Dhriti checked the list for the final time, last night had been complete chaos.

Her body ached, tiredness seeping in her bones. She always knew that servants worked hard, but after today, her respect for them had just hit another notch higher.

Preparing the gifts for a royal wedding at the last moment was no joke, and she was severely paying the price. Her aching muscles were a testament.

Prince Nakul indeed was the reincarnation of the demon. There was no doubt about it anymore.

One moment they are all sweet and the very next they are way more sour than a bitter gourd.

Idiots.

She huffed, gazing down at her hands as she mentally prepared for the walk ahead. Being a maid she couldn't exactly demand a palanquin.

But how she wished she had one now.

"Is everything ready to go?"

Nakul thundered gazing around at all the gifts loaded in the chariots. His sharp gaze cutting through her heart, it thumped with a deep ache. Confusion contorted as a frown on her face, making her

"Yes, your highness." Sarcasm dripped from her words, she lowered her gaze.

Stomping down on the hurt.

She could feel his imposing persona, he stepped closer, his warm breath fanning across the soft skin of her neck.

And those traitorous sparks ran through her.

The heat of his body was tugging her closer, it was too inviting, and she wanted nothing more than to curl up in his arms.

"You would remember your place, is that understood maid?" Nakul hissed spitting the last word like it was a curse, her hackles rose, she braced herself.

The earlier thoughts turning to dust.

She had to remind herself there was nothing warm and good about the five princes.

Their constant personality changes were giving her a whiplash.

"Yes."

She whispered, trying to tone down the fury that bubbled in her chest, like a volcano ready for irruption.

He took a step back from her.

His heart yearned to reach out and tug her closer, what he hated more was the fact even after knowing his Drau, that his love was alive, it just didn't seem to matter to him.

It would be better if she hated him, it was a disaster, that his emotions were in the process of committing.

"Nakul."

Yudhisthir called out, walking up to his sibling signaling him to get on his horse.

There was a restlessness in him. He wanted to reach Panchaal as soon as possible.

The mere thought that he could meet his Drau was everything.

Dhriti gazed up at him, and it felt like years had passed since their conversation last night.

There was a distant coldness to him now. Like a true ice king.

"Get on the chariot Dhriti." Arjun snapped, walking ahead, checking his horse before straddling it.

She turned to look at him, a frown marking her face. What in the name of everything holy was wrong with them?!

This infuriating men!

"We don't have all day."

Bheem growled from the other end, and Sehdev once again pretended like she didn't exist.

Hurt pierced through her, frustration and fury tangling in the pit of her stomach.

Seething silently she walked up to the chariot, where Nakul stood glaring daggers at her.

Her foot caught on a stone, she stumbled, bracing herself for the hard impact of the ground.

But it never did come, a strong arm wrapped around her waist tugging her in a hard chest.

Everything around her seemed to fade away, Nakul's touch had her body coming alive.

Those maddening sparks roared to life, his tantalizing perfume tugging the strings of her heart.

"You're so useless, you can't even be trusted to walk. I don't know, how you survived so many years. Or maybe I do, by leeching off others."

He hissed, his jaw setting. His grip tightening on her.

His words were like a bucked of cold water dousing every last spark, tears stung in her eyes.

Humiliation cutting deep into her bones.

She bit back a whimper, tears stung her eyes, his words had flayed her deep, she wouldn't confess it to him, but they had shredded her heart.

Gulping down the hurt in her throat, she glared at him through her glassy eyes.

Her face, set with determination.

"Believe what you want. But at this point I feel repulsed by your touch."

She volleyed back, moving out of his arms, holding her head high, as she got on the chariot.

There might not be a crown on her head, but the elegance and the dignity that she carried herself with screamed royalty.

The first son of Madri just turned, not letting her see that her words hit a nerve.

And he knew he deserved it. The stabbing guilt, and the unrelenting pain was something he deserved.

He knew he was being rude, but he needed to. She needs to hate him. He only ever loved Drau, and she was his everything.

And now that his wife was alive,he couldn't harbour the thoughts of cheating on her.

Sure multiple marriage for men were alright. But could he hurt his precious wife with such horrendous betrayal?

No.

He could never.

The mere thought crippled his heart. He didn't understand his emotions towards Dhriti, and he didn't plan to explore. He only ever loved one woman and that was his wife.

Straddling his horse, the journey began towards a new destination.

Dhirti hadn't realized when she had dozed off, the exhaution finally caught up to her, but when she woke up the sun was high in the sky.

"What is so special about you?" She heard a feminine voice hiss in her ear.

Turning to look at the source of the words, she noticed a girl standing next to the chariot frowning at her.

"Excuse me?" Dhriti gazed at her confused, sleep muddling her thoughts.

Couldn't she catch a break? Like come on.

"Do you have gold in between your legs or something? That the princes treat you so special -"

A loud slap resonated throughout the place, all the activities halted, as Dhriti breathed heavily, fury burning in her veins.

Sleep vanishing in an instant.

