The Sun rose starting a new day with lots of devotion and faith in the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
A week passed with the new born Arushi, and the guest had started arriving in Hastinapur for the grand Navratri Celebration.
The entire city was decorated extravagantly with light lamps and flowers. The females of every household decorated Rangolis in the outer areas of their own houses.
Everyone was joyous and excited for the celebration which was to start on the very next day.
Besides the house decorations, the subjects were also eager to welcome the guests, be it their relatives or the Royal Guests.
Chariots after chariots crossed the remarkably decorated streets of Hastinapur, as the people glanced at them in awe.
"Pranipaat Angraj." Karn was greeted by Pandavas, after being welcomed at the gates.
"Pranipaat Yuvraj. Pranipaat Kumaro." They acknowledged, nodding at him.
"How are you, Mitra? And Congratulations to you for my niece. How's she doing? " Karn hugged Duryodhan and had a hearty laugh.
"I am fine, Mitra. Arushi-"
Before Duryodhan could reply, Bhanumati taunted, "Arya, I don't think Angraj has anything to do with Arushi. It's our honour that he is able to take out his precious time to come to Hastinapur for Navratri."
Karn gazed at Duryodhan sheepishly as the latter surrendered immediately.
No way could he go against his wife.
"Now my sister is calling me Angraj instead of Bhrata? Itna krodh hai apne Bhrata par, priye behen?" Karn asked while Bhanumati turned her eyes away, ignoring.
(So much anger on your brother, dear sister?)
"Krodh uspe kiya jata hai jispe swayam ka adhikar ho. Aur Angraj pe mera koi adikhar nhi."
(Anger can be dumb on those whom we have the right to do so. And I certainly don't possess any right on Angraj.)
Karn again looked at Duryodhan, and had a silent conversation.
Indeed Bhanumati was angry with Angraj.
"Tumhara mujhpe adhikar tha, hai aur sadev rahega, Priye Behen. Tum jitna chaho mujhpe krodh kar sakti ho. Parantu mera anupasthiti ka karan toh prashn kar hi sakti ho."
(You always had rights on me, and will have forever, dear sister. You can get angry at me to an extreme limit also. But ask me the reason behind my absence.)
Bhanumati remained quite as Karn sighed and spilled the reason for his absence, "Pitashree ke swast thik nhi tha. Vaidya Ji ne unhe bistar se utne ko bhi mana kiye hai. Aur Ang mei kuch karya sesh reh gaya tha jiske karan mera Hastinapur par upasthit rehna sambhav nhi tha."
(My father was not well. The doctor suggested a complete bed rest. And some works were left in Ang due to which I couldn't be present in Hastinapur.)
"Adirath Kaka swast toh hai na!?" Bhanumati asked, concern lacing her voice, which made both the best friend duo smile at her warmly.
(Is Adhirath Uncle doing well?)
Karn nodded, "Pitashree swast hai ab... Toh kya mai kshama ka apeksha kar sakta hu?"
(Father is fine... So, now can I expect to be forgiven?)
"Rajkumari Arushi apne Mamashree Karn ke liye pratisha kr rhi hai." Bhanumati finally said, while a bright smile made its path through Karn's face.
(Princess Arushi is waiting for her Uncle Karn.)
"Daas, take Angraj to his guest chamber." Duryodhan instructed a servant as Karn went away with him.
Just then the Royal Drums were again beaten as the Royals of Kosala came into view.
The King, Queen, the Crown Prince and the Princess walked up to the aisle as they were warmly greeted by the Royals of Hastinapur.
Flowers were showered over them.
"Pranipaat Maharaj Dhritarastra and Maharani Gandhari. We are glad to join Hastinapur in the grand celebration of Navratri." Maharaj Kaushal mentioned, joining his hands.
Dhritarastra too joined his hands, replying, "And we are glad that the Royals of Kosala have accepted our invitation and hence joined us. Welcome Maharaj Prasenjit...!!"
"Maharani Mallika, welcome to Hastinapur. I suggest you take some rest in the guest chambers before the usual Sandhya Pujan." Gandhari suggested it to the Queen of Kosala.
"Gladly, Maharani Gandhari. We are pleased and eager to look forward to the next ten days." Mallika replied.
While the Crown Prince of Kosala was introduced to Yudhisthir, "Pranipaat Yuvraj Yudhisthir."
"Pranipaat Yuvraj Atharv. Swagat hai apka Hastinapur mein." Yudhisthir greeted back, joining his hands and welcoming him.
(Welcome to Hastinapur.)
Suddenly the Princess spoke, "Bhratashree , they're the Pandavas, whom I met about two years back."
And that made them extremely confused. How did they meet the Princess of Kaushal? And when? And also, where?
"You met them, Kaushali?" Atharv asked, surprisingly.
"Indeed I met them." She agreed instantly.
"But when, Rajkumari? We don't remember." Nakul objected, frowning while Kaushali gazed at him.
Her eyes scanned Nakul's body with a seductive smirk, witnessing his body features closely, his warrior-like physique intrigued her suddenly.
Kaushali's momentary gaze made Nakul uncomfortable, as he subconsciously adjusted his Angvastra.
"Oh don't you remember, Rajkumar? Never mind, I'm sure Rajkumar Arjun must have remembered me, ain't you Rajkumar?" She turned her eyes to Arjun, who got startled by his name.
"Uh, I think, Rajkumari, you're mistaken. We haven't met before." Arjun's reply was curt, as he didn't like the way the girl checked him out.
