Hello people!!!!!

Look who is back!!!!!!!!!

Well.... sorry for the long wait. But couldn't help it... midlife crisis you know....😅

And thank you all for your concerns and support.🙂🙂🙂❤️💙💛

And those who got pissed at me and ranted that "you wouldn't have read the story at the 1st place if you knew so"
I never found myself asking for a read and writing is not a job, it's a hobby for me. I write when I feel like it. If I force myself for an update, I end up disappointed. So, my story, my rules, my choices. 🙂

Anyway, thank you so much for your support the understanding one's and also those who frequently requested for an update. I love you all ....❤️❤️❤️

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"Jise dekho aaj kal baccio ka hi vivha karwa raha hai. (Everyone nowadays are marrying off baby girls.)" Bheem commented giving a side glance to Sahdev breaking the silence of the chamber.

And that was enough. Enough to break the leash on Nakul's laughter as Sahdev gave an exasperated look to Bheem.

"Tum kya itna haas rahe ho Nakul? Tumhe toh aab aur sabhdhan hona cahiye. Kahi naamkaran ke paschat tumhari Dharampatni bhi tumhari Putri ka vivha na karwa de!
(Why are you laughing so much? You should be more careful now. What if after the naming ceremony your wife also gets your daughter married!)"
Sahdev taunted effectively ending Nakul's laughing fit. His eyes widened in fear at the possibility.

"Nothing of that sort will happen. Drisana is an intelligent woman. She herself has chosen her own groom without listening to anyone. She won't offer anything different to her daughter. But you have yet to explain Arjun, why you did so." Yudhisthir said catching everyone's attention. Arjun straightened at the question.

"As Shrutakarma's father, you have the right to take decisions regarding his future. And it is the duty of a father to bestow his son with good education and values, to help him in settling in material life and show him the path of achieving spiritual goals. But every phase of life is dedicated to achieve different aims and means. Shrutakarma is just a child who is supposed to enjoy his childhood before entering the first stage of education. Brahmacharya ashram (student life). And here you already decided who he should start his Grahastya ashram (family life) with. I know it's a common practice in Aryavart. But don't you think he should be given the right to take this decision when he grows up?" Yudhisthir added.

After Arjun's declaration, Draupadi had silently welcomed the both of them and left. Devika took Rajkumari Mridvika with her and Drisana followed to help her in preparing the living arrangements whereas Valandhara went to arrange baby food and check on Draupadi. On the other hand, Yudhisthir ordered Arjun to come to his meeting chamber after quickly meeting Mata Kunti. Now, the five brothers were gathered in the chamber to hear his explanation after the women arrived.

Arjun remained silent at his brother s' query and gathered his thoughts. Meanwhile, the women arrived one by one with Draupadi coming at last wearing a stoic expression. But the questions were loud in her eyes.

After remaining quiet for some time, Arjun started.

"When I arrived at Malava kingdom, it was in a chaos. Maharaj Shankhdatta had been killed with treachery by his own brother, Vajradatta. He planned to marry Maharani Mridulata who committed suicide to protect herself. Amidst this, as Maharaj Shankhdatta did not have any son and his brother was disowned long before, the courtiers rebelled for the throne. And suddenly the innocent daughter of Maharaj Shankhdatta was at the center of this mess. Getting hold of the child would ensure the claim to the throne. That's why they wanted an alliance. Going as far as to consider fixing her marriage to the much older minister. On the other hand, Vajradatta was after the life of the child. If she no longer remains, no one would be able to stop him from claiming the throne as he would have been the only living member of the royal blood."

Arjun stopped for a moment and glanced at everyone before continuing.

"When I first met Mridvika, she was in her uncle, Vajradatta's clutches. He was about to kill her. I saved her from him, but it was much difficult to ward off the greedy courtiers who were lining up for an alliance with the child. Moreover, the neighboring kingdom attacked Malava taking advantage of the situation. The army of Malava was confused and disoriented in lack of proper guidance. I couldn't leave that innocent child there alone among this mess."

