Continuation.......

The hair braiding ritual was over. Dharmini was busy eating as she already knew that she wouldn't be able to eat the whole day at all. Suddenly, a thousand thoughts and memories flashed in her mind.

Flashback {Kaliyug}

"Maaaa..." A little girl called her mother.

"Yes? Dharmaa" Her mom acknowledged.

"What's a shadi(marriage) ma?" She asked innocently.

"Hmmm....shadi is something that happens between those who love eachother unconditionally and are sure that they can be happy with each other for the rest of their life" Her mom replied lovingly taking her in her lap.

"Really?! Then I will marry you ma" She said grinning.

Her mother laughed kissing her cheeks.

"No, beta you can't marry me" She said lovingly.

"Why ma? Don't you love me unconditionally and be happy with me the rest of your life?" Little Dharmini asked sadly.

"No, beta you marry someone who is similar to your age and is a good friend first" Her ma said trying to make her little self understand the meaning of marriage.

"Huh? I don't understand ma?" She tilted her head confused.

"Hmmm why don't you ask your papa dear" Her mom said smiling down at her.

"Okayyyy.......PAPAAAAAA" She screamed running towards her father who was working in his other room.

"Haan Princess?" (Yes?) Her father replied picking her up.

"What is marriage papa?" She asked with the same level of innocence.

"The thing I did with your mother beta" He said smiling.

"Huh?" She was confused.

"My bad..... your mom and I married each other beta" He replied.

"Because you love her unconditionally and are happy with her for the rest of your life?" She asked grinning.

"Yep!" Her father said spinning her around and then kissing her forehead.

"Then why can't I marry her papa?" She asked still not getting her real answer.

"Because marriage is done between someone you love romantically beta" He replied smiling.

"Rom....rom.ro what?!" She asked.

"Hmm you will understand when you get older my dear" He said smiling.

"I don't know what it is but I want to marry someone who will love me like you love ma...." Little Dharmini said kissing his cheeks.

Her father smiled at her kissing her forehead.

"I promise I will always support you and search for someone who will love you like I love your mom dear" He promised.

"Pinky promise?" Dharmini raised her little pinky finger.

"Pinky promise!" He said intertwining his pinky finger with her little one.

***********

Dharmini was in tears remembering her family. She had a family that everyone wished for.

"Dharmaa?!" Draupadi called her making her flinch.

"H-huh?" She blurted out.

"What happened dear? Why are you crying?" Sikhandini asked worriedly.

"Nothing jiji, I just remembered something" She wiped her tears smiling at her sisters.

"Come here" Draupadi called her for a hug. She happily hugged her best friend.

"I feel left out" Sikhandini wiped her fake tears. The girls pulled their elder sister in a group hug.

"Saaaaaakhiiiiiiiii~" Kanha sang while entering the room.

"Awwww" He said looking at the sisters.

"Kanha?" Dharmini broke the hug running towards him and hugging him tightly.

"Govind" Draupadi greeted.

"How do you always know when I need you Mohana?" Dharmini Hugged him tighter letting her tears fall.

Kanha broke the hug wiping her tears away.

"Now Now don't cry...my precious art is going to be ruined" Krishna smiled down at her.

"But I miss them Kanha....my father promised me....." She couldn't complete the sentence.

"Shh! They are at a better place Dharmaa and they are always with you na?" Kanha again wiped the tears that managed to fall from her precious eyes.

"Yea but.....we planned a lot for my wedding and now look at me, I am getting married without them" She sighed.

"He...he promised that he would do my makeup and ma will help me with everything else" She sobbed silently, not wanting Draupadi and Shikhandini to know.

Kanha just hugged her.

The other girls were silently admiring their relationship.

"King Drupad has asked for your presence Dwarkadheesh" A Maid informed.

Kanha slowly broke the hug nodding at the maid acknowledging her words.

"Brace yourself sakhi, your life is going to change " Kanha whispered smiling at her.

She gave him her sweetest smile, wiping her tears.

'Ma, Papa... I miss you and I love you' She thought clutching the pendant her parents gave her at her 16th birthday. She always wore it no matter what. The pendant gave her a strange strength and feeling of safety.

"Let's go?" Draupadi called.

Dharmini nodded walking with her.

Time skip---- At the swayambar~

Our beautiful brides made a grand entry, stepping out from the huge lotus.

Draupadi was excited, whereas, Dharmini was somehow sad.

The crowd cheered for their beautiful princesses.

The guys were already head over heels for them.

"Look at them Bhrata, they doesn't look less than enchantresses" Dushashan said smitten by their beauty.

"Shut up Dushashan one of them is your Bhabhishree" Duryodhan warned glaring at him.

"Whatever bhrata! Whoever you marry, the other one is mine" He said silently rolling his eyes.

"They are no dolls for you to proclaim them as yours, Rajkumar Dushashan" Karn said politely.

"Whatever Angraj...they are beautiful" He drolled over the girls.

