Shivi

"Stare at him later, sister!" Mitravinda teased. "Put the varamalaa first!"

Devika's fair cheeks turned red as she goaded back to her sense. Gently picking up the Jasmine garland she approached Yudhishthira.

How long this garland had to wait to be on her desired groom's neck!

"Stop!"

Devika's hand froze. It was her father.

"I cannot accept this!" Govasana firmly declared. "This unfair invasion into a swayamvara can be nothing less than a robbery. What eligibility does he have to deserve my veeryashulkaa daughter's hand?"

Wave of pain surfaced in Yudhishthira's eyes. A helpless sigh escaped his heart as he looked at Devika's hurt, pale face. He could feel what was going inside his beloved. But this was something from which even he could not save her.

His weapons could only overcome her external enemies. Not internal misunderstandings of her father!

Controlling her emotions, Devika faced the King.

"May I ask you, Pita, what eligibility did you see in Jayadratha that you were going to give me to him?" She calmly stated at Govasana. "Was it not robbery to abduct a Princess from her own swayamvara, in front of her father?"

"Don't talk like a fool, Devika! You might not like Jayadratha. But that doesn't mean you'll end up garlanding a random person!" Govasana tightened his jaw.

"Random person?" Devika flared up. "How come, Pita? You declared me as veeryashulkaa. You kept a condition of winning and he did fulfill that! Duely and fairly!"

"Winning a contest by keeping others in front of raised weapons, cannot be termed as valour! On which basis should I give away my daughter to him?"

Devika's eyes blazed. "He saved my honour when you could not, Pita! He proved himself worthy of my hand while my own family failed me! What more proof do you require?"

Murmurs started within the guests. Devika could guess what they were discussing. But she did not stop.

"And his valour? If hitting the target does not suffice, check the condition of your honourable Sindhu Yuvaraj's hands! His valour's proof is engraved there!" Devika pointed at a pain-striken, groaning Jayadratha who just helplessly glared at her.

"What valour? What worth? A true Kshatriya never invades into somewhere he wasn't invited!" Govasana said. "And what else to expect from the grandson of Bhishma who once abducted three girls from their swayamvara! He's carrying the same low mindset!"

Yudhishthira's heart churned in agony mixed with bitterness. Had it been someone else in place of Govasana, he would never have kept quiet.

But Devika could not tolerate. Yudhishthira's family was her family now. All her fears and worries had disappeared with his victory. The brave Princess chose to become the voice of a voiceless Yudhishthira.

"Thank you, Pita! At least you have acknowledged him to be a son of Kuru family, in front of your honourable allies who use to deny that!" She threw a fiery sideglance at Duryodhana and Jayadratha.

"And even if his victory looks like abduction to you, let me clarify this. The Lord of Indraprastha is not an invader. Whatever he is doing here, doing with my complete consent!"

The sabha held its breath in a leaf-drop silence. Krishna and Mitravinda smiled a proud smile.

"Yes, you heard me right!" Devika proudly stated. "I have given him the consent to come here and take me away! I love him, Lord of Shivi! And it's my choice that he participated in my swayamvara. Today in front of all, I, Rajkumari Devika Gauvasani, accept Dharmaraj Yudhishthira as my husband!"

"Devika! Dare you utter that again!" Kotikasya screamed, rushing to her.

"I have never feared in uttering truth, Yuvraj! You can't change my nature!"

"This much audacity!" Kotikasya drew his sword from his waistband. "First you will die, and then your lover!"

"Beware, Yuvaraj Kotikasya!" Yudhishthira intervened. "You are my close relative now. Pray, do not force me to raise my weapon on you!"

"Huh! What can you do to me, you cheater?" Kotikasya stretched his arm to grab Devika's hair. But Yudhishthira quickly caught his arm.

"I don't want to hurt you, brother Kotikasya!" He calmly uttered. "But neither can I let anyone hurt my wife! Hence, I repeat, don't force me!"

"You heard him, Pita?" Devika turned to Govasana. "This is my husband! You chose your ally over me. He chose me over everything else! You hurled insults after insults to him. But he silently endured just because you all are my family! Why should I not accept such a man, Pita? You might deny him, but I cannot! I would not!"

Devika raised her both arms, holding the garland with all her love. Yudhishthira bent a little while she lifted herself on her toe. Then, her varamalaa proudly adorned Yudhishthira's neck, making all his jewelry look pale in front of her garland.

It was a moment that only they celebrated through a loving, intense eyelock. No one hailed the Princess and her groom. No one showered flowers. No one from the Shivi family even smiled, except the youngest Shaivya.

Then, breaking that painful silence, Mitravinda played her conch, followed by Krishna's Panchajanya.

"Mitra! Vaasudeva!" Govasana glared at both. "Who allowed you two to celebrate?"

"Apologies, Kaka!" Mitravinda evenly said. "But how can we not celebrate when our Devika is garlanding her groom? At least someone from her natal home must give her best wishes in her new life's beginning. Since you didn't, I and my husband had to do that."

