"Maa!" Two golden-hued delicate arms enveloped Devika's neck.

"Thanu!" Devika placed her palm tenderly on the young girl's arm and caressed her cheek with the other hand. "You want something, dear?"

"I want to talk to you for a while, Maa!" The princess of Indraprastha pleaded, "May I?"

"I'm busy with the wedding preparations, Putri!" Devika said, "you better do another thing. Go check once whether your Bhrata's outfit selection is complete or not."

"Bhrata Abhi is still confused." Suthanu giggled, "he seems to need some more time for selecting his wedding outfits."

"Then go help him in the same, Putri." Devika smiled, "I'm sure your choices will suit him the best."

"But it's not a matter of my choice, Maa. What if Bhabhi's choice is different and she does not like it?" Suthanu playfully said, "Then Bhrata will pull my ears only. I can't take this risk!"

Devika shook her head fondly.

"What are you doing, Maa?" Suthanu looked at the materials with sheer curiosity, not recognizing any of them.

"These are the collection of auspicious gifts that are to be given to the bride as a ritual of acceptance," Devika explained briefly, amused at Suthanu's curious stare at them.

"May I help in arranging them?" She was excited.

"No dear!" Devika shook her head affectionately, "only a married girl is allowed to touch this."

Embarrassed, Suthanu bit her tongue. Her golden-hued cheek assumed a reddish hue which did not escape Devika's mother's eyes. She smiled, remembering herself in a similar situation when she first met her love.

The intelligent daughter noticed Devika's reaction and immediately controlled herself.

"Do it later, Maa, I have some important work with you!" She eagerly said.

"And what is that?" Devika raised an eyebrow, "want any of my clothes or jewellery for wearing in the ceremony? Or any of the songs from my collection that you want to sing?"

"Maa!" Suthanu pouted, "do I always keep bothering you with these things only?"

"Not always, but most of the times!" Devika smiled at her pouting daughter. Caressing her cheek, she softly said, "and you know how much I love to get bothered by you, again and again!"

Suthanu smiled as she placed her head on Devika's bosom, hugging her tightly. Devika tenderly ran her fingers within Suthanu's long curly tresses. Few moments passed in feeling the love from both sides.

"Now tell me, what important work you have with me?" Devika said with a smile.

Suthanu raised her head, grinning.

"Come!" She pulled Devika's arm gently as she rose to her feet.

"Where?" Devika could not get her child.

"First you come then I'm telling!" Suthanu was joyfully excited, "please Maa!"

Devika nodded and rose. Suthanu took her to the front of a large mirror and began to comb her hair.

"Thanu..." Devika was not prepared for this.

"I won't listen to anything today! Let me dress you up to my heart's content!" Suthanu braided Devika's hair, put it into a bun and decked it with strings of Jasmine and gem-studded hairpins. Staring at the new look, the daughter smiled in satisfaction. Devika had not worn any ornaments on her hair except the chudamani, since thirteen years! She did not even use to tie her beautiful tresses with enough care.

"Thanu, this was not needed, Putri!"

"You didn't need. I did. I can't see my Devi Maa in this condition! In all these years, have you looked at yourself even once, Maa? Would you attend Bhrata's wedding in this look?"

"Thanu, your Maa has become old, dear!" Devika smiled calmly, "shringara is not for her anymore!"

"Obviously not. Who says my Devi Maa has become old?" Suthanu protested, "you still are as beautiful as you were at the time of your wedding, Maa!" Her voice became softer and sweeter while saying that.

"My heart craved for seeing you like a decked bride. I'm sure Pitashri too has the same wish within him!"

Devika could not hold her tears anymore. Yudhishthira's very mention had melted the tears that she had kept frozen since thirteen years, for the sake of her children. Realizing her feeling, Suthanu took her head on her bosom.

"Pitashri is returning, Maa!" Said Suthanu, and gently wiped the salty droplets from Devika's cheek. "This is not a time to shed tears! Will Pitashri be happy if you cry? At least for his sake, be happy!"

"Let's do something today!" Suthanu proposed, "tell me about your first meeting with Pitashri!" Her eyes shone with happiness, hoping to send a happy vibe to Devika's mind too. For a while, the queen of Indraprastha felt like the daughter had taken mother's place today!

"How many more times do you want to hear about that?" Devika smiled through her tears, patting Suthanu's cheek.

"I love to hear that! Once more, please!" She placed her head on Devika's lap, while the latter began to narrate her most cherished memory once again.

***

"Jyeshtha Pitashri!"

The happy chorus made Yudhishthira turn. Ten young men were grinning, looking at him. Yudhishthira smiled at them, opening his arms.

The young ones rushed to him and touched his feet together. Giving them his blessings, Yudhishthira looked at a tall and fair figure whose complexion was that of butter.

"Be happy in your new life, Abhi!" He patted Abhimanyu's cheek lovingly. "Have you met princess Uttara yet?"

"Wait, Jyeshtha Pitashri! First, tell me how could you recognize me?" Abhimanyu was simultaneously shocked and amused. A bit disappointed too since all the brothers had planned to confuse their parents at the first meeting.

