Drisana embraced Dridhaksh with glistening eyes as he came back from Hastinapur. Dridhaksh had the rare quality of getting in and out of anywhere without being noticed. He could move like a ghost through a crowd. If it was anyone who could get in Hastinapur undetected, end the illusion of Rakshasa Mardok, kill him and slip back from there, it was only him.

"I'm confused behna. These tears of relief are for me or your Paksi-premi?" Dridhaksh asked smiling teasingly.

"Thank you. I can never thank you enough for this." Drisana said looking at him sincerely.

"Only because you tricked me into giving you a vow that I'll fulfill your wish whatever that maybe." Dridhaksh said with a sulking face.

When Duryodhan sent assassins to kill Drisana, it was Dridhaksh who recognised the mark of Bharata soldiers on their necks after Dhikshit slaughtered them. Duryodhan had bought some of them and when Shakuni got to know that, he made the plan to kill Yudhisthir with Mardok's help. But they were unaware that Drisana sent her spy in Vrikasthala to know more about Bharata soldiers as per Krishna's suggestion. Later with Dhrishtadyum's help she got to know about Mardok's arrival at Vrikasthala and it wasn't tough to put two and two together. She knew Shakuni would make sure Pitamah, Bheem and Arjun weren't going to be there. Krishna's interference could lessen the possibility of division of Hastinapur, that she didn't want.

So she decided to send her brother, Dridhaksh and Dhristyadym to Hastinapur. Dhristyadym confirmed what she suspected earlier, Jarasandha's attack. And he agreed on her plan of kidnapping Sahdeva as he didn't want any harm to fall on Pandavs too.

But the question was how to make Dridhaksh agree for this and she found the answer when some certain letters landed on her hands.

"Bhrata Dridhaksh, this is so wrong. I didn't expect this from you. I'll tell everyone about your premleela (love affair)." Drisana said and started to leave.

"Noooooo. Wait." Dridhaksh said coming out of his shock and blocked her way.

"Mere Priye behen, please don't tell anyone about this. Pitashree ko pata cala to woh mujhe samandar mein dubo dubo ke marenge. (Father will drown me on the sea if he gets to know.)" Dridhaksh said pleadingly.

"I'm not going to come to your words. I'll tell." Drisana said threateningly.

"At least you should understand my condition." Dridhaksh said sadly.

"Why should I? What will I get in return?" Drisana asked casually.

"Whatever you want." Dridhaksh said immediately.

"Promise? Anything I want? You'll fulfil it regardless of whatever that maybe." Drisana asked with childish innocence and excitement.

"Yes. I promise I'll fulfil your wish regardless of whatever you want." Dridhaksh said smiling at her, landing right into the trap. Not his fault as looking at Drisana's innocent expression, no one could predict what she was going to ask.

Thus he remained quiet when he came to know about her meeting Nakul and took the risk of going to Vrikasthala. He almost choked on his saliva when Drisana asked him.

"Jara ek Rakshasa ko marke ayenge? (Will you kill a Rakshasa?) "

"Don't worry. I promise after my wedding I'll also arrange yours too." Drisana said smiling brightly.

"Your wedding? And mine? Both seems impossible." Dridhaksh said with a sigh.

"I'm here to make it possible bhrata." Drisana said.

"Really? How? Forget mine. How are you going to marry your Paksi-premi? Pitashree will never send you to Hastinapur." Dridhaksh said seriously.

"Who said anything about going to Hastinapur?" Drisana said casually. Dridhaksh looked at her with a frown.

"What is going on your head?" Dridhaksh asked.

"You ended the Maya and the Rakshasa, but who killed the Bharata soldiers?" Drisana asked smirking.

In Hastinapur's Raj sabha:

"We did. We didn't have any choice Maharaj. They attacked as soon as we reached. We were unable to understand anything. At first we tried to defend ourselves without any bloodshed and come back. The few soldiers that were with us were immediately killed by them. But we were trapped. We couldn't find our way out of there. There was a Rakshasa that trapped us. So, we didn't have any option except killing them." Yudhisthir said gravely.

Shakuni had come out of his shock and was disappointed. Duryodhan was hardly controlling his anger. So was Arjun as he had understood this must be a conspiracy to kill his brothers.

"Oh really, Yuvraj! You didn't have any option? Then tell us if a Rakshasa had trapped you in Vrikasthala, then how you managed to escape finally?" Shakuni asked. Though his one plan was failed, but he saw another opportunity.

"We don't know for sure. Suddenly the illusion seemed to expel. Some archer killed the Rakshasa. But we didn't see anyone there." Yudhisthir replied.

"You didn't see. But you did see the Rakshasa. Probably the Bharata soldiers were in his influence. Maharaj we all thought this problem was deeper. That's why Yuvraj was sent specially. But what he did? Instead of finding a solution, he uprooted the problem." Shakuni said.

