Indraprastha, Sahadeva's mansion, morning

"Really?"

"Really." Sahadeva's widened smile assured Devika. "My messenger is back with this news. And it's confirmed from the side of Manipura King as well." He handed over a scroll to her. "This is his letter to Jyeshtha."

Devika exhaled deeply, closing her eyes to thank all Gods to whom she had been praying for Arjuna's well-being.

"Thank you for your help, Deva." She smiled. "Your charioteer has been back from a really tedious journey. Ask him to take rest first. I shall arrange for his rewards soon."

"And me? What about my reward, Bhabhi?" Sahadeva raised an eyebrow.

"Your reward?" Devika softly chuckled. "Well, won't it be better for you to receive the reward from Vijaya instead of me?"

"Don't you know your sister, Bhabhi?" Sahadeva faked a sigh.

"Undoubtedly I do. And that's why I can say this with confidence." Devika's eyes shone in slight mischief. "Jaya will give you your reward. Ask her for it."

"You are taking her side today?" Sahadeva pouted.

"I'm on your side too, dear." Devika laughed and patted his head. "Rajkumar Sahadeva, I give you blessings that you'll get the sweetest reward of your life very soon."

Sahadeva stared at her with squinted eyes, making Devika laugh more.

"I didn't get you, Bhabhi."

Devika smiled to herself. Sahadeva was the most intelligent among the five brothers, yet he could put aside all his wisdom and become so naive at times. Especially in front of Kunti and Yudhishthira, and sometimes, to Devika too.

As if he could allow himself to become a child when they were around!

"Don't stress your brain too much, little one. Jaya will explain the rest to you." She assured her confused brother-in-law, suppressing a giggle.

***

Yudhishthira's mansion, night

"What makes my Queen so happy today?" The King's eyes sparkled as the wave of her happiness passed over him too.

"This." Devika handed over the scroll to him that Sahadeva gave her in the morning.

"King Chitravahana from Manipura?" Yudhishthira's eyes stuck to the royal seal, his brow arched. "What can it be?"

"See yourself. Maybe he has something urgent to discuss with you."

"But what political issue could it be there in the far south that requires my attention?"

"The letter is for you, Maharaj. How can I know?" Devika casually shrugged and pretended to be busy in tending Yudhishthira's favourite white lotuses in the flower-pot. Still confused, he watched her for a while. The curve at the edges of her full red lips could not escape his eyes. Her effort of hiding a smile was clear.

"Maharani?"

"Yes, Maharaj?" Devika naively looked back at him.

"If you really don't know what is there in this letter, then how can it make you so delighted?" The King's question fell straight on her.

Devika beamed at his intellect that had never failed to win her. She now smiled fully. Being more certain, Yudhishthira brought her close.

"Arjuna's news. Am I right?"

Devika's eyes widened in surprise.

"How could you..." She could not finish.

He smiled now. "I do know you, Devi. I know that only one thing can make you this much happy and that's my happiness."

Devika's eyes got moist.

Who else could have read her smiles and tears like he did!

"I envy this wisdom of yours that doesn't even let me give you a surprise!" She grinned, her happy teardrops shone in pride.

"Then you envy yourself only." He brushed her hair. "For you are my very wisdom!" His lips moved closer to her forehead, whispering, "You are my intellect."

"Enough!" Devika threw a mock glare at him. "If you are done with these flutterings, may we proceed to the preparations that we need to do?"

"Preparation for?"

"Welcoming the new Kulavadhu of this household." She smiled. "Your dear Phalguna has got married to the Princess of Manipura."

"You mean, King Chitravahana's daughter?"

Devika nodded with emphasis. "Chitrangada is her name. Valorous, intelligent and a powerful heir of her land. A perfect match for our Phalguna indeed."

"I never had any doubt on my brother's wise choice." Yudhishthira beamed. "But as far as I know, Rajkumari Chitrangada is the only child of Maharaj Chitravahana. Who would look after Manipura post her marriage?"

"Maybe this letter has the answer, Natha." Devika drew his attention to the scroll.

Yudhishthira nodded and rested his eyes on the letter.

King Chitravahana's tone was cordial. He had greeted Yudhishthira as a relative and then made a request for allowing him to keep his daughter in Manipura.

Maharaj Ajatashatru,

You know that Chitrangada is my sole heir, and as per the norms of my clan, she has to look after my kingdom after me. Hence, I had to take a promise from your brother that he will allow my daughter to stay in her natal home after their marriage. And their child will become Manipura's heir.

I know this sounds unnatural, and maybe, selfish too. But you are a dutiful, righteous ruler who understands subjects' needs. I believe that you will understand my situation and would not ask me to deprive my subjects from their secured future.

Arjuna has already agreed to my proposal and hence I have let them get married. But he is too much obedient to you and without your consent, he cannot finalize this decision. I shall be grateful to you if you accept my request.

Yudhishthira closed the letter. A sigh escaped his heart. A look at him told Devika that his hope had shattered.

"So they are not coming." He muttered.

"Don't you know your Arjuna, Swami?" Devika gently patted his back. "He is your brother, your disciple. He would never return before his vow is over."

"I know, I know." Yudhishthira's eyes betrayed hurt. "But Chitrangada? For which fault should she be deprived of visiting her new home even once?"

Devika hid her sigh. This question had bothered her as well.

"Natha, this is not the first time we have to stay away from our loved ones." She softly reminded. "Who knows it better than you, Dharmaraj, that justice comes at a cost of sacrifices?"

Yudhishthira stared through the window in blank eyes.

