-"Why did you stop me today? Gandhar Raj needs to learn his lesson; I wouldn't allow him to keep insulting you like this," Karna said with a slight frown on his face. 

The two were standing under the shade of an old Ashvattha tree. Tiasha smiled softly. 

-"My father used to say, you can be vile, but that doesn't mean I cannot be honourable. 'One must be patient like the earth. What iniquities are being perpetuated on her! Yet she quietly endures them all.' Endurance is one of the many things that my parents taught me. They used to say it's your strength, not your weakness."

-"It can be harmful at times. Having the right amount of selfishness is important Tiasha, or else people like Gandhar Raj will crush you under their feet." Karna said holding Tiasha's hand.

-"Nothing remains unpaid in this world, he will learn his lesson, at the right time. And as for his insults, if you try to throw dirt at someone it's your own hands that get dirty first. He is making himself look bad trying to insult me..."

-"But..." Karna tried to protest.

-"Is this why you brought me here? To argue about Gandhar Raj of all people, if this is what you have planned, then I might as well go back to the Sabha." Tiasha pouted.

Karna laughed heartily. He said, "Well no, I didn't plan on arguing with you at all. I brought my Prayashi here to do some Prem-Sambhashan." He put his index finger and thumb on both sides of Tiasha's lips and pulled it into a smile.

Tiasha looked away blushing. She said softly, "You shouldn't have pulled me away like that, everyone was staring..."

-"Do you think I care about their stares? Let them, and I am not doing anything wrong, It's not like I was abducting you or something. I simply asked to leave in order to spend some alone time with my would-be wife, I didn't do anything wrong."

-"No you could never do anything wrong, after all, you are going to be my Pati-Parameswar." Tiasha said sarcastically. Karna laughed and pulled her into his embrace. Tiasha laughed with him relaxing in his arms.

Karna sat on one of the roots of the tree and pulled Tiasha on his lap. She gasped in surprise. 

She frowned in fake anger, "Ahh Haa, daring much, are we?" 

Karna smirked and kissed her on the cheeks dangerously close to the lips, making Tiasha's eyes go wide. His mouth moved towards her ears. He whispered in her ear, "I am a warrior, my lady, daring is my second name."

A shiver ran down her spine as shyness overtook her senses. She hid her face in the crook of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her. She inhaled deeply, feeling his scent enveloping her, mixing with her own. He smelled like the gentle rays of the sun on the Earth, enlivening.

-"I am starting to believe, it was not just a dream last night." Karna sighed.

Tiasha looked up into his eyes. She smiled gently, "You remember?"

-"Even if it was a dream, I would never want to forget it." He rested his forehead against hers. 

--

The Sun had almost completed his journey along the sky. Slanted crimson rays escaped through the dense leaves of the Ashvattha and created a beautiful design on the ground and the bodies of the two lovers. Karna rested his head on Tiasha's lap as she played with his Raven black locks. Their endless words and laughter flowed just like the water of Ganga. 

They didn't notice when Krishna came from the other side and stood there.

-"Ahmm, are you guys done?" He asked sweetly. The two of them shot up from their positions, their faces red in embarrassment. 

-"Keshav..."

-"Jayantha..."

-"Yeah, Shyama, it's me. As you two have lost track of time and have forgotten the world around you, I decided to come here myself. You might have forgotten everything but, as I am your brother, I cannot forget my duties, Now can I? Like meeting Radha Maa and Adiratha Mahoday, asking for their blessings, making arrangements for the wedding and et cetera, et cetera. So, if you two are done now, maybe you two want to eat something as you have even forgotten to eat lunch and then we can go to Sudra Palli."

-"Uhh...I...think we should go, I am not hungry..." Tiasha answered quickly, trying to act normal.

-"You filled your belly with Bhrata Karna's Prem-Sambhashan?" Krishna asked. He struggled to maintain a serious expression on his face. 

-"Off! you are impossible!" Tiasha huffed and stormed towards the Palace. Karna had an amused grin present on his face.

-"You are smiling now, let her be married to you once, and you will understand exactly what you have brought home." Krishna said to Karna with a mysterious smirk.

-"I do have an idea what I am bringing home Keshav..." Karna's dreamish eyes stared at Tiasha's retreating figure, "...a Wild Tigress from Banga."

Krishna smiled, "Well, that's one way to put it."

Tiasha shouted from a distance, "Are you two coming or not?" Karna and Krishna hurried towards her.

On the way to Karna's house Krishna and Tiasha kept teasing each other. Karna enjoyed their banter thoroughly. He had to step in once as Tiasha was about to pinch Krishna when he said she was like a violent wild cat. The common people in the market of Hastinapur watched the three royals and had to cover their mouths to hide their laughs.