"Toh aap kya cahte the? Jyesth ush Rakshasa or rakt pipasu ho cuke Bharata senanio ko godh mein bethakar Dharma samjhate? (Then what you wanted? Should Jyesth have took that Rakshasa and Bharata soldiers in his lap to give them Dharma knowledge?)" Arjun lost his temper.

"Arjun! Yeh kya bol rahe ho tum? Bharata senani to phir bhi thik hai, par Rakshasa ko Jyesth aapne godh mein kayse baitha sakte the? Yoh to kitna bisalkay hote hai na. (Arjun! What are you saying? Bharata soldiers are still okay, but how can Jyesth take a Rakshasa in his lap? They're so huge.)" Bheem said sarcastically.

"Look at this Maharaj. Such a serious matter is going on and Rajkumar Bheem wants to joke." Shakuni said.

"Who started Mamashree? Jyesth, Nakul and Sahdev had returned safely that's all that matters. They raised weapons for their protection and there's nothing wrong in that." Bheem said in anger.

"There is something very very wrong, putra Bheem. Those Bharata soldiers were part of Kuru dynasty. If they were in the influence of that Rakshasa, Yuvraj should have ended that influence, not them. But he tainted the sacred earth of Vrikasthala with it's protectors blood only." Shakuni said wickedly.

"But there was no -" Yudhisthir started to say but stopped by Maharaj Dhritarashtra.

"Shakuni is saying right. Yudhisthir, Nakul and Sahdev have done a sin." Dhritarashtra said. The whole sabha became silent with his declaration.

"Maharaj, I've got information. The Bharata soldiers were terrorising and threatening the locals. Over the years their activities were more of foe than friends. The inhabitants were living in misery. It is our failure that we failed to protect them and left Vrikasthala solely on Bharata soldiers." Mahamantri Vidur stated finally.

"Yes. We should have kept an eye on Vrikasthala. But we became reckless. Yudhisthir shouldn't be blamed for ending their terror." Mahamahim Bhismeh supported too.

"In that case, they should have been captured and brought to justice. Not murdered. Am I right, Maharaj?" Shakuni said again.

"Right. Those were blood of Kuru dynasty that you spilled Yudhisthir. Their ancestors have protected our lands, stayed loyal to us, provided their services to Hastinapur. If they did wrong, you should have brought them here so they could be questioned and punished accordingly, not kill them, that too tainting the land of Vrikasthala. Who knows what wrath mother earth will show now. " Dhritarashtra said.

"You're saying right, Tatshree. I accept my fault. I've done a mistake." Yudhisthir said with folded hands as everyone looked at him with shock and astonishment.
"But Nakul and Sahdev are innocent. Whatever they did, they did on my command. I'll accept whatever punishment you decide."

"Jyesth, what are you -" Nakul started to say but Yudhisthir stopped him with a raised hand.

"Don't do this Jyesth." Arjun whispered at him.

"Do you even know what you're saying Yudhisthir?" Mahamahim Bhismeh shouted at him.

"Yes, Pitamah. I know." Yudhisthir said with a sad smile.

In Dravida:

"But why will Yuvraj Yudhisthir do that? It wasn't possible to capture them in that situation and there was no way to bring them out of Mardok's influence." Dridhaksh asked as Drisana told him her foresight on the matter.

"Jyesth Yudhisthir won't mean killing them. His meaning will be not protecting the people of Vrikasthala. As the Yuvraj, protecting his people and the sacred earth both is his responsibility and in his eyes he failed to do so." Drisana said.

"His acceptance will put an end to the discussion. He knows Gandharraj Shakuni and Maharaj Dhritarashtra wants to remove him. So he'll accept to safeguard Nakul and Sahdev." Drisana said again sadly.

"But he will be punished and who knows what that'll be." Dridhaksh remarked.

"What is sport for the cat, is death to the rat." Drisana said grimly.

"What do you mean?" Dridhaksh asked confusingly.

In Hastinapur:

"Why did you do this, Jyesth? They were waiting for this only and you served the opportunity in a silver platter." Nakul said angrily.

"I neglected to keep watch over Vrikasthala. It's my fault." Yudhisthir replied shortly not looking towards his brothers who were gathered in his office room.

"The responsibility wasn't yours alone. We all neglected it, including Maharaj." Arjun said.

"It's my duty to protect our people, to look for their well-being. I failed to do so. So I'll take whatever punishment Maharaj sees fit. You won't interfere in it." Yudhisthir said looking at his brothers.

"Fine, jyesth. If you don't want us to interfere, we won't. But whatever punishment is handed to you, we all will bear it with you." Bheem said.

"But-" Yudhisthir tried to say.

"No Jyesth. We all have neglected to look upon Vrikasthala. If you get punished, so should we." Sahdev said determinedly.

