Days passed quickly with everyone preparing for the wedding. No one had even a moment to spare, running here and there to make everything perfect. Duryodhan got an earful from Shakuni. He was fuming inside but concentrated on trying to please Balaram instead. He tried to talk to Karna a few times, but in midst of everything he was also busy in helping with marriage preparations. Subhadra didn't get a chance to corner him either.

Shishupal was unable to forget his insult. In front of everyone, he had to apologise to a woman folding his hands. Drisana had hit where it hurt the most. In this time period, a warrior, a king was not afraid of getting his head chopped, but would rather prefer it than bowing his head. Words were far more dangerous. A physical blow could be forgotten and forgiven, but a blow to the ego and pride would never be overlooked.

Drisana had done exactly what she promised. Stripped him naked of his haughtiness and false pride. A King getting shut up standing in a court full of women and the rulers of Aryavart; and apologising was far more humiliating than getting a beating in the battle area. She understood it after slapping Duryodhan the first time. It was not the slap that angered and hurt him most, it was the humiliation he faced for that slap which hit him hard.

Shakuni tried to calm Shishupal, but he made an attempt to choke him in anger and abused him and Duryodhan. He left Dravida right after and no one took any effort to stop him. Daiwik was only relieved. Duryodhan was angry too as the plan had failed and Drisana dared to slap him again. But Shakuni told him to keep quiet and concentrate on the work they came to do.

The day before the marriage came too soon. There was a function of women, some rituals were going to be followed with applying of henna on the bride.

"I heard there is going to be delicious foods served on the function." Bheem said looking dreamy.

"Kuch toh sharam kijiye bhrata Bheem. Aab khane ke liye aap aurto ke prasang mein jana cahte hai? (Have some shame bhrata Bheem. Now for food, you want to go to ladies function?" Sahdev said.

"Shut up idiot. Who wants to go there? I was just saying." Bheem said in annoyance. He didn't want to go there, but wanted to get his hands on the foods.

"Yes. That's good. Don't even consider such a thing bhrata Bheem. Dravida ke aurte bohot khatarnak hain. Sar se leke pao tak mehendi mein lapet dengi. Phir lal bandar banke ghumna parega Nakul ke vivha mein. (The women of Dravida are really dangerous. They'll cover you in henna from head to toe. Then you'll have to roam as a red monkey in wedding.)" Arjun said teasing him. Bheem looked at him wide eyed.

"Nehi nehi bhrata Arjun. Bhrata Bheem ko mehendi lagane ki himmat koyi nehi karega. (No no, bhrata Arjun. No one will dare to apply henna on bhrata Bheem.)" Sahdev said. Bheem got some courage hearing him.

"Bhrata Bheem ko lagane gaye to sari mehendi samapt ho jayega na. Phir Drisana ko kya lagayenge? (If they put henna on bhrata Bheem, all henna will be finished in that only. Then what will they put on Drisana?)" Sahdev said again. Bheem looked at him in anger and started chasing him.

Here, while chasing Sahdev, Bheem got the brilliant idea of raiding the kitchen. So he went towards the kitchen and saw none other than that ill-mannered dasi going somewhere with a plate full of laddos.

Valandhara felt her anklet getting tangled with her paridhana (lower garment) and put the plate of laddos on a side table to fix it. When she straightened the plate or laddos were nowhere to be seen. She looked around and saw Bheem going with the plate of laddos somewhere. Valandhara ran behind him.

"Wait. Where are you taking the laddos? Don't you feel shame stealing?" Valandhara said blocking his path and narrowing her eyes.

"No. These are mine now. And what's shameful in eating laddos?" Bheem said while eating one. Valandhara's mouth gapped open. She specially made those for the function.

"Don't. These laddos are for the function. Give them back to me." Valandhara said angrily.

"No. I won't. What will you do?" Bheem said looking at her in amusement.

"I-I- I will complain to Maharani that you stole the laddos." Valandhara said finally.

"Go ahead. Maharani will say nothing to me. Rather it is your duty to serve guests dasi and you're calling me thief?" Bheem asked narrowing his eyes at her.

"Yes. I called you a thief. You are a thief, bhoora bhaaloo (grizzly bear)." Valandhara said in agitation.

"You called me bhaaloo?????" Bheem gritted his teeth. He was more offended in it than the thief part.

"Yes." Valandhara confirmed with a smirk.

"I'll not give the laddos. Now they'll only go in my stomach. Do whatever you want." Bheem said with determination eating another one.

"Look I will-" Valandhara was interrupted by Sahdev who came looking for Bheem and saw them arguing.

"What happened? Why are you two quarrelling?" Sahdev asked.

"This dasi is disrespecting me again." Bheem said.

"This bhaaloo is not giving me the laddos." Valandhara said.

"You disrespectful, rude, impertinent dasi!!! You called me bhaaloo again?" Bheem shouted at her.

"Bhrata Bheem, she is not -" Sahdev tried to interrupt.

