The sounds of the night were more peaceful than any forests in 2024.

The soldiers were sharpening their swords, yet the sound of it was lulling me to sleep. The night owl hooted as it woke up for its nightly regime of looking for its food. The deer and fawns returned to their homes while the reptiles made their way back into the water.

As I finally decided to go to sleep. I realised I did not have anything to wear to sleep.

Well. I mean. Sleeping in a lehenga has to be uncomfortable? Right?

So I got into bed, hoping to sleep when I spotted a figure behind the curtains of the balcony. I knew I kept a  dagger by the bedside. Ever since the attack, Yudhishthir had made me keep one next to my pillow. I told him it could cut me in my sleep.

He looked at me with the sheath and a look that said, 'how do I love you'. Sometimes I question that too. But anyways. As I saw the figure behind the curtains, I picked up the dagger, unsheathed it and tip toed towards him.

As I held the dagger against the man's neck through the curtains, I said, " Who's there? Don't you know it's not a good thing to sneak into a woman's room? "

" I can sneak into my to be.... "

" To be what? "

" To be bhabhishree's room. " Arjun said, moving the curtain away.

" What are you doing here? " I said, sheathing the dagger and allowing him in.

" And why did you sneak in? Why didn't you come through the gates? "

He looked at me with a 'really'? Look . Both brothers have the same look.

" Anyways. I came here, because I have to tell you something. "

" Really? What is it? "

"Bhabhishree. Tomorrow after your wedding we'll have a pradarshani for our teachings in the gurukul. I hope you'll cheer for Jyeshth. " He said, sitting on the sofa.

" Alright. Is that all you had come to say? " I asked, laughing as I sat beside him.

A pradarshani. I am excited. I'll also meet -wait. Who will I meet? Am I supposed to meet someone? Wait. Krishn!

My face must have reflected the war in my brain because he asked, " Bhabhishree? Are you alright? "

" Huh. Oh. Yes. Yes I'm alright. I am fine. And yes. To answer your question I will definitely cheer for your Jyeshth and all of you. " I said as he smiled, standing up as he got ready to leave, when, " Bhabhishree. Do you know how to tell stories? "

" Yes.... I do? Why? "

" Will you tell us one? "

" Us? "I asked, when the rest of his brothers jumped out of the balcony.

" What are you upto? " I asked, laughing.

" Bhabhishree. We want to listen to a story. Pleaseee! " Nakul said, pleading with his hands joint.

" But it's so late. Don't you want to rest well for the pradarshani? "

" We have been resting since we came here three weeks ago.  Now we want to spend time with our bhabhishree, before Jyeshth steals you away. " Bheem said.

" But -"

" No buts. We're listening to a story! " Arjun insisted, as the sat on pillows, laying them on the floor.

So I told them a story.

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The next day, I was woken up at the crack of dawn. Crankily considering my brothers had kept me up till late.

" Putri! You must wake up! You are getting married today! " The dasima insisted.

" No... I wanna sleep. " I yawned out.

" Putri.. Var is waiting for his vadhu! Wake up! " She tried, when I realised.... I was getting married.

" Alright alright. I'm waking up. "

As we prepared the bath, I was drenched to say the least in water and oil. I did not like it. These people don't even have paracetamols. My head was spinning.

Then I was literally sat down on the stool. But then things did get better. A woman applied alta all around my feet, while another on my palms.

Kajal lined my eyes as they used some pink rose powder for the lips. That was unique.

I was escorted down to the main mandap, aas Mata Kunti met me, midway.

" Putri. I am very happy to have you in our lives. Today a mother wants a promise. " She said, hands joint as I was flabbergasted. What does she want from me?

" Mats. What are you doing? You're my elder. Please. Tell me what you want."

" Putri. Promise me. You won't let go off my son. If he goes wrong, please help him come to the right path, but please don't leave him. " She said.

" I don't intend to mata. Not for a long time. Not even beyond death." I told her, as she smiled, mind at rest.

We sat at the mandap, when I saw him, coming down the flight of stairs.

He looked elegant, majestic and beautiful.

As we sat down, the pandit ji began reading his mantr. Which was when it hit me. No one was there. Mummy, Papa, Mini, Dada, Dadi. No one could watch me get married.  Narayan knows where AJ was. No one was here. And I didn't know , before I began to weep. Silently. I didn't want to. I didn't mean to, but when the mouth is unable to speak the pains, the heart weeps and it's seen through the eyes.

I tried to blink my eyes, rapidly to make sure I didn't cry. I tried. I failed. Yet again and a drop fell on our joint hands.

He looked up, assuming that I didn't want to marry him, pain in his eyes, but even before that I saw concern.

