The bustle in the market near the main entrance of Hastinapur City came to a halt as a fleet of Panchal soldiers marched through the huge Lion-gates of the capital of Kuru Kingdom. Everyone stopped what they were doing to take a look at the five royal chariots following afterward.

A few days ago a rumour started from the royal palace and spread in every corner of Hastinapur like wildfire, that the five sons of Pandu and Rani Kunti were alive and well. The fire on Varnavrat was a pre-planned occasion for the Pandavas, so that they could be away from their enemies for a while and go into hiding. For the past few months, they had been living in the forest in disguise, forming allies and increasing their strength silently. So that when they come back to Hastinapur they will be able to overthrow the blind king and take over the Kingdom. And at the illustrious Swayam Var in Panchal, it was actually Rajkumar Arjun, disguised as a Brahmin, who won the Panchal Princess's hand in marriage. Another rumour although it was not as big as the first one stated that all five of the Pandava brothers had married the Panchal Princess later. People almost believed the first one but the second was surely only a rumour, such unthinkable and bizarre its nature was.

Some cheered, some cried and some stood still in shock as one by one they recognised the people on the five chariots. On the first one sat the eldest Kuru Rajkumar Yudhisthira. On the second one sat Bheem and Nakul. Behind them were Arjun and Sahadev. The most majestic and elaborately decorated chariot was occupied by two women. The older woman, whom everybody knew to be the mother of the five Pandavas, Rani Kunti, and the younger woman, people assumed to be Princess Draupadi of Panchal, the new Kulabadhu of the Kurus'. 

People stared in awe at the procession. They couldn't tear their eyes away from Drupad Kanya's blazing beauty until they saw a young man and another young woman on the last chariot. It was not hard for them to figure out who this man was with the peacock feathers adorned in his crown and his golden yellow attire. The cheers of the crowd stopped for a moment. Soon after everyone on the streets started prostrating and chanting 'Jai Shree Krishna.' The flower vendors started showering fragrant blossoms on the last chariot to welcome Dwarkadheesh Vasudev for the first time in Hastinapur.  

--

-"Pranam Maharaj, a guard has just arrived with the news that Queen Kunti, the five Pandu Putras, and the Princess of Panchal have crossed the Lion-gates of Hastinapur, they will soon be reaching the gates of the Palace." A soldier informed, bowing down to the royals of the Grand Court of the Kuru Kingdom. 

The information did not bring much surprise to the courtiers. The news of the Pandavas' survival had reached the grand halls of Hastinapur days before, immediately after the Swayam Var of Princess Panchali, thanks to the intricate web of spies maintained by the Kurus.

Dhritarashtra, although not very pleased with the return of his deceased brothers' sons, instructed an attendant to bring the news to the inner quarters of the palace as he and the other courtiers made their way to the Palace gates. Soon after the ladies joined the men, led by Gandhari holding a Baran-dala to receive the new bride inside the Kuru household.

Duryodhan, Dusshasan, and Shakuni stood behind everyone with a prominent scowl on their faces. Karna and Ashwatthama too stood with them with an unreadable expression. Duryodhan couldn't forget the events that took place on Panchal and when Karna put across his suspicion that the unknown young Brahmin at Draupadi's Swayam Var could be Arjun it agitated him even more. Ever since the confirmation from the spies came that it was indeed Arjun, Duryodhan has been snapping at everyone and everything, except for one. In between all the chaos in his mind, only one thing brought him some happiness. He was soon going to be an Uncle.

So when the very pregnant Dushala arrived with Bhanumati helping her, the irritated expression on Duryodhan's face was replaced by a very concerned look.

-"Why do you have to climb down the stairs? You need to rest right now, not run around like you used to do before! Bhanu, you should have stayed with her inside." Duryodhan said, rushing to Dushala's side.

-"I told her to stay inside, Arya. But do you think she likes to obey anything that I say? She doesn't even want to listen to Mata sometimes. If only Didi was here, she could have kept her inside."

