It might have been the thrill of finally being able to walk again, but I was rather excited to see Devi and Saag fight. Not because of the action, but because of the mystery and magic that surrounded these seven sisters.

I did get to know how my dear Yudhishthir had a bomb in his heart ( ancient magic has sent me off the rails long back, I don't doubt it anymore).

I also know that while the last few hours have been a recession between the battle, her mind has been whizzing at lightning speed trying to figure out how to save her husband.

While we did suggest surgery, she looked at me incredulously, eyes wide in disbelief, then shook her head and began pacing again.

Her dear son, my dear nephew ran up to her, hugging her legs, claiming, 'Mumma, your legs will hurt if you walk so much'. Naturally, one would assume she stopped and sat down.

We're talking about Saag. It's impossible for her to listen to anyone while she's panicking.

She ran a hand over her son's head, smiled at him and continued... The boy looked at me confused.

Women kid. Women.

But her anxiety was not something I wanted to let explode, seeing as she had already reached Saag's anxiety level 3. Rapid pacing...

So, I looked at her husband, who nodded at me, before going up to her and holding her gently by her arms, bringing her close to him.

He whispered a few words to her and she jerked back, before her eyes widened, as if in a miracle and ran away, leaving him there with an extended hand.

He looked at her leaving figure with, well, what I would count as sadness, but he was Yudhishthir. He had the poker face for nearly every situation, well, except for a few.

" What did you say to her? " I asked him as I saw Devi and all her sisters following Saag's trail.

" Nothing. I told her that it's just her soul. All she needs to know is how she pushed the weapon in my heart. Then reverse the effects, " He rubbed his hand over his neck, " I don't know if it works. To be honest, I don't understand why we need to remove it. Just kill Mandik and Moshtik and be done with it. "

" It's probably because they need the weapon to fight them? " I looked back as all seven of them ran back in, panting breaths but their faces glowed with victory.

Krishn, our dear Krishn smiled mysteriously as they arrived and approached them with the intensity of a lion. He was sure they had won.

" Tell me sakhi. Did you figure out the way to save him? " He asked Saag, though Kumari Panchali was the one who answered.

" Govind, one must know how to extract something from the heart, the easiest way to do that is through the blood, " She said, eyes bright, synonymous with her name as she looked back at a befuddled Yudhishthir.

" And then, we just pull it out. We move it away from the heart, use what Karali is calling a blood test tube and remove it, storing it in vials, " Sudhuma finished.

" But you won't find a blood test tube in Dwapar Saag —"

" I don't need one! All I need to do is make  a precise cut in the nerve of his elbow and pull the weapon out just like I will guide it out of his heart! " She exclaimed with glee.

" But bhabhishree, is it safe? " A concerned Arjun asked as he walked over to his brother.

" We're ready to lay our lives down for Jyeshth Yudhishthir, but is it truly safe to do this? We could spend our whole lives in his protection, " Bheem added as the two of them surrounded Saag.

In a flash of moment, I saw the worried ffifteen year old Saag, the one who was still coming to terms with the realities of the world. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and then, that flash of innocence was replaced by years, even if not many, of struggle, responsibilities and maturity.

" He'll be fine, you trust me don't you? " She replied, resolute as her eyes shined with conviction.

" Always bhabhishree. You're akin to our mother, your words are paramount, " Bheem replied and she smiled.

She turned to her husband and smiled,
"And you here kept calling them troublemakers. Look how wonderful of children they make, " He gave a pointed smile to the two of them as they giggled.

If only for that moment, the world stood still as we basked in the shining positivity amongst the dark clouds that threatened to burst above us.

" But it will be painfull kumari, especially with that much blood lost, " A vaidy called and Saag looked visibly scared, her eyes shifting to Krishn for help, guidance.

" Don't worry vaidy ji, we'll render him unconscious. We all are aware of the anaesthetics available to us. We should succeed. " He reassured them and they nodded amongst themselves.