Yudhishthira smiled, "these large eyes, shining with wisdom, courage and mischief at the same time, cannot be of anyone else, Vatsa!"

Embarrassed, Abhimanyu started at Yudhishthira's feet. But soon after he was drawn to a tight embrace.

Why didn't fate allow him to watch his sons' delightful growing up? Yudhishthira's copper-hued eyes got moist. He suppressed a sigh within.

"Pitashri, we are in line too!" Said a voice, "if you are done with showering all your love on Abhi, may we too get a little attention from you?" The speaker's eyes hinted mischief in the guise of innocence.

Yudhishthira shook his head fondly. "You have not changed even a little, Shatanika! Still the same playful boy that you were thirteen years ago!"

Shatanika's mouth wide opened.

"Do you have a third eye, Pitashri?" Sutasoma mused in surprise.

"Your Pitashri doesn't need a third eye to recognize the pieces of his very heart, Soma!" Yudhishthira commented, and took Sutasoma in his arms.

"You ruined our master plan, Jyeshtha Pitashri!" Abhimanyu sighed in mock despair.

Yudhishthira laughed. After thirteen years! The boys joined in too.

"Is it to make your master plan successful that your sister has not come yet?" Asked Yudhishthira.

"She doesn't even know about our plan, Pitashri." Shrutakarma said, "has she known that she would have ensured something to make us succeed!"

"Who told you that, Bhrata?" A young girl's voice was heard from the door.

"I knew everything. But I didn't encourage your plan because I knew it would never be possible for us to confuse Pitashri!"

Yudhishthira's eyes stuck at the young maiden. With golden complexion, blue-lotus eyes radiating wisdom and curly black tresses, she appeared to be a perfect combination of his serenity and Draupadi's beauty.

"Thanu!" The proud father whispered in awe. Suthanu came closer and touched Yudhishthira's feet.

"I have a surprise for you, Pitashri!" She smiled, "guess what?"

Yudhishthira's eyebrows met in question. Looking at the door, Suthanu called out, "Maa!"

And then appeared the woman. Clad in the same sky-blue saree, and the same pearl-studded jewellery in which Yudhishthira had seen her first. Even her hair was braided exactly as it was in their first meeting! Suthanu did not let even a single thing go missed!

Yudhishthira forgot even to blink. As if time had stopped for him! There stood the lady who defined his heartbeat, his life-breath! His DharmaPriyaa!

The children exchanged happy glances with each other. Their mission had been achieved. Without a single noise, they left the room silently.

Devika stared at her Lord through tears. She did not know whether it was tears of joy or sorrow. She remembered the day thirteen years ago when he came to take leave from her. The news of dyuta sabha shuttered her heart, yet she could not cry. The amount of silent anguish and guilt that was visible in his face did not let her drown him with her own tears. Realizing his heart-shuttering pain, she could not add to it more. She put all her energy in comforting him instead of breaking down visibly.

All those tears of thirteen years had not been dried up, though! They were stored in her heart. Now, at this moment of reunion, they threatened to come back again.

"Devi!" Yudhishthira's eyes betrayed guilt, "have you forgiven me?"

"When did I even take fault in you, Natha?" Her champaka flower-like arms enveloped him, "I am unable to see anything beyond your endless virtues that have the power to drown any amount of fault as ocean drowns a pebble!"

"This is your love, Priye. But I know well what I have done!" A sigh escaped Yudhishthira's heart. He looked away to hide the tears that was forming in his brown eyes.

"It is for my reason alone that you had to bear with everyone's questions and disrespect!" He spoke again, "it is only due to my sin you have to hear taunts as wife of a gamb..."

"No!" Devika put her palm on his mouth, "no, Swami! Don't say that again! You do not become a gambler just because they say so! Do they know you more than me and Panchali Jiji?"

His tears failed all restraint and rolled down his cheeks. Her hands reached out immediately to wipe it.

"Now forgive yourself, Natha! Bhrata Krishna would not have been by your side have you not yet washed your past deeds with penance!"

Words failed him in front of this ocean of love. He let her rest her head on his chest. Devika inhaled deeply. How much she had missed the soothing fragrance of his body! After how long could she be in those arms that were the most peaceful, most desired sanctuary of her pained heart!

She found herself in her Dharmaraja. He found himself in his DharmaPriyaa. Once again after years of ordeal!

"Thanks to our babies who made it happen the same way as it was then!" Yudhishthira mused, "it feels like I have been born again!"

"You indeed have, after passing all these tests of life!" Devika smiled, "may this birthday brings you all happiness that you deserve, erasing all the past memories!"

"Pitashri, Mata, may we come in now?" The young voices asked from outside, with apparently innocent faces.

Devika exchanged a smiling glance with Yudhishthira before looking at the happy faces of their little darlings. They entered in and cried in chorus. "Happy birthday, Pitashri! Hope you liked the gift!" Suthanu grinned.

"Gifts, Putri!" Yudhishthira smiled, correcting her, "is it not another gift to see all of you again?"

Everyone smiled happily. The palace of Upaplavya blissfully witnessed one of the most precious moments of Indraprastha.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Happy birthday, Natha! All my love is for you!