The Pandavs along with Kunti, Abhijishya and Hidimba went inside the cave.

The scene before them baffled Abhijishya. Huge humanoid creatures were dancing in front an enormous status carved out of stone. They shouted "Jai Bhagwan Vrikodar." Their skin colours varied from ashy white to yellowish brown, reddish brown and even one or two had moss green skin.

One Rakshas having greyish brown skin sniffed the air and turned around. He was wearing animal hide as clothes and wore a lion's skull on his head. He was the only one wearing a tiger skin cloak so Abhijishya assumed him to be Hidimb. She could only estimate his height. He was definitely near 12 ft tall.

The other Rakshasas stopped dancing and turned around as well. It was disconcerting being looked at as food. They looked like salivating starved wolves.

"Well done, Hidimba. Well done. I knew you would bring us our meal. Listen my brothers and sisters, leave that big human for me. GO, feast on the others," Hidimba laughed in glee.

Hidimba looked alarmed. She stepped in front of them and yelled," Wait, wait. Bhaiya, please don't kill them. Please let them go. Don't sacrifice them to Bhagwan Viktodar. Please." She pleaded.

Hidimb roared in outrage. "Have you forgotten that you are a Rakshasi? Listen to my treacherous sister. She has fallen in love with that puny big human and forgotten our ways. Humans are our archenemies Hidimba. Move aside or else I'll sacrifice you to Bhagwan Vrikodar along with them."

Bheem looked astonished on hearing that Hidimba loved him. He looked at her and seemed to be in a dilemma.

Hidimba dropped before Hidimb's feet and joined her hands. "Please Bhaiya. Let them go. Whatever you deem my punishment, I accept it but please let them leave this forest."

Hidimb grasped Hidimba by her neck and threw her against the cave wall like a rag doll.

Abhijishya winced. The Pandavs tightened their hold on their weapons.

The Rakshasas were about to attack again. This time Arjun intervened.

"Wait." He said loudly. Hidimb growled in impatience.

"You are the King of Rakshasas. How come your subjects get to have their portion of meal first?" He asked with a slight hint of smirk gracing his face.

Hidimb

The Rakshasas looked at each other in confusion. "But we all eat together?" Hidimb asked in puzzlement.

"Then it is a sin. The king should always eat first. After he is finished, then only his subjects should begin eating," he said. "Sahadev you tell them." He winked at Sahadev.

"Uh. Yes yes. Bhrata Arjun is right. It is a great sin," Sahadev nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it is a grave insult to the King. It is a sin, isn't it? Jyesth you tell them. Jyesthbhrata never lies," Nakul said looking at Yudhisthir.

Yudhisthir was in a fix. "It is not a sin-"

"NOT A SIN BUT an age old tradition. It is tradition for the king to have his meal first. And you said you would like to have Bhrata Bheem," Abhijishya covered for Yudhisthir. Arjun sent her a grateful look.

Hidimb looked thoughtful. His subjects were about to attack again when he commanded," Stop. I'll feast on that big human first then you all can eat the others."

"Go Bhrata Bheem," Arjun said calmly.

Bheem stepped forward with his club while Hidimb summoned a maul on his hand. Abhijishya stared as it appeared out of thin air.

Hidimba stepped between them and said," Bhaiya, if you want to battle him, you have to kill me first."

Abhijishya quickly went beside her and held her hand. She leaned towards Hidimba's ear and whispered," I swear that Bhrata Bheem is going to win. Now come with me." She firmly dragged a crying Hidimba towards where Kunti was standing.

"But-"Hidimba protested. "But nothing. Now listen. I have a way of knowing things so I knew you were Hidimba when you met us in your disguise; just like I know now Bhrata Bheem will win," Abhijishya said quietly so that only Hidimba could hear.

The duel began. Hidimb shouted and leaped at Bheem swinging his maul. Bheem simply moved aside. Hidimb got riled up and was swinging around his maul madly. Bheem kept dodging his hits.

The Rakshasas were cheering for their King while the Pandavs were totally engrossed in the fight. They didn't outwardly say anything but their expressions of pleasure from Bheem slowly getting the upper hand was clear.

Hidimba looked torn. She kept glancing at Bheem worriedly as if Hidimb would tear him apart any moment. Abhijishya found no joy from this violence.

Bheem and Hidimb weapons' clashed and the cave resonated with the loud clangs and raucous cheers.

Hidimb kicked Bheem down. Kunti flinched and looked very worried for her son.

Hidimb was trying to strike Bheem with his maul. But Bheem moved aside and obstructed his hits with his club.

Both lost their weapons. Bheem kicked Hidimb hard and stood up. Hidimb went flying and landed infront of Abhijishya.

