'Life is about suffering. There is no escape from it. That is the truth. What is important is how we deal with suffering; how we deal with the truth.'

It was nearing sunset when Abhijishya sought out Krishna voluntarily. He hadn't come to visit her after everyone was informed that she had woken up.

She also hadn't spoken to Nakul regarding what caused her sudden two day long sleep. Abhijishya didn't want to tell him; not atleast until she had spoken to Krishna.

She also wanted answers from him regarding everything. Her body was weak so she walked slowly towards where he was swinging gently in the Royal garden.

Nakul wanted to come along but she had clearly told him that this conversation was only meant for her brother Krishna and her. He had conceded then.

"Come sit beside me, sister," Krishna said with a smile.

Abhijishya didn't say anything. She sat down on the swing.

"I didn't come see you earlier because I wasn't sure whether my presence would be welcome or not," he said looking at her.

Abhijishya asked,"And why would you assume so?"

"You are angry," Krishna said.

"Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not. But that doesn't really matter now, does it? Even I am not sure what exactly I am feeling," Abhijishya said. There was an underlying resignation in her tone.

"Sister," Krishna said in a pained voice.

"Then there is my husband. He doesn't even know what happened to me. He has been infinitely patient towards me despite my choice to remain silent. What do I even tell him when I myself do not understand why this happened to me?" Abhijishya's voice quivered. She bit her lip to keep herself from crying.

"Tell him what you want to," Krishna replied. He knew the questions that were haunting Abhijishya. Why did he not warn her about the visions? Why did he not do anything when his sister took such a drastic step?

Abhijishya didn't even glance at him. "I did not want to interfere when Devi Ekanamsha had chosen to show herself and speak to you," he said.

"You did not want to interfere because it doesn't concern your grand plan of establishing dharma you mean," she said sharply.

Krishna neither accepted nor denied her claim. Instead he said,"You deserve the truth after what you have endured. Tell me Abhijishya, do you know the mantra of Devi Ekanamsha?"

Abhijishya looked at him in confusion. "I- What? No, I don't know."

"Then how did you perform aarti?" he asked.

"I- I just took the aarti thali from Mata and started...," she became silent.

"Started what?" Krishna asked calmly.

"I- I did aarti and I said something?" she looked at him helplessly. "I don't know," she whispered. "But Mata Devaki and others said that I chanted the mantra of Devi Ekanamsha. How is that possible? I didn't even know who Devi Ekanamsha was a few days ago, much less her mantra," she asked.

"Your mind is not aware of the real form of your soul. Your utterance of her name drew Devi Ekanamsha from her mortal body where she was supposed to remain dormant. You carry the three gunas in harmony, a feat not even achieved by primodial deities," Krishna said.

Shock was only the upper layer of the emotions she felt upon hearing Krishna's words. "What are saying, Gopal? Gunas? What gunas?"

"Gunas are the attribute, quality or peculiarity that is present in every living form. There are three gunas : sattva which means goodness, constructive, harmonious; rajas which means passion, active, confused and tamas meaning darkness, destructive, chaotic. Brahma Dev bears rajas primarily, Narayan bears sattvas and Mahadev tamas. Owing to their role in creating, preserving and destroying the cosmos and to keep the Time flowing, one attribute has become principle in them while the other two gunas become dormant. Only Adi Para Shakti Devi interchanges the three gunas within her according to which form she chooses to remain in. That is why she exists in multiple forms. In Devi Kali, her tamas becomes predominant while in Devi Annapurna, her sattvas becomes principle. Again as Sati she is the embodiment of rajas. Yet your existance is the evidence that the three gunas can remain in harmony; neither more dominant over the others," Krishna explained looking thoughtful.

"-the hell," Abhijishya said feeling faint. "This is a very bad joke Gopal. I am not even that angry with you. Why are you telling such ridiculous tales?" she laughed weakly. But Gopal was uncharacteristically serious. His gaze bore into her and she knew every word he had said was nothing but the truth.

"But- but I am very sure I am human. Mortal. No special powers or anything," she said.

"Like I said earlier, your mind is not aware of the truth of your soul. Now that I have told you, you know. But knowing and realising are entire different things. The awakening of your soul to emerge once again in your true form must occur on it's own. It is your path to walk, my dear sister," Krishna said with a smile.

