Indraprastha, dawn

"Maharaj, this letter is only for you." The messenger bowed.

Yudhishthira exhaled. He was waiting for this only. The messenger was from Shivi, as he was told.

As he handed over the scroll to him, the King of Indraprastha looked at the messenger with compassion. His eyes had signs of spending sleepless night, yet his face had a smile of satisfaction. Seemed like he had travelled the whole night.

"Thank you, Doot." Yudhishthira softly said. "You must have taken great risk to bring it here."

The messenger joined hands. "Don't thank me, Maharaj! I feel honoured to become a part of this. Our Rajkumari said that if the aim of this letter succeeds, Shivi will be safe. All I'm doing is for my land! And for her too, the Princess who has protected us since years."

The King smiled. "Blessed she is to receive such a love from you all. Take some rest here and then return safely! Your efforts won't go in vain."

"Hail Dharmaraj!" The messenger bowed. The King asked his guards to send the messenger to royal guest house. After they left, Yudhishthira opened the letter. Shivi's pigeon seal adorned the bottom of it, with signature of the Princess herself.

Maharaj Ajatashatru,

I love this new name of yours! This name, given by your subjects, effortlessly brings you closer to all commoners' hearts. I address you thus today, since I'm not writing to you as a Princess now but as a commoner only.

Dharmaraj! I seek justice to you! I am a maiden of your country who is being used as a pawn in political game by her father. I have not given the freedom of choosing my groom in my own swayamvara. My varmaala is being forced to adorn an unworthy neck I don't want to marry.

Ajatashatru, I heard you never let them go empty-handed who seek shelter to you. I, the Princess of Shivi, seek your protection today with all my heart and soul. Save me from Jayadratha's hand, Maharaj! Come and take me away from here! Take me where my soul belongs to!

My father will never send an invitation to you. And I know that without invitation, you will never come. Hence I follow the same way that Dwarakeshwari Rukmini herself has shown to all women of Bharatavarsha. I myself give you the invitation to attend my swayamvara! Come here on the next Purnima, when Shravanaa nakshatra arises. Let that auspicious day unite us!

Do not delay, Natha! I shall be waiting!

- yours forever,
Devika Gauvasani

Yudhishthira smiled, his fingers caressed the place where she had written her name. As if he was feeling her finger's touch!

"I am coming, Devika!" He whispered.

"Hail Dharmaraj!" The guard bowed. "Dwarakadheesh has come!"

Yudhishthira looked up, a little surprised. Shouldn't Krishna be in Shivi by now? Why did he come here?

"Get him seated in the meeting room." He ordered. "I'm reaching in a while."

Changing his morning Puja attire, when Yudhishthira finally got to reach the meeting room, he found Draupadi was having a good banter with Krishna and Mitravinda.

"Keshava! You... without any news?" Yudhishthira had curve on his tranquil brow.

"Jyeshtha, I never knew that I need to give prior notice to come here!" Krishna pouted.

"Not like that, Govinda." Yudhishthira patted his little brother. "You are always welcome to Indraprastha. I was just worrying whether everything is fine in Dwaraka."

"See, Sakhi!" Mitravinda complained. "Jyeshtha doesn't even look at me when his brother is here!"

"But I know that it makes you happier only, Mitra! Does it not?" Yudhishthira smiled a teasing smile.

Draupadi giggled. "I have no say between you siblings! Rather let me send a word to the kitchen for preparing your favourite dishes."

"No Sakhi, wait!" Krishna raised his palm. "We won't stay here for long. Need to reach Shivi soon."

"Shivi?" Draupadi's eyebrow raised.

"We are going to attend Devika's swayamvara." Mitravinda explained.

"I see. But Sakhi, the way from Dwaraka to Shivi doesn't have Indraprastha on the way." Draupadi stared at her. "Why did you come so far?"

Yudhishthira turned grave, now realizing why they had come here. He felt uneasy in front of Draupadi.

"Sakhi Krishnaa, sometimes the path of heart doesn't take a direct way." Mitravinda replied, sideglancing on Yudhishthira who avoided her gaze.

"As usual, I never understand you eight and your husband!" Draupadi rolled her eyes, shrugging.

"Well, I'm telling." Krishna came forward. "The date of Devika's swayamvara has been fixed on..."

"You call it a swayamvara, Govinda?" Yudhishthira cut him off. His serene eyes had flash of anger which was so rare in him.

