Dawn sent shimmering rays over the placid river, bestowing a golden path from the shore to the horizon. The sky has softened to a blue and the clouds are blushed like a new bride. The air is delicate and cool to kiss the skin with moisture. The atmosphere was so refreshing and pleasant. New day came with new hopes and expectations for everyone.

Duryodhana observed the beauty sleeping on his chest with a smile. He still couldn't believe everything that happened these few hours were not just a dream but rather the reality. He couldn't understand how he was able to get her to love him. He was a monster and everyone one was aware of that still she had the courage to love him.

'She was the angel who dared to an devil like him with all the darkness around him.' He thought to himself with a smile.

A few strand of hair fell on her face disturbing her sleep. He slowly brushed the strands of hair from her face. He fingers gently brushing on her cheeks making a smile to appear on her face. His traced his thump over her swollen lips. He still can't believe he had marked her his. Whole of her belongs to him and him alone.

All the doubts he had on her faded away the moment she confessed her feelings for him. How can he even doubt this innocent woman lying on his chest would be capable of doing something like his mamashree has suggested. His Nandha is pure and virtuous. She would never do something which would hurt him.

Her body, her soul and her mind only belongs to him and he will destroy everything that came between him and her. Looking at her delicate figure he vowed silently to protect her from every harm that might befall on her but he forgot he would never be able protect her from his demons.

Nandha woke up with a smile on her lips. Last night was one of the most memorable night in her life. Yesterday night she submitted her completely to him. Yesterday he not only marked her body but also her soul as his. She couldn't fight the smile that came on her face.

She felt a familiar pair of hands warping themselves around her naked waist pulling her body closer to his. Her brown orbs met his hazel ones which held so much love in them for her. She could feel the warmth of the blush as it crawled up her neck as thought about last night.

"Priyee please don't look at me and blush like that, I might end up making love with you again." Duryodhana whispered huskily making Nandha turn bright red. He chuckled making her bury her face in his chest.

They laid in each other's arms soaking in their wrath of love. A peaceful silence engulfed the couple while each other's hearts spoke.

"Aryaa we should get ready. It is past dawn, if we didn't get up now then we both will be late for breakfast." Nandha whispered lifting her head from his chest.

"Lets be late for one day, Nandha. I don't want to leave this bed nor my beautiful patni today." Duryodhana said pulling Nandha towards himself.

"Aryaa you can be on the bed till you wishes to get up but I have to leave soon. Maaji has asked me to assist her in planning the upcoming function, so I have to leave now." Nandha said trying to push Duryodhana from her.

"What will I do all alone on this bed without you? Even I'm getting up." Duryodhana groaned getting up while his hands were still wrapped around her waist.

"Aryaa leave me. I have to take a bath and with your hands around my waist, I'm unable to move." Nandha said gesturing to his hands wrapped around her waist.

"I don't feel like leaving you so why don't we take a bath together, darling?" Duryodhana asked making her blush.

"Aryaa we will be late." She mumbled looking down blushing.

"If taking a bath with me is going to slow you down, then let it." He said lifting her naked body in his arms as the duvet slid off.

Nandha buried her face in his chest feeling shy while Duryodhana chuckled as they walked towards the bath chamber. Soon the chamber was filled with soft moans and groans. They cherished their love not knowing soon their happiness will soon be crushed as their love and trust for each other would be questioned.

"Mamashree I told you, you might have misunderstood the situation that day. My Nandha would never cheat on me. She loves me too much to even think about betraying me." Duryodhana said calmly.

"Putra Duryodhana just because she told you she loves you doesn't mean she loves. I have seen Alaknanda and Nakul together not once putra and that too not in the best state to be seen." Shakuni said in a calculated voice.

"Mamashree I have already told you, you might have misunderstood their state. Moreover Nandha has only met Nakul only a few days back. My Nandha will never cheat me." Duryodhana argued.

"Putra Duryo-"

"About which Nandha and Nakul are you guys talking about?" A voice asked interrupting Shakuni.

"Jayadratha!" Duryodhana exclaimed surprised.

"Pranipaat Gandharaj Shakuni! Pranipaat Mitra Duryodhana!" Jayadratha walked towards Shakuni and took his blessing. He then turned to Duryodhana and hugged him.

"After a long time Mitr." Duryodhana said patting his shoulders.

"Surely a long time." Jayadratha said breaking the hug.

"Has putri Dushala arrived with you?" Shakuni asked.

