Warning: mentions of sex and nudity.

"উঠছি।...(getting up)"She mumbled and turned to the other side. There was a faint sound of muffled laughter.

"আরে বললাম তো উঠছি। ( I told you I am getting up)," Abhijishya planted her face in her pillow and squirmed. That didn't stop Nakul's fingers from dancing along her ribe cage.

"পাঁচ মিনিট... (five minutes)," she rolled away from the invading hands that threatened to rouse her from her slumber.

It only encouraged Nakul to caress her back. Abhijishya sat up abruptly and scrunched her face at the sunlight pouring in through the windows.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked some more.

"I wish I could understand what you were saying, dear. You look so adorable," Nakul said pulling his wife into his arms.

"Noooo, let me sleep," Abhijishya whined but didn't try to get out his embrace. She felt Nakul's chest rumble from his laughter.

Nakul peppered her exposed neck and collar bone with butterfly kisses. Abhijishya leaned heavily against him and hummed at the pleasant sensation.

"You are awfully chirpy so early in the morning. We barely slept for two hours," she muttered.

"I remember someone being very enthusiastic last night," Nakul whispered near her ear. Abhijishya flushed at the reminder.

He kissed her jaw and said,"You'll have to wear some heavy jewellery to hide my marks, love."

"I'll hide mine but what about yours?" She asked with a satisfied smirk. Nakul chuckled. "You look more pleased than concerned, dear." Then he sighed dramatically," Maybe I'll have to recount the tale of how I put a brave fight against a wild cat and lost."

Abhijishya giggled. "I am sure you tried your best, darling. Now, pass me my clothes."

Nakul picked up the blouse and lehenga. "Let me be of service, my queen," he bowed gracefully.

Abhijishya laughed at his antics. "You only try to find excuses to touch me, Arya."

"Who said I have to find excuses? I need only your consent," he replied while tying the cloth around her chest into a firm knot.

"And you have it," Abhijishya said pulling her husband into a chaste kiss."I love you," he said encircling his hands around her waist.

"I love you too," Abhijishya replied with a smile. She got up from their bed and stepped on the floor.

There was a slightly purple handprint on her hip where Nakul had gripped her last night while chasing his own pleasure.

Nakul stood up and caressed her tender skin. Eyeing the bruises, he asked worriedly,"Was I too rough, Mohini?"

Abhijishya smiled at his concern. "No, you were perfect, darling. I bruise easily so don't worry."

He silently wrapped the lehenga around her and tied the knot caring not to put pressure on the bruise.

"But I still hurt you," Nakul said unable to look away from the purple mark. He felt guilty for being so careless.

"Hey no, look at me," Abhijishya said tugging his hair gently. He looked at her with dull eyes.

"Do you trust me?" She asked. "What kind of a question is that?! Of course, I trust you with everything," Nakul said earnestly.

She cupped his cheek and said,"Then trust me to know my limits just like I trust you to respect them."

"Alright," Nakul conceded then smiled. Abhijishya kissed his cheek.

"Where will you be this morning?"she asked while picking up her veil.

"At the Royal stables. Every morning I like to feed and check up on the horses. I need to take you to meet Ojas someday. You'll love him. Will you accompany me today?" Nakul asked.

Fixing her veil, Abhijishya replied apologetically,"I wanted to see Charu today. With everything that happened after our arrival, I didn't get a chance to make sure whether she is properly settling in or not. I could maybe accompany you tomorrow."

"That's fine, dear. We can go to the horses some other time. The RajVyada requested for my time so I promised him the morning till noon. So I won't be visiting the stables tomorrow," Nakul said flattening the wrinkles of his dhoti.

"Okay. The day after tomorrow then. I just hope I don't get thrown off the back," Abhijishya said.

"Don't worry about that. I like you. The horses like me. So they'll like you too. I'll teach you how to handle horses," Nakul replied.

"Your reasoning is not logical," she said then yelped in surprise as she was swept off her feet by Nakul. Abhijishya quickly put her hands around his neck with practised ease.

"What are doing, Arya? We will be late. Put me down," she said.

Nakul looked at her with mischievous eyes. "My reasoning makes sense. As for what I am doing, well, you only tell me that a lot of water is wasted unnecessarily for bathing. So I thought we could bathe together. That way we can save both water and time."

"But there are dasis-" Abhijishya was interrupted.

"I already ordered for privacy until one of us calls for them. Either way we can always pretend you hurt your leg," Nakul grinned.

They left the bedroom leaving behind rumpled sheets and echoes of their sweet laughter.

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

Safe zone begins

Abhijishya walked down the corridors purposefully towards the servant quarters of the palace. It was an entire separate wing where only das and dasis stayed. She wanted to see for herself in what conditions Charu would be staying in Hastinapur.

She spotted Charu standing some way ahead with a man. She had her head bowed and was saying something urgently.

Abhijishya quickened her pace when she saw the man raise his hand.

"Charu, what are you still doing here? I called for you an hour ago," Abhijishya said pretending to be cross.

