The preparations for the festival had begun in full measure. The entire city of Hastinapur had been decked up with the grandest of decorations that human eye could fathom. Dancers and singers were called from far and wide, games and entertainment which were, perhaps, only found in heaven, were to be displayed and conducted. The royal family had everything under their personal supervision. The whole city seemed to be absorbed in an aura of bright, delightful, colours. She had seen such an atmosphere only in her state, that is, when she had been an unmarried princess of Pragjyotisha, where every season showed its colours to the fullest extent, as it was part of the fertile mainland of the east, as opposed to the rough northern plains, of which, Hastinapur, was a part of.

It seemed as if that atmosphere had been recreated all over again. Day by day, her happiness only seemed to elevate, as she was filled with the thoughts of warmth, love, peace, and, harmony. If this was their attempt to make amends, then, they would spend every festive season together, she had thought. Every festive occasion would be complete with the entire family of the Kurus, participating together, and this was what was perfect. Nowadays, Bhanumati, used to spend the entire day, either envisaging the day of the festival, or, she would keep herself occupied with her usual artistic distractions.  Duryodhan loved seeing her like that, beautiful, carefree, and effervescent, since this was exactly what she needed, especially now, now that she was in her fourth month of her pregnancy. She had a heavenly glow on her, which was astronomically elevated in these days, and her cheerful and childish disposition added to that. The whole family used to pamper her a lot these days, particularly, their aunt Parashvi, who had a special, soft spot for this girl, ever since Duryodhan had first brought her to Hastinapur, by abducting her from her own swayamvar, in Pragjyotisha. She really had become everyone's favourite, as opposed to her husband, who seemed have been accustomed to the glares of censure around him, both implicit and otherwise. The thought of the festival itself delighted her to no end.

Everything carried on as usual with this fairy tale life of hers, till one day brought a kink in this. 

That day, she had been talking to Purushani, Dushasan's wife, when the topic of the festival cropped up, in their conversation. Purushani, had known about the incorporation of the Game of Dice in the upcoming event, as did most others in the household, including Parashvi, who didn't mention it to Bhanumati, because of the effect it could possibly have on her, and all her attendants had been strictly forbidden to mention anything regarding the festival in front of her, and no one else had faced the circumstance to do so, till now. Purushani, as such, stayed ignorant with this directive, and was really surprised to know that Bhanumati actually was unaware of this.

"Seriously, Bhanu, are you telling me that you don't know?" she asked, evidencing her mild disbelief at something that seemed unusual for someone to be unaware of.

"What don't I know?" Bhanumati asked her back. She was a little puzzled at her companion's reaction.

"Didn't Mata Parashvi mention this to you? Or Jyeshth? Or Angaraj? Or anyone else, for that instance?" Purushani repeated her question, with the same hint of surprise in her voice.

"Purushani, will you stop speaking in riddles? What is it that everyone knows that I don't?" Bhanumati asked, impatiently.

"About the Dice Game to be held as a part of the festival." Purushani replied, casually, causing Bhanumati to react with incredulity.

"Dice, did you say? What has dice got to do with this? This is supposed to be an attempt to make amends for whatever went wrong in Indraprastha, which is why Panchali Jiji has been invited too, isn't it?" Bhanumati said with the impatience and surprise intact in her voice.

"I don't know the reason behind this. All I know is, Mamashree Shakuni, and, Jyeshth have organised this, and almost everyone knows about this arrangement." Purushani replied.

"Did Bhrata Dushasan tell you?" Bhanumati asked.

"Yes, Arya told me ages ago. But I'll tell you something, don't read too much into this, maybe it is something within the men only, and hence, is immaterial for us to know. Maybe that's why Jyeshth didn't tell you. Maybe, Dhrupadkanya, won't be there while the game is in progress" Purushani said. 

Bhanumati, simply looked at her indifference, and didn't really feel like talking to anyone right then. 

Purushani sensed her discomfort and said, "All right now, you must rest, I'll take your leave."

 She left, leaving Bhanumati into a pool of unanswered questions. One thing she was pretty sure of, that Mamashree had an integral part to play in this, since dice was involved, and dice was synonymous with Gandharraj. There was something about him that always repulsed her, though he was an elder to them, in fact, her was her husband's guardian, and hence was utterly respectable for them. Despite that, she didn't really like him, because, he always sounded, fake. She did her best to avoid any encounter with him, but Duryodhan didn't decide upon anything without consulting him, and everyone else, revered him. She had always noticed a hint of dislike, in Pitamaha and Kakashree, when they used to speak with him. It was as if respect for Mamashree Shakuni came out of compulsion. The disclosure about the Game of Dice clearly meant that everything was not as it seemed to the eye, and Pitamaha, and Kakashree, had to be worried. Her peace of mind was disturbed because of the innumerable questions that came to her, which in turn made her sick. She simply forbade any of her attendants to come to her for anything, even if it was for her own comfort.

