The three girls entered the garden. Tiasha in the middle and Dushala and Subhadra on both sides.

Tiasha clad a beautiful maroon attire and a few more jewellery than she normally wears. Her two sisters have made her do more sringer than usual.

They saw Rani Kunti and Maharani Gandhari sitting and the Pandavas standing around them.

Dushala dragged Tiasha and Subhadra towards where they were sitting.

-"Pranam Mata, pranam Kunti maa, pranam Bharat.", Dushala greeted. Tiasha and Subhadra follow.

Kunti, Gandhari and the five Pandavas greeted back.

-"Look at you Putri, you look no less than an apsara from the heavens." Kunti said touching Tiasha's chin. Tiasha blushed.

-"Ohh all of you have eyes on Didi only, what about us hah? Don't we look pretty?", Dushala pouted.

-"Yes Mata, this is so unfair. We know the foreign flower is special but you cannot disregard the flower from our own garden." Sahadev said with a teasing smile on his face as he side-hugged Dushala.

-"Right, I am so sorry Kuru Kumari and Yadav Kumari, you two also look very beautiful." Kunti said in a serious tone.

Everyone busted out laughing.

Gandhari heard the conversation with a smile. If only she could see the faces of these children once in her life.

All of them turned around when they heard two heavy footsteps.

Duryodhan along with Karna came to meet Mata Gandhari.

Seeing her brother Dushala immediately went to him and tackled him in a hug. Duryodhan hugged her back. His sister has always been the apple of his eyes. He spoiled her more than anyone.

The Pandavas frowned at him, and Kunti became expressionless.

Dushala's excitement brought a smile to Tiasha's face. Seeing the cruel villain of the epic acting all soft and goofy while his little sister clung to him like a koala, was truly a sight to behold. Tiasha's heart couldn't believe that the man in front of her eyes could even think of committing such sins in the future.

Duryodhan released Dushala and touched his mother's feet. He completely ignored the Pandavas who were glaring at him.

-"Jayastu Putra, Your unfortunate mother's heart is thirsty like an animal in the desert to see your face. Putra come here let me at least hold you once."

Duryodhan hugged his mother, "Mata I hope I made you proud today."

-"You did Putra. Your Mata is so proud of you, Not only because you are a brave warrior but also because you have become such a kind man."

Duryodhan smiled and then went to touch Kunti's feet.

Kunti became rigid she forced a smile and blessed Duryodhan, "Ayushman Bhava."

Duryodhan turned to his Mata, "Mata this is my Mitra Karna."

Karna went and touched Gandhari's feet, "Jayastu Putra, I heard everything you did today. Such a brave young man you are."

The Pandavas looked at him disgusted, especially Bheem. But they choose to keep their mouth shut. Kunti composed herself. Dushala and Subhadra looked at each other and Tiasha just kept smiling. Karna got up and his eyes fell on Tiasha.

Her smile widened and that made Karna's ears turned red. He managed to give her a small smile.

Duryodhan noticed his friend's weird expression towards one of the girls who stood beside his sister. He recognised her from the arena earlier today. She is even more radiant up close, Duryodhan thought.

He had never seen her before so he asked his mother, "Mata you didn't introduce us to our guests."

Gandhari smiled, "My bad Putra, Kunti can you please?"

-"Sure jiji, This is Yadav Kumari Subhadra..." Subhadra meekly folded her hands, greeting Duryodhan. Duryodhan smiled at the fair maiden and returned the gesture.

To be honest he was not at all curious about her. He was curious about the other one. The one whose beauty attracts you like a moth towards a blazing flame. She doesn't fit in the category of the conventional beauties of Aryavarta, yet nobody can ignore the magnetic pull she has.

-"...And this is Kumari Tiasha...", Kunti didn't like the admiring glances of Duryodhan on her future putrabadhu.

-"Just Kumari Tiasha, not any titles?", Duryodhan asked looking at Tiasha. But surprisingly Tiasha didn't feel uncomfortable talking to him. 

-"No Rajkumar, no titles, it's just Tiasha. But if you ask for more I would say I am Vasudev Krishna's Sakhi." Tiasha smiled confidently.

-"Nice to meet you in person Kumari. Now if you will excuse me I have some guests coming over and I need to go welcome them."

Gandhari nodded. Duryodhan looked at Karna, "Come, Mitra."

Karna looked at Tiasha one last time and followed behind Duryodhan.

