Shivi

"I'm not talking to you!" Devika pouted, crossing her arms. "It took you over a year to remember that you have a little sister here?"

Mitravinda laughed, wrapping her arms around Devika. "I'm so sorry, my baby girl! Forgive me for this time, please?" She patted her sister's cheeks.

Devika shook her head and looked away in mock anger.

"Well," Mitravinda brushed her hair gently, shrugging. "So you don't even want to hear the news I brought from Khandavaprastha! Fine!" Her lotus eyes sparkled in mischief.

"Khandavaprastha?" Devika straightened herself, her doe eyes immediately returning on her elder sister's face.

"What happened there?" Her breath raced.

Mitravinda giggled. Mission successful!

"Oho!" She faked a cough. "Now too much excited to hear, huh?" She hit Devika's right cheek with two fingers as her eyebrows danced, teasing Devika even more.

"Didi!" Devika frowned. "Pray, don't raise my tension! Tell me, what happened in Khandavaprastha? Is everything fine?"

"Absolutely! What can go wrong where Dwarakadheesh stays? Haven't you heard of his new wedding?"

Devika nodded, exhaling a little. Krishna had taken his fourth wife in Khandavaprastha itself. His new bride was none other than Devi Yamuna, the daughter of Sun God, who was also known as Kalindi in her human form.

"Oh, so this is what you came to inform me? This old news?" Devika rolled her eyes.

"Which new news you were expecting, my dear?" Mitravinda raised an eyebrow, faking ignorance. "About whom?"

"Nothing!" Devika looked away, sighing.

"Devi, look at me," Mitravinda's tone left the mischief as she put her both arms on Devika's shoulders, looking straight into her eyes.

"If you are this much eager to hear from him, why didn't you go there to attend the wedding?"

Lump formed in Devika's throat. She blinked to send her tears back.

"My wish!" She gravely uttered.

"Your wish? To hurt yourself thus?" Mitravinda frowned now. "To hurt your love thus?"

"Didi, why are we..."

Mitravinda raised a finger to stop her. "We need to talk about this, dear sister! Remember, I won't let my Jyeshtha Bhrata live with this silent pain! Neither will I let my little sister cry! For the sake of both my dear ones, I seek the answer from you today!"

Devika could not hold herself anymore. Mitravinda's love had broken the barrier she had formed around her emotions in these months. Her red lips trembled for a while, her self-restraint failing to stop the salty droplets gush down her cheeks. The next moment she gave up, hiding her head in Mitravinda's arms.

No one had ever seen the brave warrior Princess burst into tears thus!

"If this is your reaction on the very mention of Jyeshtha, why are you avoiding him thus, my dear?" Mitravinda ran her delicate fingers through Devika's long hair. "Do you doubt my Jyeshtha's love for you?"

"No Didi!" Devika threw her head up. "Not even in my dreams! He is my Dharma, my God, my very world! Doubting him is doubting myself!"

"Then what holds you back, little sister?"

It took Devika a while to win over the struggle within.

"I have seen the pain in his eyes, Didi. I know how his heart is burning in grief for me!" She bit her lips, sighing. "But at the same time, he cannot be unfair to his wedded wife. His Dharma won't allow that. Neither can I let him do that!"

Mitravinda did not interrupt. She let Devika speak her heart out. Without knowing the problem fully, solution cannot be given.

"My presence will leave him in Dharma Sankat, Didi! His heart will bleed in guilt of doing injustice to both me and Draupadi. I don't want him to suffer that anguish!" Devika continued, turning away from Mitravinda.

"Rather this distance is better. Let him be in peace, Didi! I'll be happy only if I hear that he is doing well!"

Mitravinda's lips curved into a sad smile.

"Foolish girl, you think Jyeshtha will be in peace in your absence?" She lightly scolded.

"His Dharma Sankat will never go away if you keep distance from him. Devi, he needs you, sister! The pain he is suffering has only one solution and that is, getting both of you together in his life! Why don't you understand this?"

"Draupadi has no fault, Didi. She deserves him. She loves him as much as I do. I don't want to hurt her for my own happiness." Tears rolled down Devika's closed eyes.

This time, Mitravinda smiled.

"You have not yet known Draupadi fully, my dear! Allow yourself to do that. All your dilemmas will be cleared very soon!"

"Maybe I need more time, Didi." Devika lowered her eyes.

