"Is that so?" said a smirking Advika. She went forward, her gait slow yet dangerous. Her lips pulled into a smirk.

"Putri? What is it?" asked Bhishma, slowly, hoping there is a way to help his favorite nephews.

Advika turned towards Bhishma and gave a small genuine nod before walking towards Shakuni.

"Haven't someone taught you Gandhar Raj that too much of anything is harmful?" said Advika as she circled around Shakuni, making him even more worried.

Shakuni gulped, wondering what this woman wanted.

Advika held out her palm upward, speaking, "Your dice!"

"I am not giving my dice to anyone! How dare you ask something of me!" yelled a very pale Shakuni.

Advika simply smirked before turning to Bhishma, who nodded. Bhishma stepped down from his throne as he walked towards them. No one was idiot enough to challenge him or stop him. Not even Duryodhan. He may be greedy and lustful for power, but he was not foolish. An enraged Bhishma was a dangerous Bhishma. He may have his vows that made him a mere servant for the person who sat on the throne of Hastinapur, but that does not mean he was not dangerous when provoked.

Bhishma took the beautiful dice from Shakuni and held it for Advika to see. The dice made Advika very uncomfortable at its aura.

"Pitamaha, please throw the dice upwards," said Advika as she held the encrusted dagger in her hand.

Bhishma looked confused but did as she asked. Advika threw her dagger upwards as well, when the dice was falling. The dice was cut into two pieces as it fell on the carpeted floor. Everyone's eyes widened at what she did, while Shakuni gulped and paled rapidly, knowing what will happen next. Bhishma looked at the dice shocked as the two pieces, as if having a magnetized attraction, joined with ease, making the dice as it was before. Duryodhana paled as well. Everyone who had seen it was very shocked.

"This was foul play. He had cheated! How dare he?" yelled Yuyutsu, his eyes wide.

"I hope you get what had happened, Pitamaha!" said Advika, not a hint of a smile on her face, but a pleased glint in her eyes.

"Yes, I very well understood! But how is this dice magical?" asked Bhishma, his eyes hard, but with a curious glint in them.

"This dice is created through black magic. It is made from the bones of Shakuni's father. Therefore, this dice listens only to Shakuni. The game was won before it even began, by foul means," answered Advika, as she turned to Shakuni.

A gasp and a sob of denial could be heard from Gandhari in the balcony. Bhanumati had tears streaming down her cheeks as she held onto her mother-in-law. Kunti looked furious.

"Tatshree, I demand that whatever was lost be restored to my sons immediately!" demanded Kunti, her eyes furious.

"Oh, I will, Putri Kunti," said Bhishma, his eyes on Duryodhana.

Duryodhana said nothing, looking pale, and he averted his eyes when they met Bhishma's glacial glare.

"Ask for anything, Putri. I will fulfill your wish!" said Dhritarashtra, trying to regain any respect he obviously had lost.

Advika's gaze settled on him.

"Please do not call me Putri and then insult me again. If you wish to fulfill my wishes, then I will ask for two boons. One boon is that you will free my husband and his brothers from slavery. I will ask for the second boon later in my life!" said Advika, her voice hard.

"Of course, Putri... I mean Samragyi. They are freed, they are freed. You can ask for the boon whenever you want, and I will fulfill it," said Dhritarashtra hurriedly.

"And the wealth, as well as the kingdom, will be restored to them, as the game was a foul play against them. Black magic was used on the dice so that one party could win while the other loses," announced Bhishma, his face stern.

Karna immediately went straight towards Advika, who looked up at him with a sense of fulfillment; both their hands intertwined. Yuddhisthir's hand was wrapped around Devanshi's wrist, while hers covered his too. Bhima's arm was around Vandita, who leaned against him. Arjun had Draupadi pressed to his side, while she simply wrapped her arms around him, not caring who saw. Nakul and Kalyani held hands, his eyes not leaving hers for a few seconds. Sahadev had simply hugged Vritika to his chest while she cried tears of relief.

"But Pitashree, we both played according to the rules! How can they get everything back?" yelled Duryodhana, disgruntled and jealous. His greed had reared its head the moment Bhishma had announced that they would get back both their immense wealth and prosperous kingdom.

"Enough, Duryodhana! You may have played by the rules for once in your life, but that does not mean your pathetic excuse of an uncle did not cheat to get you all those things!" said Bhishma, his glare could have frozen hell.

