Dhikshit rolled his eyes as he came to meet Balaram and Vasudev. He came to see if they were comfortable or not and needed anything. But seemed he didn't need to. Yuvraj Duryodhan had taken it upon himself to look after them. Right then he was massaging Balaram's feet as he rested while Vasudev watched with an amused look.

"Duryodhan, you don't need to do this." Balaram objected again.

"No, Gurudev. Please let me. Serving you is a blessing for me." Duryodhan replied with a pleasant smile.

"Yes, Dau. Give him this opportunity." Krishna said smiling with mischief.

"I hope you're not facing any troubles here Mahabali." Rajkumar Dhikshit inquired gently.

"No. Not at all. What trouble can Dau have? In fact, I'm feeling I'm in Hastinapur and not Dravida by the way Yuvraj Duryodhan is personally looking after our comfort." Krishna said. Dhikshit suppressed his chuckle at that.

"Visit Hastinapur Vasudev. I'll clear your confusion. Moreover, no matter the kingdom, my Guru is always worshipped in my heart." Duryodhan said with his smile.

"I'm really pleased with your dedication, Duryodhan. Very few students nowadays pay so much respect to their teachers. I'm glad I have such a student who is among them." Balaram said.

"Dau, don't you think you should give some reward to your dedicated student?" Krishna suggested.

"You're right, Kanha." Balaram said liking the idea. "Duryodhan, I'm very pleased with you. Ask for something." Rajkumar Dhikshit frowned watching the exchange, especially Krishna's mischievous smile.

"What can I ask for Gurudev? I've everything with your blessing and God's grace. But if you really want to give something, then give your sister's hand in marriage to me" Duryodhan said slowly.

"Subhadra?!" Balaram asked with surprise.

"Yes, Gurudev. It'll be an honor for me if you consider me worthy of her." Duryodhan said. Balaram looked at Krishna who in return gave a blank look only.

"Look Duryodhan, I can not give you Subhadra's hand just like this. It depends on Subhadra who she wants to spend her life with and also Subhadra is dear to all our family members. I can't take the decision without discussing it with everyone, specially Pitashree." Balaram said finally. "But I promise, I'll talk to Pitashree about this. I'll be happy if Subhadra gets married to you."

"I understand and agree with you Gurudev. If you don't mind, can I visit Dwarka with you after this marriage gets completed? I would like to personally seek your Pitashree's blessing." Duryodhan asked.

"why not? That'll be great. Come with us." Balaram agreed.

Duryodhan nodded respectfully with a pleasing smile. He was sure of the alliance with Balaram on his side. Rajkumar Dhikshit watched them silently noting nor Duryodhan asked or said anything to Krishna, nor Krishna gave any indication of either objecting or agreeing.

♧♧♧♧♧

Drisana's henna was removed and lemon & sugar syrup was applied for better color. She cringed at the stickiness of it.

"Wow, Drisana. Your henna is so deeply colored. That means your Pakshipremi loves you a lot." Valandhara said teasing her.

"I don't need this to know that he loves me a lot. By the way, whose love your henna is symbolizing Dhara Jiji?" Drisana asked looking at her henna.

"Meri aisi kismat kaha jo koyi prem karne wala mile. Mujhe toh serf bheriya aur bhaaloo hi milte hai. (Where will I find someone to love me! I only meet wolves and bears.)" Valandhara muttered the last part with a sigh.

"What?" Drisana frowned at her.

"Nothing. Look at Subhadra. Her henna is so beautiful. Still, she's sulking." Valandhara said pointing at Subhadra who was looking at her hands with a sad smile.

"Subhadra, what happened? Don't you like the design?" Drisana asked.

"I do. But what's the use? The one who should see is not sparing me any look." Subhadra said making Drisana confused.

"What?" She frowned at Subhadra this time.

"Nothing. Look at Draupadi Jiji. She has made small bow designs in her henna. It looks cute. Why didn't I get that idea?" Subhadra said distracting her.

