After Nakul had left them to meet Arjun, the ladies had left Abhijishya and Anvi in their guest chambers to change into clean garments and wash away the dirt from their journey.

"When am I going to meet Tatshree?" Anvi asked, her inquisitive eyes already peering back the way they came from.

Abhijishya pretended to think. "Well, we have to pay our respects to our elders. We also have to help with wedding preparations. Your aunt Subhadra would want to meet you and spend some time with you too. Then your cousins have missed you so they are also very restless to meet you..."

As she went on, Abhijishya struggled to hold back her amusement as Anvi seemed to pout harder at each word.

"But I always spend time with everyone whenever I visit Dwarka. I have never met Tatshree. Pitashree and you have told me only stories. Why does Pitashree get to meet him before I do?" Anvi sulked, picking at a small thread sticking out of her attire.

"Hmm," Abhijishya gently took Anvi's smaller hand in hers. "If you had a brother, wouldn't you want to meet him as soon as possible after going over a decade of not seeing his face? Your Pitashree should get some alone time with his elder brother before a small princess takes up all the attention of her Tatshree. Also, do you want to greet your Tatshree covered in dust from the road?"

Anvi took in her mother's words and smiled brightly. "May I bathe first Matashree? I want to meet Tatshree and ask him to come back home with us."

"Go on then," Abhijishya smiled back. Addressing Charu and the maids attending to them, she said, "Please see to what my daughter needs. I leave her in your care."

One of them stepped forward and bowed, "It is our honour to serve you, Rajkumari and Rajkumari Anveeksha. If Rajkumari Anveeksha would follow me, I would be glad to guide you to the bathing chamber."

Anvi smiled and replied politely, "This one thanks you for your service. Please take care of me."

The maids seemed quite pleased at being addressed with respect and they left with Anvi. Charu nodded and followed them. One of the maid stayed behind along with Reva.

Abhijishya paid the maid no mind long used to the presence of someone or the other staying back in her quarters. She started to remove her jewellery with Reva's help.

"Rajkumari has taught Rajkumari Anveeksha well. The nectar of blue lotus drips from her tongue and the gentleness of moonlight shines from her demeanor while her spirit flutters with the playfulness of a butterfly," the maid spoke softly, her eyes trained on the floor.

Reva tensed at the words as she slowly took a step back, slipping a hair ornament in Abhijishya's hand.

Unsheathing the ornament, Abhijishya turned towards the maid, a small lethal knife gripped carefully behind her back. "And what does her grace reflect?"

"The brilliance of a hundred and eight suns," the maid looked back, confident in her words.

Abhijishya relaxed, tucking back the knife inside a gold sheath and once again it was an innoceous hair ornament adorning the hair of a Rajkumari. "Your ability of disguising yourself has improved, Jayati. I almost didn't recognise you for a moment."

Reva relaxed and beckoned the familiar face closer. Jayati walked forward. Her tiny stature for a woman in her early twenties could easily make others mistake her for a girl in teens. "Rajkumari is as vigilant as ever."

Abhijishya raised an eyebrow.

They- many like Jayati who were ones made into slaves due to the corruption in revenue system of Dwarka pledged their service to her on her second visit to Dwarka after Anvi had turned two. So they started calling themselves 'her people.'

Her band of misfits were the ones who didn't have blood family to go back to or felt purposeless or felt too overcome with gratitude and didn't want to live in debt of kindness. The reasons were varied but one thing was common. Abhijishya had somehow acquired people loyal to her. She truly never wanted to hold herself in a position of power over people. However, she respected their choice and understood the opportunity she had been presented with.

Thus, Abhijishya integrated them back into society as her eyes and ears. Some stayed in Dwarka. Some went to Hastinapur. Some in Panchal. Some in Magadh, Kashi, Anga and Bhanga. Some went to Indraprastha just like Charu and Reva who had accompanied her back on her first visit to Dwarka. They were mainly spread across the central part of Aryavarta. Unless there was something Abhijishya specifically wanted to be found out, she didn't contact them. In turn, they only reported back when they were instructed. Her main contact was Jayati, the owner of a quick witted mind under her demure nature. She was good at disguising herself given the times in the past she had spent hidden to escape the clutches of slavery.

