Duryodhana stood at the corner of her hall observing his wife, who was sitting beside Draupadi, decorated like newly wedded bride. His Nandha looked alluring in the red lehenga like a bride. He wanted nothing more than to hide her from all the evils and nasty eyes of the men and women standing in this hall.

His Nandha looked like a celestial nymph. Her eyes were shining in happiness as she spoke with Draupadi. Her dark brown hair was hidden beneath the red dupatta that was draped around her head. Her luscious pink lips were spread in a beautiful smile. Various jewelries adorned her yet they could not defeat the glow on her face.

A smile grazed his lips as he looked at Nandha's smiling face. Her innocent smile itself was contagious to spread happiness around the people surrounding her. He prayed for only one thing from Agnidev when they did the homam. He prayed for her happiness and nothing else. For him only she mattered.

The smile on his face was wiped away and replaced with hatred in his eyes seeing Nakul eyeing his Nandha, with love filled eyes. He felt uncontrollable fury bubbling inside him.

'That bastard! How dare he look at what is mine? I will kill him this instant. Bloody dog.' Duryodhana thought to himself glaring at Nakul.

'Don't do anything stupid Duryodhana. Today is a big day for Nandha, don't let your anger on Nakul spoil it for her.' His heart whispered making him clench his fist.

He angrily looked away only to meet with Nandha's brown ones and immediately his posture relaxed and a smile appeared on his lips. He winked at her making her cheeks heat up. She looked away blushing, making him chuckle at her innocence.

'So pure, so innocent and only mine.' Duryodhana thought looking at Nandha.

His thoughts were broken by his mamashree, who handed him a glass of wine. He gave a slight nod to Shakuni before sipping the wine. He felt the prominent bitterness in the drink which never fails to make his chest burn.

Shakuni observed Duryodhana, who was looking towards Nandha, once in a while. Shakuni smirked gazing between both. He had planted the essence of doubt in Duryodhana's mind a few days back and today he will see the result of what he had sowed.

"Putra what are you doing here? Come with me putra, there people are inquiring about you." Shakuni said, dragging Duryodhana from there.

With one last look at his wife, who was moving out of the hall with Draupadi to the hall where the gathering of women is held, Duryodhana followed Shakuni, who was leading him to the place where Rules from various Kingdoms stood, enjoying themselves in drinks and other things.

He could see his cousins interacting with various rulers making his frown. He knew how the younger pandav brothers wanted their elder brother, Yudhishtir, to be come the king of Hastinapur instead of him. Shaking his head he looked away from the brothers.

"Putra this is Chirtangada, the king of Kalinga. And Maharaj Chirtangada this is my nephew Duryodhana." Shakuni introduced them.

"Pranipaat Kalingaraj Chirtangada." Duryodhana greeted.

"Pranipaat Yuvraj Duryodhana." Chirtangada greeted back.

"Kalingaraj hope you have brought your daughters, I meant your family too." Shakuni asked one the three of them settled themselves comfortably on cushions.

"Of course they are here, Gandharaj. They are in the women hall with the Maharani Gandhari and others." Chirtangada smile.

"Ah good." Shakuni nodded his head contented with what he had heard.

The three of them continued their talks, with Shakuni sing praises for both the parties until Maharaj Chirtangada was asked for by Dhritarashtra.

"So I think its time for me to take my leave, yuvraj. Next time when we meet we can discuss about your new political policies. To be honest your ideas are very interesting and thought provoking." Chirtangada said patting Duryodhana's shoulder.

"Thank you, Maharaj. Hope you have a good time in Hastinapur, Maharaj. Will see you around." Duryodhana smiled.

"I already am enjoying Yuvraj. Hasthinapur never fail to impress people." He chuckled before walking away with the daas.

"Putra Duryodhana do you know Maharaj Chirtangada doesn't have a son."

"Ya mamashree, I know. He has only two daughters putra."

"Putra he only have two daughters and have no sons." Shakuni said stressing the word 'only'.

"So what mamashree?" Duryodhana asked confused.

"Oh putra it means he has no apparent heir. The kingdom and all the wealth of him will automatically go to his elder daughter, Bhanumati's husband. Her swayamvar is arranged and Hastinapur also had got an invitation, inviting the Yuvraj of Hastinapur."

"Even I'm aware of that mamashree, but why are you telling me all these?" Duryodhana asked, confused.

"Putra you are so dense. I'm telling you all these because I want you to participate in her swayamvar and win her hand."

"Mamashree not even a year has passed since my wedding with Nandha and you are asking me to marry for a second time. I have just started my life with my Nandha and now you are asking me to bring another woman to my life. I won't hurt my Nandha by giving her place for another woman." Duryodhana said shaking his head.

"Putra don't talk like a fool. The Kingdom of Kalinga is more rich and valuable than your wife's emotions. You should throw away all the riches for your who is in love with someone else. And about polygamy, putra it is very common among the Kshatriya families. Your paternal uncle Pandu had married Rajkumari Madri on the very second week right of his first marriage to Kunti. Moreover Alakanandha's father had three wife and the youngest one was your wife's mother. She will understand."

