Both Sahdev and Vijaya finally found hard surface beneath them, they fell on the shore breathing heavily, coughing water out.

It took sometime for both of them to gain composure. Once it happened, they looked at each other as if checking the other person is safe or not.

" Are you alright?" He asked getting up. Vijaya noded standing straight but the water had affected her greatly, she fell down again.

Sahdev helped her stand still and broke out laughing looking at her face as she unknowingly pouted and her cheeks turned red.

" Why are you laughing?" She asked although she loved his laughter. It was the first time she saw him laughing this carelessly, throwing his head behind as his whole body trembled. A sight truly to behold.

" Your face, you looked so cute....cucumber" he covered up confusing Vijaya.

" I looked cucumber??" She asked " have you got some water in your brain?"

" Behave! I am not your friend" Sahdev said to escape the situation " and even if I have got some water in my brain then it's your mistake. Who enters the river just to fetch water and that too such furious river?" Vijaya's lips parted as she placed her hands on her waist.

" Did I ask you to come to save me and that too by jumping yourself?" She questioned clearly in anger for the blame placed on her.

" How ungrateful you are Madr vasi? Instead of thanking me for saving you, you are blaming me only? " This was really unusual for Sahdev, he never actually qarraled with someone even after he was right. He used to let the matter slip away simply. But today he was getting another kind of pleasure in fighting with her.

" Saving me? I would have reached here only even if you haven't jumped behind me " she fought back.

" Whatever! I don't have time for your non sense, I have to reach Madr as soon as possible " Sahdev turned around looking for a way out but he only encountered darkness.

" Now you do need my help Pandu Kumar, you can't escape the forest of Madr without it's people " Vijaya pressed her advantage.

" I think you are forgetting something little creature. I am a warrior and this is my nanihal, I know every way from here " Sahdev smirked as he barged in the forest.

" Little creature??" She was offended" how dare you call me little creature? I am just an inch small than you " Vijaya announced. Sahdev went near her and stood in front of her.

" Really? An Inch small?" He asked looking down at Vijaya who hardly reached his chest. His face showing that he is amused of her while her face showed, she is liking this little banter.

" Whatever! I don't have time for your nonsense. I have to reach Madr as soon as possible " she pasted his line to him only. " And for your kind information, you can never leave the forest of Madr through this way " she said pointing toward the way Sahdev was going.

" I know better than you " Sahdev didn't listen.

" Ok then go. I will wait here only for your screams to come so that I can save you " she said with unwavering confidence as Sahdev went inside the forest.

" Maharaj and maharani are the only intelligent beings in Indrprast and I am sure of it " she whispered to herself sitting on a stone nearby waiting for her intelligent master to come out.

Here whole Indrprast was covered in the shadows of sorrow. Draupadi had turned into a statue neither talking nor eating.

Arjun hasn't come out of his chamber since that incident. Everyone tried their best but of no use. He didn't even budge.

This time Aanyati went to try one last time in the hope of getting him out. She simply knocked on his door and found it wide open.

" Arjun!" She went in to encounter dead silence and darkness. And at the far corner of the chamber, Arjun sat, his eyes red and hand bleeding. He looked no less than a beast with ruffled hairs and blood all over his surroundings.

Aanyati soon realised that the blood is coming out of his hand only with which he has punched the wall cracking it.

She took water from the nearby pot and went near him. " Arjun! " She dragged him carefully to the sofa nearby making him sit there. She washed his wound using the water and the end of her veil as she talked to him " this world is really cruel my parth! If a woman cries, tells what she feels than she is not questioned but if a man do the same, this society eats him alive. "

Arjun didn't respond " I know your heart Arjun, you can never even think of hurting someone. I want you to say whatever you feel Parth! Say it" she tied a part of her veil on his hand.

When Arjun still remained silent Aanyati raised his head by placing her hand below his chin. " Are you upset from me?"

" How can I be upset from you bhabhi maa?" He finally spoke with tears in his eyes. " I don't know when and where did I went so wrong for her. She had so much in her heart but she never spoke. I lived with her in this very chamber but didn't even had any idea about her feelings" his face showed how guilty he is feeling.

