Advika's POV:

We have been in Kamakhya for two weeks. None of us had any trouble adjusting to a simple life.

My family was finally coming out of their self-imposed healing time. The Dyut Sabha had scared me as well. Half of the time, either Karna or I would wake up in nightmares of that day.

At first, all of us had trouble sleeping. But after a while, we had a family meeting and simply talked about our feelings regarding that day. Of course, it wasn't that easy to get them to talk. I somehow managed, thankfully. Nonetheless, now everything was almost peaceful. I turned my head when I heard a 'crash' sound. It seems like I spoke too soon.

Arjun had suddenly dropped a plate full of ladoos. Oh no! That is about to spell trouble, as I saw Bhima and Draupadi coming out of the kitchen and hut, respectively.

"Arjun is so in trouble! Poor guy!" murmured Devanshi as she came to stand beside me.

"I hope he doesn't get a lecture again," I said, wincing at the thought when it happened last time. Draupadi suddenly wanted to learn about Dharma from Yuddhisthir, and, well, he taught her. Then, the rest was history! I still remember her talks of the right and wrongs, morality and immorality... and the technicalities of Dharma. My ears are still ringing!

Devanshi simply cringed at the thought.

"My ladoos! Arya, how could you?" whimpered Draupadi, pouting even more. She had entered her fourth month of pregnancy, and let's say, there is no shortage of entertainment.

"Ladoos? You dropped ladoos?" said Bhima as he came over to Arjun.

"I don't know how I dropped it, bhrata!" said Arjun as he got up slowly. I looked down, near his feet to find a strip of rope connected in a manner that no one can see. I smiled. Must have been a prank of Nakul and Sahadeva.

"My ladoos!" said Draupadi as she started to cry big fat tears. I hid my smile as I watched Arjun looking panicked. Bhima also looked angry. I saw Vandita come out of the kitchen as well, probably having heard the commotion.

"What happened again?" I heard Kalyani ask as she went towards Draupadi. Devanshi and I exchanged a glance at each other, watching the drama unfold.

"Bhabhishree, should we go and manage them?" asked Devanshi, with a small mischievous smile on her face.

"Nope! One must not interfere between a husband and a wife," I said sternly, though I knew my eyes were twinkling, expressing my amusement.

We both turned towards them when we heard Arjun speak.

"Arey... My sweet wife, why are you crying? You know you don't look beautiful crying? See, I will get you another plate of ladoos. There are more ladoos, right Bhabhishree Vandita?" said Arjun, trying to pacify a crying Draupadi, while turning towards Vandita at the last words. Vandita nodded reassuringly. I winced at Arjun's wording! Poor guy, he has no idea about the storm coming his way!

"Haa behena, don't cry! There are more ladoos, I will bring them with me!" said Vandita, as she started to enter the kitchen again when Draupadi yelled a "No!"

"Don't you want ladoos, jiji?" asked Kalyani, confused.

"No, I mean Yes! But... but Arya... he called me ugly!" said Draupadi, making me choke on a laugh. Even Devanshi was very amused.

"Ugly? But priye, I never said such a thing!" said Arjun, looking confused. I simply hid my giggle.

"You did! You said it right now! You told me I don't look beautiful while crying, that means I look ugly while crying!" with that, she started sobbing.

I decided to intervene before the matter could escalate any further.

"Sweetheart, you are absolutely correct. This deserves a punishment," I said as I cupped Draupadi's cheeks. She stopped crying immediately and then looked at me very cutely, blinking her big doe eyes.

"I can punish him?" she asked, and I nodded, smiling. She suddenly smiled like I had granted her a boon or something.

"Okay, Arya. I have a question. You have to answer me truthfully," said Draupadi, looking at Arjun. I wondered what question she was about to ask. Arjun gulped but nodded.

"Well, I heard Bhabhishree teasing you with Brihannala's name. Who is she? Is she your lover?" asked Draupadi, with a rather innocent voice.

My eyes were wide as I turned towards her, to find her looking at Arjun with a teary face.

"What?" stammered Arjun. I gulped a bit, trying to control my laughter.

O god! This is priceless. Kanha would have a field day with this!

"Brihannala! Who is she to you, Arya?" asked Draupadi, now crossing her arms in front of her. I looked at Arjun to see him turn bright red and fumbling to answer while avoiding my very amused gaze.

I decided a bit of ghee as an offering within the fire won't be bad. Rather, it would be a 'punya karya' to do!

"Well, Draupadi, I can tell you this. She is one of the most beautiful women I have met. She is very close to Kanha and Rukmini Bhabhishree as well." Arjun was looking at me with horror in his eyes. I smiled back sweetly. Draupadi was turning angry now; I could see that.

"Arya, will you tell me, or shall I go back to Panchal immediately?"

Oops! It seemed like the universal threat of a wife was used. I grinned.

"Bhabhishree, must you tease Arjun so much?" asked Devanshi with a very amused voice.

"Of course. Someone needs to trouble him on behalf of Kanha, after all. Who better than his sister? And I haven't had fun in ages," I whispered back to her.

She stifled a laugh at my words while I winked back at her.

