The sun pierced my eyes through the open balcony as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

Patting the bed, I felt no one next to me, must have left early for the sabha, or I've woken up late.

" Bhabhishree! " I heard three voices yell, startling me to the core.

"Do you all want me to die out of a heart attack? " I said, squinting my eyes open to see Bheem, Arjun and Nakul standing at the foot of my bed, while Sahdev was sitting with Jyeshth Karn.

" No bhabhishree, we wanted to wake you up for an important purpose. "

"What is that? "

"It's Jyeshth Yudhishthir's Birthday. " Arjun exclaimed.

Is that why he wasn't in the room?

" Alright I'll wish him. What else?" I was sleep deprived. Last night had been overly eventful.

" Bhabhishree, we're planning a celebration for him. " Nakul said, while sitting on the bed. Wow they don't consider me a woman do they.

"You do realise I have just woken up. I need to change and bathe. " I told them, glaring. Nobody wakes me up at odd times and survives my ire.

Which is when Jyeshth Karn decided to interrupt their idiocy, " Come on out. She needs time. I don't know what you all were thinking, going into a married woman's room this early in the morning. "

The three looked at each other, bursting into laughter.

" Jyeshth, our bhabhishree is like our mata. We didn't mean to disrespect her. It never actually crossed our mind. " Bheem said, as they all moved out.

I flopped back down on my back, when I heard another sound.

"Didn't Jyeshth tell you it's not polite to walk like this into a married woman's room! "

"I can walk into the room where my wife sleeps Priye. " I heard my husband.

" You! You? It's your birthday today. "

He stared at me as if a deer caught in headlights. So it's true, it was his birthday. If it wasn't he would deny it.

" Alright. I see that you don't celebrate yours. "

" I never felt the need to. " I heard a mumble.

Seriously..... Look, all those who don't celebrate their birthdays... Fine by me... But I love to do it.

" Anyways, happy birthday. " I said, crawling to the edge of the bed to press a kiss to his cheeks.

" Thank you my love. I shall leave for court. Devi Sulohita is staying here as your 'friend'. You can meet her now , I asked her to come a prahar after sunrise.

" Thank you my darling husband." This won't do. He didn't feel the need to because he never had the time to, being the elder one and all...

As he left, I decided to go change, when I felt my feet smear against something.

I looked around to see blood.

Oh shit...... I forgot about this here... Didn't I? Now what. I know for a fact I won't get what all I need here.

So I peeped out, calling a dasi, " Could you please call Raajmata Kunti for me. It's urgent. "

As she left, I sat on the floor, wondering what to do. I could just check my suitcase for what I need, but I know for a fact that they would not be here.

"Oh Kanha... Why me? "

"Putri? What's wrong? " Mata called, walking into the room.

"Here mata. I need help. " I called, attempting to stand up. Why today of all days.

" Putri? Are you al-oh. Well. How would you like me to help? " She said, crouching down by my side.

Menstruation... Or Rajasvala.. Right.....

" Putri, is this your first cycle? "

Her question put me into a conundrum. Is it my first one? No.. But it is my first in this world, where there are no modern day sanitary napkins to ease our time. Yudhishthir's worries all those months ago make sense to me now. Fear gripped my heart.

"Y-yes." I said, well, I couldn't say no and then be stuck with what to do and how.

"Alright, don't worry putri, I'll call Gurumata. " She said, leaving the room.

Which is when, Sulohita decided to make her appearance.

" Karali! Karali! Kara-oh? What's wrong? "

" Rajasvala. "

Ahe sat down next to me, putting my head on her shoulder.

"Don't worry bahana. We'll get through this quick enough. " She comforted.

" I'm here putri. " Mata said, walking in with Guruma when she saw Sulohita and me.

"Putri, don't feel bad, but are all your friends ones who share a face with you? "

" Uh. I-uh. "

"Never mind. We must tend to you first. " She said, shaking off her doubt.

Guruma sat down, explaining the basics to me, most of it I knew, but yes, I couldn't go to the kirchens or the temple. And no, it's not because of what many think as a taboo. It's to protect the clothes from staining as well as exertion.

Be honest, how many of you actually want to make your own foods during this time.

I was given a maroon red saree to protect the clothes from staining.

They left, while Sulohita sat with me, on the bed.

" So sister, how has life been? "

" Well, in a matter of six months I have been moved from one yug to another, I've married a person at rhw age of eighteen, I fell in love, I get to know that I'm not the only one with a face like mine. Ooh and I get to know that I am what you know me as a flame. So life good Sulohita, what about you. " I smiled, sarcasm dripping from my eyes.

She laughed next to me and it was contagious, as I did too, before I realised the implications and held on to my torso.

" Come rest bahana. I'll tell you a story about the rest of us. "

" Agni dev is known as Saptjivah. The one with seven tongues. This is because, in the holy fire, there are seven types of flames that consume the ghee and the offerings made to it.

