Indraprastha

"Now let us take your leave, Maharani." Mitravinda patted Devika's cheeks.

"So soon?" Devika felt a sudden emptiness within, seeing Krishna and his other wives also standing to take her leave.

"Stay a few more days, please!" She pleaded, clasping Mitravinda's golden lotus-like hands within hers.

Mitravinda shook her head, glancing at her Lord. "See, Natha, the Queen of Indraprastha probably wants to seize us in the prison."

"Indraprastha doesn't have a prison that can seize him who has broken prison at the moment of his birth." Devika rolled her eyes. "I can only request you all. Just a few more days, Didi! It won't do much harm to your works at Dwaraka."

"This is what you do every time, Devi." Krishna complained. "We have been trying to take your leave since past week. All the time you are repeating the same words. Won't you let us go at all?"

"Why are you all so eager to leave us, Bhrata?" Devika frowned. "Aren't you liking to stay here? Is there any lack from our side?"

"Indraprastha has been our second home now and all of you are dear to our hearts. How can there be any lack, dear sister?" Satyabhama hugged Devika. "But we have to go now."

"Letters are coming from Dwaraka, asking for our immediate return. We cannot stay back anymore." Rukmini explained. "We shall come again soon."

"Alright." Devika sighed. "I won't stop you then. But please wait till Maharaj returns from the court."

"We cannot depart without meeting him." Krishna assured. "We shall wait."

***

Daruka was ready holding the reins of Krishna's Garuda-bannered chariot. Balarama's palm-bannered chariot waited beside it. The royal family of Indraprastha stood at the gate for bidding them farewell.

"Come again soon!" Draupadi embraced Satyabhama. "I'll be waiting."

"Sure, we shall be here to celebrate our next nephew's birth very soon." Satyabhama beamed, hugging her back. Draupadi's cheeks turned crimson.

"And to celebrate the next wedding as well." Kalindi meaningfully glanced at Bhima and Nakula. Both felt embarrassed outside but within their hearts, felt happy to remember their beloved faces.

"We too shall be waiting to visit Dwaraka soon to welcome our newborn nephews." Yudhishthira smiled.

Krishna's eyes sparkled. "That you have to ask your sisters, Jyeshtha. I don't know anything about that."

His eight Queens glared at him. Balarama chuckled, exchanging a glance with Revati.

"Now if the King and Queens give us permission, may we start?"

Yudhishthira nodded and embraced Krishna once again.

"You have become my brother-in-law once again, Keshava." The King of Indraprastha said. "May we two keep growing new relations every time we meet!"

"That is sure to happen." Krishna assured before riding on his chariot. His wives and Revati went to their palanquins. Pandava family stared at them till they were visible.

These people were the very power that kept driving the rulers of Indraprastha.

***

King's mansion

"Again?" Devika frowned. "This is the third time I'm hearing about Takshaka's atrocities just in this one month!"

"His torture is unstoppable, Devi." Yudhishthira had curve on his brow. "He has made the entire Khandava forest an abode of terror."

"We need to strengthen the guard around the forest." Draupadi suggested. "Especially around the rivulet that connects Khandava to our city."

"Right, Jiji." Devika nodded. "But as long as we don't take a bigger step to clean up the forest itself, this will continue."

"Let Arjuna return." Yudhishthira said. "We'll see to it after hearing his opinion."

"That's fine. But for now, let's do some alternative, Natha." Draupadi said. "Almost everyday Takshaka's people are robbing our subjects. We need to stop this anyhow."

"I'm telling Bhima to keep guards on high alert." Yudhishthira said, his brow having deep curves. Devika knew that he was missing Arjuna more right now.

It was not just for his affection for Arjuna but as a dutiful ruler as well. Without the Senapati of Indraprastha, the kingdom's safety was also at risk.

How long more will Arjuna take to return? Devika hid a sigh.

"We can still protect the city but not the interior of forest. I worry for the Nagas living there." Draupadi said. "Maharaj, is there any news from Ulupi's side?" Her eyes betrayed worry.

The very mention of Ulupi made Devika sit straight.

