It was as if everything was back to square one. During dinner,last night,the compliments and teasing were so much that the two had lost the confidence to openly....flirt?If that was it.

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Arshia POV

I stared into the mirror,my dark complexion complimenting my red wedding fit. All of this seems too fast but I had no say in it...and I have a feeling I will never have a say in anything in my married life. For hell's sake,my husband soon might have another wife!

All of these thoughts haunted my mind and it did effect me,it did effect the way I looked,the way I walked and the way I talked. Subhadra jiji had already complained that I was looking absent-minded and dull while she was making me ready for my wedding.

I don't know what is going to change but I know something big is going to happen because this morning while I was taking to Mahadev,he seemed off...I don't know how to describe it but he just did and he was the person most excited for my marriage. It might be because I am going away from him but that seems utterly stupid. He has so many sakhis(in the form of his wifes also) and I am just the mere daughter of his devotee,my mother.

While sitting infront of the mirror and getting my hair done by the maids, thoughts about Rudra bhai and Amiya arised in my head. It had been days,days since I last saw those visions...It might be horrifying but it was the only way she could see her siblings. The excited words of Amiya repeated in her mind....the words she uttered when my marriage was the topic. She would always say

"Obviously,I would be the main attraction after the groom and bride!I the bride's sister!Ari di,get married soon na!"

And my mother would encourage her thoughts of me getting married soon. While Rudra bhai would taunt saying I had no love life and it would be impossible for me get married because no one would want to marry me.

"Oh,come one Amiya. Her, getting married?Who would want to marry her and she has no love life... cherry on top-"

"Rajkumari, it's done. You should proceed to the alter,the auspicious time will pass away"

I simply nodded and let Subhadra jiji guide me.

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It was like yesterday that I saw Durshala jiji enter the way I was doing right now. The sound of my jewelleries marked my entry. Durshala jiji,who has arrived just an hour ago,came rushing to stand beside me. 'aww' filled her eyes...Now I had Subhadra jiji on my left and Durshala jiji on my right. Good thing they are here to support me,I would have called flat on face if they weren't here. Everything was too heavy....and the heaviness in my heart just added on to it.

I know. Me marrying Angraj Karna is going to bear devastating fruits. I am messing with destiny and fate big time but that is the soul reason I have entered this yug...to rewrite the strings of fate. In a matter of months, Draupadi would be born and all the injustice would start. Her mistreatment,her marrying the 5 Pandavas and what not...

There was something else...Vrushali...Karna's actual love and wife. (It killed me to say it but that's what my mother told me)

"Karna and Vrushali...the books don't justify what those two had in between them. Vrushali supported Karna through fire and water and honestly Karna couldn't have a better life patner...never"

Those words were adding on to the fire of my heart,the guilt slowly filling me up. What would happen to Vrushali now?

I didn't realise when I was sat down beside Angraj. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't realise I was right beside him.

"Arshia...is everything okay?" A whisper took me out of the thoughts. I looked at him and nodded, turning my attention to the sacred fire. I couldn't let this distract me, atleast not now, not today.

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No one POV

The ceremony proceded.

And now it was time for Kanya Daan.

"Can the father of Rajkumari Arshia please come up and perform the Kanya Daan?"

Arshia froze.

This didn't cross her mind. Who would perform her Kanya daan?She has no father or even a father figure in this yug. She gulped down the siliva and nervously looked at the pandit.

"Don't tell me,you didn't care to invite your very own father, Rajkumari Arshia" Shakuni's wicked tone rang through her ears. Not having an answer to his question,she looked down and played with the rough fabric.

Shakuni's mocking and wicked laugh filled the area...

"And how exactly do you want to proceed with this wedding?"

"Mamashree!" Durshala called out. Jayadartha pulled her back and,upon gaining her attention,he shaked his head indicating not to speak for Arshia.

"You are right,mamashree. Who is going to marry this beauty,now?Will she be celebrating celibacy? Don't worry,I-"

"Sindh Raj!" Balaram's booming voice stopped him to utter those unholy words.

