Drisana looked at the mirror as the final touches of her Shringar was done. Kajal was applied on her eyes. Bindi was made with kumkum and chandan. She looked at the deep red colour of her Mehendi (henna) and a small smile appeared on her face.

"Rajkumari, should I change the payal (anklets) now?" Tara asked from behind her. Drisana nodded with a huff. She was wearing her favourite pairs, given by Nakul.

As Tara sat down to change her Payal, she looked at her clothes. Her paridhaya was made of maroon red coloured cloth with peacock designs made with gold. The upper part was a plain cloth of the same colour. Her uttariya matched her paridhaya with intricate designs of gold. The dupatta on her head was made by her sister-in-laws (Himani & Poornima). It was beautiful indeed.

The jewelleries were made with precision too. Everything was made of pure gold with rubies, emeralds and pearls in them. Her Breastplate was her favourite one among everything. It was made on her requirements. The design was complicated and took a lot of effort to make it. Finally after four failed attempts, the jeweller got it exactly how she wanted it to be.

Drisana felt fabulous. But the problem was she felt she wore more than what she weighted. Even her payal was so heavy alone that it was a task to lift her feet.

How was she supposed to do all the rituals of the marriage with these things on. As she wondered those, Anandini came to check on her.

"Drisana are you re-" She stopped saying as her eyes fell on Drisana and her face turned grim a moment later.

"Drisana, you should have said something earlier if you didn't wanted this marriage." Anandini said confusing Drisana.

"But I do want to get married?" Drisana said looking at herself to see if anything was amiss.

"How will you? Rajkumar Nakul is going to drop dead at the sight of you." Anandini replied barely restraining her laughter.

It took Drisana a moment to understand that Anandini was actually joking. Really? She would have understood if it was Shubhaprada or Priyala. But Anandini? Really?

Everyone was busy at teasing her. No matter the topic, they somehow managed to drag Nakul in it. And here Drisana was hell nervous. So much that her palms were sweating too.

"Kya bhabhishree! Eha meri swash aatki pari hai aur aap... (what is this! Here my breath is caught inside and you are....)" Drisana muttered.

"Why? Why my ferocious sister-in-law is nervous?" Anandini asked coming closer.

"Ek to yeh abhusan aur pehnaba. Aisa lag raha hai jaise calti firti sone ki dukan hu mein. Calne se yaad aaya, mujse to cala bhi nehi ja raha hai thik se. Aagar yoha sabke samne gir pari toh? (These clothes and jewellery! I'm feeling like I am some jewellery shop. And I can't even walk properly in these. If I fall in front of everyone then?" Drisana said in frustration with a pout.

"Nehi girogi. Rajkumar Nakul hai nah. Yoh sambhal lenge tumhe. (You won't fall. Rajkumar Nakul will balance you.)" Anandini said with mischief.

"Bhabhishree!"

"Are mein gambhir hu. Unke rehte tum nehi girogi. Aur usse pehle hum sab hai na. Bina giraye poucha denge tumhe unke paas. (I'm serious though. You won't fall when he is there. And before that we're here for you. We will deliver you to him without making you fall.)" Anandini said smiling as she straightened the dupatta of her head. She noticed Drisana sat with a concerned and nervous face. Her posture was stiff. She had been like this since waking up this morning.

"What happened? Why are you worried?" Anandini asked gently.

"I- It's just - I'm going into a new family as a new member. There will be a lot of expectations. What if I - I disappoint them or make some mistakes?" Drisana said after sighing.

"But you already know them. You've stayed with them for years." Anandini didn't understand her reason of anxiousness. She wasn't going into a completely unknown environment.

"Yes. But at that time, there was no expectations, no responsibility. I stayed as Mata Kunti's daughter, as Jyesth Yudhisthir, bhrata Bheem and bhrata Arjun's sister. Nakul and Sahdev's friend. And also the time was different. It's just not the same with me getting married to Nakul and it has been almost six years now. Many things changed may be. People changed may be. I just -" Drisana started to rant.

"Drisana." Anandini interrupted in a gentle but firm voice. "If things changed you will adjust. We, women are born with this unique quality to adjust in a new environment when there is love. And you are lucky you won't be alone. Your husband will be right beside you. Very few girls get that fortune.

The man who waited for you for years, the man who went through your brothers silently, the man who have love and devotion in his eyes for you, that man would never let you fail."

Drisana smiled and nodded hearing her.

"Now be ready. Rajmata Kunti, Maharani Devika and Rajkumar Draupadi are arriving for the rituals." Anandini said.

Here, after getting out of the fire, Duryodhan, Karna and Dridhaksh had hurriedly got ready to go to the venue. The fire was put down in some time after getting Duryodhan out. All were instructed to keep quiet about the fire incident by Dridhaksh, not wanting to alert or worry anyone.

