Gangadwara

The cool breeze of divine river made Devika feel happy without reason. She bent down and touched the pious water with reverence, seeking blessings from Devi Ganga who was her husband's ancestor.

"Feeling like I have come another home!" She mused, staring lovingly at the soft ripples on water.

"Without a doubt, you have." Yudhishthira smiled. "See, Mata Ganga is welcoming her new great-granddaughter-in-law."

Devika lowered her head, joining her palms to the Goddess. Soft ripples touched her bowed head.

Just like a mother would do to her child!

"Who are you?"

Devika raised her head. It was a Naga.

"Are you humans?" He asked again.

Devika exchanged a quick glance with Yudhishthira and rose.

"We have come to seek Maharaj Kauravya's audiance." She formally stated. "Inform him that Indraprastheshwara Yudhishthira awaits his meeting."

"Dharmaraj Yudhishthira?" A flicker of admiration passed in the Naga's eyes. He bowed to Yudhishthira with reverence.

"You are welcome in Naga rajya, Ajatashatru! Please have your seat here till I inform my King." He bowed again and went inside water.

"Seems like you have won the hearts of Nagas as well?" Devika raised an eyebrow. "How do you do this to everyone? Any special charm or Mantra?"

"Very special. The same charm that you have done on me." Yudhishthira whispered, cupping her face. "The same Mantra you have won me with! Mantra of love!"

Devika's heart fluttered as his serene gaze rested on her face. A part of her craved to give into his embrace. But she controlled her desire remembering the place and time.

"Jiji is around, Natha." She reminded.

"Not a good excuse, Devi. Your Jiji knows my love for you as much as you know that for her. She won't mind our closeness just like you won't mind hers with me." Yudhishthira's copper eyes beamed in pride.

Only he knew how blessed he was to have two such gems as his Ardhangini!

Devika fondly shook her head. "Nagas are also around, Maharaj. King Kauravya will come in a while and he is like a father to us. Will you keep holding me thus in front of him too?" She glared at her husband.

Yudhishthira smiled again with a brief nod and let her part away. An amused Draupadi, who was playing with blossoms of nearby plants just to give the newly wed couple some alone time, now came closer to them.

"Such a beautiful place this is!" Draupadi mused. "Why don't we visit here often?"

"Ask the King." Devika stole a glance with Yudhishthira. "The one for whom no beauty exists beyond his raajsabha!" She lovingly complained.

"My dear Queens, your King already has too much beauty in his own life to look outside for more." Yudhishthira calmly commented, admiration coupled with pride played in his smile. Both his wives rolled their eyes.

"Nice excuse, Maharaj!" Devika commented.

"That's his best weapon, Devi. He knows that no one can win the Lord of Indraprastha in words!" Draupadi faked a sigh, shaking her head.

"You can, Indraprastheshwaris!" Yudhishthira beamed. "Only you two can win over me in anything, other than Krishna."

Draupadi was going to say something but she had to stop, seeing that the Naga messenger had returned to announce King Kauravya's arrival.

"You are welcome to my kingdom, Maharaj Ajatashatru!" Kauravya greeted Yudhishthira with a warm smile. As he was about to join his palms, Yudhishthira stopped him and touched his feet.

"You are my brother's father-in-law, Taata. Please don't embarrass me thus!"

Kauravya smiled, and raised Yudhishthira with affection. "So much humility and respect for the elders, despite of being so honourable yourself! You are just like Arjuna, my son."

"It's the other way round, Pita. Your dear son-in-law is like his elder brother. " A soft, melodious female voice stated with pride. Devika turned her head to find a golden complexioned young lady smiling.

"Swami has gone totally after Jyeshtha Bhrata. He is not only Dharmaraj's brother. He is his disciple too." She proudly added, and went to touch Yudhishthira's feet.

Devika saw her sharing a brief talk with her husband. Her divine face reflected her inner piety. The Naga girl's pure gold-like complexion and calm, deep eyes made her wonder how could she look so similar to Yudhishthira. 

As if they had been soul siblings since yugas! Devika's lover's heart effortlessly connected to the Princess of serpents.

"Ulupi! Sister!" Draupadi threw her arms around the Naga Princess. "How much I have missed you, little one!"

"It's same for me too. Why haven't you brought Vijaya, Jiji?" Ulupi whined. "I was waiting to meet all of you!"

Draupadi smiled. "If all of us come here then who would look after the works there, dear sister? Jaya will come to meet you some other time for sure."