Duryodhana retreated to himself, but his face was that of a sulking child who lost his favorite toy.

"Tatshree, we can compromise. How about they go through 12 years of forest life and 1 year of incognito? If my son can find them on their hidden year, then the wealth and kingdom will go to my son; if not, it will be returned to them after their 13th year is over," suggested Dhritarashtra, not being able to handle Duryodhana's tantrum. His greed was no less than his son's, after all.

"We can agree, but on 2 conditions," said Karna, his voice carrying over the entire hall.

Advika looked at him, while Yuddhisthir whispered, "Jyesht?"

Karna looked at Dhritarashtra, his eyes not straying even once towards his family.

"What conditions?" whispered Dhritarashtra.

"One, our kids, along with our wealth and our kingdom, will be placed in charge of Vasudevputra Shri Krishna. Second, I will be the one to dictate what happens with Shakuni and his dice," said Karna, his voice hard and authoritative.

The five brothers and sisters sighed in relief at the conditions, and all of them had a vengeful glint in their eyes.

"Agreed!!" said Bhishma, without letting Dhritarashtra speak. Dhritarashtra simply sighed, resigned at whatever will happen, knowing he cannot stop them.

"Kakashree Vidur, what is the punishment against someone who conspired against their emperor and his family?" asked Karna, his gaze now linked to the terrified Shakuni.

"Death!" came the prompt response of Vidur, who had a pleased smile on his face.

"NO! Please, son, I beg you. Don't kill him. Do punish him, but don't kill him, please. I beg you!" sobbed Gandhari, making Duryodhana pale rapidly.

Karna remained silent for a few seconds.

"Sahadev, I will let you decide regarding Shakuni's punishment. It was Vritika's honor that was in question first. If you want to adhere to Rajmata Gandhari's request, I won't stop you. If you don't want to pay heed to her request, then also I won't stop you," said Karna, looking at his youngest brother.

Sahadev nodded, his gaze on his eldest brother before turning to his wife - Vritika. Vritika gave a small nod.

Sahadev walked and stopped in front of Shakuni, who was pale and terrified. Duryodhana watched helplessly as everything went so well until it went downhill. His brother Dusshasan was passed out on the carpeted floor, with no one giving him even a second glance, while his uncle was about to face punishment because he used black magic and his special dice.

"I will heed to Rajmata Gandhari's request, as I haven't forgotten neither my duty nor my sense of moral code, unlike some despicable people," whispered Sahadev, but it carried over the entire hall. The said despicable people winced.

Shakuni was relieved. He can take anything but death. He will be glad not to die before he can destroy the Kurus. He was ready for any punishment. They won't do anything worse. That was his last thought before a scream penetrated the air. It was Shakuni's, as his eyes rolled back.

"Mamashree!!!" yelled Duryodhana as he stumbled to catch the body of Shakuni.

Sahadev turned his back to them, Shakuni's legs cut off from the knees, his axe dripped blood from them. He stood in front of Vritika, a small grim smile on his face. Vritika gave a watery smile as she kneeled to take a drop of blood from the axe and did his tilak. The couples looked at each other, a satisfied smile on their faces.

Bhishma, Drona, Kunti, and Vidur gave a satisfied smile at the fitting punishment. Gandhari had fainted at the scream, while Bhanumati shed not a single tear for that man who was hell-bent on destroying her family.

"The dice!" said Karna, his hand outstretched.

Bhishma took it and dropped it on his palm. He held it to Advika, who passed it to Devanshi, who passed it to Vandita, who passed it to Draupadi, who passed it to Kalyani, who passed it to Vritika, who looked at it.

Her eyes looked at both Karna and Advika's faces, who nodded, while Sahadev squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.

"If you are not comfortable, then Jyesht can do it too," whispered Sahadev, soothingly.

"No, I will do it!" spoke Vritika softly.

She clutched the dice and slowly went towards the mashals. She placed her hand within the fire of the mashal, with the dice, slowly using her powers to disintegrate the bones in the dice to a fine powder. She ignored the gasps and shocked noises from those who had no idea.

She brought her hand back, without a single burn mark. As she turned to her family members, who smiled at her, a proud look in their eyes. She gave a hesitant smile back. Immediately, she went straight towards Sahadev, who wrapped his arm around her shoulder just as quickly. None of the males had released their wives and had no plans on doing so either.

"We will leave for the Vanvaas, by tomorrow!" said Karna, before every single one of them left together. Kunti also joined her children, her eyes teary.