It was very easy to like Subhadra and terribly hard to dislike her without feeling like a nasty person.

With her big doe eyes and dainty features, Subhadra was like a cool gentle breeze on a summer day, the fragrant flowers of spring, a midnight monsoon shower with a warm smile that could chase away the coldest of winters. She was always eager to help, appease all the children in the palace and good natured.

Abhijishya had only spent time with her a handful of times after she had come back from kanyashram and exchanged pleasantries over letters occassionally. Upon meeting her for the first time, Abhijishya had felt a sense of caution. It was similar to looking at the calm surface of a lake and not knowing how deep you could sink.
Somedays Abhijishya almost doubted her own memories regarding the traps of illusions she had encountered upon her first visit to Dwarka. How could such a sincere innocent person embody the Goddess of Maya?

Gopal had told her some outworldly things that time. Apparently Abhijishya also embodied some divine being. These years didn't make her feel any different than a regular human so Abhijishya had let it go. The concept of the divine was not suited for her mental capacity. Most days she struggled to see Krishna, Balram and Rukmini as the divine beings they were. To her, they were her family who cherished her, gave her advise when asked and loved her.

Yet for Subhadra, Abhijishya was never able to overcome her instinct completely. Over time, the sweet nature of her little sister suppressed her sense of caution. Abhijishya stayed a tad distant but quite protective of the youngest Yadu sibling.

"Jiji, what are you thinking so much about?" Abhijishya blinked, looking up to see Subhadra's curious gaze directed at her through the mirror.

"Yes, Abhijishya. You have been fiddling with those jewels for far too long. Is something troubling you?" Devaki asked concerned.

"Nothing, Mata," Abhijishya shook her head, smiling involuntarily at Devaki's worry. "I think I am a bit overwhelmed with the rush of things since last night. Here, I think this emerald studded Mathapatti would compliment the red of her wedding attire." She came over to show them the jewellery.

"Jiji, won't you put it on me yourself? Please hear this sister's request," Subhadra implored, her lips pouting out a little.

Abhijishya tapped her head lightly and chuckled. "You have been doing this since the beginning, Subhadra. I have been embellishing you entirely one jewel at a time."

"It is because she is bored of the affections of her Bhabishrees, Abhijishya. Whenever you come in Dwarka, it is always jiji this and jiji that. It is almost like we fade somewhere in the background," Mitravinda spoke as she meticulously adjusted the pleats of Jambavati.

"It is definitely not so," Subhadra protested. "Jiji doesn't get as many opportunities as you all to shower me in affections. It is only fair I let her do so whenever she comes to Dwarka."

"But our darling will be going off to Indraprastha with her jiji. After that, we will be yearning to shower you in our affections Subhi," Rukmini said as she squeezed Subhadra's shoulder.

Even amidst the air of joyous celebrations, the silence which followed Rukmini's words was filled with heartache. Marriage of a daughter was indeed bittersweet.

Subhadra sniffled as a few stray tears escaped her eyes.

Mata Rohini rebuked Rukmini softly, "Look what you have done now. You made my daughter cry before Vidaai. It is not like we won't see her again. Our Abhijishya comes to meet us once a year."

"As if once a year is enough," Satyabhama scoffed, trying to discretely dry her cheeks. "Very soon Indraprastha will have two Yadu daughters. They better visit often or I shall send a strongly worded letter to Rajkumar Arjun and Rajkumar Nakul."

Subhadra giggled at Satyabhama's mock threat and the mood lightened a little. It was then Lakshmana came rushing in, announcing the bride was called.

After that it was a whirlwind of action. Mitravinda retouched Subhadra's kajal a bit. Rukmini was already on her way to enquire whether everything that was needed for the rituals was perfectly arranged for the umpteenth time followed by Jambavati. Mata Rohini, Revati, Kalindi, Nagnajiti and Bhadra were no doubt minding the children. Abhijishya found herself following Mata Devaki and Mitravinda as they made their way to the venue.

"Maa," Abhijishya paused midway as a voice which definitely sounded like her daughter whisper-yelled at her.

True to her belief, her daughter stood behind a pillar concealed from sight. Abhijishya was exasperated. "What are you doing here, Anvi? Weren't you supposed to be with Charu?"

"I know! I know! I am sorry! We just heard some maids talking about how Tatashree eloped with Masi because he was smitten-"

"Eloped? Smitten-?! Where are you hearing all this-" Abhijishya asked, slowly losing her patience.

