" And this is the royal palace of Southern Madr" Shalya said to Sahdev who analysed the palace with a keen gaze. The palace was like any other one but there was a hidden secret in it, a gloominess. Sahdev was sure.

With slight tremble in her feet Vijaya stood at that palace again, the palace which she left behind years ago. Flashes from her past flooded in her mind. That little girl, scared, crying, running with all her might without any destination.

No!

She pushed the thoughts back and followed Sahdev.

Each step she took reminded her of a memory, a memory so sweet and yet so painful. The balcony, the garden, that fountain, everything was so familiar and yet so strange.

Sahdev didn't miss how she gazed at her surroundings. His eyes were on her as she looked at her surroundings with something hard to decipher in her eyes.

" Pranipat! Pranipat Madr naresh pranipat" Chandrajeet approached Shalya with a wide smile, his arms open for a hug.

" Pranipat Maharaj" Shalya embraced him. Greetings were exchanged one by one.

" Meet my Bhanja Maharaj Chandrajeet, my late sister Madri's younger son , Pandu putr Sahdev, he has come straight from Indrprast" Shalya announced hitting Sahdev on his back. That man is having the energy of a teenager in this age as well.

" Rajkumar Sahdev! Who haven't heard about him Maharaj Shalya! , the stories of his valour and charm and spread all around Aryavrat, the youngest of Pandavas. He is the most eligible groom for princesses at present but the irony is that he don't accept any proposal " Chandrajeet said with a loud laughter as if trying to remind Sahdev of the time when he himself sent the proposal of his eldest daughter's marriage with him.

Sahdev faintly remember his bhabi shri standing near his chamber's door with another marriage proposal in hand. She had come with a knowing look fully aware that he will deny and that's why she just heard a no from him and left saying" it will take an apasara to break your penance brother"

Sahdev had laughed on her remark at that time.

Before Sahdev could reply with his carefully choosen sharp words a running girl directly hit him. She was about to fall but Sahdev caught her in his arms. Everyone seemed surprised while smirks were forming on many faces.

" Thank you" that girl whispered still in Sahdev's arms. Her gaze at his face but Sahdev being Sahdev dropped her on the ground. His two cousins supressed their laughter while Chandrajeet helped his daughter stand up.

" Putri Chandani! Are you alright?" He asked throwing a look at Sahdev who stood with a solemn face, his hands behind his back. This is what the main difference between Sahdev and Yudhisthir is. People consider them so alike but Sahdev is not soft spoken like his jyest, he says what he feels without caring about the person's feelings.

" It's alright pita shri" she said in a overly sweet tone before walking away after glancing at Sahdev again.

Here Vijaya stood at a corner with a mix of emotions. Chandrajeet, his face made her red with anger, how happy he seems after destroying her whole life. Then there is raj kumari Chandani. Vijaya remembered playing with her and how no one ever questioned what happened to her.

" May I know who your guests are Maharaj" a heavy voice grabbed their attention. A man dressed in all white, his jewelery constituted only malas of rudraksha, hairs white and face stern approached them.

" Pranipat guru dev! Here is the king of northern Madr maharaj Shalya, his two sons Rukmangada and Rukmaratha and his bhanja, the raj kumar of Indrprast, Pandu putr Sahdev" Chandrajeet said with utmost respect "he is our revered raj guru - Sudhman" the way with which Chandrajeet introduced him it was evident that he respected Sudhman a lot.

" Pandu putr Sahdev " Sudhman approached him " I see a lot of arrogance in your face " his voice was devoit of any emotions.

" That's proud for my family manyavar "Sahdev said with a small smile, the guru reciprocated with a smile as well.

" Come inside everyone! Let us show you how good our hospitality is " Chandrajeet said taking everyone in.

Here Vijaya was dying every moment she spent inside this palace, every breath she took poisoned her, her eyes strongly holding tears back as she moved , careful that no one notice her. But destiny had other plans for her.

As she moved inside hidden behind Sahdev, Chandrajeet's loud voice boomed throughout the corridor.

" Wait!" Everyone halted on their steps. Their gaze directed toward Chandrajeet who was staring at Vijaya. She felt his stare and tried to cover her face although she knew there wasn't any chance he can recognise her by her face.

" Who are you?" He asked walking closer to her. Sahdev stood behind Vijaya ready to deal with any sort of havoc.

" I am a maid from Indrprast" she said with unwavering confidence, her gaze held straight.

" I asked for your name dasi" Chandrajeet ordered sternly.

" Vaishanavi!" Vijaya lied. Sahdev maintained a straight face although he now had doubts of his own.

" Lie" Chandrajeet shouted marching toward Vijaya. But before he could reach her, Sahdev stood in between.

" I humbly apologise Maharaj but she is a maid from Indrprast and even if she has done anything wrong then it's my duty to punish her no you" Sahdev's voice was calm yet stern.

