Hey Guys! 

Here is the hundred and fifty third chapter. 

I don't own Mahabharat. 

Happy Reading!! 

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Third POV

Two days after The talk 

In Panchal

Yudhishthira wonders if fate always had this in its hand for him. Why was this kind of fate given to only him? Why not someone else.
Normally, this kind of thoughts never evaded Yudhishthira's thoughts but seeing the gate he was standing outside was really questioning.

Yes, he had no one he loved? But marriage in such circumstances?
What was the need? And why was this happening to him only?

Don't get him wrong he would never want such fate to befall on and of his brother but then why was he supposed to suffer through this?

Never before had he thought of living a free life, an open life, without tons of responsibility it was out of question.
But now as the days pass, he seriously wants this question of his to be answered as to why God gave a spoonful taste of things before snatching it from him, in ways more painful that ever felt.

Yudhisthir silently shook his head before pushing the door open in front of him, better to get over with this all, whatever this was.

Getting married today was not in his cards.
Yes, he had heard Bhabhi Ma talk about how they all were supposed to have wives. But so soon? Was he even ready?

The biggest thing was that he had neither his younger two important people nor the elder two. Duryodhana also was not there.
How was he supposed to begin in this new part of life without them?

"Arya?" A voice made him stop in surprise.
Right! He forgot he entered the room.

He looked up to see his new wife staring at him confusion, only to realise while he was going through his head he had ignored her and was walking out towards the balcony for fresh air, as an instinct.

"Raj Kumari!" (Princess!) Yudhishthir turned to her. "Shama kijiye hum ghutan mehsoos Ho rahi thi. Hum aapko apmanit nahi karna chahhte the." (Apologies, I was feeling suffocated. I didn't wish to disrespect you.)

"Aapko humse shama magne ki koi zarrorat nahi Hai, Arya." (You don't need to apologize to me, husband.) She says, "Main aapki ardhangini Hun, main samjh sakti Hun." (I am your wife, I can understand.)

Yudhisthir silently nods unsure of what he should be doing next.
Ugh! Why was this all so complicated.

First things first, "Aap Vishram kijiye, raj kumari." (You should rest, princess.)
Yudhisthir continues further gesturing to the balcony, "Hume bahar ki aadat Ho gayi Hai, yeh raj mahal Mein Hume ghutan hone lagi Hai ab." (I have grown accustomed to the open environment; this royal palace makes me suffocated.)

"Agar aapko koi baat pareshan kar rahi Hai toh aap keh sakte Hain Hume, Arya. Aapki patni hokar ke itna sa hak toh Hai na Hume?" (If there is something that disturbs you, you can tell me husband. As your wife, I suppose to have this much right, yes?) The Princess asks.

Yudhisthir stared at the lady in front of him.
There was something with this person in front of him, he couldn't pin point. Something was very wrong, but how could that be?

Rather than answering her question, Yudhisthir poses another question, "Aap hi Devi Malini Hain na?" (You are Lady Malini, aren't you?)

The lady in question froze at the words of her new husband.
The headache coming back to her, blaring in her head like a strong bell.

Now how was she supposed to answer this?
How was she supposed to explain this all to him?
But as her husband shouldn't he have the right & need to know it all?

"Samay aur paristhiti insaan ko badal deta Hai, Arya." (Time & circumstances change people a lot, Husband.) She answers, rather complicatedly.

Rukmini's POV

In Dwarka

I looked over to where Arya stood at the beach looking at the sea in a longing gaze, only some people could discern.

But there was something else in those eyes too.
Was he being worried about his sister again? About Ananya?

Arya had said they were alive, but at what cost? And what was even the need for this roll play? Couldn't things be simply simpler?

"Yeh baat toh aap jaanti Hain, meri jaan ki zindagi Mein kuch bhi assan nahi hota." (You know this very well, my life that nothing in life is easy) Krishna said as he raises a hand to offer me, beckoning me to him.

"Tab bhi aap itna chinta karrtein Hain?" (Still, you worry so much.) I question.

"Un sab ki zindagi Mein kathinai Hai, aur mai chah kar bhi usse kam nahi kar sakta." (They all have problems in their life, which I cannot reduce however I wish to do so.) Krishna sighs as he looks down at me.
"Aksar kathinai aur pareshani ki bhoj Mein aakar log galat faisle le lete Hain, sach kahun toh mujhe bas iss baat I chinta Hai ki un Mein se koi bhi koi galat kadam na le lein. Kyunki fir unko sahi rah pe lana mushkil Ho sakta Hai." (Most of the times, under problems & difficulties, we take wrong steps. If I am being honest, all I worry for is that they don't take a wrong step. Because after that, bring them back on the right track will be tough task.)

