The grand dining hall of Dwarka was alive with laughter and chatter as the Hastinapur royals dined with the Yadavas. The table stretched endlessly, laden with an array of dishes so grand even the famously large appetites of Bheem and Duryodhan seemed challenged. Vaidehi was seated beside Yudhishthir, her future husband, while Krishna, Balaram, and Subhadra sat nearby. Across the table were Bheem, Arjun, Duryodhan, and Karna, whose plates were already piled high.

Vaidehi dressed in a simple grey lehenga, her hair where tied in a bun and her jewellery very less.

"Bharatshree Bheem," Vaidehi teased as she saw him reaching for yet another bowl of kheer, "should I ask the cooks to start preparing tomorrow's feast right now? At this rate, tonight's supply won't last long."

Bheem grinned mid-bite, unfazed. "Bhabhishree, you underestimate the strength of your cooks. They've been trained for battles like these."

"Not just battles," Duryodhan interjected, matching Bheem's appetite with his own. "Mitra," he said, nudging Karna, "are we not doing justice to Dwarka's hospitality?"

Karna chuckled, shaking his head. "Mitra Duryodhan, I'm starting to think the real battle isn't in the warfields but at this table."

The table erupted into laughter. Vaidehi smirked and turned to Yudhishthir, who was quietly observing the banter with a faint smile. "Yuvraj," she said softly, "your brothers are making me regret inviting them to Dwarka."

Yudhishthir glanced at her, his gaze warm. "Don't regret it, Rajkumari. It's better they eat here than raid Hastinapur's granaries."

Vaidehi laughed, her cheeks tinged pink. Krishna leaned back, watching the exchange with amusement. "My sister and Jyesth Yudhishthir are already a team. Poor Parth and Bhrata Bheem won't stand a chance once the wedding is done."

Arjun groaned dramatically. "Madhav, don't start. Bhabhishree already teams up with Bhrata Bheem to tease me at every opportunity."

"Because it's so easy," Vaidehi quipped, her tone light. "Bharatshree Arjun, you hand us the material on a silver platter."

"Speaking of platters," Bheem interrupted, pointing his spoon at Duryodhan's plate, " Duryodhan, stop eyeing that last serving of paneer. It's mine."

"Yours?" Duryodhan retorted, narrowing his eyes. "Mitra, do you hear this injustice? The last serving of paneer should go to the one who finishes their plate fastest, and that's clearly me."

Karna shook his head, amused. "Let them fight, Vaidehi. It'll be fun to watch who falls asleep first after overeating."

"I'd bet on Bharatshree Bheem," Vaidehi said with a sly smile.

"And you'd lose," Bheem declared proudly. "No one can out-eat me, not even Duryodhan."

Krishna clapped his hands, silencing the mock argument. "Enough, enough! This isn't War field. Vaidehi, if they keep arguing, you'll have to call the cooks for reinforcements."

Vaidehi chuckled and turned to Karna, making an effort to include him. "Bhratashree, let's hope Dwarka's cooks are prepared for your appetite too. Or have you been holding back out of politeness?"

Karna smiled warmly. "I've learned to be careful when dining with these two."

Subhadra, who had been silently watching, added, "It's a miracle the table hasn't collapsed under the weight of their plates."

Amid the lighthearted chaos, Yudhishthir occasionally glanced at Vaidehi, a small smile playing on his lips. Though he stayed mostly quiet, the camaraderie at the table wasn't lost on him. The bonds between their families were strengthening, and with Vaidehi at the center of it all, he felt a sense of peace he hadn't known before.

As the evening continued, laughter filled the hall. The teasing, the banter, and the camaraderie turned the grand dinner into a memorable family affair, one that would be talked about for years to come.

---

The moonlight bathed the garden in a soft glow as Yudhishthir and Vaidehi walked side by side, their footsteps silent on the dew-kissed grass. The evening feast had left everyone in high spirits, but the two had slipped away for a quiet moment amidst the blooming flowers.

"It's peaceful here," Vaidehi said softly, brushing her fingers along the petals of a jasmine flower. "Dwarka is always alive with so much energy, but this garden feels like a world of its own."

Yudhishthir nodded, his gaze fixed on the stars. "Hastinapur has gardens too, but none quite like this. Dwarka's beauty is... unmatched." His tone was steady, but the way his eyes briefly flickered to her made her blush.

They walked in silence for a moment before Vaidehi spoke again. "Maharaj—"

"Yudhishthir," he corrected gently, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Vaidehi paused, meeting his gaze. "Yudhishthir," she began again, the name feeling intimate on her tongue. "I've always admired your patience and calm. Even in the loudest rooms, you carry yourself with such grace. It's something I hope to learn from you."

Yudhishthir looked at her, surprised by her candor. "And I admire your strength, Vaidehi. You've faced challenges most would shy away from, yet you carry yourself with dignity and kindness. It's rare... and inspiring."

She smiled, lowering her gaze. "It's easier to be strong when one has people like you to look up to."

He chuckled softly. "I'm no ideal, Vaidehi. I've made mistakes, and I will make more. But... I promise to always try to be someone you can trust."

"I do trust you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

They stopped walking, and Yudhishthir turned to her, his expression earnest. "Vaidehi, trust is mutual. If there's ever a time when you need someone, know that I'll always be there. As your... friend and companion."