It was not an unfamiliar name to the new Queen of Indraprastha. Ulupi, the daughter of Naga King Kauravya, was Arjuna's wife. Though Devika had not met her yet, she did feel an affectionate connection with the Naga Princess who happened to be her younger sister-in-law.

"I hope she is fine." Devika looked at Yudhishthira, hoping him to assure her.

"She is, worry not. I have sent spies to check on her." Yudhishthira said. "Ulupi is safe in Gangadwara with her father."

Both the Queens exhaled in relief.

"Not just that." The King smiled. "She has recently given birth to a lovely baby boy."

"Really?" Draupadi sprung to her feet, smiling. "And you are telling me now?" She shook her head fondly at him, rolling her eyes.

"I myself have learnt this today only, Krishnaa. How can I be late to inform you that you have become a mother again?" He smiled, making Draupadi sit beside him.

"Is his naming ceremony over?" Draupadi kept asking in excitement. "What name have they given to him?"

"Iravan." Yudhishthira said. "The one with wisdom."

"Iravan, the knowledgeable!" Draupadi repeated in pride. "Indeed, this name suits my child."

"Our child, Jiji!" Devika corrected. "You are forgetting that your newborn Iravan has his Devika Maa as well."

"Iravan is fortunate to have mothers like you. Only if," Yudhishthira's smile faded. "If Arjuna was also here to cherish his childbirth!" He muttered, looking away. Devika knew that he was hiding his tears. She noticed Draupadi's face turning pale, too.

She was sure that Arjuna too was not happy to stay away from this loving home. Why wasn't he coming back then? What was stopping him?

"When will Arjuna return, Maharaj?" She could not resist asking.

"After twelve years." Yudhishthira softly replied. "As we have vowed."

"Vowed?"

"My fault, Devi!" Pain surfaced in Yudhishthira's eyes. "I shouldn't have gone to armoury at that time."

"The fault is mine, Swami, not yours." Draupadi softly protested, her eyes mirroring the same pain. "Armoury is meant to be for you five. I only shouldn't have been there that day."

Devika heard both and observed both. She had guessed what might have happened for which both were blaming themselves.

She was aware of Pandavas' vow of not violating each other's privacy with Draupadi. Definitely it had been an accidental violation of that rule, without fault of any of the three. Devika was sure that none of them had done this willingly. But maybe they had to agree due to the promise taken.

What was this family made of? Suffering so much pain yet sticking to truth and Dharma! Devika beamed with pride. It indeed needed a lot of blessings to become a part of such divine family!

"Arjuna will return at right time, Jiji." She held Draupadi's hands, looking at Yudhishthira. "But pray, don't send him your pain and sighs thus. That will break him wherever he is now!"

"We know he won't return before the terms of his exile is over. I don't want him to break his promise." Yudhishthira said. "But we can at least expect regular messages from him, Devi. It just breaks me to live a royal life knowing that my little brother is living on fruits and sleeping under the sky!"

Devika smiled to herself. Yudhishthira had such a father's heart even for his brothers! He considered his four brothers as his first children. A new sense of responsibility struck her as soon as this thought crossed her mind.

She too would have to grow into a mother now. For everyone who were children for him!

"We will get his message soon." Devika assured him. "I'm having a feeling that he is happy and doing really well. Trust me!" She grinned, trying to transmit her hope into Yudhishthira.

The King slowly turned to her and nodded. But he still avoided Draupadi's gaze in guilt.

"Let's do one thing. Why not we go to visit Gangadwara once?" Devika proposed. "To meet little Iravan?"

She had said it purposely. She knew that the sight of Iravan would trigger little Arjuna's memory in her husband. And that would soothe him a little.

And it had worked. Yudhishthira's brown eyes sparkled as he nodded in agreement.

"That can be done for sure." He said. "Let me arrange necessary protection for the borders first. We shall start in two days."
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Author's note: Indraprastha family moments along with couples' romance and childbirths will keep coming in next few chapters. This phase was the happiest period of Pandavas' lives, so I cannot resist myself from exploring every bliss of Indraprastha. Hope you will like some happy chapters before Rajasuya followed by dice game.