"Seems like Rajkumari Draupadi likes bows a little too much. I wonder why that is." Valandhara said teasing Draupadi. Draupadi blushed a little hearing her.

"What to do! They're my co-wives after all." Draupadi said making a sad face. The rest laughed hearing her. "Everyman keeps at least one co-wife ready for his wife."

"That's true." Shubhaprada agreed sighing. No one needed to ask who was hers. Books!

"No really. If someday Arya has to save one between me and his Gandhiv, I'm sure it's going to be his bow." Draupadi said making faces.

"Who is your co-wife Priyala Jiji?" Valandhara asked her sister.

"Knives." Priyala replied sulking indicating Devyajot's obsession with knives.

"Who is yours, Himani & Poornima bhabhishree?" Drisana asked laughing.

"Cats." They replied together. Dheemant loved his pets so much he had made hole in the door of his room so his cats could easily come to meet him.

"Anandini bhabhishree?" Drisana asked turning to Anandini.

"Map of Aryavart." Anandini answered nonchalantly. Dwijendra had one in his sleeping chamber too. Drisana chuckled with everyone else.

"Devika Jiji?" Draupadi called her in question.

"Indraprasth for now." Devika replied somewhat meekly.

"Drisana, do you know who is going to be your co-wife?" Valandhara asked with mischief. Drisana stiffened and turned to her slowly. Very slowly.

"Mirror." Valandhara started running immediately as Drisana screamed in frustration and everyone laughed.

"I'll break all the mirrors."

"No. No. Bhrata Arjun. Don't even think of it." Nakul said warning Arjun as he held a pillow in front of him to protect himself.

"Why not little brother? This is auspicious you know." Arjun said holding the bowl of henna threateningly. After they completed the rituals with Nakul and Kunti retired to her room, Arjun had gotten the brilliant idea of applying henna on Nakul.

"Yes, Nakul. Apply it. You'll match with Drisana more." Sahdev said teasing him. Nakul glared at him and threw the pillow at his head.

"Jyesth, save me." Nakul pleaded hiding behind Yudhisthir.

"Don't you have shame? You're going to get married and still you hide behind Jyesth." Arjun taunted him.

"No. I don't have." Nakul replied.

"Arjun, let him be." Yudhisthir said with a smile and Arjun sat down sulking. Sahdev saw Bheem was lost in thoughts while eating sweets.

"Seems bhrata Bheem is deeply thinking something. I wonder what it is." Sahdev said signing Nakul. Nakul got his meaning.

"He must be thinking about marriage." Nakul said.

"I'm not thinking about that Rajkumari Valandhara." Bheem said frowning furiously.

"But we didn't even take her name. I was talking about my marriage bhrata Bheem." Nakul said innocently.

"Yo-your marriage?" Bheem asked stammering. Yudhisthir shook his head smiling and Arjun looked with amusement.

"Yes. I thought you were thinking about the foods that are going to be served at my wedding. But seems you were thinking something else." Nakul said again.

"What? I was thinking that only. I wasn't thinking about my own marriage. That too with that ill-mannered Rajkumari." Bheem said with a grimace.

"Then why are you taking her name repeatedly, bhrata Bheem?" Sahdev asked matching Nakul's innocent expression.

"I'm not taking that Rajkumari Valandhara's name. You're taking her name. I understand everything. You're instigating me to take Rajkumari Valandhara's name, so you can tease me. But I won't take Rajkumari Valandhara's name. I don't even want to hear Rajkumari Valandhara's name. I will never marry that ill-mannered, rude Rajkumari. Get that through your thick skull." Bheem said in agitation and left with his plate of sweets.

"Aap samajh gaye na Jyesth? Bhrata Bheem Rajkumari Valandhara ke bare mein bilkul nehi soch rahe the. (You understood Jyesth? Bhrata Bheem was absolutely not thinking about Rajkumari Valandhara.)" Arjun said turning to Yudhisthir.

