A few days later in Indraprasth.....

Everything was going normally at Indraprasth. Pandavs were busy in state matters most of the time. As a new built city Indraprasth needed a lot of working on it before it could flourish to a great extent. Drisana was adjusting to her new surroundings and responsibilities with Devika and Draupadi's help. Devika was like a mother balancing and managing everything with smiles. Contrastingly Draupadi added exotic flavours in events with her excitement and fascination. Rajmata Kunti remained relaxed leaving everything on her daughters-in-law's surveillance. But of course, she was always there to guide them if they needed her.

"Rajkumari? A letter from Dravida has come for you." Tara informed Drisana handing her the letter. It was from her mother, Maharani Mangalya. Drisana smiled as she opened the letter and started reading it. But soon her smile vanished and a frown appeared on her face. Tara who was beside her noticed the change in her expression.

"What happened Rajkumari? Is everything alright in Dravida?" She asked tentatively.

"Bhrata Dhikshit has taken self-exile. His whereabouts is unknown." Drisana replied looking contemplative.

"Don't worry Rajkumari. He'll be fine." Tara said to assure Drisana.

"I've confidence in my brother that he will be. But same may not be true for those around him." Drisana said smiling a little.

Something was amiss. Bhrata Dhikshit's anger and aggression didn't fit right. There was something buried inside him that fuelled his rage. And going to self-exile without telling anyone or giving any explanation was mystifying too. What was more weird, was her Pitashree letting him go just like that. According to her Mata, it was Maharaj Drishadvat who later informed everyone about this saying he let him go because Dhikshit wanted that only.

That got Drisana into thinking. All the mysteries in the world centred into three things.

Wealth. Dhikshit had no desire for that. Otherwise he wouldn't choose to go to exile.

Power. He was not power hungry. There was much opportunity for that without going to exile. And Maharaj Drishadvat wouldn't support him on that.

That concluded to the last thing. His aversion to marriage and her Pitashree supporting him everytime in this matter, pointed towards it too.

Woman.

Yudhisthir, Arjun and Sahdev were seated at their meeting room discussing something when a guard informed them that a messenger from Kashi had arrived.

Yudhisthir permitted him in perplexity. Sending a messenger meant there must be something important.

"All hail to Maharaj!" The messenger greeted him and after getting Yudhisthir's permission spoke again. "Maharaj, Kashi Naresh has sent his greetings to you. And with that there are two messages. One from Maharaj Subahu to you and another from Rajkumari Valandhara to Rajkumari Arunika."

Yudhisthir nodded and sent a guard to call Drisana. They waited for Drisana to arrive and soon she came with Nakul.

"What happened?" Nakul asked coming inside.

"There's a message for Drisana from Kashikumari Valandhara. And another from Maharaj Subahu to bhrata Yudhisthir." Arjun replied.

"What message Maharaj Subahu has to send?" Nakul asked in bewilderment. Then he caught Sahdev's eyes and a moment later his own rounded getting his brother's sign.

Yudhisthir and Drisana both took their respective messages and started reading. The rest three waited patiently. After reading Drisana looked expectantly at Yudhisthir.

"Well. It's an invitation to the swayambar of Rajkumari Valandhara." Yudhisthir said confirming their suspicion.

"And Dhara jiji invited and requested me and Nirmay to attend as guests." Drisana added with a smile.

"Woh toh thik hai. Parantu bhrata Bheem ko raji kaun karwayega. Yoh to yehi kahenge ki mujhe uss uddand Rajkumari se vivha nehi karna.
(That's ok. But who will convince bhrata Bheem. He will only say he won't marry that rude Rajkumari.)" Sahdev asked. The rest started thinking about that too.

Nakul was pondering that when he noticed four pairs of eyes had turned to him. He straightened and gulped.

"Nehi. Nehi. Kadapi nehi. Main nehi jaunga hati ke gale mein ghanti bandhne. (No. No. Absolutely not. I'm not going to tie bell to the elephant's neck.)" Nakul said shaking his head.

"Tumhe jana parega. Barna main bhrata Bheem ko bata dunga ki tumne unhe hati bulaya hai. (You'll have to go. Or I'll tell bhrata Bheem that you called him elephant.)" Arjun blackmailed. Drisana restrained her smile as Nakul gasped. He turned to Yudhisthir for help, but Yudhisthir only gave a nervous smile.

"Ghanti baandh hi do Nakul. Bhrata Bheem ka aur koyi ellaj nehi hai. (Tie the bell Nakul. There is no other treatment for Bhrata Bheem.)" Sahdev said looking sympathetic at Nakul's crunching face.

That night after dinner, Arjun was signing Nakul to start as an oblivious Bheem sat with them. Mata Kunti had noticed something cooking between her four sons too.