"It's a farce! The same injustice is going to repeat that happened with Mitra too." Yudhishthira breathed heavily. "The Shaivyas aren't letting their daughters choose their husbands!"

"How did you know, Jyeshtha?" Krishna patiently asked, looking through his eyes.

Embarrassed, Yudhishthira looked away. Such an outburst should not have happened!

"But yes, you know it right. Devika is being a victim of Shivi's political disturbance." Krishna sighed. "They want her to garland Jayadratha, Shivi's overlord."

Yudhishthira's fists curled around the corner of his throne. His golden face had turned crimson.

"The only way left is to abduct her." Mitravinda looked meaningfully at Yudhishthira. "Just like Swami did with me."

"But there is a problem, Mitra." Krishna acted to look worried. "Our Devika loves such a peaceful man who has never abducted any woman till date. What will happen now?"

"Hmm. Serious problem, Swami." Mitravinda slowly nodded. "I think Govasana Kaka hasn't even invited him."

"Invitation?" Krishna laughed. "Does it really matter? Have I waited for invitations, most of my marriages would have never happened!" He again glanced meaningfully at Yudhishthira. "What say, Jyeshtha?"

A perplexed Yudhishthira listened to everything. He knew that Krishna and Mitravinda were trying to convince him for attending Devika's swayamvara. But he could not give them a positive reply. His eyes were on Draupadi. He knew that she was understanding almost everything, but was too regal to express it in front of all.

How would she take it?

"You didn't say anything, Jyeshtha?" Krishna shook his arm.

Yudhishthira sighed. "Invitation is not a problem, Krishna. Permission is! Let me get that first!"

***

Afternoon, Yudhishthira's chamber

"What happened to you, Maharaj?" Draupadi softly asked. "Since Sakha has left, you are not yourself!" She caressed his back. "Won't you tell me?"

Yudhishthira still stood back-facing her.

"I apologise to you, Maharani!" He slowly uttered.

"For?"

"I have hidden a truth from you since a year!" He closed his eyes. "But now I have to reveal it. Because I cannot take this step without your permission!"

Draupadi's red lips curved in a half-smile.

"Shivi Kumari loves you. This much only, right?"

Yudhishthira turned back in shock.

"Did she tell you that?" It slipped from his lips but the next moment he regretted asking, knowing well that Devika was equally regal not to confess this to Draupadi.

"Does a maiden need to tell me that she loves my husband? I have seen it myself. Whenever she looked at you, her eyes mirrored my own emotions!" Draupadi smiled more. "I knew it from the very day when I first met her. And now I also know that the feeling is mutual."

Yudhishthira lowered his eyes.

"Forgive me, Krishnaa! I didn't want to hurt you."

"Hurt?" She sighed. "Both you and Devika suffered all the pain alone, just to save me from the pain, right? Both of you stayed away from each other only for me! What did you think? Your Krishnaa will be happy to see you two in sorrow?"

Yudhishthira sighed, biting his lips. He knew he deserved to hear this from her today.

"Devika might not know me. But you do, Swami! How could you think that your Queen is so weak? Didn't I accept Vijaya? Don't I love Hidimbaa? Why would I discriminate with you then?"

"I am sorry, Kalyani!" He apologized again. "I vowed to share my everything with you. Forgive my failure to do that."

She held his arm, shaking her head. "Don't be sorry, Natha. I understand how much you care for my emotions. It's not your fault to love Devika. She deserves you. If I have done tapasya in my past birth to get you as my husband, she has completed hers in this birth itself! You have to give her the reward of her hard penance!"

Yudhishthira looked up. She was smiling now.

"Krishnaa! Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt. You wanted my permission. I give you that, Maharaj. Go, rescue Devika from that undeserving family!" The Queen of Indraprastha uttered her consent. Her King silently kept watching the regal aura that made him respect her even more.

"I'll be waiting to welcome my sister!"
___________________________________________

Author's note:

Devi Rukmini is considered to be the inventor of first love letter in India. Hence, Devika mentioned to follow her footprints here.

The YuDi scene of this chapter was something I had dreamt one year ago and longed to pen the same for this book. This scene is slightly inspired from Saiswaroopa Iyer's Abhaya where Mitravinda tells Krishna a similar thing. The words used here are definitely mine. But the idea came from that book.

So, next is swayamvara!