Her heart warmed at his words, and for the first time, she let herself imagine a future with him. She nodded, her voice steady. "And I for you, Yudhishthir."

As they reached the corridor leading to her chambers, Yudhishthir paused. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, his tone gentle.

Vaidehi hesitated for a moment before softly saying, "Good night, Arya."

The word, laden with meaning, made Yudhishthir freeze for a heartbeat. It was a title wives used for their husbands, a mark of respect and affection. A warmth spread through him as he looked at her.

"Good night, Vaidi," he replied, using a fond abbreviation of her name for the first time. Vaidi refers to someone connected to the Vedas or wisdom, symbolizing purity, knowledge, and righteousness.

Her eyes widened briefly, but she smiled, the name sounding unexpectedly sweet. With a slight bow of her head, she entered her chambers, leaving Yudhishthir standing there, a small smile playing on his lips.

---

The first rays of sunlight bathed Dwarka in a soft golden hue as Yudhishthir and Vaidehi made their way to the Mahadev temple. It was an uncharacteristically simple journey, as instructed by Queen Devaki. No soldiers, no servants—just the two of them, walking together.

The road was quiet, the faint sound of temple bells in the distance guiding their path. Yudhishthir walked with measured steps, his eyes occasionally glancing at Vaidehi, who seemed serene in the early morning light.

"Are you comfortable, Vaidi?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, Arya. The simplicity of this journey... it feels right."

The temple soon came into view, its tall spire piercing the sky, adorned with flags fluttering in the breeze. As they climbed the steps, the sound of chanting grew louder, wrapping them in a sense of divine tranquility.

Inside, the air was heavy with the fragrance of sandalwood and marigolds. The sanctum, illuminated by rows of oil lamps, held a magnificent Shivalinga adorned with fresh flowers and holy ash.

The priest welcomed them, offering a tray of sacred items for the pooja. "Yuvraj Yudhishthir, Rajkumari Vaidehi, please perform the rituals together," he said, his tone reverent.

They knelt side by side before the deity, their hands folded in prayer. The priest guided them through the rituals, chanting mantras as they poured water over the Shivalinga, offered bilva leaves, and lit a ghee lamp.

As the pooja progressed, the priest invited them to make their personal prayers.

Yudhishthir bowed his head deeply, his thoughts clear. Mahadev, grant me the strength to always protect Vaidehi, to safeguard her happiness and honor. May I stand with her in every trial and live up to the respect she bestows upon me. Let me serve her as a husband worthy of her trust.

Beside him, Vaidehi closed her eyes, her heart full. Mahadev, bless Yudhishthir with the wisdom to lead justly and the strength to uphold dharma. May I be his unwavering support, standing by him through every challenge. Bless our union to reunite the Kuru lineage and bring peace to both our families.

As they opened their eyes, their gazes met briefly, a quiet understanding passing between them.

The priest offered them prasad, blessing their union. "May Mahadev's grace always be upon you both. Your bond shall be as sacred as this offering."

After receiving the blessings, they stood in the temple courtyard, where the morning light bathed everything in a soft glow.

---

The courtyard of the Dwarka palace buzzed with laughter and chatter as the mehndi function began. Women from both Hastinapur and Dwarka had gathered, each bringing their charm and mischievous wit. Vaidehi sat at the center, her hands adorned with intricate henna designs, while the royal women surrounded her.

"Jiji, your mehndi is so dark! You know what that means, right?" teased Subhadra, a playful glint in her eyes.

Vaidehi blushed, her gaze lowering to her hands. "Subhadra, please..."

Gandhari chuckled, her maternal tone soothing. "It means Yudhishthir loves you a lot, Vaidehi. Don't be shy. He's a man of dharma, but he's still a man."

Rukmini joined in with mock seriousness. "Aur hume yeh dekhna hai ki yeh shaant-purn dharma ka purush tumhare liye chhupke se mithai ka dabba laa raha hoga."

The women burst into laughter, and Vaidehi's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.

On the other side of the castle, the men had gathered, their boisterous laughter echoing through the hall. Yudhishthir sat amidst them, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around him.

"Jyesth," Bheem said, slapping him on the back, "aaj toh sach Bata dijiye kitni baar Bhabhishree ke liye kavita likhi hai?"

The room roared with laughter, and Yudhishthir shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Bheem, mujhe kavita likhne ka samay kahaan milta hai?"

"Samay nahi milta ya sharma ke chup jate hai?" Nakul teased, winking.

Duryodhan, who had reluctantly joined the festivities, couldn't resist adding, "Yeh sab kuch nahi. Yudhishthir Bhrata apne aankhon se baat karte hain."

Karna smirked. "Aur Vaidehi bhi samajh jaati hongi, hai na, Mitra?"

"Bhabhishree ki mehndi ka rang kitna gehra hoga?" Arjun added, leaning forward with mock curiosity.

Yudhishthir smiled faintly. "Yeh mehndi ka rang prem aur shraddha ka prateek hai, Arjun. Isme kya sochna?"

Nakul smirked. "Aur is shraddha ke prateek ke liye aapne kya prateek rakha hai, jyesth?"

Duryodhan, sitting with Karna, couldn't resist adding, "Mitra, lagta hai Vaidehi Bhabhishree ne hamare jyesth ko bhi shabdheen kar diya hai."

Karna chuckled. "Aur nahi toh kya. Jab ek shreshth kanya samne ho, toh shabd kya zarurat hai?"