Draupadi's POV:

Each day my hope died a little more.

Where was Karn?

Did he recieve the letter?

Would he reply? Would he come?

I had no idea. And the silence poisoned my heart each day a little more.

The panic that had been in seeded with the news of my marriage, grew each day, threatening to tear me from within.

"Dhriti?"

The sugary soft voice of the queen snapped my train of thoughts, tugging me back to the reality, one that was turning into my worst nightmare right in front of my eyes.

My gaze anchored on her perfect face, free of any blemishes.

With a tiny curve upward curve of her lips, and a soft expression on her face she was a perfect picture of a bride's mother.

"I remember being her age, with all dreams and hopes about the upcoming marriage."

One of the ladies stated, a teasing tone shining in her words.

Giggles surrounded me, my mother's fitting right in there with the rest.

"You are one lucky girl Dhriti, no matter who becomes your mother in law, among the four of us you will forever be loved."

It was another woman who spoke, she had kind grey eyes and a warm smile.

Possibly would be a good mother in law to someone someday, but the mere thought of marriage sparked a heaviness in my chest.

There was a feeling of wrongness.

She may be a good mother in law, but she wouldn't be mine.

I know I should probably be excited to get married, everyone my age always is right?

Then why does the mere thought of marriage scare me to death?

I couldn't understand it?

It wasn't like I am already married and they are asking me to marry again.

Probably my parents aren't wrong.

Possibly they are just doing their jobs as parents of marrying their daughter to a good home.

Am I broken?

"You are so beautiful."

Another woman whispered, awe lacing her words, she reached out cupping my cheek with her free hand.

Her gaze anchored on my face.

"My son would love and cherish you forever."

She assured.

No.

It wasn't acceptable to me and I wouldn't sit here quietly and wait to be married off.

"She would be a perfect addition to my family. So beautiful." Another woman whispered.

I had been too engrossed in my mind, to even bother to know their names.

"Of course she would. Our Dhriti is perfect in every aspect. Anyone would be lucky to have her."

Mother laughed, her words though complimenting felt like acid in my veins.

"Dhriti dear could you give us some time alone. You go to your room. We have some things to discuss."

Mother's smile never wavered, her words though sounded like a request, her eyes indicated that it was a command.

Nodding, I stood, walking out of the room.

Breathing suddenly became very easy, now that all these gazes weren't focused on me.

I gazed around, an idea sparking to life. Hope filtered in my lungs with every breath that I pulled in.

Maybe I should run away.

It was impulsive, not well thought of.

But the need to be free was greater than any rational thought.

Another moment in this jail, was too much for me.

I ran.

I managed to avoid soldiers and maids at every turn, till I reached the servants' exit

And like god's blessing there stood a carriage, that had recently dropped a delivery of vegetables and fruits.

I sneaked in the back of it.

Just as I got situated, hiding behind the empty crates. All the hell broke loose.

"Don't let anyone and anything go through the gate. Princess Dhriti has escaped."

The loud gruff voice boomed, Athiran was here.

If evil ever had a face, to me that was Athiran. My father's general was a monster.

Monster, being the kindest word I could think of describing him.

"Search every corner I want her here!"

He roared, the utter evil in his voice, tracing terror up my spine.

People ran around, shouts and anger zapping through the air.

Poisioning with a tension that slowly snuffed every last bit of calm.

Oh god! This had been an horrible idea.

My heart thumped.

"What's in this cart?!" Athiran shouted. Authority ringing in his words.

"Just empty crates my lord. Nothing is there."

Another voice wavered, it was a thready voice of what seemed to be of a old man.

Guilt churned in my gut.

I shouldn't have risked all this, just for my freedom.

This poor man...

"Soldiers check the cart!"

The general ordered.

"My lord, nothing is there."

The old man insisted.

And my heart broke a little more, regret weighing heavy in my soul.

"Search!" Athiran ordered.

The sounds of footsteps moving had anxiety bursting through my veins.

I could hear the crates being moved, I shut my eyes.

"The princess is here!"

A voice shouted, my eyes flew open.

"Come out Princess!" Athiran shouted, fury piercing every syllable.

What choice did I have?

Steeling my heart, I moved as gracefully as one could, when they were in my situation.

Though dread pulsed through my veins, I didn't let it show.

The smirking face of Athiran was the first thing I saw.

"How many times do I need to tell you that there is no one here to help you?" He hissed, marching towards me.

I held his gaze defiantly.

If this man thought that I would bow in front of him, he had another thing coming.

I straightened my posture glaring at him, masking the terror stirring in my veins.

"As far as I am concerned, I do not require anyone's help. So, why don't you take your opinions where they are actually needed for once."

His face gained a furious scarlet shade, jaw tightening, his features hardening.

"This way your highness."