"Forgive me, Mata! But I am speaking as I heard and well, they were saying how smitten Tatashree must have been to elope with Masi at first glance and I didn't understand so I asked Charu didi. She explained. Did you know Tatashree kidnapped Masi? Masi didn't choose Tatashree to marry her. And when I asked Mamashree if he knew that Tatshree eloped with Masi without Masi knowing so, he said yes!!-"

Every word out of Anvi's mouth was increasing the sense of dread in her. Abhijishya objectively did always teach her daughter about boundaries and consent from a young age and also advised her use whatever necessary means possible to get away from anyone who wanted to "elope" with her due to the Yuga they were living in however she never imagined Anvi to act so thoughtlessly without informing her first. "What did you do?" Each word was ground out through Abhijishya's teeth.

"Well, I might have taken the churamani," Anvi answered, slowly bringing out the churamani she had hidden behind the folds of her garment.

"I caught her taking the churamani and told her to place it back. Now she can't place it back because there are too many people," Saambh added, leaping down from somewhere above them. He looked almost excited about the circumstances.

Abhijishya bit down on her tongue as she barely managed to restrain a surprised yelp. "Where were you-?"

"I don't want to return it. Masi shouldn't be kidnapped into marriage," Anvi hissed at her cousin.

Abhijishya wanted to smack her forehead. More like vigorously shake some propriety into her daughter (ignoring the fact that perhaps her teen self would have done the same thing) and maybe thunk her own head against a wall. Her daughter was so sensible and troublesome that it would have made her proud if it weren't for the storm that was about to rise if the chudamani was discovered to be missing.

"Rajkumar Arjun asked Pitashree for Bua's hand before eloping. Even if he didn't, eloping is a tradition that many kings have followed and it aligns with the Dharma of Aryavarta," Saambh interjected.

"How would you like it if I asked- say Sumitra bharta- for your hand in marriage and kidnapped you?" Anvi retorted.

"You can't marry me. Why would you- Bua, look Anvi is speaking nonsense. It is the kshatriya warrior that elopes- and stop calling it kidnapping," Saambh frowned, placing his hands on his hips. "Atleast I had enough sense to bring you to Bua or else who knows what trouble you would have gotten upto."

Abhijishya narrowed her eyes, now feeling truly angry. "What is this I hear? Anvi, what were you planning to do after pulling such a stunt? In the midst of our relatives and several other guests, you stole your aunt's churamani. Did you even think what would your Masi feel when the wedding is paused? She has already accepted Bhrata Arjun as her husband."

"How do you know that?" Anvi spoke back with a rare defiance. "Maybe no one asked Subhi Masi and she is going through this wedding because it is tradition and everyone expects her to follow through this wedding. What if she is unhappy? Will you tell me to marry any stranger who kidnaps me?"

"No-" Abhijishya suddenly felt wrong footed and absolutely unprepared for this conversation. What was she supposed to say? I know this marriage has to happen because your mother is from the future where this marriage has already happened. If it doesn't happen then Abhimanyu would not be born and there will be no Parikshit which will be an absolute disaster as that would unknowingly wipe out who knows how many generations of people. It could also cripple Bharatvarsha. Gods, Abhijishya didn't know how to explain.

"You shouldn't speak to elders like that," Saambh scolded Anvi which only managed to ruffle the later's feathers further and they broke into another argument.

It was almost funny watching a miniature Krishna scolding and trying not to throw insults. Abhijishya would be laughing if her daughter wasn't holding a churamani which she stole to stop Subhadra and Arjun's wedding. Why in the heavens was Gopal allowing all this happen?

Abhijishya spotted a maid carrying a jug of wine and few cups on a tray and she stopped her. Then, she allowed herself to do the most necessary thing to preserve her sanity. She downed two cups of wine and asked the maid to call Charu.

Taking in two deep breaths, Abhijishya snapped at the bickering pair, "Silence, both of you. Anvi, I am very disappointed in you that you acted so impulsively. You should have had faith in your Mamashrees that they are letting this marriage happen. You should have had faith in me that I am going along with everything. I understand your concerns-"

Anvi opened her mouth to say something but Abhijishya raised her hand stopping her from interrupting. "I understand your concerns. However, you are in the wrong for making such a massive decision by yourself without thinking about the repercussions of your action. So as a lesson, you are going to fix this situation. Be it by honestly giving back the churamani infront of everyone and begging for forgiveness or be it slipping it back into it's previous position without anyone noticing, is upto you."

Saambh appeared satisfied as he nodded safely along with Abhijishya's words.

"And Saambh, you will help your younger cousin because it was your duty to rebuke her when you first noticed her taking the churamani which you failed to do. Now, both of you get the churamani in it's rightful place before the ritual of adorning churamani begins," Abhijishya finished sternly.

Anvi looked indignant but did as she was told along with Saambh.