"Yes. I called you bhaaloo. You're a bhaaloo. And you're a thief too. Give back the laddos thief bhaaloo." Valandhara shouted back.

"Wait, this is -" Sahdev tried to say.

"No. I won't. No one can take back laddos which has come into Vrikodar's hand." Bheem said.

"Look, I'm telling you for the last time, give me the laddos or I'll take them in my way." Valandhara threatened.

"What will you do? If you have courage then take them from me." Bheem challenged her arrogantly.

"Okay. Wait and watch." Valandhara said and went somewhere.

"See, she went away being afraid." Bheem told Sahdev smugly.

"Bhrata Bheem, what are you doing? She's -" Sahdev was again interrupted as Valandhara came back. Bheem frowned looking at her.

"So you won't give back the laddos?" Valandhara asked arching her eyebrow.

"Are you short of hearing? No." Bheem said.

"Okay." Valandhara shrugged saying so and got a peacock feather from behind. Bheem and Sahdev both looked confused. But their confusion cleared as she started tickling Bheem with it. Getting tickled, Bheem released his hold on the plate of laddos laughing. Valandhara got hold of the plate before it could hit the floor and ran away with it as Bheem was controlling his laughter. Sahdev only watched open mouthed.

"Mein isse -(I'm going to-)" Bheem started to say angrily.

"Vivha karne wale hai. (Marry her.)" Sahdev completed in shock.

"What? Bikshipt ho gaye ho kya? (Have you gone mad?)" Bheem grimaced at Sahdev.

"Remember what you vowed bhrata Bheem?" Sahdev asked. He was still in shock of what happened just now. Bheem tried to remember frowning and some moments later it hit him what Sahdev was speaking of. He looked at Sahdev wide eyed.

As he was thinking no one except Sahdev know about this so if he didn't tell anyone Bheem would be safe, Sahdev started running knowing exactly what was going on his brother's head. Bheem started to run after him a moment later and both stopped reaching the living room of Yudhisthir's chambers where Kunti and the three Pandavs were gathered. Devika and Draupadi had already gone to the function.

"Everyone listen to me. After this, prepare for another marriage. Bhrata Bheem is going to get married finally." Sahdev announced happily. Everyone looked at him with surprise. Kunti had tried to get Bheem married several times. But Bheem declared he was going to stay celibate like his Pitamah.

"Are you okay Sahdev? Bhrata Bheem and marriage?" Arjun asked in confusion.

"Bhrata Arjun, do you remember bhrata Bheem's vow about his food snatcher?" Sahdev asked excitedly while Bheem was in a foul mood. There was no stopping Sahdev, so he instead took the fruit basket and sat eating silently.

Arjun remembered what he was referring to.

"Aisa koi dharti par janm hi nahi liya hai, jo Vrikodar ke hat mein aaya khana chin sake. (There's no one who can snatch food from Vrikodar.)" Bheem said arrogantly.

"What if someone does?" Arjun asked again.

"I'll marry the person regardless of man or woman." Bheem said.

"Right. I do remember. So what happened? Someone really snatched food from bhrata Bheem?" Arjun asked joking as everyone knew thats impossible.

"Yes. Someone really snatched food that too laddos from bhrata Bheem's hand." Sahdev said showing his teeth.

"What???" The response came simultaneously from Arjun, Nakul and Yudhisthir. Kunti looked shocked too.

"Putra, tumne koyi dibaswapna to nehi dekha na? (Son, have you dreamt in daylight?)" Kunti asked.

"No Mata. It's true. It actually happened." Sahdev confirmed.

"Who is the brave girl?" Arjun asked getting out of shock.

"Now that's interesting. That brave girl is Kashi's princess, Rajkumari Valandhara." Sahdev announced shocking everyone once more. But Bheem frowned hearing him.

"She is not some Rajkumari. She is a dasi." He said.

"Bhrata Bheem, I'm sure she is Rajkumari Valandhara. And by the way, have you not noticed her clothes and jewellery? How have you gotten this in your head that she's a dasi?" Sahdev asked rolling his eyes. Bheem frowned more furiously. He thought about it. The first time they met, she wasn't dressed up much. The second time, he didn't gave any notice to it and today also he didn't. Okay. He might have been a little ignorant. But why didn't she correct him then?

Here, Nakul and Arjun both looked at Bheem wide eyed. Kunti was also thinking how her most ingenuous and gullible son got paired up with none other than Rajkumari Valandhara.

"Rajkumari Valandhara!!!" Nakul gasped.

"Yoh to bakri ki tarah bhrata Bheem ko brahmakamal samaj ke ak hi nibale mein kha jayegi. (She'll eat him up whole without any problem.)" Arjun said. Kunti, Yudhisthir, Sahdev and Bheem looked at him with rounded eyes.

"Satya hain. (That's right.)" Nakul agreed making a sympathetic face.

