Nakul got up breathing heavily. Sweat trickling down his forehead. He had the same dream again. Where Drisana was surrounded by danger and he could feel her fear, almost taste it. It was so palatable. He felt suffocated. His throat was dry. As he moved to drink water, his muscles protested, reminding him the exercise he got from Rajkumar Dhikshit. After drinking water and calming his heartbeat, he sat. He could still see it vividly. Feel the snake sliding upwards on Drisana's body. See the fear in her eyes. Hear her screaming his name. Was it just a nightmare? Or was something bad going to happen to her? Was it a premonition of some upcoming danger? He wished Sahdev was here. He could help Nakul in figuring it out. But Sahdev wasn't here and Nakul was freaking out. He needed to see Drisana, right now.

It was past midnight. He last saw Drisana at dinner. But they weren't able to talk as others were present too. Now after this horrible nightmare, he wanted to see her, talk to her and most of all take her in his arms to assure himself, she was alright and just here. Though he knew it was just a dream, he couldn't shake it out of him. Without farther thought, he left his room. It was quite a struggle with his beaten up body to get into Drisana's room unnoticed.

Drisana was sleeping on her bed. There were only a few lamps alight, providing dim lightening. The moonlight coming from the windows were glinting on surfaces and gave the room a serenely atmosphere. Nakul went near the bed that was surrounded by dark blue curtains. He could make out Drisana's feature inside, lying on the bed. He pushed the curtain aside. There she was. His Hridaya. Looking so heavenly and beguiling. She was laying on her back with her hands on both sides of her head. Her open hair created a dark halo around her tilted head on the pillow. Her dark and long eyelashes shadowed her high cheekbones. Her rosy pink lips were slightly parted. There was a faint blush covering her cheeks. The moonlight that crept through the window behind, fell on her. Her skin was glistening, bathed in its illuminating brilliance. She wore no jewellery. Her uttariya (shawl used as upper garment) was kept at a side. The curve of her delicate neck, shoulders and stomach was bared without it. Nakul averted his face. A blanket covered her from hips down. He glided it upwards till her collarbone. He sat down beside her then and took her one hand in both of his. He placed it on the left side of his chest and savoured the feel of warmth radiating from her hand. It soothed his unsettled nerves. He looked at her calm face. Some hair strands had fallen on her eyes. He swept them slowly behind her ear.

Drisana's sleep got disturbed as she felt someone's presence. She slowly came to her senses and felt her hand held over someone. Even though she hadn't come fully into consciousness, she knew who it was.

"Nakul?" She muttered and curled around him. Nakul smiled running his fingers through her dark curls. After some peaceful quiet moment, Drisana opened her eyes and looked up at him smiling. Her smile quickly vanished as her eyes travelled towards the long incised wounds on his upper arm and stomach caused by her brother's sword.

"Nakul!" She got up quickly to examine him. She hadn't been there to watch their fight and later only heard from Dheemant that it was a tie as both lost their swords. At dinner both of them looked quite beaten up. She understood Nakul gave as good as he got. Dhikshit didn't seem angered rather said to her that she at least chose someone who knew how to hold a sword. That was a huge compliment coming from him as she had heard him call poor attempts even to the best swordsmen of their army. Well, he was appeased at least. Dridhaksh wouldn't dare to do something severe, she hoped. She doubted her quiet and peaceful brother Devajyot would do something. As for Daiwik, she had already threatened him with not solving any of Dhritimat's riddles for him anymore. Now only Dwijendra, Dheemant and Dhritimat remained. The dangerous three. Specially Dheemant. He would take revenge of sending him to Chedi from Nakul, she was sure.

She touched the wound on his arm lightly. It had started healing. It would be gone in two to three days.

"Drisana?" Nakul called her looking at something beside her pointedly. Drisana followed his gaze and realised it was her uttariya. Well. More than her, Nakul's cheeks reddened. Drisana chuckled thinking his reaction on a beach full of women wearing bikini. She placed the uttariya around her.

"Is it hurting?" Drisana asked looking at the wounds.

"No. It's fine now. I'm glad your brother spared my life. I was worried there for a moment." Nakul said chuckling.

"I'm sorry." Drisana apologised. She was feeling really bad watching his wounds. Her eyes became teary. Nakul pulled her in his embrace.

