The way to get out of the cave wasn't so difficult to find surprisingly. As after the sealed door of the temple glided closed back, the darkness of the cave seemed receded. They found the light source soon and it led to a hole in the ceiling. When the three got out of the cave through the hole, they found themselves on one of the hollowed out areas of the mountain that they saw while going up. They remained silent as they followed the narrow pathway alongside the cliff back.

The guards and dasis waited patiently but worried, at the same place they left them. They started their journey back to the Palace then. Dridhaksh was giving pointed looks to Drisana and Nakul from time to time that both of them ignored. Drisana knew she couldn't ignore him forever. She had to handle him before reaching back to the Palace or he would blurt everything to everyone. Deciding to just get it over, she told everyone to wait while she took Dridhaksh a little far away to talk. Nakul was debating either to follow or not. Drisana signed him to wait.

"I'll tell you everything truthfully. But you'll have to trust me bhrata. Just like Nakul did." Drisana said and then told him everything what Dhristyadhym did and how he wanted to use her to get the Pasha. Dridhaksh was furious hearing everything that happened.

"How dare he? He sent you in a valet full of Pisacha and also tried to blackmail you. I won't spare him. And how can Rajkumar Nakul support you in this? He let you be in danger knowingly. Is this how he's going to take care of you?" Dridhaksh said in anger.

"Don't blame him. You know me. I wasn't going to stop. And he stood strong supporting me. He understands me, trusts me and he believes in me too. How can you say he didn't take care of me when he protected me at all times? Have you forgotten he saved our lives in the cave just a while ago?" Drisana asked in agitation.

"But I won't spare that Dhristyadhym. He'll answer for this. And how can you be so stupid Drisana? How can you promise him to get the Pasha? You think it's worth what he did for you?" Dridhaksh asked again.

"No. It's not. His payment is still due. And I had no idea there was Pisacha on that mountain. Otherwise I wouldn't put ourselves at risk like that. As for Dhristyadhym, I promised to get the Pasha, but when, how and at whom this will be used, will be decided by me only." Drisana said determinedly.

"What's going on in your head, Drisana?" Dridhaksh asked frowning.

"Dhristyadym just gave me a way to get rid of Bhrata Devajyot's curse." Drisana said with a slight smirk as Dridhaksh's eyes widened in shock.

"You mean -" Dridhaksh couldn't complete as words struck in his throat.

"Yes. You won't say anything to Dhristyadhym or anyone else. Think it like this Bhrata, we didn't get the Pasha for him but for our brothers." Drisana said grimly. Dridhaksh was unable to comprehend what Drisana was suggesting. He sat down on a tree branch as even standing seemed a big task.

"That's too risky. You think it's possible?" Dridhaksh gasped out finally in hope.

"I'll make it possible. Trust me bhrata. But I can't do it alone. I'll need your help. That's why I chose you specially to come with me." Drisana said holding his shoulder and assuring him through eyes.

"Drisana - How? Our brothers -" Dridhaksh was unable to form any thought. This curse had completely changed and devastated Devajyot. It loomed over them like a dark cloud, ready to pour down on them anytime. All of them, didn't even dare to remember that dreadful event.

"Trust me bhrata. I won't let anything happen to my family. Dhristyadhym unknowingly gave a golden opportunity to me and now I need your help to use it. Won't you support me?" Drisana asked softly, holding her hand palm out.

"I will." Dridhaksh said determinedly. Standing straight he placed his hand on hers.

"Rajkumar Nakul knows about the curse too?" He asked curiously.

"No. I didn't get a chance to tell him about my plan for the Pasha yet. I'll tell him soon." Drisana replied.

"He still agreed for this. Either he's dangerously brave or a complete fool. Whatever he is, he is your headache." Dridhaksh said shaking his head.

Back at the temple, being unsuccessful in finding Rajkumari Subhadra and in absence of Karna, guards sent message back to the Palace about them being missing. As message reached their ears, Krishna, Arjun, Dhritimat, Devajyot and Daiwik came with a search party immediately. Arjun had kept watch over Nakul and Drisana after getting Sahdev's letter. He wanted to come with Nakul in the morning too. But Nakul persuaded him not to and went out without informing him. He didn't knew Maharathi Karna had gone in search of them. Otherwise he would have accompanied him. He was really concerned for them.