" Alright, then let the reaping commence-" I was interrupted by a loud blast towards the West corridor.

Vajji Naresh, Bheem, Arjun and I ran off with Devi and her sisters, while Saag stood back with Yudhishthir.

" I'll handle this! Keep them out of the palace! " She screamed as Yudhishthir pulled her put of the way of a crumbling pillar.

" Come on, we must hurry. " She said and they sprinted off, the vaidy following them with equal fervour as my eyes locked with Krishn.

" Why go through so many lies. You could have just told us the truth. We were bound to your service anyways," I asked and he smiled, his eyes reflecting the ultimate truth.

" Yes but, that would have been manipulation, this is your choice. I'm not a manipulator, " He answered, eyes gleaming with unbridled mischief.

" Innocent and you? Please.. When Ksheer sagar freezes over, "

" I could do that.... For a few moments of course. Otherwise, my priye, my Hridaya will not let me have any more makhan for the next few millenia, " He answered, whistling as he walked away towards Yudhishthir and Saag.

His words, actions and thoughts are never understood by me....

And for once, I feel it's better that I don't.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

As Yudhishthir lay on, the bed, I watched him, eyes moving around the roon as the vaidy prepared the anaesthetic.

" You'll be alright. Don't worry. I trust you." He kept whispering to me at odd intervals.

" I know. I don't have another option, " I answered and he smiled.

" Well you could just let me di—"

" You're just as much as a bonehead as you were when I met you all those years ago!" I exclaimed and he giggled... Literally.

" Oh priye, some things never change. And it's for the best that they don't. " He answered, a serene smile spreading across his soft lips as he closed his eyes.

" Sing to me? " He asked and I scowled at him.

" How will I concentrate then? "

" Not for the whole time, just now, before they administer the anaesthesia, " He popped one eye open, looking up at me.

"  Alright, tell me Samrat, what genre would you prefer, classical, romantic,
pop — " I yelped as I was yanked over to him, his smoldering eyes looking deep into my soul.

" You know whatever you sing is as good as the apsaras singing, " He answered, voice deep.... You have a bomb in your chest if you've forgotten dear husband... Not the time for romance....

" Well, if the king commands, " I sighed heavily, shaking my head and he laughed softly, pulling my hand to rest on his heart. He raised one warm hand to my face, softly caressing my cheeks with his thumb.

" Piyu bole, piya bole, kyun ye bole, jaanu na, "  I finished, breath catching as I w
watched them administer the anaesthesia. I looked at him one last time, before he closed his eyes, long gone in deep sleep, a signature smile on his face as always.

Alright Saag. You're all alone now.

Let's work.

The vaidy sat by, ready for my commands as I moved over on the bed, closing my eyes to call for the weapon.

It hummed, silently along with his heartbeat, rhythmic, gentle and soft.

It was impossible for me to understand truly where it was, since I couldn't see it.

But what I did know is, it could glow, my soul would glow through it...

But that thought was interrupted by the dread that settled in my heart.

His body isn't fire proof as mine is.

I needed to focus. Soft heat, not fiery burns.

Through closed eyes, I felt a sharp glare and I opened my eyes to see his golden necklace shining.

" It worked! " I exclaimed, though I'm sure it was heard by the others as I heard sighs of relief.

With that in my mind, I removed all his jewelry, focusing on the flow, watching as it was in one of the worst places I could imagine....

" Of all places, " I murmured, watching as the glow emanated right above, what I assumed to be the mitral valves.

If I could smack Karali from the past, I would. But I had no time for dilly dally and regrets.

With gentle and shivering hands, I guided it towards the aorta, hoping that it went into the right artery.

When I saw it moving up towards his chest, my heart stopped for a moment, before the weapon moved towards an artery near the clavicle, branched off, moving down towards his shoulders.

If I had the time to squeal I would.. ..

But now began the hard task.