"Which new life? I don't accept this as a valid marriage! Never!" Govasana fumed.

Krishna came forward. "Kaka, they both have willingly accepted each other as their spouses, in front of all. According to scriptures, their Gandharva vivaha is already over! Now we cannot deny it!"

"I didn't arrange her swayamvara for letting her do Gandharva vivaha against my consent! And better you don't say anything, Vaasudeva! You too did the same with Mitra, against our consent!"

Krishna sighed, smiling a little. He saw Mitravinda biting her lips, fuming. But he shook his head, asking her not to reply.

"My daughter's fate will be decided by me and no one else! Either she will leave Yudhishthira, or..." Govasana trailed off.

"Or?" Devika patiently asked.

"Or you won't be allowed to go from here!" The King declared. "Choose anybody other than Yudhishthira if you want your own good! Otherwise I have to ask the guards to imprison you!"

"Women make their choice once, Pita. I have made that. Stop me from departing with my husband if you can!"

Devika turned to Yudhishthira again, extending her palm to his. He gently clasped her soft palm within his rough one. Smiling a little, Devika took her first step, leading her groom.

Jayadratha cried out. "Devika! How dare you..."

"Do not take my name, Jayadratha! By relation, I'm your elder now!" Devika threw a cutting reply.

"Sakha Duryodhana! Stop her! Don't let them go!" He cried again.

"This woman dared to oppose her own father!" Duryodhana snapped. "She won't listen thus! We need to force her!"

"Force me? The wife of Dharmaraj Yudhishthira, the sister-in-law of mighty Bhima and twins?" Devika laughed out. "Do try if you can, Duryodhana!" Her eyes shone with complete trust and pride.

"Too much pride is not good, Shivi Kumari!" Duryodhana jeered. "You aren't even married yet!" He then spun round to the guests.

"Honourable Kings! Raise your weapons! Do not tolerate this insult!" He took his mace on his shoulder, leading his brothers.

Devika's jaw tightened as her palm tightly clasped Yudhishthira's. He patted her palm with the other hand, assuring her wordlessly.

At that moment, both of them knew that they had each other in this battle!

What is the fear if I have you with me!

Gaining his power from her confident eyes, Yudhishthira clutched his bow. It was Kotikasya who aimed five arrows at him first. The King of Indraprastha replied with ten, but none of them touched Kotikasya's body. They just passed near his ears. Devika realized that Yudhishthira just gave her brother a warning.

"Coward!" Kotikasya muttered.

Devika simply lost her patience. How would she tolerate her husband's insult who still cared for her family, even after all these?

"Don't show him mercy, Dharmaraj! He doesn't deserve that!" Devika burst into anger.

Yudhishthira looked at her, sighing helplessly. "He is my brother-in-law, Devika!"

"What honour of that relation did he show that you have to spare him?" Devika said. "I can't let these people mark you as a coward! Do show him your real form, Swami!"

Kotikasya's arrows came again. This time, Devika herself guarded Yudhishthira from front, saving him from major injury on his chest. Yudhishthira looked at Devika once. She nodded in consent. Within a blink of eye, hundreds of arrows released from the celestial Mahendra bow. Kotikasya found himself caged within bunches of arrows in all sides. He could not anymore move even a little.

Exhaling, Devika turned to the other Kings who came to attack by then. She took a sword from the nearest guard's waistband. She saw Bhima was at his best with his mace, against Duryodhana. Nakula and Sahadeva were fighting the Yavana and Sauvira Kings. Seeing Yudhishthira handling Trigarta King Susharma, she chose to give him the support he needed.

The decorated swayamvara hall had turned into a battlefield. Strings of flowers were torn, precious gemstones fell down on floor. White floor soon turned red with the blood flowing from everyone's bodies. Many of the guests had escaped, unable to handle Pandavas in their full might. Duryodhana and his brothers too could not stand long. Jayadratha and Kotikasya still remained where they were, unable to move their limbs.

Much relieved, Yudhishthira exchanged a glance with his brothers and then extended his hand to Devika.

"Come!"

She took his hand and stepped forward. As soon as they moved towards the door, Govasana's loud declaration came.

"If you cross this threshold holding that man's hand, Devika, I will know that my daughter has died!"

That was, undoubtedly, the last weapon in his hand. The cruelest weapon that Prajapati Daksha too once hurled at Dakshayani Sati, when she chose her Shiva.

Lump formed in Devika's throat but she chose not to let the tear flow. She turned like a bleeding doe who had been hurt by her own master.

"Was I ever alive to you, Maharaj Govasana? I have died long ago when you treated me not as your child but a tool of political gain! I died that very moment when you denied to resist my abduction! You already killed our bonding, Pita! Now you just voiced it!"

She clutched Yudhishthira's hand once again, proudly declaring her final choice to all.

"I vow in front of entire Shivi, I will never set foot again on this land unless I can make my kingdom free from evil's grip! That's my promise to my subjects!"

A frustrated Govasana watched his only daughter walking away from the sabha, carefully guarded by four Pandavas.