" Mini is not here. " Was all I could whisper and he looked at me with reassuring eyes.

" She'll be proud of you. Complaining a lot about why she didn't see you get married, but she'll be happy and proud nonetheless. Don't you worry. " He said, as we stood up for the pheras.

Apparently that's not what they truly are. We've modified it to call them pheras. They are saptpadi. Seven steps. Seven lives and seven times. Two souls which walked on two different roads promised to stay together, in life, death and beyond, for seven lives. If one is lucky, then even beyond those seven till the end of time. I wished it was till the end of time.

As the marriage ended, we were tasked to go and touch everyone's feet. Blessings were given as we did so, while Mata Kunti enveloped us in a hug.

I wondered how easily I got married. I was barely nineteen, I was just a child. Nothing in my life takes place this easily. How come the wedding took place like so?

I spoke too soon, because, " Wah Bhrata Yudhishthir. What a wonderful wife you have. She touched everyone's feet, except mine. Aren't I your elder too bhabhi? " Duryodhan asked, putting his nose where it didn't belong. If anyone in the world should be Voldemort. It was him. Atleast he would stop poking his nose where it wasn't required.

" Bhrata Duryodhan. By relations, she is older than you. Even by age if I am not wrong. If anything, you should take her blessings. After all, bhabhishrees are akin to mata aren't they? " Nakul said, while Duryodhan just looked at me in anger.

" So? She's still just a princess. I am the Yuvraj -"

" How so? Isn't it planned that the Yuvraj will be crowned after the pradarshani? " Sahdev questioned.

" Sahdev. Nakul. Calm down. " I tried, but by then it was too late.

" A woman who's never heard of till now is ready to become the wife of a prince of Hastinapur. Are we sure she isn't a local woman who's entrapped our bhrata for money -"

" DURYODHAN! "  Bheem shouted, as the situation began to escalate.

I was afronted as well. How dare he accuse me of so? "If I wanted money I would have married a treasury. Not a man. " I spoke, calmly, as my husband looked over in disbelief. What? Was he expecting me to stay quiet? He looked furious too, but as always, he was debating on how to diffuse the situation. Someday it will escalate beyond his control. Keep sitting for a solution then.

" She talks back to the prince of Hastinapur. What sort of a daughter in law is she? She deserves to be in prison -"

" Duryodhan! " Arjun yelled, drawing his sword.

Duryodhan himself raised his mace when I ran in front of him, my dagger against his mace. Small, but my words held more power.

" You dare to touch my brothers? " I asked him, yet again, trying to keep my cool.

" Maharaj Dhritarashtr! She is such a lowly woman. Raising a weapon against the prince of Hastinapur? She should be sentenced to prison. " Shakuni instigated. I swear. Why wasn't he killed earlier in the war itself?

" Putri. Apologize. You are newly married. It doesn't look good. " Gandhari tried to calm everyone down.

" I will not apologize. Any insult against me was acceptable, rather I would have discussed why he felt the need to say so. But no one stands against my brother. " I told her, staring into Duryodhan's furious eyes.

" Bharata Duryodhan. I apologize for my wife. She did not intend to hurt you or your sentiments. She is only protecting her brother. Please leave her be. " My husband spoke, a hand on his shoulder.

Shakuni told him to back off so he did. But all I could see was Yudhishthir's joint hands. Ones I did not want to put there. But ones which in that position gave me more pain then anything in this world. Didn't he just promise to support me? Is that all these rounds meant?

That is the moment I realised, that I was truly only married to him because we needed to look for AJ and no one would let a man and a woman travel alone on their own without any relation between them.

I could only look at him with surprise.

" Mata. Can I go back to our rooms? I feel unwell. " Was all I could tell Mata, as she held my hand and took me away. The day of our wedding I left my husband where we got married. How about that for a story right?

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

As I sat in the room, I heard the sound of someone entering. I saw him through the mirrors. He looked worried, guilty and even scared. What was he even scared about?

" Sagarika I am sorry. I didn't mean to. I just didn't want there to be a fight and we just got married and I didn't know if what I did was the right thing and -"

" Putri? Are you still here? Your brothers want your blessings before the pradarshani. " Mata said, walking into the rooms with his brothers behind them.

They bent down to take my blessings. Still unusual.

" V-vijay bhav. " Was all I could say, as I walked out of the room. My eyes met his once and I saw regret in them.

What was I supposed to do?

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Well.... He's going to get it later eh? Who's with me to beat him up. Bechari Sagarika ko itna dukh diya

Tell me how it was and vote please.

Much love

Radhekrishn ❤