"Daiwik left to bring them or not?" Dwijendra asked to Dhikshit. They were checking the preparations of the Mandap for the last time. The wedding was going to take place in a large amphitheatre. It was an open circular building with a central space surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators. The central space was filled with scented water and flowers. In the middle of that water filled area was a large dais where the Mandap was made. Stairs attached to four pathways led to the dais from four sides and one big grand stairway led straight to the dais from the side of the principal Palace. The whole area was beautifully decorated with flowers, coloured curtains and large sculptures.

"Yes. They'll arrive soon. I've informed Pitashree." Rajkumar Dhikshit replied stiffly.

"Yuvraj Duryodhan?" Dwijendra asked.

"In his chambers. Hasn't gotten out this morning. Dridhaksh is keeping watch. Gandharraj was roaming around our stables." Dhikshit informed.

"Gadhe kab se ghoro mein ruchi rakhne lage? (Since when donkeys started taking interest in horses?)" Dwijendra said arching one eyebrow. Dhikshit stifled a laugh at that. He wouldn't be laughing if he knew what happened a few nights ago. Dwijendra hadn't disclosed it to anyone, only kept a close eye on Duryodhan.

"Kakashree! Kakashree!!" Satyen, Dhritimat's son came running to Dhikshit. Behind him was Dhritimat and Devyajot with his daughter, Preesha in his arms.

"Yes?" Dhikshit asked with a slight smile ruffling his hairs.

"Matamah ne kaha hai, ki bua ke vivha ke paschat, apke aur kakishree ke saath hum bhi samudra tat pe ghumne jayenge. Aap humain le calenge na? (Grandma has said, we'll also go with you and auntie to tour near the seaside after the wedding. You will take us, right?)" Satyen asked cutely.

"Which Kakishree?" Dhikshit frowned furiously. The only kakishree Satyen had was Priyala. But Devyajot would be the one to take her for a tour, not him. Dhritimat stood behind with a straight face.

"That Rajkumari Surpanakha. You're going to marry her." Satyen replied. Dhritimat burst into laughter hearing his son as Dhikshit was grinding his teeth hard. Dwijendra and Devyajot both were shaking with silent laughter.

Satyen was talking about the princess of Saurashetra, Rajkumari Souparnika. It was just a slight spelling mistake on Satyen's part.

"Imagine. If Dhikshit actually gets married to her. Uski to naak kat jayegi. (Her nose will be cut off.)" Dhritimat said in between laughter.

"Good thing then, I am not going to marry her." Dhikshit gritted out. He was hell irritated with that Rajkumari. She had been hunting him like a creep since coming here.

"Chances are high. Mata is determined to get you married this time. Even Maharaj Surehsen is treating you like a son already. Pitashree won't be able to save you against these joined forces. He has also understood, you're not waiting for any 'the one'. You just don't intend to marry. Ever." Dwijendra said warning him against the upcoming battle.

"Pitashree? Will Kakashree also leave us after marriage like bua?" Satyen asked again.

"No, putra. Only girls go to their husbands home after marriage." Dhritimat replied chuckling. Satyen thought for a while and then said, "Then I will marry Preesha. So she won't leave us ever."

This time it was Dhikshit who burst into laughter as Devyajot glared at Dhritimat hard and Dhritimat only gulped down nervously looking at his son's innocent face.

Karna was going towards the wedding venue when Gandharraj Shakuni came running to him.

"Maharathi Karna! Karna! Save your Mitra! Save my son!"

"What happened Gandharraj?" Karna asked with confusion.

"My son! My Duryodhan! There's fire in his room. He is trapped in there. Save him." Shakuni said frantically with a frightened expression.

"What? How?" Karna asked as he started to run towards his wing.

"I don't know. I went in his chambers to call him to go to the venue and when I went inside there was smoke coming out from the bedroom door. I peeked inside through the door hardly to see my son lying unconscious on the bed and there was fire all around him. I called the guards immediately. But they are unable to stop the fire or get Duryodhan out. While they're trying to extinguish the fire, I came to search for help. Please save mere bacca. What will I answer Maharaj Dhritrastra and my priye behen if something happened to him? Save him!" Shakuni kept explaining the events as he ran behind Karna towards Duryodhan's chambers.

Karna reached inside Duryodhan's chambers to see the whole area was covered in smoke. Guards and servants were running here and there to extinguish the fire that was inside the room. But the problem was there was only one entry point and fire blocked the way. The guards were able to stop the fire from spreading outside, but no way to gain entry or stop it from spreading inside the room. And Duryodhan was lying just inside amidst it all unconscious on the bed. Just as Karna reached there, he saw Rajkumar Dridhaksh trying to figure out a way to get Duryodhan out safely.

