Although half of the work was already done,Arshia still thought of ways to lure Draupadi away from Hastinapur.

"Hail the queen of Anga. The empress has requested you in her chambers" A dasi informed. Arshia nodded at her and made her way to Draupadi.

.

"Yes bhabhishree?You requested me?" Arshia asked. Draupadi turned around with a tensed face. Arshia looked around and saw Gandhari and Kunti also present in the room. "My greetings to the Rajmata of Hastina and Rajmata of Indraprastha" Arshia joined her palms and bowed her head at the two.

"Yuvraj Duryodhana has won the first round and Arya Yudhishthir has lost all his jewellery, army and kingdom" Draupadi said. Arshia froze at her place,not knowing what to say. "So it has started"

"That's it" Arshia said, looking at Draupadi. "Come with me to Anga. I promise jiji I will not let anyone see you!Your ride shall be carried by women and I shall stay in front!Just come with me!"

"Running away is not an option,Arshia!" Draupadi said. "What are we running away from? Nothing! The situation hasn't arrived yet!We are just going to my kingdom, that's all!" Arhsia reasoned.

"I am sure Putra Duryodhana wouldn't do anything to harm the empress" Gandhari said with assurance. "You believe you putra,Rani but I don't believe the Yuvraj of Hastinapur"

"Fine,I am leaving this place. You can stay if you want jiji but remember,I warned you several times and you weren't ready to leave" Arshia mumbled.

"Don't walk out Arshia. Stay with us. Leave after some time. Just not now" Kunti mumbled grabbing Arshia's hand. Arshia sighed in annoyance but nodded at Kunti,which made her leave her grip. Arshia went to the corner of the chamber and rested on the wall,her head burning due to stress.

"Hail the empress"

"What happened Dasi?" Draupadi made her way to the dasi in hurry. "Yuvraj has put his youngest brother Rajkumar Vikarna on stake and Rajkumar Nakul has volunteered to be put on stake" Draupadi's eyes filled with worry.

"What kind of game is this?Are relationships and people meant to be put on stake? When serpents perform their Yajna,they sacrifice people!Does Hastinapur follow the same tradition,maharani?" Draupadi asked Gandhari in anger.

"If Krishna was here, he would have definitely stopped the dice game" Kunti said with remorse. Draupadi grabbed a hibiscus and handed it over to the dasi.

"Tell the emperor that the five petals of a hibiscus are connected to one stem,not to each other. He doesn't have the right to put my husband or Arshia's brother at stake" Arshia's ears perked up.

Arshia could feel her wanting to puke again. She turned and held her breath,not wanting to puke again. Tears escaped her eyes.

"Mahadev,save us"

.

"Hail the empress! Emperor Yudhishthir has lost his brother Nakul"

Draupadi stared at the dasi,not believing what she had uttered ta the moment.

"I am not going to stay quiet!" Arhsia spoke up, walking to the doors of the chamber. "Where are you going putri?" Kunti asked. "To stop the adharm that is going on in the court! People look up to me and consider me the face of dharma!I shall work as my title!"

"Let her go. If I could have went,I would already have" Draupadi mumbled, looking away.

.

The angry sounds of anklets caught everyone's attention as they turned their gazes at the entrance of the court. They saw an extremely angry Arshia who's yellow attire seems to have darkened and her face seemed to have turned red in anger. The guards blocked her from entering the sabha.

"Royal women are not allowed" The guard informed. Arshia looked at the guards with intensity and suddenly they fell backwards, making a clear way for her to enter. Duryodhana stared at the phenomenon in shock,what had just happened?Did her mere gaze do that?

She walked down the stairs and looked around the court to see Nakul beside the male servants,with his crown infront of him.

"Royal women are not allowed in this court when the dice game is going on!From what I see,this is clear adharm!" Arshia yelled. "When their wife doesn't make the move to come here,why have you?" Duryodhana mocked.

"Because my permission wasn't asked when this happened! Rajkumar Nakul is a brother to me and when he was put on stake,no one considered me to have a say in it!Why emperor Yudhishthir?! Wasn't my permission required!

If not, wasn't his wife's permission required when he was put on stake!Why didn't you ask for it?!" Arshia screamed while Yudhishthir just looked down,in shame.

"Leave the court,this instant Arshia!" Bhishma's voice boomed through the court. "Make Angrani Arhsia leave,mitr" Duryodhana gritted his teeth as Karna made his way to Arshia.

"Please leave Arshe" Karna whispered. "They are your brothers and you are allowing them to be like this?" Arshia asked. "When I sense the situation has gone too out of hand,I shall step in. It's a promise Arshia" Karna mumbled at her.

Arhsia huffed in annoyance and turned away.

"If,just if,I end up putting my sister Durshala at stake,do you allow your brothers to put you at stake Angrani Arshia?" Duryodhana asked. Arhsia paused in her place as her expression fell.

"You will get punished for changing events, remember well Arshia"

Krishna's words repeated in her ears.

"Yes,they are allowed to put me at stake"

With that,Arshia committed the biggest mistake she could in her whole entire life.

.

"Emperor has lost Rajkumar Sahadev"

.

"Emperor has lost Rajkumar Bheem"

.

"Emperor has lost Rajkumar Arjun"

.

"Emperor has lost himself"

Draupadi fell back after hearing the news. She had lost five of her husbands. She couldn't believe her ears. She looked at the only other person except the dasi in the room,Arshia who had a grim expression on her face.

"Go back, dasi" Arshia ordered to which the dasi agreed and went to the court. "Running away is the only option,jiji. Don't you think?" Arshia fake laughed, crushing the flower that she was holding. The atmosphere had tensed up.

"Arshia,what will we do now?" Draupadi asked, gripping the sides of the couch tighter.

"I don't know. I just don't know"

Arshia mumbled.

"What is this Adharm?!'

"I am going back to my kingdom,to my subjects. This is your last chance jiji,come with me and we both will be safe" Arhsia extended her palm. Draupadi looked at her hand and shook her head. "I can't leave them be" Arshia pulled back her hands and went on her knee. "I seek permission to leave and I shall not come back from Anga. I wanted you to come with me but you have refused" Draupadi looked at her and shook her head.

Arhsia stood up and went to her, putting her hand on Draupadi's head.

"You are a fire born,who ever shall touch you will burn and suffer for their entire lives." Arshia turned and walked away, leaving Draupadi in a state of misery.

In the Court.

"I stake on my sister Durshala!" Duryodhana laughed.

"I-I stake o-on Arshia"

A whisper left Yudhishthir's mouth.

"You can't!" Karna stood up and grabbed all the attention. "Your wife has given her brothers the permission, Angraj" Shakuni sang. "And I don't!I am her husband and I refuse to see my wife put at sta—"

"Mitr Karna,I won't harm your wife. How can I?She is after all your wife. Let the game continue" When Karna was about to speak again, Dhritarashtra strictly ordered the court and he was forced to take his place.

. . .

Thank you.

Big chapter coming up!