***

That day, Duryodhan returned earlier than usual, since he wanted to take her out for a little ride in his chariot to their favourite place, which he thought would ease her discomfort. When he neared their chamber, he found something out of place. On inquiring the attendant, he came to know that Bhanumati had forbidden anyone to enter. Even Mata Parashvi had tried, but, in vain, as Bhanumati had simply made an excuse of a mood swing and had forced her to leave. He knew better than that. He knew that since she had not spoken to Mata Parashvi, it was something much more than just a mood swing. Worried, he entered the chamber, to find Bhanumati, curled up like a ball on the bed. She had even pulled the curtains around the bed. Seemingly, she was really upset about something, maybe, she'd had a bad dream, or, anything. Very slowly, he came closer to her, and touched her on her shoulder.

"Love," he gently asked,"Is there something wrong?"

She didn't stir, and feigned sleep, as he rested his chin on her shoulder and puffed on her cheek, which was his way of consoling her in her anxiety. "My princess is really angry, it seems. Did Radheya tease her again?" he asked her again as he kept cuddling her.

Bhanumati did not know how to respond to his ministrations. This was his usual behaviour with her, loving, warm, and affectionate. Ever since she had been married to him, she had never been naive enough to know of his intense hatred towards his cousins, and, what the rest of the family, especially, the elders, thought of him. But, despite everything, she had seen him as no one else, not even his parents had seen him. She had seen a submissive lover, one who could go to any extent to satisfy his beloved. She had seen a trusting husband, and a fiercely affectionate friend, one, who trusted them in a situation wherein anyone else, (perhaps, even Bhratashri Yudhishthir, or any of the Pandavas, for that matter), would have suspected a lot of things that weren't. She had seen, a person so determined in his pursuit, that he invoked reverence by his determination. Also, she could now see a prospective, doting, father in him. 

But she also knew that he was as fierce an enemy, as a friend, and, that he didn't believe in anything that went in contrast with his notions. At times, he was very difficult to comprehend, almost, like a maze, which didn't have a way out, and at times, he was just, like a little boy. But in everything, he really did love her, and she loved him back, in turn, and hence, she had to know, at least, something that would put her mind to rest. So, she turned towards him, after a long time, and looked at him, straight into his deep, dark, eyes, unflinching, determined, as he crouched over her, caressing her head.

"Tell me, beautiful, what is it that ails my lovely princess?" Duryodhan gently asked her.

"I don't know, you should tell me if there is something that should trouble me?" she said. Duryodhan noticed a marked difference in her tone.

"I claim to read your thoughts, so let me try," he said, keeping his normalcy undisturbed,"Maybe, you had a dream in which you'd left me? " he said.

"Arya!" she let out a small scream. Even the thought of such a thing was revolting. Duryodhan smiled her favourite smile which rendered his charismatic demeanour to be superhuman, almost godly.

"Now, now, dear, a very bad guess, nonetheless. All right, maybe, Purushani flaunted her favourite jewellery in front of you, and sought to show off how opulently beautiful she is? "- he continued with what they used to call their love game, in which, one used to try guessing the other's thoughts, as he kissed her, very softly,- "Never mind, love," he said,"My princess doesn't need finery to elevate her appearance. She is, without the tiniest shred of doubt,  the most ethereal beauty fathomable to any imagination, human, or divine." he added.

"This doesn't have anything to do with dreams or material things like finery. This is much beyond that." she said, slightly pushing him away, loosening his cuddle around her. Her gait was so indicative of something that caused him to be unsteady for a while.

"Bhanu, does this have something to do with our babies? Did Vaidyaraj say something?" he anxiously asked.

"Yes, and, no." she replied.

"Bhanu, please, open up to me, tell me if there is anything I can do." he repeated, with the recurring gait of restlessness in his behaviour.

"I hear you've invited Bhratashri Yudhishthir for a game of dice, on the day of the festival," she said, her lovely, soft brown eyes looking into his as if searching for an answer.

