Death rituals in Island were long and elaborated. Especially because it was Adrika. These rituals help the kingdom really get used to the fact of her demise. They had time to mourn her, see her and take part in her rituals. The wizards and warlocks played leading roles in these rituals. Although her elements died in her, they still perform a ritual to identify which element she was supposed to rest in. Turns out it was earth. Because Nakul's element was earth. Nakul was hysterical the day they left her in a flower bed.

"You left with all my will to live. But I will live. For our boys. For our Vriti. Because you raised them all these years alone. You made them these exceptional young people. Now I'll shape them. Guide them as you would have." He said planting a kiss on her forehead.

       Everyone came and paid their own respect in their way. First family. Then the court members. The visitors and guests. Then the general public. At the end it was Dhritarashtra. He sat with her feelings her arm and face with shooking sobs.

"Adrika!!! Meri putri. How can I start apologizing? But you giving me a purpose to live the rest of my life is more than I could ask and more than I deserve. I'll train and make the heir to the throne worthy of being your successor Putri. I promise that." He said sobbing.

      The young princes looked at each other on that. Specially Vritika. She looked at Aadi who was just stoic. She couldn't believe their mother left training them in the hand of someone who in her eyes had grudges against them. Aadi was unmoved by everything. She seeks refuge in her eldest brother's gaze. When she looked away from her twin she found Prithvi's assuring eyes on her. Aadi on the other hand was completely oblivious to whatever happened around him. His eyes were fixed on her mother's beautiful face. With his mind somewhere else he pulled whoever holds his arm to his chest. Shain looked up to their prince's face when he hugged her, still smoldering, like an angry panther. Scared and sad she slowly lowered her head to snuggle in, not caring for people watching would be a task. She was with him all throughout the rituals. Doing it. Helping him. Making him. At some point Aadi grabbed her arm which was injured making her wince.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked.

"Nothing my Prince. I'm alright." She said slightly turning red. Aadi looked around.

"Rituals here are over. Let's go I'll re-dress that wound. I think I ripped some stitches." He said noticing some blood on her ivory dress

"Everyone is praying for your mother's soul. You shouldn't leave." She said shocked.

"Everyone is already praying. They don't need us. Come." He said dragging her away with him.

       They reached his room which Shain didn't see before. She looked around the luxurious room but was simply decorated. Not much furniture either. Just a bed and one sitter by the window.

"Where do you sit?" She asked

"On the floor." Aadi answered rummaging through his things to find some items to stitch her wound. "You sit by the window." She obeyed.

"Her grace was like a mother to me as.." Aadi stopped her by rising an arm.

"Shain if you want to talk then talk about something else. I don't want to talk about mumma right now." He sat down with her. Without a word or ask of permission he held her arm and started undoing the lace on her sleeve. Shain was shocked yet a current ran through her the moment he held her arm. But she focused on something else.

"My prince.. you have to talk about her. I know the wound is fresh but still if you keep it hidden it will infect"

"Shut up before I make you.."

"Aadi your moth..."

      This time Aadi didn't bothered to ask her to stop talking. His lips on hers did the trick. Shain didn't think he would do that. If it was anyone else she would have drawn her weapons. But it was the prince and the boy she has been dreaming since that day in the war. Their first kiss would happen this soon and in this condition was unthinkable. Yet she gave in to him. She knew things won't be perfect with him. The prince being infamous for not having much feelings. She was content that he was atleast thinking about her.

     She would be far from truth. Aadi inspite of what he was doing was far away from thinking about her. His mind was stuck on the feeling he had while the last rituals were happening. An empty feeling. He couldn't connect to her mother's soul. Like Adrika wasn't present in the soul stream. He knew something odd was happening but couldn't point out what. When Shain moved closer circling her arm around his neck he was aware what was happening. He had to stop her. She ran away shortly, thanks heavens for that he didn't had to explain himself to her. But someone else did ask for some explanation.

"Aadi, what's going on with you.. why you are being cut-off from everyone?" Basudev Krishn asked this entering his chambers.

"I'm fine Mamashree. I just need some time alone to think."

"About what?"

"Mumma's soul. I didn't saw her. Feel her in soul stream."

"We can talk about it later."

"You can't lie Mamashree. You know her soul isn't there."

"Son. We will talk about it later. Let's go. We are buring lights for her. Your absence will raise questions. Let's go." Aadi broke his arm free from his Mamashree's hands and yelled,

"And do what Mamashree.. I know her spirit isn't there. I know the lights aren't going to eliminate her soul. She is somewhere else. Stuck. Hurt. Scared. I can feel it. She is in so much pain. Until I find out I can't just sit here and pretend that I didn't know. That's why I didn't feel anything."

             This went on for rest of the rituals and beyond. Aadi barely came out. Never stayed long with them. All the pleading from Vriti and Uttara was fall on deaf ears. Last he came out for long was the day after all the ceremony was over. This was the first day of normalcy. First time they had time to see who all are present around them. Except for Uloopi, Subhadra and Droupadi , queen Devika of Kashi was also present along side with Rani Vijaya. Their sons were there too. They didn't share as much close bond as all of them but they did all that was expected from them as sons and brothers. Youdheya actually helped Prativindhya in setting some rules and rituals to make things smooth. All the queen's met the children one by one. Shared their experiences and memories with Adrika. They got to know Adrika kept in touch with everyone. Island sent gifts of rare food, art and medicines to all of them. They knew a lot about her and the Island despite barely seen her and never visited Island before. Subhadra and Uloopi had their own mannor inside the palace. Subhadra who had already decided that she would stay in the island sent them to meet Uloopi first.

