" Sagrika? " Yudhishthir mumbled next to me as he ushered me inside.
But I couldn't focus.

I could definitely be having a misconception. I'm having fever dreams.

" Sagarika, Sagarika! Priye? " Yudhishthir shook my shoulders as my eyes finally landed on his own worried ones.

" What is it? What troubles your soul? " He whispered, cradling my face in his hands.

" Mini, " I breathed, eyes still unfocussed, the seen repeating in my mind.

" Yes, I saw, she was there with Krishn, Nakul and Sahdev, he very cleverly moved mamashree out of our way before the sunset, now we are free to leave -"

" Mini is married, " I mumbled and her eyes crossed, " Alright, but it's fine. I am sure Krishn searched for an able and responsible man for your sister, maybe someone she fell in love with -"

" Bhabhishree! " Arjun called, running in, an ethereal glow was fading from around him.

" Bhabhishree, did you see that! " He exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.

" What happened Arjun, why do you look so distressed? " AJ asked, clapping his back.

" Bhabhi-" He stopped when Krishn walked in and trailing behind him was Nakul, Mini and then Sahdev.

" Didi? " She exclaimed, jumping in to throw her hands around me as I reciprocated, my hands felt weak as they rested on her back.

" Pranipat bhabhishree, " Two voices called, bending to take my blessings, but I was still far too caught up in a story which might not even be true.

Krishn held a grim look despite his smile, one which told me he knew what I was thinking.

" Sakhi -"

" What did you do? " I asked, my voice shaking as I took in the scene in front of me.

While Mini stood between the two brothers proudly, they held reserved smiles for her, all for her.

" Surprise? " Mini giggled and it was what snapped me back to reality.

" This is how you know? " I asked and she laughed, " Didi, please, even you told me this way, it's hardly fair for you to judge me -"

" It's not that. Tell me it isn't true, " I insisted and she smiled softly.

" I could, but then I would be lying -"

" What does that even mean! " I yelled and Yudhishthir pulled me back, despite my better protests.

" Let me go! " I said and he frowned.

" Sagarika -"

" Yudhishthir you let me go now! "

" Sagarika! " He exclaimed, all eyes fell on us.

" You. Tell me right now what happened. Now! " I yelled at Krishn who sighed.

But before he could begin I felt two hands clamp onto my feet.

" Nakul? Sahdev? " Bheem scratched his head in confusion.

" Bhabhishree, " A soft murmur came from below, " Are we truly unworthy men? " Sahdev asked and I sighed, " Is it really unacceptable to you that we may support your sister in her life? " Nakul asked, I pulled them both up, looking at their faces. They looked older now, nearly twenty seven if I was not wrong and it pained me to see the hurt look on their faces.

" It's not about that. It's just. Tell me what I am thinking is not true. That she's married to just one of you. " I said and they bent their heads low in disagreement.

Loud gasps rang around the room, the loudest from my husband himself.

" What happened? " He asked and Krishn sighed.

" Sakhi, ask your sister, " He said and I frowned, " Not her, her, " Krishn raised his hand, pointing it at Sphulingini.

" Me? " Her eyes widened, perturbed by the situation.

" Didn't I catch you praying one day?" He asked and my face moved between the two of them like the shuttle in a badminton match.

" Krishn. Stop playing games. What the heck happened! " AJ seethed and I looked at him, he looked just as hurt.

" Sakhi Panchali was praying to her aaradhy, Mahadev and her Lord, Agnidev. This was just before we left for Dwarika after I had brought Mini to you, " He looked at me, " I found her saying, that she wishes, that any wish of hers that went unanswered, for whatever reason should go to the beautiful new sister she had, with the power of all her good deeds in this life. " Krishn finished the story.

" But what does that have to do with them? " Devika asked and Krishn shook his head.

" Manojava, don't you know about the prayers Sphulingini made to Mahadev, about her husband with the best qualities in the world? Dharmgyani, Ati sundar, Vidyavan, Prempoorn, Khady mein nipun," ( Righteous, truly beautiful, the most beautiful in the world, wise, one who loves freely and one an expert in food)

" But then -" Sudhuma stopped mid sentence, the reality dawning on her.

" Hold on! Even if that is true, how did this even happen! " Sulo asked.

" Good question, will you tell me? Saudamini? " I asked looking straight into her deep brown eyes.

" Didi -I -"

" It's our fault bhabhishree, " Nakul put in and I glared at them.

" I don't care whose fault it is. What I do want to know is the truth. Now will you tell me or so help me -"

" It began at her swayamvar! " Sahdev yelled, " Swayamvar? " I asked and he nodded.

