While riding back towards Hastinapur, an odd sense of longing for the silence of the forests filled me.

Once we'd get back, there was no chance of peace, only chaos.

Which was very evident the moment we entered city limits. Abhi had been sleeping with his head in my lap, but I managed to twist my body to see the state of the kingdom.

While outwardly it looked quite peaceful, one could see the pain in the eyes of those forced back to live here from Indraprasth.

They were forced to abandon their lives, which confused me.

What was Duryodhan doing ruling over an empty nation?

" Calm down Sagarika, we'll deal with this inside, " I thought.

" We will, " A response came which startled me, I said it out loud?

Yudhishthir's face was grim, his eyebrows furrowed in slight frustration.

" Samrat! Save us! Please! " A voice called and I flipped my head to see a man, nearly the same age as us rush over to the chariot, while he was being chased by the guards.

" Samrat -aah! " He shouted, as a hand came to grasp, his neck to pull him off.

" Yudhishthir-" I murmured and he nodded, moving to the back to pull the man on.

" I will be taking care of him, " He said as the man sat by his feet, when I looked around to see his back, it was scarred, open wounds and the stench of old blood hit me. A wave of nausea passed through me as I looked at the deep gashes on his back, some new, some healing, while some old.

" You have no right -"

" I am the Samragyi and I have the right. Move away! Now! " I yelled, startling Abhi, who woke up in surprise.

The guard moved back, reluctantly, but he did, giving Yudhishthir enough time to pull the man up completely.

I looked around for a cloth, finding none and sighed, ripping a foot of my saree to Yudhishthir, who wound the mans wounds.

" Thank you Samrat, I -" He winced in pain, " I am a local trader, my main trade is through pots and pans. I'm being punished unlawfully! Please help me! " He exclaimed, shouting in pain.

" Mumma? " Abhi asked, his eyes wide as he watched the man writhe in pain as Yudhishthir attempted to wash his wounds, steadily wrapping them with the saree. I pulled Abhi closer, tucking his face in my chest as I held my hands over his ears,
" Don't worry, you'll be fine. He'll be fine, " I kissed his forehead as the man, watching Abhi cower in fear held his hand to his mouth to muffle his moans.

" But why are you being punished so? " I asked and he sighed, panting heavily as he gathered his breath.

" A man from court asked me to give him a full crate of my pots, but didn't pay the right price for it, then when I threatened to tell Mahamahim, he had a thief sneak into my house and leave one of his priceless jewels in my house, then presented me as a thief in court, " He gulped down the water, his lips were parched and nearly bleeding.

" But surely Pitamah could have stopped this from happening? " Yudhishthir said when the trader laughed bitterly, " I think we all know that Mahamahim Bhishm is far too tied to the throne. Once the Yuvraj decreed me guilty, once Maharaj announced me as guilty, no one could add a word in, your brother, Kumar Karn, he tried, but failed," He said.

" Jyeshth is here? " I asked and Yudhishthir looked to the man for confirmation.

" He is Samragyi, why I don't know, "

" What is your name? " Yudhishthir asked him gently, as he moved to wash the man's feet who pulled them back in surprise, " What are you doing! You're the Smarat! You can't touch my feet! " He exclaimed, when Yudhishthir frowned.

" And I said the day I was crowned the Samrat, I will always be ready to serve my people, now give them over, you're hurt, " He whispered and despite the man's protests, took them in his hands.

" My name is Lakshman. I lived in Indraprasth, moving with the general public when you were crowned so, " He said, wincing as Yudhishthir wiped the small injuries on his feet with his angvastr, " We were called back a month after you left, either come back or die. That was the order. I have a wide and a son, I couldn't die, they depend on me, so we all came back, " He said which made me frown.

" But what of Indraprasth, what is Duryodhan doing ruling an empty kingdom? " I asked and the man scowled.

" Yuvraj has tainted the pure mother earth of Indraprasth with his, to say, pleasures. All men are either having madira ( alcohol) or the smoke, the palace always smells of it, making it nark( hell) for all those living there," He sighed, resting his head back.

