Everyone looked surprised at the owner of the fierce feminine voice which unbalanced the entire court. Never before a woman had raised her voice in a Royal Court over a King's order. Shakuni was the first one to get himself together.

"Who do you think you are to speak over the word of Maharaj?" sneered Gandharraj Shakuni.

Abhijishya smiled. "A mere wellwisher as it looks like my position as the Kuru Kulvadhu is questionable to Rajkumar Suyodhana even after Maharani Gandhari's acceptance yesterday."

Then she joined her hands and turned towards Maharaj Dhritarastra. "Please forgive me if I have spoken out of bounds as a daughter-in-law who fervently wishes to protect the repute of her Tatshree who is Maharaj but before that a Ksatriya."

Suyodhana scoffed and pushed aside Nakul's sword from his neck. "And enlighten us, what does my father's Ksatriya dharma have to do Nakul's punishment?"

"Everything," she calmly said. "It is considered unrighteous for a Ksatriya to go back on one's sworn words, Rajkumar. Yesterday, Maharaj swore that he would do justice by me. As you questioned my character, you have insulted not only me but also my late parents which makes you viable for punishment."

"Putri Abhijishya speaks truly, Maharaj. Rajkumar Suyodhana insulted the Kuru Kulvadhu. Even him being the Yuvraj, does not excuse his grave misconduct," Vidur said.

Dhritarastra looked torn between his duty as a King and his blind love for his son.

Shakuni intervened seeing the situation moving out of hand. "Maharaj, we are being diverted from the main issue of concern which is Pandavs marriage to Panchal Rajkumari Draupadi."

Before Dhritarastra could reply, Mahamahim Bhisma said," Gandharnaresh, I believe Kuru Kulvadhu's honour is of more importance at this moment."

Shakuni gave a fake smile. "Of course, Mahamahim. After all who knows better than you in regards of respecting Rajkumaris."

Bhisma tensed at the reminder and he looked away.

"Whether I insulted Abhijishya or not shouldn't matter. Nakul took to arms and tried to kill me, the Yuvraj. Maharaj already sentenced him for that. Since when did Hastinapur delay in carrying out justice?" Suyodhana said loudly.

"He raised his sword in defence of my honour, Rajkumar, the Kulvadhu of Hastinapur. My honour is Kuru clan's dignity. He has acted on his virtue as a husband and as a Rajkumar while you targeted and questioned my character, insulted me. Maharaj must honour his words and call off his order," Abhijishya said.

Suyodhana smirked. "A King never takes back his orders. Well, what can be expected from a low-born like you? You know nothing of Royal matters."

"I find myself aghast that you nurture such a dangerous notion, Rajkumar. It is moral for a King to take back his orders if his orders contradict his previously given oath. I am sure Kakashree agrees with me," Abhijishya looked at Vidur.

"Once again putri Abhijishya is right. It is stated so in the scriptures as well as in Hastinapur's book of Law," then Bidur turned to Maharaj and said," Rajkumar Suyodhana keeps on insulting our Kulvadhu, Maharaj. You must take back Nakul's sentence and punish Rajkumar Suyodhana's audacity."

Dhritarastra knew what had to be done. "I," he took a deep breath. "I pardon Nakul's action of raising his sword as he acted on my behalf of doing justice by Abhijishya which I momentarily failed at."

The relief was clear in the faces of the Pandavs and Draupadi. Abhijishya gave no reaction outwardly. She knew she would've saved Nakul anyway; even if she had to flee the kingdom with him. But everything was not over.

"Thank you, Maharaj but I am rather displeased with Rajkumar Suyodhana's words," she said with fake sadness.

"I am sure it was not Suyodhana's intent to insult you, putri Abhijishya. He can be too straight forward with his questions," Dhritarastra laughed weakly.

"So Maharaj, the intent behind the questions determine whether it is an insult or just curiosity," she said in a questioning tone.

"Yes of course," Dhritarastra smiled.

"Just like the intent behind the action determines whether it is virtuous or a sin," she stated.

"Stay within your limits," shouted Suyodhana.

"Kakashree," Abhijishya turned towards Vidur. "Is the Law not same for everyone in Hastinapur? Only the King is above the Law and not the Yuvraj. As much as I understand, the basis of judgement should be the same. Should it not?"

"The Law is same for everyone, putri. Be it Yuvraj or a common citizen. The punishment of insulting the daughter-in-law of the royal house is lashes by the whip. The number is decided by the one who is wronged. As for your next question, both the cases are about the intention with which the act is done. So yes, both the cases of Pandavas marriage to Rajkumari Draupadi and Rajkumar Suyodhana's words should have the same basis of judgement," Vidur said.