"God knows where they have all disappeared." Daiwik said worrying.

"This area is not safe. Let's hope we find them soon." Dhritimat said frowning.

"They will be alright, right Madhav?" He asked Krishna more to assure himself then anything.

"Alright has many meanings Paarth. People can be alright by achieving victory or even after being defeated. Some become alright after finding way while some find it alright to leave the way. Let's see we find them in which condition." Krishna replied with his slight smile holding mysteries. Arjun, Dhritimat, Devajyot and Daiwik looked at him simultaneously with confusion.

"What? Let's move. We need to find them. It's already evening." Krishna said and went ahead.

Just as they were leaving to search them in groups, Drisana, Nakul and Dridhaksh emerged from the trees. They stilled watching the search party.

"Tum dono ke cakkar mein aaj mujhe lath paregi. (I'll get kicked because of you two.)" Dridhaksh muttered to Drisana and Nakul.

"Drisana, Dridhaksh, Rajkumar Nakul, are you all okay? where did you go? We were coming to search you." Dhritimat said in a breath.

"We all are fine Bhrata. No need to worry." Dridhaksh said showing his teeth.

"You are the one who needs to worry. Mata and Pitashree are waiting for you." Daiwik said crossing his arms over his chest. Dridhaksh gulped hearing that. No one would say anything to the would be son-in-law or their loving daughter. He would be the one under interrogation.

"Where were you all?" Arjun asked as his relief in seeing them safe and sound subsided.

"Drisana batayegi. Batao behna, batao. (Drisana will tell. Tell sister, tell.)" Dridhaksh said smiling tightly.

"Banati hu. (Let me make something.)" Drisana said thinking about what to say.

"What?" Dridhaksh asked raising his eyebrows as Nakul's eyes widened.

"Batati hu. Batati hu. (Tell something. Let me tell something.)" Drisana said smiling sweetly. "Actually what happened is I did prayer in the temple. After that I needed to do prayer of eight Banyan trees. So we went to find Banyan tree in the forest. And in finding trees and doing prayer, it got a little late." Drisana explained smiling meekly. "Sorry. You all got worried because of me." Drisana apologised.

"Yamraj ke darshan kar ke aa kar bhi jhoot bolti ho. (You lied even after seeing Yamraj.)" Dridhaksh muttered again that was only heard by Drisana and Nakul.

"She didn't. She did do prayer in the temple and then Banyan tree prayer on the way back. The number was actually eight." Nakul muttered in reply. Dridhaksh looked at him. Oh yes. She did.

"But you shouldn't have delayed so much. Mata is worried sick for you. And you should have said something about this Banyan tree hunt. This is carelessness Drisana." Dhritimat scolded her. And she apologised saying it wouldn't happen again.

"Now we need to find Maharathi Karna and Rajkumari Subhadra. God knows where they went." Arjun said.

"What happened to them?" Drisana asked with confusion. Daiwik then explained the situation.

"We should find them soon. Where -" Dhritimat was saying. But before he could complete Karna's voice interrupted him from behind.

"No need to find us. We are here." He said and came with Subhadra beside him.

"Where were you two?" Krishna asked them.

"Actually Rajkumari Subhadra went to see the surroundings and got lost. I found her, but as I'm also not familiar with this area, I forgot the way too. That's why we got late in finding the right direction." Karna told them.

"What happened to your shoulder Bhrata Karna? How did you get the injury? Are you okay?" Drisana asked noticing it. The tribe people had applied some medicine to it.

"I'm fine Drisana. Actually a wild animal attacked me when I was trying to find Rajkumari Subhadra. It's just a scratch. No need to worry." He said smiling forcefully. All this time Subhadra remained silent staring at the ground.

"Subhadre? Are you okay?" Krishna asked her softly holding her shoulders. She only nodded with a tight lipped smile. Krishna didn't ask anything more and suggested they should return back to the Palace.