" Don't worry, we are here now, we'll see to it that this doesn't continue, " I reassured him, as Abhi finally looked up.

" Is he hurt mumma? " He asked me, his eyes wide with worry, " Yes, but he'll heal soon, papa has treated him, then we'll have him meet the healers, " I said and he nodded, giving Lakshaman a wave.

" They say you aren't from this time Samragyi, but it's said that Kaliyug brought with itself the cruelty of all the worst in the world combined, how is it that you have such heart? " He asked and I stared at him in surprise.

" I -"

" That's because she knows what love means, love crosses all bounds, one cannot have love without compassion, your Samragyi is one of the most compassionate people I've met. Time doesn't decide cruelty Lakshman, the heart does. " Yudhishthir said, looking over to me.

" And so is the Samrat. You have to believe us, we will fix this. He will, he doesn't back down from challenge, " I said, smiling at Yudhishthir.

" It's as if I have seen SiyaRam. Samrat, Samragyi, for us , you are our SiyaRam. Please don't let anyone force you to abandon us again, " He joined his hands which Yudhishthir caught in his own.

" I am no god, but we will make sure to uphold our responsibilities again, don't worry, " He said, as the chariot made it's stop and I looked up in surprise.

" We are here. " I said as we got down the chariot, the ensemble of people who welcomed me when I first came here were present again, in entirely different circumstances now.

As we walked up the steps, I watched Shakuni sneer, before he shifted to his sly smile.

Well, you don't know then, do you?

I put my hands behind my back, walking up the steps as I sent the slightest of flames to his mustache, his horror was hilarious, but this was no time for jokes.

" Yudhishthir, putr -"

" Samrat Yudhishthir Maharaj Dhritarashtr, we have returned from our exile, we have completed our part of the deal. He is the Samrat, he will be called nothing else, " I said, eyes trained on the blind man who smiled shakily, while Maharani bent her head in shame.

" Putri, " Pitamah whispered, looking at the boy next to me, the one who looked at them all in surprise.

" Our son Mahamahim Bhishm. Abhivart, he's your father's grandfather, your par pitamah, go greet him, " I whispered to my baby as he walked over, joining his hands and touched his feet.

" Aayushman bhav putr, I -"

" You have a son? " Shakuni asked and I smiled.

" Don't worry mamashree, my son is still younger than my daughter, so the throne of Indraprasth is in no danger, " I smiled sweetly, sickly sweet one mind you as he moved back, twisting his burnt mustache.

" Putr, you have a son? " Maharani asked and I looked at him sharply.

" Maharani, I just said, my husband is the Samrat. When we are having a political discussion, he is not your 'putr'. I scowled at her as Yudhishthir kept a hand on my shoulder.

" Pranipat, we are back, as per the conditions, we spent five years incognito, now, we would like to live in our home again, " Yudhishthir said and Maharaj visibly stiffened.

" And, you won't threaten my son's life? "He asked and I scoffed, " Maharaj, res assured, if your son gives my husband his right back, I don't think we need to fight him. He can rule however he wants. But. I have a condition, " I said and there was chaos.

" I don't think you're in the position to make demands Putri -"

" Samragyi Gandharaj and we are now rulers of our lands, with what misconception are you saying the she is in no position to make demands? " Yudhishthir asked coldly, which surprised me.

" I just meant - "

" - whatever you meant, you have no right to cut off the Samragyi mid decision, I trust you have learnt from your fault, " Samrat Yudhishthir said and I smiled up at him with pride.

" As I was saying, my first condition, all the people, who had been shifted from Indraprasth to Hastinapur against their will must be sent back, with dignity and respect, " I stressed when Duryodhan seemingly had enough.

" No. Absolutely not. " He declared.

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

Okay.... The pot is boiling.

Yudhishthir being a Samrat.. Finally accepting his right is just 🤌

Anyways, tell me how it was.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