When the chariot reached the palace of Dwaraka, the sun was already above the head. Devika did not fail to notice that the chariot wheels touched the ground as soon as the charioteer left the reins.

This was what she was waiting to see. Now it had been confirmed that the magic did not lie with the chariot but the person himself.

Mesmerized at everything she had observed in him so far, Devika wanted to invite him to the palace of Dwaraka. It would be unfair if she could not make this man meet Krishna at least once!

"You have saved my life!" She voiced her wish, "I would like to introduce you to my family." She paused a little to gauge his reaction. Assuming agreement from his calm smile she added, "I hope you have no objection in this!"

Even before the man replied, a cheerful voice was heard, "What a pleasant surprise! You have come!"

"Yuyudhana Satyaki!" Said he with a smile, "how have you been?"

Devika raised her eyebrow. Satyaki, one of the closest friends of her Bhrata Krishna, was known to this person? But how? Who was he?

But the actual surprise was still awaiting her.

"Jyeshtha!" Four happy voices exclaimed simultaneously. Four mighty warriors rushed as if forgetting everything else around them, to be in his arms sooner! The young man opened his arms, his eyes brimming over affection for the four. Soon crossing the stairs of palace the four Pandavas reached him and embraced him so tightly that it felt like as if he was the comforting shelter they had been seeking for!

Speechless, Devika stood where she was, as if in a trance.

This was their eldest brother? The eldest Pandava? The very Kuru Yuvaraja she had longed to meet! The person for whom she had been thinking since a week was now in front of her!

"See! These Princes could not even give me the slightest chance to surprise them!" Satyaki grinned, "don't know how you five brothers can sense each other's presence even from few yojanas!"

"Sakha says we are one soul in five bodies!" Arjuna smiled, "isn't it natural then, Satyaki?"

"I know right?" The son of Satyaka smiled, nodding in agreement. "But will you be standing over here only? Madhava will be eagerly waiting to meet Yuvaraja Yudhishthira."

The five nodded as they entered. Devika too followed them from a distance, still half lost in her trance.

***

"We were waiting so eagerly for you, Jyeshtha! Hope everything is solved there in Hastinapura!" Krishna said, after embracing Yudhishthira lovingly.

"For the time being, yes." Nodded the Crown Prince, "but not sure about their future plans! Vidura Kaka is there to look after everything, but," his tranquil brow had curves, "I fear he too might get harmed by their people!"

"Worry not!" Krishna gently placed His palm over his to comfort him. "All will be well. Those who do good to others never suffer for long! Kaka will be safe there!"

They continued talking. Devika felt uneasy. She knew that she must go to Antahpura now while the others were talking here. But she hesitated in doing so without taking leave from them. They seemed too busy in their talks to even remember her presence there! Should she disturb them in between and ask for their permission to leave?

"But Kanha," she heard Balarama, "I have a question!"

"Yes, Dau?" Krishna's facial expressions changed immediately into a mischievous one.

"How come Jyeshtha Bhrata and our Devika arrived together?" Balarama looked at Krishna.

"Only they can tell that, Dau! Devi, where did you meet Jyeshtha?" Krishna's casual question embarrassed Devika as she felt everyone in the room had shifted their curious eyes to her.

"At Somnath temple, Bhrata." She somehow managed to speak, still sensing a certain pair of brown eyes fixed on her.

Why did the aura of his gaze feel so different from that of the others? Devika wondered why her heart stared beating faster.

Yudhishthira's eyes were locked on the Princess of Shivi. The courage and valour she had shown just a while ago could not help but amaze the Kuru Yuvaraja. Her caring concern to that helpless Brahmin had stuck a chord in him.

Something he could truly relate with! Something he himself would have done for his subjects, anytime!

Who was she? Yudhishthira felt curious, but could not express it. Seeing the awestruck condition of both, Krishna and Balarama exchanged glances, laughing hard within their minds.

"Let me introduce. Jyeshtha, she is Devika, the Princess of Shivi dynasty, Rukmini's friend and our sisterly shishyaa. And Devi, he is our eldest cousin, Yuvaraja Yudhishthira."

The eldest Pandava joined his hands to greet the Princess of Shivi. Devika reciprocated the same.

"Pranam Dwarakadheesh!" A palace-guard hurried in. "News has come that some robbers have tried to intrude in Somnatha temple recently."

