"Kanha, why am--- I-- laughing so---- much?" Mahabali Balaram asked Krishna in between laughter.

"Pehle hi mana kiya tha itna sarbat mat pijiye. Aab bhugtiye. (I told you not to drink that juice. Now suffer.)" Krishna replied.

"Mujhe kya pata tha sarbat pine ka aisi parinati hogi. (How would I know this will be the result of drinking juice!)" Balaram said regretting but still laughing.

"Isiliye toh kehta hu Dau, kabhi kabhar meri baat bhi sun liya kijiye. (That's why I tell you to listen to me sometimes.)" Krishna said smiling mischievously.

"Aab iska koyi upay toh karo! (Now do something about this.)" Balaram requested.

"Aab mein kya kar sakta hu. Waise bhi hamari behen ka vivha hai. Haste huye hi byatit kare. (What can I do now? This is our sister's marriage anyways. So enjoy it while laughing.)" Krishna replied.

Here on the Mandap after the Vivah-Homa ritual, Nakul rose from his seat and sat facing Drisana for

This wasn't the first time Nakul was going to hold her hand. Drisana had given him the right and permission to hold her hand much before. But there was always hesitation and uneasiness inside Nakul. Even though they were spiritually one, they hadn't been one in the eyes of the society. He hadn't been able to give her the respect of being his wife and that used to sting him badly. In a society where even seeing a girl with a man was not taken lightly, it was a great disrespect towards her family to hold her without their consent and blessings.

But now, as Nakul held her right hand with his left one, there was no uneasiness inside, only the sensation of happiness and pride remained. This woman was all his and only he had the right to hold her, and the best part was no one could question them on it. Nakul's gaze was on Drisana's as he held her hand in a gentle but firm grip.

"With all my strength and resources, I have clasped this hand and thus united, may we be blessed with prosperity and follow the path of Dharma.

I accept you as my partner for life. I will not keep away even mentally anything from you. I will share with you all I enjoy and we will persevere in the path of virtue, surmounting all obstacles." Nakul said to Drisana who in return gave a soft smile, her eyes spoke of the adoration and respect she had for him.

As the ritual was completed, Maharani Mangalya came to assist Drisana for (stepping on the stone). As Drisana placed her right foot on the slab and the priest recited Mantras, her mother counselled her to prepare for a new life.

"Putri, life is all about ups and downs. If you want joys, then be ready to endure sorrows too. If you have prosperity, have the courage to face adversity too. If you expect good health, then learn to accept sickness too. Remember your relation is not only limited to your husband, rather you're getting a new family. In spite of the difficulties, your relation with them should be steadfast and true. Just like this slab of stone, your every relation needs to have strength and trust to flourish. And I have full faith that you will nourish those as such." Maharani Mangalya said holding her hand and supporting her. Drisana took a deep breath before nodding with determination.

Their mother-daughter moment was broken by a loud laughter. Several one was coming from various directions. Drisana blinked glancing around while a slight frown appeared in Maharani Mangalya's face. Of course, there should be laughter and enlightenment in a wedding, but this seemed a little too excessive. Both composed themselves and Drisana sat beside Nakul again. They looked at each other in question and confusion.

The Rajguru told Drisana to place the palms of her hands to Nakul's for the ritual of (puffed-rice offerings). As Drisana followed through, she muttered under her breath,

"Why are they laughing so loudly?"

"Pata nehi. Parantu hase yeah roye, vivha toh mein karke rahunga aaj. (I don't know. But either they laugh or cry, I will marry for sure today.)" Nakul muttered with determination. Drisana controlled her own laugh at that.

She concentrated on the ritual as parched rice soaked in ghee (clarified butter) was placed in their hands for ahutis (offerings). They offered it to the holy fire three times and with each offering Drisana prayed to Agnidev (fire God).

1st offering - "Agnidev, now that I am leaving my parents' home for my husband's, I pray that may God, the creator and sustainer of universe, He who binds souls, keep us perpetually united! Death will be merciful to me than facing separation. Bless us, so we never have to split-up."

2nd offering - "God, with all my heart and good deeds, I pray for Long life for my husband and for the prosperity of all our relations. Give me strength, so I do not fail to care and nurture them."

3rd offering - "With this offerings, I pray to you Lord, our love never loses its vibrance. Make the bond between us only grow stronger. Our strength, our trust may passes all your tests successfully."

"Anandh, how this happened?" Dwijendra asked to Anandini who was equally as anxious as him.

"I don't know Arya. Everything was perfect. I didn't know when Priyala made that." Anandini replied.

"Now remove the juice before anyone else drinks that." Dwijendra said sighing.

"Hatane ke liye kuch baca hi nehi, Arya. Sab pe gaye. (There's nothing left to remove Arya. They drank it all.)" Anandini said in distress.

