"So, when and how do we leave? " I asked, sitting down in the main lounge as we discussed the move ahead.

" Priye, why worry, we need to leave a week later. " Yudhishthir said, pulling me into his side. After so many years, he had finally realised that this much contact in public is fine... Especially considering it's just AJ and Devi.

" Well, I propose leaving three days before the date. They cannot know where we are going, how and when. That's the fastest way to get caught. " Devi proposed.

" But where would we go? " AJ asked when I threw a flower at his head.

" Where were you when we said we would go towards Vajji?" I asked and he scowled.

" No need to hit me alright. I'm married now. I'm a dad too. "

" And your son needs to know how much of an idiot you are —"

" That's it. I swear jijashree. If we leave them in a room alone, they'll tear each other apart and still come out fighting. " Devi chided while my husband, rather than taking my side burst into laughter.

" You're supposed to be on my side! " Me and AJ said simultaneously to our partners.

" But it's the truth. " Yudhishthir answered, pulling me back into his side.

" Anyways, Devika is right, we need to leave earlier than the date of agyatvas. It's smarter. " I said.

" Alright. So we leave after five days? " AJ asked for confirmation .

" Yes, why we're still doing this is beyond me when we can just blow up the palace. Sulo will be returning soon too. " Devi scowled.

" We could... But Krishn refused... Said something about ' Don't control time ' or something.... As if he didn't do that by bringing me and AJ here . "

" Don't worry Priye . Trust him. " Yudhishthir smiled.

As we retired to our rooms that day, I realized just how different life would be.

" Malika? " I called our attendant.

" Ji kumari? "

" Have the guards help you bring a pile of hay please. " I said, sitting on the bed.

" Yes Kumari. " She said, walking out.

My husband came back when they were brining hay and looked absolutely confused.

" What's this? " He asked, standing in front of the mirror, taking off his uttaraiya.

" I'm preparing my body to sleep on hay beds, now that it's what we'll have to do."

" But you'll harm your back, " He said, walking to where I was arranging the hay and then making sure it wouldn't give me weird lines on my arms and feet, a simple cotton cloth over it.

" What if we end up working in a kingdom. Then? " He implored, holding my hands to his chest.

" What are you going on about. What is it?" I asked, holding his face with one hand as he sunk into that hold.

" Everyday, I curse myself for not being able to fight that day -"

" But -"

" No, I know what you'll say, I was injured, this that. But I let you out of my sight. I was taken, away to be healed and you -"

" Yudhishthir! " I said, shaking him, his eyes snapped up to mine.

" What's done is done. When I don't hold you accountable, why do you? That's more ammunition for the enemy. You need to be confident. I survived and now we will. And who knows. If we end up finding Mandik and Moshtik in this agyatvas we'll kill them all together. " I said and he laughed.

" I forgot they existed. Why are they here again? "

" Well because they -"

" Sagarika? " But I couldn't hear what he said as my eyes glazed over.

" You're sure? " I asked him , looking up at him as I lay in his arms, while we relaxed in the gardens of my home and he sighed.

" Karali, you are my love, we may not have been married in this time, for lack of time, but I will make sure to be with you, even as you take mortal birth. " He whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

" But mortal life is hard, mine even more so. I don't even know how and when I'll be able to meet you and -" I was stopped with one finger to my mouth, he shifted underneath me as he moved me to a side, before raising himself up on his elbow and looking at me.

" I'd wait a thousand lifetimes to find you. You know that. Why fear. We'll be fine. " He said, carding his hands through my hair as he moved them off my shoulders.

" What -what about that weapon we were looking for - "

" If our expedition was right and Indrdev's directions correct, it's towards the North eastern part of Aryavart. It'll take time, I'm not even sure, I hope we are born in that kingdom, or atleast I am, even in the house of a potter. Then I'll find you and your sisters and we'll destroy the weapon."

" He's very threatened isn't he? " I asked,raising my hand to pass them through his hairs and put them at the nape of his neck, gently massaging it.

" He is and he is right to. If we are to believe Narayan's words, the weapon will destroy all of life as we know it. " He sighed, placing his forehead against mine.

" I'm sure you and your mates will find it.  I will support you -"

"I need to go. " He said, eyes suddenly hard as he stood up.

" Where? " I asked, frantic as I got up to hold his face.

" My Lord Yamraj calls me. I need to go my love. I am sad that this is the way we are parting, but I promise you we'll meet soon. " He said, engulfing me in one of the most passionate hugs of my near immortal life.

" But - hold on Dharma. Please wait for just a moment won't you. I want to take in you, the last thing I wish to see as I finally close my eyes must be you. " I whispered to him as he sighed.

" Alright, I'm here, I'm here. " He promised, pulling my hands to his as he held them to his face.

" You are one of the smartest, most beautiful woman I've seen, the most compassionate and yet the most fierce. I would be honoured to have you as mine, in any life I have. "  He said, eyes shining with unshed tears, mirroring my own.

" And you -" He disappeared, gone in the whoosh of the wind.

" Dharma! " I called, eyes red as I sat on the garden floor, cursing my fate, that day of all days.

"Sagarika? " Yudhishthir asked, as I startled, gasping for wide breaths.

" Dharma? " I whispered and he looked at me with worry.

"Who's Dharma sweet? I'm Yudhishthir. You're in Pragjyotishpur. " He whispered, cradling my face in his hands.

" You. Dharma you -" I broke off, coughing.

" Sagarika? I'll get the vaidy -" I grabbed his wrist as he stood up.

" I'm fine. Sit down. You were right. The weapon is in Vajji only. Sit down. " I called, voice rasping as I searched the room for water.

" I'll- I'll get water," He said, standing up to go to the bedside table.

" Come, here have this. You're a bonehead, who does this when they are pregnant! You could have hurt yourself. I have an idiot wife -"

" My priy Dharma. Calm your racing heart. I'm fine. Your Karali is fine. " I told him, holding his hand as it moved my hair away from my face.

" I don't know who you're talking about Priye. " He murmured.

" You, you are my Dharma. The loyal right hand man of Yamraj. His son is my husband, in that lifetime and now this too. " I whispered and he sighed.

" So a dream, it was a dream from your past? " He asked, eyes flitting to track any other signs of my poor health.

" I'm fine dear husband, rest assured, I still love you. And I do remember everyone. As I was saying, you were right. We'll find the weapon in Vajji. " I said to him as he sighed before standing up and picking me up in his arms.

" What are you doing-"

" Shush. You're a bonehead if you think I'm letting you sleep on the floor after all this. "

" My Dharmendr hasn't changed. " I whispered and he laughed.

" Now is that another one? How many men must I compete with for your heart?" He asked, laughing as he settled my back against his front, a hand resting protectively over our child.

" You won't need to compete with anyone. I have eyes only for you. You are my Dharmendr, my Dharma and my Yudhishthir. " I said, turning around to kiss his cheek before settling down to sleep.

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

So, if the weapon is in, Vajji, why didn't Krishn already tell him?

Krishn ji : it's their niyati.
Author : one you decide!

Krishn ji : and what you write! You're the one writing their story.

Anyways, tell me how it was, next  chapter finds our five beloved people in the forests, hiding and looking for shelter.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