"Ji Maharaj! Angraj Karn is my eldest son, he is the mantrprasad of bhagwan Surynarayan. " Mata said, walking in.

The pandav brothers looked flabbergasted, dthey did, shock and emotion wracking their body like the storms in the purv sea, while the Kauravs looked shocked and angry each day, maamshree shakuni more so, as he could see his plan fail in the eyes of Angraj Karn.

He's what? The flashbacks returned, with the vision now clearing. I could see, Mata sitting with Angraj Karn in the middle of the field.

I could see Kanha smiling in the scene behind, a satisfaction through his smile, a sense of justice.

" Raajmata Kunti! Are you now making up stories to save your daughter in law? You should be ashamed of her yet you're supporting her -"

"My daughter can never do such wrong Gandharaj. I know her more than you could imagine and I can tell you that she can never do so wrong. As for what I said, I swear on the honesty of my son Yudhishthir, that whatever I just said about Angraj Karn is true. He is my son. " Kunti finished, looking back at her son. He looked sad, but he knew. He knew because that is what brought him here.

" But Kunti, we were told that Pandu's eldest son was and is Yudhishthir. " Mata Gandhari said.

" I am my father's eldest son Maharani , but Jyeshth bhrata Karn is mata's eldest son. " Yudhishthir said.

That makes sense... She had him before her marriage.. Right?

" Putr. That does not make sense. " Maharaj Dhritarashtr said, trying to now find a reason.

" It makes perfect sense Dhritarashtr! If you look past your moh for your son, then it makes perfect sense. He is Kunti's son before her marriage. " Pitamah Bheeshm said.

A greater chaos broke out. Seriously can these people not handle things without chaos breaking out and going completely bananas?

" That is an insult to the Kuruvansh Maharaj! A bastard-"

"Gandharaj! Don't you dare say one word against our Jyeshth! We didn't respect him earlier, judging his caste. It was only when bhabhishree brought us back on the right track that we realised how wrong we were to insult anyone based on their birth. So if you speak one more word, I will rip your arms out, relations will not matter! " Bheem shouted as Karn just looked at all of them in surprise.

I had decided to sit down. These people will take ages to sort this out. So till then I should sit.

AJ had the same idea as me, sitting down next to me.

" So. You're forgetting things too aren't you? " He asked.

I put my head on his shoulder. It had been ages since I did this. Last was when maa and baba died.

" Haan. Kanha said something about samay chakr and some 'time' magic things. " I said and he chuckled.

"We're screwed here aren't we? Where's Mini? "

"She's with Narayan and Lakshmiji in Vaikunth. "

" Sweet .... She won at life... Without doing anything! " He laughed.

"Well, it's good you're here anyways. We need to talk. It's very important-"

"So Rajkumaari Sagarika! We have decided, that since this is the truth, you have been proven innocent. " Maharaj Dhritarashtr said, his eyes reflecting the nervousness he felt.

" Thank you Maharaj, although I shouldn't have to thank family. But it's alright. Don't worry. Me and Bhrata Ajatshatru won't fight. It is my husband's home too and I can't hurt his heart this way. I can forgive everyone here for the way they presented their own versions of allegations to me, but I will never forget the way I was insulted and dragged down into the sabha. " I said, in the most cold voice I could manage.

As the place dispersed, I was met with two hands that turned me around to crush me into a hug.

"I-can't-breathe! " I choked out, as my darling husband's arms surrounded me from all sides.

Meanwhile, the four brothers went to meet their Jyeshth.

"Please forgive us Jyeshth! I hope you understand that this apology is not just because you are now our Jyeshth, but because bhabhishree taught us the truth. "

" Be that as it may Raajkumar, I need a few moments alone. "

"Not so fast. Answer my questions and answer them here. 'Jyeshth' tell me, did you know Duryodhan was about to do this? Put this allegation on me? " I asked, walking up to him, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Yudhishthir's pleading hand, as if he knew the truth too.

