The royal family of hastinapura stood at the entrance of the palace as they anxiously waited for the arrival of the pandavas. With the passing of time most of them were anxious and excited. A part of the family were glad and happy for the arrival of the pandavas while the other part were feeling the old hatred rushing back in their veins.

Soon the galloping sound of the horses were heard signaling the arrival of pandavas. Smile spread across the faces of some while some faces darkened with hatred. Soon enough the entire family of Pandu stood in front of the palace of hastinapur.

"Putri Alakanandha here take this taal and do the arthi and welcome them in." Gandhari said forwarding the arathi taal.

"Mata how can I?" Nandha asked nervousness clear in her voice.

Why not after all this was the first time she is meeting the family of pandu, who are in a way as important as her husbands family and she didn't want to start by making a bad impression on them.

"Putri you are the eldest daughter-in-law of Kuru family and hence its your right to do the welcome of the new bride. Don't be nervous putri. They are family." Gandhari encouraged her.

Nandha looked at Duryodhana, who was watching the conversation between his mother and wife with a frown on his face. She could clearly understand that her husband was not pleased with his mother's words but decided not to say anything. Hesitating slightly she took the aarathi taal in her hands and moved forward towards the pandavas.

Nandha passed a small yet beautiful smile to new comers. She took the arathi of Kunti and the pandavas. She did the grahapravesh rituals for draupadi. While doing the arathi of pandavas, her eyes unknowingly locked eyes with the elder madraya. A spark of recognation flashed before their eyes.

'You are my best friend Nakula.'

'Please don't leave me Nakula.'

'You will always be my best friend Nakula.'

'I will never forget you Nandha.'

'I will come back for you Nandhu.'

'I will always be there for you Nandha.'

Both of them felt their heart beat rising as they continued to stare at each other. Atlast Nandha turned her face away feeling uneasyness creep in her heart. Nakul felt his breath hitch as the sweet memories of his childhood flashed before his eyes. He averted his gaze away from Nandha as he tried to calm is heart beat.

This small exchange between them were noticed by Shakuni and Duryodhana. Shakuni smirked evily seeing the exchange between these two. His evil mind waved a wonderful plan to destroy the pandavas. And for his this plan all he required to do is fuel the fire of jealous and hatred in the mind of his nephew using Nandha and Nakul.

Whereas Duryodhana clenched his fist trying to control his anger. He definetly doesn't like the way Nakul was looking at his wife. He was already disappoined with his mother's talk and now this Nakul is only making the things worse for him. He didnt want lose his calm and create a scene in front of his wife otherwise he himself don't know what he would have done to Nakul for looking at what is his. Nandha is his and he won't let anyone snatch her from him.

"Tatashree this is Draupadi, daughter of Panchal naresh draupada. Our Arjuna's wife." Kunti introduced Draupadi to the kuru family. Draupadi folded her hands in a greeting manner.

"Even though I cannot see you putri, I know your must be unequalent enough to capture the heart of pandu putr Arjun." Gandhari said carssing her face.

Soon the family of pandu were welcomed in and were guided to their respective chambers. No one dared to speak other than for the usual greetings between them as each was afraid for the outcome of their own words.

Before departing from there Nakul looked at the Nandha who was standing beside Duryodhana. Different thoughts clouded his mind. He felt uneasyness creep into his heart at the sight of them together. He shook his head and walked away with his brothers.

The entire men of kuru family were sitting and having their dinner while the women and daasis were serving the food. Only the sounds of the moving vessils were heard in the dinning hall. Nandha like an obedient wife was standing beside Duryodhana taking care of his needs.

"Putr Dhritarashtra, I was thing to organize a grand cermony for officialy welcoming of the two new Kulvadus of the kuru family. What do you think about it putra?" Bishma asked breaking the silence in the dinning hall.

"Thats a good thing Tatashree even I was thinking about it. Let both Alakanandha's and Draupadi's welcoming ceremony be held together. Let's not delay it further." Dhritarashrtra said making everyone smile.

"Ok then I will ask for the rajpandit for an auspicious date for the welcoming ceremony then." Bishma said.

"Yes Tatashree." Dhritarashtra nodded.

With this the conversation between them came to an end. One by one the men finished their food and retreeted back to their rooms.

"I will be waiting for you in our chamber for you. Come fast." Duryodhana whispered to Nandha before leaving from there.

Nandha nodded, her looking down blushing at his words.

With only the pandavas remaining, the four women sat down to have their food. Nandha sat beside Gandhari opposite Draupadi and Kunti. The pandavas were sitting on either sides of Draupadi and Kunti.

"Jiji you didn't introduce your daughter-in-law to me till now." Kunti pouted making Gandhari chuckle.

"Oh Kunti I was going to but you were busy settling down. So I was thinking to introduce her tomorrow." Gandhari replied with a chuckle.

"No need of this formality jiji. You could have introduced her to us the moment you entered here." Kunti said shaking her head.

"Now Kunti don't be upset, I am introducing my first daughter-in-law, Alakanandha, daughter of Maharaj Amerendra, rajkumari of Amernath. And my beloved son Duryodhana's wife." Gandhari introduced them.

Nandha folded her hands before Kunti with a smile gracing on her lips. Kunti looked at her and recognation flashed through her eyes. She peeped at her sons who were eating through their lashes quickly and understood their thoughts as the same expression of recognisation flashed through their faces. She looked back at Nandha and passed her a genuine smile.

"Your daughter-in-law is beautiful jiji, like an apsaras from heaven." Kunti said truthfully. She hided her thought behind her smile.

"I know Kunti, after all she has taken after her mother, Yuvrani Niyathi. Beautiful, gracious and innocent." Gandhari said patting her hair.

Nandha just gave a small smile to them. She felt a bit weired with the way Kunti looked at her. She looked somewhat familier to her but was unable to recognize her. She shook her head trying to ignore the feeling and concentrated on her food.

The two eldely women continued to catch up the lost days forgetting about all the bitterness their children has towards each other while Nandha and Draupadi silently completed their foods. Pandavas too one by one finished their food and left to their chambers.

Nakul too got up and was about to move out when his eyes went towards Nandha, who was sitting beside Gandhari. He looked at her with an unknown emotions. He felt his heart breaking hearing the words of Gandhari. Now he understood why he felt familier after seeing her. Why he felt his heart beating faster than usual. Why he hated seeing her with his cousin brother. Now he got the answer to all his questions but the answers were like applying salt to his wounds.

"The girl he fell love with is now his brother's wife. The girl he wanted to spent his life with is now someone else. The girl he wanted for himself now can never be his. How cruel is his fate?" He thought to himself bitterly looking at Nandha.

He looked at Nandha one last time before walking out of the dinning hall with a heavy heart.