"You would mind your tongue while talking to me. Never in my life have I ever done something to deserve a behaviour like this."

Dhriti fumed, fury consumed her veins. The woman glared at her, eyes hardening with hatred, she was about to shout, but suddenly her demeanor changed to a crumpled woman.

Her eyes wide with terror, fat tear drops tracing down her cheeks, as she cowered.

Confusion filled through Dhirti, at the maid's sudden change in behaviour.

"What's happening here?" A very familiar gruff timber thundered through the forest.

Unease clutched the air around, in its evil grips, the servants and soldiers' alike shifted in discomfort.

"Your highness!" The maid wailed, running behind Dhirti, who turned to face around.

The maid fell on her knees in front of Yudhisthir's feet.

"I apologise. It is nothing. She did nothing." The maid whispered, the trail of tears never ceasing as she trembled like a dry leaf.

Dhriti was completely perplexed, what the hell was going on around here?

"Please stand up. And kindly share with us what is the issue, you do not have to fear anyone."

The eldest son of Kunti reassured, though his voice remained carefully blank just as his expressions.

The woman looked up, dread flashing through her orbs, her bottom lip quivering.

"No...nothing happened." She whispered.

"Why did Dhriti hit you? It's an order, answer truthfully."

The woman wobbled on her two fet as she stood, focusing everywhere but at the king.

"I was just waking Dhriti up, when she attacked saying how dare a low born touch a high born like her. That I was a filthy trash, not worthy of a being under her shoes. But it's okay. Please don't punish her, it's the fate of us low borns to be humiliated my king."

The woman's voice was threadbare, as she bursted in tears, hiding her face behind her hands.

Her act so flawless, that had Dhrtit not seen her rude her behaviour a moment ago, she would have fallen into this damsel in distress act.

Horror flashed through Dhirti's features, "She's lying! How could you lie about such a thing?! I would never-"

"No! She's not! I saw it all. Pardon me to speak without permission my king, but this woman has been harrishing the maids. I can no longer keep quite."

Another woman, that Dhriti had probably never seen in her life, moved through the crowd.

Yudhisthir' s gaze clashed with Dhirti's.

"Is it true?"

She shook her head violently, fury burning through her veins.

"I did no such thing, I have never seen her in my life-"

"Look at this marks my king."

The woman flashed him her hand, ugly purple yellowish bruises marred her tanned skin, her face a perfect picture of sadness.

Yudhisthir's face hardened, his icy gaze shredding Dhirti's soul into shreds.

The eldest son of Kunti gave her a hard glare. His heart refused to believe that Dhriti would do something like this.

But that's ridiculous. He barely knows the girl. Why would these women lie?

And justice demanded evidence and by the look of it this woman had plenty against Dhriti.

Justice didn't work on emotions, it did on facts.

His father's words resonated in his mind. Were his emotions and behaviour towards Dhriti made her exploit her powers?

Was she like other power hungry girls?

His heart roared with a no. But he held his breath. Tightening his grip over his emotions.

The battle raging in him.

"This is not how we work here Dhriti, everyone here is treated with respect and curtsey."

"But I didn't do anything!" Dhriti fumed, hurt blistering her soul.

Her hurt slaughtered his soul, clipping away a small piece of his heart.

"Then why do you think these women are accusing you?"

He turned to look at her, giving her a chance to explain. A part of his soul begged her to tell him everything, he didn't want to do this.

Dhirti opened her mouth, lips moving but no sound came out.

What could she say? That she had no idea. That this women were accusing her without a reason?

That he would believe her.

By his reaction it was clear that he believed them! Than what did it matter?

Why does the fact that he didn't believe her hurt more than this woman accusing her?

Tears burned behind her dark orbs, golden flakes roaring in the ebony inferno.

"I do not know. . ." Her words were barely a whisper, as people around began murmuring, glaring at her accusingly.

"There's no point in lying." Yudhisthir's voice lacked any judgement.

"You shall be only sticking to your original duties of helping the twins. And as for your punishment, you shall do a fast for tomorrow, and chant the lord's name. "

"Yes, your highness."

Dhirti pushed the words out of her lips, her gaze hooked on the ground, fearing that if she looked up tears would rain down her cheeks.

The ground turned blurry, her bottom lip quivered. The fact that he believed them slayed deeper than the women's words.

"Everyone get back to your work." The eldest son of Pandu snapped, seeing Dhriti fold into herself, shredded a part of his soul.

There were times he hated being a king, and right now he despised it the most.

The defeated slump of her shoulders, eyes shining with tears, tore him from within.

He watched as she turned away marching into the trees.

It always made him feel peace when he delivered justice, than why was it that today as he watched her walk away, his soul hurt?

He despised it.

The smiling face of his wife surfaced in his mind, her soft lips curving up, those dark eyes crackling with golden flakes looking so much like flames, looking up at him with so much trust and love.

How can he betray her? The gods had blessed him with the best blessing, his wife.

She was all that he needed. He couldn't betray her by thinking of another woman.

This was for better. . .

***

Do Vote and Comment!

***