Kaushali laughed a little. Her laugh also had a huge maliciousness.
"Pratit hota hai apna mansik santulan kho chuki hai." Bheem whispered to Sahdev, who snickered a little and then covered it up by coughing lightly.
(Seems like she has lost her mental stability.)
"Okay then, let me remind you all. We have met at the time of your Kala Pradarshan. Remember Rajkumar Arjun, I asked you to play Veena, as you are very good at it."
Realization dawned upon their faces at last remembering the incident, how Kaushali was sticking to Arjun.
Phalgun cringed over the memory as he forced a smile, nodding while letting the siblings know that they remembered her.
"Welcome to Hastinapur again, Rajkumari Kaushali." Yudhisthir greeted her again.
"See I told you, Bhratashree, they knew me and remembered me even after almost two years." She said to Atharv, while showing her teeth.
"I am telling the servants to take you to the guest chambers." Yudhisthir suggested and Atharv went along with a servant.
But before he could call a maid for Kaushali, she demanded, "No need for maids, Yuvraj. What about Rajkumar Nakul, himself showing me the path to my guest chamber?"
That made his four brothers look at Nakul, with their sympathetic gaze while he felt too uncomfortable hearing the suggestion.
"Uh, the maids know the guest-"
She interrupted Nakul, "Would you reject the wishes of a guest, Rajkumar?"
"Nakul, take our guest inside." Yudhisthir pleaded with his eyes, making Nakul dumbfound.
Dharmraj himself could understand the situation but he could do nothing as they should look after the needs of their guests.
Madri Nandan huffed with a comical expression and turned behind, only for Kaushali to follow him.
She gazed at him, his dark brown orbs, perfectly shaped nose complimented his sharp jawline with his pigmented lips.
His silky shoulder length hairs flew as they walked down the corridor.
His broad shoulder attracted her like none other, which his jewelleries and Angvastra failed to hide.
Nakul was well aware of the seductive gaze he felt. He just wanted the corridors to end fast and let the witch go.
Suddenly Kaushali tripped over her lehenga, and took a hold of Nakul's Angvastra and in an instinct he caught her arms.
The act made his Angvastra slip down a little till his elbow, giving a perfect view of his chiseled chest to Kaushali.
He left her arms immediately, and was about to fix his cloth but Kaushali held his hand, making him frown.
She was about to touch his garment to fix it when her wrist was grabbed harshly, making her flinch.
Nakul raised his eyes and found Panchali's cold eyes glaring daggers at Kaushali.
A slow smirk formed on his face as he watched Kaushali's fearful eyes.
"Who are you? And how dare you hold my hand? Leave it... I said,Leave it." Kaushali wiggled in pain as Panchali tightened it more, making her wince.
"Ah, Leave my hand..." The girl winced as Panchali was in no mood to leave her wrist so soon.
She glared straight into Kaushali's eyes, clenching her teeth and tightening her hold on the wrist, inflicting pain, which she knew that it already left her finger prints.
"Who are you? How dare you not listen to my order?" Kaushali questioned her, challenging through her eyes.
"That's none of your business. You're a guest, so behave like one. Don't try to get involved in my household." Panchali warned her with her clenched teeth and dangerous glare.
Her voice sent a shiver run down Kaushali's spine, as the woman finally jerked her hands out of her hold.
She immediately caressed her wrist which got bruised, as Panchali left her finger prints in blueish black colour.
Tears glistened in the eyes of Kaushali due to the pain apart from the anger she felt towards the unknown woman, who still glared at her darkly.
"Go straight from where you are standing and then take left, the fifth room is yours. And I don't want myself." Panchali's cold hollow voice and her intimidating glare made Kaushali move towards the said direction, leaving the couple behind.
Panchali then looked into Nakul's eyes, only finding him staring at her back with a slight smile on his face, as if he was hypnotised by his wife.
Without breaking their eye contact, Panchali grabbed a part of his Angvastra and fixed it over his shoulder, bringing Nakul back to his senses.
She didn't make him uncomfortable like Kaushali did. She didn't check him out, she didn't ogled at his shoulders and chest.
Yes, she had the right to do so as his wife but she knew her responsibilities. Now, that's what Nakul guessed.
Without saying anything, Panchali went forward, past him leaving him with his fluttered heart, blissful thoughts and a new beautiful feelings.
On the other hand, the Royals of Dwarka was the last one to arrive the the gates of Hastinapur.
"Pranipaat Dwarkadheesh. Pranipaat Shrimaan Balram." Dhritarastra welcomed Krishna and Balram.
"Pranipaat Vasudev. Pranipaat Shrimaan Balram." Yudhisthir was the next to greet them, as the duo greeted them back.
Arjun and Krishna hugged each other before a certain female figure grabbed their attention.
A lady came out of a palanquin wearing golden embroidered emerald green lehenga.
Her honey complexion glowed as the sun kissed over her face.
Eyes that shaped like an almond and button nose, with sharp jawline made her look gorgeous among women.
She walked up to the main gates, as the people were mesmerized by her.
"Pranipaat." Her honey dripped voice melted the hearts of everyone while her sweet smiled made them awe.
"Welcome to Hastinapur, Yadav Kumari Subhadra."
Dear Readers,
Including Subhadra was necessary for the plot, was all I can say now.
I know you all told me to not include Subhadra, but I also mentioned that her involvement in the story will give a twist.
So, please have faith in me. I would never disappoint you people, regarding this story.
Thanking You,
Hiya