In Hastinapur:

"Maharaj Vriddhakshatra has thrown out Rajkumari Dussala from Sindhu accusing her for his son's death!"

An unbridled fury arose inside Duryodhan as he proceeded the words. Gandharraj Shakuni's eyes had widened in shock. He looked at Duryodhan with uncertainty. Duryodhan sat still. Too still for his liking. Gandharraj gulped nervously sensing the upcoming storm. He knew how much Duryodhan loved his sister. He would never tolerate the insult of his beloved sister.
That's why that fool Vriddhakshatra was so silent even after his son's death. And that greater fool for a daughter he had! How could Mandakini hid it from him too?

"Where is Dussala now?" Asked Mahamahim Bhismah anxiously. His heart clenched at the misfortune of his one and only granddaughter.

"No one knows about her whereabouts Gangaputra. She was living on the cremation grounds since being thrown out of the palace. But for the past few weeks, no one has seen her anywhere." The informer replied.

"My daughter was living on the cremation grounds?!" Maharaj Dhritrastra whispered in a pained voice as a lone tear fell from his eyes.

"How dare them to do this to our sister?" Dhussasan rose from his seat angrily.

"Order us pitashree! We will wipe out Sindhu's name from Aryavarth's map!" Vikarna said taking his bow in hand, ready to march for war.

"Maharaj, first of all we should find putri Dussala and bring her back." Mahamantri Vidhur advised with sadness and worry.

Duryodhan sat with a lowered head and heard everything, not responding at all. No matter the sins, Dussala was still his sister. Maharaj Dhritrastra nodded decisively agreeing with Vidhur.

"Find her. I want my daughter back at any cost!"

***

In Dravida:

"Why have you come here, Gandhari putri? What do you want?" Maharani Mangalya asked her frowning.

"I only want justice Maharani. Will you be able to give me so?" Dussala replied solemnly.

"What injustice has happened to you that you have to come here seeking justice?" Maharani Mangalya asked again.

"My husband has been killed right in front of my eyes. And his murderer is roaming freely while degrading me in front of my in-laws. I have been kicked out of Sindhu only because of him. They didn't even let me see my son for the last time. I lost my everything in an instant! Everything is his fault. He is my culprit!" Dussala replied getting more angry with each word.

"Then why don't you go to your brothers? Is Hastinapur not able to take revenge on your behalf?" It was Rajkumari Shikhandini who asked this scornfully.

"No one can question my brothers abilities! For me, they can shake the entire Aryavarth if needed." Dussala said ferociously.
"But I have come here only because I want you to leave the facade of doing justice! You all are biased. You act like you're all high and honourable. But the truth is, you all are just actors!"

"Watch your tongue, Rajkumari!" Rajkumari Priyala warned her.

"Why should I? Is it wrong? If it is, then do justice! Give me justice! Punish the murderer of my husband!" Dussala shouted at them.

"Rajkumari, I understand what you must be going through ---" Yuvrani Anandini started to say calmly but was stopped by Dussala's scornful voice.

"Do you?! Do you Yuvrani?" She turned her eyes to Maharani Mangalya and added with tears in eyes.
"Can you understand how it feels to be kicked out of my only home just after my husband's demise? Do you know how it feels to spend nights at cremation grounds? Do you know how it feels when someone snatches a child from his mother's embrace? Can you guess that mother's pain, who day after day begs to see her son once but is denied and humiliated?!"

The women present in the court could clearly see the pain and sorrow of Dussala and felt sad. Maharani Mangalya stared at Dussala sadly as she in an extent knew how it felt to be homeless and helpless. After all, she had experienced something similar years earlier.

"I have lost everything because of that murderer! Now you'll give me justice only!" Dussala said wiping her tears as her sorrow once again got replaced by anger.

"Who is he? Who is the murderer of your husband?" Maharani Mangalya asked sternly.

"Do you promise to do justice to me?" Dussala asked instead.

"This court has never done injustice to anyone. Nor will that day ever arrive when it happens. Be assured. Tell me the name of that culprit." Maharani Mangalya assured her.

Anandini frowned at her mother-in-law in concern. She had a suspicion that it wasn't going to be as simple as it seemed. But looking at her Mata, she understood Maharani Mangalya was seeing herself in Rajkumari Dussala and was determined to do right by her.

Dussala composed herself for their reactions and looked straight at Maharani Mangalya as she replied,

"That culprit is no one else but your own son.

The prince of Dravida,

Rajkumar Dhikshit."

