drisana who didn't know how to take this information.

"But when we got you back, our hopes were restored. Now you understand why your father doesn't want to send you to Hastinapur? He has seen me struggle through the insult and disrespect shown to me. He has not only lost his daughter once, but also lost all his hopes to save his family. I've seen his helplessness, his guilt, his pain after losing you. That's why he doesn't want to take any risk regarding you, Putri." Maharani Mangalya said as Drisana tried to control her tears. This didn't change the fact that she was missing Nakul.

"I may not have been fortunate enough to raise you, but I'm still your mother. I know you haven't forgotten him. Nor will you ever. No matter how much you pretend. Just remember that we all want to see you happy and protected. If your happiness lies with him only, then you need to make your way while not forgetting the one you came from." Maharani Mangalya finished. What she indirectly told her was if Drisana wanted to bring Nakul in her life, she would have to do it while also not disregarding her father.

With that the tight leash on her emotions broke and she started sobbing in her mother's lap. Maharani Mangalya kept stroking her hair long after her sobs receded and she fell into a deep slumber.