Ｈａｓｔｉｎａｐｕｒ

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𝟬𝟯

Akarshika was once again departing from Gandhar as she had received an invitation from Hastinapur. It had only been four days since her last departure, and she was never interested in Hastinapur or its politics. This was likely because the Raj of Gandhar always made sure that his children stayed away from matters concerning Hastinapur. She sighed, and Uluka, who noticed her distress, approached her palanquin.

"What's the matter that the second most beautiful person isn't complaining about anything right now?" Uluka remarked.

Akarshika only heard the comment about being the second most beautiful person. Indu then spoke up after removing the curtain of the palanquin and asked, "Who is the first then?"

"Obviously, it's Mother," Uluka responded. Akarshika couldn't argue with that.

"How much longer until we reach there?" Akarshika angrily yelled at Harsh.

"Just a few more hours, Rajkumaari," Harsh replied expressionlessly, as he had been dealing with this daily now.

"Fine," Indu whined while rolling her eyes.

"In the invitation, Bua mentioned she wants to meet her sweet niece. Who will tell her that she isn't even sweet now?" Uluka commented, looking at Akarshika.

Akarshika simply rolled her eyes. She truly had a love-hate relationship with her brother. "Well, I wonder how the Pandavas and Kauravas will treat us," Uluka pondered.

"Don't even try to get close to them. They are nothing but trouble for us. Just meet Bua and try to avoid them," Akarshika warned.

"You're just like pitashree," Uluka whined and nodded.

"I wonder why he wants us to stay away from them," Uluka asked her.

"Maybe he just wants us to stay out of Hastinapur's affairs and the plots involving the Pandavas," she explained, silently thinking about the plots herself.

The seventeen-year-old Uluka probably didn't understand everything. He was just going there to protect his elder sister from anyone who dared to look at her. Meanwhile, Harsh continued to observe their surroundings.

And soon, as Akarshika entered the palace with Uluka and Harsh, she saw Subhadra and Dushala.

"Pranipat," both of them exclaimed excitedly.

While Indu joined her hands and smiled awkwardly, Subhadra said, "We need to talk a lot."

"Well, you just saw me four days ago," Akarshika replied.

Uluka was clear that his sister wasn't interested in the conversation, while Harsh observed their surroundings to protect her.

"Yeah, we saw you four days ago, but we need to talk and tell you a lot," Dushala spoke with a sweet smile.

"Come, let's go to my chamber now," Dushala said.

"But I am so tired from the twelve-hour journey. I have to wake up early tomorrow," Indu tried to politely reject.

"Oh, but Mata wants to meet you both," Dushala said.

"Oh, they remember that me and Harsh are here. In fact, they remember that we exist," Uluka thought.

"Oh, fine then," Akarshika said. While on their way to Gandhari's chamber, Subhadra mentioned, "You know my bhrata Krishn, whom I talked about a lot in Kanyakul? He's also here."

Akarshika smiled, and they soon entered Gandhari's chamber, with Harsh staying at the entrance. Gandhari and Kunti were present in the chamber.

"Mata, guess who is here," Dushala said.

"Maybe my nephew and niece," Gandhari replied. The siblings both smiled wholeheartedly and went towards her, saying, "Pranaam bua."

Gandhari caught both of their hands. "You both must have grown up healthy and happy. It's been years since I heard from you both. How are you?" she asked.

"All good," Indu replied.

"Well, not me. I missed you a lot," Uluka said.

"Sorry for inviting you right after you both came from Kanyakul and Gurukul. It's just that I wanted to see you both," Gandhari said.

Uluka was busy talking to Gandhari, while Akarshika's eyes scanned the room, and she saw Kunti. "The last time I saw her was during our last visit to Hastinapur when Maharaja Pandu died, and she and her five kids came here," Indu thought, and her eyes caught a glimpse of a shadow. She turned to see someone with peacock feathers on his crown, a bright smile, and a flute in his hands, adorned with beautiful jewels.

"Bua, I was searching all around the palace for you" he said.

"Well, Bua was here, Bharta Krishna," Subhadra said.

"Uluka, Indu, meet Krishna," Gandhari introduced.

"Pranaam," they both said, one with a smile and the other with no expression.

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𝕐𝕖𝕒 𝕂𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕟𝕒 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕘𝕠 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕡𝕝𝕦𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕙𝕒𝕓𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕀 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒 𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

"𝕎𝕙𝕠 𝕕𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕒𝕜𝕒𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕜𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕡 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙"

𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕝

𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘

𝔸𝕟𝕕

ᏰᎽᎬ