Maharani Mangalya's eyes widened with a few others. For a few moments, absolute silence descended on the courtroom.

"Are you even in your senses? Do you know about whom you're speaking?!" A furious Anandini asked her and rose from her seat.

"I'm saying the truth only. Rajkumar Dhikshit is the murderer of my husband, Sindhuraj Jayadrath!" Dussala declared calmly.

"Enough!" In the shocked silence of the court, the loud booming voice of Rajkumar Dhikshit echoed.
"Not one more word Rajkumari."

Dussala turned behind to see him striding inside the courtroom towards her.

"Why have you come here? What are you planning now?" Dhikshit asked angrily as he came to stand right in front of her.

"I'm planning your death only." Dussala hissed at him with equal anger.

"My bases are not so weak which will get shaken by a woman like you!" Dhikshit replied with a scornful snort.

"Dhikshit! Why have you entered the court without permission?" Maharani Mangalya asked finally coming out of her stupor.

"Because you forgot to teach your son his limits." Dussala was quick to retort.

"Dussala!!!" Dhikshit's angered filled voice sent a tremor through her, but she didn't let it affect her.

"Calm down, Dhikshit. She's in pain. She doesn't know what she's saying." Maharani Mangalya said in a deep tone. Dussala laughed hearing her words and asked,

"Is this how you are going to favor your son? By declaring me crazy?"

"No one is calling you crazy and I am not going to favor anyone. If your claims are true, then your culprit will be punished for sure." Maharani Mangalya said harshly glancing at her son once.

"Then ask your son. Ask him if I am saying the truth or not! Or is he now going to refuse his deeds now?" Dussala said vehemently.

"I never do something that I can't acknowledge. Yes. I did kill that pathetic excuse for a human being that you called your husband." Rajkumar Dhikshit said looking at Dussala without any guilt. And then he turned to face his mother and admitted,
"I killed Sindhuraj Jayadrath! The dagger which sliced through his throat was held by me only!"

"Dhikshit!" Yuvrani Anandini gasped.
"What have you done? Why?"

"Why don't you ask that to her? The precious princess of Hastinapur?" Dhikshit said looking at Dussala mockingly.
"Ask her what her husband was doing just before I killed him."

Dussala remained silent and only glared at him.

"What happened? You lost the ability to speak? Let me tell everyone then." Dhikshit said at her silence.
"She was laying on the ground beaten and battered while Jayadrath held her face to cut off her eyes with his knife."

Maharani Mangalya whose breath had gotten stuck with Dhikshit's admission, sighed now. She knew her son could not do anything wrong knowingly.

"If I had not intervened, she wouldn't be alive to come here and scream for justice." Dhikshit added looking at Dussala again.

"He was my husband! Whatever he did to me it was between us! Who gave you the right to intervene?" Dussala shouted at him as her anger rose again. This! This was the only reason why she had hesitated to take his name when Maharaj Vriddhakshatra had asked. Because he had saved her. But look! What that led her to!

"Really? Then why didn't you keep your mouth shut and not screamed for help? Then neither would I have heard, nor have I interfered." Dhikshit shouted back.

"I begged you to stop! I begged you not to kill him!" Dussala said in agitation.

"Because you're a selfish coward who has sold her self-respect long ago!" Dhikshit replied in disgust.

But just as he said so, Dussala raised her hand to slap him. Dhikshit was quick to hold her wrist before it could make contact with his cheek though. He frowned at her as his grip tightened. Dussala clenched her hand tightly. Her eyes watered again in pain, but she didn't allow that to be seen on her face.

"Dhikshit! Leave her!" Maharani Mangalya ordered. She didn't know either to stop Dussala or her own son.

Dhikshit didn't acknowledged his mother and kept holding her hand tightly while frowning at her furiously. Dussala didn't wither under his flaming gaze and glared back as she whispered,

"Selfish is the one who acts for his own benefits. Coward is the one who strikes at the least suspectable moment and self-respect is questionable of his who tries to hide their hatred behind the act of kindness."

Maharani Mangalya and Yuvrani Anandini both were stupified by their exchange. Their shared glance confirmed that they were wondering the same thing.

What exactly happened in Sindhu?!

To be continued......

***

How was the chapter?

Please do comment and let me know your thoughts. I love hearing from you guys...❤️

And about Dussala....

Well I did say, a few screws of her brain are loosened. 😁

To any wondering souls,

Dussala is elder than Arjun. And Dhikshit is almost eight years older than Drisana.

So, in conclusion Dhikshit and Dussala are of the same age. In fact,

They have the same Birthday!