Adhiratha had just finished feeding the horses and Radha was in the kitchen when they heard voices outside their hut. Radha beamed in joy when she heard Tiasha's voice. It had been more than a year since she last saw the girl. She came out of the Kitchen and almost immediately Tiasha ran into her arms. 

-"Radha Maa..." Tiasha buried her face on Radha's chest. Radha pulled her close to her heart.

-"I was just thinking about you, it's been so long since I have heard you call me Maa." She kissed Tiasha's forehead. Tiasha released her as Karna and Krishna came and stood inside the courtyard. Radha recognised Krishna as about two years ago he came to bring Tiasha with him.

-"Forgive her Mata," Krishna sighed, "What am I going to do with you? Where are your manners, Shyama? You didn't touch her feet and seek her blessing." He stepped forward and touched her feet. Radha stiffened, "You shouldn't touch my feet, Dwarkadheesh, I am nothing but a simple woman." Krishna smiled brightly at her, "You are a mother, I think that is a special enough reason to touch your feet, Mata. And I am not that different from your Radheya, Mata." Radha smiled in reply. 

Karna came and touched her feet, she took him into her embrace and kissed his forehead. Krishna signalled Tiasha to touch Radha's feet which she obliged. Radha said, "I will give all my blessings to you Putri, even if you don't touch my feet." 

Adhiratha appeared from behind the hut. The calm man's small smile didn't do justice to the feelings. His eyes shined brightly seeing his only son and that once-unknown girl who had a special place in his heart.

The two of them went to touch his feet. Krishna too was dead set on receiving his blessing despite Adhiratha's protests. 

Radha and Adhiratha took them inside. 

Krishna started, "I have come here with a proposal, Adhiratha Mahoday." Adhiratha looked at him curiously. Radha's gaze travelled from her husband's face to Krishna's simultaneously. Krishna continued with a smile, "I have come here to ask your son's hand in marriage with my sister. I don't know if you have heard what happened in the Sabha today, but my sister is determined to marry your son."

-"Your sister?" Adhiratha asked in confusion. Radha's heart trembled in fear and anticipation. 

-"Yes, your daughter Maa, this girl right here..." Krishna pointed at Tiasha, "I know she is a bit crazy, but please accept her as your daughter-in-law." He narrated the entire scene that happened in the Sabha that morning.

Radha beamed in glee, and Adhiratha's smile widened. 

-"We have always had a secret desire to make Putri Tiasha our Putrabadhu, and Karna is..." 

-"Maa..." Karna called for his mother desperately, pleading Radha with his eyes not to embarrass him by mentioning his infatuation with Tiasha.

-"We want Shyama, I mean Tiasha, to get married from Dwarka. By the end of this month, my parents will come to Hastinapur and officially decide a date for the wedding. What do you say, Adhiratha Mohoday?"

-"They don't have to take the trouble of visiting Hastinapur, we can go to Dwarka..."

-"Oh no, I am sure they want to come, they would want to meet you themselves. After all, this is going to be their daughter's house..."

Tiasha, Krishna, and Karna left early in the evening after Radha fed them some homemade sweets. They roughly decided that the wedding date would be on the fifth day of Sukla Paksha in Phalguna.

--

The three best friends Duryodhan, Ashwatthama, and Karna sat along with Tiasha and Bhanumati after dinner. 

-"Well, today was an eventful day, wasn't it? I don't understand, when did you two fall in love? And why didn't I know about it?" Duryodhan said, taking a betel leaf from Bhanumati's hand.

-"Now I understand why Bhrata Karna refused so many marriage proposals. You know Didi, I once tried to propose, my cousin, the princess of Vrijji, Uruvi's wedding with Bhrata, but he refused so bluntly." Bhanumati said. An uncomfortable smile appeared on Tiasha's face. Only God knows if she felt a pang of jealousy in her heart.

-"Ashwa, you knew about this?" Duryodhan asked. Ashwatthama nodded, smirking. He said, "Duryodhan, you remember, on panchal Kanya's Swayamvar you asked Mitra Karna who he thinks is the most beautiful woman on earth?" 

Duryodhan nodded, his expression turning curious. "I am sure, he was going to say Tiasha but at the last moment he somehow managed to contain himself." Ashwatthama teased.

Karna shot him a glare. Duryodhan smirked, he opened his mouth to say something but a guard appeared in the doorway interrupting him.

-"Pranam, Yuvraj Yudhisthira has asked for Kumari Tiasha's presence in Rajmata Kunti's chamber." He said. 

Karna and Ashwatthama frowned. Duryodhan greeted his teeth, "What does he want now?"

Tiasha stood up and said, "Inform him I am on my way..."

-"Sakhi..."

-"It won't take long, I will be right back." Tiasha smiled at Duryodhan and left.

In Kunti's chamber, the five Pandavas and Krishna sat in a circle around a table. They had a Map of Aryavarth spread in front of them. Kunti sat behind Krishna while Draupadi sat behind Yudhisthira. Tiasha came inside.