"Jiji!!!" Himani & Poornima came together.

"Hai absist abhi bhi, (It is still left-)"

"Yoh dekhe Kumar Bheem, (look at Rajkumar Bheem,)"

"Le ke baithe hai teen, (he is sitting with three)"

"Peyale sarbat ka. (Glasses of that juice.)"

"We'll have to stop him." Dwijendra said frowning looking at Bheem's side table.

"Haan. Kahi unhone pe liya toh unki hasi se toh Mandap hi gir jayega. (Yes. If he drinks that and starts laughing, the Mandap will fall down from the vibrations.)" Dheemant said from beside looking at the same direction.

"Daiwik go." Dwijendra ordered.

"No, I won't. Bhrata Dheemant, aapka toh gurubhai hai na. Aap jaiye. (Bhrata Dheemant, he is your gurubhai (disciple of the same teacher). You go.)" Daiwik addressed Dheemant.

"Mera guru swayam waha has has k gir par rahe hai. Mein nehi jane wala. (My Guru is himself falling from laughing so hard. I'm not going to go.)" Dheemant said pointing at Balaram.

"Dheemant." Dwijendra gave a warning look. "Go."

"Fine. Parantu mein akale nehi jaunga sher k mukh se vojan chinne. Arthat ki, vrikodar k mukh se sarbat chinne. (But I won't go alone to snatch food from lion. I mean, snatch juice from Vrikodar.)" Dheemant said sulking.

"Toh aab kya sena bheje aapke saath, teen peyale lane k liye? (Then do you want an army with you to remove three glasses.)" Daiwik said smirking at Dheemant.

"Uski kya aabasakta hai anuj? Tum ho nah, akele hi ek Akshauhini sena k barabar. (What is the need for that anuj? When you're here, who is equal to one Akshauhini soldiers himself." Dheemant said with a sweet smile showing all teeth, making Daiwik's eyes round. And before he could protest Dheemant manhandled him towards Bheem.

On the Mandap, after completing the Laja-Homah, Maharani Devika came to do the . Drisana's dupatta was tied with Nakul's Angavastra placing a coin, flower, whole turmeric, durva grass and rice on it respectively symbolising wealth, happiness & auspiciousness, health, eternity and nourishment. Devika placed a hand on Drisana's head smiling warmly at her. Thus accepting and welcoming the new member of the family, Devika went back to her seat.

Here, Rajkumar Dhikshit was stuck between his bhrata Devyajot and Rajkumari Souparnika. She was continuously laughing and hitting on both of them and Devyajot was encouraging her by laughing along. Dhikshit gritted his teeth hard and prayed for patience. This red concoction seemed to have dulled their senses too. He needed to get out of here before busting. If it wasn't for their bro-code, he would definitely leave Devyajot with her to prey on. This woman!!! She didn't care who it was as long as it was a prince.

"Your muscles are so strong." Rajkumari Souparnika said with another giggle. Devyajot joined her and said,

"Yes, we exercise everyday to stay fit. Bhrata Dheemant and Daiwik bunks sometimes."

"Oh yes, that's why Rajkumar Dheemant is so bulky!" She laughed again. "And Rajkumar Daiwik! His body is so toned, I don't think it would hurt to skip exercise a few times." And she unsurprisingly giggled again.

'Really! Mata wants me to marry her!!!' Dhikshit thought.

"Nope. Skipping exercise is not good. Pitashree says so. I have not skipped exercise since I started training." Devyajot replied and gave a laugh at the end.

'Good going bhrata. Only if this could be seen by bhabhishree!' Dhikshit thought again.

As he was searching a way to escape, he found Yuvraj Dhristadhymn laughing alone. Ok. He needed to be Dheemant for a while.

"Yuvraj Dhristadhymn!!!" Dhikshit called him.

"Yes, Rajkumar Dhikshit?" Dhristadhymn asked giggling.

"I have called you to introduce to a special guest of ours." Dhikshit said with a fake broad smile.

"Accha! Kon hain yoh? (Really? Who is that?)" Devyajot asked from beside laughing.

"It's her. Surpanakha - Souparnika, I mean. Rajkumari Souparnika." Dhikshit said pointing at the Rajkumari.

"Rajkumari hain. (She's a princess-)" Dhikshit informed.

"Hain." Devyajot repeated with a short laugh.

"Saurashetra ki. (Of Saurashetra.)" Dhikshit said again ignoring him.

"Ki."

"Maharaj Surehsen ki aklauti putri hain. (One and only daughter of Maharaj Surehsen.)"

"Hain."

"Rajkumari? Yeh hain Dhristadhymn. (This is Yuvraj Dhristadhymn.)"

"Hymn."

