At the kingdom of Indraprasth:

Yudhisthir stood watching his army practice on the field. They were ready to march for Sindhu. To defend the honour and dignity of Indraprasth.

But the person who had hurt the honour of Indraprasth, was dead already!

Yudhisthir couldn't believe the news he got just this morning. Months had passed since the day Sindhuraj Jayadrath left Indraprasth and Yudhisthir declared war against Sindhu. All these months, he had prepared his army and perfected his strategies. There had been no news from Sindhu and even his spies remained silent. They were confused as the atmosphere in Sindhu seemed too calm for his liking.

And just when Yudhisthir was ready to march with his army to Sindhu and keep the promise he made to himself to behead Jayadrath with his own hands, his spies had send the news of Jayadrath's sudden demise. No one knew how he died or why the news was kept hidden. Maharaj Vriddhakshatra had returned since and was handling internal issues.

Yudhisthir's heart panged as he remembered Dussala's face. Their last encounter had not been very pleasant. Dussala was a little naive, but moody too. Even with her age, her tantrums had not lessened. She must be angry at him for throwing her out of Indraprasth like that. But what concerned him was that even no one from Hastinapur had bothered to contact after their son-in-law's demise.

He hoped Dussala was alright. The girl had suffered much. That one decision of Duryodhan had ruined her life forever. He felt guilty too for not being there to save her when that disastrous decision of her life was taken.

But it was done now. Nothing could be done to change it. Yudhisthir only hoped that without Jayadrath in the picture, she would find some solace at least.

***

In Dravida Kingdom:

"Kaha tha maine, yeh koyi na koyi kand kar ke hi wapas padhare hai Dravida mei.
(I warned earlier, he must have done something before returning to Dravida!)"

"Aapna raag alapna band karo tum!
(Stop playing the same tune!)"

"Inko to serf Anandini Bhabhishree ke besure raag hi pasand hai.
(He only likes the dissonant tunes of Anandini Bhabhishree.)"

Rajkumar Daiwik mumbled to himself, sulking at his eldest brother Dwijendra who kept pacing from one end to the other of the room.

"Where has he gone at this time?" Yuvraj Dwijendra asked, looking at his brothers.

"Samudra ke sital jaal mei aapne tapte huye mathe ko dubane gaya hai.
(He has gone to drown his hot head into the cold water of the sea.)" Rajkumar Dheemant answered.

"Kya labh? Sampurn samudra ka jaal garam ho jayega, kintu uska matha thanda nehi hone wala.
(What's the point? The entire sea will start boiling, but his head won't cool down.)"
Rajkumar Dhritimat commented making Daiwik snort. But the three straightened receiving a glare from their elder brother.

Rajkumar Dhikshit had returned to Dravida a few days ago after years of staying incognito. His self exile had finally ended. Maharani Mangalya had been the happiest one at his return and couldn't hold her tears. Adding to that celebration, Dravida's eldest Princess, the daughter of Yuvraj Dwijendra and Yuvrani Anandini, Rajkumari Citrali had also returned after finishing her training.
Dravida was full of joy and laughter at the return of their most hot headed, but beloved prince and their warrior princess.

But among it all, when Yuvraj Dwijendra was relieved at his brother's return, Rajkumar Dridhaksh's spies informed him about his brother's visit to Sindhu and the sudden demise of Sindhuraj Jayadrath. Dwijendra was desperately hoping that Dhikshit's visit had nothing to do with the death of Jayadrath. Or else they would have a very ugly mess in their hands involving both Hastinapur and Indraprasth.

"I don't think he did anything or else Maharaj Vriddhakshatra would have already marched for Dravida. Besides, Hastinapur won't remain silent if Dhikshit was involved. There has been no news from Indraprasth which means Drisana has no idea of Jayadrath's death too. The last I heard, Maharaj Yudhisthir is preparing to attack Sindhu." Dhritimat said seriously. Dwijendra sighed as he had also thought the same, but he had zero confidence in his brother. So, he replied,

"Though that makes sense, it's Dhikshit we are talking about. The most stealthy assassin Aryavarth had ever witnessed. I will only believe he has nothing to do with it when he himself says so."

***

The Commander-in-chief of Dravida's family court Drupadkumari Rajkumari Shikhandini dodged another attack from the young princess of Dravida, Rajkumari Citrali.

The new recruits of the army watched the two warrior princesses in awe. Their moves perfected from years of practice sent a shiver of anticipation through them as they wondered if someday they could also achieve this level of mastery and call themselves warriors too.

Dravida had finally achieved something that was unheard of in Aryavarth. Though the start was shaky, they had managed to establish a small troop of army of women. Rajkumari Shikhandini was the acting commander-in-chief of them. Under her skillful observation and training, they found the courage and confidence that was needed for the army to grow and flourish.

Yuvrani Anandini watched her daughter with a glint of pride in eyes and a smile on lips. She could not believe how much Citrali had grown up!

It seemed like yesterday when she came here as Dwijendra's wife.

The young princess of Telinga kingdom was supposed to get married to the prince of Mushika. The two kingdoms were celebrating the union of two dynasties and wanted to share their joy with friends and family. The closest friend of Mushika's Rajkumar, the crown prince of Dravida, Yuvraj Dwijendra had happily accepted the invitation and accompanied his friend to Telinga. But at the day of the wedding only, a furious Maharaj of Mushika refused to get his son married to the princess.

