Hello readers!!!

Most of you have chosen the third pic. Now that's my favourite too.

But @n-i-t-h-y-a gave me the idea to include Nakul into the pic too. So I made another cover. Last time help me by picking one of the two please.

Stay healthy, happy and keep reading.....❤❤❤

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Daiwik rolled his eyes as Chedi Naresh Shishupal arrived. That spoiled brat!!! He had already complained about all the Royals of Dravida not being present to welcome him as Maharaj, Maharani, Yuvraj Dwijendra, Rajkumar Dhritimat and Daiwik being present was not enough for him apparently. Then he whined that the weather of Dravida was not suitable for him. Then he taunted them saying he hoped Dravida hadn't forgotten how to treat royals after treating the lower castes as equals. Maharaj Drishadvat replied he didn't need to worry as Dravida knew how to do hospitality of their guests. Then he threw an insult to the women court saying as women of Dravida were busy in managing court, he was worried how the men would welcome him. He had not expected Daiwik to reply him saying,

"Cintit mat hoiye Chedi Naresh. Hum Dravida ke purush jab kisika aayo-vagat karte hein to yoh ush bayakti ko jivhan var yaad rehta hain. (Don't you worry Chedi Naresh. When we, the men of Dravida welcome someone, that person can't forget our hospitality his whole life.)"

Chedi Naresh Shishupal frowned not getting either it was an assurance or threat.

"I've heard that Gwala (Shepherd) is also here. Where is he? I can't see him." Shishupal said referring to Krishna.

"Ha. Hain na Gwale. Gaushala mein honge. Yedhi aap cahte hai to caliye, le calta hu mai aap ko bheso ke beech. (Yes. We have shepherds here. They must be in the cowshed. If you want I can take you between bulls.)" Daiwik said again smiling sweetly.

"I'm not talking about Dravida's shepherds. I'm talking about Dwarka's shepherd." Shishupal said getting irritated.

"Dwarka se Mahabali Balaram padharne wale hain sighra hi. Aab woh aapne saath bheso ko layenge ki nehi pata nehi. Parantu aap cintit mat hoiye. Aagar woh bheso ko laye toh bandh denge aapko bheso ke saath.

(Mahabali Balaram is coming soon from Dwarka. But either he'll bring bulls with him or not, don't know. But you don't worry if he brings bulls, then we'll tie you up with bulls.)" Daiwik said speedily. Maharaj Drishadvat, Dwijendra and Dhritimat hid their smirks thinking only one thing.

'Take this now Shishupal.'

"Okay. What???" Shishupal caught up what he said a moment later.

" denge aapko bheso ke saath aaye gwalao se. Pura to sun lijiye. (Meet you up with the shepherds who will come with the bulls. Hear me completely first.)" Daiwik said. Before Shishupal could say anything else he said again, "Now if we keep you standing here only, your skin colour will fade in this sunlight. Dravida's weather is also not suiting you. So let's go. I will take you to the guest chambers." And then he hurriedly escorted Shishupal to the guest chamber.

"Well. The beginning was - interesting." Maharaj Drishadvat said. Maharani Mangalya only shook her head at the exchange.

Subhadra sat beside the fountain at the garden sadly. Her mind was revolving around Karna's harsh words. He said nothing wrong. He did reject their marriage. But that was also thinking about her. But what he didn't understand was even though the situation was not in their favour and she indeed was afraid of thinking its outcome, she accepted him as her husband. He asked would she be able to live the life of a Soota and digest people's taunts. What could she do to prove she could walk the path filled with thorns if only he would hold her hand.

He said he was ashamed of his feelings for her. But how to make him understand there was nothing to be ashamed of. Feelings can never be forced or bound by anything. We should nurture our relations with affection and respect. But that doesn't necessarily mean our heart will be devoted to that relation. Karna needed to understand he had not failed as a husband. He gave Supriya the respect and affection she deserved as his wife. Her death was not his fault. It was true a wife wanted her husband close at the time of her pregnancy. But when duty called, a man with honour had to respond and it was the duty of a wife that she didn't stop him and instead help him in reserving his honour. The most beautiful relations were those that didn't bind but freed instead. Subhadra respected Supriya for doing that, for not pushing Karna to choose between duty and family.

As for her family would accept them or not, they might get hurt and angry, but they would accept eventually she was sure. Subhadra was also certain her Bhrata Krishna would never say something to demean someone. Why he told Rajkumari Draupadi about his lineage, she didn't know. But she was sure it wasn't to insult him.