"I know." Mitravinda nodded. "But make sure that you don't take too long." She held Devika again in her arms. "Remember, you have to attend my swayamvara and wedding. And I won't listen to any of your excuses to stay away from me on my special days!"

***

Training ground, afternoon

"What happened to my brother?" An amused Devika said, seeing Shaivya practicing with bow and arrow with complete focus.

"Which Princess's swayamvara demands for an archery contest?" She grinned.

Shaivya was embarrassed. He never thought that his sister could tease him for an extra session of archery practice.

"Don't warriors practice except for winning swayamvaras, Didi?" He rolled his eyes, taking another arrow from his quiver.

"They do. But your sudden extra focus on archery must have some reason, brother."

Shaivya sighed with a nod. "I only wish to be a better archer. Since long, we Shivis have been well-versed in sword fighting but archery is our weakness. This is why we lost against Sindhu."

Devika frowned in the memory. "That is true. Jayadratha is student of Dronacharya. He made him a powerful archer who is difficult for us to beat."

"It would have been great if we also could get some guidance from Dronacharya, or someone equal to him."

Devika exhaled. She had seen a great opportunity to support the Pandavas financially.

"Dronacharya's best student can be a good alternative, what say?" Devika stared at Shaivya, hoping him to agree.

She had heard from Mitravinda how hard the Pandavas were working to develop agriculture and trade in Khandavaprastha. Since then, Devika had been restless to find a way to help them. But she also knew that Yudhishthira would never accept financial help from other kingdoms without giving something to them in return. Her brother's sudden worry regarding archery seemed to be a blessing to her.

"Shaivya, you can take archery lessons from Prince Arjuna." Devika added. "Dronacharya himself has declared him as the best archer of his time. His guidance will definitely benefit you."

"Prince Arjuna?" Shaivya's jaw dropped. "Do you think Kaka Govasana will agree?"

"Leave that to me!" Devika beamed. "I'll get his permission. You just prepare for the journey. And yes, take our army too with you. The soldiers of Shivi need Arjuna's guidance."

***

Govasana's meeting room

"Pita, our soldiers need an advanced training in archery. I suggested Shaivya to take Arjuna's training." Devika came to the point directly.

"Why Arjuna? There are many other great archers out there." Govasana was reluctant.

"There are." Devika calmly said. "But everyone is not the best disciple of Lord Parashurama's student himself. And the entire Aaryavarta has recently seen Arjuna's excellence in Panchala Kumari's swayamvara. I hope that speaks more than enough about his ability to be a Guru of the Shivi army."

"I don't disagree that. But Putri, you also must think of the political welfare of Shivi. Why should we take a favour from Pandavas to angry our allies unnecessarily?"

"Pardon me, Pita, but we are not going to take a 'favour' from them. This is a trade between Shivi and Khandavaprastha. Our princes and soldiers will learn warfare from them in exchange of gold coins or cattle wealth." Devika said with emphasis on the last sentence and looked at her father. Her face lit up seeing Govasana crossing his arms with a brief nod. She knew it very well what exactly could have made her father agree and at the same time, would make Pandavas earn some wealth.

"So you mean Shivi will pay to the Pandavas for the army training?" The King thought aloud.

"Exactly, Pita," She encouragingly added, "I don't think there is any problem in making a deal with Pandavas that will help us. If Duryodhana opposes, just tell him that you are not taking Pandavas' help as their friend. You are duely paying for their training services. I hope he won't object anymore."

"Sounds good." Govasana absent-mindedly rubbed his chin. "Alright. I'm giving permission to the army. But Shaivya must bear my consent letter to King Yudhishthira. This condition must be mentioned that Pandavas must see this training as a deal with Shivi and accept due fees in exchange. We do not want a free service from them."

"Sure, Pita!" Devika's eyes shone as her actual intention became successful. "If you allow me, I myself will draft the consent letter on your behalf. You check it once before putting the seal on it."

Govasana nodded in agreement. Before leaving his meeting room, Devika thanked Narayana silently. She had already decided what exactly to write to Yudhishthira.

My King! Pray, do not deny this deal! Devika prayed with all her heart.

______________________________________

Author's note: Jayadratha was Drona's student and Shaivya was Arjuna's student, as mentioned in the Mahabharata. I just used the information in an imaginary way.

I know, everyone is waiting for YuVika meet. Just a few chapters more. I'll try to update as soon as possible.