Drisana, Nakul and Dridhaksh moved through the cave carefully. Nakul and Dridhaksh's sword was at ready where Drisana was holding two long daggers. The torch held by Dridhaksh had survived and they were moving using its light. One Pisacha already tried to confuse them by taking Drisana's form. Drisana ran to it immediately shouting 'twin of mine' and in the next second beheaded it before it could react.

"People hug prosperity and success. She hugs Rakshasa and Pisacha." Dridhaksh said in a bored tone.

"We are moving blindly. There must be some way to get out of here." Drisana said.

"Why don't you tell us the way? You're the one who got us here afterall." Dridhaksh said smiling sarcastically.

"Stop whining like Anarkali, Bhrata." Drisana said in annoyance.

"Who is Anarkali?" Dridhaksh asked frowning.

"Akbar's son's lover." Drisana said.

"Who is that now?" Dridhaksh asked again bemused as Nakul rolled his eyes at the brother sister duo.

"Akbar was - no is - actually will be -" Drisana started.

"Pisacha." Nakul said.

"Akbar was not Pisacha." Drisana said frowning.

"Whoever that was, right now we're stucked in a cave full of Pisacha. We can analysis who was whom after getting out, don't you think Hridaya?" Nakul said patiently.

"You call her Hridaya?" Dridhaksh's eyes rounded and eyebrows reached his hairline. Nakul only nodded with a tight lipped smile.

"Don't you think this is a sign you should run away from Dravida as soon as possible. I can provide the horse too." Dridhaksh said to Nakul. Drisana narrowed her eyes at him. Nakul only shook his head.

"You won't dare if you want to ride on a horse again." Drisana said gritting her teeth.

"Fine. If you want to take this savage Hridaya upon you, go ahead." Dridhaksh muttered.

As they were moving, a pisacha appeared before them out of thin air. And more appeared surrounding them quickly. Nakul and Dridhaksh stood with Drisana in the middle. Pisachas could be killed by only beheading them. But with their ability of being invisible, it was getting difficult as they disappeared and reappeared continuously. As they killed one, more kept appearing.

Drisana was watching out too. She felt a snake sliding upwards on her body again and this time instead of freezing in fear, she immediately cut it out of her body, beheading it in the process. Another Pisacha appeared in front of her in its real form with obsidian skin, veins protruding out and red glowing eyes with rotting flesh. Drisana struck her one knife into its eye and with the another cut off its head. As they were fighting with the Pisachas, one particular one appeared with black liquid oozing out from its pores. It stood a little far away. As they watched it, the black liquid started to flow towards them. Not only through the floor, but it started to travel through the walls too. They started to back away but it was fast approaching and in a few moments surrounded them. The liquid formed the shape of hands and reached out to them. Though they cut through it, more kept forming in the next moment. It was getting impossible to ward them off.

"What is this thing?" Drisana asked, being worried.

The liquid reached Dridhaksh and covered his feet. It felt like a thousand needles were piercing his skin at the same time. He gave a loud groan gritting his teeth.

"Bhrata!!!" Drisana shouted in horror.

"Drisana watch out. We can't fight it like this." Nakul said. Raising his sword in front of his face, Nakul started chanting something closing his eyes. Drisana was warding off the liquid hands wildly with Dridhaksh. The liquid was spreading over Dridhaksh. Just as he went down on his knees, not able to withstand the unbearable pain, the liquid reached Drisana too. A short scream escaped her throat at the intensity of the pain. She looked at Nakul and gasped seeing half of his body covered in the liquid. Finding no resistance, it was going upwards towards his chest and head. Soon he would be consumed by it. But surprisingly, not a single reaction was given by him. It seemed his whole concentration was in his sword and didn't acknowledge the pain.

"Nakulllllllll!!!! Fast!!!!" Drisana screamed. Her knives fell from her hands as the liquid wrapped around her wrists. Dridhaksh wasn't faring any better.

Right at that time, Nakul opened his eyes and drove his sword forcefully into the liquid covered ground. There was a blue aura spreading through the sword. The black liquid started receding with screeching sounds. It receded fast and the Pisacha was hit with the force. Nakul threw his sword at the Pisacha and only a moment later the sword went spinning in the air beheading the Pisacha. After that it came spinning back to Nakul.

"Are you alright?" Nakul asked embracing Drisana tightly. Drisana only nodded in his arms and took deep calming breaths.

"Are you two done?" Dridhaksh asked with narrowed eyes. Nakul released her.

"Are you okay Bhrata?" Drisana asked in a worried tone.

"I'm fine." Dridhaksh assured her and then added in a lighter voice. "Don't worry. If you drag me in front of Yamraj, I'll still come out alive."

Nakul and Drisana stilled and looked at each other. Little did Dridhaksh knew, how true his words were going to be.

Just then, out of nowhere a pisacha held Drisana's neck from behind and raised her in air. Nakul and Dridhaksh both shouted her name watching in shock.

"Didn't you learn some manners before dying?" Drisana groaned out and drove her one knife at its abdomen wildly. It didn't kill the Pisacha but weakened it somewhat and taking the opportunity Drisana struck her another knife at its neck. After getting the hit, the Pisacha released its hold and Drisana was falling. Thankfully Nakul caught her in time. The rest seemed to be gone for now too.

"Thank God. Bhrata Dhikshit taught you well." Dridhaksh said sighing.

"Thank God, I picked the knives at the right time." Drisana said sighing.

