"Why are both of you laughing so hard?" Yudhishthir asked Nakul and Sahadev.

"Panchali has been dragging didi out of her bed even before sunrise for last two days just to get her ready." Nakul chuckled.

"Is she happy today?" Bheem asked concerned.

"She is, but she can't hide the pain and anger behind that little outward smile from us." Yudhishthir sighed.

"Where is bhrata Arjun?" Sahadev asked.

"Must be attending the Princes." Bheem assured.

"That's not possible. That shy kid would always send me to talk to someone. He's somewhere else. Let's go find him." Yudhishthir nodded in denial as the boys left their room.

"Smile Dhriti, smile." Draupadi said circling lots of coral jasmines around her hair as her other dasis loaded her with gold.

"I've somehow lost all my enthusiasm Bhabhi. I don't want to smile anymore." Dhriti said looking down.

"Priya! You promised me to stay happy there." Kanha's sudden voice flinched her.

"Yeah yeah. I'm okay. Not for too long but still alright." She said assuring him.

"Anyways, where are you?" She asked laughing.

"You'll know." He said smiling.

"Why do you do this to me?." Dhriti asked.

"I like troubling you." Kanha innocently laughed.

"Sure. I'll see you later." She said internally giggling.

"Done. Now you're looking like the Princess of Hastinapur. Beautiful." Draupadi smiled fixing her veil fir the final time.

"Let me see my daughter's face now." Kunti said coming inside.

"Pranam Mata." Draupadi and Dhriti said as all other Dasis walked out.

"Great job Draupadi. You're looking so beautiful Putri. Your Pitashree would be so proud of you." Kunti proudly smiled as a tear escapes her eyes.

"Mata, I don't want you to cry right from today. There's time, I'm still here." Dhriti said wiping her tears.

"Rajkumari, your brothers want to enter your chambers." A servant entered.

"I hope it's not Bhrata Duryodhan and Dushasan." Dhriti crossed her arms.

"No, Its my Aryas." Draupadi said bringing them in.

"Mata, Panchali have you seen Arjun anywhere?" Yudhishthir enquired in worry.

"No Arya, I have been here since the morning." Draupadi said.

"I've checked the entire Palace, armoury, guest rooms, main hall. Everywhere. He's no where to be seen." Sahadev said.

"What!" Dhriti shouted, tears brimming her eyes.

"Didi! Don't cry. I'm sure Bhrata would be somewhere around. Don't worry. And now won't you ask your prominent question?" Nakul smiled.

Dhriti lightly smiled as she got up, standing in front of her four brothers.

"How am I looking today?" Her voice cracked as she twirled around showing off her heavy lehenga.

"You're looking extra beautiful. We won't let anyone have their eyes on you." Everyone chuckled.

"Dhriti, everyone has gathered in the hall. Arya wants you all to come down." Bhanumati hastily entered.

"Kanha, which corner of the world are you? And now even Bhrata Arjun has gone missing. Can this day get more worse?" She asked, the wide smile on her face, now almost invisible.

"Believe me, this will be the best day. Till now."  Kanha smiled assuring her.

The whole sabha fell silent as the sonorous sounds of Dhriti's ornaments clashing each other filled the hall.

Everyone's gaze was directed towards her direction as she was slowly asked to sit down on her seat while a dasi handed the Varmala to her.

"Keep your observant stare down Dhriti, thats how it works." Draupadi pinched her.

"For God's sake, how will I observe each one present here if I put my gaze down? Also, I'm not shying away from them. If I look down, everyone will think otherwise." She said looking up again.

"Oh oh , what is Yuvraj Shishupal doing here!" She near exclaimed holding Draupadi's arm.

"Calm down Dhriti, its completely your choice. Not like my Swayamwar where if anybody wins you, you have to accept them without a word." Draupadi calmed her down.

"Didi is looking unbelievably quiet and calm." Nakul whispered to Sahadev.

"This is the calm before the storm Nakul. Two of her dear boys are absent at the venue, and she's boiling inside." Bheem said rubbing his temple.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Madhav! Are you really sure?" Arjun whined looking at Kanha as both of them stood starting at the Palace doors.

"Yes I am Parth." Kanha giggled back holding three different lotuses in his hands.

"I am not entering the Palace wearing this. I can't talk like a girl, I can't  even walk in this Keshav." He complained as Kanha stared at him, gulping down a loud chuckle.

"Let's go Parth. We talked about this." Kanha said laughing at him as Arjun sighed walking behind him.

"Wait Both of you! Why do you want to enter the palace? " The sipahis stopped both of them as a smile appeared on Kanha's face but Arjun frowned.

"Look mister, my dear sister must be sitting in the hall with heart in her hands . Now kindly let us go in before she loses her calm." Arjun thought as he faked a smile.

"Ah-um we both have come a long way from Vrindavan, just to give these beautiful flowers for Rajkumari Dhriti. She likes them a lot." Kanha smiled.