-"Pranam...Kumar Yudhisthira you called for me?" Tiasha asked as she stood at the threshold. 

-"Ohh Kumari, uhh sorry for calling you like this..."

-"It's ok" Tiasha kept standing on the threshold. 

-"Come inside, Putri." Kunti called, offering her a gentle smile.

Tiasha came inside hesitantly and stood beside Kunti. She focused on the map trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.

-"I think you have heard what happened in the Sabha today after you left with..." Yudhisthira's voice died at the end of the sentence.

Tiasha nodded silently. The five brothers looked at each other. Nakul cleared his throat, "We are starting for Khandavprastha tomorrow. We saw how wonderful you were when you helped Angaraj to rebuild his kingdom..." Sahadev finished for his twin, "We need your assistance and advice, Didi, to set up our new kingdom." 

Tiasha's eyes quickly went towards Draupadi once. She noticed her blank expression and sighed. Tiasha said in a low yet firm voice, "You have Krishna with you there. I don't think you will need any other assistance from anyone else. I am sorry but I have to disappoint you, I can't go with you..."

-"Why Tiasha? Is it because of Angaraj?" Arjun asked. Tiasha shook her head and replied, "He does not decide for me where I can go and where I can not. It's my choice."

-"Then why can't you come with us?" Bheem asked, a little annoyance present in his voice.

-"If she doesn't want to go with you, you can't force her, Bheem." Kunti said calmly. Tiasha passed her a grateful look. Yudhisthira sighed, "It's your wish Kumari, but we are truly in need of your advice." 

-"Forgive me, Kumar, I am sorry." Tiasha folded her hands to him and left as silently as she came.

Tiasha was going back to Duryodhan's chamber when she heard Krishna call for her from Behind.

-"Shyama..." 

Tiasha stopped in her tracks not turning around. Krishna came and stood in front of her, "You don't want to go because of Draupadi, don't you?" 

-"I can't bear to see so many lives burning in front of my eyes in Khandavprastha. I won't be able to bear the screams and cries of those innocent animals. You will be there to assist them, Indraprastha is going to be great..."

Krishna sighed, "That might be one reason but that's not the only reason. You can lie to me but how are you going to lie to your heart?" 

Tiasha looked away from him. Krishna asked, "Shyama I can't help but ask you a question. All the girls became your sisters the moment they came across you. Why not Draupadi?"

-"Jayantha, can we not, please..."

-"No, you have to answer me. I want to know."

Tiasha's eyes went towards the garden. Her distant gaze not looking at anything in particular. Perhaps it was looking inside her heart. She was churning her inside to come up with an answer to Krishna's question. 'Why did Draupadi not become one of my sisters like Bhanu, Dushala, or Subhadra?' Tiasha thought.

-"Maybe because I never tried to form a deeper bond with her. Maybe because I did not try to reduce the distance between us. Because I was jealous of her..." Tiasha voiced the answer to her own question absent-mindedly. Krishna stayed silent. His eyes set on Tiasha, brows forming a slight frown. 

-"You remember that evening when we were in Kashi, you told me we don't know for sure if Vasusena will be taking part in her Swayam Var willingly? My obsessive mind started overthinking. I was scared. In my mind, I thought he would forget about me after seeing Draupadi. I didn't know back then if he had any feelings for me or not. I was afraid I was going to lose to her..."

Tiasha's voice trembled, "I feared losing my love, Jayantha. All those thoughts, they only increased after I went to Panchal. Never in my life have I seen a woman like her, so graceful and so ravishing. She reminded me so much of my elder sister. My elder sister was the apple of my parent's eyes. I could never be like her. I was afraid I was going to lose to her. She will take him away from me and he will never be completely mine. King Drupad's constant spitefulness towards me did not help our relationship. The distance continued to grow and I consciously ignored it. I didn't try to do anything to mend it...

Then on her Swayam Var, I noticed her eyes shine when she first saw him. And then she insulted him in front of everyone. I was angry..." her eyes shined with tears. Her unspoken emotions were trying to reveal themself through those tears.

-"I am not selfless like her, Jayantha. I am not as generous as she is. I am very much a human, I am very selfish and jealous when it comes to my heart and my loved ones." Tiasha said her face contoured in pain.

Krishna patted her shoulder. "You and I, in this human body, we are very much bound by earthly emotions..." He sighed and changed the subject, "What are you going to do, stay back in Hastinapur?"

-"No, It's been two long years since I left my motherland. I feel like Kalikshetra is calling for me." Tiasha smiled, making Krishna smile with her too.

-XX-

I feel like this chapter is a bit of a mess, but I enjoyed writing the first part of the chapter, a lot. I was giggling which made my mom really suspicious. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Thank you all so much for reading. Love you all 3000 ❤️.

Take care and adiós, I will see you again very very soon.