"The verse is still protected, Rajkumari," Jayati whispered, bowing her head.

"One can never be too sure," Abhijishya sighed. "There is a reason I only ask a few people to contact me among all of you."

Jayati nodded. Everyone of their people knew why. Gathering information meant spying on people which majorly included people in positions of power. They did it for Rajkumari Abhijishya alone. If found out, they would be treated as traitors. Rajkumari Abhijishya didn't want them to suffer that fate or ruin the lives they had built in order to serve her. Jayati quietly disagreed with that. If it weren't for Rajkumari, they wouldn't have a life worth living. They owed her everything so they would do anything to help her.

"So, do you have any leads?" Abhijishya asked, hopeful to find some semblance of a solution to the conundrum regarding opium entering into their kingdom.

Jayati shook her head. "This one asks your forgiveness but the whereabouts of the son of Jataysa still remains a mystery. But we have discovered some other things which I thought would interest you. The most important being- the opium brought inside Indraprastha is ordered by someone influential. It is someone from the Royal court. I have mapped out the route and my observations in brief on a parchment. Would Rajkumari prefer to hear the full report now?"

Abhijishya shuddered as she let out a breath. This indicated a brewing conspiracy but to what end? As her mind whirled with new information, she replied, "Thank you for your hardwork. I will be busy from now on so it would be best if you report to Charu instead."

"As Rajkumari wishes," Jayati bowed. "Does Rajkumari have new instructions?"

"You will be informed after I have gone through your report. Take care," Abhijishya squeezed Jayati shoulder lightly.

Jayati smiled softly and walked away.

Abhijishya resumed undoing her jewellery and went to the bathing chamber. Reva remained a silent shadow behind her.

Anvi, freshly bathed, was dressed in emerald green garments. A maid was twisting her daughter's wet hair in a clean washcloth to squeeze out the excess water. Charu, as expected, was absent. Most probably she was meeting up with Jayati in some recluse corner of the palace.

"Don't leave that on for much long or else you might catch a cold," Abhijishya said as all the maids bowed to greet her. "Go and dry your hair in the bed chamber. It is warmer there."

Anvi nodded, sensing her mother's seriousness. "Don't worry, Matashree. This dutiful daughter of yours will always obey you," she added cheekily.

Abhijishya aimed a half-hearted glare at her daughter who grinned. Anvi left with a few maids following her. Abhijishya was quick to dismiss the rest. Reva went away with them.

To think peacefully, Abhijishya required privacy. So she went through the motions of bathing as her thoughts turned and turned in her head.

Sometimes Abhijishya wondered if these things happened in the original Mahabharat had she not somehow timetravelled to the past. The corruption in revenue system of Dwarka, the plight of Vasudha, the infirmary burning down, Parnika being injured- was all this chaos because of her presence? If it was so, then why didn't Gopal intervene? She knew she could always ask him but she was afraid of the answer she might get. Abhijishya didn't think she could handle it if Gopal said it was because of her anomalous existence. So she had never asked before and she wouldn't be doing that now. Instead, she would persevere to right every wrong she came across.

Her fingers had turned prune from staying the bath for too long and the warm water had gone cold. Abhijishya decided she had pondered enough for the day. Quickly calling for fresh garments, Abhijishya dressed herself in a presentable manner.

She reached her bed chamber and sat down on a stool before a mirror. Her hair was carefully disentangled and dried under the aromatic smoke of a metal incense burner by Reva. Abhijishya soon noticed the absence of Anvi in the room. Before she could worry, she heard pitter patter of many feet running to the chamber.

Without turning, she knew it was the youngest of her nephews who had decided to grace her with their presence.

"Bua! Bua! Why didn't you say you came to see us?" A childish voice demanded as tiny arms went around her neck to hug her.