"You don't need to be. I'm actually happy, your brothers care for you so much. I know they're doing it to confirm I'm worthy of you or not and I don't mind." Nakul said rubbing her back soothingly to console her. "You know, in most royal families, girls are not given much importance. Their upbringing, protection, marriage, all are about holding reputation and strengthening kingdoms. But your family isn't like that. They not only love and care for you but respect you too. I'm both relieved and pleased with that." He said smiling, but then got sad thinking about his sister, Dussala.

"You know Drisana, I've seen Dussala being lost behind her hundred brothers. The five of us hadn't had much time with her. When we went to Hastinapur first, we were excited to have a sister along with hundred brothers. But our notions were squished quickly. Dussala wasn't allowed to hang out with us. Then we went to Gurukul and after returning, got busy in other things. She has hundred brothers to say, but none who actually bother to care for her or think of her wishes. I couldn't believe she was married of to Sindhuraj Jayadarth after coming back. Everyone knows how he is. Still her brothers saw no fault in him in front of his army's strength. And now we can do nothing for her." Nakul released a sigh of helplessness.

"It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. We can only pray for her happiness. Maybe we're wrong and she's actually happy." Drisana said.

"Let's hope." Nakul said. "May I say something, Drisana?" Nakul asked seriously.

"Yes?" Drisana asked still resting her head on his chest.

"Tumhare bhrata pachadte bohot jor se hai. (Your brother throws really hard.)" Nakul said sulking. Drisana lifted her head to look at him. She knew what he was talking about. Dhikshit's sword fighting came with a combination of physical combat. After looking at his sulking face for some moments, they both burst out laughing.

Drisana's brothers eased on Nakul for a few days. Preparations for the wedding started. As there was not enough time for travelling back and forth, it was decided Nakul and his family would stay in Dravida till marriage. Yudhisthir and Devika would join them a few days before marriage. But Bheem and Sahdev would stay back at Indraprasht. Bheem was displeased with the decision as he would miss all the food of the wedding. Yudhisthir consoled him saying they would arrange a celebration for the new couple after their arrival. Sahdev was worried as he had a feeling of something happening. Something bad. But he didn't wanted to worry Nakul. He had gotten his happiness after so long. So instead he warned Arjun in his letter to keep watch over them.

"What are you doing?" Yudhisthir almost screamed as entering upon his chamber he saw Devika trying to move a chest on her own. Devika sighed. Yudhisthir had become overprotective since he received the news of her pregnancy. She was just in the early stages of pregnancy. God knew how he would become after a few months.

"This is empty Arya." Devika said.

"Still, there are people to do that. You shouldn't do such things. It's not good for you to bend or push heavy things. Even though empty, it's still heavy. And why didn't you finished the fruits I left for you at morning?" Yudhisthir asked as he made her sit. In his opinion she shouldn't even stand for long.

"Because I can't eat so much." Devika whined.

"You're -" Yudhisthir started to say.

"Not alone now." Devika completed.

"You should -" he again started.

"Eat more, rest more and not do anything." She again completed. She had heard that one too many times.

"Davika!" Yudhisthir warned her.

"I'm fine Arya. Why are you taking so much tension? Have you looked at yourself? Kingdom's tension, your brother's weddings tension, internal security's tension, external conspiracies tension and above all my tension. How much more tension will you take? You need to relax." She said and got behind him making him sit down. Yudhisthir tried to stop her, but not listening anything she started to massage his head. She didn't need to be told to know that he had a bad headache. His mask of calmness never managed to fool her.

"Everything's going to be fine. I know this responsibility was thrust upon you suddenly. But if anyone is capable of fulfilling it, it's you. And never forget your brothers are always with you at each and every step. You're born for it." Devika said softly.

"What if I make some mistake?" Yudhisthir voiced his fear. It was one thing to rule a kingdom that was already organised with rules already at place, system already running smoothly. But another to organise everything, making rules and setting a system to run. There was so much to do. So many people depending on him. A King had to watch every step he took, every word he spoke, every thought that crossed his mind and also contemplate those that didn't. He was afraid of disappointing or unintentionally doing injustice. Afterall, he did failed once in the matter of Vrikasthala.

"You can never make any mistake Arya. Even if you do, then you'll learn from it and correct it. Also we all are with you. You're not alone in this." Devika said smiling at him. "And you need to stop blaming yourself for Vrikasthala incidence. No one could have predicted that the protectors would turn against their people. You only say that if someone breaks our trust, it's not our fault to trust but unfortunate for those that couldn't value it."
She always knew how to make him feel better. Without him saying anything, she understood his silence. He didn't know if he was born to rule a kingdom or not, but she was born to rule his heart for sure. Yudhisthir took her hands in his and brought her before him, taking her in his arms.