"And who is she?" He asked pointing at Arjun.

"She's my sister, Brihannala. She would be giving these flowers to Rajkumari." Kanha replied as Arjun tried his hardest to be close to a girl.

"And how should I trust both of you?" The other one questioned.

"Um Bholenath ki Kasam." Kanha beamed keeping a hand on his heart.

"Mitra? Me again?" Mahadev laughed.

"Bear with me Sakha, just like you do everytime." Kanha smiled.

"Hm so you're a Bholenath Bhakt?" The sipahi questioned still not letting them inside.

"Prabhu, should I come to your rescue?" Narad asked chuckling at their helplessness.

"That would be great Devarshi." Kanha sighed.

Devarshi Narad appeard behind a tall tree as he joined his hands in Kanha's direction, as the latter gladly nodded in return.

He took the form of a local sipahi as he approached the four men.

"Sainiko! Rajkumar Dushasan has called you to his Bhavan immediately. Careful, cause he's not in his best mood." Narad said, giggling at the last line.

"Hey Prabhu, Let's reach the hall before it's too late."  Narad whispered as Arjun looked at both of them in confusion.

"Madhav! Wait. We need to change these." Arjun said motioning towards both their costumes making both Kanha and Devarshi laugh.

"Devarshi...." Kanha smiled. Narad nodded closing his eyes as both Arjun and Kanha appeared in their normal clothes, keeping Arjun starled.

*At the same time*

Dhriti's restlessness had already exceeded her limit. She kept chanting Mata Parvati's name as Duryodhan stepped forward to adress everyone.

"All the honourable Kings, Yuvrajs and other Royalties are welcomed to the Swayamwar of my younger sister Rajkumari Dhriti." Duryodhan spoke as smiles grew on the attenders' faces.

"Now that everyone have arrived and made themselves comfortable, I request Pitamah Bhishma to blow the conc shell and start this auspicious ceremony." Duryodhan smiled as Bhishma, with a heavy heart lifted the shell.

Dhriti's eyes were immediately directed towards her brothers who were standing alongside Kakashree Vidur.

"Where is Bhrata Arjun atleast?" She mouthed in their direction.

All of them, unaware of his whereabouts, nodded a no with a sad shrug as everything was out of their hands by now.

"You have to do something girl. Think, think quicker." She thought squinting her eyes in deep thought, fidgeting with the Varmala.

"Wait Pitamah!" Dhriti shouted standing up from her seat.

"Oh Dhriti!" Draupadi whispered in fear.

"No Dhriti! Please don't shower your rage now." Yudhishthir pleaded.

"I knew this girl would do something like this." Shakuni mentally face palmed himself.

"We should wait for Bhrata Arjun. The ceremony won't start without him." She said, her voice not even cracking a bit in front of so many people.

"She's right, Tatshree. The ceremony can't be proceeded without the presence of all her brothers." Vidur spoke gaining a nod from Dhritarashtra.

"We'll wait for the arrival of Rajkumar Arjun." Tatshree said keeping the conc shell down as a smirk appeared on Dhriti's face.

"Kanha, I can't extend this any longer. If I open my mouth once more, people will kick me out of here. Atleast tell me where Bhrata Arjun is." She said, her hands now tired fidgeting with the Varmala.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Prabhu, let me touch your feet and give me the permission to leave." Narad smiled as the three of them proceeded towards the main hall.

"Devarshi, you would leave for Dev Lok without taking the darshan of your beloved Mata Lakshmi? I won't interfere if she gets upset with you later." Kanha said in a playful tone.

"Hey Prabhu, why would you put me in this Dharmsankat? " Narad looked at him.

"Mata won't even recognize me. She hasn't even recognized her original form. Then what reason will I give while touching her feet. " Narad sadly reasoned.

"Hey Bhakt Shreshth, she can't recognize you, but you can. So now hold these flowers and come with me. If not mitra Mahadev, altleast you be with me Devarshi." Kanha smiled.

"Devkinandan! Rajkumar Arjun! How did you manage to enter the Palace? Now please hurry towards the hall. Rajkumari Dhriti has stopped the ceremony because of your absence." A dasi revealed pointing at Arjun.

"And everyone agreed? Wow! Let's go Madhav and you as well mahoday." Arjun spoke to both of them.

"Pitashree, I think we should proceed-" Duryodhan stared speaking as a sipahi interrupted him.

"All alert! Rajkumar Arjun and Yadukul Tilak devkinandan Vasudev Shri Krishn are entering the main hall." His loud voice announced.

"I'm not dreaming. I'm not dreaming. Pinch me Bhabhi!" Dhriti said unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

"No need to pinch you. Arya and Sakha are really there." Draupadi said shaking Dhriti out of her tears.

"Impossible!" Shakuni mumbled as he got up from his seat.

