Trigger warning : This chapter contains mentions of female oppression, molestation and sexual harassment. If you are uncomfortable skip the first part containing Nakul and Abhijishya. It is not exactly part of the plot. It is more of character development and their relationship navigation.

The room was decorated with numerous fragrant flowers. Clusters of tuberoses, jasmine, roses of red and pink colours were beautifully arranged all around the magnificent bed. Small earthen diyas floated on huge copper cauldrons along with red rose petals. The bed was soft with multiple white pillows covered in white bed sheets. White.

Abhijishya couldn't hide her distaste. Earlier the Panchal Prime Minister's wife whose name she still didn't know led her inside this room after she said said her goodbyes to Gopal. More of a symbolic Vidaai instead of a detailed ceremony because her wedding had taken place in Panchal in absence of married women of her current kul (clan). Generally the first night happened after the bride was welcomed into her husband's house. Since the Pandavs had to marry Draupadi after five days, some things needed to be improvised.

The Panchal Prime Minister's wife along with a few dasis made her sit on the middle of the bed. They smoothed out her lehenga with only her feet peeking out, adjusted the veil to cover her entire face and placed her hands on her knees. No one uttered a single word. Abhijishya surely looked like a shy meek newly wedded bride. Perhaps aesthetically pleasing for the men of these times.

As soon as she heard the door close, Abhijishya threw open her veil in irritation. She stretched out her legs and leaned back on the pillows. All the white made her feel uncomfortable. Now that the high strung emotions ebbed away many doubts and concerns encroached her mind.

Everything that occurred the past few days happened so fast that her mind didn't get to process the enormity of the situation. Abhijishya loved Nakul but she really had no plans to marry him before she was atleast 25 years old. This marriage felt too soon. She didn't regret marrying him. She just didn't know whether he'll regret marrying her later. Afterall she was neither a typical housewife material nor graceful royalty.

Abhijishya was crude, opinionated, sarcastic girl - no woman- with an untamed spirit. She wasn't giving up her freedom for anything. She wasn't going to be confined in palaces like princesses and queens who walked lightly and covered their laughter. Abhijishya knew that but did Nakul know?

She felt restless in the closed chamber and the fragrance of the flowers were slowly suffocating her. She got up and moved away from the bed. Her eyes looked at the white sheets in disdain. Abhijishya was in no mood to make love. Having sex just for the sake of consummation of her marriage felt wrong.

'But will he listen?' her mind whispered. She had heard enough horror tales about men forcing themselves upon their wives. 'Will he wait for my consent?' Fear. She felt afraid. She didn't know how Nakul would react if she denied him their first night.

Abhijishya paced back and forth. Nakul wouldn't do that. Right? He loved her. Like those men said they loved their lovers. Her hands felt clammy. She felt sick that she was even doubting Nakul.

There weren't any laws regarding how a husband should treat their wives behind closed doors. Nakul surely wasn't like that. Not all men are the same.

But her mind was relentless. It brought up snippets of news, incidents she had read in articles, history where kings and princes jumped from one queen to another concubine, memories of the ever smiling aunty drawing down her sleeves a bit more to cover purple hand prints, of men disgracing their brides after knowing they had a broken hymen, news of domestic violence, sexual harassment cases and much more.

She looked at white sheets and back at the door. Abhijishya moved to the furthest wall and slumped against it. She waited.

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Nakul walked towards the chamber where his wife was waiting for him. His wife. He could hardly control his pace as he felt heady with anticipation, nervousness and giddiness. Before coming Bhrata Bheem had pulled him aside and advised him to be gentle and patient. Nakul blushed. That was a bit awkward. He couldn't imagine hurting his Abhijishya in any way.

With his heart pounding, he opened the doors and entered the chamber. The decoration was really beautiful. The room was dimly lit in a dusky glow. He turned and closed the doors. The bed was surrounded in strings of tuberoses, jasmine and roses. He moved the flowers aside only to find the bed empty.

Nakul looked around. "Abhijishya?"he called.

"I'm here," she replied. His eyes moved towards the direction the voice came from. Abhijishya was standing slightly slumped against the furthest wall with a face devoid of any expression.

Did he make her wait too long? Was she displeased in any way?

He walked closer to her when she said,"Stop."

Nakul froze in place. He tried to gauge what this was all about from her body language but was unsuccessful.

"Abhi-"he was interrupted.

"I was 13 when a drunk man molested me. I was frozen in place. I couldn't scream. My mind shut down. He touched me. I didn't want it. Before he could proceed any further, my friends called for me from afar. They didn't know what happened. I ran and didn't look back. I never told this anyone. I am telling this to you now," she said with a flat tone.

