Draupadi feels a sudden weight on the side of her bed. She smiles a bit as the weight falls on her body. She hugs Sahadev back as he embraces her burying his face in her neck.
"Ram Ram! Which Raksaash is this?" Draupadi teases.
"A Raksaash that misses his wife," Sahadev pouts.
"Arya, why weren't you asleep? It's past midnight," Draupadi inquires.
"I finished making the balm Jyest told me for your feet," Sahadev sits up.
"Yudhisthira is always like this. You should have made it tomorrow. Why did you stay up so late?" Draupadi also sits up scolding him.
"Panchali, Jyest doesn't need to tell me all the time. I also care for you. I was making this balm from two days prior,"
Draupadi touches his face, "I know you care for me. But seeing you tired doesn't make me feel happy. Did you take your medicine?"
"I did. Let me apply this balm on your feet,"
"Not you too. I can apply on my own. That idiot Karna. What does he say to you all?" Draupadi scoots far from him.
"Panchali, don't curse Jyest Karna in front of Bhrata Yudhisthira. His weak heart won't be able to take it," Sahadev jokes.
Draupadi giggles as well. Sahadev takes her feet on his lap. Carefully he applies the balm and massages her feet.
"If the swollen isn't reduced by tomorrow I have a painkiller soup,"
Draupadi dreads that. It's bitter beyond words. Her taste buds remained lost for a week drinking it last time. She should have known better than to marry a doctor.
"Yes..I will tell you.."
She will never tell him. In fact, if the swollen isn't reduced, she will hide from Sahadev and Nakula until her feet are healed.
"Panchali, don't you think we should get our sons married by now. All of them are touching 30," Sahadeva proposes.
"I thought they all have girls in their mind so I didn't pay much attention to this matter. But you are right. I will look around," Draupadi agrees.
"What's the matter with Nandini by the way? She keeps following Shrutasena and when he looks back, she runs," Sahadev asks confused.
Draupadi giggles, "I guess she has a crush on him. But don't think your son is innocent. Before leaving for Agyatvas, I gifted him a gajra of flowers Bheem gave me. I told him to give it so someone special. Did you notice Nandini wearing them?"
Sahadev scoffs, "So, I am still confused because Sena ignores her. What's actually going on?"
Draupadi lays down pulling Sahadeva with her. She embraces his head on her chest, "Sena wants her to confess first. That's why he is doing this. Don't worry, tomorrow I will have a talk with her. Sena is going too far."
"And Govind told me about this years ago. He wants Shrutasena as his son in law. Arya, do you have any objection?"
"Of course not, Panchali. It's my fortune," Sahadeva says.
Sahadeva listens to her heartbeat. Resting on her breasts he closes his eyes. Draupadi is massaging his curls.
"I came to take care of you not the other way," Sahadeva mumbles.
Draupadi giggles, "You are taking care of me. I am happy taking care of my heart. Yudhisthira has kept you busy in Sabha immensely."
Sahadeva smiles, "You noticed?"
"I notice every breath you take, Arya,"
They slept in each other's arms that night.
"Ouch," Satanika stumbles as he crushes into someone.
"Ouch,"
Satanika immediately goes to assist that person, "Devi, are you alright?"
"Yuvraj Satanika, have you lost your eyes?"
"Devasena? The cheat girl!" Satanika exclaims.
"Who cheated? I only remember a defeated, egoist Rajkumar," Devasena bites back.
"Oh please. So many woman only after a helpless man. You all cheated. Don't be so proud," Satanika mocks.
"We were after a bird that ran free," Devasena mocks.
"A bird you say. As majestic and gorgeous as en eagle wasn't he?" Satanika smirks.
Devasena surrounds him looking from up to bottom, "Well, I saw a crow that screamed for his life. Why, did you see someone else in the mirror?"
Satanika's mouth fall open, "You!"
"Yes, me. What do you want to say?" Devasena asks sweetly.
Satanika looks at her lost for words. He then storms off to his mother's chamber to complain. Devasena bursts into laughter from behind. He is too fun to tease.
Arjuna and Draupadi were discussing when Satanika came in whining.
"Maa, I am telling you. We can never have my brothers marry in Awanti. Women are too violent there," Satanika removes the documents from his mother's lap and takes it for himself.
"Why? Did anyone say anything?" Draupadi asks worried.
Satanika confesses his encounter with Devasena to his father and mother. Arjuna suddenly raises the scrolls so they can hide his face. Draupadi was in dilemma.
"Maa, you told Pitashree Nakula that he is the most handsome man in this era. And you are you,"
Arjun bursts into laughter, "You are you Panchali?"
"I mean Maa, you are so beautiful. How can the son of the handsome Nakula and NityaYuvani's be called a crow? Maa, from which angle I look like a crow?" Satanika pouts.
"Wait a minute here. Panchali, when did you give Nakula this boon?" Arjuna asks all in a sudden.
Draupadi puts her finger on his lips shutting him down.
"Satanika, she is our guest. Don't be rude to her," Draupadi says.
Satanika pouts then shakes his head, "I will warn my younger brothers about women of Awanti, Maa. This is my duty as their elder brother."
Draupadi shakes her head as Satanika goes out the same way he came.
Draupadi turns around and immediately bursts into laughter. Arjuna is half laying on the bed a rose on his lips. He winks at her seductively. He extends his hand for Draupadi to take. Giggling Draupadi puts her hand in his. Arjuna pulls her underneath him.
