Karna was glaring at Subhadra who ate fruits sitting beside him that she forced Karna to get for her by trickery. It was afternoon already and she gave no sign of moving from there. Karna thought she would return after a while herself being bored. He was thinking if anyone had noticed her absence at the Palace. If he got caught with her, hell would break loose.

Karna had tried to make her understand calmly. Threatened her he would go away. In fact he did leave for sometime thinking she would be afraid and bored and return to the Palace. He watched her from his hiding place for a full prahar (three hours) before emerging when she started screaming looking at a spider. Karna thought she would leave after that. But instead she had tied her saree with his dhoti refusing to let him leave too.

"Vrisha, tumhe paakana aata hain? (do you know how to cook?)" Subhadra asked.

"Why?" Karna frowned.

"When I used to cook food at Palace, there were dasis to help me. But here you'll help me. We'll cook together and then eat together. How much fun it'll be!" Subhadra said with excitement. Karna's frown only deepened.

"Listen Rajkumari, it's going to get dark soon. Everyone at the Palace will be worried and before your brothers come to find you, you should return to the Palace." Karna said calmly once again.

"Then let them come and find us. You're not afraid of my brothers." Subhadra said shrugging. Karna closed his eyes in irritation. He was not afraid that didn't mean he was looking forward to fight with Mahabali Balaram and the other one, Vasudev, was a total crackpot. Who knew what he would do?

"What will you take to move from here?" Karna asked gritting his teeth hard.

"I've already told you." Subhadra said arching her eyebrow.

"Fine. I admit." Karna said finally.

"What?" Subhadra asked hiding her smirk.

"That you're not just a pampered princess unworthy of being my wife." Karna said with difficulty.

"That's like a good husband. Now let's go. I'm tired after sitting here all day." Subhadra said instantly getting up from her place. As she started to go forgetting she had tied her saree with Karna's dhoti, she fell stumbling right into his lap.

Mahraj Drishadvat chuckled hearing his wife. Chedi Naresh Shishupal was surprised by Maharani Mangalya's question. He didn't expected to be questioned. A lot of other things were also unexpected. Shakuni shifted uncomfortably at his seat. He was the one who found Rameswara on his way to Dravida. He was dragging his wife Renuka forcefully out of his house when Shakuni stumbled upon the scene. He heard what was going on and left the place uninterested in the drama. But to confront the women court and humiliate the royal family of Dravida, it fitted perfectly. So he called Rameswara and his wife who had already been disposed and was living in the streets. He bribed both of them to come to the court. As Renuka had nothing to lose after she had already been left by her husband and had nowhere to go, she agreed when Shakuni promised to give her a place in Hastinapur along with a lot of gold coins which would be enough for her livelihood.

"I- I brought them here with assurance of justice. So, I wanted to see to it. I was not interrupting your proceeding. I was just presenting my opinion on the matter." Shishupal said.

"That means you do not trust this court and doubt our opinions. That's why you by presenting your opinions." Rajkumari Shubhaprada said making it clear his opinions weren't welcome.

"Now anyone isn't even allowed to present opinions in your court Maharani Mangalya?" Shishupal asked in a defensive tone.

"It is allowed. But only when I permit. And I never heard you asking for permission Chedi Naresh. This matter doesn't concern you. It's the matter between Rameswara and Renuka. You shouldn't have brought them here promising justice if you didn't trust us to do justice. And if you do trust, then you should have waited first to see what conclusion we reach to and then if you felt it was not appropriate, you could have interrupted. But you didn't let us have a proper discussion even. What should I perceive from this action of yours?" Maharani Mangalya said. Shishupal was looking for a proper way to answer her and get out of this.

Poornima : "Nehi hai yeh (This is not-)"

Himani: "Aapman serf hamara (only insult of us.)"

Poornima: "Aaye huye atithi, (The guests that had come-)"

Himani: "Jo hai darsanarthi, (to watch the proceedings,)"

Poornima: "Aapman hai yeh unki bhi. (is insulted too by this.)"

Himani: "Jab unhone dia hai, (When they have given-)"

Poornima: "Samman hamare sabha ko, (respect to our court,)"

Himani: "To kyun na dia aapne, (then why didn't you-)"

Poornima: "Yohi maan haam sabko? (did the same?)"

Shishupal was confused about what exactly the duo said. He wasn't alone. Many of the onlookers were also confused.

"What was that?" Bheem asked confusingly.

"Rajkumar Dheemant ke baata huya kahani. (Rajkumar Dheemant's divided story.)" Arjun said.

"They are probably saying that Chedi Naresh has insulted the guests too by not respecting the court as the rest have." Sahdev said.

"Kya baat hai Sahdev! Tumhare liye bhi do dhundna parega. (Wow, Sahdev! Two will have to be found for you too.)" Arjun said making Sahdev's eyes widen in horror.