They gave her the protection he failed to give! She chose them as her family over him.

***

Outside palace

Much to her surprise, petals of flowers fell on Devika's hair and arms, as soon as they came out of the palace.

"Hail Rajkumari Devika! Hail Maharaj Ajatashatru! Hail Pandu Putras!" Cried a chorus.

Devika looked in front. It was her subjects. The commoners of Shivi. She saw huge crowd waiting near the main gate. Hands were raised from the crowd to bless her. Shower of flowers greeted her and Pandavas.

"You have cared a lot for us, Rajkumari! May you be happy forever with your husband!" They wished. "We shall pray to God for your wellbeing!"

Devika's lips shivered in unspoken emotions. Her own family failed to do what these people did!

For that moment, it felt like if she still had anyone in her home, it's only them!

The Princess bowed to the citizens with utmost respect. She never knew her mother since childhood. This Shivi only was her mother. A part of her breathed easier, thinking that she had received at least her mother's blessing before departing for her marital home.

"Come, let's return now!" She heard Yudhishthira's soft voice.

***

On the way

The horses of Yudhishthira's chariot ran speedily as a skillful Indrasena held their reins. Three other chariots ran around his, belonging to the three younger Pandavas.

Devika was unmindful throughout the whole journey. The most pleasant moment of her life was coupled with such things that did not even let her enjoy the bliss of being with her beloved.

Didn't she deserve a better farewell from the home she was born in? Tears that she had suppressed for so long, flowed from her doe eyes now.

Yudhishthira held her palm and drew her closer.

"I know, my family cannot replace or make you forget your own home. But we shall try our best to make you feel happy." He smiled, wiping her tears.

Devika nodded, touching his hand. His palm was still bleeding. She immediately got alarmed and began checking his injuries, chiding herself for not caring earlier.

"I am fine. Relax!" He smiled again.

"I can see that! How do you endure so much for others' sake?" She softly complained, wiping blood from his forearms.

"Not for others. For you!" He whispered, brushing her hair. "Your varamalaa protected me better than any armour. See, I got no wound on my chest!"

Devika's eyes welled up again. "Every new groom gets flowers showered on them in their farewell from bride's home. And you!" She caressed on his body. "Forgive my family, Natha! They had nothing better for you than these wounds!"

"Who says?" Yudhishthira cupped her tearful face. "They gave me you, the most beautiful, most precious gift of my life! Shivi will forever have my gratitude for giving birth to my Shaivyaa!"

Devika stared at him. The more he smiled to hide his own pain, more her heart broke.

"So caring, so selfless you are, Swami! You never cared for yourself but for me, even after this much insult and attack! Don't know what sin I have committed that my father failed to see your goodness!"

Yudhishthira's smile faded.

"Don't keep bitterness for him, Devi! At the end of everything, he is a father! And nothing can be greater blessing than having father above your head!" A sigh broke his heart.

Devika realized where he was hurt, and felt sorry for triggering that wound of him. She spoke nothing, only placed her hand near his heart, hoping to absorb his pain within herself.

"Devi, I believe Pita Govasana will accept me, one day!" He said in a consoling tone. "I can understand his worries regarding alliance. I hope I can remove them soon."

"You are too simple hearted, Natha!" Devika's eyes held pain. "It's not as easy as you think! Pita is always surrounded by selfish evils who will never let him see that Indraprastha's alliance is more beneficial for him."

"We shall do our best, Love." Yudhishthira said. "Everything will be fine. Just give Pita a little more time!" 

Devika sighed. "But I still don't..."

"Not anymore!" He shook his head, smiling. "We have united after so much of hardship. Will we keep talking only about these now?" His voice lowered to a whisper, avoiding his charioteer's earshot.

She blushed, noting the rare hint of mischief in his eyes. Their chariot ran through the banks of river Shatadru. Devika realized that she had just left her motherland behind them.

"There is still much time to reach Indraprastha. Let's cherish our first journey together, Devi!"

Devika finally smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Long journey of togetherness is still ahead, Natha!" She closed her eyes in contentment.
_________________________________________

Author's note:

1. This entire swayamvara track is based on two things. First, Mahabharata says she chose Yudhishthira willingly in her swayamvara. Second, Mahabharata scholar Jijith Nadumuri's research where he deduced that Yudhishthira might have abducted Devika against Govasana's wish. I combined these two and made my version. _justloveharry_33 helped me a lot in combining them, as I discuss all my findings about PandavaPatnis with her. Having said that, this particular version of Devika swayamvara belongs to me and no one else is allowed to copy the same. 

2. I find Devika's life matching a lot with that of Goddess Sati so I used her analogy just as an example. It's not to offend anyone. According to few Puranas, Yudhishthira was Shivansha (even Yama is) and Dhumorna was equated with Goddess Kaalratri (one of Navadurgas). Maybe they had an aavesha of Shiva Parvati within.

3. This book will end after 2-3 more chapters, that is, YuVika wedding. Everyone is invited to attend it!