This time Arjun's eyes met Draupadi's thoughtful ones before adding,
"I helped Malava in defeating the enemy. But the enemies who were inside the border, wasn't going to be defeated so easily. If I adopted Mridvika, they would have discarded her claim on Malava's throne as a Kurukumari. I had to protect both her and her identity and also think about the subjects of Malava."

"And you found a middle way to do that. You fixed Rajkumari Mridvika's marriage with your own son. After this announcement, no one was able to question your authority over Malava and Mridvika. Who will be foolish enough to go against the Gandhivdhari and Indraprasth!" Sahdev completed.

"And now not only Malava is under your control, but also Rajkumari Mridvika is in a safe environment securing both the subjects and Rajkumari of the kingdom." Bheem added in contemplation.

"Main sthiti ki gambhirta ko samajh rahi hu Arya. Kintu bartaman ka liya gaya ye nirnay, vabishya ke liye kitna lavdayi hoga? Dono hi shishu hain, aabodh hain. Unke jeevhan ka itna mehatyapurn nirnay itne shighra lena kya uchit hain?
(I am understanding the severity of the situation, Arya. But how beneficial will this decision be for the future? They both are just children. Should such an important decision of their life be taken so early?)"
Draupadi's concerned voice was heard this time.

"Uchit anichit ka bichar karne mai kahi tum shighrata toh nehi kar rahi ho na, Sakhi? ( Are you not hurrying in deciding right and wrong, sakhi?)"

The serenely voice of Dwarkadeesh was heard throughout the chamber.

"Govind!" Draupadi uttered her Sakha's name in surprise. Everyone present was just as much surprised to see him except Arjun.

"Parnipat Vasudev." Yudhisthir greeted him first followed by the others. "You're here?" He asked.

"Mere saath hi padhare the. Kintu bipatta dekhte hi pata nehi kaha gayeb ho gaye. Chod dia mujhe aakele aap sab aur inke sakhi ke samne.
(He came with me only. But who knows where he disappeared leaving me alone in front of you all and his Sakhi.)" Arjun replied instead with a sulking face.

"Aisa kuy keh rahe ho Paarth! Meri Sakhi koyi bhooki sherni thori na hai jo tumhe kha jaye?
(Why are you saying so Paarth! Is my Sakhi some hungry lioness who will swallow you whole?)" Krishna said with an innocent face and round eyes. Draupadi gave a side glare to Arjun who in return glared at Krishna.

"Aap yeh batay, ki aap the kaha? (Tell first where you were till now?)" Arjun asked him.

"Main toh Indraprash ke batabaran ka nirikshan karne gaya tha. Ki kahi aane wale shubh ghadi o mei koyi bipatta ki sambhabna toh nehi.
(I was just checking the atmosphere of Indraprasth. Either the auspicious occasions will be celebrated without any hassle or not.)" Krishna said with a slight lift of his lips.

"Toh kya paya aapne Keshav? Hone wale shubh karyo mei koi badha toh utpanna nehi hogi na?
(Then? What have you found? Is there going to be any obstacle?)" Valandhara asked with a little concern.

"Yoh toh byakti par nirvhar hai Dhara. Ki way aapne marg mei aane wale samassayo ko aapne liye badha banata hai, yah unka samna kar swayam ko saksham.
(That depends on the person Dhara. That either he makes the problems, his obstacles or makes himself adroit by facing them.)" Krishna replied with his signature smile.

"Waise batabaran nirmal hai Indraprasth ka. Mujhe toh caro owr mangal dhoyani sunai de rahi hai. (By the way, the atmosphere of Indraprasth is very nice. I can hear auspicious music in the air.)" He added looking around at all.

"Sakhi, Uchit ya anuchit, ye toh paristhiti par nirvhar karta hai. Anuchit samay par liya gaya uchit nirnay bhi kabhi kabhi bipatta la sakti hai. Aur kabhi kabhi uchit samay par liya gaya anuchit nirnay bhi paristhiti ko sudhar deti hai. Satya keh raha hu na main behna?
(Right or wrong, it depends on the circumstances. The right decision taken at the wrong time can create problems sometimes. And sometimes, wrong decisions taken at the right time can balance the situation. Am I right behna?)" Krishna directed his eyes at Drisana.

