Almost three days has passed. Aanyati had refused to talk to anyone, neither she eats not cries her heart out.

Maharaj Drupad had tried everything to get her out but she is stubborn. Mata Swarnika had not stopped crying since but she is still not coming out.

Her food was about to go untouched when Yudhisthir intrupted the maid who brought food.

" Devi, let me try once" he said taking the plate from her hand.

It is true that Yudhisthir is supposed to make sure no one enters her chamber but he can enter. Can he?

As soon as he entered inside her chamber, he felt the warmness of fire. Agnotri she is. Then his eyes travelled to the balcony where she sat clueless. She was wearing the same clothes she had during that day. The blood marks on her face were not washed as well. She just sat there, her eyes open and mouth shut, no crying or wailing just complete silence.

He placed the food plate on a table and sat along with her.

" Indeed you plays well rakshak mahoday. You were supposed to make sure no one gets in and now you yourself entered my chamber without my permission. Such adharmi you are" she said her voice cold without any emotion. But even in this situation she didn't leave the chance to tease him. She called him adharmi..( laugh)

" What's the reason of this state Rajkumari?" He asked ignoring her previous taunt.

" Don't act like you don't know. You never lie , right you call it adharm then why my pita shri did this adharm" she questioned. Pain was visible in her words.

" He didn't lie Rajkumari, he never did. You never asked him and he considers you his daughter then why would he call you someone else's" argued Yudhisthir in the calmest voice.

Aanyati finally showed some moment and met his gaze. Her heart skipped for a bit. His eyes are so comforting that she wants to drown in them. A cozy silence surrounded them which was broken by Yudhisthir

" He loves you more than anything else Rajkumari. Agni dev himself gave you to him then who is he to not consider you his daughter. He never told you anything because you are his daughter. The fact that you are born out of fire and nature changes nothing at all" Aanyati was convinced and how will she not be, he gave every reason to.

" Why didn't you tell this to me earlier? Do you have any idea how hungry I am?" She fake glared. Yudhishthir chuckled on this princess's antics. She actually is unpredictable. He brought the plate to her but she instead to eating forwarded some bowls to him. He looked amused at her

" I know you haven't left the door from past three days. You must be hungry. Eat it and its my order don't protest" she said and started eating.

Yudhishthir smiled and ate too. God know why but that day the food tasted really delicious to him.

" Now I must go to pita shri he must be blaming himself for all this" saying that she got up.

" Will you go like this?" came his voice. It was at this moment Aanyati realised her clothes are covered in dirt and blood. She smiled awkwardly and went to her attached royal bathroom. Yudhishthir too went out to guard.

Today Aanyati felt a relief. She felt like there's someone who can satisfy her mind by his answers. She herself got ready today. Without any maid.

She choose yellow saree and a thin blue odhni. Her jewellery was light and her hairs were open. She directly went to her father's chamber who was standing in the balcony looking at a flame beside him.

" Pita shri" Aanyati called. Drupad immediately became alert.

" Putri" Aanyati ran to his embarace. He too hugged her tightly. " You are my daughter, my Draksha nothing else" he said controlling his tears.

" I am pita shri, I am just your Draksha nothing else" she snuggled into him hiding her face.

" You know pita shri, today I got to know why my chamber is built on water. You wanted my fire to calm down right" she laughed so did he happily.

After feeling immense relief today Aanyati decided to teach Moti some dance steps. Moti claimed that she can follow her steps easily so Aanyati was not going to leave her today.

She holded her odhni and put it in her lengha's end. Then started the enchanting dance Yudhisthir will never forget.

Being her rakshak, he was standing at some distance watching them.

Aanyati started with some easy and light steps. Her saree moving with her steps, her open hairs bouncing with each step. Moti followed her easily. Then started the real dance.

Her steps turned heavy and hard to follow. With each step she thumped her foot on ground creating a small wave of dust flowing in circular order. Her hands moved with such elegance that it was hard to remove your gaze. The enchanting smile which adore her face worked like a cherry on top of a cake.

She could fail Indr lok's apsaras easily. Her steps were fierce like fire but her face spreaded calmness. She danced in enjoyment while it was getting hard for Moti to follow her . She finally accepted her defeat and sat down on floor while Anayati didn't stop.

With every step she took, she appeared dangerous as if something has got onto her. Yudhishthir immediately recognised her dance - mrityu tandav.

But why she is doing that, no one knew. Finally she stopped breathing heavily. Everyone looked at this maiden in front of them with suprise, love and appreciation.

" Why did you performed this tandav Vriti?" asked Moti. Yudhishthir danced in his heart with joy seeing her ask this question.

" I don't know Moti, I just felt like dancing" she replied unaware of her feelings. Yudhishthir face palmed himself again in his heart. She herself doesn't know what and why she do. He thought smiling to himself.

" What's so funny rakshak mahoday, share with us, let us laugh too" shouted Aanyati

He should have smiled in heart too cause now he was caught and had no idea what to say, he can't lie.

" Wait, is that mine?" Aanyati's attention was diverted to a small bag being carried out of her palace with other unused things.

Yudhishthir internally thanked God for saving him.

" Don't thank God, I will come up to you later" she said running to take her bag. She was right it was her bag which she brought from Gurukul.

It still had that white saree she used to wear during her practice time. But there was something else too. She took out a small box and sat under a tree. Yudhishthir watched her with curiosity.

She opened the box to reveal a thin bangle and a small letter.

Dear Anujayeti,

I have no idea if we will meet again or not neither I am having the strength to give this bangle to you on my own. If I tried I will end up crying like a child infront of you and I don't want you to tease me for that. So I secretly slipped this box in your bag. Whenever you will see it just remember, there's a brother of yours still searching for you. This bangle was given to me by my mother when I left my home so that I have something of her and now I am giving this to you in hope you one day will yourself return it to her.

Your's jyest Vasusena

Aanyati was trying hard to control her tears of happiness. How grateful is she to have such a brother.

She immediately wore the bangle in her hand and decided to never remove it. She slowly kissed the bangle and then turned to her other materials present in that bag.

Yudhishthir just saw all this in confusion.

Is this given to her by her love?

The first thought which clouded his mind as he thought nothing after that. A sharpe ache he felt in his heart. He don't know why this mere thought affect him this much. He actually don't even want to know that cause if he got the answer he will not be able to resist his feelings for her. So he just buried the thought deep inside him and continued his work.....

Do comment....



Moti



Swarnika