Nakul couldn't hide his horror. 13. He didn't know what to say. An inferno was howling in his chest eager to burn that wretched filth alive.

"Who?" He gritted out.

Abhijishya straightened her posture. "Never saw him again. He doesn't exist anymore just like my homeland," she said.

Nakul struggled to control his anger. He clenched his fists and tried to calm his breathing. The very idea of anyone touching his Abhijishya set fire in his veins. He looked at her stiff posture and blank face. Seeing her on guard when she was just with him sent a pang of ache in his heart. He breathed out and unclenched his fists. He needed to make sure Abhijishya was alright. He reached out but she stepped aside.

Nakul let his hand hang in the air for a moment before dropping it. He ignored his own hurt at her distant behaviour and said earnestly, "Abhijishya, I-"

"I am not done," she said sharply. Then Abhijishya exhaled. "I don't even know when I broke my hymen. Somewhere between stretching and fighting lessons I guess. So I can't actually paint this white sheet red with my blood verifying my virginity," she said with disdain keeping her eyes on Nakul who stood tongue tied.

"Well you could say this is sort of my fault for not forewarning you before marriage. If you want, you can reject me," Abhijishya averted her eyes and shrugged nonchalantly as if saying those words weren't tearing her up in the inside.

Nakul clenched his jaw. "How can you even say this? After everything?"

She didn't lift up her gaze. Abhijishya braced for the emotional blow.

He ran a hand through in hair. "Abhijishya, I love you. The things you think should bother me don't matter in our relationship. I don't see you any differently than before. I am glad you spoke freely," he said with a sad smile. "I am sorry that you had to go through all this alone. But I am here. I will be here with you always."

Abhijishya looked at him. Nakul was standing there clearly restraining himself from reaching out. "And...and the other thing?"she asked.

Nakul chuckled sadly. "I study medicine, love. I know that a broken hymen doesn't mean you aren't a virgin. I wish I could correct this misconception amongst the common masses some way."

Abhijishya still didn't make any movement to come closer. Nakul sighed. "Love, you do understand that we don't need to be physical just because it is our fight night, right?" Seeing her tense posture, he continued,"I would never touch you without your consent. I just wish you could trust me."

His whispered last words in a broken tone shook Abhijishya out of her never-ending loop of what-ifs. She moved towards him and held his hand. "I- It is just... Nakul." She choked on her tears. She tightened her hold struggling to arrange words that could describe the chaos of thoughts inside her. Nakul slowly wrapped her in his arms. She let out a sob.

"Nakul, I am sorry. I really love you. I don't know what happened, just the bed and the flowers reminded me of today's expectations," she exhaled a shaky breath. Nakul wiped her tears gently and patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts. "Negative thoughts kept coming in my head and we didn't talk about all this earlier... I feel like everything is happening so fast, too soon." Seeing Nakul's shuttered expression, she said,"I don't regret this marriage, darling. But you need to understand that I was brought up with the idea to create a self identity in the society first and then get married. I was supposed to become a Vyad after I completed my medical studies. Then only if I wished, I would marry. I am happy that I married you but all these expectations of being a proper wife," she gestured to her heavy clothes and jewellery," even these clothes are not me. I feel like I am losing myself in everything. I feel confined and-" she shrugged helplessly hoping Nakul understood.

Nakul stroked her hand gently. "Love, you are not obliged to do anything. Of course you have some responsibilities as my better half but I never expected you to be someone you are not." He cradled her neck and looked at those soulful eyes he fell in love with. "I love my Abhijishya who is free like the wind." He tapped her nose gently. "A little wild. Wise, knowledgeable and resourceful. Never afraid to speak up. So very kind, open minded and accepting."

The storm in her settled. She stroked Nakul's cheekbone at a loss for words.

He continued,"Abhijishya, I never mistook you to be anything like other women in Aryavart. I just want you to know you have my heart, my Mohini, my Manohara and in return whatever you let me have is enough. You are enough for me as you are." He slowly bent down giving Abhijishya a chance to step back. When she didn't, he kissed her lips softly.

It was chaste gentle kiss but the wave of love Abhijishya felt made her weak in the knees. She clung to him desperately. "I might still have doubts and insecurities," she warned with teary eyes.

"I will have faith for us both," he replied with determined eyes.

"You'll tire of appeasing me one day," she protested weakly.

"One cannot get tired of breathing, love," he said lovingly.

Abhijishya huffed. "You are not thinking logically."