And about what he had to offer her, she never asked for anything except his love. He wanted to get real. Well. Reality wise he was a skilled and talented man. And a man like him was very much capable of taking her responsibility. Earning livelihood wouldn't be impossible for him if he only wished. It wasn't that he didn't knew what to do or where to go. Rather he didn't wish to think what to do or where to go. Otherwise, a man like Karna could make any door open if he became determined to do so.

But how to make that stubborn man understand those. She didn't want to involve her brother into this. In fact she didn't want anyone else to interfere between them or influence Karna to accept her. Karna also wouldn't like that and would grow more aloof. She would only tell Bhrata Krishna when Karna stood with her.

For that she needed to make him accept her first. But how to do that, how to change his thinking. What should she do? She could take Drisana's help for ideas. But she was busy in marriage preparations and Subhadra didn't want to burden Drisana with her problems in midst of her wedding.

Draupadi came to collect flowers for her prayer when she saw Subhadra sitting sadly looking at the flowing water of the fountain. She went closer and put a hand in her shoulder.

"Subhadra? What happened? Why are you sitting here gloomily?" Draupadi asked.

"Nothing. This place is beautiful. So I just thought to sit here for sometimes." Subhadra said with a smile.

"That it is. But you are not simply sitting here to enjoy its beauty. Something is bothering you, isn't it?" Draupadi said sitting beside her.

"No. Nothing like that." Subhadra said shaking her head.

"Subhadra, you're not as cheerful as before. Your smiles seem forced. You remain lost in thoughts most of the times. What's the matter?" Draupadi asked softly looking at her.

"There's nothing like that. I'm just not feeling well. It'll pass. Don't worry." Subhadra said trying to avoid the topic.

"Fine. I consider you as my sister, doesn't mean you'll consider me that too. If you don't want to tell me, then it's okay. I'll ask Govind to talk to you. If not me then, you can share your problems with your bhrata at least." Draupadi said half heartedly and stood to leave.

"Stop. Don't say anything to Bhrata Krishna please." Subhadra said holding her hand. She could never hide something from Krishna. If he asked, she would spill everything in seconds.

"Then tell me what's the matter? I'm really worried for you." Draupadi said sitting beside her again and taking her right hand between both of hers. Subhadra thought what to say.

"How do we makes someone understand there's nothing wrong in love? That love can't be bound by social standards? That if love is true, than no obstacle is big enough?" She asked instead staring at the fountain. Draupadi took a few moments to absorb what she said and then asked softly,

"Maharathi Karna?"

Subhadra's eyes widened hearing her.

"It's not so difficult to guess. I've watched you stealing glances at him and blushing." Draupadi said with a smile. Subhadra lowered her eyes thinking was it so obvious.

"Did he say something to you?" Draupadi asked cautiously. But Subhadra remained silent not knowing how to say something without revealing everything.

"It's okay if you don't want to answer. I will try to help you." Draupadi assured her.

"Why did you reject him at your swayamvar?" Subhadra asked curiously. Now she was glad for the rejection, but Draupadi didn't seem like the person who would care for caste. So that made Subhadra curious to know the reason.

"I- he- actually- He was a very good friend of Yuvraj Duryodhan. Their friendship was really tight. They still may be. I'm not sure. But at that time he literally did whatever Yuvraj Duryodhan wanted. Before the competition started I met Yuvraj Duryodhan and I didn't like the way he talked or looked at me. Then at the competition, he wanted Maharathi Karna to participate on his behalf. But when he was denied, he declared his friend will participate for himself then. Maharathi Karna just silently accepted everything and it didn't sit well with me. Govind had told me earlier that only Maharathi Karna or Arya Putra Arjun can win the competition. So when he came forward, I stopped him by referring to his caste." Draupadi hesitated at first. She wasn't comfortable with the topic. But decided to give her the truth at last. Subhadra took a deep breath hearing her reasoning.

"Subhadra, he is a good person. I've seen him all these years. He is a man who holds onto Dharma and self-respect. If you love him, then you shouldn't stop yourself." Draupadi said gently keeping a hand on Subhadra's knee.

"It's not me stopping myself." Subhadra said sighing heavily. Draupadi understood it was Karna who needed to understand. She thought for a while. Then a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

"Aapne anuvabh se ak guru mantra de rahi hu Subhadra. Gaat baandh lo. (I'm going to give you a very important advise from my experience. Remember it well Subhadra.)" Draupadi said. Subhadra looked at her in confusion.