"Yuvraj hain, Panchal ke. (The prince of Panchal.)" Dhikshit said emphasising on Yuvraj. That seemed to work as Souparnika shifted her gaze to Dhristadhymn.

"Ke."

"Yodha hai, veer hain, baalshali hai. (He is a warrior, brave and strong.)"

"Hain."

"Aap bartalap kijiye. Hum ek shan mein aate hain. (You guys talk. We'll just come in a while.)" Dhikshit said and hurriedly dragged Devyajot from there.

"Parantu ek shan to jane me hi lagenge na. Aayenge kab? (But one moment will go on leaving only. When will we return?)" Devyajot asked giggling.

After discussing a bit, Dheemant made a plan and approached Bheem from behind with a large plate of mysore pak (sweet).

"Rajkumar Bheem, I didn't get time to ask, how are you finding Dravida? Are you comfortable?" Dheemant asked making Bheem frown slightly. He immediately smiled not to appear rude, also the sweets held by Dheemant helped not to make him suspicious. So what he just ate, he could never say no to foods.

"Yes. I'm very comfortable. Dravida is really beautiful and the foods are too." Bheem replied. On the other hand both Arjun and Sahdev frowned with confusion. Yudhisthir found it odd too.

"Have you tasted these. These are called mysore pak. Very tasty sweets." Dheemant said holding the plate just above the juice glasses in a way so you can't see underneath. Just then Daiwik who was hidden behind Sahdev's throne, removed the glasses from underneath without notice. As Dheemant kept them busy some more in useless talks, Daiwik escaped.

He was taking deep breaths holding the tray of glasses when he heard Subhadra.

"What are you doing, Rajkumar Daiwik?"

"Nothing." Daiwik said with a forced smile.

"Juice! It's good that you're holding them. I was going to get some juice only." Subhadra said making Daiwik's breath hitch and before he could stop her, Subhadra had already emptied the glass. As Daiwik stood in shock, Subhadra took another glass saying it's really good. Daiwik came out of shock with Dheemant cursing him from behind and signing him to stop Subhadra. Just as Daiwik looked back at Subhadra, she placed the third empty glass on the tray.

"Dhannaybad Rajkumar (thank you). This juice was really amazing." Saying so Subhadra left.

"Murkh! Yeh kya kar diya? (Idiot! What have you done?)" Dheemant said coming close to Daiwik.

"Aab toh jo karna hai yohi karengi. (Now she'll do whatever she wants.)" Daiwik said gulping hard.

In Mandap, the priest told Nakul and Drisana to stand for . They both stood and shared a glance before they started walking around the holy fire. Drisana was ahead while Nakul followed her. Each Phera (circle) represents a promise made to each other and offerings were made after each one.

1st Phera - 'Dear Lord, we promise to lead our life according to your teachings and follow the path of righteousness (Dharma).'

2nd Phera - 'We will support each other in all our endeavours to pursue prosperity (Artha).'

3rd Phera - 'We will forever belong to each other and enjoy the bliss of companionship. (Kama)'

Nakul took the lead on the fourth Phera.

4th Phera - 'We will support each other and not be a hurdle in the path of finding spiritual salvation (Moksha).'

The last ahutis were given with the completion of Mangal Phera.

"Bataiye toh jara machli aakash mein kuy nehi urti? (Tell me, why fishes don't fly in the sky?)" Gandharraj Shakuni asked to Mahamahim Bheesmh. Duryodhan watched in utter annoyance. Karna closed his eyes. But that didn't save him from another of Gandharraj's lame jokes.

"Why?" Mahamahim Bheesmh, Gangaputra Bheesmh, Pitamah Bheesmh, asked giving a short laugh.

"Kyuki unke par nehi hote. (Because they don't have wings." And they started laughing like this was the funniest thing ever.

"Aab bataiye, hati aakash mein kyu nehi urte? (Now tell, why don't elephants fly in the sky?)"

"Kyuki unke par nehi hote. (Because they don't have wings.)" Mahamahim said being proud on giving the answer.

"Nehi, Mahamahim. Par hoga bhi to urenge kaise? Itne vari jo hote hai. (No. Mahamahim. How will they fly even with wings? They're so heavy afterall.)" Shakuni said and both of them started laughing loudly.

"Nakul ko mein chorunga nehi. Aur koi rajjya nehi mila use vivha ke liye. Bikshipt o ka mela hai yeh. Aur thori der yeh cala na, toh mein bhi bikshipt ho jaunga. (I will not spare Nakul. Didn't he get any other Kingdom for marriage. This is a mad house. And I will also go mad if this continues.)" Duryodhan said to Karna gritting his jaw hard. But Karna's attention was elsewhere. He noticed Rajkumar Daiwik stealing the juice glasses and later Subhadra drinking that.

'What's going on?' Karna thought to himself.