"But- but what good intentions could be behind such sin? I am sure no pure intent could result in five men marrying the same woman," Dhritarastra said curling his fingers tightly against the side of the throne.

"Yes, Maharaj is right. Tell us, Oh wise Abhijishya, how are we to know if their intent is pure and their deed virtuous?" asked Shakuni.

"We are all entangled in our own assumptions Gandharraj. What we need is proof. I cannot simply believe Rajkumar Suyodhana's harmless intent as you are not believing the Pandavs and Draupadi jiji's good intentions. Then looks like we are at an impasse," Abhijishya said with a polite smile.

"Maharaj," Yudhisthir spoke. "My brothers, Panchali and I are ready to walk into a burning pyre to prove our innocence infront of the entire society. That way people who think of doing a deed that looks unrighteous like us would know that they might have to prove themselves similarly too."

"I guess this solves all our doubts then. The Pandavs and Draupadi jiji are ready to prove themselves. But of course Rajkumar Suyodhana need not do anything this extreme to prove his intention," Abhijishya said with a pleasant smile.

"Tell us, putri. What would satisfy your doubt regarding my son's intention behind his poorly worded questions?" urged Dhritarastra.

"I think placing a hot coal on his tongue will be a good test, Maharaj. Afterall the words were uttered by his tongue. If his intention holds no degradation for me, his tongue shall remain unburnt," Abhijishya said looking a seething Suyodhana in the eye.

"Such insolence! The court of Hastinapur is not run by you,"raged Suyodhana. "I don't need to prove myself to anyone."

"Gandharraj, your beloved nephew is not ready to prove himself. Should we all then conclude he has insulted me? Then Maharaj would have to announce a punishment which satisfies my wounded honour," Abhijishya replied.

Shakuni grimaced. "Nephew Suyodhana did not mean any insult to you, Yadavkumari Abhijishya. In his abruptness and curiosity, he worded things a bit inappropriately," he gave a forced smile. "But we must also come to a conclusion regarding the Pandavs' marriage to Panchal Rajkumari. Am I not right, Mahamantri Vidur?" Shakuni said.

Vidur got up from his seat and said," Maharaj, Tatshree and I have investigated everything putra Yudhisthir told us about. In Panchal, situation arose such that this was indeed the only way."

"Vidur is telling the truth. I have contacted Maharishi Vedvyas as well. Panchal Rajkumari Draupadi's marriage to all Panduputras have his blessing as told by putri Abhijishya yesterday. It is only fair that we accept it and give the same love and respect to putri Draupadi a Kuru Kulvadhu deserves," Bhisma said hoping Dhritarastra would finally see reason and accept the marriage.

Dhritarastra furrowed his eyebrows in irritation. "I cannot accept this, Tatshree. As a King I must think of the most ignorant and poorest of the people belonging to my kingdom. They will not understand the reasoning of wise men."

"Maharaj, I believe the solution to your dilemna was already provided by Jyesth when he said he along with his brothers and jiji would walk through the pyre infront of the public. Your subjects whom you are concerned about will see for themselves whether the Pandavs and Draupadi jiji are innocent or not. The same way, I shall also see whether Rajkumar Suyodhana's intention was to insult me or not," Abhijishya said.

Dhritarastra couldn't let any harm befall his son Suyodhana. He sagged down on the throne and said tiredly,"There is no need to provide any proof. Yudhisthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev and Suyodhana are Kuru children. They have learnt about righteousness from Tatshree. I have faith in all of them. I also extend this good faith to Panchal Rajkumari and accept her as Kulvadhu of my clan. I am sure putri Abhijishya feels this is just to her."

Abhijishya didn't bother to hold her sigh of relief. She looked at her husband Nakul and smiled. The fury had faded from his eyes. He too nodded and smiled back.

She joined her hands and said,"Thank you, Maharaj. You have-"

"Wait a minute," interrupted a Kaurav brother. It was Dushkarna.

"Please forgive me for speaking without permission, Maharaj. I wish to say something," he said getting up from his seat.

"Speak, putra Dushkarna," Maharaj Dhritarastra said.

"Lying to the King is a punishable offence Maharaj. Rajkumari Abhijishya said she wanted justice as she felt wronged by the Pandavs. Now she is singing an entirely different tone," Dushkarna said gesturing at Abhijishya.

Shakuni looked contemplative. The Pandavs tensed again. Vidur and Bhisma exchanged glances.

Dhritarastra sighed. "Putra, you are mistaken. Putri Abhijishya did not utter any untrue words yesterday. You, just like me misinterpreted her request based on assumptions. She never said she faced unfairness from the Pandavs." He chuckled wearily. "I admit I too was mistaken initially but after today's court proceedings everything is crystal clear."