" No Sagarika. I did not know. "

"Did you come to teach me on his orders? Did you! " I shouted. Mata looked at her son in horror, fearing his answer.

What I didn't see, was Pitamah Bheeshm's charioteer, Shree Adirath walking in with someone who seemed to be his wife.

" The wife of the Prince of Hastinapur asked you a question. Tell her that you didn't do this on the orders of Kumar Duryodhan. Tell me you didn't know! " She cried.

Oh, that was his mother.

" I did come teach you on his orders, because even you know about the conversation we had that day kumari-"

" I don't care! You came to me, knowing that your friend is a vile and cruel man, you knew he did not like me. Where did you dump your brain before coming? In the drainage systems? You couldn't understand why he would ask a stranger to teach me? His question was valid! I could have asked Pitamah. But they are all old and I didn't want to burden them. You didn't think did you? " I shouted.

I couldn't bear to look at his face any longer, so I looked at mata and said, " Mata, I apologize if my words today about your son hurt you, but if I stay here now, I may say or do something I shouldn't. I'll meet you later. " I said as she began to shake her head.

" I never expected this to be the way my sister was treated here. She was treated like a princess that she is in Pragjyotishpur, even by the commoners. Here her own family is treating her like a common criminal. " Ajatshatru said, storming off.

Yudhishthir was at crossroads that day. Should he pacify his brokenhearted wife, or go meet his Jyeshth properly.

He chose his wife that day.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

I sat in our room, staring at the ground. Toothless must have sensed me in the room, because he ran up to meet me, jumping into my lap as I sat on the bed.

I couldn't cry, it was as if my heart weeped but my eyes had no tears left to shed.

"Sagarika? " A voice called and I looked up to see Yudhishthir walking in the room.

It was then I realised, that he was one of the reasons I was free today.

As he sat by me on the bed, I embraced him, clutching on to him as as if a vice.

" I'm so sorry it took me so long. I would have come earlier but it was necessary to call Jyeshth from Ang pradesh and -"

" Shh. Tonight is for me to speak. I can never thank you enough. Not for bringing the proof. I'm glad you did that, I truly am, but the larger picture here was that you trusted me when many did not. I can never repay that trust but with my heart. " I whispered as his eyes grew wide, mouth parting in surprise.

" Well partner, this is the end of the line, and start of another race. Not against time as it is supreme, but against our own affections towards each other , for they will bloom more the closer I am to you. My very existence may not be defined by you, but I know that it will lose all its value if you're not there. My heart has been broken far too many times for me to even go at this, but I'll take the chance, for I love you as Devi Lakshmi loves her Narayan and as entering the bind of love, I will hope and pray you do the same. I promise not to leave your hand, but guide you back to track when you fall off, and hope you do the same. So if this is to be the truth of our lives, I will love you. I know we're already married, but I have to ask. Will you marry me? "

"I could never say no. " He whispered, holding my face in his hands.

Each bated breath we took, reminded of all the injustice that we faced, all the hurdles.

He fell for me first but after today, I was sure I fell harder.

The only thing I could do was close my eyes as I felt the first and gentlest brush of his lips against mine. The way a flower petal is held against the skin. I couldn't focus, for the feelings in me made me dizzy.

All I could do was put my hands on his shoulder to pull him close and try to reciprocate. A new for me, a new for him. It felt different, unusual, unique, ethereal, but not at all wrong. It felt like a new home. One built on trust and faith.

We pulled back and looked at each other, bursting into laughter at the red splotched on both our cheeks.

The shy smiled we exchanged made up for any nervousness that we could have approached this with. It was a step towards finally admitting that I loved him too, like he loved me. Well, that and telling him directly anyway. I did do that earlier didn't I?

The serenity in which we slept that night, holding each other close was all I looked for in love and more. In one word, it was pure.

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Hiding away under the covers...This is the first story I have ever written where romance is a highlight......

Don't know how well I did, but I'm hoping to improve as the chapters go....

Tell me in the comments and do vote if you liked it.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