"Yes, she went to meet Maharajah and Maharani." Jayadratha said with a smile.

"Oh, then how is life treating you?" Duryodhana asked as they settled themselves on the cushions.

"Life is fair, with little happiness and little sadness. What about yours?" Jayadratha asked.

"Same but with a bit more of happiness." Duryodhana smiled.

"Hmm good to hear. Oh you both were discussing about something related to panduputra Nakul and my sister-in-law Alaknanda, what it mitra?" Jayadratha queried.

"Oh it was nothing Mitra." Duryodhana said with a chuckle.

"Oh mitra, we are a family. Moreover Alaknanda is my wife's sister, things related to her might effect my wife's life too. Just tell me mitra, what is it?" Jayadratha tried prying the matter.

"Mitra I told you it is nothing. Mamashree slightly misunderstood seeing her and Nakul. It is nothing to worry about." Duryodhana said looking at Jayadratha.

"No need to lie to him putra Duryodhana. He is our family." Shakuni intervened.

"I'm not lying Jayadratha." Duryodhana breathed out.

"Then tell them him everything putra." Shakuni smirked.

"Well the matter is." Duryodhana told him everything Shakuni has told him the other day.

"Now you only tell Jayadratha, do you honestly think Nandha would do something like that?" Duryodhana asked looking at Jayadratha.

"Honestly I don't think Alaknanda would do something like that. She is the most innocent one among the three sisters. But-" Jayadratha paused looking at Duryodhana.

"But what?" Duryodhana asked getting agitated.

"Mitra you have to be patient about what I'm going to say moreover I don't know whether this is true or not so please don't jump into any conclusions." Jayadratha slowly started.

"Just tell Jayadratha." Shakuni said, a smile threatening to escape his lips.

"This is an old story which happened about 10 or 12 years ago, during Alaknandha's and Athulya's childhood days. Athulya told me that Alaknanda had a close friend in childhood whom she loved so much that she never even looked at another guy. They were pretty much close during their childhood days that Alaknanda refused to even leave to Kanyakul for her studies. Athulya told me that she was sure that Alaknanda would marry that guy but he had vanished after the girls have returned from kanyakul. And his name was Nakul." Jayadratha sighed.

"What?" Duryodhana looked quite shocked with the revelation.

"I'm not implying that the Nakul during Alaknanda's childhood and the cousin of your's are same person. Maybe she felt connected to the cousin of your's because he share the same name as her childhood love." Jayadratha said not knowing her was pouring oil to an already burning fire.

"Putra I told your Nandha is playing with your feeling." Shakuni smirked.

"Mamashree, Alaknandha is a very good person. She is very innocent. She would never play with a person's feelings for her victory." Jayadratha said trying to calm a fuming Duryodhana.

"Jayadratha innocence of a woman is like a lure. Just because Alaknanda is innocent doesn't mean she is a chaste woman. She was already in an unethical relation with Nakul be it the one in her childhood or the one who is now staying with us. What is proof that she was a virtuous and pure before marriage?" Shakuni snarled despite knowing how pure Alaknanda was.

"Mamashree enough. I won't hear a word against my wife. I trust her purity and virtue before marriage is enact so not a word against it. Let's stop the discussion here. I trust my Nandha enough and that's all matters." Duryodhana roared pointing his finger at his Mamshree.

With last one look at Shakuni, Duryodhana walked out of the Chamber fuming. Shakuni smirked looking at the retreating figure of Duryodhana while Jayadratha looked quite afraid for Alaknandha's safety.

"Why did you say something like that about Alaknanda, Gandharraj?" Jayadratha asked looking at Shakuni.

"I was merely stating the truth Jayadratha. And moreover why are you so concerned about Alaknanda? Was she that good in bed that now you have grown concerned for her?" Shakuni asked making Jayadratha feel disgusted.

"To be truthful there was a time I had lusted after her but she never gave in. I promised her to make her my queen but she bluntly refused saying that I'm nothing to her other than her sister's husband. Then Duryodhana married her and from then on she has become like a sister to me because her husband is one of my good friends. But mamashree be careful whatever you are planning against the poor girl may backfire on you." Jayadratha stated before walking out on Shakuni.

"Alaknanda might be a virtuous wife but my intentions are deathly and vicious. For the victory of my plans, I have to sacrifice her. It is not my fault Duryodhana loves you so much then maybe your life would have been different." Shakuni whispered to himself with a smirk on his lips.

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