"You must remember what I said earlier, Tatshree. Yudhisthir had made a mistake again. He's not so perfect afterall. So, Duryodhan can't be deprived from his rights based on ability." Dhritarashtra said to Mahamahim Bhismeh who had come to discuss the matter of Vrikasthala and Yudhisthir's punishment.

"Don't do this, Dhritarashtra." Bhismeh said almost pleadingly.

"There's no other way to give both of them their rights, Tatshree." Dhritarashtra said as Bhismeh closed his eyes in pain. All his sacrifices was looking vain at this moment.

"Yudhisthir, because of you Vrikasthala is ruined. Now as punishment, you'll have to restore the lands of Kandavaprastha and rule half the Kingdom from there." Dhritarashtra announced. Pandavs were shocked. Duryodhan was displeased too while Shakuni smirked.

"What do you mean Tatshree? You're dividing Hastinapur?" Sahdev asked.

"Yes, putra. Yudhisthir can't be trusted to rule over Hastinapur after this. But I don't want people to say that I snatched his right. So, I've decided that Hastinapur will be divided and Yudhisthir will go to rule Kandavaprastha independently. I announce him the King of Kandavaprastha." Dhritarashtra said. Mahamantri Vidur was looking at Mahamahim Bhismeh to say something. Pandavs eyes were also on him. But his silence and bowed head proved he supported this decision.

"I accept, Maharaj." Yudhisthir said after looking at his Pitamah for sometimes.

"Putra, how can you go to Kandavaprastha? That land is cursed." Kunti said miserably.

"That's what the punishment is Mata. I ruined the land of Vrikasthala. Now I'll have to free Kandavaprastha from it's curse. It's not safe now for you to go there. You, Davika and Draupadi will remain here. We'll come back to take you later." Yudhisthir said.

"But Arya, how'll you make that land liveable?" Devika asked, worried for them.

"Don't worry bhabishree. Nakul aur Sahdev ko to aadat hai jiv-jantu o se bartalap karne ki. Oh dono jake sarpo ko samjha denge aur sarp rengte hua bo denge biz banjar jaamin mei. Rakshasa aur Asur o ko mei laga dunga vhaban nirman ke karye pe. Aur rahi bat barsat ki to agar Arjun ka veena sun ke mei so sakta hu, to kya Indra dev ro nehi sakte?
(Nakul and Sahdev have habit of taking to animals. They'll tell the snakes to sow the seeds of crops. I'll tell the Rakshasa and Asurs to build the city. As for rain, if I can sleep hearing Arjun's music, can't Indra dev cry hearing him?)"
Bheem said mockingly as Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev frowned at him simultaneously.

"Nakul aur Sahdev ka to thik hai, par mere sangeet ke bare mein kuch mat boliye bhrata. (Nakul and Sahdev are okay. But don't say anything about my music, bhrata.)" Arjun said pouting.

"Tumhara sangeet hai kaha kuch bolne layek. (Your music is not worth talking about.)" Bheem said smiling sweetly at him.

"Kya arth hai aapka? Aapko pata hai kitne kanyaye marti hai mere sangeet pe. (What do you mean? You know how many girls love my music.)" Arjun said arrogantly.

"Arya!!!" Draupadi looked at him with a frown as Arjun gulped.

"Mujhe to pata hai anuj. Aab Draupadi ko ginwaoo. (I know anuj. Now let Draupadi count.)" Bheem murmured.

"Bhrata!!!" Arjun whispered as Draupadi was glaring at him. Kunti smiled slightly looking at them.

"Look after each other sons and don't leave your Mata for too long." Kunti said as Pandavs embraced her together.

Just then Angraj Karna came there to meet them. He knew what happened at Vrikasthala. He knew what Duryodhan and Gandharraj did. He tried to talk to Duryodhan. But he snapped saying Karna should be happy at his friends success and think about how to take revenge from that bitch (Drisana). He didn't know either to be angry or sad watching Duryodhan's retrogression. His friendship was suffocating him now.

"Angraj, we're leaving for Kandavaprastha. Mata, Davika and Draupadi will remain here until the making of the city. I know they'll be safe here in Pitamah and Maharaj's care, but still I would like to request you to look after them." Yudhisthir said to him.

"Don't worry. I promise I won't let any harm come to them and when the time comes I, myself will escort them to you." Karna said. Yudhisthir felt relieved with his words as he knew he could trust Karna.

Yudhisthir looked at Devika for a final time. Devika smiled at him, assuring with her eyes that she would take care of everything there.

"Take care. Aur nagin o ke samip mat jaiyega. (Don't go near any female snakes.)" Draupadi said as Arjun came near her. He chuckled at that and left after telling her to take care.

Pandavs left for Kandavaprastha as the women watched.

I tried not to bore you with facts. Don't know how it turned out.

Some things I left deliberately. Like -

Why Dhristyadym has partnered with Drisana?

Who is Dridhaksh's secret lover?

Apart from those,

If there is still confusion, feel free to ask. 😊😊😊