Abhijishya was startled and took several steps back. Hidimb roared in anger and stood back up. He attacked Bheem with all his might. Bheem punched Hidimb again and the later fell down. Bheem grappled Hidimb and held him up by his legs.

Bheem raised him higher. She knew Hidimb's final moments were near.

Bheem slammed Hidimb's head onto the ground. His neck gave a sickening crunch and with a strangled scream, RakshasRaj Hidimb died.

The silence in the cave was deafening excpet for Bheem panting. Bheem shouted in victory. All the Rakshasas knelt down before Bheem and bowed their heads.

The fog was lifted. Sunlight poured in from the opening above. The dread in the air slowly vanished. Rest of the Pandavs and Kunti surrounded Bheem. Hidimba was standing a little distance away with a relieved smile.

Abhijishya was relieved that Bheem won with little to no injuries. Her eyes looked at the crumpled body of Hidimb. Was he really that much tyrant of a king and brother that no one was even properly mourning his death? And Hidimba. Few years back, she would also have happily devoured any human. Just because she fell in love, she doesn't feel any distress for her brother?

No one moved towards Hidimb's body. Abhijishya couldn't stop the doubts that coloured her mind. From what she understood, Hidimb was a Rakshas and like any Rakshas it was in his nature to feed on human flesh. Just like a lion or a tiger. He had his people whom he ruled. He didn't think them to be below him (probably) because he said that they ate together. Her knowledge regarding Rakshas culture and Hidimb-Hidimba's relationship was shallow at best. So she decided to form her opinions later on solid facts instead of assumptions.

Nakul noticed Abhijishya walking towards Hidimb's body. He was about to call her but decided not to. Arjun saw Nakul looking behind and also noticed Abhijishya.

Abhijishya knelt down beside the dead body. She pushed it with all her might to see Hidimb's face. His jaw was broken and the spinal cord was portruding from his neck. His vacant eyes were wide open. She gently closed them and joined her hands. "Hey Bhagwan, may his departed soul be granted peace in afterlife. May he be enlightened of dharma and rest under your asylum," she murmured.

The Pandavs, Kunti, Rakshasas and Hidimba watched mystified as the body of Hidimb disintegrated and mixed with the soil. A wisp of white floated from the spot and vanished in thin air.

Abhijishya knew her prayer was heard. She stood up and went to check on Bheem.

"Are you alright, Bhrata Bheem?" she asked.

Bheem nodded dumbly. "Putri, what did you do earlier?" asked Kunti.

"What? Oh, that. I didn't do anything. I just prayed that Hidimb's departed soul be granted peace in afterlife. I guess Bhagwan heard me," Abhijishya said. "Why? Doesn't that happen with every dead Rakshas?" She asked confused.

"No. Us, Rakshasas, burn our dead and scatter the ashes around the forest. That way our ancestors can look over and protect our home. It is also believed that by doing so, the new king gains the strength of the previous defeated king. But that never happened," Hidimba replied her eyes still glued to the spot where Hidimb's body still laid a few moments ago.

"Oh. I am sorry but I really don't know what I did. I am pretty sure I didn't do anything. His body disintegrated and was mixed with the soil on its own," Abhijishya explained. She too was confused regarding what happened.

The Rakshasas were whispering amongst themselves. The Pandavs looked thoughtful.

Nakul noticed Abhijishya looking increasingly uncomfortable and said," Areh, what will we accomplish from assuming what might have happened? If Abhijishya knows something, she'll tell us." Abhijishya sent him a quick smile of gratitude. He patted Bheem on his back and said,"What happened Bhrata? Aren't you hungry after such a difficult fight?"

"Yes yes, finally you said something of importance," Bheem said.

Hidimba looked excited and said," Please come Bhupati. I'll arrange everything."

================================

The Rakshasas brought heaps of various kinds of fruits on huge stone plates. Hidimba sat beside Bheem with a hand fan and was gently fanning him.

Bheem started eating. Abhijishya watched in amazement as he ate up entire hands of bananas, mangoes, litchies in the time where she had managed to eat only an apple and two bananas.

He still looked sceptical of Hidimba. The Rakshasas kept bringing fruits.

"Wait. We can't eat all this. Don't bring anymore fruits. We are almost full," Nakul said.

Bheem looked offended. "How can you tell them to stop bringing food? You know I feel very hungry after a fight. And what will these scant fruits do to satisfy my hunger. Go bring me more food," he said while chewing.

Abhijishya stared incredulously at Bheem. She elbowed Nakul and whispered," Can Bhrata Bheem really eat all this? This food is enough for 15 men. How will he fit all this inside his stomach?"