"Don't worry Rajkumar Dridhaksh. We won't want to mention this and worry everyone about Dravida's security and hospitality. After all, we are relative now. I also care about my son's (Nakul's) in-laws reputation." Shakuni had said folding his hands. Dridhaksh only gritted his jaw hard, not saying anything in reply of the taunt.

Now as Dridhaksh reached the venue, Dwijendra came to him.

"Any news on how the fire started?" Dwijendra asked. Only he was notified about it.

"Seems like the pot of burning coal was kept close to the curtain of the door without its lid. The fire seems to be started from there." Dridhaksh replied. As Dravida was at seaside, it became colder at nights sometimes. So, burning coals were kept in rooms for warmth. But why would it be kept close to the door and that too without lid?

"Yuvraj Duryodhan?" Dwijendra asked again.

"Fine now. But if we hadn't reached him on time, he wouldn't be." Dridhaksh informed. Duryodhan was in real danger today. They had reached just at the time to save him from burning alive and he was really unconscious.

Dwijendra thought carefully. Duryodhan loved himself more than anything. He wasn't suicidal and this wasn't an accident. So, who wanted Duryodhan dead? The suspicion would lead directly to Pandavs and Drisana. Both weren't involved. That Dwijendra was sure of. But Duryodhan or others wouldn't think so. This could be a disaster if not buried right now. But one question remained.

"Who could it be?" Dwijendra voiced it in a whisper.

After completing the rituals, Devika and Draupadi left Drisana and Kunti alone. Drisana got nervous again as Kunti looked at her with a hardened face.

"Putri, today you're going to get married to Nakul. A mother loves her children equally. But every child holds a special place in her heart. For me, Nakul is at the centre of my heart. My other sons are not wrong when they say Nakul is my favourite." Kunti said calmly. Drisana only stared trying to understand in which direction she was going with this talk.

"You know when he was small, I once fell sick. Arya was there, Madri was there, all his brothers were there to take care of me. But Nakul stayed with me all the time, even stayed awake the whole night sitting beside me. That is my Nakul.

Yudhisthir is respected for his righteousness. Bheem is admired for his strength. Arjun is praised for his skills. Sahdev is looked upto for his intelligence. But Nakul, he is only known as the handsome prince. Because very few people acknowledge the great heart he has. And even less value his empathy. That's what makes him a Bhisagvara (best of physicians). His ability to understand and share others feelings.

At the starting days when you left Hastinapur, he would look so forlorn and devastated. With time, he got hold of himself. And you know how that was? That was by portraying a false facade to hide his emotions." Kunti's eyes held the pain of those days as she talked. Drisana's eyes held unshed tears as she listened.

"My son has already suffered because of you. I know it was not your fault. You suffered too. But he suffered and the reason was you. I need assurance that it will never happen again." Kunti said in a firm voice.

"I assure you mata. It will never happen again. I will not let him get hurt if it's upto me." Drisana said looking at Kunti, so she could see the honesty in her eyes.

"Not like this. Give me a vow. That you will never leave Nakul's side. No matter what the situation demands." Kunti said.

Drisana thought for a moment. Not that she would ever want to be away from Nakul. But the situation might demand so. Again.

"I give you this vow." She said finally.

Two vows were taken. Clashing each other. No one knew what impact those were going to leave on several lives. Not Maharaj Drishadvat. Nor Rajmata Kunti. Both were only being overprotective parents.

If only they knew the consequences of those vows, those would have been never taken.

Duryodhan was very satisfied. Both of his missions were completed. Balaram was going to give him Subhadra and Karna was back with him. He was happy his Mitra forgave him. But he was concerned about the fire incident. He spoke the truth that he got drunk and unconscious. But he hadn't drunk so much to get unconscious. And the fire? How had it started? For now he left those thoughts as he reached the venue. Maharaj Drishadvat had made his daughter's marriage into a grand affair unnecessarily. Well, he couldn't complain as he benefitted from it. As he was thinking so, his eyes found Subhadra standing with Vasudev and his gurudev. She was different from his tastes. Small and delicate, also very outspoken. But not a bad deal overall.

"Mitra?" Karna called him. A genuine smile immediately made way to Duryodhan's face.

"Mitra Karna! You're looking rather handsome in these clothes." Duryodhan said. Karna only smiled in response, not saying that these were chosen and given by Rajmata Kunti.

"I actually came to talk to you. Are you okay?" Karna asked in concern.

"Yes mitra. What will happen to me when you're there." Duryodhan replied smiling.

"I will personally investigate about the fire. Inside the palace, the fire started when you were vulnerable. Was it just an accident?" Karna said thinking furiously.