-"Of! Bhrata, the Dhai has told me to move around and not sit in one place all day. And Bou-didi, don't you even mention Didi, she didn't come to my wedding. I am telling you, I won't talk to her when we meet again."

The Ran-Singas soon drowned out all voices as the chariots rolled through the palace gates, one by one. The Pandavas stepped down from their chariots and stood in front of the courtiers of Hastinapur, with their heads held high. Kunti went forward and touched Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, and Gandhari's feet. Gandhari embraced Kunti and the cloth on her eyes got wet upon having her Sister-in-law back safely.

A few days after the Swayam Var ceremony in Panchal, the spies brought a shocking piece of news: all five Pandava brothers had married the princess of Panchal. Bhishma and Vidur dismissed it as they couldn't fathom such an unthinkable event. But when Draupadi got down from the chariot and came to stand beside Yudhisthira the murmurs became louder. Bhishma and Vidur stood in silence. 

Gandhari impatiently asked, "Tatshree what happened? Arjun has come with our new Kulabadhu isn't he?"

Shakuni came forward to answer Gandhari. "It looks like, Yudhisthira has brought your new Kulabadhu, my dear sister, not Arjun." his voice sounded confused but the crude smile on his face said otherwise.

Yudhisthira said in a very low, voice his eyes fixed on the ground, "Not me, not Arjun, we the five Pandavas have brought your new Kulabadhu Jyesht-Mata." 

Dhritarashtra asked, "What do you mean Yudhisthira?" Kunti's heart trumped in anticipation.

-"We all have married Draupadi." For a moment everyone went silent. The five Pandavas cast their head down while Draupadi puffed her chest with pride. A vicious smile appeared on the faces of the Kauravas.

-"WHAT?" Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidur shouted in unison.

-"Never in my life have I imagined such Adharmi words coming out of Dharma Putra's mouth! Who on earth has ever heard of a woman who married five men?" Shakuni interjected. But more than Shakuni's high-pitched mocking tone, It was Bhishma and Vidur's silence at that moment that made the Pandavas more uncomfortable. Kunti tried to justify, "Tatshree, it was not them it was me..."

Bhishma's raised hand stopped Kunti mid-sentence. With a tinge of disappointment clear in his voice, he asked, "Yudhisthira, do you know what you are saying?" Without letting him reply he turned to Kunti, "Kunti, I have always regarded you as a very pious individual, how could you let such a thing happen?"

Kunti opened her mouth but Bhishma's question remained unanswered as the last chariot entered through the gates. 

"DIDI!!" an excited shriek came from Dushala. Everyone stared in awe as the revered Vasudev Shree Krishna and their beloved Kumari Tiasha stepped down from their chariot. Krishna made his way beside Yudhisthira and Draupadi. Tiasha went forward and touched the feet of the Kuru elders. They blessed her wholeheartedly, which made Draupadi pass her glares. She stood at the bottom of the stairs where a very excited Bhanumati came and hugged her. Dushala, with her big pregnant belly, hurriedly climbed down the stairs with a protective Duryodhan behind her. Duryodhan was as excited as Bhanumati and Dushala to see Tiasha, maybe even more, but he chose not to show it in front of others. Krishna smiled at Tiasha and then greeted all the elders of the Kuru family one by one.

-"Welcome to Hastinapur Vasudev. We were not expecting to see you here. Is there any special reason for your precious presence?" Bhishma asked, greeting Krishna back.

-"Only one reason, Mahamahim Bhishma. I am here to deliver a message from Maharshi Vyas. He knew there would be raised eyebrows with Draupadi and the Pandavas' marriage. You see, Buashree Kunti mistakenly asked her five sons to equally divide Panchal Rajkanya among themselves. My cousins, bound by dharma, couldn't disobey her. The five mighty Pandavas have married Draupadi with the blessings of Maharshi Vyas. It's not unheard of and the sastra's mention it as well. I don't think any of us knows the Shastras better than Maharshi Vyas, there is nothing left for us to say when he has approved this union." Krishna said the last thing looking straight at Shakuni. 