"Areh you don't know our Bhrata. He is called Vrikodar for a reason afterall. Just watch," Nakul said and chuckled.

Meanwhile, Hidimba looked shyly at Bheem and said," Please eat, Bhupati. I'll go bring more food."and left.

Arjun cleared his throat and said mock seriously," Bhupati? Raja Vrikodar is getting angry, Nakul. Ask for his forgiveness."

Nakul decided to play along. He stifled his grin and said innocently,"Please forgive me Raja Vrikodar. Kindly forgive me."

Sahadev joined in and said," You stupid human! You shall be punished. You will be married to a Rakshasi very soon." Everyone laughed. Bheem looked indignantly at them.

"Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev. Be quiet now," Kunti chastised even though she was laughing along with them monents ago.

Bheem huffed as he gobbled more fruits. "What are you all going on about? What Bhupati? Be quiet and let me enjoy my food in peace."

"Yes yes, from now on you'll only eat in peace for the rest of your life," Nakul drawled out. Abhijishya sniggered.

"Bu-but we are your family, Bhrata Bheem. Please don't eat us, Raja Vrikodar," Sahadev said fearfully in a mocking manner. Even Yudhisthir laughed out loud this time.

"What are you still going on about?" Bheem asked in confusion.

"Don't tell us you didn't pay attention when Hidimba said the person who kills RakshasRaj becomes the Bhupati i.e. King of the Rakshasas, Bhrata Bheem," Abhijishya said as she peeled an orange and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Bheem asked.

"Look at that," Abhijishya gestured to a clay statue of Bheem being offered flowers by a few Rakshasas saying 'Bhupati ki jai ho' (Praise be to the King)

"Are they really telling the truth Jyesth?"asked Bheem.

"Yes, Hidimba did indeed say that here it is tradition for the person who kills their king in combat to be the next king," Yudhisthir confirmed.

"Congratulations Bhrata Bheem, you are now the King of Rakshasavart," Nakul spread him arms which Abhijishya playfully smacked away. "Ah, why are you hitting me?" He said shaking his hand.

"You were about to smack me in my face," Abhijishya said.

"But now I am hurt," Nakul pouted.

"Do you want me to hit it better?" Abhijishya asked sweetly.

"No, see nothing happened," Nakul put his hand behind him and chuckled nervously. 'Who knew his Abhijishya could be so violent.'

Abhijishya laughed.

"So, looks like Bhrata Bheem will have to marry a Rakshasi. What do you see Sahadev?"asked Nakul.

"Good news. Merriment all around. Bhrata Bheem is wearing the best Rakshas clothes," Sahadev proclaimed loudly. Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev were almost rolling on the ground with laughter. Yudhisthir too was laughing hard. Kunti was chuckling behind her hand.

Abhijishya let a secret smile spread across her lips. Oh how curious she was to see a Rakshas wedding!

"Wha-but why didn't you all tell me earlier when Hidimba offered to show us the way out of this forest?"asked Bheem looking slightly distressed.

Arjun chuckled. "Well if you left the forest then Hidimba devi would have been heartbroken. Now we couldn't let that happen could we?"

"Wait. What do you mean?" Bheem looked so confused.

Abhijishya was about to clarify when two Rakshasas came and knelt down.

They got up. One of them said," Bhagwan Vrikodar has commanded that Kumari Hidimba is to be married to you at first light tomorrow. We will have a sacrificial ritual and then worship the new King and Queen."

Everyone was shocked. A few moments ago it was only jokes about marriage to a Rakshasi. Bheem got up with ire. "Enough. Mata, Jyesth, can we leave this place now." With that he turned to leave only to come face to face with a teary Hidimba. He looked at her and left without another glance.

One of the Rakshas said," Did we offend Bhupati somehow?"

The Pandavs, Kunti and Abhijishya got up. "No, it is none of your fault. We were just travelling when we came upon this forest. We didn't come here to rule your people," Yudhisthir explained.

"Then why did you kill our Bhupati? It is tradition that the person who kills the Bhupati i.e. our king becomes the next King of us Rakshasas. He has to marry the daughter or sister of the former King to complete the ceremony," he said.

His companion said," You all have created this problem, you must give us a solution too. If there isn't a King then fights and battles will break out amongst our ranks. We need a King to guide us." With that, they bowed and left.

"How can a marriage occur between a human and a Rakshasi?" Kunti was in a fix.

Hearing Kunti, Hidimba ran away crying.

Abhijishya looked at distressed Hidimba and Kunti. She just had to convince Kunti to convince Bheem to marry Hidimba. Easy. Right?

A.N. - Another chapter up. I hope you liked this chapter.

Please vote and comment. You all keep me motivated to keep writing.

Until the next time,

Byee ;")