Days passed by fast. Kunti returned to Indraprasth with Karna. Since then Kunti had been living with Draupadi in the hut. When she objected, Kunti simply asked, wouldn't she give her mother shelter in her hut? Draupadi had no choice but to relent. Everyone was relieved with Draupadi in Mata Kunti's care.

Soon the time for her delivery arrived and Draupadi gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Draupadi had shed tears of happiness holding her child. All the pain, insecurities and fear melted away at the first glance of her baby boy.

"I want him to be known for his great deeds just like his father. So, I name him Shrutakarma." Draupadi had said at his naming ceremony.

Another interesting thing happened at the time of his naming ceremony. Shrutakarma was crying loudly. Probably getting annoyed by so many people disturbing and cooing at him. When he was placed on the cradle, he quietened. At that time, Yaudheya was brought and placed beside him. Both the kids kept observing each other. But just as Draupadi moved away, Shrutakarma started wailing loudly again. Devika tried to calm him unsuccessfully. She placed him on the cradle again and was going to call Draupadi.

But Yaudheya made a loud sound frowning with disapproval at Shrutakarma. And surprisingly, Shrutakarma quietened down looking at him. Devika stared with surprise as Yaudheya made some other incoherent sounds which the kid listened to carefully and then made a noise seeming to act obedient. Kunti commented that Arjun used to do the same at childhood. Whenever Yudhisthir talked to him, he stayed quiet and listened with his utmost attention looking like he was understanding everything. A good round of laugh went around on behalf of the kids.

Indraprasth's environment was filled with laughter and happiness. The only lacking was left by Arjun's absence.

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"Rajkumari ji, I want to talk to you about something important." Said a voice from behind. Drisana turned to find a soldier standing there. She was in the Palace garden taking a walk when she was stopped.

"Yes?" Drisana asked. She had seen this warrior around the palace before too. Tara's eyes had widened finding him there. She looked scared and shook her head signing him to leave.

'Interesting.' Drisana thought noticing the exchange.

"I actually ---" He started nervously, but then took a deep breath before saying, "My name is Maudrik. I am an ardharathi in Rajkumar Bheem's army troupe."

"Good for you. That's all?" Drisana said with amusement. She had started to catch up what was going on.

"No. I actually wanted to say that---that I want to marry."

"Very good decision. Are you here to invite me?"

"No. I---"

"No? You don't want to invite me?!"

"No, no. Yes."

"Yes? That means you're admitting that you don't want to invite me."

"No. Yes. I mean not that. Yes. I----" He stuttered a few times before glancing at Tara and then said calmly,
"It would be a pleasure for me to invite you if only you permit me to marry Tara."

Drisana glanced sideways at Tara to find her looking flabbergasted. Maudrik was nervously waiting for Drisana's answer. As the head maiden of Drisana, Tara had a lot of responsibilities and remained with her for most of the time. Drisana had groomed her well over the years. The innocent stumbling and falling Tara had matured over the years.

"I will let you know later." Drisana said neutrally, neither showing approval nor disapproval. Both Maudrik and Tara's faces fell hearing her. They glanced at each other with a disheartened expression before Maudrik bowed and left.

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"Bhrata Yudhisthir, did you call me?" Bheem asked coming inside the meeting room of Yudhisthir where he sat looking at some parchments.

"Yes. Sit." Yudhisthir said sighing. "I wanted to discuss something with you actually." After taking some moment, Yudhisthir started.

"We have gained strong support from south and west. At east side also, we have made allies with the help of Kashi. Now only the north remains. Gandhar and Sindhu both have strong grip there. Because of them, we are not getting any support from north and northern-west side. Madra is there. But Madra is divided into four parts itself. One of us needs to go there to talk to them. To talk about alliance. To convince the Kings of Madra and get their support. They can help us in convincing the other ones."

Bheem remained silent, contemplating the situation. If they managed to get support from the north and northern west parts, Indraprasth would be finally free from Hastinapur. They would conduct a yagna inviting all their allies and take down the flag of Hastinapur. According to the rule of Aryavart if yours was a provisional Kingdom, then the Kingdom that ruled over would have their flag on the highest tower of yours. If you were simply allies and supported another Kingdom, this wasn't needed. But when a Kingdom was won over or got divided like Kurus, this ritual was followed to show the sovereignty of that Kingdom.

Only after gaining wealth, military support and allies when the Kingdom was sufficient in economy and defence, they gained freedom and took down the flag. But it was an open invitation to attack too. If you're not prepared to face the army of the sovereign Kingdom, you better not take the flag down. And even if you were ready for them, without the support of at least hundred kings, the Kingdom wouldn't be considered free.

"What do you propose?" Bheem asked.

"An opportunity has come knocking at our door actually." Yudhisthir said. "Madra Naresh, Maharaj Dyutimata has sent an invitation for his daughter's swayambar."

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"Do you like him?" Drisana asked suddenly while Tara was helping her to change. It took Tara a moment to understand what Drisana was asking. They were alone in Drisana's chambers. She had just woken up after taking a short nap and now needed to be present for dinner.

"I---" Tara trailed off with a troubled expression. Head maidens couldn't get married without the permission of their mistresses. Most of the time, they were either replaced and released from their duties, or shared the work load with other maids.

