Dwaraka

Devika's sword was locked against that of senapati Kritavarma for a while. She stepped away to get space, while looking at her opponent's eyes to read his next move.

This senapati of Dwaraka was someone Devika never liked to practice with. Some weird feeling used to creep over her just by looking at him. As if he had something in him that could hurt her, someday! She knew about Kritavarma's active involvement in the recent conflicts among Yadavas regarding Syamantak Mani which made her detest this person even more.

Krishna had not yet returned from Kampilya. Balarama had been busy with political issues since morning. Hence, Kritavarma was given the charge of training all the trainees waiting in armoury.

Kritavarma withdrew his sword quickly and hurled it at Devika. She had guessed it correct! Her reply came faster than she had even imagined. As her sword clanged against Kritavarma's, the latter increased the force to disarm her. Realizing his intention, Devika withdrew her weapon and stepped back. She covered the space between them by circling her opponent. And then finding him being caught in unawares for a moment she hurled her weapon unexpectedly that made Kritavarma's sword fall off.

"Well done, Devi!"

Balarama's appreciating voice made them turn to Him. He came closer and placed His palm on Devika's head, "I am proud of you, sister!"

"Your and Bhrata's lessons only, Dau!" Devika humbly said, "What am I without your blessings, Gurudeva?"

Balarama smiled and dismissed Kritavarma and all the other trainees. Devika realized that He wanted to tell her something. She noticed a scroll in His hand.

"Dau, has Bhrata sent any message?"

"No. This letter is from Hastinapura."

"Hastinapura?" Her eyebrows met. What could have happened there again?

"Yuvaraj Duryodhana has won the swayamvara of Kashi princess." Said Balarama, "We are invited to attend his wedding on the next week."

"Yuvaraj.... Duryodhana?" She uttered with some effort. Her heart broke to take that name along with the honourable title of crown prince that she had worshiped so far. How much love she had poured into that address of Yuvaraj whenever she talked with him! That envious, arrogant prince had snatched it too from him?

"When did his coronation take place?" Devika narrowed her eyes, hiding the anger that was taking over her. 

"Last month." Balarama replied.

"We never got to know! Neither were you invited in the coronation!" Devika snapped, "Why such secret coronation? Did they fear that if Bhrata Krishna is invited He might stop it?"

"Calm, sister, calm!" Balarama smiled, "We did get to know. Krishna had to visit Kampilya soon and I had to look after the issues here, so we could not attend."

Devika did not speak. But her delicate doe eyes had turned red which no one had seen before. She was now fully convinced that Pandavas were alive. She had received a lot of divine indications assuring her about their existence. Now this news felt like another new problem for which she was never prepared. What would happen now, after Pandavas' return? Would he have to lose his crown too now? Devika felt both worried and protective.

"Do not get emotional, Devi!" Balarama patted her cheeks, "Think like a princess! What else a kingdom could do in the absence of its crown prince?"

"It is the reverse way, Dau!" She gritted her jaw, "They had to ensure that the crown prince remains absent so that Duryodhana can be coronated!"

"Devi, listen..."

"Pandavas did not die in accident, Dau! They have been killed!" Devika was visibly in wrath, "And now the Kurus are celebrating their scions' death with coronation and marriage! How shameless they have become, Dau?"

"My dear, this is a ritual to get married soon after coronation! Do you not know about this?"

"I do! But why was this ritual not observed for the actual Yuvaraj then? Why was he unmarried even after one full year of his coronation? Is this not partiality?"

"Well, maybe he could not get married because..." Balarama pretended to think a little, and then added with a grin, "because the princess he wanted to marry was not prepared yet! Maybe her kingdom was not prepared yet to arrange a swayamvara!"

Devika glared at Him, earning a laughter from Balarama.

"This is not a time of teasing me, Dau! Neither is this news a matter to be taken lightly! I know Bhrata Krishna is trying to search for Pandavas. I also believe that they are alive. What will happen after they come back? Would your favourite student agree to return their throne to them?"

"Worry not, Devi! Leave it to Krishna! He has gone to Kampilya with a master plan, that much I can tell you! If He thinks that they are alive, He will find some way for their future too!"

Kampilya again? Devika's jaw dropped. Why the mention of Kampilya repeatedly by both Krishna and Balarama?

What key they had found there that could solve everything? Which connection did Kampilya have with Krishna's plan of reviving Pandavas?

***

Kampilya

"You are going to depart, Dwarakadhee..." Draupadi bit her tongue seeing Krishna glaring at her, "Sorry, Sakha?"

Draupadi smiled at Krishna's amused expression. Within such a short time span they have become so close friends that it made her feel empty to think that He was leaving.

"I am, Sakhi. Dau's letter has come. We have to go to Hastinapura to honour their invitation."

"But you said that prince Duryodhana does not like you?" Draupadi raised an eyebrow.

Krishna chuckled, "He does not. But Dau is his Guru and he respects Him a lot. He knows well that Dau would not accept the invitation unless I am invited too."

"Understood." Draupadi nodded, "But is it just respect or something else? At least from what I have heard, he does not seem to be a person who does anything without a chance of his own personal gain."

"You are intelligent, my friend!" Krishna smiled, "Duryodhana has a secret wish to make alliance with the Yadavas of Dwaraka. He keeps pleasing Dau and even me, wishing to fulfill it one day."

"But will you make an alliance with Hastinapura?" Draupadi frowned, "With those ones who cold-bloodedly killed your aunt and cousins?"

Krishna's face turned grave.

"Even if we do not like it, sometimes we need to go through unwanted alliances, Sakhi! Especially those ones which come through martial ties." He sighed and gave Draupadi with a meaningful glance, "And at this moment I suspect that Duryodhana has another intention to get alliance of Panchala by the help of us, since Maharaj Drupada has a close bonding with me and Dau!"

"Alliance of Panchala? Through me?" Draupadi gasped.

"Precisely!"

"Never!" She snapped, "I will remain unmarried forever rather than being wife of that murderer!"

"But you will not be able to deny if your father declares a swayamvara for you and he wins it!" Krishna's lotus eyes twinkled, gauging her reaction.

Draupadi froze for a while. "Sakha!"

"Worry not, my dear friend!" Krishna smiled assuring her, "As long as this friend is there for you, I promise you no unworthy person will be able to win your hand!"

"Don't know how but I have already grown a strong faith in you, Sakha! I have seen that my father and brothers value your opinions a lot! I believe you will help me with some way-out so that I do not have to end up marrying an unrighteous person!" Draupadi looked at her friend with hope and trust.

"Unrighteous?" Krishna smiled again, "You will be the wife of righteousness personified on earth! Keep faith, Sakhi! I shall come again to discuss your swayamvara plans with Maharaj."

His smile had the right amount of assurance that she needed at that moment. Relieved, Draupadi smiled with a nod.

__________________________________________

So Duryodhana's marriage is here. What do you think will happen next?

Also, why does Devika find something odd in Kritavarma? Do you know?

Hopefully from the next chapter the most divine yet most misunderstood love story will start taking shape. Stay tuned. And please forgive me if I get too poetic in that!

#Hexagonforever