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All the members of the Kuru family, along with the royal family of Himavanti, stood awaiting for the arrival of Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi. Their eyes fixed at the palace main gate. Kunti, with her sons and daughter-in-law would be here any moment.

Madirakshi, Suchitra and Dushala, excitedly whispered to each other. Everyone was present there including Shakuni, but the apparent Kuru crown prince, Duryodhan wasn't.

Bhishma spoke to Dushasan, "Where is Duryodhan, son?"

Dushasan replied slowly, as if he was trying to find appropriate words, "He said, he won't be coming, Pitamah."

Dhritarashtra looked suddenly anxious, like he knew something, Shakuni had a cunning smirk, while Gandhari spoke, as soon as she heard her second son, "Duryodhan hasn't come?!"

"No Mata," Dushasan replied.

The blindfolded queen sighed, as she asked Sulochana to hold aarti thaal, and told Dushala to guide her till the chamber of Duryodhan. 

"Shall I come along?" Dushasan asked Gandhari.

"No. You stay here to receive your brothers and sister-in-law."

"Your mother is right." Bhishma said, Dushasan nodded quietly.

Madirakshi looked ahead at the gate. Karna had left this morning, due to an urgent message from his kingdom. She glanced at him from the balcony, while he was climbing the chariot, when his gaze accidentally fell on her. He smiled as she waved at him.

"Didi," Suchitra whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Stop smiling," she teased. "If someone noticed, they will think wrong!" Madirakshi glared as her sister as latter giggled.

Bhishma called for a servant, ordering him to ask Gandhari, how much time it would take for Duryodhan. The servant went obeying. No sooner, Gandhari was already back with Dushala alone.

"Duryodhan didn't come?" Bhishma asked Gandhari.

"No Tatshri," Gandhari replied upset and disappointed. "My son has his own condition to come."

Dhritarashtra looked embarrassed, as others purposely ignored what they just heard.

Soon, the anticipated moment finally arrived as the series of royal chariots entered at the palace, carrying Vidur, Pandavas, Kunti, Draupadi along with Krishna and Balram. The subjects and natives of the city welcomed them with enthusiasm, as they showered the petals of marigold and rose on them.

Splendour and pomp was everywhere. Vidur walked ahead, while Kunti along with her five sons and daughter-in-law made way towards the family members, who looked more than happy.

"Welcome, O dear sons of my brother." Dhritarashtra faked as he welcome the Pandavas. The blind king was happy but more than that he was anxious.

Kunti hugged Gandhari, then Sulochana, as soon as they met. Childhood friends were meeting after a long time. Madirakshi and Suchitra greeted Kunti who couldn't help but smile.

The Princesses of Mayurvan and the Pandavas smiled at each other. Madirakshi and Suchitra waved at the Yadava Kumaras. Krishna blinked with a beautiful smile, while Balram nodded smiling at them.

As the sons of Pandu met others one-by-one and took their blessings, Kunti pulled Draupadi forward introducting the latter to the members of the Kuru family.

"Pranam," Draupadi's greeted the elders in her silvery voice.

"What a beautiful daughter-in-law you've got Kunti," Sulochana smiled.

"Sons come and stand with Draupadi. I've to do the aarti of our first Kul-Vadhu!" Gandhari said joyously.

"No sister, Draupadi is not our first daughter-in-law," Kunti told.

All given her a questioning look.

"Yes Mata Gandhari, Bhrata Bheem has got married to Hidimbi, the sister of the king of rakshsas," Arjun said "they've a son too, Ghatothkach."

"Oh I see!" Bhishma said, "Ghatothkach will never have the right over this throne, as he is half rakshsa but he will always be my dear great-grandson." Bhishma smiled making Bheem smile too.

"Alright. Dear sons now stand along with Draupadi, so that Gandhari take aarti." Bhishma smiled. Gandhari came forward as she did the formalities.

Kunti noticed the absence of Duryodhan. "Didi, where's Duryodhan?" She asked.

Gandhari was in a fix. She can't say the truth, but she unable to lie to Kunti as well, who was like a younger sister to her. Dushasan jumped in, looking at the perplexed expression of his mother.

"He is busy, Chhoti Ma." He said.

"Oh, it's fine. You welcome your bhabhi  then." Kunti smiled. "Draupadi, he's your brother-in-law, Dushasan." She introduced as the two exchanged greeting.

Bheem rolled his eyes, "What's the need to meet him?" He remarked silently, making Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev giggled, while Yudhishthir gestured them to stay quiet.

"Oh, and Tatshri, they're the sons of my brother, Vasudev. Krish–" Kunti was interrupted by Bhishma.

"Krishna and Balram," Bhishma smiled, as if he got to greet the god. "They doesn't need introduction, Kunti. Anyone can recognize them with the divine glow of their faces."

The Yadava brothers smiled as they came forward to greet them. Krishna was about to touch Bhishma's feet when the grandsire stopped him.

Krishna given an innocent look as he spoke, "Don't I have any claim to your blessing, Pitamah?"

Bhishma smiled feeling bliss and blessed by the presense of the Godhead. "What blessings can I give you, Vasudev?"

Balram couldn't help smiling, listening to Bhishma.

"You're being miserly, Pitamah." Krishna smiled playfully, making others laugh.

"What could a droplet give to an ocean, Vasudev?" Bhishma replied.

"Whatever you say." Krishna smiled, then looked at Balram, "Let's go inside, Dau. Since they didn't bless me, they won't bless you either."

★

Madirakshi and Suchitra made their way towards Kunti's chamber, on being invited.

"Kunti Ma," Suchitra called, as they head inside, finding Kunti with their mother and Draupadi.