Duryodhan felt as if someone had drowned him into a pool of ice-cold water. He tried to avoid talking about the festival when he was with her, so did Karna, and everyone else, including her attendants. There was no way Mata Parashwari or Mata Gandhari had mentioned this in front of her, then how did she come to know. But, nevertheless she had, despite, his best efforts. He could not lose his temper, not with her, and especially, now, and thus he had to contemplate his answer to his wife's sudden question.

"Yes. So? Does that trouble you?" he said, his gaze, forcibly fixed on her beautiful face. He did want to look away, but he had to act convincingly enough to stem the flow of any further possible questions.

"Yes, it does. What is so secretive about that, and moreover, why does dice have to be played?" she asked him back.

"Why can't dice be played, Bhanu? Don't brothers play dice amongst themselves? Don't you play dice with your husband, and your companions?" he questioned her in a manner of replying her. 

This is really a tight spot,  he thought.

"Of course, but not as part of a public event." came the consequent reply.

She knew that dice was one of the ways of conquest when all else went in vain. Least resorted to, easiest, and most despicable, dice games, were existent in Aryavarta, legally, though, ethically, people, especially warriors, despised dice, since, they called it unworthy of a warrior's valour. Casually, dice games within the household were innocuous bets between friends and relatives, wherein small things like finery and playthings would be staked. Public events of dice games could be vicious, especially considering the potential catalyst in their case.

"But it is a friendly gesture, doesn't necessarily fall into the purview of a public event. Moreover, if the festival is a public event in itself, what is the harm with a casual game of dice being played in public?" Duryodhan said.

"There could be other casual events too, like display of archery, or mace-fighting matches, in a manner of a friendly gesture." she steadily said, persisting in her quest for a satisfactory explanation.

 Duryodhan flustered. By and by, he was losing control, though, he was fighting to keep his composure intact. She knew of her husband's deadly rage and also that had it been anyone else in her place, he or she wouldn't have dared to counter question him repeatedly, like she was being audacious enough to do.

"It is only a harmless game, dear, there is nothing to read much into this." he said, again, hoping his repetition would be convincing enough for her to believe.

"In that case, why was I the only one to be unbeknownst of this?" she asked him again.

"Because, I had committed the audacity of thinking that such a tiny, little thing was immaterial enough for my princess to remain ignorant of, and hence, maybe, considered not mentioning this, leading her to suspect me," Duryodhan said.

This has to be easier, he thought.

"Arya, I hope, this is what it is," -she didn't dare to mention her suspicion of Mamashree being involved in this, since, then, he would definitely lose his cool.- "I hope, this won't have anything else added to it," she added.

"Well, me and my cousins have our own ways of reconciling fights. And Bhratashri Yudhishthir has a penchant for dice, so there we go." he said, as he felt the tension between them to iron out a bit.

"Arya!," she softly whispered, letting out a sigh as she rested her head on his smooth, tanned, chest, listening to his heartbeats, feeling a softness that seemed to have its reserve only for her. For a while, no one said anything, while they nestled themselves in soft cuddle, his arms girdling her distending waist. Duryodhan heaved a sigh of relief, as her breath fell on his chest, and he kept reminding himself that this was nothing wrong,-

- And even if it was, he didn't care, since, it was for their future.

***

Notes:

1. The cover image has been made by the ethereal Anushree on Tumblr. More of her awe-FREAKING-some stuff can be found here:

vajratak.tumblr.com , AND

chingariya.tumblr.com

2. There are a couple of theories on Bhanumati's place of origin. In some books, she's mentioned to be from Kashi, and some take Pragjyotisha to be her place of origin. For this story, the latter theory has been taken into consideration, where she has been shown to be the daughter of Bhagadatta.

3. Any possible factual inaccuracies are sorely regretted. Please do come up with any suggestions for rectification, you might think fit. 

4. This is purely a work of fiction, and all comments, criticism, evaluations and suggestions are all WELCOME -as I always say- WITH WIDE OPEN ARMS!!!!!! :)

***

This is the third part of a story, that is intended to go on for quite sometime now. :) SO, for all those who've extended their affection towards us, I can feel nothing but immense gratitude for all the love and support. And hope, that it stays the same, in fact increase itself in volume and intensity. 

So, if I've been able to come up with a story, that you think could have some of your time and attention, and occupies a space in your memory, please read, vote, and comment (OH I SO LOVE THOSE!!!! :)), and maaaayyybeee??? follow???? 

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