After that night Aanyati was really relaxed. Her every worry had vanished. Yudhishthir behaved more like a friend to her on which she can trust, who listens to her, who is there for her. She was now ready to face this new life of her . Because he was with her.

Next few days passed in a blink of eyes. Draupadi married the five pandavas one by one . Aanyati was worried for her sister but what Draupadi told her surprised her.

" They are not what I thought jiji" Draupadi said to Aanyati after all her marriages were done and they were preparing to leave. Aanyati gave her a ' explain ' look.

" I was scared jiji. I had already given my heart to Arya Arjun. These marriages came like a storm in my beautiful protected garden. When Sakha told me about my past life, I was bound to accept mentally but not from my heart. I could not think of any man except Arya Arjun. When that demand was put in sabha, I was scared about my marriage with Arya Arjun. He is devoted to his jyest. Who knows what he had done if you rejected. But after my marriage with jyest kauntaya I realised what I had stepped into. " Aanyati's heart was beating anxiously. She didn't know what to expect.

" That night when he entered my chamber, I almost stopped breathing. I couldn't prepare myself for any other man. But his statements made me realise why he is called Dharmraj."

" There's no need to worry Rajkumari. We five brothers might have married you but we will never ask for any rights from you. You will remain our wife for the rest of world but only Arjun will have rights on you. Only he will be your true husband. I assure you that "

Aanyati felt like a stone is lifted from her heart. She somewhere knew they will do something like this but not exactly this.

" No one except Arya Arjun claimed me jiji " Draupadi said with relief. " They know how to respect woman. None of the rest brothers even touched me. Arya Arjun too apologised to my countless times. I had to stop him saying it was bound to happen " Draupadi chuckled. Aanyati carresed her face lovingly.

" I am happy for you " she said and Draupadi hugged her.

" I can't be more happy than this jiji. I got my love and you will always be with me. What else do I need " said Draupadi breaking the hug.

" You will have to face this cruel society now Draupadi. Be prepared "

They will leave for Hastinapur tomorrow morning. This is the last night she will spend in her Panchal.

Knowing it's her last night here, Aanyati choose to walk through her palace once before sleeping. She already informed Moti to tell if anyone ask.

She went through the corridors, she once ran from, to the kridangan where she practised with her jiji and father, to the high walls of palace she had climbed upon, to her beautiful garden where she spend some of the most blissful moments of her life and finally she reached her little temple of Vishnu. A small smile adorned her lips remembering all those memories.

" It's pretty late to roam around Drupad kanya" the stern yet soft voice of Dronacharya made her turn around to face him.

" Exactly guru Drone" she smiled saying. Practically he was out roaming as well. That's how he found her right. Drone could not stop the smile spreading on his face looking at this girl in front of him. Both walked together back to the palace.

" May I ask something Guru Drone" she asked and he noded.

" I am unable to reason your deeds. You avenged my father and then came to celebrate his daughters marriage with him. You are teaching Dhridstdhumn, who is supposed to kill you. Why?" Drone smiled at her curiosity.

" I just wanted to teach your father a lesson putri that he should not be blinded by his arrogance. That day when I saw you coming to avenge your father's insult, I was surprised. I saw a Drupad who was not arrogant but worried. He was not the Drupad who insulted me decades ago. I deliberately allowed you to fight Ashwatthama to see what you can do. That moment I had no idea you are Bhagwan Parshuram's deciple. The way you fought impressed me to no end putri. You defeated my son, my student in front of my eyes but I wasn't angry or disappointed. I was happy for Drupad who got you as his daughter. I was happy for my friend. That's why I came on every such occasion which I should have." He said still smiling.

" And teaching Dhridstdhumn is my way of gaining peace. I am preparing the way for my soul to leave this sinful body putri " Aanyati was contended with his answers as she left after bidding good night to him.