"First Hidimbaa, then Ulupi, and now Chitrangada too." He said as if he was talking to himself. "All of them have chosen their responsibilities over the company of family."

"Such sacrifice suits them only!" Devika forced a smile on her face now. "They are not ordinary girls, Swami. They are Pita Pandu and Mata Kunti's daughters-in-law. They are wives of those Pandavas who can even starve themselves to feed their people."

She took Yudhishthira's palm within hers. "We should be proud of having such sisters, Natha, not sad."

Yudhishthira let out his sigh with a nod.

"You are right, Devi. We should not degrade their sacrifice. Neither should we stand as obstacles in front of their duties." He patted Devika's palms that held his. "I shall write back to Maharaj Chitravahana, accepting his wish."

"Wait!" Devika called. Yudhishthira turned back with question in his eyes. Devika was smiling now.

"We need to send our blessings too for the new couple." She reminded. Yudhishthira saw her picking up an ornate wooden case.

"See, how will this look on Chitrangada?" Her smile widened as she took out a gem-studded golden necklace from the case. The gems shone brighter than the ghee lamps around them.

Awed, Yudhishthira stared at the jewelry first, and then, at his wife.

"You got her gift prepared so soon?"

Devika chuckled. "How can I not? This is the first ever wedding after my arrival in this home. Chitrangada is my first Devarani whom I got to welcome as an elder. Should I let this opportunity get missed?"

Yudhishthira's heart swelled in pride as he watched Devika's face glowing in pleasure.

How fast she has made his family as her own!

"The only regret is," her smile faded. "That I could not make Chitrangada wear this in my own hands!"

"Don't feel sad, Devi. I strongly believe that she will come here one day, to take your blessings and love in person. My Phalguna can never love a girl who doesn't feel one with his family." Yudhishthira brushed her hair. "Chitrangada will definitely come, one day! Mark my words."

Devika looked up to his smile and managed to nod.

"Well, are all your gifts for the bride only?" Yudhishthira raised an eyebrow. "Nothing for my poor brother?"

"Who says that? I'll send Shivi's famous white horse for Arjuna. I know that he loves white." Devika grinned. "Doesn't he?"

"Shivi's horse!" Yudhishthira repeated in surprise. Realising why he reacted thus, Devika turned grave.

"Those horses belong to me since I was ten years old. I have right on them." Devika's face had changed its colour.

"Don't worry, I'm not taking anything from Maharaj Govasana who hasn't yet accepted you." She finished and turned away to keep the jewelry in secure place. The hurt in her eyes made Yudhishthira regret. He hurried and held her arm.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Devi!"

"I know." Was Devika's precise reply.

Yudhishthira watched her turning away with a grimace. He blamed himself for triggering her suppressed pain.

In his love, Devika had dedicated her everything to the Pandava family. And here he was, who could not yet do anything to unite her with her natal family of Shivi! For a while, Yudhishthira felt like he was being too selfish with her.

"I will make your wish come true! I promise!" He whispered in determination.

***

Shiva Temple, morning

"Maharani, what was the need of such a strict vow?" Ratnavali protested. "You are making yourself suffer unnecessarily."

"I'm fulfilling my promise to Mahadeva, Ratna." Devika smiled. "I had vowed a special worship to him after getting Arjuna's news."

"That's fine. But keeping fast for twelve days?" Ratnavali frowned. "At least take a little charanamrita!"

"Don't, Ratna. Nothing will happen to me. If my love for my husband is true, the eternal lover of Devi Parvati will take care of me. I have faith in him."

Ratnavali gave up, sighing. "Twelve days of fasting for Rajkumar Arjuna's twelve years' safety, right?"

"This is why I love you so much!" Devika beamed, patting Ratnavali's cheeks. "You understand me before I can speak."

Her smile did not touch Ratnavali. Rather her frown deepened more.

"For whom are you doing all these, Maharani? Do you even know how your dear Devara's admirers talk bad against Maharaj?"

Devika shrugged away her comment with another casual smile and concentrated on pouring milk on the Shiva linga.

"You didn't believe, did you?"

"No I didn't." Devika turned her head with confidence. "This is Indraprastha. No single person here can talk bad against their King. If they were like that, Maharaj would never have received a name of Ajatashatru, the one without enemies."

"But you know well that he is not without enemies at all." Ratnavali reminded.

Devika's hands froze. Lines of worry were visible on her face.

"What do you want to mean? Anybody from Hastinapura is conspiring against him?" She muttered. "Again?"

"I don't know who is doing what conspiracy, Maharani. But one thing is sure. People of Indraprastha are gradually getting brainwashed against Maharaj. You yourself can observe and confirm whether I'm right or not."

Devika frowned. If not from Hastinapura, then definitely, from Sindhu or Shivi. The very thought made her cringe.

She won't forgive her family if they were involved in ruining her Yudhishthira's image in his people's mind! Never!

"Thanks for informing me, Ratna. I myself will find out what is going on behind us." Was her short reply before closing her eyes in prayer.

Show me the truth, Mahakaal!
_________________________________________

Author's note:

Horses of Shivi and Sindhu breeds were very famous and popular at Mahabharata's time. They were extremely powerful and many warriors used to choose them for their chariots. One of horses in Krishna's chariot was from Shivi.

I'm very sorry because Devi Chitrangada's physical entry could not happen here. But I'll surely bring her in Rajasuya, as mentioned in text. Maybe I can try for the first meet of all nine there.

By the way, what reward Sahadeva is going to get? What do you think?