It took me a long time to digest that she willingly volunteered for that. Because the woman who left everything and became a hermit at the end, couldn't be afraid of anything. She could have left her father's house or married the first king leaving Galava on his own. The question is why she didn't?

And that's the conclusion I could reach to. For others satisfaction she sacrificed herself. So I presented that thought through Priyamvada. I know it's hard to accept. But it was how it went at that time.

😂😂😂

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Drisana was going to her room with a gloomy mood. Her family had tried to lift her mood in vain. Maharani Mangalya turned the topic to Dheemant unable to bear the thought of Drisana going away.

"Ise dekho. Putra veer hote hai, mahaveer hote hai aur mera yeh putra baalveer hai. (Look at him. Sons are brave, valiant and my son is barber.)" Maharaj Drishadvat said in an attempt to make Drisana laugh.

For now Dheemant got the punishment of refraining from sweets. He couldn't touch any until Maharani said otherwise. Considering how much a sweet tooth Dheemant had, it was a serious punishment. Himani & Poornima had also stopped talking to him until their sons hair came back. Dheemant received a glare, two actually from his wives when he mentioned he did indeed gave back their hair.

Someone pulled Drisana suddenly making her stumble and she fell right on a hard chest. She lifted her head to see it was Nakul. The usual smile that adorned her face at his sight wasn't there. Nakul immediately picked up on her sadness.

"What happened Hridaya?" Nakul asked cupping her face. Drisana only shook her head in negative and hid her face in his chest. Nakul held her and caressed her back gently. Then he picked her by her waist and took her near the fountain. While he sat with her in his lap, Drisana was still hiding her face in his chest.

"I don't want to leave Dravida." Drisana whispered not lifting her head. Nakul frowned for a while trying to decipher her meaning. Then he understood what was the matter. She wanted to marry him and go to Indraprasth, but she didn't want to leave her family. It was the sad reality of every girls marriage. They had to leave their maternal home and family behind to move into a new one. He knew how attached Drisana was to her family, how much she loved and cared for them and how much difficult it was going to be for her to leave Dravida.

"I'm sorry Hridaya." Nakul said placing a kiss on top of her head. He felt wetness on his chest. The thought of her tears caused a sharp pain to throb inside him.

"I wish there was some way to avoid this. But unfortunately there isn't. I am so sorry."

Drisana had gotten attached to her family so much in such a short time. No one could say watching them that she wasn't brought up here. She didn't even have the pleasure of growing up here among them and now just after spending a short time she had to leave. Nakul sighed heavily. Drisana lifted her head after sometime.

"Well, we can reverse the tradition." Drisana said looking at him. Nakul blinked at that. "You can stay here instead of me going to Indraprasth." Nakul blinked a few more times.

Well. For one his brothers needed him and he couldn't stay apart from them.

Okay, he could sacrifice for his Hridaya.

But what about her brothers? They would turn him into a spinning top.

Drisana watched as Nakul's face lost colour gradually while thinking how to respond.

"I was joking Nakul. Look at your face." Drisana said laughing at him. Nakul released the breath caught inside. "And my brothers are not so bad."

"Nope. Not at all." Nakul said smiling sweetly. Drisana narrowed her eyes at him.

"Just promise me one thing. You'll bring me here whenever I want. You won't make excuses." Drisana said looking at him hopefully.

"That's a bit difficult." Nakul said looking contemplative. Drisana slapped his shoulder hard.

"Okay fine. Don't murder me. I'm not even married you know." Nakul said with a teasing smile.

"Yes. I know. Now give it." Drisana said forwarding her hand.

"Well. Come with me." Saying so he took her to their place. To the backside of the palace garden under that Nandi flame tree where they met numerous times. There was a lamp lightened, kept in one tree branch. He took that and lightened several more. It looked beautiful with several lamps kept on different tree branches. He then stood behind her and kept his hands on her shoulder. She looked at him to see him staring at her with love. The light of the lamps reflecting on his eyes.

He took her open hair and braided it. Then he adorned her hair with Keshapasharachana (hair adornments that the bride wears along her braids) made of flowers of gold and rubies. He turned her to him. Drisana looked at him while he placed a nose ring on her left nostril. His fingers slightly brushed her face making her close her eyes as a shiver ran through her.