Ulupi managed to nod, though her fair face turned pale. Realising her heart, Draupadi patted Ulupi's cheeks.

"But someone else has come to meet you for the first time." She tried to cheer her up and turned to Devika. "Guess who?"

Devika came forward and responded with a smile. Ulupi closely observed her for a while.

The woman whose very eyes mirror Yudhishthira's Dharma and regal aura, who else she could be?

"Ulupi, she is..."

"Devika Gauvasani of Shivi." Ulupi said with confidence. "And now, Devika Yudhishthira Chandravanshi." She grinned. "I know."

Devika's eyes widened in surprise.

How did she recognise her?

"Heard so much about you, Devi Jiji!" Ulupi embraced Devika. "Indraprastha is blessed to have your wise and brave rule. The tales of your valour and intelligence are..."

"Wait, wait! How much has Arjuna told you about me?" Devika chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

Ulupi smiled. "You are asking how much? Your dear brother-in-law cannot even stop when he starts admiring you and Jyeshtha."

"You want to say that he doesn't admire you?" Devika narrowed her eyes, smirking. "This is unfair to my brother, Ulupi."

Ulupi lowered her gaze. "Only your brother knows what he does, how do I know, Jiji?" Blush spread over her fair cheeks, making her look lovelier.

"You know. But you won't tell us." Devika teased. Ulupi felt more shy, especially in presence of Yudhishthira.

"Leave this. You came to my home for the first time, Jiji. First I need to welcome you properly." She beamed and turned to leave. Devika held her hand.

"We have not come here as guests, Ulupi. We have come to our own home, to see our Iravan."

"Rajkumari!"

Ulupi turned around. Her Sakhi had come with a six months old baby in her arms.

"Kumar is refusing to drink milk." She worriedly informed. "I've tried everything but he is interested only in coming here."

Ulupi fondly caressed the baby and took him in her lap.

"Iravan, see who have come to meet you!" She said, pointing at the King and Queens of Indraprastha. The baby narrowed his eyes and looked at the three strangers for a while. Then, he giggled and opened his tiny arms to Yudhishthira. Awestruck, Draupadi and Devika exchanged glances.

"See! What did I tell you?" Ulupi proudly looked at her father and the others. "My husband's very life begins with Jyeshtha. His ansha would never fail to identify the polar star of his life."

Devika kept staring at Ulupi. She could not help admiring the way this serpent girl had known Arjuna completely in her heart. Her respect for Yudhishthira made Devika respect Ulupi.

How could she resist loving someone who loved her Yudhishthira?

Little Iravan happily settled in Yudhishthira's arms, playing with the gems on his golden necklace. The King's eyes rested unblinking on the baby's hazel eyes that sparkled at him.

"Krishnaa, Devi, look at him. Doesn't he look exactly like baby Arjuna?" Yudhishthira mused, happy tears sparkling in the corner of his eyes. Devika observed him ruffling Iravan's curly black locks and kissing his dark forehead again and again.

As if he was holding a baby Arjuna again in his arms!

Yet again, Devika's heart filled with pride for her husband. She could almost visualise a little Yudhishthira cradling his brothers in his lap thus.

"Only you know how your baby Arjuna looked like, Natha." She fondly shook her head. "How do we know that?"

Her voice made Iravan turn his head. Devika took the baby in her lap and kissed his head. She handed him over to Draupadi, who took the vessel of milk from Ulupi's handmaiden and fed the kid first. The maids saw with relief that their little Prince was having his food from the Queen of Indraprastha.

"He wanted to eat from his Panchali Maa's hand today." Ulupi beamed.

Everyone was busy pampering the kid.
Devika stole a glance with Yudhishthira. His happy face proved that her intention of visiting here had been fulfilled. Devika wished she could have done something to hold this happy smile forever on his face. A part of her missed Arjuna even more.

Like the very life was missing from the entire picture!

Thinking something, she came forward.

"Ulupi, any news from Arjuna, sister?"

Ulupi's smile faded. She lowered her eyes, subtly shaking her head. Devika gently patted her shoulders.

She knew how a pain of separation feels like!

"Any idea where he could have been now?" Devika asked again.

"He has told me about his wish to visit Manipura in south. I think he is on his way to the Pandya kingdom."

"Didn't you ask him to come, Lupi? Not even for spending few days with Iravan?"