"What is going on here? Draupadi, sister, why are you leaving for Panchal?" asked a very confused and very familiar voice.

Karna. Must he come now? The drama was just starting. I pouted, mentally.



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Author's pov:-



"Jyesht! SAVE ME!" said Arjun, as he looked towards Karna pleadingly, with his eyes.

"Save you? Why will my jyesht save you, Arya?" said Draupadi, glaring at Arjun.

"Your Jyesht?? He is my brother first!" replied Arjun, immediately.

Karna looked at both of them and then glanced at everyone around them. Devanshi was controlling her smile, while Advika looked like she would laugh at any moment. Kalyani looked amused, her eyes laughing. Vandita was grinning at the duo. Bhima had gone inside the kitchen, annoyed and amused at their childish fight.

"JYESHT!!" yelled two voices, right in front of him.

Karna blinked a bit, shocked at the sudden noise in front of him.

"What?..Why are you two yelling? Draupadi, what happened?" asked Karna, gently, yet sternly.

"I asked your brother, who is Brihannala! He had not answered yet!" pouted Draupadi, sulking a bit.

Arjun simply looked resigned, while Karna laughed out loud at the question.

"Jyesht? Why are you laughing? I did not say anything funny!" said Draupadi, annoyed at her very serious question being ignored again.

"Calm down, little sister. You need not worry. Brihannala and Arjun are one and the same person," said Karna, his charcoal eyes bright with mirth.

"Tatparya?" she asked, confused.

"What he means is that Arjun disguised himself as a eunuch when he went to help Kanha to abduct Rukmini bhabhishree, on her request. That disguise's name was Brihannala," said Advika, finally speaking after all the drama.

Draupadi looked shocked before she smiled and then chuckled, which turned into a laugh. Arjun smiled at his laughing wife but still sulked as it was at his expense.

"Aap to baat hi maat kijiye bhabhishree....you added ghee in the fire!" said Arjun, grumbling.

Advika's laugh was the answer, as she cheekily answered, "To light a fire, either ghee or oil is required, my dear Parth! How can I miss such an opportunity?"



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Soft cries could be heard from the small ashram where the brothers lived with their family.

"I don't know why she is crying for so long!" spoke Kalyani as she tried to calm down Harshada.

"I think she is hungry, jiji!" replied Vritika as she slowly made sure Gaurav was asleep.

"How is that possible? She ate a while back!" said Kalyani as she tried to calm down Harshada.

"Let me see if I can calm her down," said Advika as she took Harshada gently. She calmed down immediately.

"Looks like she missed her Badi maa!" spoke a chirpy Vritika. Advika smiled in response.

"Why don't you go and rest a while, Kalyani? I will be here to take care of the kids!" said Advika gently.

Kalyani nodded glad and entered her own hut.

Vritika patted Gaurav's head as he slept on her lap. Advika sat beside her softly humming a song, making Harshada sleep as well.

It was afternoon. Devanshi and Vandita had gone with Bhima to meet Ghatotkach and Hidimba. Draupadi was sleeping. Arjun and Karna had left for the practice of their weapons. Yuddhisthir and Sahadev went to a nearby ashram of sages to gain knowledge. Nakul had gone for a perimeter check. Kalyani had also been sent to rest. The kids were asleep as well. Outside on the courtyard, only Vritika and Advika sat, with Gaurav and Harshada.

"Bhabhishree?" whispered Vritika.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you think these 13 years will go peacefully?" asked Vritika, uncertainty in her eyes.

"No one knows the future. But knowing our luck, nothing remains peaceful for long," replied Advika, with a resigned smile.

Vritika chuckled at that.

"True, bhabhishree. Very true!"

"I believe that was not the question you wanted to ask!" Advika said, eyes sparkling knowingly.

"No! I mean, if you won't mind me asking?" muttered Vritika.

Advika simply gestured for her to continue.

"Bhabhishree, sometimes I wonder if you weren't there, so many things would be different! I mean, I am sure I would not have been born. And so many things could change. Sometimes, I wonder how you always make the right choice?"

"I don't actually. I guess and adapt myself to the changing times. It was my choice when I decided to befriend Arya when we were small. My heart said it was the right thing to do, so I did. It is my choice to become the wall for my family. Behena, I am not always right. When I am wrong, the elders have always helped me in correcting that wrong. And I always had someone to guide me in taking the right decisions. At first, it was Maa, then Mata Prithvi and Gurudev Vashishta, then Kanha, and now Mata Kunti and you all," said Advika, with a small smile.

"Is that the reason why Jyesht and you always make sure any decision is taken with all of our consent?" asked Vritika, curious. She had always seen rather very liberal views in her family compared to any other. She has embraced it, wholeheartedly though.

"Of course. Mistakes happen less when we all use our brains to solve a problem, as a team. Alone one is strong, but together they are invincible," said Advika, with a soft smile.

Just as she finished, a cry for 'HELP' could be heard from a distance.

Seems like the universe was conspiring against them.

Advika and Vritika looked at each other before looking in the direction where the cry came from. Their eyes widened at the scene.