"We need to get out fast. They'll be back soon." Nakul said.

As Drisana was looking around in frustration, she noticed something in one wall of the cave. She took the torch from Dridhaksh and went near to examine it. It was the sign of sun engraved in the wall. Nakul and Dridhaksh also came behind her and saw it. Drisana touched it lightly, placing her palm at the centre. The sign of the sun lightened and spreaded through the whole engraving. It dispersed bright golden light that spreaded in the whole cave. It wasn't possible to keep eyes open in front of the brilliance of the lightening. Ugly and loud screams were heard as the Pisachas were burning in its heat and warmth.

Karna ran fast towards the flag as the bars were opened and wolves came out growling. There were five more competitors against him. There were twelve to fourteen wolves in total. As he moved, three wolves were approaching him fast. One was coming from front and two from behind. He maneuvered his spear and jumped over the wolf coming from front side. Getting back to his feet, he started to run without wasting a single moment. A loud scream was heard along with gasps. One of the tribe hunter was attacked by two wolves and trying to escape their clutches. Another one of the hunters decided to help him and together they denounced themselves from the competition. Here, Karna almost reached the flag, but a wolf was standing just beside it, its eyes fixed on Karna, jaw opened and growling lowly. The three were approaching from behind too. He was surrounded.

Subhadra's heart was caught in her throat as she watched Karna standing surrounded by four wolves. His wooden spear would do nothing against these vicious wolves. It was all her fault. If she hadn't wander alone, Karna wouldn't be in danger. Tears slipped uncontrollably from her eyes, making her vision blurred. She just wanted some alone time with him. Just wanted to get a small place in his heart. She never wanted to throw him in danger.

As the four wolves attacked simultaneously, Karna ducked under the front one and getting hold of its jaw threw it. As it smashed against two of the other wolves, Karna quickly threw a small stone targeting the eye of the third one. It happened so fast, no one was able to grasp it completely. Karna didn't even wait to take a breath as he ran while also getting hold of the flag. He didn't even register the throbbing of the gash on his upper arm where the wolf had slashed with its paws when he held its jaw.

The rest three hunters were surrounded by wolves and was trying to defend themselves banded together. Karna saw wolves coming for attack as he moved towards the rope suspended at the sides for getting out of the crater. He broke the spear in two and jabbed it into one wolf's jawbone sliding under it when it jumped on him. With another one he hit another oncoming one and jumped over to catch the rope barely escaping the jaws of a third one.

As the brilliance of the light reduced, the wall glided open to reveal a temple of Lord Shiva. Drisana, Nakul and Dridhaksh watched in awe.

"There really is a temple here." Dridhaksh muttered. Drisana went near the idol and got out a lamp, cotton and a small container of ghee (clarified butter). She looked at Nakul and he nodded. He helped her in lightening the lamp in front of the idol as Dridhaksh kept a watch around. She then closed her eyes and folding her hands, started chanting the hymn for calling Yamraj. Nakul stood a little far away with Dridhaksh watching her.

Drisana kept chanting the hymn and after almost half an hour, a light appeared from above. It got brighter and brighter as Drisana kept chanting. Then the light suddenly reduced and there was Dharmraj in all his glory.

"Drisana." He called her. Drisana opened her eyes slowly and relief flooded through her. She greeted him and blessing her, Yamraj asked her why she summoned him.

"I want a weapon of yours, Your Pasha (noose). Give me your permission to use it for once." Drisana said hesitantly, afraid Yamraj would be offended hearing her plea. Dridhaksh was shocked beyond measure and watched everything silently.

"I'm bound to bless your wish in this sacred temple. But remember what you wish for is very dangerous. You may use it once to separate a soul from a mortals body. But as I will not be the one to take it to Yamlok, the soul will return to its host's body if the body is not annihilated. How long you can bind the soul with the Pasha will depend on the souls purity. A pure and kind soul cannot be bound for long." He explained and then gave his noose to her. The light brightened again and then diminished completely. Drisana looked at the Pasha. It seemed like an ordinary noose, but held so much power in reality.

"What is all this Drisana?" Dridhaksh's voice boomed in the utter silence of the cave.

"We can talk after getting out of here. We won't want to face those pisachas again in case some are still alive." Drisana said stiffening.

"I fulfilled your challenge. Now can we go?" Karna asked grimly. Subhadra sighed in relief wiping her tears. She looked at the gash on his shoulder. Blood was dripping down from it. He kept a straight face though. Not giving any indication of pain.

"You can take your bride back after the ceremony gets completed." The chieftain said confusing both Karna and Subhadra.

"What ceremony are you talking about? You said you'll let us leave unharmed if I win the competition and I did. Now let us go." Karna said with a frown.

"Yes. I said that. I'm not denying. But you are forgetting. This competition was to win the bride. You won and now you need to complete the ceremony of marriage. Then you can take your wife wherever you want." The chieftain stated, surprising him beyond measure.

"I did not participate in the competition for her hand in marriage. I only wish to take her back." Karna gritted out angrily.

"You knew this competition was held to win the bride. How can that be accomplished without the marriage taking place. This is our rule that cannot be broken. Either you'll take her back after marriage, or I'll hand her over to one of my hunters." The chieftain said sternly leaving no room for argument.

Karna looked at Subhadra who was numb in shock and fear. She didn't meet his gaze, only stared at the ground with glistening eyes.

@nithyarb