Duryodhan cleared his throat, "Pitamah, we have been standing here for a while. I can't let Dushala stand here any longer, she needs rest and Sakhi Tiasha also had a long journey, she needs rest too. I don't think we are needed here anymore. I wish to go back inside with my friends and brothers."

Gandhari said, "But Putra Duryodhan, Bhanumati needs to stay here, she should be the one to receive Draupadi inside the palace."

-"Then Bhanu shall stay." Duryodhan replied and without waiting for anyone's permission stormed passed the Pandavas inside the palace. His brothers, Karna and Ashwatthama followed him. Tiasha looked first at Kunti and then at Krishna, passing them a firm nod she assisted Dushala and went inside. 

Gandhari and Bhanumati welcomed Draupadi in. While walking towards his chamber Yudhisthira felt his very familiar corridors of the palace which was once his home to be foreign. He felt like he and his brothers would never be welcomed into Hastinapur anymore.

--

As soon as They reached Dushala's chamber Dushala turned her face away from Tiasha. 

-"Dushala, what happened?" Asked Tiasha confused by her strange behaviour. Dushala didn't answer, she pouted and looked outside the window. Tiasha held her chin and tried to make Dushala look at her but she refused. 

-"Oo Dushala, what happened, my dear sister? Won't you look at your Didi?" Tiasha said in a pleading voice.

-"You didn't come to her wedding, that's why she has decided that she will not talk to you." Bhanumati said entering the chamber with a glass of milk and another glass of lemonade in her hand. She handed the glass of lemonade to Tiasha and sat beside Dushala pushing the glass of milk in her hand.

-"No, I don't want to drink milk, it stinks!" Dushala complained, scrunching her nose. Tiasha signalled Bhanumati to keep the glass on the bedside table and started, "Oo Dushala, I have come all the way from Kampilya to Hastinapur just so I could see you and Bhanu. If you won't talk to me then..." She fake cried covering her face. 

Dushala immediately hugged Tiasha and said, "I am sorry didi, I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just..." 

-"So you will talk to me now?" Tiasha asked, giving her puppy eyes. Dushala pouted again then nodded a hint of a smile appeared on Dushala's face, "You are nefarious, Didi!" 

-"I will accept all of your allegations against me." Tiasha beamed. "I missed you so much, my dear, I surely would have been present at your wedding if it was possible for me," she said with an apologetic look. Dushala sat up and held her hand. She said, "I know, if it was not something important my Didi would have never missed my wedding."

Tiasha took the glass of milk from the table, "Now now, how would I have known that my dear little sister was waiting for me in Hastinapur with such a huge surprise?..." She kept one hand on Dushala's belly and held the glass of milk to her mouth with the other. She continued, "...What a horrible aunt I am going to be, I didn't even bring any gift!" 

Dushala finished the milk in one go. Bhanumati laughed, "You know Didi, this is the first time she has finished the whole glass without me promising to bribe her with tamarind pickle later." Dushala huffed and stuck her tongue out at her. With a bright smile on her face, she then turned to Tiasha. She hugged her and said, "If you are there when the baby comes, that will be the greatest gift from his aunt." Tiasha Kissed Dushala's head and held her to her chest. 

-"Oh! now she gets all the hugs and love from you and I am no one?" Bhanumati pouted. Tiasha opened her arm and Bhanumati hugged her side.

-"Ahmm!!" The three women looked up at the door only to find Duryodhan standing at the door with his hands crossed on his chest. 

-"Looks like Jyesht Bhrata needs your attention too, Didi." Dushala and Bhanumati laughed, making Duryodhan frown at them.

-XX-

This chapter was one heck of a struggle for me and it isn't as good as I wanted it to be. Let me know your thoughts in the comments guys.

I am very very sorry everyone for not updating. The last few days have been very chaotic for me and I was going through the worst writer's block ever 😭. It almost felt like I have forgotten english and I was not able to write a single word. 

Thank you so so much for all your love, you all are the best 😘.

Take care lovelies, Adiós. ❤️