Shatrunjay walked through the corridors lost in his own thoughts...

He stared at Vrishasen's chamber door. With a heavy sigh he gathered courage and nocked the door.. He heard Vrishasen say come in..

He saw Vrishasen reading a book.. He looked at Shatrunjay and kept the book aside..

Vrishasen-" The weather is pretty isn't it? "

Shatrunjay rolled his eyes.. It was Vrishasen's lame way to start a heavy conversation..

Shatrunjay-"Jhest why did you call me here?"
Vrishasen-" Ofcourse to talk to you... about all this marriage thing.."

Shatrunjay-" Jhest! Whatever I said earlier to Pitashree well it's.. I don't understand how to explain it.. But.. I will definitely apologise to him later but.."
Vrishasen-" Don't hesitate anuj, Tell me everything.."

Shatrunjay-" I didn't like the fact that mataji and pitaji arranged my marriage without.. asking me.."
Vrishasen-" I understand but they just found a perfect bride for you! Matashree and Pitashree always think good for us! And yes as much as I heard from mata, Snigdha and Madhu Raakhi is a cultured and a pretty girl.. Anuj are you in love with some other princess?"

Shatrunjay's eyes widened..

Vrishasen-" I feel you are hesitating because you might be in love.. Well it's because you have grown up, gained strength and are good looking! If I were in your position I would have gotten married but you aren't! You are avoiding this topic because.. I think you know why!"

Shatrunjay felt numb his brother was suspecting that he is in love.. Even if he told Vrish about this karna would eventually find out.. He didn't want that.. Shatrunjay decided to continue his secret..

Shatrunjay-" I don't love anyone.. It's just I am not ready yet.. I don't even know her.."
Vrishasen-" Anuj few years ago, I was in the same position as you.. I was also a angry young man who didn't want to get married any soon.. It all changed when I went to Snighad as Gandhar Kumar's companion.. I was only supposed to gaurd him but when Snigdha all of a sudden garlanded me. I was startled.. It happened so quickly.."

Vrishasen took a deep breath and continued..

"When I looked at Snigdha I knew if I would've removed that garland her reputation would have gone to naught.. So I decided to go along with the series of events that followed.."

Shatrunjay-" But? Do you love Snigdha bhabhi?"

Vrishasen-" Yes I do love her.. After we got married definitely it took us time to understand each other but.. when I met  Madhura.. It was pure love.. I couldn't give the same kind of love to Snigha.. Shatrunjay if you don't love anyone than get married to Raakhi.. Understand her.. If you say no.. What will other suitors think about her? Please understand what I am trying to say.. BUT incase you love someone else it's not too late tell us.."

He cupped his brother's face..

Vrishasen-" It's because when you have two wives under the same roof , and they both love you eternally.. It's hard to return the same to them equally.. That's one of the reasons I fail at.. Even today.. But nevermind that.. The bottom line is.. Get married to the one you love.. Handling two wives is hard.. I know very well.."

Shatrunjay nodded..

Shatrunjay-" I understand what you are saying jhest.. But I definitely don't love anyone.."

His heart ached everytime he said he didn't love anyone.. Suthanu's smiley face flashed down his memory lane..

Vrishasen-" Than it's all good! Let's go and tell Pitashree about your answer.."

Vrishasen placed his hand over Shatrunjay's shoulder.. They went in the darbar.. Everyone were laughing while Karna,Vrushali,Duryodhana and Bhanu were talking seriously..

Vrishasen greeted them.. Shatrunjay stared at his parents.. karna felt hurt earlier but now his eyes softened at him..

Karna-" Putra.. If you feel pressured about this marriage it's alright we will cancel it.."
Bhanumati-"Jhest didnt we talk about this earlier? You and didi talked about the marriage.. you both talked first.. If you cancel it I fear.. I fear they will insult you badly.."

Vrushali-"No Bhanu.. It's alright.. If we must listen to little taunts for our son's happiness we can do it.."

Before Duryodhan could say anything. 

Shatrunjay-" I am ready to marry the kumari..."

Everyone looked at him.. Vrish gestured him if he was really okay.. Shatrunjay nodded..

Shatrunjay-" Pitashree I have decided to marry her.. I cannot see you both get insulted.. Afterall this respect you all earned I don't want it to get crushed all because of me.."

Karna smiled.. The atmosphere was light once again... Sushen tried getting close to his brother but everyone kept feeding sweets to Shatrunjay...

Sushen finally caught up he looked at his eyes.. Dead.. His eyes looked dead.. Vrishasen felt happy he felt he gave his brother the best advice.. He refused to leave Shatrunjay's shoulder and kept patting his head.. Shatrunjay tried to hold a straight face trying not to tear up... Karna ruffled his hair and Shatrunjay flashed a real quick fake smile... He couldn't take it anymore..

He got out of the crowd and decided to go back to his chamber and write everything to Suthanu so their won't be any misunderstandings..

But Snigdha and Madhura stopped him.. They wanted to start the marriage preparations asap.. Just than Duryodhana asked..

Duryodhana- " Mitra! Should I let them deliver those letters now!"

