Alaknandha walked inside her chamber after a very tiresome day and found her husband waiting for her arrival. Unknowingly a smile appeared on her face liking how he waited for her. She liked his this side, caring and loving than his monstrous side.

Duryodhana sat on the bed seething in anger. The day could not get more worse than it already is. The arrival of pandavas itself had made him lose his mind and now the panduputr Nakul is after his wife. He didn't like way Nakul was gazing at Nandha during dinner.

His hatred for the pandavas has increased to another deathly level. He was lost in his thoughts when he suddenly sensed a presence near him, he looked up and found his wife looking at him with a sweet smile on her face.

"Why are you late, Nandha?" He asked standing up.

The smile on her face flattered seeing his cold expression. She gulped seeing his cold and distant eyes. She found herself getting scared under his intense gaze. She kept quite not knowing what to say. No words came out of her lips as her heart tightened in fear. Fear of his anger.

"I hate repeating myself Nandha. So its better you answer to my question. Why were you late?" He asked gritting his teeth.

"I...I.. mata....wanted to introduce me..me....to...the guests....who have....arrived today." She shuttered afraid that unknowing she may wake up the monster in him.

His eyes softened seeing her trembling form and cursed himself for making her remind of his evil side. His knew his anger was the main reason of downfall. All the hard work he had done after his marriage for her acceptance and love had crumbled down before him in mere seconds just because of his anger. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath controlling himself.

He slowly walked towards her and cupped her face. He could feel her uneven breath and understood her fear. She was visible trying to stop herself from trembling and was failing miserably. She wanted to move away from his hold but was afraid of its his anger.

Sighing softly he said, "I am sorry priye. I didn't mean to get angry and scare you. I was getting worried with you getting late. You see you never get late and this is the first time. Many unwanted and negative thoughts occurred in my mind. I am sorry priya."

Nandha's heart swelled with love at his words. He got worried for her. He was scolding her because he was worried for her and her safety. A small smile appeared on her face and soon her fear for him was replaced with her love for him.

"I am sorry arya I got you worried but mata was insisting me to stay with her and I lost track of time. But I promise it won't happen again arya. I am really sorry arya. Please don't get angry with me." She pouted.

"Its fine priye and I am not angry with you. Don't apologize, its not your mistake." He said pecking her pout.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her into a hug.

"I will change and come arya. Its quite late already. We should sleep." Nandha said parting from the hug.

He hummed in responce.

Soon both had changed into comfortable clothes and was ready to bed. Nandha kept her head on his chest while his hands were on her waist as he hugged her petty figure closer to his bulky body and closed his eyes.

"Nandha" Duryodhana called her after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes Arya." Nandha answered not lifting her head from his chest.

"Don't get attached to the Pandavas." The words were like a warning for her.

She hummed in response. She didn't ask why or asked any questions regarding his statement for which he was very thankful.

"Good." He said planting a kiss on her forehead.

And that was the last conversation they had that night. Within few minutes sleep engulfed the couple. The moonlight entered inside the room through the window silt and fell on the couple who were sleeping peacefully.

"Nakula please don't go. Please don't leave me." She begged holding his hands.

"I am sorry Nandhu but I have to go back to my kingdom. My mother and my brothers need me but I promise I will come back to you." Nakula promised.

"No no you will forget about me after going back to your kingdom and you too will leave me like my mata. Please don't go." A ten year old Nandha cried.

"How can you say like this Nandha? I am your best friend. I will never ever forget you. You will always be in my heart. Right now I have to go back it is necessary for my family. Please try to understand Nandha." He said desperately trying to make her understand.

"But-" She tried to speak but was cut off by him.

"No Nandha now, don't speak, just listen to me ok. You are my best friend Nandha and just because I am leaving to another place is not going to change that. We will always be in each others heart and mind and when I grow up I will return back to you, then I will take you with me to my castle and then no one will be able to separate us. Till then please wait for me." He said cupping her face.

"You will come back for me?" She questioned making him chuckle.

"Yes Nandha, I will come back for you and will take you with me." He said with a smile.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Nakul woke up from his sleep sweating heavily. His breathing was uneven as he sat up. He closed his tightly before opening it. A sigh escaped his lips and he wiped off the sweat off his forehead. He liked his dry lips trying to come in terms with the dream he had.

Its not the first time he was getting a nightmare, it had become more like a routine since he went to Panchal. Well you can't say its a nightmare its more like an old memory. This was the last memory that he had of Alakanadha before leaving to Hastinapur. He had not given much thought to it then but now he understand that it was a warning by nature to him. If only he had taken the sign serious then maybe he could have prevented this marriage.

Not even a day passed by for him without cursing the moment he decided to leave Nandha and come to Hastinapur. If he had not left her that day then maybe he would have been her husband instead of his cousin. She would have been beside him instead of Duryodhana.

All the dreams he had has turned into sand, which was blown away by the wind.

He had to let go of her without even getting a chance for a fight.

He was defeated even before the war could start.

But still a part of him had a hope. A silly hope that maybe one day she would come back to him. He knew he was doing a adharma by loving a married woman who is his own cousin brother's wife. Both his heart and his mind were not able to come in accordance with the thought of Nandha's marriage.

The selfish and the selfless side of his own self is induced in fight and he knows unknowingly he himself wished for the selfish side of him to win.

He don't want to lose Nandha.

He just can't.

Moreover he didn't like Duryodhana for his Nandha's husband. He might have let go of her if she had someone else as her husband. He would have consolded himself saying she has a better life now but now he can't do that. He knew how evil Duryodhana is. He feared for Nandha's safety. There is no guarrente that duryodhana won't hurt Nandha. He was the same man who had tried to kill his own family without any remorse and Nandha is just his wife after all.

That's when a sudden thought occurred to him.

'Is Nandha happy with this marriage?'

'What if this marriage is forced upon her?'

'Maybe like him she too was waiting, she too love him.'

Even if any one of this words is true then he would surely fight with everything in this world to keep her with him.

He will take her with him.