" We women are vested with this quality parth. No one can know what's going in our heart. Even Gods suffer from this misery, we are mere humans. Don't blame yourself for this Parth. Say whatever you feel, I am here to hear you " she assured him wiping his tears away.

" I know I was wrong in everything she said. She, a princess chose a mere brahman in front of mighty warriors. I know it was my mistake to mention her as a thing in front of mata and I still curse myself for that. When those words left mata's mouth, my whole world turned upside down. I wanted to scream, run away from there with her, protect her from this world but the respect I had for my elders stopped me. How can I choose between my brothers and the woman I love? Somewhere I knew that even if such arrangement will be accepted my jyest won't let any disgrace fall of Draupadi. " His voice was weak as he continued

" That day when I asked for you as wife for my jyest, I myself had no idea why I did so. I just looked at Madhav who noded as if reading my thoughts and agreeing with them. I accept I was wrong, even when she was being questioned in Kuru sabha, I remained silent due to respect for my elders. I could not prioritize between her and my family. Again I was wrong and today as well I did wrong. Why should she suffer because of me? She never did any mistake still suffered for mine mistakes and I blame only myself for that. " Aanyati listened patiently as he poured his heart out.

" But in all that there's one thing I am still sure of that I love her and her only with all my heart. I cannot imagine my life without her. She is my comfort place bhabi ma and today when she is away from me, I can't help but cry over my destiny only. How will I even show her my face after what I did today? She can not become mother just because of me" his eyes were full of the pain he was feeling. Aanyati made him sleep on her lap as she said

" If a group of person will see a man running on road then they will draw different conclusions from that Parth. Draupadi and you are two different beings, you think differently, the only way you can understand each other is by sharing your feelings. No relation is devoit of arguments they are bound to arise and we have to solve them patiently dear. You just have to talk to her and follow the path shown by rishi Durvasa " her voice was calm and soothing which cooled his senses as well. Slowly in her lap, he drifted to sleep.

Aanyati left once she was assured he was sleeping just to encounter Draupadi standing behind the door of his chamber.

" You are my sister Draupadi! I know your heart can never hold grudges. Go and talk to him, he is your husband your life partner, no one can understand him better than you do" saying so she left leaving a pondering Draupadi behind.

She entered her chamber to find her husband wide awake, Yom and Yojak sleeping peacefully in their cot.

" I must have done immense penance in my previous life Aanyati. Not everyone can have the divine daughter of Agni dev as his wife" he smiled crushing her to his chest. " How will I even thank you for holding my family together?"

" I should be thanking you Dharmraj for giving such lovely family to me" she closed her eyes finding solace in his embrace.

Here in Shivi, Karna was managing the kingdom single handedly. Many ministers betrayed the kingdom, many found it as the perfect chance to engulf Shivi in their own kingdom. But he stood strong, fighting for Shivi as his own kingdom.

In between all this, his main focus remained on Devika and her well being. He force fed her when she refused to eat, cared for her when she got lost, sat beside her like shadow providing her support. He even asked her to sit on Shivi's throne but she denied saying it is promised to Yudhisthir.

Right now he was searching for her only to know about kingdom's other information as he trusted no one. He made sure that she is comfortable in talking about all this and tried his best to diverte her mind from the pain she is suffering from.

Passing through one of the garden, he found Devika sitting with Vrishasen near the garden. He was giggling in her lap as she washed her tears away and made faces to scare him.

" Give him to me Devika, he must be troubling you" Karna approached them with a small smile. Vrishasen seemed upset with his father's demand as he pouted and clinged more closely to Devika.

" He can't trouble anyone Angraj. He is the most innocent child I have ever seen. See his eyes are just like you" she had a smile on her face which made Karna smile as well. He wanted this moment to never end, he wanted to live this moment forever. He, Devika and his son together, forever.

" I am sorry Angraj. You have to manage everything alone because I am not capable of" Devika said with a sad smile.

" You are capable of greater things Devika. Don't think so much and become the support of your people. They need their princess when their king is not with them dear " his words carried weight which Devika realised as well.

Enough of her drama and childish nature. She lives for her people more than anyone else. Why should she limit her purpose to herself only. With determination in her eyes she decided to become the support of her people.