"I-I'm not going to marry that ill-mannered dasi- Rajkumari. She tricked me. And when I took that vow, I wasn't talking about trickery. It was about strength. I'm not going to marry her." Bheem said standing up.

"Aab aap se kushti larne wali kaha milegi bhrata Bheem? (Where will we find someone to duel with you, bhrata Bheem?)" Nakul said.

"I don't know anything. Don't take that rude Rajkumari's name in front of me." Bheem said and left stomping his feet.

Drisana was happy watching everyone enjoying at the function. Henna was applied on her hands and feet. She had expected it to be quite simple and plain, but it was applied in intricate designs and patterns with the help of a peacock feather. Though it took hours to complete and drisana was impatient, it looked beautiful at the end making the wait worth it. Also she had to wait hours for it to dry up completely. She would be bored out of her mind if all the women were not there laughing, singing, dancing and gossiping.

As per a ritual, Drisana's Mata feed her with her hand. Maharani Mangalya's eyes moistened with both happiness and sorrow. Her daughter was getting married. She lost hope of seeing this day once. But God graced her with this happiness. She was also sad thinking about the lost years when her daughter was missing. They were all enjoying when Priyala's voice rang out.

"Drisana, I've made something for you." Priyala said with excitement. Drisana's face lost colour with the rest.

"But jiji, I told you I'll make sweets for her. See. I made laddos. Then why? When? How?" Valandhara said looking nervous.

"Yes. But then later I remembered Drisana doesn't like sweets too much. And she had earlier told me some recipes that she liked. So I made those for her." Priyala said smiling brightly. Drisana tried to remember what recipes she told. She looked around at all hoping someone would help her. But no. She only received sympathetic looks. Drisana forced a smile on her face as Priyala came with her special foods.

"Yeh hai baans mircchi wale, bhune huye kathal pisa rotla o ke bich, turee tala, gobi ka tikkha mittha paar, kaddu ka camhcam." Priyala announced sitting beside her. What she said was enough to make an army ran for their lives. The others were looking wide eyed at both her and the dishes. But Drisana got emotional as she understood what exactly Priyala had tried to make.

Baans mircchi wale meant chili bamboo shoots, bhune huye kathal pisa rotla o ke bich meant Cajun-Spiced jackfruit sandwich, turee tala meant spicy zucchini fritters, gobi ka tikkha mittha paar meant sweet chili habanero glazed cauliflower wings and kaddu ka camhcam was sweet pumpkin fritters.

Drisana hugged Priyala as a tear slipped her eye. Priyala asked her some days before about the dishes that she used to eat before but missed now and Drisana told her about a few of them. Priyala remembered those and made what she could. These weren't exactly those that was made in Kaliyug. But she took the effort to know and try. That meant a lot.

"You're very nice, bhabhishree." Drisana said wiping her tears.

"That I am. Now eat." Priyala said taking a pumpkin fritter and holding it in front of her. The rest were admiring them.

"By the way, I don't talk too much, specially between an emotional session. But this time I'll say. Because I also have something for you." Shubhaprada said and brought a portrait of Dravida that she herself drew. The mountains, ocean, birds flying in bright clear sky and the Palace in the middle was drawn beautifully with expertise. The colours were so vibrant and beautiful. "It will remind you of us. So you never forget your maternal home after getting your in-laws love."

"Though I can never forget my maternal home, no matter how much love I get, but this gift of yours will always make me feel close to you. Thank you, bhabhishree." Drisana said smiling at her.

"Aab hain yeh (Now, it's -)"

"Baari hamari. (Our turn.)"

"Laye hain hum bhi (we've also brought -)"

"Uphaar tumhare liye. (gift for you.)"

"Dekho to jara (Look at this.)"

"Kaysa hai hamara (how is our-)"

"Choti si bhed. (Small gift.)"

Himani and Poornima brought a shawl for her. There was intricate designs made in it. The golden coloured thread work looked so beautiful on the red fabric. It must had taken them months to complete it. They didn't have to. But still they did.

"It's so beautiful. I'll always cherish it." Drisana said smiling though her eyes glistened with tears.

"Drisana." Anandini called her coming closer. "I thought a lot about what to gift you. And after thinking a lot I felt for our Lakshmi, this will be good." Saying so she removed the cloth from one plate and there was a jewellery set with necklace, earnings, sindoorpat (hair accessory), bangles and kamarbandh (Waist Accessory). What was special in those were the authentic image of goddess Lakshmi incarcerated into them. "You're and you always will be our treasured family member. If ever you feel weak or alone, this will remind you the power you hold inside. The strength you get from your this family will remain with you, no matter what. So you don't need to hesitate or fear anything. Ever."

Drisana only nodded while Anandini made her wear the jewelleries.

Devika and Draupadi were watching with smiles. They were also overwhelmed watching Drisana being showered with so much love and affection. Something they both had been deprived of. Devika never had a family to begin with and Draupadi's never bothered with her so much.

They would have never knew family could be like this too if not met hers.