Abhijishya's brain had now gotten used to learning the impossibilities or else she was sure it would have shut down. First time travel, meeting Gods and Goddesses, falling in love and marrying a Pandav, getting trapped in an illusion in her own mind and now this. So she just took it in stride like a good sport and shrugged.

"Eh, whatever. It's not like I know what will happen in the future. I have been living fine as a normal person for 19 years," Abhijishya muttered. Then looked up alarmed. "I am not going to explode or anything right?"

Krishna burst out laughing. "After all I said, that is what you are worried about?"

"Gopal, this is serious. Stop laughing. Am I going to explode? Tell meee," she shook him.

"Maybe, who knows?" Krishna said with mock concern.

"Huh! As if I am falling for that," she announced. "I can tell when you are not being genuine. Only your dearest Parth will fall for it."

Krishna chuckled. "No, you are not going to explode," he confirmed.

"I miss life in the 21st century. Things made much more sense then," she grumbled.

He raised an eyebrow incredulously. "Like eating tide pod challenge? Or snorting a condom up one nostril then pulling it out from throat challenge? Don't get me started on the amount of things that make no sense in your 21st century."

"Ah those challenges," Abhijishya cringed.

"An idle mind is very dangerous, sister. Sometimes it harms oneself and the other times it harms others," Krishna remarked.

She nodded in agreement. They sat in companionable silence for some time enjoying the evening breeze.

"You haven't said anything about our ten year old sister who is in Kanyashram," Krishna said.

Abhijishya sighed and closed her eyes. "I do not know about Gods and Goddesses but we average humans bind ourselves in attachments. Hence we suffer once the attachment is gone and love remains. My wound of the disappearance of my family and friends' attachments had scabbed over. Your sister reopened them."

Then she stared up at the dusky sky and whispered," I can still see them. The visions linger like ghosts behind the memories of my time with my family. I know. I know they were mere illusions but the faces, the voices, almost everything was the same. To me, I am my mind. I won't pretend to have known my soul. Devi Ekanamsha tainted that. And I must live with it."

Krishna remained silent. He knew she had realised that her mind was put to test.

"I won't seek her out but at the time never discourage her from seeking me out," Abhijishya said. The hurt was still raw.

Krishna smiled. "You have only met Devi Ekanamsha, Abhijishya. Not our sister Subhadra."

"Then I guess I shall meet her when I meet her," she said and got up. Abhijishya took Krishna's hand and squeezed gently. Her eyes were misty from gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered. For providing a family, for being there for her, for the hint in the illusionary world, for listening, she didn't say.

Gopal knew all was forgiven then. He stood up and embraced her gently.

================================

Abhijishya was on her way back to her chambers when she met Bhratashree Balram.

She had asked him if he found anything regarding Charu's father's debt.

He said that there was nothing amiss. According to the records, Shilpakar Mohan had taken a loan of four hundred gold mudras. If tallied with the present economic conditions, then Charu needed to serve for 22 years and 4 months. If there were changes in the economical conditions then her period of servitude could either decrease to 22 years or even increase to 23 years. (The service provided by a das or dasi for a month was currently equivalent to 1 gold mudra.)

The first question that came to her head was 400 gold mudras was an excessive loan for even a gambler who was a Shilpakar. Her suspicion on Satrajit along with other workers at the treasury only worsened.

She also didn't want to give off an impression that Bhratashree Balram hadn't performed his duty efficiently. So instead she said,"Bhratashree, if you permit then I would like to gift something to everyone who work at the Treasury at the council meeting tomorrow."

Balram smiled and nodded in agreement. Then he said,"Satyaki also told me that he along with you, Nakul and healer Adhrit want to put forward the request of studying human corpses for Shalya (surgery) treatment. You all have Pitashree's, mine and Kanha's support. I think you'll be able to convince the council."

"I hope so too Bhratashree. Many more lives can be saved if we can progress ourselves in the field of surgery," Abhijishya said.

Balram placed a hand on her shoulder and said,"But amidst everything make sure to take care of yourself. You are still recovering."

Abhijishya smiled and inclined her head. "I must take leave now, Bhratashree. Have a good night," she said and went on her way.

