"Sahdev?!"
"Kanya ke saath?!!! (With a girl?!!!)"

Nakul and Bheem shared a confused and surprised glance as the soldier told them that Sahdev had entered Indraprasth with a girl.

"Who is the girl?" Bheem asked.

"He said to inform you that it's Rajkumari Vijaya of Madra." The soldier replied.

Bheem and Nakul shared another confused glance.

"Why will he return alone without the troupe and accompanied by a Rajkumari?" Bheem asked again in confusion. Nakul looked to contemplate that too before a thought struck him and his eyes widened.

"Let's not assume anything and meet them first. Inform Devika bhabishree that there's a guest arriving and she needs to be present to welcome her." Nakul said instead hiding his thoughts.

♧♧♧

Vijaya looked around at her surroundings with wide astonishing eyes taking on in the majestic city of Indraprasth. She felt afraid too. The journey had been long and went on for days before they reached here. Rajkumar Sahdev did not say anything else except that they would reach soon. Vijaya assumed they would return to the Palace of Madra only. As she had no idea of direction or the paths, she didn't realise that they were out and far from Madradesh. As she had been confined in the four walls of the palace for most part, she also enjoyed the long trip and the freedom it offered.

But now as they entered the town and Sahdev told her this was Indraprasth, she felt confused and scared.

"Come." Sahdev said as he got down from the chariot reaching the premises of the palace. Vijaya complied him silently. Sahdev started walking towards the palace with Vijaya following behind. He saw Bheem, Nakul and Devika coming outside and took a deep breath before facing them.

Here, coming at the entrance of the palace, Devika, Bheem and Nakul observed Sahdev with curiosity. As Sahdev came to stand before the three, they searched the girl around.

"Sahdev? Where is the Rajkumari that you brought?" Bheem asked not seeing anyone.

Sahdev gave a nervous glance to them before sidestepping and revealing Vijaya who was trying to hide behind him. Vijaya looked alarmed and with big fearful eyes observed the three before glancing at Sahdev. Sahdev knew what was coming and Vijaya did not disappoint.
Bheem, Nakul and Devika who were watching Vijaya with interest got startled as she started crying loudly. The trio looked at each other before giving a worried glance at Sahdev who looked sheepish.

"Iss bacci ko kaha se laye ho tum? Iski Mata kaha hai? (From where have you brought this girl? Where is her mother?)" Bheem asked making Sahdev stupefied.

Nakul gave a look to Bheem. Okay. The girl was short heighted and looked younger in age. But not so much that she would roam around with her mother's finger caught in her hand. But then he glanced at her crying face again and thought

'Well, some kids look older than their actual age too.'

"Why is she crying?" Nakul asked instead.

"Maat puchna. (Don't ask.)" Sahdev warned.

"Why not? This little girl is crying. We should ask at least what's wrong. Where is your manners?" Bheem scolded him.

"Then ask away." Sahdev said to Bheem with a tight lipped smile.

"Why are you crying little girl?" Bheem asked Vijaya throwing an irritated look at Sahdev.

"Pheeedoddeeeeeeettteeerrrrrreeeedtoooiiiittttpphooorrreeeeebbhhhhhhaaaaaaaakkkkkkkk........"

Bheem and Nakul looked dumbfounded at her reply whereas Devika looked to be confused.

"Konsi bhasa hai yeh?!!!! (Which language is this?!!!)" Bheem asked narrowing his eyes.

"Isiliye kaha tha. Maat puchiye. (That's why I told you not to ask.)" Sahdev commented in a bored tone.

"Wait! She is probably saying, 'he told me we are going for a walk.' Am I correct?" Devika said surprising the three brothers who looked at Vijaya simultaneously to find her nodding.

"Kya baat hai bhabishree! Yeh bhasa kaha se sikhi aapne? (Wow bhabishree! From where have you learned this language?)" Sahdev asked in wonderment.

"Maat puchiye. (Don't ask.)" Devika replied with a nervous smile.

"But-----Who told whom, what?!!!" Bheem asked getting more confused.

"Wait a moment! Sahdev? You brought her here for a walk?!" Nakul asked narrowing his eyes at his twin.

"I---that---well. Can we talk after going inside?" Sahdev requested nervously.

"Calm down. Don't cry please. You're absolutely welcomed and safe here. Don't worry about anything." Devika consoled Vijaya gently who was still sobbing. Vijaya relaxed a little after being comforted by Devika's assuring smile.

"Bhrata Sahdev? Arya also went to Madra. He was with you right? But why didn't he come back?" Devika asked after formally welcoming Vijaya by doing her aarti.

"Yoh....jara Madra me hi reh gaye. (He remained in Madra only.)" Sahdev replied sheepishly.

"Tum unhe Madra chod ke aa gaye? (You left him in Madra?)" Bheem asked with a frown.

"Haa. Isiliye maine kaha tha ki aapko bata kar aana cahiye tha. (Yes. That's why I said, you should have informed before coming.)" Vijaya commented meekly. Devika, Bheem and Nakul's eyes turned to her in surprise. Noticing their gaze upon her, she added while fidgeting,

"Jab yeh Raj sabha se mujhe lekar brahman k liye nikle, toh Pitashree or inke bhrata dono piche se dekhte hi reh gaye. Hamare sainiko ne toh rokhne ka prayas bhi kiya tha. Kintu inhone sabko ahata kar diya.
(When he came out with me from the Raj sabha for a trip, Pitashree and his brother kept watching from behind. Our soldiers also tried to stop him. But they got beaten by him.)"

Three pairs of eyes widened in shock before turning simultaneously to Sahdev. Sahdev gave a nervous smile to them and turned his eyes to Vijaya.

"Aabhar aapka. (Thank you.)"

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My lovely Krishna's this isn't for you...this is for the Dushsasans who have zero self-respect and skin thicker than Rhinoceros.

They're used to free things, so inn muftkhor o se vote ki ummid toh hai nehi mujhe...but stop irritating me with your useless comments here and there. When you don't have a clear concept or knowledge of things, don't open your mouth to spill thrash. You're nowhere near Ved Vyas just like me....

Aukat nehi hai aapki, toh banne ki kausish bhi maat kijiye. Kahi se aadha adhura kuch pad ke, aapna ek opinion banake, usko gala phad phad ke batakar dusro ke kaan se khoon maat nikaliye...

I never try to insult any character of mahabharat. Even if someone is commenting bad about a character like 'they were like that only', I correct them...just because I presented a character in a bad light that doesn't mean they were bad.
I feel none of us have any right to abuse any of the original characters. Even the ones we think of as villans, had more virtue in them than us.

And please....before writing anything I conduct a thorough research and I do admit if I am unsure about something...Toh mujhe aapne quora or Google sheet maat dikhaiye bhai...Khud jake kuch pad lijiye pehle...

And those who think. ...

"Bhao de rahe hai toh sar pe car rahi hai."

Aabe teri bhao aapni jev mai rakkhe nikal le...

I won't regret even if I don't get a single vote...but I expect zero views in that case too...meri story pad k...mujhe bhao dene wala tu hota kon hai?!!!

Now... The target of vote for next chapter is 150.

I don't care if I never reach the targets. I will end it right here without a regret. Though I may give a brief to my regular voters in PM, so they find closure.

And I will do that for only the voters of my least voted chapter. I do have a list actually...so yeah..