Though the words were polite, his tone was anything but.

Gazing ahead of me, I moved. Holding my head high.

I marched to my room, ignoring everything and everyone.

The moment I turned down the corner, and my door appeared in my vision.

Terror eased its grip over my heart, relief feeling my soul.

It was probably the biggest mistake I committed; letting my guard down.

Strong rough fingers gripped the back of my throat, before pushing me forward with all their might.

Because I wasn't prepared, I sailed across the air, my body slamming hard in the hard floor of my room.

My head smashed hard on the threshold of my door. A sickening crack followed,as the world around me blurred, hot white pain zinging through my body, like lightning crashing down on me, burning me.

Shock froze my limbs, for a few precious moments I just tried to breathe through the pounding in my head.

"How dare you?!" I screamed, fury blanketing the fear.

I could feel the sticky liquid flowing down the side of my face, as I glared at the man, his eyes were molten lava of fury.

"How dare you talk to me the way you did out there?! Did you think that there would be no repercussions?!"

Anger reverabarating through his words, insanity shining in his gaze.

"Who do you think you are to touch me?!" I screamed back, ignoring the agony busting through my head.

"Dhriti!" Devyani's sharp voice had me jolting.

"Why are you shouting at me? Look what he has done to me?!" I snapped at the woman, whose hard gaze pierced mine.

She walked down the corridor, her nose high.

"You are a princess stop creating a scene."

I gapped at her words. Was she blind? Couldn't she see the blood pouring down me and soaking my clothes.

"My father will punish you both. There is no way-"

"Enough Dhriti. I have had enough of you." Father's sharp words, sliced through mine.

He prowled down the corridor, wrath contorting his handsome features into something monstrous and evil.

I stumbled back.

"But-"

He raised his hand silencing my words.

Betrayal flayed through my heart, my throat tightening with emotions, as tears burned in my eyes.

"You have created enough drama."

He hissed once he reached me, wrapping his hand around my bicep.

His grip tightened painfully, as all I could do was stare.

My father was shouting at me, when his general was the one out of line?!

Why?!

I couldn't comprehend the situation.

"You have spoiled my damn name. I have had enough of your idiocy tainting my name."

He growled, as he tugged me inside my room.

"Today I will ensure that you will never run again." Menace rang through his words, his eyes held an insanity, that chilled me to my very core.

He flung me on the bed.

"Get it!" He roared, as two servants stumbled in.

I was too focused on his face to notice what was in their hand.

Maybe if I had, than I could have protected myself.

"Hold her down!" He growled.

Athiran and Devyani smirked, their filthy hands holding me down, snapping me out of my shocked stuppor.

"Let me go!" I shouted.

"What will you do otherwise?" Athiran shouted, his face inches from mine.

"You have no one! No one to protect you. No family, no loved one. No husband. Nothing!"

He hissed, poison seeping in each of his words.

I glared at him, not letting the tears flow, even though they desperately wanted to.

The sharp hot pain on the soles of my feet had me screaming on top of my voice.

Agony flooded through my system, my throat was sore as I continued to scream, my skin sizzled on the melting hot rods that were pressed in the bottom of my feet.

The grip of my body disappeared, the world vanished.

The ache didn't stop, it consumed my entire being, as it blazed through my soul.

I don't know for how long I screamed, cried and begged.

My throat was hoarse, my voice completely gone.

There was nothing left. . .

All I could feel was pain.

It was my only reality.

I was alone, oh so alone. And there was no end to this torment.

I wanted for it end. But it burned my being in its blazing hot flames.

Tears flowed continuously, I cried and cried.

There was no help.

No one.

Till maybe some god in heaven had some mercy on me, and the world began to turn on its axis, everything swirled in a colourful mess, before dark spots danced in my vision.

If I never woke, that would be a blessing.

This pain...it was too much.

And I had no more strength.

That was my last thought before darkness pulled me in its embrace. . .

____

(An hour after Draupadi fainted)

Sehdev's POV:

Precisely three weeks ago my life had been altered forever, I had found out exactly where Drau was.

And since then me and my brothers' had worked extremely hard, day and night going over different plans, pulling various strings to get our wife back.

We needed a plan.

We needed to retrieve our wife safely.

And for that we needed access to King Rajendra's palace.

Never in a thousand years, I would have imagined that his animosity towards us, would have led to him kidnapping our bride and turning our lives hell.

I swear, the day I get my hands on him, I'll tear him piece by piece.

That monster had stolen our lives.

And had the guts to try and remarry her.

I'll burn down his palace, before he so much as looks at her.

The huge gates of Rajendra's palace groaned as they opened, distracting me from my furious rant.

"Welcome Prince Ayushman. We had been waiting for you. His highness has told us everything about you getting us a new set of bodyguards."

