How we went from staying with my sister Kali for three years to leaving the day after I gave birth is beyond me.

"But -"

"No, you need to attend your brother's marriage. " Yudhishthir insisted as I watched him running around our room, rummaging through my clothes.

" I'll go if you are coming with me. I can't roam around with Gudu in my hands all the time when I'm preparing for his wedding. " I huffed, pushing back an incessant lock of hair which kept falling forward, right into the grubby hands of my daughter who was laying in my lap.

If no one has ever told you, hear it from me and be forewarned, your child will literally look into your soul while having their daily meals and itll feel hauntimg sometimes.

You want to know why... It's because they can't even see you for those few months in the beginning. So it's scary how their eyes, as cute and adorable as they are dive deep into yours to scour your mind.

" Yes, I know. I won't leave you anyways. " He smiled tucking that loc of hair behind my ears.

" Alright then. " I smiled as we packed the rest of it.

Well we is an extension. Yudhishthir packed all of it. I was too tired to move.

"So who all is staying here? "

"Arjun, Bheem, Nakul and Sahdev and mata are staying here. Only we are the ones who are going to leave. "

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

We made our way out and I was met with a very disappointed Kali.

"I-"

"No. I told you to do one thing. One small request I put forth.." She said, shaking her head.

"Kali-I - I'm sorry. Truly. I never meant to and I have no excuse. " I said guilt entrapping my mind.

" It's alright. You made my job harder, but that's all you have been doing since we took birth .. I don't mind. " She said, laughing at me.

" Truly. Now, we should leave. " Devika said.

"Shaadi karne ki badi jaldi ho rahi hai kya? " I asked her and she looked at me confused. (Eager to be married are we?)

"Apna mooh band rakh. Chedti rehti hai meri Devi ko. " (Keep your mouth shut. You keep teasing my Devi) AJ sniped as the others just looked between us.

"Teri Devi? Shabbash mere sher. Shaadi hui nahi ki meri Devi shuru. " (Your Devi? Wonderful my dear, you're not even married yet and 'my Devi has begun'.) I said smirkimg at him.

" Haan to? Usmein kya bura hai? "  ( So?what's wrong with that?)  He asked, looking pale.

"Nahi nahi, kuch -" ( No no nothing is wron-)

"Sagarika, shall we leave? " Yudhishthir asked, steering me away.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

As I sat inside the palki, our dear daughter decided that she abhorred them just as much as I did, for her cries pierced the air.

"Shhh." I tried, rocking her but she was adamant.

"Please, maybe you need to eat? " I asked and as if that was a further trigger for her, her cries became shrieks.

"Please! " I said, attempting a different position, trying to feed, burping. Nothing freaking worked.

Have a baby they say.....

Anyways, I tried and tried till I heard,

" Halt! "

The curtain of the palki was opened by Yudhishthir who looked in worried.

"Why are you so worried? Is it because she's crying? " He asked and I looked surprised.

"I-uh yes. I don't know! I tried everything! Feeding, burping, rocking, swaying -"

" Shh. It's fine. I'll take her out on the horse. Please sleep. " He said, taking her away.

I would have killed my husband that moment... Despite his sweet gesture.

You want to know why?

That's because the moment she left my hands she went silent... Like a log.

"I don't-fine. Please. " I said, turning away to lay down.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Slowly our convoy made it to Pragjyotiahpur.

If I had a rupaiya for every bump I felt in the palki, I'd be rich beyond measure.

Everything hurt, I was unable to move. My organs were begging for relief when we finally made our way into the gates of the kingdom.

Worst of all, you'd ask why we even had to take this route... To avoid mamashree. So many royals can't be seen travelling like this. It would raise questions.

So, I managed to raise myself up into a sitting position, wincing at each turn.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and neck, looking out of the curtains.

" We're here. " Called a voice next to the horse and I peaked out to see AJ on the horse.

" Does-does that satisfy your fantasies to travel on horses? " I asked, laughing shakily.

"You're tired. " Was all I heard.

No shit brother.

"Yeah, I didn't know. Thanks for telling me. "

"No-I meant. Hold on. " He said, getting off the horse and clambering into the palki.

"It's not that big you doofus! " I cried, shifting back.

"Right. Tell me what is wrong... Is it Yudhishthir? I'll kill that -"

"No! No. No he's. He's fine. He's the best partner I could ask for. It's... I'm tired. I have been moved so soon and I can't physically move too much and I know I shouldn't move but I wanted to attend your marriage and. " I sighed, putting my head in my hands.

"It's alright, you don't need to do anything. Just rest in the room. I'll handle -"

"That's the point. I don't want to stay in. I want to, go out by I physically have zero strength to do it! And the fact is that my daughter can only stay calm in my husband's hand. "

"Why would you think that. I've seen her sleeping like the dead -"

"Wrong comparison. "

" Right, anyways I've seen her sleep peacefully in your arms so many times. "

"Yeah, well today wasn't the day. I sat down and the minister the palki began moving she was howling and crying like I had snatched her favourite toy from her! "

" How's that related to -"

"Stop interrupting me! As I was saying, then, my husband in shining armour, well silk angvastr is more accurate but yes, he stopped the palki and asked ME is I was alroght before he asked why she was crying! Then he took her out and she went silent! "

He looked at me, trying to gauge a reaction based on his next question.