Drone looked at her disappearing figure with admiration. He would have been disappointed from Ashwatthama for loosing that battle. But the rage he saw in Aanyati's eyes reminded him of goddess Kali, the way she appeared protecting her father, she represented goddess Durga, the way she gave reason to prove his works wrong, she looked no less than Saraswati. He was contended by her sight only. He can't expect even Shiv Ji's ansh to win against Shiv Ji's Kali.

Aanyati entered her chamber after talking to Drone just to see her husband sleeping peacefully at a sofa. It was mutually decided between them after Aanyati's stubbornness that they will sleep on bed one by one in turns. Yudhishthir was hell bent to sleep on sofa only but you can't win against a woman. Aanyati just made him remember that.

Today it was his turn of sleeping on sofa.

" I don't think I am this beautiful to keep looking at" his voice made her jump. His eyes were closed but not his warrior instinct.

He is awake!!!

Aanyati was hell embarrassed right now. She was looking at him like a crazy lover. She immediately climbed up her bed and slept not looking at him. Yudhishthir smiled with his eyes closed at his wife's antics.

He keeps on surprising her with his behaviour. Till few day ago, she hadn't even imagined the Dharmraj Yudhishthir praising her beauty. He looks good talking about Dharma not beauty.

Aanyati still remember when he muttered beautiful looking at her yesterday morning. He just left saying so leaving a blushing mess behind.

He truly have left some good impression on her with his behaviour. Not as lovers but she liked him as a person. A good start for a beautiful love story.

Finally it was the time of them leaving Panchal. The royal family of Panchal stood at its gate with their daughters and son in laws.

" Be safe putri" Drupad said placing a hand on Aanyati's head.

" You are allowed to cry at your daughter's bidai pita shri" Aanyati said looking at his glistening eyes while controlling her own tears.

" A king don't cry putri" he said as a tear rolled down his cheek " but a father do" Aanyati said hugging him tightly and crying in his embarace for a while.

" Don't forget this old mother of yours" Swarnika said carresing her face lovingly with tears flowing freely from her eyes.

" Childern can never forget their mother" saying so she had engulfed Swarnika in a hug. Swarnika meant more to her than anyone else. She was there for Aanyati when no one was. Her mother and her first friend.

" Mata can I ask for something from you?" Asked Aanyati holding her hands.

" What can I give you putri?" Swarnika smiled in her tears.

" You daughter Moti" everyone was shocked at her statement except Moti. Swarnika glanced at her daughter once and with heavy heart noded. Moti ran to hug her mother immediately. She herself had decided to follow Aanyati where ever she goes not leaving their bond.

" Always remember your sister is alive to protect you if anything happens" Shrikhandini smiled at her. Aanyati smiled too giving her a tight hug.

Then she moved to a sulking Dhridstdhumn who was trying best to play carefree and cool.

" I am leaving"

" Go then. Now my ears will be safe"

" Won't you meet me?"

" No"

Dhridstdhumn's ear was in Aanyati's hold again. Everyone laughed at this brother sister duo.

" I will miss you" Dhridstdhumn whispered in her ear giving her a tight hug while wiping a traitor tear which left his eye.

" Ow cry baby" Subhadra's teasing look made him glare at her. She showed her tongue smiling and admiring his relation with his sister.

" Kaka shri, I won't go without meeting you" she called Satyajeet who was standing a bit far away. He was the most unhappy person with this marriage. But Aanyati can't forget her kaka whom she black mailed million of times and put blame on his head to save herself from any scolding.

" Then don't go" he said sternly but then melted at her crying sight.

" Come soon and inform me if some one troubles you" he said patting head while glaring at Yudhisthir.

" Won't my sakhi meet me?" Krishna made a sad face.

" You are the one who keep on saying I am you then why should I meet myself" Aanyati protested with crying eyes and teasing face. Krishna lowered his face acting sad only to become happy finding his sakhi taking a mor pankh from his mukut.

" This is mine from now on" she said taking it.

" My whole existence is yours sakhi" he whispered confusing her.

Draupadi too met everyone following Aanyati.

After bidding good bye to everyone and taking their blessings they left for the journey of Hastinapur.

Starting a new journey full of dangers.....