Finally after the journey of two long days, Sahdev reached Madr. The land situated between mountain and plains, Madr offered it's people both the natural resources of mountains and the fertility of plains. Vast Himalayas stretched to its end while the majestic river Ganga flooded it's plains in every monsoon.

Sahdev was welcomed by his mama shri Shalya , his wife and his two sons Rukmangada and Rukmaratha . The two cousins were on cloud nine welcoming their cousin.

Shalya took Sahdev in as he discussed about his and others well being. Vijaya followed them like a silent spectator, her mind still struck in the previous incident. Why did she saved me? Why did he saved her? Has she fallen in love with him? It was his duty to save the person who saved his life but why did she literally jumped in front of that spear?

" Make yourself comfortable bhanje! We will catch up in the morning beside I have planned a great hunt for your entertainment and something else as well" Shalya said with a smirk pating Sahdev's shoulder. He dropped Sahdev near the guest chamber and left.

Sahdev entered his chamber just to froze on his place. Their were more than twenty dancers already present in his room, they stirred up and started dancing seeing Sahdev. Jugs of the finest wine rested on the table which overly dressed maids were ready to serve. Behind Sahdev, Vijaya peeped into the chamber. Her eyes as wide as Sahdev's.

It is no hidden fact that kings all over the Aryavrat love this combination of dancers and wine. It is a major source of entertainment and many a time the kings choose one of the lucky dancer to warm his bed for a night. Despite knowing it's wrong no body seems to challenge this.

Now Sahdev realised which something else his mama shri was talking about. Without glancing at even one of those dancers, Sahdev sprinted outside past Vijaya. She stared at his back in utter surprise.

Is he for real? She thought.

Kings don't hesitate to enter such chambers even in their wives presence and here when his mama shri himself arranged such things for him, he didn't even glaced at them?

Vijaya followed him outside clearly impressed of him. He stood outside the door with his hands behind his back. Vijaya for once was staring at his broad back but then she came out of her thoughts on his call.

" Get me a mat!" He ordered staring hard at her. Vijaya bit back her smile as she ran to fetch a mat for him. Sahdev is clearly having some good impression on her.

She came back within minutes and handed the mat to Sahdev " but why do you need this mat?" She asked innocently.

" Don't act like you don't know dasi" Sahdev replied walking to somewhere. Vijaya followed him hiding her smile.

" Why are you smiling?" He asked finding her supressing her giggle.

" I am thinking something"

" You think as well?" He teased

" I always think before I do something" she protested matching her pace with him as they climbed round stairs. Suddenly he stopped and turned around suprising her. His face was inches away from her as he bent to her level before saying

" You didn't think before jumping in front of a spear to save me" their was a hint of mischief in his always thoughtful voice. Vijaya gulped, she herself had no answer to his question. What should she say.

Perhaps Sahdev read her thoughts as he turned around and started climbing the stairs again. Vijaya followed silently, her laughter long gone.

They finally reached the highest corner of the palace. Sahdev jumped up at once leaving Vijaya behind.

" Help me!" She cried knowing the height is too much for her to jump. Sahdev seemed to tease her again as he smirked

" Why should I help you? What will I get in return?" Now it was Vijaya's time to enjoy his state.

" You literally called a Yaksha to save me rajkumar, why did you helped me then?" She asked matching his smirk but Sahdev's smirk died long ago.

" Questioning your saviour, you are really confident little one" he smiled pulling her up to where he was standing.

" I thought I was your saviour, silent one" she matched his gaze. Sahdev smiled leaving her hand as he sat on the mat gazing at the land of Madr. Vijaya sat beside him as a silent companion.

" Madr is really beautiful " Sahdev commented.

" Not more than southern Madr " the words involuntarily slipped from her mouth. But Sahdev did not enter his usual interrogation mode as Vijaya thought. Perhaps he was tired of trying to extract truth from her or her past no longer mattered for him. Maybe he had started trusting her now - blindly.

He leaned on the floor, his hand behind his head as his eyes now gazed at the beautiful night sky. " Sorry for troubling you so much " his voice was not more than a whisper.

" Your troubles were nothing for me Raj Kumar " she said, her eyes roaming at the sky.

That night both of them sat there only, enjoying each other's company. They shared whatever they thought was appropriate and the night sky became a testament of their little story.

Here in Shivi, Devika was on cloud nine, Aanyati and Karenumati dressed her in wedding attire. It was decided by mutual consent that this wedding won't be much of a big celebration. No one was invited, not much decoration was done just a small celebration.

Yudhisthir came to fetch his sister to the mandap. Devika looked no less than the apasara of Inderlok, her deer like eyes were full of khol, lips coloured red, hairs tied in a bun dressed with rose, cheeks adorned in natural pink hue, her bosom raised as she breathed , hips swayed as she walked.