A man dressed in a brown dhoti and a matching angvastra walks out.

He screamed wealth, from the heavy neckpiece to the gems stuffed crown.

The man had a pouchy belly, with curled up moustaches over his lips. He had watery grey eyes and looked about late in his fifties with pepper black hair.

A sleazy smirk curved on his lips, arrogance screamed in his every movement.

Ayushman smiled, the man had easily stepped up when we had reached out to him.

We needed people that we could trust with this plan, and men who were willing to burn down their alliance with King Rajendra.

Men he trusted.

And Ayushman, now the king of Saurashtra was one such man, who had been a trusted ally of Rajendra.

Up until he got to know that the man had dared to hold his sister there against her will and had wiped her memory.

If we wanted, we could have easily attacked King Rajendra's Kingdom but we wanted to know exactly who was the mastermind behind this, and why they were doing it.

And for that we had to play this game of cat and mouse.

It was necessary.

But I hated it.

There was nothing more I would love, than to come in here with our army and burn their lives down to nothing but ashes.

The way they had when they had dared kidnap my Drau.

My precious girl.

"General Athiran, it is a great pleasure to meet you. And yes, I did get the bodyguards."

Ayushman flashed a diplomatic grin, that perfectly masked his hatred for this man.

It was art that he had mastered well. He jumped down from the horses, eyes scanning the surroundings.

I along with my brothers' followed his suit.

And today was the day, I was going to meet my wife.

My brothers and I are finally going to see her face. After the never ending wait, we were here.

This all seemed like a dream.

Drau was alive and we were about to meet her.

A dream that was now becoming my reality.

Finally.

As I walked through the palace of King Rajendra, fury buzzed under my skin.

I wanted to tear the vile man with my bare hands. Among my siblings I was the least aggressive.

But I hated this man.

I wanted to shred him right down to his soul.

The man had messed with the wrong people. And he had no idea.

My gaze moved to my brothers, who marched beside me, dressed as bodyguards.

A disguise.

"I am so glad that you stepped up once again when we required your assistance. The king is very pleased."

Athiran chuckled, his gaze licking with Ayushman, who grinned back.

"I am glad. I however would now need to leave as I have a very important business in the neighbouring kingdom."

"But your highness. You haven't even met King Rajendra."

"I will surely meet him the next time I visit. Give him my regards. I apologise though, the matter is of urgent need, hence I'll be leaving."

"Okay your highness. If you are sure, I would let you leave. But next time you are around you have to give us the honor of being our guest."

"I surely would. Thank you. I'll see you."

Ayushman smiled one final time, moving back to his horse and leaving with the rest of his soldiers, just as it had been planned.

Athiran watched him disappear down the corner, before his snake-like gaze met mine.

"You all will be coming with me." He ordered, the fake kindness all disappearing in thin air.

His features hardened as he regarded me and my brothers.

"You all will be the assigned bodyguards of princess Dhriti."

He ordered as he turned walking away, not looking back to see if we are actually following.

"You are never to leave her alone, she had already attempted running away and has been caught."

Anger weaved in his voice as he huffed.

"These kids nowadays are such a burden." He grumbled moving faster.

"You will be put on your duties right from this minute." He took another turn.

"Kill before and ask questions later, if someone tries to help her escape. Do whatever you want, but I don't want her going missing."

"You will not interfere with any of her daily teachings. If you can't help, stay out of it. Your only duty is to make sure she stays put."

"And when I mean you don't leave her alone, I mean every second of her day. No matter who says what.

That girl is too smart. That is why I specifically requested an eunuch who could follow her around everywhere."

"It will be your head if she goes missing." Athiran snapped, coming to stand in front of a huge oak door.

He reached down to his waist, before pulling out a set of keys and holding them out to bhraata Arjun, who was dressed as a eunuch.

"She is only allowed out when it is absolutely necessary. It's your job to keep her in line."

The slight tick in my brother's jaw was the only indication of his fury, other than that he appeared calm as the ocean.

"Of course, we wouldn't give you a reason to complain." Bhraata Arjun spoke smoothly, his lips curving in a shy smile.

He was too good as Brihannala, had I been at his place, I was pretty sure I would have strangled this man by now.

Athiran gave a final nod before disappearing down the hallway.

"How careless of this bastard. He didn't even ask our name, for all he knew we could be some perverts trying to get into her room."

Bhraata Bheem gritted the words out.

"Not now Bheem, for now we just focus on Drau. We'll deal with them one by one."

My eldest brother was always the voice of reason, and today was no different.

At the worst of my moments in my life, he had always grounded me.

The one person who had been more of a father in our days growing up, when our father had died.

"Open the door, I want to see her." My twin whispered, desperation clogging his words.

And I was no better, being so close to her, I wanted to slam the door open and erase all the distance between us. . .

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