"A rose for my rose," he puts the rose on her lips with his.
"Phalguni, what madness is this?" Draupadi couldn't stop laughing.
"You gave Nakula the boon to be the most handsome man in this era? Panchali, I am wounded. Though I am black but my heart isn't,"
Draupadi rolls in fits of laughter. Arjuna pouts putting his body weight on her.
"Phalguni, get off. You are heavy," Draupadi tries to push him away.
"Here I am wounded. And you don't care," Arjuna rolls the other side facing away from her.
Draupadi tries to pull him but he lays there pouting. Draupadi wants to cry. First the son and now the father. She really has a long day ahead.
"Maa, what are you doing?" Nandini peeks through the documents.
"Come Putri, I am looking for bride for your Bhrata Satanika," Draupadi says then turns to the matchmaker.
"She doesn't has the sparkle in her eyes. Not suitable for Satanika," Draupadi rejects the 87th princess.
"Samragni, you have rejected all previous princesses. But you won't be able to reject her," the royal matchmaker says.
"She is really gentle and calm. Samragni, perfect in contrast with Yuvraj Satanika,"
"Rejected, I don't need calm and gentle princess,"
The matchmaker is about to cry, "Samragni please tell me your preference then."
"Someone crazy,"
The matchmaker coughs and Nandini giggles.
"No, crazier than Satanika. Someone who can keep him on his toes," Draupadi says.
The matchmaker sweats. Now, should he go door to door in Aryavarta to look for an crazy woman?
Nandini gets out the chamber because after sometimes Prativindhya came and both got immersed in their political conversations. She goes to the common room in hope to find Siyaanshi or Maya. But she found Satanika, Shrutasena, Shrutakarma and Abhimanyu laughing about something.
"Bhrata Satanika, Maa is looking for brides for you," Nandini sits on the pillow as well.
"Maa is getting you married to get rid of you, bhrata. You bother her too much," Shrutakarma jokes.
"That's not the case, Karma. You are still young and don't get it. Maa is saving those poor, soft hearted, tender princesses from heartache. That much is your brother's charm," Satanika claims proudly.
Shrutasena and Nandini gives him the look of disbelief.
"Nandini, what's Maa saying? When will we be able to get rid of him?" Shrutakarma asks.
Nandini shakes her head disappointment, "Maa has rejected over 100 princesses. She likes no one."
"It seems like Maa has to summon Apsaras to match my handsomeness," Satanika runs his fingers in his hair sighing.
This time Abhimanyu makes a pitiful face. Are they really related? Is this really his brother? Why is he getting second hand embarrassment from him?
"So, Maa has decided to stop looking," Nandini says.
"What? Why?" Satanika straitens up.
"Maa said if you have someone you like, she will send proposal in her family. She's scared that you will lead an unhappy marriage if she arranges you," Nandini says.
"Areh, I am sitting here relying on Maa. What nonsense is me liking someone? Satyanash! I will remains a virgin forever this way. Maa!!!" Satanika sprints to his mother's chamber.
"He will again have a beating today. Bhrata wait," Shrutakarma and Abhimanyu runs to stop him.
In the common room only Shrutasena and Nandini are sitting alone. Both steal glances at each other secretly.
"You are still wearing saugandhika," Shrutasena comments.
"The fragrance is so refreshing," Nandini says smelling them.
"I will leave now. I have to meet someone," Nandini stands up.
Shrutasena straightens but doesn't show the desperation on his face, "Don't go too far with your friends. I dread crying women."
Nandini turns around innocently, "I am not going out with my friends. Maa asked me to show the training ground to a prince. Rajkumar Daksha is really strong, did you see him?"
Shrutasena felt like someone lit fire in his heart. He tries to play it cool, "Daksha? Yeah, he is good."
Nandini wants to laugh at how quickly his face changed it's color. Her Maa's solutions are the best. She can't help the urge to tease him more.
"Also I am sorry,"
"Why are you apologizing?" Shrutasena asks worried.
"You are elder than me. I kept addressing you by your name. You must have feel disrespected. From now on I will address you Bhra..."
"HOLD ON A SECOND HERE!" Shrutasena jumps from his seat his face terrified, "Don't finish your sentence. Just don't. How the heck I am you Bhra...I mean that? Huh? Are we related by blood? We aren't. I have only one sister. Don't go around forcing yourself in other people's family tree."
Nandini bites the inside of her cheeks to stop laughing. She makes a sad face, "But Maa always tell me I am her daughter. I didn't know you think that way."
"Wait, wait. Hold on. Maa addresses everyone as a child of hers. Don't take her words to heart. You are no one to my blood," Shrutasena looks so scared as if someone has declared his life long jail.
Nandini pretends to be sad and wipes her non existent tears.
"Go make anyone else your brother. Pagal! I am not your Bhra....that," Shrutasena becomes more agitated.
"Then what are you?" Nandini asks softly.
"I am..." Shrutasena is at lose of words.
"You are?" Nandini urges.
"Look how silly you are. Who will marry you in future? Maiya must be so tired of you. You will see,"
"Then you can marry me," Nandini stops.
Shrutasena's mouth fell open. He gapes like a fish, "I...I.."
"Don't take my words to heart. I was just joking with you. Besides Maa said all the responsibility of my marriage is hers and Rajkumar Daksha is quiet cute," giggling Nandini leaves the room before Shrutasena could comprehend what she said.
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