The extraction.

" Vaidy ji, now please, " I asked as they brought in their surgical instruments, with a precise cut to the artery in his elbows.

I know the artery has pulsating red blood. But I didn't anticipate the amount of pressure it was in and was splashed by a stream of blood.

" It's fine. Just a bit of blood, " I reassured myself as I watched the glow move down his arms, near his elbow when -"

" Karali! You can't save yourself now! " I heard a thunderous shout and looked up, outside the windows as I watched my sisters doing their level best to keep them captured.

' Karali! How long is it going to take! ' I heard Sulo scream at me in my mind.

' I don't know! A few more minutes'!

'. Be quick! We don't have as much time'! I heard Vishwa call out.

As if I don't know that.

I snapped my gaze back to Yudhishthir, when I saw the weapon finally launch out of the blood.

Before I could revel in my success, the door was slammed open and in walked in my nightmare.

" Hand it over Karali. You know you're fighting a lost war, " A face called as it swung his mace around.

When we assumed them to be conjoined, we missed a vital point.

One which my dear brother in law failed to mention.

They were only joined through the legs. One leg fused with the other, granting them the strength of four arms.

" Never. I'd die before I surrender my duty! Be it Devraj Indr Or you stupid freaks! " I shouted as the other head laughed. He had a deeper voice, darker eyes.

They were humanoid, with hands and legs, but covered in rows of scales, like a dragon, their hide gleamed in the afternoon sun and their eyes shine with malevolence.

Behind me, I could hear the vaidy trying to stitch Yudhishthir's cut as soon as they could, but before they could, one of them was swung away by the mace, landing to the other corner of the room.

" You have no chance for escape Karali. Surrender the weapon —"

" Hey idiots! Two on one seems a bit unfair doesn't it! Try six! " I heard Mano call as they rushed into the room, buying me time enough.

I watched as the other vaidy, paralysed with fear stitched the cut but with vigorously shaking hands.

" Is it done? " I asked him and it took him quite a while before he nodded.

By then though, it was too late.

My eyes we're on Yudhishthir and I didn't see the mace that swung over my head, thrashing me over to the other side, the weapon skidding towards them.

" No! "

" Yes, we have achieved our victory. The weapon is ours. This works is ours! " They reveled in delight.

But before I could move, I felt the tug of my saree and my eyes widened in horror.

" Abhi move! " I shouted as he waddled over to the sleeping form of his father.

" Papa sick! " He called and I grabbed the curtains, pulling myself up, scooping him away from the oncoming attack of a sword.

" Bacha why are you here! " I asked, eyes flitting between him and my sisters who fought for the weapon. He looked at me with wide eyes.

" Papa sick? " He asked again and I smacked my head hard.

" No. He's fine. You need to go —"

" You're scared Karali. Fight! " I heard Krishn call from across the room.

If I argued with him, I'd loose precious time... I needed to move.

" We're going for a ride Abhi. Alright? " I asked and he nodded with a wide smile as I tied him in front of me, tight enough like a baby carrier, rushing over to my sisters.

Yet again they had Mandik's hand in their grasp as they shook around, attempting to tear the weapon away.

" Now! " Sphulingini shouted and we raised our hands, or full energy leaving our body as the room shone brighter than even the sun, I could make out the burning stench of the scales, even as they roared in pain and agony. The weapon clattered away but I heard the sound of flesh burning, then a loud bang which threw us all back.

" Abhi? Abhi! " I asked, watching my son's unconscious form. He looked unharmed but still, unconscious.

" Abhi! " I screamed and as the dust settled.

I may have won the battle, but I fear I lost the war.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

A rather infinity war ending don't you think?

Alright, don't throw stones at me....

Tell me how it was and do vote if you liked.

Also.... Finally!!!!
100 chapters!!!!

I'm shook. 4 months of work on this lovely piece of my heart ♥

Was it worth the 100th chapter?

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