Prakriti P.O.V

I went back to Upaplavya after talking to my niece. I knew she was lying about her feelings, the sadness in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by me. I didn't put much pressure on her. It is her and her choice only for what she want to do with her life. I put hold on meeting with Dau for sometime, next time when I will be here, I will surely visit him but this time, my time was only for Vatsala.

I saw Arya sitting in the chamber probably waiting for me. His eyes met mine and he gave me a loving smile. I sighed and my heart filled with happiness, I walked towards him and sat beside him. He put both of his arms around me and hugged me. "I was gone for half day only" I chuckled when he nuzzled his nose on my cheek. "But it seems so long" he said dragging each words. I don't see him being much happy nowadays because of the war but whenever the rare moments came, I don't take it for granted. 

"What happened while I was gone?" I asked him casually leaning into his touch. He tightened his arms around me. "Your brother created havoc here, he was playing and he made him join him" he said pouting, I chuckled, "And you enjoyed every bit of it" I responded to him, he sighed and nodded his head "Madhav has a way of making everyone feels alive when they are around him".

"He is my brother after all" I said proudly and with a laugh turned to look at him with amusement in my eyes. He looked at me raising his eyebrows "Is that so?" he grinned slowly taking his arms away and looking at me. "Umm hmm" I hummed and moved back a little. "What about me?" he said slowly moving towards me, lopsided smile on his face. 

"What about you Arya?" I asked feigning confusion on my face. He huffed and I started chuckling looking at his innocent expression. He narrowed his eyes at me and lunged in my direction but I was quick and run in the other direction. I could hear him running after me. I laughed and quicken my pace enjoying every bit of it. Suddenly I was pushed forward and I fell on bed face first. I turned my body and Arya trapped me in his arms. He has a winning smile on his face. 

"I caught you" his gaze was on me and the love in his eyes was pure. I put my arms around his neck and smiled "I always wanted to get capture by you" his eyes sparkled and we both relish in the moment.

***

Next morning came quickly than I anticipated, today Brother Krishna and I have to go to Hastinapur to have conversation with kauravas. I rolled out of Arya's arms and looked at his serene face while he was sleeping. I don't want to leave him but we have to go and visit hastinapur. After all of this is over, my whole time will be dedicated to my family. I took a bath and worship the sun, closing my eyes, its sunlight falling on my closed eyelids. Suddenly light became brighter and Surya Dev appeared in front of me. I bowed my head in front of him "Pranipat Surya Dev" I said, he bowed his head in front of me as well "Pranipat Mata" he responded, I chuckled and shook my head "I am not in the form of my true being, I am mere mortal Surya Dev".

He smiled "Even if you are in this form, you are still our mother and I came here to ask something from mother" he said, his face looked troubled.

"You have called me your mother, you can ask me anything" I responded in return. He nodded and took a long breath "Mother, I know you are going to Hastinapur for a truce. Will you talk to my son and make him understand Dharm?" he requested, I stared at him, he knows that his son has done wrong but he has dharm in his heart and a father want to try one last time to save his son. "I will talk to him but it is on him if he want to understand this or not" I quickly said, I don't want to bring his hope up. Karna will die, his end is inevitable and to born sin free in next life, he has to pay for every deeds he has done in this time.

"Thank you Mother, thank you so much" with that said, he was gone from the view. I sighed and looked at the sky. "You know he won't leave Duryodhan's side" Brother Krishna said standing beside me. I nodded my head solemnly "I know brother but I couldn't reject a Father's plea" I responded. "Satyaki has prepared the chariot, it is time" Brother said after some time and we moved towards our carriage. Elder brother was standing beside it with Satyaki. I have already talked to others the day before. 

"Give our mother our love and tell her we shall soon be with her" Elder Brother said and put his hand on my head after embracing Brother Krishna. I nodded my head with a smile. We bid our farewell and sat in the chariot moving towards Hastinapur. In every town and village we rode through, the people came out in crowds to greet us, we greeted them back with smile. At Vrikasthala, beside a pool of lotuses, we  stopped our chariot. "Night grows on us, let us rest here tonight" Brother said and I nodded my head, we moved out of chariot and went near nature resting for awhile. I couldn't sleep that night so I was sitting beside the pool of lotus looking at its beauty. My favorite flowers has always been lotus, they are pure and sacred even if growing in dirty water. I stared at one flower in particular, it looked alone and it wasn't even blossomed, I touched it with my finger, within a second, it became the most beautiful lotus around here. I smiled at its beauty.

"Playing with nature, Prakrite" Brother Krishna said sitting beside me. "I was admiring the beauty of nature brother" I simply responded, in the midst of war and other things, sometimes I miss this, the peaceful environment and tranquil nature. "It is you who have made this, all of this is part of you" Brother said admiring the nature himself with a smile on his face. "And this whole world is you brother" I responded back, everything happens when tridev want it to happen. At that I remember something, I wish to ask him because after this we won't be able to talk like that.

"Brother, I have a question, can you answer it truthfully?" I asked him.

His smile fell but he nodded his head, I know he knows whats coming. "What will happen after the war and don't lie to me" I questioned him, he turned his head and looked at me, a sad smile playing on his lips. He put his hand on my head "You know Prakrite, when war comes, it brings death, pain, chaos, sadness and destruction" he started saying, I waited patiently for him to finish without interrupting him. "But after the war, dharm will establish, and for that this war is necessary" he completed staring at the nature.