"Arjun? Do you want to say something?" She asked him.

"Nothing Mata. Nakul probably has something to say." Arjun said smiling nervously and passing the ball to Nakul's court. Kunti looked at Nakul expectantly.

"Mata, actually an invitation from Kashi has come for Hridi. Kashikumari, Rajkumari Valandhara has requested our presence in Kashi." Nakul said finally taking a deep breath.

"Why?" Bheem asked frowning before Kunti could ask.

"Well, as it happens, Maharaj Subahu has arranged for her swayambar and she wants us to be present there." Nakul said smiling sweetly at Bheem. Bheem looked like he had tasted something sour.

"Waise to Maharaj Subahu ne bhi nimantran bheja hai swayambar ka. Parantu hamare parivar se kaun jayega. Bhrata Bheem ko bhej sakte the, kintu unka na jana hi uchit hoga.
(Maharaj Subahu has also sent invitation for the swayambar. But who will attend from our family. We could send bhrata Bheem, but it'll be better if he doesn't go.)" Nakul continued nonchalantly. Bheem narrowed his eyes at the last part.

"Why? Why shouldn't I go?" Bheem asked in confusion and displeasure.

"That means you want to attend the swayambar bhrata Bheem?" Arjun asked arching his eyebrows. Nakul facepalmed himself in pretense of cleaning his face.

"Are you out of your mind?! I'll attend that mannerless Rajkumari's swayambar!!!!!" Bheem said frowning more at Arjun.

"Aisa maat kahiye na bhrata Bheem. Woh toh acchi hi hai. Parantu pata nehi kyu aapse hi bar bar takra jati hai. (Don't say like that bhrata Bheem. She is a good person. But don't know why she clashes with you only everytime.)" Drisana said meekly.

"Yes. Exactly." Nakul shouted getting back on track. "That's another reason why you shouldn't attend the swayambar. The first reason is an invitation must have reached Hastinapur too. And Bhrata Duryodhan will be there for sure. And you competing against Bhrata Duryodhan is a bad idea."

"What do you mean Nakul? Do you think I can't defeat Duryodhan?" Bheem asked getting angry.

"No. No. Bhrata Bheem. I've no doubt that you can defeat him. But in battlefield, not in a competition. Don't you remember what happened at Rangbhumi? You got disqualified. It wasn't your fault though. But Bhrata Duryodhan will do some cheating again to get you disqualified and you'll come back defeated. Instead it's better if you don't attend the competition." Nakul replied pretending to be earnest. But Bheem got angry thinking about it.

"What do you think Nakul? I'm an idiot whom that Duryodhan can defeat everytime with trickery? This time I will go and come back wining, I won't lose to that fool. Bhrata Yudhisthir send reply to Kashi that I'm coming to attend the competition." Bheem declared angrily and left.

Silence descended for a while as everyone was adjusting to the new development. Nakul released a slow breath thanking God that his neck was safe after this episode.

"Waise bhrata Bheem ko yeh toh smaran hai na ki pratiyogita jitne ke baad unhe Rajkumari Valandhara ko aapne saath lana parega?
(By the way does bhrata Bheem remember that he will have to bring Rajkumari Valandhara with him after winning the competition?)" Devika asked carefully looking around at all.

"Aap cintit maat hoyiye jiji. Pratiyogita khatam hote hote unhe yaad aa jayega. (You don't worry jiji. He will remember by the time the competition ends.)" Draupadi said smiling mischievously.

In Anga :

Karna had gotten busy with royal matters as soon as they reached Anga. His absence and the empty throne since the last few months had invited a lot of chaos and commotion at Anga. As Anga had been an uncivilised and barbaric state before Karna took the holds, it hadn't taken much to go back to their old ways. Karna was hell furious as sexual slavery and human trafficking was again resumed. In his fear lowlife traffickers who stopped kidnapping and selling people, had raised their heads again. Even one minister of his had purchased a slave illegally. On top of that the neighbouring Kingdom Pundra's soldiers had started Narakhet near Anga's borders again. (A dreading practice of hunting humans for target practice or sports.)

Where Karna was preoccupied with these matters, Subhadra was also engulfed in responsibilities as the Maharani. Now, she wasn't completely unfamiliar to these responsibilities, but she never had to take them upon herself. That too without any guidance from anyone. Leave a disorganised Palace without observation, you had a recipe ready for disaster.

The dasis complaints wouldn't end, their living arrangements were in less than poor conditions contrasting to the head maids. As the palace never had some royal female to answer to for years, the head maids group had run the place at their will. Some dasis had even run away or left work not getting enough wages or food. Washing and cleaning was events occasionally done at most parts of the palace.