"Leave that. No point in searching the ashes. If anything, I am glad it gave you back to me." Duryodhan said keeping a hand on his shoulder. "And besides we are leaving for Dwarka tomorrow."

"Dwarka?" Karna asked in confusion.

"Yes." Duryodhan replied looking back at the trio. Karna noticed this time where his eyes were. "To create a new alliance. To strengthen the relation between Hastinapur and Dwarka." Karna slowly felt a deep lodge forming in his stomach.

"Means?" Karna asked carefully.

"Mahabali Balaram has promised his sister to me. We're going to Dwarka for another marriage mitra. Vasudev Krishna's sister and my marriage." Duryodhan said smirking and staring at Subhadra.

"Subhadra." Karna said in a solemn voice.

"What?" Duryodhan asked in confusion.

"Rajkumari Subhadra is her name. At least know her name before marrying her." Karna replied calmly.

"What does it matter? She is Dwarka's princess that's all that matters. After going back to Hastinapur, we will celebrate two occasions. One of my marriage and alliance with Dwarka, and another is for your resurrection as Anga's King." Duryodhan said with a broad smile.

"Let me remain as I am mitra. Do not drag me into royal politics again. This is your mitra's request to you. I have never asked for anything to you. But today I am asking this." Karna requested gently. Duryodhan looked at him in concern, but nodded after a while.

On the other side, at a distance, Gandharraj Shakuni was busy to fulfil another of his nephew's whims.

"Pranam Kashi Naresh."

"Pranam Gandharraj." Maharaj Subahu replied in greeting.

"I didn't get a chance to talk to you properly. How are you?" Shakuni asked with his sugar-coated smile.

"Fine as always. In fact more than fine. Bohot prasanna hu. Aakher aaj meri aklauti bhanji ka vivha jo ho raha hai. (I am very happy. After all, my one and only niece is getting married today.)" Maharaj Subahu replied in a pleasing tone.

"Satya kaha aapne. Prasannata ki toh baat hai. Mein bhi bohot prasanna hu. Mere bhi vhanje ki shadi jo hai. Aayye, dono mamashree mil kar esh Prasannata ka aanand uthate hai. (You're right. It is a matter to be pleased. My nephew is also getting married. Come on, let us, both uncles be pleased together.)" Shakuni said making Maharaj Subahu laugh.

Though Shakuni kept laughing and conversing, his mind was on the fire incident. He lost his breath for once there when the fire had almost reached Duryodhan. He couldn't comprehend how this happened. But because of this wedding, he couldn't investigate. He had kept it from Mahamahim Bhisma for now. The smoke coming from the fire smelled of conspiracy. Duryodhan's biggest enemy was Pandavs. But Shakuni knew those righteousness fools would never attempt something like this. Then who could it be?

"Gandharraj, where are you lost?" Maharaj Subahu called him.

"Nowhere. I was just thinking how fast time flies by. Children become adult. Your daughter is also married, right?" Shakuni feigned ignorance.

"Yes. My daughter is married to Rajkumar Devyajot. It has been years. They even have a daughter." Maharaj Subahu replied with a smile.

"Rajkumari Priyala, right? I know about her. I was asking about the other one. Rajkumari Valandhara." Shakuni stirred the topic to his intended destination.

"No. She is still unmarried."

"So? Have you thought about her marriage?"

"Though a lot of proposals are coming, but I find them unsatisfactory. I'm thinking though."

"Why are you worrying so much Maharaj? Arrange for a swayambar. All the qualified grooms will be present to marry Kashikumari."

"That's what I was thinking too. But I am worried. Rejected warriors don't react well." Maharaj Subahu said in concern. He had that experience in Priyala's swayambar.

"Now, where there is strength, there is win. If they are not strong enough, then what can you and I do? Let's do one thing. Keep a gadayudh (mace fight) competition on the swayambar. Announce it. Then only whoever is interested in participating will come and the winner will get Rajkumari. No argument will arise as it will be a fair chance for everyone." Shakuni suggested sleekly.

"You're speaking truth. I will think about it after returning to Kashi." Maharaj Subahu said finally considering it.

Nakul : yeh annaay hai... (this is unjust.) (Pouting)

Me : kya hai? (What?) (Frowning)

Nakul : annaay..... (unfair.)

Me : yoh nehi, annaay kya hai? (Not that, what is unfair?)

Nakul : Drisana ke liye aak aak cheez cun cun k nikala. Or mein kya pados se aaya hu? (You chose everything with precision for Drisana. What about me? Have I come from the neighbourhood? )

Me : nehi. Tum Madri se aaye ho... (No. You've come from Madri.)😎😎😎

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