"Jiji's are absolutely right. You have insulted our guests too by this." Rajkumari Priyala said quickly to clear the confusion.

"No. No. I'm sure Chedi Naresh had no such intention Maharani. He never meant to come off as he was insulating our court or the guests by interfering and disregarding our rules." Drisana said with a sympathetic expression.

"Yes. Rajkumari is absolutely right. I had no such intention." Shishupal said quickly supporting her statement.

"Yes. So I think if Chedi Naresh apologise by folding his hands to you, we should all forgive him being generous." Drisana added with a smile. Shishupal glared at her listening her words. She wanted him to apologise to Maharani Mangalya by folding his hands in front of everyone? No way.

Drisana knew what was going on his head. She turned to him with smile in place and whispered, so only he would hear.

"Think carefully before speaking Chedi Naresh. If you don't apologise, then it will be taken as a clear insult not only to the court, but to the guests watching too." Shishupal was slightly shaking in anger. But it wouldn't be wise for him to drag this now. So he silently and slowly lifted his hands and apologised to Maharani Mangalya with lowered gaze.

"You're our guest Chedi Naresh and in consideration of that I forgive you." Maharani Mangalya said with a smile. It was done. No point in dragging it more. Chedi Naresh Shishupal stood apologising with folded hands in front of the women he came to insult. "As for Rameswara and Renuka, Rameswara's property and earnings will be calculated and half of it will go to Renuka. Not only that Renuka will get half of his monthly earning too and he or anyone else cannot abuse her verbally or physically. If such complaints are received, it'll be inquired. And Rameswara, if you misbehave with her again you'll be punished severely." Maharani Mangalya dismissed the court saying so. All the women left the court with their head held high while Shishupal stood seething in anger. Duryodhan was in a foul mood while Shakuni looked like he had tasted sour lemon. Well, at least Rameswara didn't blurt out anything. He was afraid for a while when that Dravidakumari was proceeding to light him ablaze.

"Rajkumar Nakul is rather brave and I'm lucky." Dhristyadhymn said.

"Why is that?" Balaram who heard him asked.

"He is taking that noose around his neck." Dhristyadhymn said giving a look to him. Balaram understood after a while and nodded awkwardly.

The men started to come down. Maharaj Drishadvat came to stand in front of Shishupal.

"How was the proceeding Chedi Naresh?" He asked smiling at Shishupal.

"It was good. I'll remember it my whole life." Shishupal said gritting his teeth.

"That was the point. So you never forget it your whole life." Maharaj Drishadvat said. "Remember, this is Dravida. There is no such a curse that can't be slashed or no such a boon that can't be broken." A clear threat that Shishupal's head might be safe with his boon, but other parts of him wasn't. His smile never wavered as Shishupal only clenched his fists and left.

"Well. That was.....great. Don't you think we should celebrate today Pitashree?" Dhritimat suggested. Vasudev, Balaram and Pandavs had also gathered there.

"I think you should rather prepare for exam." Daiwik said smirking. The rest of them were clueless.

"What exam are you talking about?" Dhritimat asked.

"What happened today in court?" Daiwik asked smiling sweetly.

"Justice." Dheemant said smartly. Daiwik gave a chuckle and said,

"Yes. Justice and also discussion on Ramayan. And how much Shree Rama loved Sita devi."

Everyone looked confused. Then it dawned on Arjun and Dwijendra simultaneously.

"Sabha mein Rameswara ne to agnipariksha nehi di, (Rameswara didn't give agnipariksha in court,)" Dwijendra started.

"Parantu patio ka prem pariksha abassha liya jayega. (But husband's will have to give test of love today.)" Arjun completed. All the husband's faces paled. Daiwik couldn't hold his laugh anymore.

"You're laughing too much. Your number will come too." Dheemant said sulking.

"No. I'll marry only the girl who will consider me God and listen to my every word." Daiwik said with attitude. Everyone's eyebrows reached their hairline hearing him.

"Are you sure, Rajkumar Daiwik?" Krishna asked with a mischievous smile.

"Of course. I've decided already." Daiwik said.

"Okay then. Tathastu. (So be it.)"

Rajkumar Dheemant looked around the chamber carefully. He sighed as both of his wives weren't in sight. Today he had stiffened when his wives had delivered a long speech which was absolutely right. But people tended to look at the way they spoke rather than what they said and made fun of them. He hated that. Himani & Poornima had lost their mother at the time of their birth. Having an absent father who didn't bother with their upbringing much, the sisters had stuck together and relied on each other for everything. They were rather naive and innocent for this world.