"You don't need to hesitate. Tell me." Drisana said assuring her with a smile.

"He is nice. He works in the army under Rajkumar Bheem's command and lives in the town with his mother." Tara said meekly.

"Okay." Drisana stretched the word nodding her head. "Did you meet his mother?"

"Two or three times." Tara replied fidgeting nervously.

"What are you saying? His mother came to beat you with a stick all the times?" Drisana asked gasping. Tara's eyes widened in shock. 

"No, no, Rajkumari. His mother did no such a thing. She was really nice and treated me very fondly." She replied hurriedly.

"Really? That means mother and son both are nice. Then what's the problem?" Drisana asked arching her brows.

"I just don't want to leave you. If I get married, I will be responsible to my family for their needs. I won't be able to remain with you all the time or give my works my full concentration. I admire and respect you a lot. I have learned a lot from you. I know you trust me a lot too. I just don't want to break that trust Rajkumari. I don't want you to give my responsibilities to someone else." Tara said finally with a heavy heart.

"But I disagree. I do not think, you have learned anything from me." Drisana said staring at her.
"Tara, I am the person who has waited years for her love. Against all odds, I stayed true to my love. I stayed determined in my belief. You're one of my most trusted companions. You've seen me. It took me years to bring changes in Dravida. To build a system which is both respected and followed. I worked hard to make Dravida's family court solid, to make people trust and come to the court.
And I left all of it for Nirmay. For the man I love.

Here at Indraprasth, I will have to start from scratch. Maybe with my experience, it won't be as much difficult, but difficult indeed. But at the end, if someday again I need to leave all of it for Nirmay, I won't hesitate for a second."

Tara stared downwards absorbing and contemplating her words. It was true that Rajkumari Drisana had sacrificed a well stable political career for Rajkumar Nakul. If she wanted, she could have married some King of the allying Kingdoms of Dravida. Which would have allowed her more leverage and a higher station. There wasn't a shortage of suitable men awaiting her attention. But her heart was committed to Rajkumar Nakul. Therefore, she left everything and everyone behind.

"Tara, there's nothing more important than family and there's no obstacle that cannot be overcome with the support of our family. I do trust you. But if someday my trust breaks or I'm not here anymore, who will be there for you?
I care for you. In fact, I found a friend and confident in you. But even though you're very dear to me, I can't be there for you always. I have my obligations to my family which are more important to me. So, I will never want you to step back from entering into a family life in fear of obligations. Do you understand?" Drisana asked.

Tara nodded with her head lowered and tears in eyes.

"Then answer me honestly. Do you love him?" Drisana asked softly.

"You remember Rajkumari? Back in Dravida, once you said to me that there was no light bright enough to illuminate the darkness of your life?" Tara asked wiping her tears and calming herself.
Drisana nodded slowly remembering. She said that to Tara when her Pitashree refused to get her married to Nakul.

"I didn't understand that back then. But I do now. Because I have found the light which illuminates my whole world." Tara said, finally looking at her. A slow smirk came on Drisana's face as she got her meaning.

"Tell me the story. I want the details! Each and everything." Drisana said squealing excitedly making Tara chuckle.

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A slight frown appeared on Drisana's face as she heard Bheem telling Kunti that he was leaving for Madra in a few days. They had finished dinner and was sitting in the living room adjacent to it.

"Madradesh? Wasn't Mata Madri from Madra? Are you going there bhrata Bheem?" Drisana asked casually.

"Mata Madri was from southern Madra. I am going in Northern Madra ruled by Maharaj Dyutimata. He is the cousin brother of Mata Madri though." Bheem replied with a fond smile remembering Mata Madri.

"Oh! I thought you must be going to Maharaj Shalya's Kingdom." Drisana commented.

"Maharaj Shalya rules the southern parts only. Maharaj Dyutimata has sent his daughter's swayambar's invitation. This is a good opportunity for us to gain the attention of the Kings of northern parts." Yudhisthir replied this time.

"Swayambar?!" Valandhara narrowed her eyes at Bheem.

"Bhag lene nehi ja raha hu. Rajdut banke ja raha hu. Uphar samagri aur subhkamnayo ke saath. Waise bhi, ek jo swayambar mei bhag liya tha, uska faal aab tak mujhse pacaya nehi jaa raha hai.
(I'm not going to take part. I am going as a diplomat. With gifts and best wishes. By the way, the one swayambar I attended, I have yet to digest it's results.)" Bheem said giving a mock smile.

"Arthat? Aap pratiksha kar rahe hai, ki kab pacan kriya sampanna ho? Taki aap punah bhag le sake? (What do you mean? Are you waiting for digestion, so you could participate again?)" Valandhara asked returning the mock smile.

"Mana ki mei Vrikodar hu. Parantu yeh karya mere liye bhi asambhav hai. (I admit that I am Vrikodar. But this task is impossible even for me.)" Bheem replied with that same smile.

Nakul gave a cough to draw their attention and glanced at Kunti and Yudhisthir who looked amused. Bheem and Valandhara quietened understanding the sign.

Here, Drisana was thinking something else. Yudhisthir himself had decided to send Bheem instead of sending the unmarried Pandava brother to participate in the swayambar. And none of the brothers even suggested sending Sahdev there. Why? Was there something she was missing?