Kunti saw Karna and Tiasha's interaction and questioned, "Do you know him, Putri?"

The Pandavas got curious as Tiasha nodded her head. Yudhishthira became a little uncomfortable and asked, "How Kumari?"

Tiasha had a broad smile on her face, "You remember Mata when I told you a kind man and his family saved me when I was lying unconscious on the river bank."

Everyone nodded, "That kind man is none other than Angaraj Karna, Mata."

Kunti and Gandhari gasped.

The Pandavas were shocked and Dushala and Subhadra squealed, "He is the one you always talk about Didi?"

Yudhishthira frowned she talks about him? But then he consoled himself, of course, she does. He saved her life. She is grateful to him. And now he is too a little.

Tiasha sensed the tension in the air. She also felt a little embarrassed at her sisters' mention of always talking about him. Thank god he didn't hear this. She tried changing the topic, "I heard Kumar Arjun is a great musician, do we have the fortune to listen to it this evening?"

She thanked her Jayantha for making his sister and Dushala such frekel-minded girls. Dushala begged holding Arjun's hands, "Please Bharata Arjun, play something for us."

Subhadra looked at him expectedly.

The visible tension eased and a smile came back to everyone's face. Arjun eventually agreed to play the vina.

Arjun started playing.

In the meantime, Duryodhan came back with Gandhara Raj Shakuni, Ashwatthama, Dushasan and Karna.

He couldn't resist the urge to mock Arjun this time, "Looks like the great archer has decided to woo the young Kumaris with music, Mitra do you also play anything?"

Karna said, "No Mitra, the sound of the string of my Dhanush is the only music I practice."

-"A reply like a true archer Mitra." Duryodhan patted his shoulder, "What are going to do next Arjun, Dance?" Dushasan and Shakuni laughed, but Ashwatthama remained expressionless.

Bheem stood up and was about to open his mouth but Yudhishthira stopped him.

To everyone's awe Tiasha stood up, "Kumar Duryodhan, no vidya is ever less than the other. Mata Saraswathi holds a vina. Mahadev's Rudra Vina and Damru along with his Tandav causes destruction and marks the start of creation. Mahadev himself is the origin of nritya vidya. How can you say such things? Is it an insult to learn dance and music, let alone any other art? These arts come from Adidev himself. Isn't that a disrespect to the gods?"

Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas looked at her impressed. Kunti and Gandhari smiled.

Duryodhan frowned, why is she supporting them now, oh right they are the great Pandavas. Of course, they have everyone's support.

Dushasan growled, "How dare you disrespect my Bhrata?"

 Ashwatthama looked at her as if he was looking at the most expensive gem in the entire world.

Karna lowered his head, Yes she is right. He should have stopped Duryodhan instead of saying what he said.

Bhishma, Vidur and Dhritarastra also came near to see what was going on.

Shakuni noticed Yudhishthira giving heart eyes to Tiasha earlier in the arena today and now as well.

-"Why are you interfering between brothers, princess? You were just opposing them this morning and now you are standing up for them. Seems like you are unable to make up your mind. I am confused about your intentions princess. Do you want name? Or perhaps the fallen princess wishes to become the Samrajnyi of Hastinapur one day? Am I right, princess?"

-"Shakuni!"

-"Gandhara Raj!"

-"Bhrata!"

Several gasps were heard from the people.

Karna and Ashwatthama looked murderous. Karna looked at Shakuni as if he is going to rip his tongue for saying such words against his beloved Tiasha. Yudhishthira clutched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. 

-"I was simply just voicing what I thought was right. Unlike you Gandhara Raj, not everybody has ill intentions behind each of their words." Tiasha's voice sent chills down Shakuni's spine. As if she knows all his actions, intentions and his deepest darkest desire.

Karna looked proud of his brave girl.

Tiasha looked ahead, "I don't feel very well Mata, forgive me I must retire to my chamber now."

With that, she walked away without even waiting for anyone's permission.

-XX-

Boy oh Boy! This chapter was a challenge. trust me I tried writing this so many times but I hated everything I wrote and deleted it several times. now finally it's here. Exciting things are starting to happen as all the characters are now here.

Don't forget to comment guys. let me know if you liked this chapter. Thank you so much for reading and showing this much love to the story.

Also tell me one thing, do you want some spicy chapters in the story?  I mean it won't be like too much considering all kinds of readers. 

Take care, Adios, my lovely readers.