"How the hell has he fallen asleep at this time? And from where this fire started?" Dridhaksh snapped at Gandharraj as soon as he saw him.

"I don't know. Please help him out first." Shakuni said helplessly.

"Yuvraj Duryodhan!!!" Karna called him frantically.

"Duryodhan! Mere bacca! Please get up." Shakuni also called him in desperation.

"He is not going to get up like this. We'll have to go inside and get him out." Dridhaksh said to them.

"But how will we go inside?" Karna asked. He was panicking inside as the bedsheet had caught fire from one side.

"Balcony! There's a window of the bedroom adjacent to it. We'll have to climb through it." Dridhaksh said and started towards it with Karna following behind. They managed to get inside through the window and reached to Duryodhan. Fire had spreaded on the bed and Duryodhan was in the middle of it. Karna and Dridhaksh got hold of him and dragged him to a safe corner. They needed him to get up for getting out of there. Shakuni was watching anxiously from outside.

"Duryodhan! Get up!

Are you listening to me? Get up!" Karna called him frantically.

"What's wrong with you? Get up, Yuvraj Duryodhan!" Dridhaksh tried with frustration. His sister's marriage was going to take place in a while. All the guests were out there already at the venue and he was stuck with this idiot here.

"Duryodhan!!!!!"

Karna kept calling and shaking him. After a few attempts, Duryodhan gained consciousness.

"Mitra!" He called confusingly seeing Karna. Then he noticed the fire around. "What happened?"

"That's what we want to know. And why were you sleeping like dead?" Dridhaksh asked with irritation.

"I was drinking alcohol last night. Don't remember when I fell unconscious or what happened after." Duryodhan said while holding his head to get his bearings.

"Really? Well, we'll discuss this later. First we need to get out of here." Dridhaksh said gritting his jaw hard. The fire was reaching them fast. He grabbed some blankets from one cupboard that was still not burnt and wrapped around themselves.

"Yes, let's go." Karna helped Duryodhan in getting up as he was not stable and kept wobbling.

"Mitra? Have you forgiven me?" Duryodhan stopped and asked looking at Karna emotionally.

"We need to get out first. Let's go." Karna said instead and tried to move him, but Duryodhan was rooted on the spot stubbornly.

"No. First tell me, have you forgiven me yet? I can't bear this burden of guilt anymore. I want my mitra back." He said holding Karna from his shoulders. Dridhaksh looked at them with annoyance.

"This is not the time to-" Karna started to convince him, but got interrupted.

"No. I won't go unless you forgive me. Please mitra, release me from this punishment." Duryodhan said with tears in eyes.

"You can talk about it later. We need to get out fast." Dridhaksh snapped at him.

"No, no no. I won't go. Leave me in this fire. It's better than getting burnt in my guilt everyday." Duryodhan said screaming.

"Duryodhan! Mere bacca, don't be stubborn. Come out fast." Shakuni's voice was heard from outside.

"I have no grudge against you. I forgave you much earlier. Let's go." Karna said finally after a moment.

"No. Not like this. If you really forgave me, than accept my friendship again. Give my mitra back to me." He said again. Dridhaksh wanted to leave Duryodhan in this fire only. If not for Drisana's marriage in a little while and him being a guest of Dravida, he would gladly do that.

Karna looked at Duryodhan. He saw the determination and desperation in his eyes. He wouldn't leave unless Karna agreed. And Karna couldn't see any harm falling on him.

"Mitra Duryodhan, let's go."

Nakul and the four Pandavs stood in front of the Principal Palace gate.

Maharaj Drishadvat stood with none other than Vasudev Krishna to welcome the groom as per the ritual. He was going to take Nakul to the Mandap.

"Welcome Rajkumar Nakul!" Krishna said as they stopped in front of them.

"Aap to hamare saath aaye the na madhav, aab hamara hi swagat kar rahe hai? (You came with us Madhav and now you're welcoming us?)" Arjun asked smirking at him. Nakul had received welcoming from Dravida Princes and now it seemed the welcoming would be done by Maharaj Drishadvat himself.

"Kya karu Paarth, aab hu to mein dulhan ka bhai hi na. (What to do Paarth, I am the bride's brother only.)" Krishna replied matching his smirk.

