Aanyati was pacing to and fro at the main gate of palace. Nakul and Bheem were passing by when they saw her there and approached her.

" Pranipat bhabhi maa! What's the reason of this evening walk that too at the main gate?" Nakul asked in his always jolly way.

" Devika!! She had gone for market visit and hadn't come yet. " Aanyati shared her worry still pacing.

" Bhabhi maa just stop pacing like this. " Bheem stopped her before saying anything " She will come in a while. What can happen to her in the presence of Indrprast's soldiers"

" That is what the problem is Vrikodhar!! Despite my order she went alone without any maid or soldier" at this moment Bheem and Nakul got a bit worried too.

" Don't worry bhabhi shri. Me and Nakul will ourselves bring her" saying so both Nakul and Bheem rode their horses leaving for the market which Devika visited.

Meanwhile a frozen Karna came out of shock and straightened his Vijaya. Soon a good number of arrows started landing on the people's hands or legs who surrounded an unconscious Devika. The environment got filled with the sounds of their cries in pain.

Karna didn't waste any time and picked Devika up in his arms. She was conscious but wasn't moving. Maybe because of that pin injected in her. Tears were flowing from her eyes continuously without any sob. Karna was angry and shocked at the same time. He carried her as far as he could but suddenly some arrows started coming in their direction. One of it pierced through karna's arm. He didn't even finched and carried on his journey.

He already saw the women of that tribe attacking on them. He can't attack any women. That's why he just increased his pace and found a small cave nearby. He carefully entered in without coming in anyone's eyes and placed Devika adjacent to a wall. Tears were still flowing from her eyes. It was clear she wanted to talk, to cry but that poision had made her whole body numb.

" You are safe. No one will even touch you here" Karna assured in similar emotionless tone he have and sat across her.

He could not help but remember that scene again and again.

He was following that tribe from a distance in order to not get caught. When he finally reached at that place through foot prints, he saw there was no women who carried Devika to there. She was placed at a raised platform with many men surrounding her. She was scared but couldn't show it because of that poision.

A man dressed just like others but with a crown came forward toward Devika. He placed his hands on her shoulders and was moving his face toward her neck. Karna didn't wait any longer. He used his arrows on them. The only thing he remembered after that was Devika's scared face. She was terrified to no end and he knew that.

Even now he could see how desperately she is trying to move her hands toward her shoulder where that man touched her. He was blaming himself for not helping her earlier. A woman's honour is more important for her than anything.

" Don't worry, I will drop you at palace all safe" he assured again. He could see how grateful Devika is to him in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Bheem and Nakul had turned the whole market up side down in search of Devika. She is their responsibility in Indrprast. They can't let anything happen to her.

A shopkeeper told them that they saw her going out of Indrprast's boundary. The fear of something happening to Devika increased more in their mind. That area is surrounded by many tribal people who have illogical rules and rituals. They wasted no time in going there to search for her.

On their way to the denser part, they saw someone sitting inside a small cave like structure.

They went toward that direction just to see Karna and a half conscious Devika there. Bheem's blood was boiling now. His anger clouding his senses. He didn't even try to listen or think anything as he immediately charged upon Karna. Devika was startled at first and then tried to move.

Bheem had lifted Karna off ground through his neck. He wasn't protesting either.

" How dare you???!!!!" Bheem growled in anger. Nakul tried to stop him but of no use.

" He did nothing Rajkumar" Devika's crying voice made Bheem turn to her. She was slowly trying to stand up. Her voice came up the exact moment she found Karna in danger.

Bheem let go Karna and moved toward Devika along with Nakul.

" Are you alright Rajkumari?" Nakul asked. But Devika's attention was somewhere else. Karna picked up his bow and was ready to leave.

" You said you will drop me at palace all safe" she stopped karna before he could leave.

" I think you are much safer with them" Karna said with the same emotionless face showing zero emotions.

" Can someone explain what's going on here?" Bheem asked not able to control more. Devika narrated everything from her abduction to rescue. Bheem looked tensed now. Maybe because of his mistake to doubt Karna.

" You have protected our responsibility maharathi Karna, please give us the chance to pay back" Nakul said sensing Bheem is feeling guilty.

" I can't accept you hospitality anymore. " Karna said directly. " I will stay in the town until mitr Duryodhan come for a visit to Indrprast "

" Why will he come to Indrprast?" Nakul seemed angry and confused.

" I think you are forgetting Rajkumar Nakul, Indrprast is still a provincial kingdom of Hastinapur " Karna said leaving. He just turned once to see Devika who was looking at him only and then left without waiting further.

Bheem and Nakul took Devika yo the palace back before punishing those tribes who tried to abduct her.

" Bhabhi shri!!" Devika immediately ran to Aanyati who was standing at the main gate. She hugged Aanyati with all her will and sobbed in her arms.

" Devika?" Aanyati could not comprehend what happened. But looking at the state of Devika she knew Devika needed her the most right now. Nakul tried to explain what happened but Aanyati stopped him. She took Devika in without waiting further.

Yudhishthir who saw all this from a little distance approached Nakul and Bheem who explained everything to him.

" These tribes are passing there limit now, their leader will be called in the sabha for explanation. Either they will follow the rules of Indrprast or suffer" he said with a deadly expression on his face.

" Jyest!!" Bheem called him in a low voice. Yudhishthir turned to his Anuj to see him with a guilt ridden face.

" What should one do if he knows he made a mistake unknowingly?" He asked indirectly. Yudhishthir too didn't forced him to explain further.

" We should correct it" he answered calmly.

" Even if it costs our ego" Bheem asked knowing this will hurt his ego.

"Ego is human's biggest enemy anuj. If it hurts your ego then let it. That's necessary" Yudhisthir asnwered with a small smile. He was happy that Bheem is accepting what's wrong and right.

Devika was sleeping on Aanyati's lap after her sobs died. Although she and Aanyati are of same age but Devika still behaves as a kid in front of Aanyati. Devika was missing her mother. Aanyati knew that. She has experienced how it feels to be without a mother especially in Indrprast where Kunti wasn't present. She never missed her mata Swarnika more then at that time.

" Bhabhi shri!! Can I learn basics battle techniques from you" Devika's voice made her come out of tranc. She was looking at her with red puffy eyes. A small smile adorned Aanyati's lips.

" Offcourse dear!! Why not?"

" In Shivi I was never allowed to even look at weapons. If I had learnt battle techniques then I would have saved myself way before" her voice carried pain.

" Don't regret over past Devika" Aanyati carresed her hairs" live in present "

" Rajkumari!!!" Draupadi and Rajeshwari both came in with a smile and a plate of food in hands. Devika could not believe how much love she was getting in that unknown family. She ate while Draupadi and Rajeshwari tried their best to lighten her mood.

Aanyati left the moment she found Devika comfortable with others.

" Dharmraj!! Don't you think we should thank maharathi Karna for saving Devika" Aanyati asked approaching Yudhisthir who was standing in the balcony of their room.

" We will maharani!! Nakul told me he is in the town until Duryodhan pays a visit to Indrprast" Yudhisthir said with a smile which comes automatically when he is around her.

Aanyati too smiled and gazed the night sky. Her mind clouding with thoughts. A letter came from Krishna few days ago stating they should work on making Indrprast an independent kingdom now.

She sighted and let the time do it's work....

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