She was taken to the mandap where Karna sat with all his glory. He looked no less than God with that eternal glow on his face, his kundan shining more than diamonds, his crown held high on his head.

Karna always had the best body any female could think of , his muscular arms could lift tonnes of weight, broad shoulders ended to a toned waist, his height adding cherry on top of the cake. His chocolate brown eyes had the warmt of sun, his black hairs fell on his shoulders making him look no less than God .

Yudhisthir made her sit near Karna as the priest chanted holy mantras. Devika seemed nervous but a small smile from Karna was enough for her to calm down.

Little Vrishasen threw petals at his father with his small hands, giggling occassionally.

All the rituals were performed one by one from varmala to vermillion. Yudhisthir and Aanyati did her kanyadaan as the wedding finally ended.

The couple rose from their seat and took the priests blessings. Soon they stood in front of Aanyati and Yudhisthir much to Karna's delight.

" I hope your husband can understand you better than any of us" Aanyati said to Devika but her eyes were boring into Karna's .

" Angraj! Please accept this Kingdom as your own" Yudhisthir urged, his smile calm and perfect.

" I don't want this Kingdom Dharmraj. What I wanted is already mine" Karna smiled looking at Devika.

" It's not about wanting Angraj. It was long decided by Maharaj and me that this Kingdom will be given to Devika's husband. I am merealy a medium for fulfilling that dead father's wish" Yudhisthir replied.

" By this you are loosing an alliance as well Dharmraj" Karna remarked " I am loyal to Mitr Duryodhan , so will be Shivi after this" but Yudhisthir knew what he is doing, with a smile he replied

" I don't yearn for any alliance Angraj! My sister is more dear to me. What will I do with this alliance if my sister won't get her right. "

" You might consider your Dharma as your strength Dharmraj but mark my words, your doom will be your kindness only " Karna said much of an advice. Yudhisthir replied with a smile before they went forward.

Devika was taken by the females while the ministers took Karna with them to celebrate. Yudhisthir indulged in officially handing the kingdom to Karna.

Finally Devika sat in her beautifully decorated chamber all alone. Aanyati and Karenumati left long ago after dressing and teasing her. She sat on the sofa near balcony clearly nervous.

Here Karna started his journey to his chamber. The ministers made him drink a little saying it will help you tonight. Karna refused them by drinking one glass and left from there.

He opened the doors of his chamber and closed them after entering in. Then only his gaze travelled to the well decorated room and stopped on Devika who stood near the balcony.

Karna had to gulp looking at her raw beauty. Surely those women were taking revenge from Karna by dressing Devika like this. There was no ornament on her body, dressed in light pink saree, her veil was purely transparent , doing nothing to hide her beautiful body.

Those dear like eyes, parted lips, long black curls which smelled of roses, line of her neck, her collar bone, the slight raising of her breast as she breathed, her slender waist, her hips, her bow like arms everything invited Karna to her.

Devika didn't even realise when her body became all sweaty, her heart hammering against her chest. Karna's gaze was enough to make her more nervous, his mere presence increased the temperature of the chamber.

He took slow steps toward Devika making it hard for her to even breathe. His rough hands took her hands in his. The slight trembling of her hands didn't get unnotice by him.

He slowly guided her to the bed, his moves well planned and precise. " Devika!" He placed his hand on her cheek. She finally matched his gaze as peace spread throughout her body.

Karna was surprised to see his effect on Devika. Her body responded to even the slightest of his movement as if attached with his.

It was getting hard for him with each passing second to control himself but a warrior he is and nothing of what he felt was seen on his face.

Devika seemed to relax completely till now and the first thought which striked her was to tease her husband a bit afterall he had made her suffer this much.

The moment Karna came forward toward her, she slipped out of the bed and stood near the balcony smiling at Karna. He was surprised of her audacity but thought of playing alone. He knows when to take the upper hand.

He went toward her slowly. Devika was about to run again but he caught her by her waist. His hands warm again her cold body. He pulled Devika close decreasing the distance. Now Karna could feel her insane heartbeat as well.

" You should not play with a hungry lion dear" he whispered near her ear before kissing her passionately.

That kiss speaked of the pain, the wait Karna endured to get her, his lips moved faster but with passion. Devika turned to a blushing mess till the time his kiss ended. Their heads joined as both breathed heavily. Karna slowly moved to her nape kissing her collar bone as she finched.

That night two souls which were already one met. His pain ended in her arms and her wait ended in his. She was like the calm river and he the blazing sun. Both completed each other like no one else.

Their love was not sudden but took it's time to bloom and to get completed, a beautiful love story in all sense.

Karna vowed to protect her till his last breathe and she vowed to die with his last breathe.

Both spent that night in each other's arms unaware of what's coming next.

Would Devika have imagined even in her worst dream that her husband will humiliate someone so close to her? Would she have imagined that that someone will be the doom of her life?

Only time knew what's planned by destiny for them....

So, How many of you want to be Devika? 😁