"You once said to love with one's mind is a great sin. My heart is not logical," Nakul replied cheekily.

Abhijishya chuckled lightly. "Gods, I can't win against you in words."

"Only when it is about me loving you and you loving me," he winked. She smiled and kissed him passionately. Nakul stroked her waist gently as she cradled his head. He kissed back nipping gently on her lower lip.

She lost all senses as she surrounded herself with only Nakul. She gasped, panting slightly when she felt his hand just under her breast. Nakul didn't move his hand any further up. He showered her with gentle kisses all over face. Then he took hold of her hand and tugged to the balcony adjoined to their room facing the gardens.

They sat on the swing counting the constellations above. Abhijishya settled her head on Nakul's shoulder who wrapped an arm around her shoulders in turn. They shared soft kisses and gentle touches; both very aware that they needed reassurance more than anything then.

Nakul looked at Abhijishya's sleeping face. It was easy to forget how unfamiliar she was with everything because she always appeared so well adjusted. He hoped that she would never refrain from talking to him freely. He knew proclaiming their love was not everything. They needed to figure out where they stood in each other's life. For someone who always prioritised thinking through her mind, Abhijishya tended to overthink and be doubtful. He wondered what had made her this way. Whatever it was she had experienced, Nakul promised to himself he would always protect her. Nakul carefully lifted her and carried her to the bed. He stroked her head lovingly and laid down beside her.

In her sleep, Abhijishya dreamt of Nakul; flashes of their time spent together. A realisation sunk deep in her subconscious mind.

*Once the wheel of love was set in motion, there were no rules and no order.*

There was no correct sequence to live life. Just a few rules for guidance.

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An eagle glided inside the palace of Hastinapur. It settled on his shoulder with practised ease. He stroked his companion fondly on it's head.

"What news have you brought for me, Durdarshita?" He asked as he undid the small scroll from it's feet. The eagle knew not to make any sound.

He quickly skimmed over the content of the letter and let out a hearty laugh. The eagle startled and screeched in surprise. It flew and settled on the metal frame of the bed.

The man laughed and laughed clutching his stomach. He staggered to his bed and sat down.

He stopped laughing abruptly but a wicked smile graced his lips.

Nakul had married Yadavkumari.The Pandavs were to marry Panchal Rajkumari in a few days.

Shakuni couldn't believe his great luck. All the five nuisances have willingly put their head under his sword. He was sure this was surely something agreeable with their dharma. But he could care less. He just had to make sure the spies of Hastinapur in Panchal did not inform Dhritarastra of this beforehand.

He looked forward to when the Pandavs would set foot in Hastinapur. Being Yuvraj would be out of question for that Yudhisthir. He would not let them be heard out. It wouldn't be much hard work from his part. Dhritarastra himself despised the fact that he had to announce Yudhisthir as Yuvraj. Shakuni just had to blow the sparks when the time was right.

He quickly wrote down his message to his personal spy in Panchal and attached it to his eagle. He needed to know everything in detail or else that sharp minded girl could be an unnecessary obstacle. 'Just like her brother,' he thought disdainfully.

"Go, my friend, fly fast. I shall impatiently await your return," he said. The eagle flew off.

One thing bothered him. The Pandavs now had the support of the Yadavs through marriage alliance. He needed to balance it out so that the Yadavs could never raise their weapons in favour of the Pandavs.

An idea bloomed in his head. Shakuni grinned. Soon... Soon. He just had to wait for the right time.

A few more years to be precise. Till then he had to handle the Yadavs delicately. Afterall he couldn't afford to make an enemy out of them just yet.

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A.N. - I would like to give a bit of an explaination as to why I didn't escalate Nakul's and Abhijishya's relationship to the physical stage.

We have to keep in mind that Abhijishya is a 21st century girl. She has her doubts, insecurities, trust issues and doubts. Nakul and Abhijishya have to navigate through their relationship. Being married doesn't mean they are well adjusted and all fine.This is not a happily ever after fairy tale romance.

I have addressed a lot of things openly. Hence this story is marked Mature.

Of course there will be intimate scenes later. But not now.

I also need a bit of information. When did Duryadhan marry Bhanumati? Was it when the Pandavs were settled in Indraprastha?

I am also in dire need of your reviews. What do you think of this chapter? Any constructive criticism?

About Updates : My exams are postponed so I'll probably update twice a week. I don't want to rush this story.

*Once...order* - I borrowed this quote from a movie whose name I can't quite recall. The quote had struck me then so I just remember it.

Until the next time,

Byee ;")