"Still you need to eat more, rest more and not do anything." Yudhisthir said adamantly making her laugh.

Drisana looked suspiciously at Devajyot as he said he had kept a fast today. None of her other brothers had turned up for lunch. Each one of them had sent messages that they couldn't come, giving one or other excuses. Only Devajyot showed up and he also had kept a fast. Her Pitashree was away for some work and wouldn't return before dinnertime. Krishna, Arjun, Nakul and Karna only seated to have lunch. Karna tried to avoid as usual, but Krishna dragged him. She looked at her sister-in-law, Aanandini and Shubhaprada. They also seemed confused.

"Thank you Rajkumar Devajyot for reminding me. I also have kept a fast today. But as the day progressed, I forgot. You just saved me from doing a sin." Krishna said smiling mischievously. Nope. Something was definitely wrong. Why her brothers and Krishna would avoid eating lunch? Drisana's eyes widened as the answer hit her. Just as she suspected, Priyala entered with dasis following.

"Aanandini bhabishree, who prepared lunch today?" Drisana asked fearfully.

"I told dasis to do it. Himani was supposed to watch over the preparations." Aanandini whispered equally fearful.

"But bhrata Dheemant took Himani & Poornima jiji out today." Shubhaprada said gulping. Drisana and Aanandini looked at her in shock. They wouldn't do it, would they? The three looked at Devajyot simultaneously who was staring at the pillar like there was some hidden mystery in it. Draupadi stood staring at the trio confusingly.

They watched helplessly as dasis served food to the unsuspecting victims.

"I've made food specially for you Rajkumar Nakul. I hope you like it." Priyala said. Nakul smiled. He was confused as well and also noticed Drisana's expression. He shared confused glances with Arjun and Karna. Karna also noticed as dragging him for lunch, Krishna himself refused to eat.

"Priyala bhabishree, what have you made today?" Drisana asked forcing a smile on face. The goats should at least know that they were going to be sacrificed, right?

"Aaj to humne sara bhojan banaya hai. Akher hamare bises atithi o ko jo khilana tha. Dekho, gehu ka pulao, masoor dal ke atte ki puri, tulsi ka paratha, papita ke bijo ka dal, kharbuja aur amrut ki sabji, bajre ka kheer, neem ka achar, karele ka halwa, gobi ka raita, rai ke laddu, kamalkakri ki chatney, or sath mein bengan ka payasam bhi hai. (I have made everything today. After all they are our special guests. See. There's wheat pulao, red lentils puri, tulsi paratha, papaya seeds soup, musk-melon and guava curry, pearl millet sweet, neem Pickle, bitter gourd sweet, cauliflowers raita, mustard laddu, lotus roots sauce, and eggplants sweet.)" Everyone's eyes rounded as Priyala told the menu.

Arjun, Nakul and Karna was trying to digest what they just heard. These were food items? They glanced at each other as others looked at them sympathetically. Draupadi looked horrified.

"Drisana, kuch karo. Mujhe eitni sighrh bidhba nehi banna hai. (Do something Drisana. I don't want to be a widow so soon.)" Draupadi whispered at her.

"Mujhe to dekhiye. Mera to aabhi vivha bhi nehi hua hai. (Look at me. I'm not even married yet.)" Drisana whispered back.

"Antim bar bhagwan ko yad kar lijiye aap tino. (You three remember God for the last time.)" Drisana said to the three.

"What?" Priyala asked confusingly.

"Matlab ke Khane se purb. Antim bar. ( I mean Before eating. Last time.)" Drisana said hurriedly. Priyala nodded smiling at them and encouraged them to start. But no amount of encouraging was going to make them wish to eat today.

"Maharathi Karna, kaha suna maf kar dijiyega. (Maharathi Karna, forgive me if I hurted you.)" Arjun whispered to Karna. Karna looked at him and said,
"Aap bhi Rajkumar Arjun. (You too Rajkumar Arjun.)"

"Anuj, upor milo tum mujhe. Pher batata hu. (Meet me after dying, brother. I'll see you then.)" Arjun said to Nakul who only gulped helplessly.

Drisana glared at Devajyot. Seemed she had underestimated her brother severely. The quiet and calm one released his Brahmmastra (divine weapon) upon Nakul.

Want an invitation to Priyala's feast???😂😂😂