Subhadra remembered Karna's words while they were returning from the tribe territory.

This was all her fault. If she had waited instead of wandering around alone, they wouldn't be in this situation. She remembered Karna telling her many times she shouldn't roam alone unprotected. She could get into trouble. She hadn't taken his words seriously and ignored them every time. Now his words came true. She really was in trouble and she had dragged him into it too. Subhadra didn't dare to look at Karna as they were walking back towards the temple.

Karna remained silent as they walk away from the Ingharr tribe's territory. He knew they needed to talk. But for the life of him he couldn't figure out how to start. Subhadra didn't even look at his eyes straight once since that marriage ceremony started. His hands clenched on the garland of Dianthus flowers he held. Subhadra was wearing hers. No. That wouldn't work. Karna stopped walking. Subhadra stood and looked behind realising he had stopped. Karna waited for her to look at him directly, but she didn't.

"I'm sorry." Subhadra whispered after a while. Karna stiffened hearing her.

"Look at me." Karna ordered in a hard voice that Subhadra was unable to ignore. She looked up at him with glistening eyes. Karna took a deep breath before starting.

"It's not your fault. You couldn't have known what's going to happen. You've always been in a protective environment. You've always had freedom to go wherever you want. You've had that freedom here too. What happened was an accident. You have no fault in it." Karna said firmly. Subhadra released the breath that was stuck inside her as a lone tear of relief slipped her eye. He didn't hold her responsible. He didn't hate her.

"Thank you." She whispered again wiping the tear away. Karna nodded then started again.

"As for what happened back there, it was an accident and you don't stop there after an accident occurs, you move ahead forgetting it."

Subhadra stared at him in confusion. What was he trying to say?

"What happened there, was our helplessness. We didn't have any other option. But now we have options. We don't need to get stuck in this mess." Karna said again.

"What are you trying to say exactly?" Subhadra asked bemused.

"What I'm saying is, no one should know about what happened here today. We'll bury these events right here in this woods and erase it from our memories forever." Karna said deliberately. Subhadra stared at him still not understanding or more accurately her mind rejecting to understand what he said.

"How - how can we erase it?" Subhadra asked slowly.

"We will have to, Rajkumari." Karna said in a hard tone.

"But we've been married." Subhadra whispered.

"Marriages happen with two people's consent. And when two non-tribal people are forcefully married by tribal rites, that marriage can be declared invalid by the society and royal court. You must know this?" Karna asked. Subhadra's eyes watered again. This was true. Tribal marriage could be dissolved by the royal court if not accepted by the two parties.

"There is no need to drag this matter to the royal court. We both are guest here. I don't want to give them any trouble by taking this mess to the court. Moreover, your reputation will be at stake and I don't want anyone to question you." Karna said sighing. "So remove all these. And forget it all. I'll handle the rest." He finished pointing at her garland, tilak, spear, braided hair knotted atop her head and the swirling patterns of colours made on her hand.

Subhadra should be relieved that she was getting an opportunity to forget all this, but she wasn't. The dread that settled on her thinking of explaining all these upon their arrival was no longer there. But in its place a heavy weight settled in her heart. She only understood one thing.

Karna had rejected her as his wife.

Who wants to kill Karna???

Drisana did compared him to vishwamitra. He wouldn't be referred as such if it was so easy to sway him. 😅😅😅

Let's answer some of your questions.......

1. What will happen when Shakuni and Duryodhan arrives?

Nope. Karna wouldn't react at all. Karna had issues that's not going to be all forgotten just because he saw a pretty face that makes his heart beat faster. 😕😕😕

2. I submitted a petition to Drisana's brothers for getting Drisana and Nakul married finally. 😎😎😎

And they approved....😂😂😂

3. When will Karna's truth come out?

After Drisana and Nakul reach Indraprasth.

4. What will Subhadra do?

That's a different question from what she should do.

5. Will Krishna and Drisana know about their marriage?

Krishna doesn't need to be told to know, right?

And as for Drisana, maybe or maybe not.

And don't try to guess her reaction if she gets to know. Even I can't predict that. 😂😂😂