"Such a dry welcoming Maharaj Yudhisthir?!" Sindhuraj Jayadrath said mockingly. "No shower of flowers, no veneration plate, no garlands! And no queens!"

Yudhisthir watched him silently while Arjun's face hardened.

"I mean your brother-in-law has come to your palace for the first time. Won't the Maharani of Indraprasth be present to welcome me and your sister?" Sindhuraj asked with a smile.

"Dussala came too?" Yudhisthir asked in surprise.

"Of course! She was so excited to see the grand new city of Indraprasth that her brothers have built. How could I refuse her?" Sindhuraj replied with a sleek smile. He turned and ordered his soldier to bring Rajkumari Dussala. Yudhisthir shared a glance with Arjun who was confused by the sudden arrival of Sindhuraj and Sivi Naresh though it didn't show in his face.

Rajkumari Dussala came out of the palanquin and smiled seeing her cousin brothers after so long. A soft smile came to Yudhisthir and Arjun's lips too.

"Prarnipat bhrata Yudhisthir." Dussala greeted him with folded hands and then nodded at Arjun as he greeted his elder sister.

"I'm so happy to see you Dussala. How have you been all these times?" Yudhisthir asked.

"Purnatah harsh-ullasit. Sukhi aur santushth ke atirikt aur kya ho sakti hai yoh?! Antatah, meri stree hai yeh, aur mujhe aapne sanginiyo ko prassanna rakhna bhali bhati aata hai.
(Absolutely jolly. How can she be anything other than happy and satisfied? She is my woman after all and I know how to please my woman well.)" Sindhuraj Jayadrath replied instead with a nasty smile.

Rajkumari Dussala lowered her eyes in embarrassment and humiliation wheras Sivi Naresh looked displeased and uncomfortable with this inappropriate remark. Arjun's face hardened again as he diverted his face and Yudhisthir only watched his brother-in-law wearing a mask of indifference.

"You have come from a long journey. You should come inside and take some rest first." Yudhisthir said ignoring his insulting remark.

"So why the delay then? Call Indraprasth's Maharani. To welcome us properly." Sindhuraj said.

"She would have welcomed you all if she was present here Sindhuraj." Yudhisthir replied with politeness. "Maharani has gone out of the palace for sometime. But you don't worry. There'll be no lacking in your welcoming."

With Yudhisthir's sign, a dasi came forward with the veneration plate. After that they moved inside the palace and settled into the guestrooms to take some rest while Arjun cornered Yudhisthir.

"What is happening here bhrata? You knew he was the one accompanying Sivi Naresh, didn't you?"

Yudhisthir gave a long look at Arjun, staring at his eyes. For the first time ever, Arjun was unable to read his brother. He couldn't understand what was going on in his brother's head. After looking at him for quite some time, Yudhisthir released a breath before answering,

"Even if he was alone, we couldn't refuse his entry without a valid reason. Moreover, he is Dussala's husband."

"Whole Aryavart knows of his nature bhrata. He is nothing but trouble."

"And this trouble has entered the palace of Indraprasth."

"You deliberately sent the women away, didn't you?" Arjun asked with suspicion.

"Even though it's difficult, try to ensure, no queen crosses his path. We'll see what they want and send them back as soon as possible."

Yudhisthir ordered gloomily and left.

*******

"Prarnipat Bhabishree." Rajkumari Dussala greeted Devika coming inside her chamber.

"Prarnipat." Devika replied with a gentle smile. Dussala looked over at the other three queens of Indraprasth silently waiting to be greeted.

"Prarnipat Rajkumari Dussala." Draupadi greeted her next with a bright smile.

"Maharani." Dussala said instead with a smile. Draupadi gave her a confused look before she added, "Maharani Dussala."

Rajkumari Valandhara's eyebrows rose slightly while Draupadi's smile deemed.

"You mean, Raani Dussala, right?" It was Rajkumari Drisana who corrected her with a sweet smile. Dussala stiffened throwing a sharp look at her who had just reminded Dussala that though she was a King's wife, she was neither the only one nor the number one.

"Prarnipat. I'm Rajkumari Arunika." Drisana added not letting the awkward silence drag for long.

"Prarnipat." Dussala replied stiffly and  looked at Valandhara expecting her to greet her first. But Valandhara only stared at her with a smile.

"She is your Jyesth, bhrata Bheem's wife, Rajkumari Valandhara." Devika intervened as they continued to look at each other. Dussala was smart enough to understand the implication of the emphasized word.

"Prarnipat Bhabishree." She greeted her finally which was reciprocated by Valandhara.

"Well. I see you are glowing here at Indraprasth. Surely it must have attracted you enough to insult the winner of your swayambar." Dussala said casually.

"No. It was your bhrata Bheem's simplicity and boldness that attracted me actually. To honor the meaning of swayambar." Valandhara replied returning the smile.

"Devika Bhabishree, where is little Rajkumar Yaudheya? I want to meet him." Dussala said instead dropping the topic.