" It was the day of her swayamvar. Well, a mock one. She had all the eligible men of Dwarika lined up, imagining her own swayamvar. Mata had come to meet us and was busy with mamishree Devaki.

" And.... " I asked, not liking where this was going.

" Well, bhabhishree, it would have been wise of us to warn mata that we were in the lineup purely for Saudamini's entertainment, had no intentions to marry her. Although Nakul did -" Nakul's hand shot out to clamp it over Sahdev's.

" Out with it! " I yelled and they sobered.

" Bhabhishree, we told mata, ' look at what we're doing ' ! And she said without hesitation, ' Whatever it is, don't fight over it and do it together'." Sahdev sighed, frowning.

" And you listened to her! Did nobody learn from Panchali's incident! " AJ shouted and Devi brought a hand to his shoulder.

" We were about to, but then, all the present men declared her married, saying that if we left her now, she would not be able to marry anyone, or even be targeted and hunted -"

But before they could finish, I fell to the floor.

" Bhabhishree! " The two of them called and I shook my head.

I couldn't believe it. How can one not learn from their mistake! Such a grave one as well! Did she truly not realize what she was doing.

" All that is acceptable. But why exactly was it meant to be shared. What were you doing? " Vishwa scowled and this time, Saudamini looked up guiltily.

" I was playing a game, trying to see how far up I could climb before they could put the flowers around me -" Her words were cut off by me nearly slapping her for her idiocy.

" Is marriage a joke to you! " I shouted and she had the right to look down in shame, " You surrendered three lives to a fate that wasn't supposed to be that way! Yours and theirs! Married to two men! " I shouted and she began to weep.

" Sakhi, calm down, what's done is done -"

" Don't you dare! You and I both know what can and cannot be done so don't you dare. " I growled at Krishn.

" But bhabhishree -"

" Congratulations. " I muttered, walking out of the room.

" Sagarika! " Yudhishthir called and I shook my head.

Her whole life! She surrendered her whole life.

" Sagrika, look at me -"

" I don't know how to -"

"I know, I know, " He whispered, pulling me into a warm hug.

" Sagarika, whether or not ideal, it's a marriage, it cannot be changed -"

" Come back to Kaliyug and I can tell you otherwise. " I growled and he sighed.

" Sagarika, as furious as I am with them, it doesn't help us to be furious about it. You need to calm your self. Think clearly. While not ideal, Nakul and Sahdev are good men, I am sure they'll be good husbands -"

" It's not about that you idiot! " I pushed myself out, " Do you realise what she'll go through every day! Living with two different men, two different people, at the same time! "

" I understand that, but all I am saying is, what's done is done. We can't fix . It's out of our hands. So stop blaming yourself for not giving Mini enough wisdom, because I know that's what is truly hurting your mind. You may be her mother figure Priye, but you are not her Lord, you don't decide her life for her. If she is married to them both, trust her to figure it out. And the words of the society will mean nothing as long as she has your support, do you understand? " He told me gently, brushing the hair out of my face, " Right now, we have another problem, we need to go back, " He said and I sighed.

" I just, didn't imagine this, " I murmured into him.

" No one did, but it has happened. Now we must accept it too. It's the reality. "

" Jyeshth, may I talk to her for a minute? " Krishn walked in..

" I have no words for you, " I scowled and he sighed.

" You do trust me don't you? " He asked and I nodded, " I do, but that doesn't calm my ire with you. "

" Sakhi, do you know, you asked me five years ago what happened in the sabha and I had showed it to you? " He said and I nodded. Even if I don't remember what happened, I do know I had asked it of him.

" Well, today, I will tell you. The wish Sphulingini made had to be fulfilled, whether it be with her or someone else. When you refused your husband marrying her, the promise rebounded, hanging in the loop of, to happen, to not happen. "

" It's a promise. Not some person, ek paon idhar, dusra udhar, " ( one foot on either side)

" But sakhi, when Panchali asked the unfulfilled promise to be transferred, it found a new target. Your sister, which means, the events line up, niyati has fixed itself. " He said and I sagged into Yudhishthir's arms.

" All of your knowledge is known to me, all of what you both said I know. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt." I said and they nodded.

" May we help you get rid of it? " I heard three voices ask, standing at the door.

She stood with her husband-sorry, husbands, both held one hand of hers.

Maybe this could turn out well enough.

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

Okay.... Soo... Mata Kunti. Ye kya kiya.

Anyways. Tell me how it was.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