      Uloopi's mansion was near the lake. It was extremely modest and was very quiet. When they reached the mannor she was waiting for them with food ready and with pleasant smile. This was the first time they were meeting her one on one. After formal greeting.

"I have always been the outsider in the family. None of the family members say it but I felt it. So I asked Subhadra to sent you to me last so that all the other sisters don't have any issues with this and I would be able to feed you. Come..." She hold Aadi and Srutakarma by arm and proceed to walk towards the food spread. "Eat something. I know it's been a long day."

"You are not outsider mata. Maa loved you and we all too. Iravan was our brother. No one can change that." Prativindhya said sitting down.

"I know. Adrika was the only one who constantly wrote to me. Fill me up with news about everyone. I wanted to see her again. Hug her again. I promised her I'll be a mother to you all how she was for Iravan. And I'll do that." Uloopi said serving food.

"Maa..??" Aadi was the one to ask first.

"I left Naglok for good. I will remain here for whatever left of my life." She said making a morsel for him. She rose her hand to feed him. With a look of understanding Aadi ate it.

"Are you sure Mata? You can go to Indraprastha with kakashree Arjun if you want?" Prativindhya asked.

"The perfect eldest son! I know you have been asking Subhadra the same thing but son, we both decided to stay. Long ago. Yesterday we just informed each other the same." She explained holding Prativindhya's arm slightly.

"It's better that Maa and Maasi stay with us. Baba is still in shock. We can't relay on him to run the island right now. Although Jyesth have experience in running a provence, Island is different so he will get all the help he needs. Both political from maasi and supernatural from maa." Vriti said. They all silently considered her words then looked at Prativindhya for final verdict.

"Uchit hai. Then you and Maasi should join the court as soon as possible. I want Noah to be my personal advisor his installation is due as well." He said to Uloopi.

"The wolf boy?" She asked making him nod. "You do have a good eye when it comes to people my son. He is a competent worker and a stable mind."

       They all focused on food after that. It's still a struggle for them but looking at the work Uloopi put in making that meal just for them they felt obliged to eat. Prithvi noticed Sutosom only ate a lotus flower soup which she made to calm their minds. He didn't touched anything else on his plate. The eldest Upapandava knew he had to talk to them. When they bid goodbye to Uloopi he asked his brother to accompany him. While walking through the garden he had that chat.

"Som I'm your eldest. Not just your but everyone's. As Maa always said the firstborns are always born with a sense of parents. But I dared say we never had that equation. We shared a more profound bond of friendship than brotherhood. I never ordered any of you. Or never I intend to. But looking at the circumstances right now if I have you I will order you to eat." Prithvi said not beating around the bush.

"You are right. You never ordered us anything as an older brother. But ordering us to do things that you think is normal isn't the solution to it. I will eat if you order me jyesth but to what use.. It's not going to cure me is it? We all lost our will to continue without Maa. Can you fulfill that void in our lives? " Som being the softest and easiest among them, his question carry more weight than others.

"I know this void can never be filled, Som. You are also right that we lost our will to continue. But brother we need to find it. For Maa's sake. She is gone. She died protecting us. It will be an insult to her sacrifice, her memories if we do not lead the life she gave us the way we always planned with her. She didn't just give us life, Som, she also gave us independence, to choose for us, do things that we want to do not what is expected of us. Don't you think we need to respect that?" Som sat under a tree not saying anything else. So prithvi continued.

"I know Som, Maa was the same for all of us. My Almighty knows that no one loved her more than me. But we cannot match the things Aadi and Vriti lost. They are the one who lost everything because they never had anyone else in their lives. We had relatives. Fathers. But Maa was everything to them. Kakasri Nakul can't be the father he needs to be right now. He is wounded. His body might be alright but his soul is shattered. He is trying but Aadi and Vriti can see directly past his facade smile. They can't be vulnerable in front of them neither can he in front of them. They all are protecting each other so somebody needs to protect them from themselves. And as their jyesth. As Maa's eldest son I need to do that. Som if not an order, a plea then. Can I rely on you to be by me.. Can I expect you to take care of other brothers so I can fulfill my duty as the eldest Adrikeya..?" Som sighed and gave out a laugh.

"Maa loved you most Prithvi.. You were so busy loving her that you didn't see her love. You always made sure that she knew about your love... Now I know why.. She knew you are not only the eldest but strongest among us. She saw herself in you. She left us in your hands. Congratulations brother she actually thought of you to step into her role to take care of everyone and I would be honored to help you in this." He said looking at his brother.

"Thank you som.. I knew I can count on you."

An
It's been long. I know. But I want some patience from my readers. My life is going through something else right now. So my books are getting neglected.

Have fun.

Love
Pragyna