"Again?" Satyaki rose on to his feet, "what harm they have done, Pratikami?" Anger flashed in his eyes.

"No harm has befallen on the temple, Kumar." The guard informed, "local people said that an unknown warrior had fought with the robbers singlehandedly and successfully drove them away. They had witnessed a woman too helping that warrior, carrying a trishula in her hand."

"Someshwara and Someshwari Themselves have protected Their palace!" Krishna smiled, "but the robbers must be searched out to prevent such incidents in future." He looked at the guard, "Pratikami, go and tell the Nagarpala to meet us soon."

Bowing, the guard left. Devika could not help casting a surprised glance on Yudhishthira. He did not even seem interested in revealing that it was he only who defeated the group of robbers! Did he have no wish of getting appreciated too? She wondered at first. But the next moment made her realize that her thought was invalid here. The person who could jump into the danger of others putting aside his royal identity could not be expected to have even a little ego. Maybe this much humility was possible only for such a man!

"Dau, Madhava, I think we need to sit together for discussing this matter." Satyaki sounded worried, "Such attacks are happening again and again. We now really need to take some strict action."

"I agree, Satyaki." Balarama nodded, "let us all go to the meeting chamber to talk with the Nagarpala." He looked at the four younger Pandavas, "you too come with us. But let's not trouble Jyeshtha Bhrata with this! He has come just now after a long journey. He needs some rest first." He smiled at Krishna knowingly, while the other four Pandavas and Satyaki nodded in agreement.

"This is not fair, Balarama!" Yudhishthira protested in his own gentle way. "Why are you being so formal with me?"

"Because you have not yet gone inside to meet Bhabhi and your sisters, Mitra and Bhadra." Krishna innocently reminded, "Rukmini and Satrajiti too are eagerly waiting to meet you for the first time. Do you have an idea about how angry they will get with us if we drag you to the meeting room before spending some time with them?"

Yudhishthira could not help smiling, remembering the women he dearly loved as his little sisters but also revered as forms of JagatJanani. He nodded, accepting their wish.

"You go and meet them," said Balarama, putting an arm lovingly on Yudhishthira's shoulder, "we shall let you know about our decisions after the lunch. Devi," his eyes then fell on her, "take Jyeshtha to the inner chambers."

Devika nodded. "Come, Yuvaraj!" She respectfully addressed Yudhishthira. The two mischievous brothers watched them leaving the room together, and exchanged a smiling glance before proceeding to the meeting room. Satyaki and the four Pandavas looked at each other's face, wondering what amused Krishna and Balarama at this serious moment.

***

Devika led Yudhishthira towards Antahpura through the long corridor, with many thoughts flooding her mind. She wondered why Krishna and Balarama had created this situation for her. She had never been alone with a unknown or lesser known man thus. And both her Yadava brothers knew that well. Then why did they send her along with this Prince?

And more surprisingly, walking with a man she had just known did not make her feel uncomfortable even for a while. Rather it was a pleasing sensation for her heart, and for her eyes too that could not help stealing glances on his tranquil face time and again.

As if her soul had some unknown connection with him, which her heart had recognized but brain was still unable to remember!

"I think you are taking wrong direction, Rajkumari!" His calm voice gave her a pause. And then only she realized that he remained where he was, while she had taken a step ahead, mistakenly to the opposite of their destination.

"Sister Revati's chamber is on left side." He gently added. Devika bit her tongue within her mind before she turned round.

"Extremely sorry, Yuvaraj!" She was visibly embarrassed, "I have been unmindful for a while."

"It happens to everyone, Rajkumari. You need not be sorry for this." He smiled.

Devika lowered her eyelids. "I am already so much ashamed for making you hold the reins of my chariot, Yuvaraj! If you have told me at least once that..." Her words left unspoken out of embarrassment.

Smiling more, he shook his head, "A prince should not be ashamed to take the position of commoners, Rajkumari. The royals should not feel inferior to serve people, given that it is their Dharma decided by God Himself." Then his glance softened as he rested his large copper-hued eyes on her golden-hued face, "and I know that you too believe in the same. Being a Princess, the way you have put your own life at risk for an unknown person, has already spoken for that!"

Devika looked up to meet his serene gaze that showered admiration. Her doe eyes reciprocated the same to him, catching him unawares for a while.

At that very moment, both of them felt something that they had never experienced before. But both were equally unable to name that strange feeling.