As a foreword, he definitely deserved the blackeye.

" So is your problem the fact that your husband cared that you are alright because he loves you, or the fact that the child went silent the moment he held her -aaow! " He stopped mid sentence, receiving the afformentioned black eye .

"I'm getting married! " He cried, holding his hands up to his eye.

Krishn has found me a husband, it's bound to be a good one... He should open a platform.

Krishnfindsyiursoulmate.com

Assured happy marital life, a good and honourable partner. No fee other than love among the couples and a good review along the way.

'Definitely Sakhi, do that. I am counting on this to be famous in Kaliyug later'. Said the voice in my head.

Ignoring him, I looked at my brother .

"Point being? " I asked, blowing into my odhini to press against his eyes.

" You - look. Your child doesn't hate you. You said it yourself, it's the palki. Relax your mind, in the palace now you'll meet our 'parents' for the first time. Look forward to it. " He said and I sighed.

" You want me to meet them looking like this? " I asked, gesturing to myself.
Hair coming out of the plait I had tied, the sarre stained with milk and spit, two blotches near the chest because of leak. I reeked to be very honest, of sweat and milk and baby fluids.

He looked at me and smiled.

"I think that you look beautiful, even like this, because I see my sister being one of the strongest people on earth."

I swear, the amount of times he says the two of them don't have the same personality, then proving that they actually do is insane.

"Thank you. " I said, shoving him out.

"Ai! What is this way to behave! " He said, dusting his dhoti .

"You were the one who encroached in this tiny place. Now leave. I'll meet you soon. Love you AJ. " I smiled and he laughed, walking away.

When we finally managed to reach the palace, I felt a hand being offered.

Peeking out, I saw Yudhishthir holding a fast asleep Gudu on one shoulder, while the other hand was meant for me.

It would be comical to see how I had jelly legs when I stood up, had I not known how much pain I was in.

" Woah! Carefully Sagarika. " He whispered, wrapping his free hand around my waist to steady me.

" I am fi-"

"Shh. Don't make me call you an idiot right now. She's sleeping. " He whispered, pecking my forehead as I growled in the love that I was getting.

"We'll be fine. You'll be fine. I'll make sure of it. Maybe a massage would help? " He asked and I nodded.

" Pranipat Maharaj. How are you? " Yudhishthir asked and my 'father' smiled.

"It was assumed you were all dead your highness. Ny wife has weeped for many moons for her daughter. Where is she? " He asked and I stepped out from behind my husband.

" Oh my! Sagarika! " He cried, immediately lulling me into a hug.

I wanted to return the sentiment, but I had no memories with him, nor did I have any emotional attachment. But the way he embraced me, as if his life had been returned to him mad me teary.

"Pitashree." I answered and he smiled.

"My ears have been dying to hear that from your mouth since last year, before the prince won your swayamvar. And now you have brought a sweet gift for us too! " He said happily, peeking at the sleeping daughter.

"What's her name? " He whispered.

"Well, we haven't chosen one yet maharaj, but your son is intent on calling her Gudu and we've grown on it. "

" Ahh. Well she does look beautiful, just like you putri. " He said, placing a hand on my head.

"Where's mata pitashree? " AJ asked.

"She's gone to her brother putr, she said she'll be returning soon. " He answered.

We finally made it into the chambers.

Yudhishthir had been rocking Gudu for about twenty minutes, as she happily played in his arms, but his fatigue was visible as he huffed each time he adjusted his grip on her.

"Come, I'll hold her for a while. You rest. " I said and he looked at me confused.

"Don't you wish to rest? It's fine, I can-"

"You're an idiot. You're too tired, rest for a while, she's all yours tomorrow. " I said and he reluctantly relented.

For once she didn't throw a fit when she sat in my lap.

"Oh my! Such a sweet person. Thank you. " I said, as she attempted to make a smile.

"Look ! Yudhishthir! " I turned around to see a dozing husband.

He really was tired....

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^
(ɴᴇᴡ ᴘᴏᴠ... ɢᴜᴇss ᴡʜᴏ?)

A few days after bhabhishree left, us brothers and bhabhishree were left here in the caves.

One day, the three of us, leaving bhrata Bheem stepped out for some air into the forest.

" Sahdev, are we on the right path? "

" Haan, we are, we just need to be careful -"

"Bhiksha! Please help me! " We heard a man call.

He had an ethereal glow, even as he sat under the shade of the tree, in the manners of a sage.

" Who are you mahatma? Why do you call for help? "I asked.

" Oh putr, I am Someshvar,please help me. I need to go to Panchal. They are offering so much daan in their, fir the wedding of their daughter, the pride of Panchal. Panchali's swayamvar! " He cried, coughing as Sahdev ran towards a nearby pond to bring water.

" Should we take you there? "Sahdev asked and I stared at him in shock.

" Well, if you could. Please do. " He said and I chose to bear him on my back.

As we were walking, I felt as if his weight immediately became lighter.

Must be my hallucination. Maybe I got used to the weight.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

Somewhere in Panchal, in the great arena stood the mighty Dwarikadheesh, smiling to himself.

"Parth, if you carry Mahadav on your back with the intent of a pure heart, his weight isn't more than a feather. Come, your destiny calls for you. " He smiled.

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Well, how was it? Tell me in the comments and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