"Vasudev Bhaiya!" Nakul and Sahadev got up with smiles on their face.

"What happened Kunti? Why did the sabha fall so silent suddenly?" Gandhari enquired.

"Arjun and Krishn have finally come back Didi. Now nothing will go against my Dhriti's wishes." Kunti smiled holding her hand.

"Vasudev! How did you enter the territory of Hastinapur? Who let you inside the palace?" Duryodhan walked towards him.

"Your own sipahis did Yuvraj Duryodhan. They let me inside the Palace doors." Kanha smiled as Duryodhan's sight turned to Dhriti's direction, who was profoundly smiling.

"Yuvraj! Vasudev is our guest for today's ceremony. Therefore I request him to take a seat along with other participants." Bhishma said as he blew the conc shell therefore starting the ceremony.

"Just.....How?" Dhriti asked looking at Kanha with tears in her eyes.

"Long story short, no one can separate Kanha and Priya." Kanha smiled at her direction.

"Putri Bhanumati and Putri Draupadi, take Putri Dhriti towards each of them. The one who receives Rajkumari's Varmala would be the one she'll choose to be her husband." Pitamah said as Dhriti beamed.

"Shishupal should know whom he was messing with." Dhriti thought as she stood in front of Chedi Yuvraj Shishupal.

"And how? Please don't beat him right here." Kanha mentally laughed.

"Ofcourse not. Today, he's a guest at Hastinapur. And I have my morals with me. I'll not hurt him, I'll hurt his big  ego." She smiled as she moved away from Shishupal hence rejecting him.

"Can I straight way come in your direction and wear this to you? I feel so bad for unknowingly insulting them." Dhriti thought after rejecting 4 other royals.

"Mamashree! I'll kill those Sipahis who let this Vasudev in!" Duryodhan fumed at Shakuni.

"I need to figure out, who was that oversmart being who let him in. And how did mine of the das-dasis informed us when he stepped inside the palace." Shakuni said looking at Dhriti and Kanha who were standing in front of each other.

"Mamashree, who's the person standing there holding those lotuses in his hands." Duryodhan pointed towards Narad as Devarshi bore a scared expression.

"I've never seen him before."  Shakuni squinted his eyes as Narad looked away.

"Now I can see your flustered face." Kanha chuckled.

"Don't say that otherwise I would burst out laughing Kanha." Dhriti said making an eye contact with his lotus eyes.

"Now wear him the Varmala already Oh Dhriti. I made such a big struggle by disguising myself as a gopi." Arjun laughed.

"What! Really?" Bheem asked laughing.

"Yes. And Keshav was disguised as a Vrindavan vasi. But the sipahi was not letting us in. Then suddenly a mahoday disguised as a Sipahi escorted us in. Oh look he's standing there, with some lotuses for Dhriti." Arjun directed his brother's attention towards Narad as he joined his hands and greeted them.

"Bend down a bit Kanha. I'm not that tall." Dhriti smiled as she tried raising her garland to his height.

"Oh sure sure." He laughed back leaning down as Dhriti put the garland in his neck.

A wide smile instantly got plastered on everyone's faces as they stood up, cheering both Kanha's and Dhriti's name.

"Narayan Narayan! Hey Mahadev, Hey Brahma dev, Devendra Mata Parvati and Saraswati, preparations shall take place in Swarg Lok for Lakshmi-Narayan vivah once again." Devarshi thought as he smiled towards Kanha and Dhriti who walked towards Dhritarashtra and Pitamah to take their blessings.

Arjun walked towards Narad who was standing in the corner adoring his Mata and Prabhu.

"Mahoday, come I'll introduce you to my brothers and mother. Afterall, it was because of your arrival that me and Keshav were here on time. Come with me." Arjun smiled as he brought him towards Kunti, Sulabha and everyone else.

"Mata, Kakashree, Kakishree meet him, he disguised himself as a Sipahi and fooled the dwarpal to let us in." Arjun narrated the incidence as they greeted him with respect.

"The why didn't ntroduce yourself yet Putra?" Vidur asked him as Narad was left without answers.

"Prabhu! Raksha kijiye." He silently prayed as Kanha and Dhriti approached.

"He's Brahmaputra Devarshi Narad, Kakashree." Kanha spoke proudly as he patted him.

"Shakshat Narad Muni?" Sahadev and Nakul spoke smiling as everyone joined their hands in front of him making Narad beam in peace.

"Devi, these flowers are for you." He smiled as Dhriti gladly accepted her favourite flowers.

"Prabhu, now allow me to take a leave." Narad said bending down to take Kanha's blessings as he secretly touched Dhriti's feet as well before leaving.

"Kanha, I've seen Devarshi somewhere before." Dhriti said looking at the coloured lotuses.

"He's the Trilok Sanchari Priya. He's everywhere on the right time for the right things." Kanha smiled wanting to reveal her everything but refraining from doing so, still waiting for the perfect time.

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