Karna-" Ofcourse! We must start the preparations and let our guests know about the marriage in advance! Make sure the letter goes to Dwarka and Indraprastha first! I wouldn't want the folks of Indraprastha to be present at such a momentous occasion but.. Since my daughter in law is there we have to invite them.. And it would be a great chance to meet the little one!"

Shatrunjay was panicking inside...How could he tell Suthanu about his current situation? What if she would start hating him after knowing about this? And his father.. He could make out that he didn't want the Pandavas and Upapandavas present in his wedding..

So much hate? How could he tell about Suthanu? His vision went slightly dizzy as he kept thinking what was about to happen.. Thinking how much pain Suthanu will receive when she reads the wedding invitation..

He saw two horsemen taking the letters...

Karna-" Everyone get ready! We must leave! The king of kekaya requested us that the marriage shall take place in their kingdom as Raakhi is their only daughter and they want to share this precious moment with their subjects! Mitra Duryodhan as discussed earlier, kakashree, kakishree, you, bhanu and everyone come their 2 days prior to the wedding!"

Bhanumati-" Ji jhest! We will definitely come!"

Shatrunjay felt as if he was being left back ... The world was going ahead.. He couldn't process everything.. The voices around him faded.. He saw Chitrasen gesturing him to get on his horse..

He felt no control over his body as he walked up and jumped on his horse.. All he could think at the moment was... Suthanu....

In Indraprastha...

Pragti and Vatsala were practicing some kathak... Suthanu was looking after the baby.. He kept babbling something in baby language while Suthanu pretended to listen..

The darbar was full as usual.. Yudhisthir let Prativindhya solve most of the problems.. Arjun kept snapping at Shrutkarm to focus in the darbar and not steal looks with Ciara..

Draupadi was looking forward to Nitya's arrival.. She had missed her so much.. It was a normal day...

Until...

The senapati of Hastinapur made his appearance.. He gave Yudhisthir the letter before reading it out loud.. He wanted his daughters and daughter in law to be present in the court..

A letter from Hastinapur was always special for them.. And they would never read it without everyone's presence..

Pragti was the first to be there followed by Suthanu and Vatsala who was now trying to calm her hungry baby..

Yudhisthir first read it while Draupadi tried peeking in.. A small smile came on his face.. It increased everyone's curiosity..

Arjun-" Jhest now are you willing to tell is what's written ? I am sure everyone is waiting very patiently!"

Yudhisthir-" Haha anuj, Sorry but it took me some time to process! It's suprising that the Angraj wrote this himself! He was smart enough to send this by a Hastinapur soldier he knew we wouldn't say no!"

Pragti straightened her back.. So much hatred?

Yudhisthir-" Well it's a good news, his third son is getting married to the princess of kekaya.. Very smart of him to get his son married to our worst enemy!"

Suthanu felt her body go numb.. Third son? Wasn't it Shatrunjay? Worry toke over and her breathing was heavy..

Suthanu-" Pitashree I am sorry to disturb but could you tell us who is Angraj's third son? It must be mentioned in the letter?"

Her voice was low.. Pragti looked at her sister.. She squeezed her hand and assured her that everything would be alright.. Vatsala patted the baby's head while her eyes were fixed on Suthanu..

Yudhisthir nodded and went through the letter once again..

Yudhisthir- " His name is Shatrunjay."

Suthanu was shocked beyond words.. She felt as if she lost balance, Pragti tightened her grip and supported her..
Vatsala couldn't understand how was that possible?

Nakul-" I think it's a clever move by them.. Kekaya and Indraprastha never got along! And kekaya is known for their military power and resources, I bet they must of got so much in dowry!"

Bheem-"  anuj! That sut has definitely matured! His son was able to put on good reputation on us by saving our grandchild well it wasn't that hard of a task our Prathi would've done better.. I felt they are good people but they are selfish,cheap and definitely do run behind money haha!"

Prativindhya looked at Vatsala her smile faded at her husband's insult.. Bheem never left a chance to insult anyone from Anga side.. The upapandavas hated the way their fathers talked about the sutfamily but Draupadi had instructed them not to speak in between...

Draupadi-" I agree that kekaya is our most troublesome enemy but since we are invited we must go..."

Arjun-" Draupadi it's no less than a insult! We swore that we won't step in their land until we win it! Going there, attending a wedding, eating their food?"

Draupadi-" I understand arya.. But we must go not for us but atleast for Vatsala I am sure she would want to enjoy her brother's marriage? Am I right Vatsala?"

Vatsala looked at them.. her grip slightly tightened over the child's head and she slowly nodded.. The argument went on for  while and it was finally decided that they were going...

In the midst of all this.. Suthanu didn't know how to react... When her mother asked Vatsala if he wanted to enjoy Shatrunjay's marriage her heart broke to million peices not being able to take it anymore.. She decided to leave.. 

The news and fighting atmosphere made her nausiatic... her stomach felt sick as she made her way to her chamber... without being noticed..

[ Poor Suthanu! The next chapter highlights her sadness and misery! Stay tuned!]