Dheemant never thought he would have more than one wife. Many Kings and Princes did that to make alliances or just because they could. But he and his brothers had watched how beautiful their parents relationship was and wanted something similar. Difficult situations did arise several times. But they found alternative and escaped narrowly. Like that time when after a battle Dwijendra returned with the Rajkumari of Utkala. News had spread like wildfire that Yuvraj had married the princess who had been given to him after winning the battle. Only to get dumbfounded when Dwijendra declared her his sister and arranged for her swayamvar after returning. The King of Utkala hadn't liked that, but more than alliances with other kingdoms, his children's happiness mattered to Maharaj Drishadvat.

Dheemant also hadn't liked it when both Himani and Poornima chose him at their swayamvar. It baffled him how the sisters could think of sharing him and be excited about it. He wasn't some saree or jewellery piece that they could take turns on. He soon got to know that they had decided prior to their swayamvar that they would chose the same groom together as they couldn't stay apart. They saw no fault in it as their own father had 37 wives. But soon they realised sharing a household and sharing a husband wasn't the same thing.

It had been a tough road at first to walk. But they adapted gradually. As the sisters were already tightly bonded, they feared more of losing each other than getting him. If he was with one, the other would interrupt not afraid of him getting more close to one of them, but rather the sister getting far from her. Dheemant was frustrated at first not understanding how to deal with them. But then he stopped considering them two and accepted them as one. Himani and Poornima eased after realising no one was going to separate them and loosened up slightly.

"Arya!" Himani and Poornima called him simultaneously.

"Yes?" Dheemant responded instantly alert.

Himani: "Arya, karte the kitna Prem, (How much love-)"

Poornima: "Shree Rama aapne patni se. (Shree Rama had for his wife.)"

Himani: "Karte hain aap bhi kya, (Do you also-)"

Poornima: "Prem waise hi hamse? (Love us the same way?)"

Dheemant gave a nervous chuckle. Well, the best way to protect himself would be to go into offensive than being defensive.

"I do love you both. But you both don't love me." Dheemant said making a crying face.

Poornima: "No. No. We do -"

Himani: "Love you a lot."

"No. You sent me to Chedi. Now do you realise what I must have gone through. But still I suffered silently. Only for you two and now you're accusing me I don't love you." Dheemant said faking hurt and anger.

"No. We're not-"

"Accusing at all."

"We know you-"

"Love us a lot."

"Then make my favorite food today and give this gift to Drisana." Dheemant said handing them a box.

Himani and Poornima both frowned and looked at each other. Last time Dheemant gave gift to Drisana after returning from Chedi, it contained mud and as soon as she opened the box, it got spilled all over her. Dheemant said it was special mud of Chedi that enchanted beauty.

"We won't -"

"Give it."

"Who knows what you've-"

"Stuffed in it this time."

"Okay. Now what can be done if you two don't love me? No need to give." Dheemant said sulking.

"We do love,"

"We'll give."

Himani and Poornima said reluctantly.

"Mitra?" Karna stiffened hearing the voice. He had returned with Subhadra at the Palace and was going to his chambers now.

"I'm sorry, Yuvraj. You're calling the wrong person." Karna said stiffly.

"Don't say like that Mitra. You don't know how much ashamed I am for my behaviour. Trust me, not a single word came from my heart that day. Anger consumed my ability to think. I'm sorry Mitra." Duryodhan said with emotion and came to stand before him.

"Why are you apologising Yuvraj? You said nothing wrong. It was me who forgot my place. But thank you for reminding me." Karna said not meeting his eyes.

"Please Mitra. You know you mean more to me than anyone else. Please forgive me this time. I know I've hurt you a lot and I'll accept whatever punishment you give to me. But don't take away my Mitra from me, please." Duryodhan said in a voice heavy with hurt and folded his hands pleading in front of him.

"Who am I to forgive Yuvraj? You're the one who gave me so much, whose debt I can never repay. You were right. I'm your servent and this servent of yours will always come whenever you call. You won't need to tolerate this soota as your friend for that." Karna said as his eyes glistened with tears and left hurriedly. Duryodhan kept looking at the way he went with guilt and hurt crushing him.

"Okay. Tara, do it." Drisana ordered Tara to open the box sent by Dheemant. Himani and Poornima stood beside her fidgeting nervously.

Tara looked helplessly at her for the last time before opening the box. As soon as the latch of the box was removed, the lid jerked open and hair was everywhere. Apparently Dheemant had stuffed the box full with hair and a spring mechanism attached at the bottom to make it spread everywhere. There was also a note in the box for Drisana saying, 'since you love hair so much, a small gift from your bhrata.'

"There is a familiar smell-"

"coming from the hair."

Himani and Poornima said taking some in their hand that had gotten over them too with Tara and Drisana. Drisana frowned at them while removing hair bits from herself.

"Mata!" The sound of Himani and Poornima's two sons were heard as they came running inside. Drisana, Himani and Poornima gasped looking at them.

Apparently to gift her hair, Dheemant had polished his four year old sons head.