Both their heads snapped towards her. The man's posture stiffened and his hand froze midair.

"Rajkumari? I am sorry I didn't know you had called for me," Charu said hurriedly but didn't move away from the man.

"I am very disappointed, Charu. I myself had to come here to search for you," Abhijishya said eyeing the man as she stepped beside Charu.

The man had the built of a warrior and his attire was of neither proper for a Rajkumar nor a das. Almost mechanically he put his hand down and kept his eyes on the ground.

"Forgive me, Rajkumari. I- I was on my way but my earring dropped somewhere. I was searching for it when I bumped into him. I promise I won't give you another chance of complaint about me. But that earring was my mother's-" Charu immediately shut up as Abhijishya held up her hand.

The man tensed as if bracing for something. Abhijishya noticed a silver earring dangling from Charu's braided hair. Now everything was clear to her. She raised her hand to pluck out the earring. Charu clamped her eyes shut and stood rigidly. For a brief moment, she wondered if Charu had been hit by someone before. But her ponderings could wait for now.

Abhijishya took the earring and gently held out Charu's hand. She placed it in her palm and smiled. Charu opened her eyes and saw the earring. Then she burst out crying blabbering a string of 'thank you's.

She embraced Charu and patted her back. "Areh, don't cry, Charu. You got your earring, did you not? I alone don't deserve your thanks," Abhijishya pulled away and looked at the man. He was staring at her with astonishment.

"He also noticed the earring and was about to give it to you when I interrupted your conversation," Abhijishya turned to the man and joined her hands. "Pardon me Kumar. I had misinterpreted your intentions. I didn't call for Charu. I was just on my way to visit her. Seeing you standing near her with your hand raised, I jumped to conclusions. So I spun a tale to give Charu a way out."

The man only proceeded to gape at her. "Kumar?" Abhijishya said a bit louder.

"I-uh.. You need not apologise, Rajkumari. You acted on your protective instincts which is understandable given the scene you arrived on," he answered in a soft voice with his eyes on the ground once again.

"I don't think I have seen you before Kumar. Would you please introduce yourself?" Abhijishya asked curiously.

"I am Yuyutsu, son of Maharaj Dhritarastra and maid Sugadha," he answered; his posture tensing once again.

"Pranipaat Bhratashree. I am Abhijishya, Panduputra Nakul's wife," she said with a smile.

The naked surprise was unmistakable when Yuyutsu returned her greeting. Then he said hesitantly," I have heard that your homeland doesn't have Kings, proper caste system or even slaves. How- I mean- does the society accept everyone?"

'Even people like me,' he didn't say but Abhijishya understood nonetheless. Charu too was listening with sparkling eyes and barely suppressed curiosity.

"Society never completely accepts anyone, Bhrata. It is made up of many people so many opinions. While some will praise, there will always be some who will degrade and some who will be indifferent. But that is not what you asked," Abhijishya smiled at Yuyutsu's slight frown at the dissatisfactory answer.

"Back in my homeland, people created their identity by their deeds. Sure, one had to bear teasing and condescension but that was until one established themselves in the society. No one was denied any opportunity based on the circumstances of their birth. Everyone had a right to education," she said.

Yuyutsu listened quietly. "Sounds like a strange dream. It is a pity your homeland fell to calamity and disease," he said softly.

"Kingdoms fall and people perish, Bhrata. Only the ones who are flexible to adapt with time continue to strive. Do you not think the society of Aryavart has been stagnant for too long?" Abhijishya said.

"You speak of dangerous notions, Rajkumari. The head that rises against the deities standing on the pedestal is crumpled by their feet," Yuyutsu cautioned looking straight into her eyes.

"The dieties might stand on a pedestal but it is the King who sits on the throne. The people might pray to the deities but they follow the King. I know I am not misplacing my faith in Jyesth Bhrata Yudhisthir. As for the common people, I only intend to air the sleeping embers of many minds when the time is right," Abhijishya answered. Charu's breath hitched but she remained quiet otherwise.

"May you not fail as the Suta king failed,"he said. His revulsion was clear as he pronounced 'king.' It was an accusation of a disgraced child to another that had forgotten his kin.

"May I find you with me when I start my climb uphill. May we lift the lowered heads as we rise," Abhijishya said.

"So be it," Yuyutsu said. The same was echoed by a determined Charu.

A secret desire was acknowledged and a promise was made.

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

It was late afternoon when Abhijishya decided to visit Maharani Gandhari.

She hadn't caught a glimpse of Mata Kunti or even Draupadi the entire day. Abhijishya had arrived late for lunch after checking up on Charu to find everyone had already eaten.

She had also expected Mata Kunti to instruct her regarding what duties she had as a daughter-in-law. Mata Kunti hadn't. So Abhijishya floated around like a cloud with no wind to direct her. It hurt because she had come to see Mata Kunti similar to her Maa.

So she decided to come to another motherly figure for soothing the burn of her heart.