Nakul sighed and looked at Maharaj Drishadvat with a slight smile. As per Dravida's tradition, the father of the Bride welcomed the groom and the groom then gave his introduction and asked for the bride's hand promising to keep her happy. The father of the bride then being satisfied, led the groom to the Mandap for marriage.

Why hadn't he thought Maharaj Drishadvat would take full advantage of the ritual?

Stupidity on his part, right?

"Welcome! I, the King of Dravida, Drishadvat welcome you in my land. State your reason for coming here." Maharaj Drishadvat said with a smiling face.

"Pranam, Maharaj. I, the King of Indraprasth, Yudhisthir thank you for your warm welcoming. The reasoning will be stated by my brother Rajkumar Nakul." Yudhisthir replied folding his hands as the head of the family and with that he along with Bheem, Arjun and Sahdev sidestepped leaving only Nakul in front of Maharaj Drishadvat.

"Come on, Rajkumar Nakul. Give your introduction and state your reason." Krishna encouraged him.

"Yes. Or you can go back if you want." Rajkumar Daiwik said from beside Krishna.

Everyone was eagerly waiting with excitement for Nakul to speak up. This tradition wasn't followed in every Kingdom of Aryavart and even fewer fathers who took it seriously. So, it was a rare sight to watch someone convincing a King who loved his daughter dearly to give her hand to his. Maharaj Drishadvat wouldn't be pleased with Nakul so easily.

Nakul thought what to say and how to say. If it was anyone else, he could have said he was Dron shisya (disciple of Dron), Chandravanshi, PanduPutra, KuntiNandan, Madreya Nakul. He could say he was Bhisagvara (best of physicians), a skilled warrior, a minister in the royal court and the administrator of the army forces of Indraprasth. But all that was known by Drisana's father and he wouldn't be impressed with that. What should one say to a father who loved his daughter like anything? Who lost her as a child and got her back after 23 years? Who didn't want to be away from her anymore?

Then glancing at everyone once, he started.

"Parnipat, Maharaj. I am Madreya Nakul. Today I've come at your doorstep to ask for the most precious gem of Dravida, Drishadvatduhitri, Mangalya putri Arunika, whose wisdom and courage is well-known and praised by all. Your daughter is beautiful, intelligent, spirited, knowledgeable and fearless. I don't know if I can match her in all these, but she deserves the very best, someone who will back her up without limits, let her grow without borders, and love her without end. Will you let me be that someone?"

Yudhisthir, Bheem, Arjun and Sahdev were pleased at him as they silently watched with smiles.

"Vasudev, makhan curana to aapka kam hai na? Yeh kaha se laye hai itna sara makhan? (Isn't it your job to steal butter? From where he has gathered so much butter?)" Rajkumar Daiwik whispered at Krishna who gave a look to Daiwik and he returned it with an innocent looking one.

Maharaj Drishadvat watched Nakul silently with a blank face which was making him nervous, but he didn't show it on his face and waited patiently for his reply.

"My daughter is very dear to me. She is not only a blessing for me, but to Dravida and Suryavnshi also. I cannot just give her hand to someone without knowing if that person understands my daughter or not. Do you understand her?" Maharaj Drishadvat asked Nakul grimly.

"I may not understand her everytime, but I do know and trust her. That gives me the strength to stand beside her at every situation." Nakul replied earnestly.

"She chose you and I hope she never faces disappointment. And if she ever does, you, yourself will send her back to me." Maharaj Drishadvat said in a cold voice.

"I give you this vow. I will try my best that Drisana never faces disappointment in this marriage and if she does, I will send her back to you." Nakul said in a calm and determined voice.

"And you will never take her to Hastinapur. Not in any condition." Maharaj Drishadvat added. Now this wiped the smiles on Pandavs faces and replaced it with a worried one.

Dwijendra did say, 'Dravida would never forget their Rajkumari's this hospitality.'

Maharaj Drishadvat might be forced in his daughter's love, but he had not forgotten Nakul's association with Hastinapur. And he wouldn't allow Drisana to go back at that place where her enemies were the strongest.

Nakul thought carefully. Even though they were at Indraprasth, they were related to Hastinapur and would remain so always. Going back to Hastinapur was not some foreign idea though. It could be any political or personal reason. And he agreed, Drisana would never be safe at Hastinapur.

"I promise." He said after a moment.

Maharaj Drishadvat smiled slowly. Nakul hadn't glanced even once at his brothers before answering. That confirmed though the Pandavs depended on each other and acted as a fist, they were independent too.

"Welcome to the family."

Question to myself : how can I drag this so much?!!

I should be a serial writer. 😂😂😂