"No, Jiji. He is in the middle of his mission of pilgrimage. How can I hold him back repeatedly?" Pain surfaced in her large eyes. "I should not block his way of Dharma."

"You are living with so much of crisis of Takshaka's raid. Didn't you even feel like asking for his help to protect your Nagas?"

Ulupi smiled. "Savyasachi Jishnu's Dharmapatni should not seek help, Jiji. She should be the one who provides help to others, like he does."

What a great pride for being a warrior's wife! Devika could not help connecting to her again.

Maybe it was so normal to feel the same pride for being wife of any of the Pandavas! Such was their glory, such was the effect of their love!

"Don't worry for me, Jiji. If I truly am his Sahadharmini, I myself will be able to protect Gangadwara from Takshaka's attacks! And will raise my son in a way that he can play his father's role here." Ulupi proudly caressed Iravan who was now playing with Draupadi's long hair.

"Now all my hope lies in Iravan, Jiji. I know that I have to make him mirror my husband. I have to become his both parents together. Give me your blessings to succeed in this."

Devika's eyes shone in admiration.

"You indeed are an inspiration of all women of Aaryavarta, dear sister! The battle you are going to fight will be no less than the battles won by your valiant husband. May victory be yours forever! May Aaryavarta not only remembers you as a VeeraPatni but as VeeraJanani as well!"

***

Indraprastha

"What is this, Bhabhi?" Sahadeva was displeased as Devika herself had come to meet him.

"Why didn't you call me instead?" Sahadeva frowned.

"Because I have something to tell you that I don't want your Jyeshtha to learn." Devika said. "And I came to you only because Bhima and Nakula aren't experts in keeping secrets."

"That's true." Sahadeva smirked. "Tell something to them and they would react so much that the entire Indraprastha will know within a while."

"That's why I can trust only you in this, Deva." Devika affectionately beamed. "You have to ensure that none can know about this before the work is done."

"But Bhabhi, you're forgetting that Nakula's female version lives in my mansion." Sahadeva chuckled.

"And she is here!" Vijaya declared her presence, keeping hands on her hips. "What complain you're doing to Jiji against me?" She glared at Sahadeva.

Devika laughed. These two were like this only. Being cousins and childhood sweethearts, they had grown a great friendship besides love since their young years.

"I'm not complaining." Sahadeva rolled his eyes. "Just stating a fact."

"See, Jiji! Your beloved Devara is giving me false accusation." Vijaya pouted. "I seek justice, Maharani!"

"See Bhabhi, what a quarrelling wife I have got! I also seek justice from you." Sahadeva faked a sigh, earning another mock glare from Vijaya.

"You two will never change!" Devika shook her head, still caught in her giggles.

"Reserve your love fights for some other time, little ones. The matter is serious." Devika turned grave.

"What happened, Jiji?" Vijaya looked concerned now.

"Jaya, we really need to do something to search for Arjuna now." Devika's eyes shone in determination. "It has been really long since we have heard from him."

Both Sahadeva and Vijaya slowly nodded, their brow arching.

"While that's true, Bhabhi, where should we start from?" Sahadeva wondered aloud. "We have no idea where he is."

"If I'm not wrong, he should be in Manipura now." Devika smiled with confidence.

"Manipura? Pandya kingdom of south?" Vijaya looked surprised.

"Correct. He has told Ulupi about visiting that place. I'm having a feeling that he might have thought to build our alliance with southern kingdoms. So there we have a clue."

"Should we send spies to Manipura then, Bhabhi?" Sahadeva sought Devika's approval.

"That's what I wanted to tell you." Devika nodded with emphasis. "But make sure that the spies are trustworthy enough. If Arjuna is struggling to get alliance from south, we need to ensure that Hastinapura cannot know about his activities. Otherwise his journey would be at risk."

"Got it. Don't worry, Bhabhi. I'm sending my own charioteer to the south." Sahadeva assured.

"But I don't understand one thing, Jiji." Vijaya said. "You could have easily told this to Jyeshtha. Or could have sent Indrasena for this work. Why didn't you do that?"

"I don't want Maharaj to know this now, Jaya. Unless we can know exactly where Arjuna is now, this incomplete information will make him more tensed." Devika explained.

She knew how eager Yudhishthira was to hear from his brother. Though she had found a way, Devika did not want to show him a false hope, without being sure herself. She would keep guarding his soft heart from all kinds of injuries! 

The armour on his bosom that she was!