Through the mirror, Abhijishya found her nephew looking back with a pout on his face. Behind them stood eight other children- all around the same age. When her brother Gopal had decided to have so many children, Abhijishya had accepted her fate of never remembering everyone's name and faces. It did trouble her time to time but her human mind could only handle so much given the fact she visited Dwarka once a year or less.

The one hanging from her neck was pulled back by one of his brothers. "Prabhanu, come back here. Mata said not to bother Bua before she is done with embellishing herself."

The stern tone sounded rather comical in squeaky voice of a child. Abhijishya hid her laughter and turned, waving away the disapproving frown of Reva as she loosely tied her half dried hair in a braid. "And this bua of yours says her sweet nephews could never bother her," she said, planting Prabhanu in her lap.

"See, I told you all that Bua would never be angry at us for visiting her," Prabhanu added smugly.

"But I never said she would be angry," Prabhanu's brother said wide eyed. He turned to Abhijishya, "Really! Bua, I didn't."

"Bhrata Charugupta doesn't lie," one added shyly then seemed to think for a bit. He looked apologetically at Charugupta and added, "Sometimes."

"Oh, is that so?" Abhijishya asked, mockingly stern. "Does your Pitashree know?"

"But I am not lying now," Charugupta protested. His claim was supported by the rest of his brothers.

"Alright. Alright. I know my nephews are always in their best behaviour, aren't they?" Abhijishya laughed, planting a kiss on Charugupta's brow. Prabhanu made a noise of protest and tilted his face demanding the same affection.

Abhijishya happily obliged.

"I want one too," one voice added. And soon, Abhijishya was met with several wide watery eyes and pouts. No wonder they were the children of her brother Gopal.

"Come near your bua then," Abhijishya said, helpless before so many adorable faces. She gave everyone their kisses when she felt a tiny nudge from the side.

The shy one who had revealed Charugupta as a 'sometimes' liar was holding Abhijishya's chudamani. "Bua forgot to put this one her head."

"Bhadra, you shouldn't touch chudamani. That is only for Rajkumar Nakul," a voice hissed from the side. When Abhijishya tried to point out who spoke, she was again faced with innocent looks.

"So Rajkumar Nakul can only touch all the chudamani in the world?" Bhadra asked, confused at his brother's words.

"No stupid," Charugupta huffed. "Only Bua's husband can touch Bua's chudamani. Like Pitashree can touch Mata's chudamani."

"Now now. No need for name calling. Bhadra didn't know," Abhijishya decided to intervene. Accepting the chudamani with a smile, she put it in its rightful place over her head and said, "I am grateful to my dear Bhadra for reminding me about wearing my chudamani. Or else I would have forgotten surrounded by so many adorable babies."

"We are not babies!" Prabhanu protested, squirming to be let down from her lap. Abhijishya let him down.

"Yes, we are not," Bhadra added, oddly serious. He was joined by all his brothers and soon Abhijishya's chamber was filled with cacophony of voices.

"What is going on here?" A familiar male voice came from the entrance of her chamber. Instantly, everyone went quiet.

"Bhratashree," Abhijishya stood up, breathless from the fondness filling her up. She immediately rushed ahead and touched Balram's feet, "Pranipaat Bhratashree."

"Kalyan ho," Balram said, urging her to get up. He placed his palm over her head. "Will you never come visit this brother of yours until it is an invitation or once a year?" He scolded her lightly.

Abhijishya smiled, "Keep me here then, Bharata."

"Don't tempt me," Balram warned before sighing. "You don't visit enough and now Subhadra too would be going back to Indraprastha. Atleast, you both sisters would be togther there."

Balram, who had come to be her eldest brother over the years, was a stern man with a gentle heart as Abhijishya had learned. He was always affectionate like an older brother and spoiled Anvi the most by sending unnecessary gifts.

"You could always visit more," Abhijishya added, not wanting to hear the sad notes in Balram's voice.

"Yes and leave Dwarka unsupervised with these ruffians," Balram scoffed. He glared at his nephews who looked back at them as perfect pictures of well behaved children. "Kanha turns into their playmate more than their father when I am not around. Their combined mischief is giving me gray hair. I could swear Kanha was more troublesome as a child but all my nephews make me doubt my memory."