"Who will perish in the war?" I finally asked, I have asked this question before but he dodged it at that time, now he can't go anywhere. "I can not tell you that" he shook his head.

"Why brother?" I asked in confusion, I know people will die in this war and I am concerned about everyone but mostly I am concerned about one person. "It will change the flow of time" he said and stopped talking after that.

"I want you to do one thing, Parvati" Mahadev said, were were sitting in a garden created by me. "From now on, don't look into the future" he spoke looking directly in my eyes, my eyebrow raised in confusion "Why Swamy, Is something wrong in me seeing the future?" I asked him,

He gave a short chuckle and shook his head "There is nothing wrong in this but you have Narayan with you, he will guide you himself in the path of Dharma" he stated, I slowly nodded my head accepting his words. But still there was a nagging feeling in my heart.

I remembered my conversation with Mahadev, he didn't want me to look into the future and told me to trust Brother. I will do it right now. I am putting my trust in Brother Krishna, he won't let anything bad happen to us.

"I trust you Brother, I know you will take care of everything" I said finally pushing my thoughts aside. He sighed and gave me smile and I smiled back putting my head on his shoulder and staring at the nature, like we used to do it in Dwarka.

***

Late next morning, we arrived in Hastinapur, people went outside of their home to greet us. I stopped the chariot and looked at Brother Krishna. "I want to walk from here" I said looking at all the people who were looking at us with tears in their eyes. I want to meet everyone of them personally, they are also part of my family. We have left Hastinapur that does not means we have also left the people behind. Brother Krishna smiled and nodded his head. I stepped down from the chariot and looked at the people around me. All of them has joined their hands and bowed in front of me, I smiled, tears appearing in my eyes and greeted them back joining my hands. 

After greeting each one of them personally, I walked towards the castle of Hastinapur slowly. People parted away with joined hands while I stroll towards the gate of castle. I still remember the time I was here with my family. How these Kuru's humiliated us and how I swore to avenged the dishonor we faced that day. It seems like it was yesterday only, pain is still warm and it will stay warm until the end of the people present in the sabha that day. Pitamah Bhishm was standing at the door with King Dhritarashtra, Mata Gandhari and Mata Kunti. Brother Krishna was already standing there and waiting for me. I greeted everyone because even if they have mistreated us, they are our elders and when war will come I want them to know that they won't find this Prakriti there anymore.

Mata Kunti hugged me and started crying on my shoulder. I hugged her back and stopping myself from crying, it will come after all of this is over, after Dharm is establish. After meeting with everyone, King Dhritarashtra asked us to visit his palace. I joined my hands together and denied his request straight away. "King Dhritarashtra, I don't enjoy living in marvelous palace, I just want my mother's lap and it will be fine for me, hope you will understand" I said to him in return without any emotion in my voice. He started chuckling in nervousness and nodded his head "I do understand daughter, this is your home too, make yourself comfortable" he said which made my blood boil and I started walking away from there crossing King Dhritarashtra "It will never be my home until I get my revenge" I whispered with hatred as I walked past him. He shivered in fear and stay where he was standing while I walked to my mother's chamber.

Mother joined me in the chamber and sat beside me. She hugged me once again and started sobbing "I feel so much stronger, that you are here. Tell me about you and my sons and Draupadi, how is everyone?" she asked, tears cascading down her cheeks. I broke the hug and wiped her tears, taking her hands in mine. "Don't cry mother, Don't cry. Your sons have become great men by their long penance and no force on earth can resist them now. Their night is ending; day is at hand and victory. I promise you, We will win this war".

After resting in Mother's lap, I enjoyed the sleep I get at that time. It was peaceful and with no worries for the future. After that, I walked in Duryodhana's palace with Brother Krishna beside me. In his garish sabha, Duryodhana sat on a golden throne, with Shakuni, Karna and Dusasana around him. They all rose from their seat when we entered in the sabha. Duryodhan came forward to welcome us. He joined his hands and smiled "Pranipat Madhav" then his eyes moved towards me, I clenched my jaw when his eyes met mine, they seemed to sparkled. "Princess Prakriti" He said with smile. Brother Krishna responded back with smile and greeting while me on the other hand remembering the time when he asked Krishne to sit on his lap. My eyes went towards his lap for a second and I remembered what is about to happen to him in the future. This put a real smile on my face and I joined my hands greeting him back "Pranipat Prince Duryodhan" my voice sweet like honey. A large smile broke down on his face at this and I internally smirk.

This meeting will be memorable!

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Hello guys!!

Finally an update after so long, I know you guys are gonna beat me (I am joking here, don't do it actually ;) because I have not been responding to any of the messages and updates. Actually I was out of town for awhile now so couldn't update the story. Now I got the time. Hope you guys like this chapter.

One more thing happened between the time I didn't update, somebody stole my story from line to line and when I tried to talk to them, they blocked me. I mean at-least have the decency to have a conversation with the person from whom you are stealing. My very good friend told me about the fiasco and soon it was cleared. I don't want to disclose the name of the person, hope she understood now and will never steal anyone hard-work because it take us lots of time to write and make the story.

Thank you guys for staying with me in this journey and keeping me motivated :)

Vote and comment your opinion on the chapter :)