Nakul smiled looking at her closed eyes. He moved closer to her. So close that she could feel his breath falling in her face. Drisana's hands clutched her uttariya tightly when she felt his hands on her bare stomach. Nakul kept looking at his Hridaya's face which had a flush of shyness and anticipation. Her eyes remained tightly closed as he clasped the Kamarbandh (Waist Accessories) on her waist. Drisana opened her eyes feeling its weight. But she couldn't remove her eyes to check as those fell on his. He held her eyes captive with his face inches apart from hers. Both got lost in the intensity of their feelings and the sensational surrounding created by the dancing reflection of the lightened lamps. Nakul closed the distance between them and gently placed his lips on just the corner of hers. Drisana's hands automatically landed on his arms holding onto him. They remained like that for a few moments with breaths mingling with each other and feeling the closeness and sensations.

With much dificulty, Nakul lifted his head and took deep breaths to calm his erratic heartbeats. With each intake he could smell her, feel her. The feeling was addicting and so easy to get lost into. But he held himself back tightly and released her. Taking a step back, he finally looked at Drisana's face. She wasn't faring any better. Both of them stared at each other for a long time, before he took her hands in his and held them close to his heart sighing.

Drisana was going back to her chamber with a smile and a slight blush on her face. But it didn't last for long as Dhristyadhymn came in front of her. He had been searching for an opportunity to talk since he came here.

"Where is it?" He asked without wasting time in small talks. Drisana looked around to see if anyone was around and signed him to come to a more secluded area. The last thing she needed was for someone to hear them.

"Wherever it is, it's safe." Drisana replied stilling herself. She knew Dhristyadhymn wasn't going to be subsided so easily.

"But the problem is, it's not with me yet." Dhristyadhymn said rudely.

"It will be when you pay the right price." Drisana said casually.

"I've already paid the price. Don't forget. Sending my spies in Hastinapur and risking myself by going to Magadh, was it. Now it's your time to keep your word." Dhristyadhymn said impatiently.

"I don't think so Dhristyadhymn. Going in a dangerous area of the mountain and facing a bunch of Pisachas can't be paid back so easily." Drisana said giving him a sharp look. Dhristyadhymn was surprised. He knew there was going to be some danger. But not what she said.

"Look Drisana -"

"You look Dhristyadhymn. That was not worth what you did for me. Did you deliberately do it? You knew there was Pisachas and still send me there." Drisana said in anger.

"Wait. I had no idea about the Pisachas. And I didn't want you to go there alone. I, myself wanted to go with you. So, don't blame me." Dhristyadhymn defended himself fiercely.

"I will blame you. Because of you I had to go there and I wasn't alone. My brother, bhrata Dridhaksh was with me. Thankfully we returned back safely. But that doesn't mean I forgot what we went through." Drisana said back matching his tone. Dhristyadhymn finally understood why Rajkumar Dridhaksh was giving him death glares.

"I also risked -"

"You didn't risk yourself solely for me. Don't forget if you didn't then your sister will be a widow by now. I know you don't much care for your siblings. But Panchal will also have lost Rajkumar Arjun and that's an ally neither you nor Maharaj Drupad wants to lose. So don't try to teach me the calculation Dhristyadhymn." Drisana said in agitation. She knew the kinds of him well enough. Dhristyadhymn only glared at her unable to reply as her words rang true.

"I'll keep my word. I'll give you the Pasha. But when, that's upto me. And don't do anything foolish. Bhrata Dridhaksh is barely restraining himself as it is." Drisana said calmly.

"What do you want now?" Dhristyadhymn asked gritting his jaw hard.

"Now, don't be so angry. I'm not that bad you know. I've the perfect plan for you." Drisana said smiling at him as he narrowed his eyes.

Drisana groaned internally as she saw Duryodhan blocking her way. What the hell would it take to go back to her chambers without bumping into anyone else? Duryodhan had watched her with Dhristyadhymn and as he was already sour with the court incident thought to block her for a chat. He was heavily intoxicated too as to down his anger he released his frustration by consuming alcohol.

"Wow. I have to admit. You know full well how to trap men, don't you?" Duryodhan said smirking at her.

"Watch it Yuvraj Duryodhan." Drisana said gritting her jaw.