"Baldau, what are you telling my children?" A laughter-filled voice was heard. There stood Krishna along with a slightly guilty looking Anvi and Sambh.

"Just your nature as a child," Balram said in a dry tone.

Krishna chuckled, shaking his head and turned to his sons. "Did you all pay your respects to your Bua?"

Everyone looked at each other, alarmed at their forgetfulness. They immediately turned to Abhijishya, bowed down and touched the ground, "Pranipaat Bua."

"Ayushman bhava. Kalyan ho, my dears. Get up," Abhijishya said. Then she turned to Gopal, "Should I be worried about my mischief my daughter got upto?"

Krishna smiled. "My dear niece only is guilty of ignorance. I thought of guiding her back to you since she got lost."

Abhijishya hummed, looking at Anvi for an explanation.

Anvi blurted out, "Bhrata Sambh needed advice. I only followed him because I wanted to know how he would use my advice. He didn't do anything bad." She peered at her uncle, Krishna who now prompted her to clarify more. "Bhrata Sambh borrowed all the ghee."

Abhijishya and Balram exchanged confused looks. Krishna explained, "Sambh finished all the ghee stores in the palace so that the wedding does not take place tomorrow. Anvi here told Sambh that fire was the key element for a wedding and pure ghee was the key offering."

"Subhi bua would also go away with Abhi bua," Sambh said, his arms folded to his chest. "It is not fair that both our aunts have to live in Indraprastha. Dwarka has more good things than Indraprastha anyways."

"But how did they manage to finish all the ghee? That is like tonnes of ghee!" Abhijishya asked in bewilderment.

At her words, both Sambh and Anvi looked more guilty. Sambh mumbled, "I asked my brothers to eat the ghee and gave away the rest. Now they have stomach aches. Would Bua please help treat them?"

"How did they even manage to eat that much ghee in so less time?" Balram wondered out loud.

Krishna simple shrugged, seemingly at peace with the present situation.

"Is Subhi bua also going away?" A wobbly voice asked.

"We won't let Bua go. She is our bua," Charugupta declared.

"Wait! Does that mean Abhi bua will stay now?" Prabhanu asked out loud and ran to embrace Abhijishya's leg.

"But Subhi bua is going away!"

Abhijishya picked up Prabhanu in her arms and looked at Gopal, "So we have sick children who need to be treated as well as a lack of ghee which needs to be arranged by tomorrow for the wedding?"

Balram let out a long suffering sigh. His wife and sisters-in-law along with all the ladies were no doubt making ghee in the kitchen from milk. The cows in the royal shed needed to woken up and milked which would throw the milking schedule in disarray. Healers and physicians were attending to the sick children. Mata Devaki and Mata Rohini were no doubt quite cross. They would need to be appeased. All this chaos but for what end? Or was this Kanha having his fun? Balram looked at Krishna for an answer but his brother's eyes only seemed to twinkle in mirth. 

"Pitashree, can we keep both our bua?" Bhadra asked with a pout.

"No, the bride accompanies her husband to his house. Subhadra will be going to Indraprastha soon just like Abhijishya stays in Indraprastha," Krishna answered patiently.

With that, a few of his sons started crying while the others protested.

"Oh dear," Abhijishya mumbled, patting Prabhanu who was now crying in her arms.

"Oh dear indeed," Balram muttered.

Krishna looked perfectly serene amidst the chaos. To him, it was just an average day in Dwarka after all.

A.N. - Krishna had a lot of children. I sometimes wonder the chaos that would bring in Dwarka. And no thanks, I am not convinced that they were all perfectly quiet obedient children who knew the sastras since birth.

So, this was for my satisfaction tbh. People don't write about Krishna's children as a whole much. I mean come on, an army of kids ready to cause ruckus and topple empires with their cuteness? I want more of that.

Anyways, I hope you all liked the update.

Vote and comment.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")

P.S. unedited. So point out mistakes if u find any.