The grip on the fabric inscreased so much,that the it started to hurt Arshia's palm. Scratches formed on her palm and if pressed longer,blood would flow out. A huge hand hovered over Arshia and teared it away from the fabric. The hand strongly held Arshia's hand. He rested both of their hands on top of his thigh.

Arshia lift her head up to see Karna's reassuring expression. Sighing,she turned her head back to everyone.

"Me and dau will be performing the Kanya daan" Krishna spoke out. Mamashree and Sindhraj were about to protest but stopped seeing Duryodhana's stern expression.

With the permission of the Pandit,the two were allowed to perform her Kanya Daan.

Krishna was the first one to reach the mandap. He noticed their interwined hands and smirked. Bending down to match Arshia's level,he whispered

"Me and dau will be performing the Kanya daan but here it looks like you have already performed it"

Arshia blushed and pulled her hand out of his grip. Karna,who had overheard,also blushed. Krishna smirked.

Balaram and Krishna placed their hands under Arshia's and placed it on Karna's hand. Krishna smiled at the two and stood behind them.

It was time for the garland exchange ceremony. The duo stood up, grabbing the garlands in their hands. When Arshia was about to put the garland around Karna's neck,a voice stopped them.

"Wait wait!" Duryodhana stopped. He gestured Ashwatthama and Dussahan to follow him. The two wickedly nodded and went to Karna. They lift him up and said

"Rajkumari Arshia,you have to work a little harder to get my mitr. He has already worked hard to win you so you just have to work a bit harder"

Arshia nodded and agreed with their childish-ness. She tried to come closer and jump to place the garland around his neck but they pulled him away from her.

She felt her feets leaving the ground. A small yelp escaped her mouth,the garland almost escaping her hands. She looked down to see Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra lifting her up.

"Bharta Duryodhana,how would it be fair if she isn't being lift up? Let's play a fair game"

Krishna said as Duryodhana nodded.

Even being lift up,the struggle continued. When she was about to put it around his neck they moved him causing her to miss.

Finally,she successed.

Low groans could be heard from Duryodhana, Ashwatthama and Dussahan and happy grins could be seen in Krishna,Balaram and Subhadra.

"Now, It's Angrajs' turn."

A sly smirk was showed of Subhadra's face.

Karna lift up the garland and execpted it to be hard to put the garland around her neck. But to his surprise,Arshia had bowed her head.

"Arshia?!W-what?" Subhadra called out.

"Jiji,he has already won me in the swaymvar there is no use to make him work to put the garland around my neck. Dau and Mahadev,I would like you to put me back in the ground"

Karna looked at her and smiled. Standing firm on the ground,Karna with ease garland-ed her.

. .

Most of the guests were gone at this point. Only Karna's parents, Duryodhana and Ashwatthama, Durshala and Sindhraj and the three dwarka siblings were left.

Durshala and the siblings were about to leave...

"Take care,Arshia" Durshala said caressing her cheek. Arshia softly smiled and nodded.

She turned to the siblings and took Krishna's and Balaram's blessings. She hugged Subhadra. She refused to utter even a single word to the siblings, knowing she would break down if she did.

Krishna smiled at Arshia,for the last time,and climbed his chariot.

A small and lone tear escaped her eyes as she saw his chariot fading away.

. .

It was night but not just a normal one,it was her wedding night. She would have been all shy and everything but the thought of Krishna going away from her saddened her,the events that would take place in a few months saddened her...

The dasis and Radha had decked her up in a beautifully and set her on the bed,like an ideal bride should. When they left,Arshia stood up and walked to the balcony, staring at the full moon. So absent-minded she was,she didn't know Karna had already entered the chamber.

"You don't seem okay" the male voice startled her. Magically a knife had formed in her hands and she turned around, pointing it right at Karna's throat. Her delicate jewelleries fell on the ground at the sudden and harsh movement.

She widened her eyes and immediately put the small knife down, letting it dissapear.

"What was that?" Karna asked. He wasn't surprised that she was about to kill him but the appearance and dissapearance if the knife.

"I am so sorry!I didn't-"

"No,that was a human reaction. It's fine...but the knife..h-how?"

"Oh..that..".

. . . .

Good way to end the night with no romantic moments.. That story is for another chapter...

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