For the first time, Vrikodar Bheem was interested in some girl. He could refuse as much as he wanted, but his brothers knew him well enough. Regardless of his vow, if Bheem really wasn't interested, then he would have long forgotten her and the matter especially when there was a plate of sweets in front of him.

"I completely understood. But who will make him understand?" Yudhisthir asked looking at them.

Finally, the women ended their function as it got pretty late. Drisana came to her chambers tired and worn out. She was preparing to sleep when Tara entered and handed her a plate covered with some gifts and a letter. Drisana dismissed everyone and sat to read the letter.

My Hridaya,

This is the last night I'm only your lover. Tomorrow at this hour, I'll be your husband and you'll be my wife, bound for eternity in an inseparable and sacred bond. We both have waited long for this to happen. And finally our wait is going to be over.

There are thousands of yesterday that I passed with your thoughts and there are billions of tomorrows that I'll spend with you, but there is only one today and I will not let the day go by without showcasing my love for you Hridaya, without telling you how I feel about you each day.

My love is forever yours. Come rain and sunshine, I will treat you like my soul, always nourishing with love and care; and never let it get tainted, always protecting at any cost.

I will never let you stay a mile from me. Even if you are far away from me, you will never leave my heart even for a second. Because your love is the very breath that runs through my blood. My love for you will blossom until my dying days because I have felt purpose and I want to show you, love.

While I might not have the most tantalizing words at my disposal to express my love to you everytime, I promise I will manage these three words to let you know that my world revolves around you.

I love you, my Hridaya.

Drisana smiled reading the letter and kissed it while caressing the words written by her lover. She carefully kept the letter with the others sent by him that she had stored in a beautifully crafted wooden box. The box was also gifted to her by him. Nakul crafted it himself for his Hridaya. Beside it was the crafted sandalwood sculpture, the first sword made especially for her by him, the worn-out old satchel, and other items. All of them symbolizing the love and care showered on her by him.

Drisana removed the cover of the gift plate and there was a red dress with thread work of gold, a container of fragrance, kumkum, and kajal. A parchment was there with those things.

The red resembles passion, prosperity and courage. Tomorrow, you'll enter my life wrapped in red, with a bindi (red dot) on your agna (center area between eyebrows) which will resemble the wisdom that lies in you and the experiences that'll gather in concentration there. The Kajal will adorn your eyes to ward of evil eyes and the fragrance will welcome positive and auspicious aura.

Tomorrow, I'll see my wife welcoming me wrapped in my benevolence, with red bindi resembling her willingness and permission for me to share her wisdom and experiences, her eyes full of passion adorned with Kajal looking into mine and a smile playing on her lips while inhaling the fragrance of love.

Drisana's eyes glistened with both excitement and nervousness. The beginning of a new morning with your life partner always made every girl nervous. No matter how sure she was about her choices. The overwhelming feeling of both joy and sorrow engulfed her.

Tomorrow she would be given away in marriage by her parents. Her birth parents. And she would have both the happiness of having them beside her and the sadness of not having her adoptive parents there.

Tomorrow she would no longer remain Dravidakumari (the maiden of Dravida) and would become NakulaKalatra (wife of Nakul).

Tomorrow she would officially become Nakul's forever and receive the responsibility of becoming a daughter-in-law.

Tomorrow her identity of Arunika would be veiled with the one of Hridaya.

The question of either she could balance the two or one of the two get lost under the shadow of the other remained to be answered.

Yudhisthir was glaring at Devika as she was seated looking meek.

"You shouldn't tire yourself. You were supposed to be in bed long ago." Yudhisthir said again trying to make her understand the obvious.

"But tomorrow is the wedding and I needed to check -" Devika started.

"Someone else can always do the checking Davika, but no one can rest in your place so will stay healthy." Yudhisthir said while sitting beside her with a sigh.

"You worry unnecessarily, Arya. I'm so excited for tomorrow." Devika said keeping her head on his shoulder.

