"What are you doing? " Yudhishthir asked, walking in to see me in the middle of night standing on top of a stool reaching for the jar of pickles.

" Get down! Better yet, stay there! " He exclaimed, rushing in as I gave him a abashed smile.

"I wanted to eat pickles.. " I murmured as he held my hands, one on my waist to ease me off the stool.

" Then you should have woken me! What is this! Do you know how much you scared me! Vanishing from my arms in the middle of the night! " He chastised, brushing my arms of the dust and cradling my face to expect any injury.

" I'm unharmed. " I told him, crossing my arms.

" That's not the -Sagarika, I'll say this very kindly. You should have woken me if you were hungry, okay? " He tried with his best smile.

" B-but you had finally slept after three days of pure work I didn't want to disturb you. I'm sorry. " I said, but then I felt my own tears falling.

I hate being emotional when I am pregnant.

" It's alright. I -I wouldn't have minded -"

" But I would! Look at yourself. You're so exhausted, your eyes look more tired. You can barely keep them open! "

" That's because it's the middle of the night Priye. Come on. " He guided me back as I stopped him.

" Can we have tea? "I asked, raising my guilty eyes at him.

Stupid baby! Can't you see that your father is tired! Stop demanding things from me.

" Alright, we'll have tea. " He smiled, a half quirk of his lips because I know that's all he has the energy to do.

" But I'll make it. " I told him, running off.

" Sagarika? Sagarika! " He shouted, following me back into the kitchens.

" Oh shh. I don't even need to light the stove for it -"

" Stop. " He ordered.

" Yudhishthir-"

" Sagarika, stop this instant and come to bed. You will not use your flame. I don't know how that will affect our child. " He asked of me calmly.

"But I know nothing will happen. " I implored.

"Really? How? " He said, eyes riving over my form.

" Because-because -"

" You don't have an answer do you? " He asked when I sighed.

" I don't. I'm sorry. " I sighed, trudging over outside when I felt him sigh, dropping his head before saying, " Wait, I'll make the tea. " He whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he sat me on a stool.

When it was ready, I saw him coming, eyes struggling to stay wide awake.

" Yudhishthir carefully! " I shouted as he nearly tripped over a glass.

" Ah, I should have seen that. " He muttered.

" Alright. Off the bed with you Mr. " I said, standing up to take the cups out of his hands as I dragged him back to the rooms.

" What are you doing? " He mumbled, as I made him lay down on the bed, leaving just enough space for myself.

" Caring for my very tired husband who's about to drop. " I answered sternly.

I sat up, climbing up the bed, resting my back against the headboard.

" Come here, face down. " I said, pulling at his back as he settled his face between my legs.

" Good, now sleep. " I said, massaging his shoulders and neck.

" You'll hurt your back -"

"Just sleep. " I whispered, running a hand through his curly hair as he sighed, warm air leaving him as I felt it against my knees.

" But -"

" Sleep Dharma. I'll be fine. " I told him, working out the knots in his neck.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

" Are both the chariots ready? " Yudhishthir asked AJ as they sat in the planning room early in the morning. I was half asleep myself, holding a rather excited Rudra as his mother finally caught a few minutes of rest.

" Yeah, we're ready to leave. Come on Saag, I'll take him. You bring Devi. " He smiled as his son stretched his arms out to him.

" Come on, won't we go play with Papa and Fufa? Yes we will. " He smiled as the two of them left. We had already changed our clothes to appear more common . We figured the easiest way to escape mamashree's eyes was to blend with the crowd.

We found the passageway between the two cities. It turns out, the passage itself was an amalgamation of the two, a mix of cultures and people.

" Devi? Come on, we have to leave. " I said, shaking her awake.

" Devi? Devi? Devi! Devika! " I cried, rolling her over to see her face, nearly pale, sweat dripping off her forehead, under eyes dark.

As I flipped my head around the room for intruders, I saw a snake, with its fangs stuck to the table, holding a piece of paper.

" Guards! Guards! Call Yuvraj immediately! Call the vaidy! Now! " I screamed, trying to find the bite marks.

" Come on, you're a flame ! You can't be killed by a snake! "

" Devi! Devika! " I heard AJ scream as he skidded into the room.

Yudhishthir followed, holding Rudra on his hips as he tried to figure out what was going on.

A guard snatched the snake away, bringing the paper to me.

A welcome gift for the seven flames, I'll not let you find the last one. I will emerge victorious.

" Guards! A snake can't just slither in, not such a dangerous one without risking their plans! Close the gates! Find the imposter! " Yudhishthir exclaimed as they ran, following his orders.

" She'll be alright won't she?" I asked, looking up at him.

"I don't know. I don't know. " He mumbled, pulling me into a hug.

" Raajkumari! " The vaidy called, a grim look on his face.

" What is it? She's alright isn't she? " I asked and he slung his head.

" Vaidy ji, please make haste. Is the princess alright? " Yudhishthir asked, when my eyes fell over to AJ's.

" AJ? Tell me she's alright? " I called as I ran over to him, he was sitting, eyes numb , holding her hand.

" She's not gone right? She's a goddess. She can't die of a snake bite? " He asked, his eyes glassing over...

" No! No! Absolutely not! She'll be fine won't she? " I asked, shaking her as she lay still, we could now see the froth of her mouth.

" Sagarika-"

" No! She'll be fine! Yudhishthir leave my hand she'll be fine! " I yelled at him, shoving him away.

This was not the way things had to happen! She can't leave her son alone! She can't leave my brother alone! Me! What would I say to Panchali and Kaali!

" We must leave Sagarika! " He shouted, his eyes staring deep into mine as he shook my shoulders.

" But I don't want to. " I mumbled, tears streaming down my eyes.

" Wait. " AJ said, eyes snapping over to mine.

" I want to take her body. We'll cremate it on the way and then give her solace in the Ganga. " He mumbled, eyes dead as they roved over his wife's form.

" But -"

" Let him Sagarika. Let him grieve. " Yudhishthir muttered.

As we made our way out of the cave, Yudhishthir held me and Rudra in a tight hold, while AJ held his wife, now dead as he walked ahead of us, like Mahadev carrying Devi Sati's burnt body.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

When we reached the edge of the tunnel, a shadow emerged, keeping herself in the dark.

" So? Is Devika dead? " She said, a hint of his wife's smirk in the voice, a distorted woman's voice.

" She is, for the world, Kumari Devika is dead. Manojava is dead. " AJ said, eyes hard, but voice cold, as if it could shatter any moment.

" I never knew my husband was such a wonderful actor. What do you think Vishva, do you agree? " She asked, emerging from the dark.

" I must say Mano. When you sent me the letter of your marriage, I was incredibly sceptical. No man was worth my sister. But your husband has proved me wrong. I am honoured to call him my brother in law. " The woman in AJ's arms said, as she got down.

" We have been successful. Two birds, one stone. Now both Mamashree and the two monsters will be sent in a confused spiral. I have to admit, not lying but executing such plans is fun. " Yudhishthir chortled.

" That's because you don't contribute at all other than being silent my love. But yes, they are fun. Sister, may I introduce you to my husband, Yudhishthir. Yudhishthir, this is Vishva. " I said, grinning as we wiped away our tears.

" Watch your world burn mamashree. " AJ snarled.

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

Okay.... I'm not even going to say a word... Other than the fact that I was about to leave you all on a cliffhanger when I said Devika was dead 😈

But I was merciful and now you know.

As to how is Vishva here when we established that she was in hiding?

Well, some secrets are better left uncovered....

But then people would call me out for having loopholes in the plot so you'll know soon enough why and how she came.

Tell me how it was and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