While me and AJ kept the imposter Yudhishthir tied up, we waited for the king and my dear husband to come.

We had been waiting for nearly an hour, when the idiot finally spoke up.

" Do you know you have rather beautiful hair? It's why they say you are the most beautiful one amongst your sisters. Your husband is a lucky man indeed, " He said, eyes narrowing at me with a playful smirk.

" I'm also the scariest one amongst my sisters. Want to find out? " I threatened, digging the knife harder in his skin.

He grunted at the pain, before grinning wide, " Pity you were asked to be brought in dead. Had my master understood your power, he'd rather make you his wife than kill you. Such a beautiful, strong wife. Why I'm sure I know what you'll be like behind closed doors as well —"

" That's enough! " AJ shouted and I looked at him with soft eyes.

'It's alright. He's just trying to rule us up'. I tried to convey and he, seemingly understood.

" Ah, the man with the same face as the Samrat of Aryavart. Or wait, he isn't the Samrat anymore is he? Tell me, is it easy to go through so many events just by claiming to be Yudhishthir? Does your wife ask you to be him? I know she was initially planning on marrying him wasn't she —" Before I could realise what had happened, a sharp sound rang in the room and I saw a fuming AJ standing next to me as the imposter held his face, a bitter laugh breaking out.

" Wow. Yes, that felt good. Do it again! " He exclaimed, before laughing out loud, his lip was cut up and blood leaked down to the hand that held the blade.

" Sagarika? " A voice called and I swirled my head to see Yudhishthir, followed by Devi and the King.

" What's all this? " Maharaj asked as he walked in.

" An imposter Maharaj. He tried to fool me by playing as my husband. Little did he know, I know every single thing, every quirk every breath he takes. You stood no chance. " I added the last part to our friend there.

" Imposter? How did he come in? " Yudhishthir asked and I laughed.

" As I said, he was playing you. He entered through the doors, " I said as I moved back, while the guards and Yudhishthir cornered him.

" Where are you from and who are you working for! " Maharaj shouted, as AJ stepped close to Devi.

" I work for myself. " He answered and I laughed.

" Oh? Didn't you just say you had a master? "

" Sagarika, is that true? " Yudhishthir asked and I nodded.

" I'd assume after the arrow you'd realise you are fighting a loosing war. I didn't think you'd be that dumb. You disappoint me Karali. " He spoke again and our eyes snapped up.

" What do you mean! Did you fire the arrow! " Yudhishthir asked, I could see his eyes grow dark with anger.

" Yudhishthir-"

"Oh I did! Your poor wife came in between, otherwise my plan was exactly that, injure you, have you taken to a healing room, kill you there, take your place and draw your wife into her own doom as her husband. I imagine the shock on her face -"

But before he could complete his sentence, I saw him being burnt to ashes, his body incinerated to the bone.

My eyes travelled to Devi, who looked just as shook as me.

If not us them who?

I looked back at the scene and saw Yudhishthir, his eyes wide open in shock, yet the others around him stared at him with equal shock.

With short, hesitant steps, I made my way to his side, his chest was rising and falling at a rapid rate and he was vibrating, truly vibrating.

I kept my one palm on his hand, one on his chest as I pulled him away and he sagged, making himself smaller, as if a foetus.

" Yudhishthir? Are you alright? " I asked and he shook his head in affirmation.

Good, this means he has his senses open. He isn't in as much of a shock as I presumed.

" Maharaj, I request you all to leave. We will deal with this tomorrow morning. Here only. Please leave. " I announced and the others nodded, shuffling out. AJ came up to me and pulled me into a side hug.

" Stay safe, " He murmured against my head as he left.

" Come, sit here, " I tried, settling him on, the bed, before bringing him a glass of water.

" Did you know you could do this? " I asked him and he shook his head again in a yes, before rasping out a very sombre,   "Yes. "

" Alright. It's alright. It's finished. You're with me. With our baby. It's fine. He's dead. You're fine. " I whispered to him as I held his hand against my heart, while held mine against his.

It took a few moments before he sighed, a deep breath escaping him before he looked into my eyes again.

" Hey, you're back to me. " I said, kissing his forehead.

" What was that? " He asked and I looked at him.

" How would I know? " I giggled and he smiled, before pulling me to sit by his side.

" This has only happened once before. " He whispered and I looked at him, putting my head on his shoulder.

" When was that? When you were a child?"I asked and he nodded.

" It's okay, let's just sleep. You can tell me when you feel better, " I said, standing up and offered my own hand when he shook his head.

" No, I want to tell you. " He whispered and I sat back down, pulling his hand to rest in mine.

I waited for him to speak, " It was long ago, when a small garden snake had bit Arjun. He was around two years old and I nearly five. I saw how he was crying in pain, even as the vaidy in the village treated him. When I went back, I saw that same snake, sitting on the bank of the river. I knew Arjun was at, well not at fault since he was a child, but he had accidentally hit the snake with a ball and the snake retaliated with a bite. But I couldn't understand that. I thought the snake was bad for harming my brother. I felt such anger for the snake that I —" He broke off, clearing his throat, " — I looked at it with pure unbridled hate. It was just a few moments later mata found me next to a pile of ashes. " He finished, hanging his head low.

" So this is triggered by your anger? " I asked and he shrugged his shoulders,
" We only have two incidents, counting today's. It seems like the logical explanation. " He muttered.

" It's alright. I still love you. " I whispered to him and he nodded, " I know you would and not because I'm being arrogant, but because I trust you. " He answered, putting his hand over my shoulders.

" He -he showed me a painting. Did you make it or was that another trick of his? " I asked and he sighed before smiling at me.

" I did. I wanted to surprise you on our anniversary, " He answered and I looked at him softly, before standing up.

" Come on, we should rest. " I said and he nodded and I told him to move towards the bed.

" You go first. " He said and I shook my head in no, pushing him to the bed.

" You need to be loved today just how much you love me," I said, before letting him lie down, before moving and adjusting as I hugged him from behind.

" Sleep Yudhishthir. We have five more years here. " I whispered.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

I think it's a well known thing, that Yudhishthir's anger was enough to incinerate anybody, if he was angry enough.

Then the better question comes, what happened to him in the sabha when Panchali was insulted in the original epic.

Here's my take on it... There are only a few moments in our life when we feel only anger, mostly ots driven by either sadness, humiliation, shame, greed or arrogance.

Similarly, when he saw Panchali's insult, he was accosted by self guilt more than any anger. He was far too ashamed to even look up.

Now, I'm not justifying what he did. In this one part of his life, he carried out the biggest adharm in his life and I am not advocating for it. I'm only giving my take on the question of, ' why he didn't do this in the sabha'.

As always, tell me how it was and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥

I also found this very hilarious pin on Pinterest.

It's adorable 🤧🤣