"Me too. But you need to be careful. Don't tire yourself by running here and there." Yudhisthir said kissing her forehead.

"Okay. Don't worry." Devika replied with a smile. "Arya?"

"Yes?"

"Dravida is so beautiful and unique. It's not like any other kingdom of Aryavart. Their culture, customs, thoughts everything is so different. They are more liberal and free-spirited." Devika said wondering.

"Yes. That it is." Yudhisthir agreed.

"And Drisana will want to bring changes in Indraprasth too." Devika said hoping it would be good. She liked the way Dravida's women held a strong position and not just remained in the shadows of the men. They did not hold the positions just because of their marital status, but responsibilities were also associated with those.

"Yes." Yudhisthir sighed. That was both good and bad. Yudhisthir knew Drisana was deeper than she appeared and she would stand strong with them. But her obsession with Nakul was something that made her reckless.

Too much sweetness also caused bitterness sometimes. Yudhisthir only hoped Drisana would know to balance out the sweetness, so it didn't cause any bitterness. Especially with Mata Kunti.

Drisana was a daughter in Dravida and received unrivaled attention and affection from everyone. But that wouldn't be the case in Indraprasth. Neither she would be the Maharani nor the only daughter-in-law, nor she would be the guest who Mata Kunti considered her daughter anymore. There existed a balance in the family that needed to be carried out. And if she stepped out and came forward, it wouldn't be long before she started to be the cause of bitterness for some.

And If that happened, either she would be pushed back or someone else would be put on the place she vacated to come forward.

That would be a disaster that Yudhisthir hoped Drisana would know to avoid.

Karna arrived late at night at the Palace. He had gone to the neighboring town to retrieve plates made of gold that was going to carry the return gifts of the guests. Rajkumar Daiwik had forgotten to get them earlier and Karna volunteered to help him. This also gave him the opportunity to stay away from both Rajkumari Subhadra and Yuvraj Duryodhan. Both had been hunting him like prey.

Rajkumari Subhadra wanted him to accept her as his wife. She was even ready to face everyone. But Karna wasn't ready to accept her. He still stood in his statement that Subhadra should have nothing to do with him. His reasoning was falling on deaf ears apparently.

On the other hand was Yuvraj Duryodhan. He wanted Karna to forgive him. Karna really had no grudge against Duryodhan. He had done a lot for Karna and even though his friendship was for his selfishness at first, he really considered him a friend later. But Karna didn't want to be dragged into his bitterness and dirty politics anymore. He had tried to stop Duryodhan from foul play and scheming repeatedly. But he continued with Gandharraj Shakuni's guidance. Karna had no reason to believe anything would change now.

"Vrisha! Where were you?" Subhadra asked coming from behind. Karna checked if anyone was around.

"What are you doing so late here?" Karna asked with annoyance.

"The function ended up late. where were you? I was searching for you for the last two days." Subhadra asked with a pout.

"Go to your chambers before someone sees us." Karna said and started walking without waiting for any reply.

"If someone sees us, then let them. I'm with my husband only. And you still didn't tell me where you were." Subhadra said matching his steps.

"Why should I tell you?" Karna asked rudely.

"I'm your wife Vrisha! Who else will you tell if not me." Subhadra said gasping dramatically.

"Will you please stop that. I'm not interested in being your husband. How many times will I have to tell you? Do you realize, how humiliating it will be for your family if someone saw or hear us?" Karna snapped at her.

"No. No. You are interested. You just don't want to take the responsibilities. You're running from them. As for being humiliated, we've done nothing that'll make them ashamed of me." Subhadra replied calmly. "Look at my henna. How dark colored it is. I didn't know you love me so much." Subhadra added with excitement.

"Look -"

"Later. It's pretty late. I need to go to sleep. I'll have to wake up early tomorrow for the wedding. Goodnight, Vrisha." Subhadra said and escaped before Karna could say anything else.

Merry Christmas guys!!!

How was my Christmas gift???😀😀😀