Dharmini felt uncomfortable, so, she turned around only to find everyone looking at them, similng like idiots. Some even looked at them lustfully.

She looked at Kanha kinda scared. Keshav just smiled at her nodding positive. She felt somewhat relieved.

The girls took their seats, looking graceful as ever.

Dhristdyumn announced the challenge, the participants needed to complete to win Draupadi's hand.

The challenge started, one by one every participant came and went back to their seats embarrassed because they couldn't even lift the Dhanush{ bow}.

Next was Duryodhan, but he decided to make Angraj participate for him.

Krishna just said that Angraj Karn was also capable to complete the task given in the swayambar. Listening to him Draupadi got anxious. Her heart started beating faster with each passing second, afraid that someone else other than Arjun could win her.

"Stop!" Dharmini exclaimed standing up.

Karn turned around finally looking up at her.

"My sister isn't going to marry some sut putr-" She slammed her hand on her mouth. She was shocked at the words that just left her mouth. Tears started tricking down her eyes. She wasn't supposed to say that.

"I....I....I....so...sor..." Her voice quivered.

Karn looked at her with tears in his eyes. He didn't know why but he didn't expect for her to say something like that.

"Sut putra? Is this competition about talent or castes?" He roared glaring at her.

Dharmini joined her hands bowing down.

"I am sorry Angraj. I didn't mean anything like that. I don't know what happened" She apologized.

"Stop with the witty apologizes Princess" Karn roared, anger clearly evident in his voice.

She bent down on her knees, Shocking the crowd.

"I really didn't mean to say anything like that, Angraj Karn, Please forgive me..." She said looking down.

Karn was too furious to say anything ,so, he silently went to his seat.

"Get up sakhi.." Kanha said helping her up.

"I-I didn't mean to say anything like that Kanha...my ma and papa didn't-" She sobbed still looking down.

"Shh I know sakhi...now calm down...get yourself together" Kanha said wiping her tears.

"Now....smile? You look like Bob from Oggy when you are sad like this-" Dharmini hit him lightly laughing a little.

Kanha smiled getting back at his seat.

Duryodhan was about to say something but mama sakuni asked him not to because the chance of getting married to the other princess was still there and he didn't want it to get ruined.

In between this drama, the Pandavas who were disguised as Brahmins were already there.

Yudhisthir was shocked as well as impressed with the weird girl he met some months ago.

When no one dared to perform the task. Listening to Kanha, Draupad announced that the challenge was now open to Brahmans too. Draupadi was the happiest.

The Brahmans started leaving, afraid that someone could recognize them but Krishna gave a long speech and finally convinced them.

Arjun came forward to participate in the challenge. But the other participants started making fun of him, insulting him when he greeted the princesses, joining his hands.

"All women are the epitome of Mata Durga. If you don't respect them you are proved to be weak" Arjun said making the ladies smile a little.

"Are you planning to establish the princess to the Temple and pray her after marriage or what?" Rukmi taunted.

"Every house is a temple and the daughters and daughter in laws are the goddesses of that temple. Believe me Rukmi your sister Rukmini is always prayed to, by me" Krishna said making him scoff.

Arjun bowed down to the Bow and joined his hands before grabbing it and successfully hitting the bulls eye- maybe the fish eye in this situation.

The fish busted and it rained flowers.

All the brahmins started cheering.

Dharmini looked at Panchali congratulating her through her eyes.

Panchali smiled.

It was finally Dharmini's turn.

"What about Rajkumari Dharmini's Swayambar, king Drupad?" Sakuni asked.

"There won't be any competition Gandhar raj" Dharmini said politely.

Everyone were confused.

"I have already decided who am I marrying" She declared, shocking everyone.

Taking a Varmala, she looked at Kanha. He nodded positively.

Dharmini took a deep breath looking at the line of men. There she saw Duryodhan, Sishupal, Rukmi, Dushashan and some other unknown princes. She was sure she didn't want to marry anyone of them.

She took a deep breath 'If Kanha has planned all this, then it's the best for me' She thought.

Dharmini moved forward looking down. She crossed all the princes not even looking at them once.

She went where her legs took her, leaving it all upon her Kanha. She put the garland on Yudhisthir, shocking everyone, even Yudhisthir himself.

"How can she marry a Brahmin?" Dushashan roared angrily.

"Because it's swayambar and I have the whole right to marry anyone I like" She reasoned her act.

"She's right Rajkumar Dushashan" Kanha supported.

A maid brought a garland for Yudhisthir.

He took it and put it around her neck, smiling at her. Dharmini was still looking down, crying.

'Ma, papa where are you? I need you please come to me' She silently sobbed holding her pendant.

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Phew! Finally.....I was wanting to write from 3 days but not a single idea came to my dumb head. KanhaiyakiSakhi9112 thank you so much for your help darling.

Hope you enjoy~

RADHE RADHE 💖