People had almost stopped coming to the palace in hope of donations or help knowing they would only get anything in royal court or if Karna was informed. Stealing cooking items, clothes, even cattle from the royal farms weren't any rare events. No doubt that was insiders work only. Much more than enough budget was allotted, but there wasn't even sufficient diyas (earthen lamp) to lighten the entire palace. Moreover Subhadra didn't have anyone trustworthy as she had left Dwarka alone without her handmaidens.

In all these inner and outer problems, the newlyweds could hardly manage anytime for themselves.

"All hail to Maharani! Forgive me for bothering you Maharani, but we caught a thief who was stealing salt from the kitchen." The head maid of west wing of Anga Palace, Pushpalata informed Subhadra.

Subhadra looked at her with a bland expression. It was close to midnight and she was waiting for Karna who hadn't returned yet. And at this hour Pushpalata came to solve this silly matter. Well, it wasn't so silly considering she herself had ordered to inform her of any happenings at the palace to restore discipline. But Pushpalata should have waited till the next morning. Subhadra knew what this was about.

This woman was trying to oversmart Subhadra, thinking her to be a silly young queen who should be only busy in dressing up and beautifying herself. She wanted Subhadra to leave the running of the Palace mostly to her so she could control the place like before and continue stuffing her chest with gold coins. Subhadra was only tolerating her because she didn't find anyone to replace her with.

"Bring the thief." Subhadra ordered in monotone.

"Forgive me, Maharani. Please forgive me. It was just one handful of salt. I won't make such a mistake ever again. I beg you please forgive me." A girl was brought before her crying vigorously for mercy.

"Stealing is a sin. Your hands should be burnt for this. How dare you to steal inside the palace!!!" Pushpalata said angrily.

"Are you the Queen Pushpalata?" Subhadra asked calmly.

"No Maharani." Pushpalata replied bemused.

"Exactly. And she's asking forgiveness to me. I'll tell you to speak your mind if I see the need." Subhadra said smiling mockingly. Pushpalata stiffened in embarrassment.

"What's your name?" Subhadra asked the girl.

"Jalpa." The girl whispered in fear though her crying had subsided somewhat.

"Jalpa. So, Jalpa why were you stealing salt? I could have understood if you stole sweets or other food items. But why salt?" Subhadra asked in confusion.

"I'm sorry Maharani. Please forgive me. This will never happen again." Jalpa said folding her hands before Subhadra.

"I asked you something. Answer that first, then I'll consider either to forgive you or not." Subhadra said sternly.

"Maharani, I was stealing in helplessness. I'm the only earning member of my family. My parents are old and I have four little siblings to look after. We barely have enough to eat one meal everyday. Today my brother got some rice in donation. Maa boiled it and got some chillies. But my siblings won't be able to eat it without salt. We neither have any salt or food items at home nor do we have any coins to buy anything. That's why I took one handful of salt from the royal kitchen. Please forgive me." Jalpa explained controlling herself, but couldn't hold her tears anymore at the last part.

"So you'll steal? Have your parents taught you so?" Said Pushpalata again making Subhadra's temper rise. "Wait a minute. Aren't you that lazy Malini's daughter?"

"My Maa is not lazy. She is ill." Jalpa protested.

"I remember what she is. She used to take whole day to complete one task faking illness. That's why I threw her out. And now you sneakily came here to work. Maa kaamchor aur beti namak chor. (Mother is work thief and daughter is salt thief.)" Pushpalata said taunting her.

"And what are you? You steal everyone's hard earned wages by keeping half of it to yourself. You are maha chorni (biggest thief)." Jalpa said in anger forgetting her fear.

"How dare you to call me thief? You're lying. I do no such a thing. Ask anyone." Pushpalata replied angrily too.

"Koyi kuch nehi bolne wala tumhare bhay se dayan. Kintu satya yehi hai. Ki tum sarbapratham hamara rakt piti ho pura din hamare sar pe baith kar. Aur antatah hamare mehnat ki kamai bhi kha jati ho.

(No one will say anything in your fear dayan (witch). But this is the truth only. You suck our blood sitting on our head whole day and then eat our pays too.)" Jalpa said again.

Both the woman seemed to have forgotten Subhadra's presence. Subhadra let them continue watching silently. She was liking Jalpa. The girl was probably a few years older than her. Finally someone who spoke truthfully without fear.

"Teri himmat kaise huyi mujhe dayan bulane ki!!! Aur main kisika kamai nehi khati. Agar main tum logo ko pehra na du na, toh ek kaam dhang se na ho iss mehel mein.
(How dare you to call me witch! And I don't take anyone's salary. If I didn't keep you all in observation than not even one task will be done here.)" Pushpalata shouted angrily.