" I think you haven't read the niti shastra Pandu Kumar" it was Sudhman " you are standing on the land of Madr right now and Maharaj is punishing the one who has done crime in his land" he turned to Chandrajeet who was fuming in anger " therefore it's his Dharma to punish her."

" May I know which crime you are talking about?" Sahdev asked. Chandrajeet seemed in confusion, he can't reveal his real purpose, he remembered faintly one of his soldier saying that she has joined the group of goons but he had rejected it as absurd. He took his chance here and said.

" She is with that group of goons who God knows have looted how many people" Chandrajeet shouted but Sahdev didn't even move " soldiers arrest her"

Soldiers moved forward but one look from Sahdev was enough to stop them. "Are you deaf?" Chandrajeet barked.

" Let them take me Raj Kumar" Vijaya almost whispered in his ears " I will wait in the prison for you" there was a determination in her voice as if she trusted Sahdev with everything she had. He will come. She was sure of.

Sahdev seemed doubtful but he finally stepped aside. He can't do anything right now. He should know everything from Vijaya before taking any action.

The Soldiers took Vijaya away as she gazed at Sahdev one last time before leaving, there was a hope in her eyes, a hope that he will come.

" I am sorry for this disturbance maharaj. Please make yourself comfortable. These goons can fool anyone easily. It's important to catch them" Chandrajeet said the last line looking at Sahdev whose stare was intense at Chandrajeet. Sudhman observed Sahdev in the same manner Sahdev was observing Chandrajeet.

Sahdev knew there is lot more than just robbery which is involved here. Chandrajeet, the legitimate king is getting so angry on a mere goon? Why?

He took his leave with his mama shri planning on how to meet Vijaya now.

Here in Indrprast, Aanyati sat near a sleeping Rajeshwari. She has recovered well but needs rest. She always wakes up and start doing one work or the other but now Aanyati has become her bodyguard, not letting her wake up at all. Kamanshi was in her hands giggling as Aanyati cooed her.

Yom and Yojak were with their father who took them on a stroll in the streets of Indrprast.

" Maharani! Rajkumar Bheem wants the permission to enter" Tara informed.

" Send him in" Aanyati said as she sat at a distant sofa careful to not disturbe the sleeping Rajeshwari.

" Bhabi shri" Bheem came in, the look on his face made it evident that he is worried. Bheem sat near Aanyati's feet as he talked in a hushed tone.

" Something has gone into Valandhra" he whispered confusing Aanyati. She placed Kamanshi in her cot before asking Bheem to elaborate.

" At starting it was all good, she used to wake up at night and demand for one thing or the other " Aanyati had a small smile on her face. How can she forget what pregnancy makes you do. Yudhisthir had a hard time controlling her, she made him suffer immensely. " I was always happy in fulfilling her demands. She even used to throw objects at me, I was ok with that as well. It was all good. " Throwing objects! How can she forget throwing almost every pillow of Indrprast on Yudhisthir. " I was a lot happy in pampering her, I wanted to care for her like this only but now she has gone silent all of a sudden. " Bheem's voice was grim. Aanyati knew he is a lot worried.

" Since when?" She asked being a little confused.

" After Rajeshwari bhabhi gave birth to Kamanshi. She hardly asked for anything, neither she threw anything at me. She only talks when I ask something and then again become silent, she never initiates any conversation as she used to do. " Aanyati understood well what has happened to Valandhra.

" Valandhra should not have entered jiji's chamber that day Vrikodhar. She must be scared of all this. " Aanyati said with utmost calmness " becoming mother is one of the most beautiful part of a woman's life but the changes, the pain which comes with it sometimes affect us a lot. That day jiji cried and screamed for almost three hours continuously. Valandhra must have become scared for her own self. She is due to any time and that very thing must be eating her . She is scared if she will be able to handle the pain or not. "Bheem seemed to understand well what's going.

" Bheem! We woman only wish for a happy and healthy family. If you will give us love we will multiply it by thousand and then give you back. We often tend to suppress what we feel thinking it's of no importance. And Valandhra do it on regular basis. She will never tell you the reason of this change or may be she herself don't know but as a husband it's your duty to make her feel safe. Delivering a child is no easy task, a woman have to endure immense pain no matter what. You will have to make her ready for it. If she will become scared then she might loose her consciousness at that time and it will be tough to save her or the child " Bheem noded silently as if in deep thoughts.

" Bhabhi shri can I take Kamanshi with me?" He asked all of sudden.

" Why not " that was all she said before Bheem with utmost care picked Kamanshi in his arms and left. Aanyati wondered what's going on in his mind.

Being a mother, how good this feeling is but with it Aanyati still trembled by remembering the time she delivered her twins. She almost scared the whole Dwarka with her screams, poor Nakul received a direct slap from her, she even threw objects at Yudhisthir and Krishna. Indeed it is really hard to bear that pain.

She prayed to God for a safe delivery of Valandhra before leaving the chamber ensuring Rajeshwari is in deep sleep....