Kampilya, past midnight

Draupadi's sleep broke abruptly. She had sensed the sudden absence of Yudhishthira's warm embrace. Something that was so unusual from him.

Her eyes moved around. There he was, standing beside the window, staring at the half-clouded moon. Draupadi rose and slowly approached him.

"Natha!" She warmly held his arm.

Yudhishthira's gaze came down to her face.

"Krishnaa!" He felt slightly embarrassed to see her awake due to him. "You didn't sleep?"

"Can sleep come to me when it doesn't come to you, Swami?" She smiled, putting her both arms on his shoulder to make him face her. "What bothers you?"

Yudhishthira could not look into her eyes. Her loving caress and caring concern made guilt overtake him.

How would he tell her what he was thinking?

In these past six months after their marriage, he had been torn between responsibility and guilt. It was not like that he felt responsible to Draupadi and guilty to Devika, his first love. But it was an unbelievably equal feeling for both the women. He felt equally responsible for both. And again felt equally guilty for not fulfilling those responsibilities to both. He found his life in such a complex paradox where responsibility to one seemed to be injustice to the other!

Yudhishthira knew well that someone in the distant Shivi could not sleep in night, shedding silent tears only for him! He also knew how much it hurt his Krishnaa to see him in worries, in pain! He did not want any of the two women in grief. Yet he could not help it!

Draupadi's overwhelming, all-fulfilling love had brought never-ending bliss in Yudhishthira's life. Her admiration made him stronger, her support made him more confident about his future. Her love had filled his body and mind with an unearthly fragrance. But within all these conjugal pleasure, Devika's unseen pain ached his soft heart like a sharp thorn. And it did cause his heart-blood.

The happier he felt, more did it seem that his happiness was coming in cost of Devika's teardrops. On the other hand, the more his heart cried for Devika, he felt guiltier for not giving himself fully to Draupadi.

Where was the end of this painful dilemma?

"Natha?" Draupadi gently nudged him again. "Won't you tell me?"

"Just some unpleasant thoughts that never leave me, Krishnaa." He managed to utter, sighing.

Speaking entire truth was not possible. Neither could he lie to her!

Draupadi slowly nodded. "I think I know the reason." She softly uttered, her features turning grave.

A shocked Yudhishthira stared at her. What did she know?

"What?" He held his breath.

"You miss your home. Your family in Hastinapura. Don't you?" She gauged his expression.

Yudhishthira sighed in relief.

"I know it hurts!" Draupadi softly said again. "It has been over six months since they have learnt about your existence and marriage. Still no one yet cared to call you back home!" She let out a sigh.

Yudhishthira faked a smile.

"Was it ever a home for us, Krishney?" The pain in his brown eyes was visible even in this soft moonlight.

"Had it been a home, we would not have to end up in a house of lac! Neither would we have to live in disguise for years!" He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Rather the forest of Rakshasas was a much more loving home than that palace where we have no one except Pitamaha and Vidura Kaka!"

"And the subjects of Hastinapura?" Draupadi stared meaningfully at him. "Are they not yours, Natha?"

Yudhishthira looked up to her.

"I know what they have done to you. Still, that is Pita Pandu's land, Swami! You have your duties there! And you have to return there for their sake!"

The Kuru Yuvaraj smiled. He had found the one whose thoughts and missions were just like him!

And just like her! The one in Shivi!

"I also know that you don't need me to remind you of your responsibilities, Yuvaraj." She smiled a little.

"Who says I don't?" Yudhishthira wrapped his arms around Draupadi. "You are the one I need the most, Priye! There might be times when I might forget my duties but you won't. I need you to hold my hand at those moments!" Yudhishthira gently cupped her blue-black face, glowing like Neelakanta Mani in the soft moonlight.

"Promise me, Krishney, you won't leave me even when the whole world does!"

Draupadi smiled, placing her palm over his. "You trust me, don't you?"

"At this moment there is none other than you whom I can trust! Kalyani, you don't know what a power you have brought for me! For all of us!"

"If it is so, then listen to me!" Draupadi sweetly pleaded. "Come to bed and catch some sleep! Who will fulfill the duties if you fall sick?" Her eyebrows danced as she grinned. "At least for the sake of your people, you have to be well!"

Yudhishthira's heart skipped a beat.

Devika too once had said the same words! On their last meeting!

How can these two women understand and love him so identically? How can their thoughts match so surprisingly?

As if they are not two but one! Different forms of same person!

Yudhishthira let Draupadi lead him to their bed. He fell asleep in her arms with much comfort, after a long time.

***

Next morning

"Kaka Vidura has come!"

Yudhishthira's serene face glowed in unspoken delight that gladdened Draupadi's heart. How long she had craved to see this happy smile on his handsome face!