================================

After dinner, Pitashree Vasudev informed her that she would be meeting Matamaah Ugrasen in the council meeting tomorrow. He was the head of the council and regarded as the King of Dwarka by other kings of Aryavart. He had been away visiting the Bhojas so she didn't meet him earlier.

Nakul hadn't waited for Abhijishya after he finished eating. He had gone alone to their chamber when he saw Abhijishya engrossed in conversation with Pitashree Vasudev regarding the administration of Dwarka.

Later, Abhijishya went to her chambers after she and the ladies had finished their meal.

"It seems like these days you do not even have time for me," Nakul said just as she entered the chamber.

"Parihar (privacy)," she said loudly. The dasis left.

"And why do you think so?" Abhijishya asked; quite surprised at this line of conversation.

"You just woke up from a too long sleep and you are already working on Charu's issue, then tomorrow you'll speak to the council about surgery; you are reading books on surgery and medicine, politics, slave system of Aryavart and all these in a span of hours after you woke up," he said walking towards her.

"You have been avoiding me. You are adamant on keeping yourself busy. I don't know which part of sleeping for two days you don't get. That means you haven't had food or water during that time. You need to rest, Abhijishya," Nakul said desperately. Then he sighed. "Look if this is about you not wanting to tell me anything about what happened then you don't need to tell me."

Abhijishya shook her head. She rubbed her eyes tiredly. It was true she had tried her best to keep her mind occupied but she didn't mean to avoid Nakul. She tugged Nakul towards their bed and sat down.

"First of all I wasn't intentionally avoiding you. It sort of happened. I just wanted to concentrate on something other than-" she clenched her jaw.

"Abhijishya," Nakul looked at her worriedly.

She took a calming breath and told him all the major parts. She of course interchanged police with guards, the gun with a daggar and the bike with horse but kept most things the same. She also didn't mention Devi Ekanamsha's involvement. Instead she said,"Remember the night that I spent by the sea side? I had a very peculiar dream." She told him about the dream.

Nakul pulled her into his arms. He didn't ask anymore questions. It never ceased to astound her how he never asked for more than she was willing to give.

"I just don't want to think about all this anymore. So I tried to keep myself busy," she mumbled.

"But you need to rest too," he softly answered. He didn't know what he could do stop her from hurting.

"Come, lay down," he said. Abhijishya shook her head. "I'll sleep when I feel like I can't stay awake anymore. You need rest too. I heard how you stayed awake sitting by my side," she said kissing him.

Nakul kissed her forehead lovingly. Perhaps it wasn't in his ability to spare her suffering but he could always keep her company.

"No, I don't think I'll be able to sleep without you," he said.

Abhijishya looked thoughtful. Then she glanced at him with a familiar glint in her eyes which meant she had some plan cooking in her head.

"How would you like going to gather sticks with me?" she asked.

Nakul furrowed his eyebrows. "At this hour of the night?"

She shrugged nonchalantly and smirked.

"What is going on in that head of yours?" He asked in exasperation but followed her nonetheless.

She simply laughed.

~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~

A.N. - So looks like Abhijishya has something in store for us.

Finally she had the much needed conversation with Krishna and Nakul.

She is messed up from the incident but she is also figuring out how to deal with it.

The Dwarka arc will continue for another 3 chapters. Maximum 4. Then I'll get back in track with the Pandavs going to Hastinapur.

Just wanted to let you all know that Dhi is going to be 80 - 100 chapters long. So we are in for a long journey.

As for the case of Charu, Matta Mohan took a loan of 400 gold mudras. Here, a month of service by das or dasi is equivalent to 1 gold mudra. Charu's mother already served 11 years. Charu has to serve 23 years. So (23 + 11)×12 = 408 months i.e. 408 gold mudras. Satrajit gave Charu an approximate idea of the duration she needed to serve so he told 23 years instead of 22 years and 4 months.

I know I have made some spelling mistakes or grammatical mistakes in some places in this story. Honestly I haven't had the time to sit down and edit it properly. So once my exams are over I'll edit the story.

Please do vote and let me know in the comments what you think of this chapter.

Also do tell me if the story gets boring.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")