"I might be blind," he added bitterly. "But that doesn't mean I am not insightful."

Abhijishya looked at the king who seemed to have aged ten more years in this short span of court meeting. She knew her web of words would not appease Dhritarastra anymore in the future.

Dushkarna sat back down in anger.

"Now that everything is resolved, Yudhisthir should take his rightful place as the Yuvraj," Vidur said.

"NO," the dam on Suyodhana's anger had finally broken.

"I am the Yuvraj of Hastinapur! I shall not relinquish my position for him," he shouted. "If Yudhisthir wants his title back, he will have to defeat me in battle first."

Saying that he walked towards Yudhisthir but was stopped by Bheem. "Stop Suyodhana. When a elephant becomes mad, he has to be put down," Bheem warned.

"You... YOU DARE THREATEN ME," Suyodhana yelled.

"Rajkumar Bheem, I shall be forced to shower arrows on you for threatening my friend," Karna said clutching his bow tightly.

Arjun replied fiercely," Your arrows shall meet mine before they reach Bhrata Bheem, Angraj."

"Try raising your bow, Bhrata Arjun," shouted Dushkarna. He got up from his seat with his sword in hand.

Soon every Kaurav was standing behind their eldest.

The four Pandav brothers also flanked Yudhisthir.

Abhijishya moved towards Draupadi. That was when she noticed Sushasan sitting on his seat watching everything expressionlessly.

His absence beside Suyodhana unsettled her more than his gaze. She needed to find out what caused this fissure between the eldest and second eldest sons of Dhritarastra.

"Maharaj, tell your sons to step back or I shall be forced to take to arms in defence of the Yuvraj of Hastinapur," Bhism said in a steely tone.

Dhritarastra looked around sightlessly with scrunched eyebrows trying to understand what exactly was going on.

Suyodhana's sense returned upon hearing Mahamahim's warning. He gestured his brothers to lower their weapons but didn't step back.

"This atmosphere of battlefield in the sacred court of Hastinapur is unacceptable," Bhisma said fiercely. "Putra Yudhisthir became the Yuvraj upon succeeding in the battle with Panchalnaresh Drupad. As soon as he stepped inside the Kuru Kingdom, Suyodhana's coronation as Yuvraj was nullified. Then on which basis are your sons challenging his right again?"

Dhritarastra remained quiet.

"Pitamaah, Yuvraj is not the one who wears the crown but the one who adorns his duties towards his subjects. How can he be Yuvraj when he willingly stayed away from his position and neglected his responsibilities for an entire year? He does not deserve to be Yuvraj," protested Suyodhana.

Bheem scoffed. "If it weren't for Mata we would've come back Bhrata Suyodhana . We would've delivered apt punishment to the one who tried to burn us all alive in the palace made of lacquer. You are already aware of this, are you not?" He said menancingly.

"You-" Suyodhana was interrupted.

"SILENCE," roared Bhisma. "Not a single word."

"Pardon me for interfering Mahamahim but I told you before. I told everyone before that my nephews cannot live peacefully with the sons of Pandu in the same city," Shakuni said. He turned to Dhritarastra. "Maharaj, Maharaj! Atleast now give me permission to take my nephews away to Gandhar and settle down there," he said faking sadness.

"No, this cannot be," Dhritarastra shook his head. He looked at Vidur hopefully and said," There must be some other way to settle everything peacefully. Vidur. Tell me, what can be done?"

Vidur looked at everyone and sighed. "There is only one way to abate the hostility between the Pandavs and your sons, Maharaj."

"And what is it, Vidur?" asked Maharaj.

Vidur sent an apologetic look towards Bhisma and said,"Partition."

~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~

A.N. - It took me a long time to think through all the conversations and counter arguments. I think Abhijishya had Dhritarastra trapped between a rock and hard place. Her arguments were ironclad and the plot doesn't leave out any loopholes ( I think so).

Comment. Comment. Comment.

In dire need of long reviews of what you think of this chapter.

Was this what you expected? Is the chapter up to the mark?

And yea I didn't add drama on Abhijishya's manipulation because I feel this side of Dhritarastra which later realises the truth is important. He was a King. He has got to be insightful. So that's an added character detail. I must admit it was a bit difficult to write Dhritarastra while always keeping in mind his inability to see.

Please do vote as well.

Next chapter will be up next monday...probably. I am taking things a bit slow.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")

P.s. Rasnak has recently published her book "Kirti Kritika aur Kartik ki". Go check it out. It has some new added flavours and different plotline than Mahabharat. It is also a timetravel to Dwapar yug fanfic.