"I don't want another wife, mamashree. Nandha is enough for me. I love her and she loves me. She is more precious and valuable for me that all the riches and pleasures of this world. And moreover I don't care what Kakashree Pandu did nor what my father-in-law did. I decide what happens in my life. I hope I have made my point clear Mamashree." Duryodhana said before walking away from him.

Come to the empty Chamber at the left wing of the Palace.

I will be waiting for you, love.

Yours,

Duryodhana.

Nandha looked at the piece of parchment in her hand with confusion. She looked around the crowd trying to spot her husband but sighed in disappointment noticing his absence.

'Why is aryaa calling for me now?' Nandha asked to herself as she sneaked out of the hall to the left wing of the Palace.

Nandha felt a unknown fear creep in her heart as she walked through the empty corridors, leading to the left wing of the Palace. It was like her heart knew something bad is about to happen, something that is going to change her whole life. Something that would surely leave a scar on her existence.

She tried to shake off those feelings but was unable to do it. Her subconscious was giving her warnings, screaming in her mind to turn back and run but her unbreakable trust on her husband made her ignore all the warnings and cautions. Her love for her husband made her blind towards the danger she was putting herself in.

Within minutes she found herself standing in front of the Chamber mentioned in the piece of parchment. She heaved a breath before forcing herself to move forward and open the door.

She was startled to see Nakul standing there with a confused face. Both looked at each other for a few minutes before Nandha decided to break the silence.

"Nakul, what are you doing here?" She asked moving inside the chamber.

"Why are you asking me that Nandha? You were the one who sent me this piece of parchment asking me to come here as you wanted to tell me something important."

"What are you blabbering Nakul? I didn't ask for you to come here. I am quite surprised myself, seeing you here." She said surprised.

"If not you then who sent me this note, Nandha?" He asked showing a piece of parchment.

"Trust me Nakul I didn't send it to you. I swear, please believe me." He could see the spark of truth in her eyes and understood it was not her who had sent him the parchment.

He sighed, "Then why are you here Nandha?"

"Arya Duryodhana sent me a note asking me to come here." Nandha said showing the piece of parchment in her hand.

Nakul examined both the parchments. His eyes widened seeing both the parchments having exactly same handwriting's. He connected all the dots and understood what was happening.

"Its a trap, Nandha. We need to leave from here as soon as possible." He said s

"What? But my aryaa-"

"There is no time to talk Nandha. We have to move out of here, before someone notices our absence in the function." He said looking at a tensed Nandha.

"Its too late Panduputra Nakul, we have already noticed both of your absence."

"Gandharraj"

"Aarya"

Their eyes widened seeing Shakuni and Duryodhana standing at the entrance of the chamber. Shakuni had a dirty smirk on his face while Duryodhana was glaring at the two with blood shed eyes.

"When I told you about these two you didn't believe me." Shakuni continued. "Now see with your own eyes putra. See how your 'innocent' wife whoring herself with your enemy. You loved her putra but she betrayed you. She was just using you to get the title of the queen of Hastinapur. She has no feelings for you. After marriage also she is willing to sleep with another guy, I can't imagine how many guys she had slept with before her marriage. Chee I can't believe I made you marry a whore like her-"

"Mamashree"

"Gandharaj"

Duryodhana's and Nakul's voice echoed through the Chamber cutting off Shakuni's words. Both were burning in fury hearing the abuse thrown by Shakuni towards the woman they love. Nandha's sobbed hearing his abuses.

"Enough mamashree. Don't forget you are talking about my wife." Duryodhana said walking inside the Chamber.

"But putra-" Shakuni was again cut off by Duryodhana, who was moving towards a sobbing Nandha.

"Mamashree the matter is between me and my wife and it would be better if you keep quite. I am old enough to make my own decisions. If my wife is wrong I know how to change her." He said before pulling Nandha towards him.

Nakul helplessly watched Duryodhana dragging Nandha out of the Chamber. The fury and hatred in Duryodhana's face were not masked and it made him fear for Nandha's safety. He was a victim of Duryodhana's anger and he did not want Nandha to experience the same. He wanted to save her but he knew his interference will only make the matter worse.

"Aryaa please listen to me. It's not what you are thinking. Let me explain aryaa." She begged as he dragged her through the empty corridor to his chamber.

He payed no heed to her words, it was like all his senses has stopped working. He continued dragging her like a ragged doll. Her sobs nor her plea's calmed his demon rather they were infuriating his anger. He dragged her inside their chamber, not caring about the guards standing in front of his chamber.

The guards in front of their chamber bowed their heads down, not wanting to see their yuvrani getting abused by their yuvraj. Duryodhana closed the doors of his chamber behind him with a loud thud making the guards shivers.

After today's night neither Nandha nor Duryodhana will ever be same again. That night was going to leave a permanent scar on both of their lives.