"Aap asatya kaha kehte hai bhrata Krishna! (When do you ever lie, bhrata Krishna!)" Drisana replied with a soft smile.
"Jiji, bhrata Arjun ne wahi kiya jo ek ksatriya Rajkumar ka dharma hai. Unhone ye nirnay, Malava ki praja aur Rajkumari Mridvika ki raksha ke liye liya hai. Aur rahi baat vabishya ki, toh aapne hi kaha na ki yoh dono abhi kebal shishu hain. Toh iss samay vabishya ka bichar karne ka kya arth. Dono ko bada ho jane dijiye. Dono paristhiti ki gambhirta aur mehatya ko samajhne yoggya ho jaye, tab yoh swayam uchit anuchit ka nirnay kar lenge.
(Jiji, what bhrata Arjun has done is the duty of a ksatriya Rajkumar. He has taken this decision for the betterment of Malava's subjects and Rajkumari Mridvika. And as for future concerns, you yourself has stated that they both are only children at this time. Then what's the point of thinking about the future which should be decided by them? Let both of them grow enough to understand the severity and importance of the situation, then they'll only decide what's right from wrong.)" Drisana added. Draupadi seemed to contemplate her words carefully.

"Drisana is right. Arjun has done what he thought appropriate at that time. As Shrutakarma's father, it is both his duty and right to take decisions regarding his future. As for the consent of the two, we should leave that on time only." Yudhisthir's voice was heard this time.
"Iss shan se Mridvika, Shrutakarma ki baagdatta hone ke nate, yeahi rahegi. Parantu dhyaan rahe, jab tak yoh dono aapne brahmacharya ashram ko purn na kar le, tab tak yeh satya unke samne nehi aana cahiye. Mridvika ki parvarish waise hi hogi jaise ek putri ka kiya jata hai.
(From now on, Mridvika will stay at Indraprasth as Shrutakarma's fiance. But remember, they should never know this truth until they complete their education. Mridvika's upbringing should be done the same way as a daughter.)"

Everyone remained silent after hearing Yudhisthir's decision.

"Bechara Sahdev! (Poor Sahdev!)" Nakul sighed sadly causing Sahdev to frown and the others curious.

"Kitni bar samjhaya tumhe, vivha karlo! Kintu dekho aab. Pati se pehle Kakasasur banna par raha hai! (How many times have I told you to marry! Now see. Before husband, you're becoming uncle-in-law.)" Nakul commented breaking the serious atmosphere.

"Aabhi bhi samay hai Sahdev. Main to kehta hu kisi Rajkumari ka aapharan kar lo. Nehi toh Shrutakarma ki Dulhan pehle aayegi.
(There's still time Sahdev. Listen to me and abduct some Rajkumari. Otherwise Shrutakarma's bride will arrive first.)" Arjun added jokingly. Every head turned to Arjun simultaneously.

"Kar liya bhrata Arjun! (He has already done it bhrata Arjun!)" Nakul informed with a slow smirk as Sahdev closed his eyes.

"Kya? (What?)" Arjun asked in confusion.

"Aapharan. (Abduction.)" Drisana replied with an amused smile.

"Maine purb hi kaha tha bhrata Yudhisthir. Sab Arjun ke sangat ka aasar hai! (I told beforehand bhrata Yudhisthir. All this is Arjun's influence only!") Bheem added. Arjun frowned at his brother before noticing that every eye of the chamber was centered at him.

"What have I done?!"

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Special Glimpse......😉

Mridvika: "Sammanpurbak baat karo. Badi hu main tumse. (Talk with respect. I am elder than you.)"

Shrutakarma: "Ha toh bimariya illaj se pehle hi to aati hai. (Of course, illness comes before treatment only.)"