Reason?

Because the princess of Telinga, Anandini had been previously married to a donkey!

Yes! It actually happened. The princess had Mangal dosh (mars defect) in her Kundli (horoscope) and to remove that the Rajpurohit (royal priest) had advised her mother to get her married to a donkey. Against her and her father's wishes, Maharani of Telinga actually followed Rajpurohit's advice.

And Telinga's Maharaj had hid that from the king of Mushika. After all, it wasn't something to brag about and who would have agreed to marry his daughter knowing the truth? But like sun, truth never remained hidden forever. And this truth came in light on the day of her marriage only. The situation spiraled out of hand fast. And Dwijendra intervened to stop the two equally furious kings of Telinga and Mushika kingdom. Both the kings respected him as Telinga and Mushika both were provisional kingdoms of Dravida under the supreme authority of Maharaj Drishadvat.

But even his sensible words failed to placate the king and prince of Mushika.

"No, Mitra. I can't marry her. What will people say? I will become a laughing stock!"

"So for the sake of 'what will people say', you want to leave a girl on the supposed wedding day? For once think about her! No one will marry a princess who is left at the alter only. Her life will be ruined!"

"If you are so concerned for her, then why don't you marry her? It's easy to give advice to others. But when it comes upon us then only we realize the gravity of the situation!"

After debating for a while, Dwijendra had asked the Maharaj of Telinga if he had any objection to the marriage of his daughter with him. The entire atmosphere had changed in an instant as most of the people lost their ability to speak in shock.

Before Anandini could even understand what was happening, she was rushed to the mandap (alter) and got married to Dwijendra. The two even saw each other for the first time only after the rituals were completed.

On the way back to Dravida, an uncertain Anandini spoke to him for the first time.

"Aapne mujhse vivah kyu kiya? Loog parihas udayenge aapka.
(Why have you married me? People will laugh at you.)"

Dwijendra had looked at her with an unreadable expression before replying,

"Uske liye loogo ki aabasakta nehi hai. Mere paribar jan hi pariyapt hai.
(There's no need of people for that. My family is enough.)"

"Arthat? (Means?)"

"Dravida chaliye. Aapne aap hi samajh jayengi.
(Let's go to Dravida. You'll understand yourself.)"

Maharaj Drishadvat and Maharani Mangalya had respected their son's decision and accepted their eldest daughter-in-law with open arms. Dridhaksh and Daiwik were still so young at that time and kept stealing glances at the bride of their eldest from behind a curtain. When they were finally introduced to her, an innocent looking Daiwik had asked,

"Suna hai aapka pati gadha hai?
(I heard your husband is a donkey?)"

Anandini's eyes had widened hearing him. At the fake cough of Maharani Mangalya, her face had instantly reddened in mortification.

"Aapka gadha kaha hai?
(Where is your donkey?)"
Daiwik had asked again. Dridhaksh stopped grinning as he spotted Dwijendra standing behind and ran away leaving Daiwik alone. Dwijendra tapped on the head of Daiwik with his index finger. An irritated Daiwik had turned to find Anandini's donkey frowning at him only.

"Jyesth? Hum aapko gadha kadapi nehi bula rahe the!
(Jyesth? I was not calling you a donkey at all!)"

Daiwik had said showing his teeth while grinning at Dwijendra before running away from there.

And soon Anandini understood what Dwijendra had meant earlier. There was no need for outsiders to make fun of him. His family was enough. Though they taunted Dwijendra often for being Anandini's gadha (donkey), they did it with good humor and never made her feel insulted.

"Yuvrani?" Anandini came out of her thoughts as a dasi bowed respectfully and called her for attention.

"There is a woman outside. She's making a fuss about the court session not being held today. The guards had tried telling her to come at another time, but she is not ready to listen anything. She even started banging her head saying, she'll die at the gate only if justice is denied."

Anandini frowned hearing that before going to the entrance with the dasi following behind. As she reached there, she saw a woman standing there and glaring at the guards furiously. She threw a quick glance at the woman from head to toe.

The woman stood there in a battered state wearing dirty clothes and disheveled hair. Her eyes were red from both unshed tears and anger. Blood was ozing out of the wound of her head with several scratch marks here and there. She had clearly experienced something traumatic to leave her in this state.

"Who are you? From where have you come?" She asked to the woman. "And why are you in this state?"

The woman stared at her harshly before asking,
"Are you Maharani Mangalya?"

"No. I'm the Yuvrani of Dravida. You can tell me your problem." Anandini answered calmly.

"I have come here to meet Maharani Mangalya only. She and her daughter talks about woman's rights and honour so much! Let me see too how she does her justice!"

"Who are you to talk about Dravida's Maharani like that?" Anandini asked sternly as her brows furrowed in anger.

The woman crossed the distance between the two of them ignoring the warnings of the guards and stood right in front of Anandini before saying,

"Go and tell Maharani Mangalya that Hastinapur's Rajkumari, the daughter of Maharaj Dhritrastra and Maharani Gandhari has come herself to witness the drama of justice here."

***

Those thinking Dhikshit loved Dussala and that was the reason for his hatred towards Duryodhan...........

Take one bucket of sympathy from me.....🪣

🤣🤣🤣