"Oh dear, come," Kunti smiled.

The sister sat on the couch, when Kunti spoke, "You two and Draupadi already were introduced to each other. But not properly enough, and I think she might get bored in the company of us, elderly women,"

The young girls giggled as Kunti continued, chuckling, "So, you girls company Panchali. I and Sulochana are going to see Gandhari didi."

"Sure, Kunti Ma." Madirakshi smiled, Kunti caressed her hair lovingly as she and Sulochana walked out leaving the three young girls in the chamber.

"You're Chandrajaa Madirakshi, if I'm not wrong," Draupadi asked with an innocent filled voice.

"That's right!" Madirakshi said, "So you know about me."

"Yes, and not only about you but Rajkumari Suchitra as well." Draupadi smiled.

"Only 'Suchitra' would do," Suchitra simply smiled.

"Indeed. Consider us friends," Madirakshi added.

"Then please call me just by my name as well." Draupadi replied.

"I'll call you Krishnaa, then." Madirakshi smiled.

"Oh sure," Draupadi laughed merrily.

"I'll call you by any of your names as my mind suggests," Suchitra joked, the room filled with merry sound of laughter.

"So Panchali," Suchitra asked, Draupadi's attention shifted to her, "I want to ask you something, if you don't mind."

"Go ahead, please," Draupadi insisted.

"Arjun was the one, who won your hand. Still you got to marry all the Pandava brothers. How's that?"

"Well, it was due to some circumstances but," Draupadi begin, Madirakshi was curious too, and finally she will be able to hear the answer. "We all agree upon this marriage. This marriage didn't happen without my concern. That's important. " She smiled.

"Yes, however my father was concerned about this kind of marriage but then Dharmaraj told him that polyandrous marriage is indeed rare, but it doesn't happen or it is wrong— there is nothing like that."

"A beautiful answer indeed," Madirakshi smiled, as Suchitra nodded smiling too.

"Seems like my friends already forgotten about me," Krishna said entering the room with Balram and Arjun.

"You're not alone, Madhav." Arjun added, as he took a seat beside Suchitra.

"Stop behaving like children you two," Balram chuckled.

"I agree with Dau,"

"I second that,"

Response came from Madirakshi and Suchitra as they shook their heads smiling.

"Seems like the great warrior Arjun is jealous of his own wife," Suchitra teased.

"Please don't be silly, Chitra!" Arjun replied acting unaffected.

All laughed when Madirakshi spoke, "And Madhav, you're speaking as if you're leaving tomorrow."

"Well..." Krishna trailed off, rubbing his neck.

"You're leaving tomorrow?!" Madirakshi, Suchitra and Draupadi said astonished.

"That's true, actually." Balram said sheepishly.

"Yeah, he's too much in a hurry." Arjun said in disbelief.

"Oh-ho, you people are speaking as if it is the last time we're meeting." Krishna said taking a seat.

"Still Govind, you and Dau could've leave a little later." Draupadi said.

"Panchali is right, Madhav." Arjun agreed too.

"But there's a lot of work pending in Dwarka too," Balram said.

"Exactly!" Krishna said, "Yeah, but maybe my plan alone can change later."

"Okay, now what's this suppose to mean?" Balram looked at him wanting an answer.

"Depends on the circumstances, Dau." Krishna smiled as he looked at Arjun.

"Madhav never talks, he says riddle." Madirakshi shook her head, as all agreed with her, while Krishna smiled as they continued with their random talks.

★

It was late at night. Suchitra was walking in the palace garden alone. She sat near a small pond, looking at the serene reflection of the beautiful moon in the water. She saw another figure appearing in the water; it was Arjun.

"Arjun," she looked back at him "You here? So late night?"

"I could've ask the same," Arjun shrugged making Suchitra sneer.

"I mean, I thought you might be with Draupadi."

"Draupadi is going to be with Bhrata Yudhishthir this year." Arjun told, sitting down too.

"Oh I see!"

Arjun nodded.

"Anyway, tell me one thing,"

"Yes" he said attentively, folding his hands.

"Look be honest." She told him and he nodded.

"I had met a young brahmin almost a month ago," she said and looked in his eyes, "Was it you?" She said suspicious.

He turned nervous "Chitra–"

"Answer!" She said stern.

"Yeah, it was me only." He given a positive nod.

"I was right!"

He smiled, "Well, I think— you kind of liked that brahmin?" He said slowly with a hope in his voice.

She blushed hard, "Does it matter? I don't know that— does that brahmin like me back."

"And what if he does?" Arjun whispered. Suchitra's cheek turned into the hue of scarlet, "I should leave," she got up, ready to walk from there when Arjun caught her wrist.

Suchitra's breath hitched, as she felt Arjun getting up, hovering her from behind. He slowly pulled her towards him— his hand left her wrist, as it wrapping around her waist, and other caressing her cheek. Suchitra felt extremely shy at their proximity.

She glanced at him for a small moment, he was gazing at her lips. She lowered her eyes, when she heard him saying, "May I?"

She looked at him before closing her eyes. Arjun smiled at her, before he begins to close the gap between their lips.

Their lips were about to touch, when Suchitra got startled hearing someone's footsteps.

"Someone is coming this way," Suchitra whispered. Opening her eyes quickly she moved away from him, and soon, left.

Who might be here at this hour? He thought.

He walked ahead, to find a soldier there, who was guarding and walking towards the way, where he was with Suchitra a few moments ago. Arjun sighed in disappointment because of the person who distured his beautiful moment.

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Hey there, readers!
Here is the new chapter.
Sorry for being late, I was busy since my college is started.
Please comment your delightful thoughts and hit the star button to vote.
Stay tuned!