"You can go in, Rajkumari. Maharani awaits you," informed a dasi.

Abhijishya nodded and entered Maharani Gandhari's chambers carrying a few parchments, a metal quill, a pot of ink and a betel leaf container.

Maharani Gandhari sat on a mattress on the floor surrounded by cushions with her legs stretched out. A dasi was massaging her feet while another was stringing together flowers to make garlands. Upon hearing her foot steps, she said with a smile," Come, sit with me, Abhijishya. I wasn't expecting your company this evening or else I would've arranged for a game of dice."

"Pranipaat, Jyesth Mata," Abhijishya greeted as she sat down carefully holding all her things steady.

"I should've informed you earlier but I admit I am rather whimsically impulsive when it comes to visiting people," she said setting aside the ink pot, quill and parchments.

"It's alright, putri. Oh, is that a betel leaf container in your hand?" Gandhari asked upon hearing Abhijishya open the container.

"Yes, Jyesth Mata. I prepared these nut wrapped betel leaves myself. Would you like to taste one and tell me how did I do in my first attempt at making them?" Abhijishya presented the open container near Gandhari's hand.

"Of course, putri," Gandhari said as she felt around for the container then picked one up and put it inside her mouth.

Chewing on the betel leaf, she replied,"It is nicely done but I like fewer nuts than you have put."

"I'll keep that in mind when I offer it to you the next time,"Abhijishya said closing the container.

"I am not the one you need to impress, putri," Gandhari remarked with a smile.

"We try to impress those from whom we want to gain something. I come here with offerings instead," Abhijishya said.

Gandhari smiled broadly. "Oh dear, I adore the way you speak. Tell me, what more do you have to offer?"

"After I arrived in Hastinapur, Dussala and I became friends in a short while. I heard she got married to Sindhuraj while I was away. So I thought of writing a letter to her. I came to offer you my services to take dictation thinking maybe you would like to send a letter as well,"Abhijishya said straightening out the rolls of parchment.

"Ah yes, my dear Dussala. She told me about your talks before her marriage to Jamaishree. With so many brothers, she tended to feel a bit left out at times. Men do not understand women as much. Just like a mother with only sons does not understand a daughter's mother. It is good to see that you still think of my daughter fondly," Gandhari said patting Abhijishya's arm.

"I had a sister back home. Dussala's enthusiastic chattering is a reminiscent of hers. Oh! I almost forgot. What happened to Chetan, her parrot? Did Dussala take him with her?" she asked.

"She did take him with her. Then a few months into her marriage, she set him free. In her letter, she said,' Why cage someone when their freedom is in your hand?' Dussala has finally grown up," Gandhari gave a melancholy smile.

Abhijishya silently listened. Her mind wandered to the bubbly girl she had met. How was she now away from the family she knew?

Gandhari said," I am sure our letters would be welcomed by my Dussala; yours would be a pleasant surprise. But before you start," she turned in the general direction of the dasi making garlands. "Malti, string five beads together," she said.

"Yes, Maharani," Malti said and proceeded to do so.

"You are a clever girl, dear but I have known Kunti for many more years. The Ksatriya women of the palaces grasp onto their bonds with the same possession that of a King holding his throne," Gandhari said. "Now, Malti, put the gold thread through only the fourth bead."

Malti once again did so. "Pull the gold thread with one hand and the other thread with another," Gandhari instructed.

Abhijishya watched silently as the thread snapped and the four beads scattered onto the floor; only the fourth bead remained strung on the gold thread.

"Kunti loves her sons very much and has always taught them to stay together like I have taught mine. Let this be a lesson on how to string beads together, Nakulamohini; a lesson from one palace woman to another," Gandhari said calmly; fumbling a little before placing the gold thread with a single bead on Abhijishya's hand.

"I never knew that stringing beads together was such an intricate art, Jyesth Mata. Your lesson was truly enlightening. Thank you," Abhijishya smiled as she closed her fist.

Gandhari nodded acknowledging her gratitude. "Better start writing, Abhijishya. We must finish our letters before dusk."

"Yes, Jyesth Mata," Abhijishya said as she dipped her quill into the ink pot.

To dearest Dussala,

...

From one palace woman to another,
Your sakhi Abhijishya.

~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~

A.N. - I wanted to update yesterday but Wattpad went crazy. My draft got deleted and I had to rewrite the entire chapter again *sighs*.

But here it is. The 50th Chapter of my book 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊 According to my estimation, we have reached the middle of Dhi. {Dhi will be approximately 100 chapters (could be more or less by 5)}

This book crossed 28K views and 4K votes yesterday. Woohooo!!!! Thank you to all my readers for your love and support 💕💕💕. Your votes and comments keep me motivated to try my best in delivering good content.

Tell me what are your thoughts about this chapter on-

Yuyutsu and Abhijishya's meeting.

Gandhari and Abhijishya's relationship.

Also, I really wanted to do a morning scene between Nakul and Abhijishya 🙈🙈🙈 what do you think of that?

Please do vote as well.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")