"Par saare ke saare ek se badh kar ek mahan yodha Hain, unke faisle pe aapko vishwas nahi Hai?" (But all of them are great fighter, don't you trust their judgement?) I ask, looking at the waves hitting the shore harshly.

"Woh lehrein dekh rahin Hain, patni ji?" (Are you seeing those waves, wife?)

I nod silently, watching the waves more closely. What is he trying to say?

"Jo lehr pehle uthta Hai samudra Mein woh zyaada aage nahi aa pata. Lekin jo tat ke karib uthta Hai woh aage tak aata Hai." (The waves that originate back deep in the sea aren't able to reach much ahead, while ones that rise closer to the shore reach further.) He says, and I observe his words coming true.

"Yani ki, jo pehle se aapne aapko bada bata Hai, uska bada hona humesha nishchit nahi hota. Samay aane par aapne mahanta ko jo dikhata Hai woh bada Ho pata Hai aur koi nahi." (Which means that one who shows themselves to be great since beginning may not be always great. Rather, those who show their greatness at the time of need is the one who goes on to be great and big.)

"Mahan Yodha bhi agar samay aane pe aapne mahanta ki pariksha Mein safal na Ho sake toh Kya faya uske mahan hone se?" (At time of test if a great fighter doesn't succeed what is his gain from being the greatest?) Krishna questions, making me unconsciously nod at his words.
I understand the underlying meaning of his words.

Kunti's POV

In Panchal

I sit with my legs folded under me as the proceedings of marriage happen.
Marriage of my second eldest child, Yudhisthir.

Arjun & Bheem sit on my either side, their stature rigid like I never seen before. They seem uncomfortable & un-wanting to be here.
Obviously, why would they like to see their brother being forced in marriage when are survival was in question. When their only sister- in- law, their eldest brother, their youngest two brothers were missing?

Hey Prabhu, why are all this curses placed upon my sons? Were they not blessed with serenity, peace? Why are we supposed to suffer so much in life?

I was looking around when my eyes landed on the King, he was looking back at me, the biggest, dirtiest smirk on his face.
Ugh! This old coot. What does he think of himself?

Standing beside him were his two other kids- a daughter & a son.
I wonder why the older one is unmarried, when he is trying to marry the second one off? Did something happen? Was there a back story that I have missed?

I suppose this is another loss of not living in the castle, you don't get gossips like you want them. I honestly miss Jiji. I wonder what she is up to now.

"Vivah sampan Hua!" (The marriage is finished.) The priest declares.
"Aapne badon se aashirvad lein." (Take blessings from your elders.)

Yudhisthir & his new wife do as told, taking blessings from Dhrupad, before coming towards me, their movements poorly coordinated & forced.
I wince silently, I essentially forced Yudhisthir in this marriage, na?

"Sada khush raho." (Always stay happy.) I place a hand on my son's head.
Before moving towards my new daughter- in- law, "Sada suhagan raho." (Always remain happily married.)

"Meri beti ko koi dikkat na Ho, isliye aap log kuch din yahan ruk jayein fir aap laut jayiyega Hastinapur wapas." (So that my daughter doesn't face any problem, you may stay here for some time, after that you can return to Hastinapur.) The king all but orders.

From the corner of my eyes, I see my sons on either side fisting their hands.

"Hume kahan rehna Hai aur Kya karna Hai, woh hum dekh lenge." I answer my voice firm, I should settle this before Arjun or Bheem intervenes.

"Jaisa kaha jaye waise kar lena chahhiye, Rani Kunti." (You must follow as suggested, Queen Kunti) Dhrupad says, his voice arrogant as ever. "Maine sachai nahi chupaunga." (I won't hide the truth.)

I felt the anger boil in me. I am so helpless in front of him, right now.
Ugh! How did I let this all come to this?

"Meri baat buli toh nahi Hain na aap rani?" (I hope you haven't forgotten my words, queen.) Dhrupad smirks, arrogance pouring out of him like a waterfall.

"Nahi." I shake my head slowly, looking in his eyes, I continue.
"Aur yeh bhi yaad rakhiyega, aaj aapko ek ma ki baad dua lagi Hai, aapka yeh jo guroor Hai na, woh tutega. Aapke bachoan ki badalot tutega, aur srif aapko hi nahi aapke pass jitne Hain un sab ko isse kaafi mushkiloan ka samna karna hoga." (And remember this too, today a mothers curse hits you, this aarogance of yours will break. It will break because of the kids, and it won't only affect you but also all those people around you.)

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