"Let's go. I will introduce you to him." Devika said thinking it best to distance Dussala from the others. And she accepted happily. She had no desire to spend time with these women who have repeatedly insulted her brother and Hastinapur.

******

"Have you done your job?" Sindhuraj Jayadrath asked impatiently as soon as his wife came inside their chamber. Dussala looked at him and hesitated to say anything. She had done the task entrusted to her. But she didn't know either it was right or not. Or why it was important to her husband for that matter. But as always, Dussala didn't dare to disobey him.

"Speak up!" Sindhuraj Jayadrath snapped at her as she remained quiet.

"I---yes." Dussala nodded finally with hesitation.

"And?" Sindhuraj asked slowly advancing towards her with a smirk. He was almost sure of the outcome, but needed to confirm it first. Dussala backed away from him seeing the glint of his eyes. She was too familiar with this though. And she knew all too well that it meant only evil. She felt a tightness in her throat and couldn't get a word out as Sindhuraj kept advancing at her like a predator. Then her back was pressed against the wall and she had nowhere left to move as Sindhuraj caged her between his arms. Dussala watched him with fear in eyes. But then suddenly Sindhuraj grabbed her neck and squeezed tightly.

"If you can't speak when I tell you to, then what's the need for this beautiful throat, priye?!" He said sweetly.

"She---she-----she is the-----one..

She---she is----Sivi----Sivi Naresh's---- daughter---" Dussala said while struggling to breathe. Sindhuraj left Dussala hearing what he wanted and started to laugh manically.

"I saw the mark on her wrist. The one that you showed me. The mark of the Sivi tribe that they engrave on every girl's wrist after birth." Dussala said after catching her breath.

"I knew it! I knew it!!!" Sindhuraj shouted loudly in joy. "Now no one can stop me. No one!"

Dussala watched her husband silently in worry. She didn't know why it mattered to him or what would he do with this information. He told her that he wanted to help Sivi Naresh, Govasena in getting back his daughter. But she knew it couldn't be that simple. It never was when there was a woman involved. Nonetheless, she was helpless to do anything but obey.

"We should celebrate this. What do you say Dussala?" He suddenly said looking at her lewdly from head to toe. Dussala stiffened and clutched her upadhana (lower garment). She couldn't say anything as he came closer. She only closed her eyes tightly as he touched her waist forcefully and lifted her on his shoulder.

And for the rest of the night, she couldn't say anything too.

That night the air of Indraprasth was filled with many emotions. Some had sadness, desperation while some sported anger, frustration. Some had confusion, turmoil. Some held worry and dread.

Among these unsorted emotions, Rajkumar Sahdev's eyes narrowed seeing a lone figure standing at far outside the palace. He was feeling restless and confined. So he came outside for a stroll. But what was he doing here at this time of the night? He went near to where the figure stood stoically staring at the far end.

"Is it Indraprasth's lack of hospitality or your consciousness that is the cause of your sleep deprivation?" Sahdev asked being unable to control his anger. Maharaj Govasena slowly turned his eyes to him in confusion and after staring at Sahdev's eyes for sometime, his own reflected surprise.

"How do you know?" Maharaj Govasena asked but on a second thought said, "Well. You don't need to answer that."

"But you do need to answer why you have come here with that man." Sahdev asked sharply.

"Stay in your limit Rajkumar." Maharaj Govasena warned instead.

"You're the one to talk about limit, Sivi Naresh?! That's surprising!" Sahdev replied mockingly.

"I've never crossed any limit. I only stay true to my Dharma." Maharaj Govasena said defensively.

"Dharma! Is what you're planning to do called Dharma?!" Sahdev asked again. "After so many years, you remembered you have a daughter and you only came here to fulfill your dharma."

"Don't talk about things you don't have proper knowledge of Rajkumar!"

"What I do have knowledge of is enough Maharaj. And from my knowledge I suggest, before taking even a single step you remember that she is the pride and honor of Indraprasth. She is our, Pandav's Bhabi Maa. And to protect her, we won't hesitate to rip apart anyone who even breath at her way evilly." Sahdev threatened in a dangerously calm manner. He turned and left Sivi Naresh alone, but was stopped by his voice.

"Just like you protected Madrakumari?" Maharaj Govasena asked in a neutral tone.

Sahdev stood still with his back to him and Maharaj Govasena didn't move from his position too.

"First kidnapping her and then leaving her right after marriage? Is that how you protect your woman Rajkumar Sahdev?" This time his voice had a hint of mocking. "You abandoned your wife right after marriage and you're preaching me here."

Sahdev stood there silently for sometime before replying,

"I did not abandon Madrika. I just didn't claim her yet."

*******

Hello lovely readers!!!

How was it?

What's your thoughts on Dussala?

In my opinion she has been always portrayed in a little innocent girl light. So I tried something different.

A shady character who is not happy so doesn't want to see others happy. But is loyal to her blood with a fault. She is proud and egoistic just like her brothers because that's what she was taught to be. In a way, she is finding her happiness in artificial things and titles because she can't find it anywhere else.

But she is not evil by heart.

So, what do you think?