"Yeh jo dhanurdhari hote hai na, inhe sidhi cheeza pasand nehi aati. Inhe aapne dhanush ki tarah hi teri cheeza samajh mein aati hai. (These archers only like curved things. These people can only understand things curved like their bow.)" Draupadi said smirking. Subhadra frowned in confusion. Then caught her meaning a moment later.

"You mean he won't understand straightforward. I'll have to -"

"Corner him so he can't escape."

Valandhara was going to meet her father when Bheem saw her and got angry.

"Wait, dasi." Bheem stopped her. Valandhara looked at him with arched brows.

"How dare you to lie to me? That day you gave me wrong directions. Why?" Bheem asked frowning.

"I didn't lie Rajkumar. Remember what I told you?" Valandhara said smiling sweetly.

"What?" Bheem asked in confusion. Did he misunderstood her? But that wasn't possible.

"I said, you'll find there what you need." Valandhara said

"Yes. But I didn't find the kitchen. It led me to library." Bheem said getting annoyed.

"Exactly. Because you don't need food, you need some brain." Valandhara said still smiling.

"How dare you? What do you mean? I don't have brain?" Bheem said angrily.

"You do have brain?" Valandhara asked innocently.

"Of course I do. How dare you to talk to me like this? Do you even know who I am?" Bheem shouted at her.

"I do know who you are Rajkumar Bheem. If you really have brains than give my questions answer." Valandhara said.

"You defiant and mannerless girl. I'm not going to answer anything. Rather you'll answer for your behaviour and get punished." Bheem said angrily.

"That means you're afraid of not knowing the answer." Valandhara said instigating him.

"I'm not afraid of anything. Ask whatever you want." Bheem said gritting his teeth.

"Okay. Then tell me, why rainbows are formed?" Valandhara asked.

"This is your question? It's such a silly question. I'll give the answer. Rainbows are formed because - because - because?" Bheem said the first part smugly, but as he went to answer he got baffled.

"Take your time. There's no hurry." Valandhara said hiding her smirk. As Bheem's concentration was on figuring out the answer, Valandhara escaped from there.

As she went around looking behind to see if Bheem was after her or not, she dashed with someone.

"Can't you see???" The man screamed at her and raised his hand to slap her. Valandhara closed her eyes tightly in fear, but the slap never came. She opened her eyes only to see the man frozen with his hand in mid air. She didn't like the way he was watching her. So, she went from there in hurry. The man started to follow her after a while, but someone stopped him.

"Yeh rasta Kashi ki taraf jata hai, mere bache. Pehle Dwarka ki yatra purn karlo, phir karenge Kashi ke liye prasthan. (That way leads to Kashi, mere bache. First make your way to Dwarka then we'll travel to Kashi too.)"

Shishupal groaned getting up from bed. He wouldn't spare that oversmart Rajkumar Daiwik. Last night Shishupal had asked about entertainment. Stating that it would be enjoyable if some dancers were sent to entertain him with a wicked smile. Daiwik well understood what he meant and matching his wicked smile asked if he would also like to have some massage. Shishupal agreed eagerly thinking finally he found someone who had similar tastes like him.

It was going well as the girls came to dance and entertain him. He was enjoying alcohol and beautiful girls dancing around. And after that holding his hand the girls took him to lay face down on the couch to give him massage. But instead of the soft touch of female hands, he felt rough muscular hands squeezing his back. As he turned his face to see, his eyes widened watching four tall, vigorous, muscular wrestlers of Dravida ready to give him massage. He told them to leave, but they said Rajkumar Daiwik had ordered them not to leave without giving him a full body massage, otherwise Dravida's reputation would be ruined. And then they proceeded to give him the best massage they could.

Needless to say, every muscle of his body screamed in protest as he got up the next morning. He couldn't even complain or say anything about it as he would look weak and be mocked if he did so.

"How are you Chedi Naresh?" Shakuni asked coming inside his chamber.

"Good. What brings you here, Gandharraj?" Shishupal asked rudely. He was in no mood for small talk.

"Just came to see how you're doing." Shakuni said forcing a smile in face. "Dravida has unique rules and regulations. I was afraid what hospitality we'll get here." Shakuni said eyeing him carefully.

"What hospitality? In which kingdom, women rules in court forgetting their place, no regards for caste exists, what can be expected from them?" Shishupal said grimacing in both anger and pain. Shakuni closed his one eye getting exactly what he came looking for.

"Well. If you want, why don't you show them their place?" Shakuni said.

"What do you mean?" Shishupal asked looking at him in confusion.