Author's pov

The air of Panchal was gloomy yet gleeful. The palace was dolled up as a bride, the pathway was decorated with rose petals and shimmering with yellow diyas on both sides. Every servant was specifically ordered by Prince Dhristydhum to fulfill the desired work whether it was the matter of cooking or the matter of decoration he wanted everything to be perfect for his sister's wedding, even though he had some unresolved matters related to this marriage but still, he couldn't shake off the underlying fact that his sister was getting married.

While the palace was covered under the merry lights, the bride's musing was curled up in gloomy sentiment. Her hands were adorned with henna but wasn't complimenting her, her lotus-shaped eyes beautified with black kajal were becoming messy with her watery eyes.

"Even though I agreed to this marriage but how would we manage to remain together? A husband and a wife contain a special bond between them, a bond of friendship, love, and trust which is sacred to two people and we are six." Panchali murmured to herself.

"Everything will happen on its own sakhi and you should just go with the flow," Dwarkadish says with an enchanting smile on his face. " Some things are better left as they are because it is not in your hands. Your task is to focus on the present which is your marriage. What will happen after that is not your concern."

"Sakha, how will I do it? After this marriage, society will not leave us alone"

"Just follow your dharma, you have to conquer many things in the future Panchali"

"I don't think I can"

"You're blazing fire, you're born out of fire sakhi" Govind stepped forward with a glint of future in his eyes "If you get nervous from this how will you live in the future? No one can beat you draupadi, you'll the one who will change the era"

The former whose mind was brimming with questions decided to remain quiet because she knew thinking about the future will only complicate the situation.

Meanwhile, Lord Krishna was in deep thinking about something else. He knew this reunion of two souls wouldn't be a merry thing for both of them and he was more concerned about Vedika, who was broken.

Wandering through the shimmering halls of the palace, Vedika's eyes were finding someone. Her pale face and the invisible line of tears rolling down her cheeks were saying it all about her last night. As she sauntered forward, the voices were becoming audible and she immediately hide behind the curtains when the long-lost face became visible to her. Her heart started throbbing against her chest, she felt like the air was being pulled out of her lungs. It was still unbelievable to her how could this happen? She wanted to go and hug him but at the same time could not.

"Kaka, please do this in the correct way. See the string of flowers is coming down, isko ache se lgao" Dhrishdyum corrected them.

"Even in this yug, he's so concerned about his sister. " She whispered to herself. Her grip on the curtains was getting tighter, her breaths were getting shortened as everything was coming back to her, their marriage, their moments, their friendship, everything. How could she digest this? Experiencing the death of a loved one is like dying a thousand times when you realize that he cannot come back, you have to carry that pain to your grave. People say you forget about the person after some time but do you really forget? Grief is nothing but unsaid love for that person.

"Princess Devika? Are you all right?" the Prince exclaimed in a worried tone. His footsteps stopped when his eyes rest on her disheveled condition. Her anxious state was clearly visible to him. He rests his hand on her tightened grip on the curtain and rubbed his thumb against her fingers. "Something happened princess? Shall I call someone? Vedji?" his eyes reflected concern for her but somewhere deep down he felt unusual about their touch as if it was familiar "I think you need someone, let me call someone for help"

But he was immediately pulled back "Wait!" Vedika stated hiding the anxiousness in her voice "I am all right" she said, straightening herself and her clothes "It's nothing"

"Really?" He questioned her with a suspicious look, observing her eyes which were wandering here and there not looking straight at him.

"Yeah" Her fingers were fidgeting. Standing so close to him wasn't easy for her and when he brushed his thumb against her, it was like her pain was gone for a split second. She longed for his touch.

He took her fidgeting hand and pressed it gently between his hands "Well, I got to know one thing about you that you don't know how to lie" he smiled looking at her beautiful hazel orbs, tranquilizing them "I will not ask you to tell me what happened, but I'll suggest whenever something like this happened try to think about a happy moment. It will calm your mind and heart."

"You're my happy moment vasav and only you can calm me down" she thought to herself.

"I-I'm really sorry for this. I did not mean to disturb you Prince" She apologized in a shaky voice.

"Its alright princess, you're our guest, and taking care of you is my duty. Firstly tell me this how are you feeling now?"

"Feeling better" She nodded. Even though she knew he was a different person now but she couldn't help but notice the same concern and respect from him.

"Shall we walk?" He asked showing the way.

"Sure"

Vedika was feeling contented.

Deep down she was trying to make peace with the fact that Dhrishdyum only looks like Vasav and is not actually him. At least right now she could see him even though the feelings of the other person has changed.

"Princess, can I ask you something?"

She nodded "But please call me Vedika, I don't want you to treat me with such formality" He chuckled "Okay"

"Do you think this whole scenario is correct? My sister marrying your five brothers. I don't know how to react to this. I'm worried about her, how will she live?" Dhrishdyum laid down his worries in front of her.

"Dhrishdyum, there is no right nor wrong. There is only choice, our choices decide our fate. If such a thing has happened then there must be a reason behind it, we may not see it right now but in the long run, it will unfold itself." She looked at an anxious brother "And don't worry, I'll be there with Princess Draupadi, and trust me she's one strong woman"

"Thank you Vedika for easing down my worries" He said gazing at her face which was now swapped with new emotion or the hidden love for him. In every conversation she was trying to find her Vasav, her orbs were observing each action of his and it was same, but his eyes were not looking at her with the same essence.

"Do you remember something?" She blurted out.

The latter tried to comprehended this out of the blue question "What do you mean?"

"That still a lot of things are left to complete for the marriage Prince" a sweet yet bold voice piped in which was of none other than Lord Krishna, strolling forward with his enchanting smile and morpankh swaying on his crown. "Ladki walon se koi galti nahi honi chahiye"

"Dwarkadhish, don't worry. You'll see the most dazzling wedding of the era" Dhrishdhyum declared with a proud look "Now since you reminded me, I shall take my leave now and Vedika I see you later." His eyes beamed at her.

Her heart was fluttering and didn't want him to leave, meanwhile Dwarkadhish was gawking at her.

"Vedika don't do it" His orbs warned her.

"Bhratashree" she whimpered

"Sometimes trusting the flow is the best a person can do. If you don't know what to do or how to react then just let it be and do your karma." He wiped her rolling tears "Don't take me in a wrong way Vedika, I can feel your pain and if you are facing this than there's a purpose behind it. It will be best for you and Dhrishdhyum if you stop interfering with the flow. If you try to push him it may turn out to be lethal for him" He says while staring at nothing in particular. He knew what future was holding for them.

"Bhrata, do you think he will fall in love with me once again? In this yug?" Her face was beaming with hope "Vasav said to me that in every birth he would be with me, he would fall in love with me!"

"Don't compel me Vedika to say something that I cannot" Lord Krishna looked away "Trust your love and the time. Don't let your love make you a prisoner instead let it show you the way. Prem sabko naseeb nahi hota Vedika, agar tumhe mila hai toh usspai vishwas kro"

With that he dawdled from there leaving the former behind with her musings.

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