We are Kali the black flame, near the embers; Karali that is you,the terrific one ;Manojava, , the one as swift as the mind;Sulohita, me the deep red one, the medium flame ; Sudhumvarna, the one that is smoke coloured, the one near the tip;Spulinghini, the sparkling one and Vishvruchi, the one with variegated colour patterns. We are all the seven flames which make up the holy fire. "

Her narratipn made me sleepy, but I stayed awake. " So why are we here? " I managed to speak out.

" Well, we're here for many reasons. But the primary one, is that we must reunite for -"

" Yuvrani, Raajkumari Devika wishes to enter the room. "

"Let her in. "

"Sakhi ! " She came in like a storm.

" Your husband sent a letter early morning calling me here on an emergency. What is wrong? " She asked and then her gaze met Sulohita's.

In that moment, I could sense the shift in her eyes, from worry to relief.

"Sulohita. You're here? " Wait what... She knows!

" Yes. Karali, sorry, Sagarika, this is your friend, Devika. She is our sister, Manojava. "

You have got to be making a fool out of me... She knew all along?

As if sensing the way my mind travelled, Devika exclaimed, " Sagarika, please try and understand. We were under strict instructions from Vasudev-"

"Of course it was him. When is it not him. " I muttered. To say I was angry was an understatement. I was furious, but not at Devika. No, I had the rationalle to not think with my anger.

" Alright. Devika, you are Manojava. Where are the rest of us? "

"We don't know. We still have to search. " Sulohita said, from beside me.

"Alright, well you all rest and leave me be too. I need to rest before preparing 'something' atleast for my husband's birthday. " I said and the two left, chatting as if long lost friends.

Sleep called to me, even though Guruma advised against it.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

I waswoken up by the daasi, in my room, having finally kept one.

" Yuvrani, it's 2 prahars before midnight. Wake up. " She whispered. Ah yes, I had asked that of her...

" Thank you Shyama. You may go. " I trudged up, changing the saree I wore. Oh my, the next three days are going to be hell.

" Guards, call the Yuvraj's brothers to the gardens please. " I managed, sitting on the chair.

Slowly, walking at the speed of an insect, I made my way to the gardens.

"Bhabhishree. You should not have come. We would have done this. You will fall weak. " Sahdev assisted, bringing me to sit on a sit stool they had brought.

" It's fine. I need you all to be helpful. That's all that matters. "

So we began to decorate the aclove.  White rajnigandha and blue pansies were decorated, a mat brought out with fruit trays and some small glasses of madhira, the drink made with molasses and honey.

In the end, we invited family over, while we waited for Yudhishthir to come.

" Pramipat Yuvraj. Happy Birthday. " Everyone greeted him.

He was overjoyed though his reactions suggested otherwise. Today of all days, even the kauravs sat with us to enjoy a time of dining and for once, things seemed to be at peace.

As night grew, the elders left, while we began to make our way back too.

I too got up, in no mood to move but I had no option.

" What are you doing. Are you an idiot? " Yudhishthir said, making his way to me.

"What? Do you want to sleep here? " I asked.

" No. I mean why are you waking back? "

"If I could fly back, don't you think I would have done it already husband? " I bit back.

" Always with the anger. I understand you are a flame, but calm down my dear heart. I meant to say I'll carry you back. "

"Your hands will be stained with blood. You're being an idiot. "

"Can't I wash it off?"

"But -"

"Nothing. Shhh. " He said, lifing me in his hands.

" What are you -" I was shut up by a kiss. Really? Is thatt what we're doing now?

" Now hush. We need to get you to rest. Narayan only knows what you've been upto all day. " He muttered as we made our way back to the rooms.

As I lay down, I was pulled into his arms, " Yes, now tell me. Did you meet with devi Sulohita? "

" I did. I also got to know that Devika knew about this all along. It seems Krishn has restricted all my sisters from speaking to me about it."

" He always thinks before saying something. I trust his judgement priue, so should you. " He said, pressing a kiss to the hand he was playing with.

"I'm not saying I don't trust him. But the fact remains that you and AJ have to kill those two and for that, we need to be alert and smart. Hiding every detail that might help you kill them isn't a good play. "

"Hmm. "

" What? "

" Nothing. I am listening to you. I'm admiring your courage. You seem to be taking this in a stride."

"I could either wallow in misery, wondering why and why me and all that. But it's easier to do this. Less tears."

"I for one am glad. I don't like to see tears in your eyes. " He whispered.

So I put my hand on his, the one which rested just over where my body was deciding to punch me as much as it could and closed my eyes.

" Happy birthday dear husband. I hope I can give you a better gift... But three days later. " I said.

"You are the greatest gift I'll ever need my love. Sleep. " He muttered, fanning my hair out as he ran his hands through them.

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

Well... Devi knew. Now we wonder what all people do know. Who's hididng what.

Do we love Sulohita? Yes no? Maybe? Do we still love Devika? Please do, she was under Krishn's orders... 🤧

Tell me how it was in the comments.

Much love

Radhekrishn♥