Abhijishya sighed. The consolation in this situation was that they were amidst family. At most Anvi would be scolded but this incident wouldn't reflect on Nakul and her, hopefully. Anvi, Abhijishya prayed, should have atleast some sense in her head to not reveal herself as the one who did the deed.

"Rajkumari?" Charu had arrived.

"Where were you that Anvi gave you and Reva a slip?" She asked, feeling rather cross.

"Forgive me, Rajkumari. Jayati had sent word. So I was meeting her," Charu winced. "Then I believe the missing churamani is with her? The maids in-charge of bringing the required items to the venue are panicking. No one has yet informed any higher up."

"Good good. Is it anything urgent?" Abhijishya enquired. Charu shook her head in denial.

"Alright. Then I'll speak with you about work later. For now, I want you to discretely help Anvi get the churamani into it's rightful place. I have to go now or else everyone would be wondering where I vanished off too. Keep Anvi in check please," Abhijishya stressed, squeezing her close confidant's hand. Charu smiled reassuringly. Both of them made their way to the wedding mandap.

The wedding was already underway. A wooden central dias had been constructed surrounded by four pillars. Each pillar was decorated in tasteful floral arrangements. In the middle, Arjun and Subhadra sat side by side before the holy column of fire as a Rishi performed the rites. Towards the four directions, there were four yagnas going on. The chanting of the sages rose high along with each offering to Agni as it mingled with the musical instruments of skilled musicians.

As she showered petals, Abhijishya watched mesmerized as the bride and groom exchanged garlands. She was also seeing Arjun after so many years. There was a certain settled look in his features that reminded her of the calm sea.

"I want to tie Tatshree's shawl to Masi's veil," Abhijishya heard her daughter declare. She didn't know whether to sigh or laugh. Everyone appeared understandably puzzled by the sudden interruption before the bride and groom could take their steps around the fire.

Balram, who was going to tie the knot, paused. "But this is to be done the bride's brother, Anvi."

"Forgive me Mamashree, Tatshree, Masi. This one's overeagerness created an interruption," Saying so, Anvi bowed down, her forehead touching the floor.

"It is alright, Anvi. You can join your brothers and pray for the well being of the new couple," Balram answered calmly then tied the knot between Arjun and Subhadra. Anvi also left the dias quietly looking too pleased to be innocent.

Abhijishya scrunched her eyebrows. What was the meaning of this? She moved forward a little. One of the gold plates had its covering slightly lifted.

It seemed her daughter had successfully returned the churamani. Abhijishya made a note to thank Bhratashree Balram who had no doubt noticed the deed and chose to say nothing.

Arjun and Subhadra circumambulated around the fire as the flames rose high in the centre. With seven steps, they made their marriage vows with each other. Then Subhadra adorned the churamani in Arjun's name by his hand. Each action through each ritual was like another fastidious stitch woven to interlace the fates of Paarth to the younger sister of Krishna.

A hand slipped into hers and she turned to find Nakul standing beside her as flower petals rained around them. "Seems like yesterday sometimes, when your soul was woven into mine for every life from this one," he spoke softly, his eyes on the couple in front of them but his mind reminiscing his own wedding.

Abhijishya tightened her grip on his hand, feeling a little breathless from the tide of love that washed her heart in high waves. "Do you remember how the sun and the moon came together to make it happen?"

Nakul hummed, closing his eyes. The complete eclipse was the celestial blessing that had scattered their lives in the most exquisite way. It was the beginning of a new testament of their lives. From then on, their love had only grown like a tree- mostly healthy and sometimes needing to be pruned. He opened his eyes and looked back at Abhijishya.

Together, they felt they were at the beginning of their married life yet felt accomplished having spent over a decade together and hopeful that the rest of their lives would be spent similarly.

Just like them, with hearts full of hope Arjun and Subhadra stood side by side to begin walking along their new merged path of life until the very end.

A.N. - Mostly a filler chapter with a lil expression of Abhijishya's mindset. Probably will stretch so me strings of this chapter to some future chapter.

Ik ik not very exciting. But what can I do? Steady building and all that (in other words the author doesn't decide the pace of the story. The story while being written decides the author's pace.)

If you all haven't figured it out yet, then here is a confession: I am shit at writing happy or funny parts of story. I try :) {this grievous soul can only write so much of light stuff before jumping into angst. Not that angst is very close in the plotline yet. That's why I am struggling to write. Ugh. Double Ugh. }

Until the next time,

Byeee ;)

P.S. - Sorry no update schedule exists. Author runs on rare sparks of motivation and occasional guilt between miles of lyadh and procrastination.

Unedited. If you find sm mistake or can't understand what I wrote, comment or DM me.

Also I just wrote a random title for this chapter, if anyone comes up with a more suitable title please let me know.