"No. Really. I'm admiring you actually. First the five Pandavs, then Vikarna, then mitra Karna, then Dhristyadhymn. How many more have you trapped in your web?" Duryodhan said vehemently. Drisana took a deep breath to calm herself. She didn't want to create a scene with an alcoholic just a few days before her marriage in a palace full of guests.

"You need to go back to your chamber, Yuvraj. Don't create a scene here." Drisana said and tried to sidestep. But Duryodhan held her hand tightly refusing to let her go. Guards were around them by then. One of them was going to inform someone, probably one of her brothers. But Drisana stopped him.

"You witch! Because of you I was humiliated. You snatched my Mitra from me. What do you think? I will let you live in peace? Never. I will ruin you. You whore!" Duryodhan shouted. But in the next second a slap landed on his face with a loud resonating sound. Duryodhan looked confused for a few moments and then realised he had received another slap from Drisana.

"You!!!" As Duryodhan raised his hand to hit her, he stopped with a hiss as Drisana's dagger cut through his palm in mid air. The guards around were too shocked to react. They stood surrounding Duryodhan with raised weapons immediately. Duryodhan was glaring at her with eyes red in anger. His senses coming back.

Gandharraj Shakuni had also arrived at the scene to watch his nephew getting slapped. He closed his eyes in frustration. These fools couldn't even follow one single plan accordingly. He couldn't keep to himself and do what Shakuni asked. But he was sure going to whine about this now. For the first time he agreed with Drisana slapping his nephew. He himself wanted to beat that idiot.

"Rajkumari! I'm so so sorry about this. My nephew is not in his senses. Please forgive him." Shakuni said coming to stand before Drisana. He only hoped this wouldn't get back to anyone. They were dead if anyone heard of this. He saw Drisana stopping the guard from going. So he assumed she also had no wish to drag this.

Drisana stood calmly staring at Gandharraj which made him nervous in turn. She didn't want anyone to know about this too.

Firstly, Duryodhan had watched her with Dhristyadhymn. She didn't want to lie in answer to why she met him.

Secondly, she wasn't supposed to roam around the grounds without guards or dasis. That order came from Maharaj Drishadvat himself. He was well aware of her habit of roaming around unguarded and unobserved. But with so many guests and enemies under the same roof, he had ordered her not to do that.

Thirdly, people loved to talk. With her marriage so close, roaming unguarded and meeting Princes accidentally would be looked scornfully. She didn't care about their scorn that didn't mean she was eager to be subjected to it or wanted her family to go through it.

Fourthly, this mess would lead to a commotion between Hastinapur and Dravida. She had no doubt even though Pitamah Bhishma would be furious and ashamed at Duryodhan's actions, he would also want to take him back at Hastinapur in one piece. Meaning while her brothers would be after his head, Pitamah would stood in between and ultimately leave Dravida with this idiot without attending the wedding.

Fifthly, this would sour everyone's mood and dampen the vibe of her wedding. In her opinion, Duryodhan wasn't worth it.

"Rajkumari -" Shakuni started to say as Drisana only stared at him without any expression. But stopped as she signed him to be quiet with a raised hand.

Shakuni had handled mighty Kings and warriors without blinking an eye. His cunning head had never been defeated before. But this girl made him nervous. She defeated him for the first time. Her wisdom challenged him for the first time. Shakuni met someone who did follow Dharma but not blindly like others for the first time. And for the first time he met a opponent who knew to twist words and rules just like him.

"Handle this donkey of yours Gandharraj. Otherwise next time, it wouldn't be his hand that gets cut." Drisana said coming closer to him so only he could hear. "You have forsaken Gandhar for Hastinapur. It'll be of great regret if neither remains. And don't doubt me. I know myself." Drisana said smiling at him. Shakuni stilled as her threat sank into him. No, he didn't doubt her. This girl held the power of both defending and destroying.

Shakuni took hold of Duryodhan and forcefully dragged him from there. Drisana waited for them to be gone and then left ordering the guards,

"Not a word of this reaches anyone else. Or I won't ask who it was before beheading you three."

Drisana knew words would still reach Dwijendra. Nothing happened in this Palace without him knowing. But Dwijendra was also calm headed enough to think before acting.

Drisana sighed thinking,

'Can't a girl have a simple wedding without drama???'