"Kebal main nehi, pure mehel mein sabhi ishi naam se bulate hai tumhe dayan. Aur sabpe gala phar phar k cillane ko, aur bari bari akhe karke darane ko pehra dena nehi bolte. Khud to koyi kaam karti nehi, aayi bari pehra dene. Itne barso mein kabhi ek jharu bhi uthaya hai saf-safai k liye?
(Not only me, all calls you witch only. And screaming at everyone from the top of your voice and scaring them by making eyes is not observing. You never do any work. Have you ever even lifted a broom for cleaning?)" Jalpa said back.

"Mujhe jharu uthane ki aabasakta nehi. Dasiya hai uske liye. Aur aab agar tune mujhe ek aur bar dayan bola toh main teri kesh kat dungi.
(I don't need to lift broom. Maids are there for that. And if you call me witch one more time, I'll cut your hairs.)"

"Jharu uthane ki aabasakta nehi, Dasiya hai. (Don't need to lift broom, maids are there.)" Jalpa mimicked Pushpalata and then said furiously, "Aur tum kya ho? Maharani? Aur mere kesh o ko hat lagane ki sochi bhi na, toh main tumhari aankhe noch lungi dayan.
(And what are you? The Queen? And if you even think about touching my hairs, I'll scratch out your eyes, you witch.)"

"Enough!!!" Subhadra stopped them as a guard gave the news of Maharaj's return to her. Both woman glared at each other only then.

"I'll decide who is saying truth or not." Subhadra said and ordered another dasi to bring something. She came a while later with a covered plate. Subhadra removed the cover to reveal red chilies. Everyone was baffled by this.

"Yeh Dwarka ke satya pariksan mirchi hai. Inme ishwar ka ashis hai. Yedhi koyi satya bolne wala yeh mirchi khaye, toh use yeh meethi lagti hai. Kintu yedhi koyi mithya bacan bolne wala khaye, toh pehle uski jeevha jalti hai, kan se dhuya nikalne lagta hai, tatpaschat uske mastisk tak pohochkar yeh bishes mirchi use bhi jala deti hai. Aur yoh byakti sadev sadev k liye aapna mansik santulan kho baithta hai.
(This is truth examiner chilies of Dwarka. These have the blessing of God. If a truthful person eats them, then it tastes sweet to him. But if a liar eats them then first his tongue gets burned, then smoke starts coming out of his mouth and finally reaching his brain, this special chili burns that too. And that liar looses his sanity forever.)"

Subhadra explained in a grave tone. Everyone present looked scared at the sight of those chilies now. Dwarka's tales travelled far. They heard many things about the mysterious city and enigmatic Dwarkadeesh. Seemed Yadhavi (Rajkumari of Yadavas) also had some mystical means at her disposal.

"Pushpalata, Jalpa. Both of you will eat these. We'll get to know who is telling the truth and the liar will get his punishment too." Subhadra said sternly.

Pushpalata and Jalpa both glanced at each other and the offered chilies in fear. Then Jalpa took one chili and gulping down her fear, ate it whole. Everyone watched holding their breath inside.

"What is this? My mouth is burning. But I spoke only the truth Maharani." Jalpa said in fear and started crying again.

"I know you spoke the truth. That's why you dared to eat it. But as Pushpalata was lying, she didn't dare touch it." Subhadra said glaring at Pushpalata.

"I'm sorry Maharani. Please forgive me. Don't make me eat the chilies." Pushpalata said kneeling before Subhadra with folded hands.

"Ok. I'll not make you eat these. But from now on you're removed from your position. In fact, I don't want to see you in this Palace again. Guards! Throw her in the dungeon for three days and don't give her anything to eat. And three days later release her after giving her 15 whiplash. Maybe then she'll realise how it feels to go hungry and then get maltreatment." Subhadra ordered the guards staring angrily at Pushpalata who started crying and begging for forgiveness. Guards dragged her from there then.

"And Jalpa, your mouth is burning as a punishment for the stealing. As you said truth only, these chilies won't harm you further." Subhadra said in the same serious tone. Jalpa nodded her head in relief and gratitude.

"One more thing, You'll join as my hand maiden from tomorrow. For now, pack dinner from the kitchen for your family and leave. And come early tomorrow. I need to select a new head maid." Subhadra said and left. Jalpa with others stared at the way being shocked.

Subhadra's barely controlled smile, came in full force as soon as she was out of sight.

About the chilies?

Well, her bhrata Krishna says, never to reveal the secrets of your trickery. Or people will stop taking you seriously. Now these people would live wondering about her mystical chilies before making mistakes.

How was it???

Preparation for Valandhara's swayambar is on the way.😈😈😈

No one noticed Dhikshit's aversion to marriage?

Well...I did say once there's mysteries buried in Dravida too. 😉😉😉

One is going to be revealed just ahead in a few chapters...😌

Till then, keep reading..😊😊😊