"Go Pratikami! Tell Maharaj that I shall be there soon in his meeting room." Yudhishthira said to the guard.

"May I also join you?" Draupadi held his arm.

"Do you need my permission to take blessings from Kaka?" He smiled. "Come! He will be so glad to see you!"

The newly wedded couple came out of their bed chamber to reach Drupada's sabha griha. The other Pandavas along with Draupadi's brothers and Krishna were already present there. Vidura had brought lots of gifts for Draupadi and Pandavas, which Drupada accepted formally.

With all the reverence in his heart, Yudhishthira submitted himself at Vidura's feet. Draupadi too touched his feet with same feeling of gratitude. She knew that Vidura was the person without whom her husbands would not have been alive today!

"Saubhagyavati bhava!" Vidura raised his daughter-in-law with a smile.

"Maharaj Drupada!" Vidura turned to the King. "This kula Lakshmi of our clan now needs to set her auspicious feet on Hastinapura, to bring welfare to the land of her in-laws! Hence, I request you to give the permission!"

"My daughter has become Kurus' on the very day when I gave her away to the hands of Pandavas, Mahamantri!" Drupada smiled. "Rather I have been waiting to hear from her marital home since these past six months. What made Hastinapura send this message so late?" He paused and observed Vidura's reaction for a while. "Aren't the Kurus willing enough to welcome their sons and the new bride?"

Vidura's smile fainted. "There is a lot within this, Maharaj. And I know that you can guess it."

The King's face changed colour.

"Mahamantri Vidura! May I ask you whether the Kuru King has said anything about returning Yudhishthira's crown to him?"

Vidura chose to be silent. The unspoken anguish on his face pained Yudhishthira.

"That means even the Kuru elders are unwilling to return Pandavas their rights?" Drupada's jaws gritted. "And what about their lives? Does King Dhritarashtra give the guarantee that my sons-in-law won't face anymore life threat in his palace?"

"Pita, I think we should..." Yudhishthira tried to speak, concerned for Vidura.

Drupada raised a hand. "Let me handle this!"

"Pita, I was just saying that..."

"Stop taking every single stress on yourself from now on, child!" Drupada beamed at him. "Forget not, now you have a father! I may not fulfill Sakha Pandu's void in your heart, but at least I can take the responsibilities that he could have done. Leave this to me!"

Yudhishthira's eyes got moist. Such a touch of father's love was so rare for him! He bowed to Drupada, accepting his wish with a nod.

"Mahamantri!" Drupada turned again to Vidura. "I know these questions are too unpleasant and uneasy for you. But I need to know these before sending my daughter and sons-in-law to that place where they have faced multiple murder attempts!" His voice softened a little then. "And I'm not asking this to the Kuru Mahamantri. I'm asking Pandavas' dear uncle. Tell me, Vyasa Putra! Is Hastinapura safe for them now?"

"Who can dare to harm the allies of powerful Panchalas, Maharaj?" Vidura beamed now, his worry had vanished.

"Your concern for the Pandavas gladdens me, Lord of Panchala! I'm thankful to you for loving my nephews like your own sons!!" He added, "There is no doubt that having you above their heads, they have no fear from anyone anymore. Know that when Dharma joins power, adharma automatically backs away in fear."

"Kaka is right, Maharaj." Krishna nodded with smile on his face. "Stay without a worry and arrange for their journey to Hastinapura."

"But Vaasudeva, what about getting back their rights?" Drupada turned to Krishna. "What if King Dhritarashtra again listens to his firstborn and doesn't give Yudhishthira's crown back?"

"I second Pita." Dhrishtadyumna's brow had curves. "My beloved sister was born to become a Queen! She cannot be inferior to Duryodhana's wife thus!"

"You think too much too early!" Krishna laughed, shaking his head. "Why are you assuming that Pandavas would get nothing? The present situation is favourable for them. Let's wait and see what the Kuru King decides. But for that, they have to return first."

Draupadi's lips curved as she exchanged glance with Krishna. Her intelligent Sakha knew well how to manage her father and brothers!

Krishna also looked at Draupadi and smiled. "Also, I have a request to you, Maharaj!" He said to Drupada. "If you have no objection, I would like to accompany Sakhi Krishnaa and my cousins to their home, along with Dau."

Krishna's assuring smile made Drupada sigh in relief.

"Thank you so much, Vaasudeva!" He said, holding Krishna's shoulder. "I believe that you are the greatest well-wisher of Pandavas, even more than myself and Mahamantri Vidura!"

He glanced at the Pandavas and Draupadi once, and then added, "I'm sending them on your advice, knowing that you will never let any harm befall them! Take care of them as you have always done!"
__________________________________________

Author's note: What do you think will happen next?

Anyone wants a surprise meeting between the two DharmaPriyaas? Something a bit unusual and, maybe suspense-packed?