"Ishwari!", Krishna's Voice filled the chamber like the light fills the dark. She looked up at him and tears automatically started to stream down her face. She held his feet and started crying miserably. Krishna held her by her shoulders and started crying as well, by embracing her. They were in the position for a long time, and she broke the silence, "Why? Why me Kanha? Why Draupadi? Why is it always the women?", she chocked out. He broke the hug and wiped her tears by saying, "This was meant to happen, Ishwari! One thing is that, this was supposed to happen to Draupadi, but you took it upon yourself!".

She looked at him perplexed and said, "What do you mean by supposed to happen? Why did i get disrobed? And if I didn't interfere, Drau- Draupadi-", she couldn't complete her sentence and chocked. He held her cheeks and said, "This is the start of the destruction of Duryodhan and his brothers! This happened because the great war should happen! And you became the reason, Draupadi became the reason for it! This will lead to the eradication of the Kauravas, and evil forces from the world", and nodded at her.

She looked at him, wiping her tears, "Then what about me? What about Draupadi? I know this is meant to happen, but- but why do we have to suffer?". He stood up and started walking slowly, "If Draupadi, the samragyi of the entire Aryavart suffered this; You, The pure manifestation of Arthanarishwar, who cannot be touched by anyone in the entire universe, suffered this, then imagine about the normal women! What they must be going through? It will go down as a classic example that, even gods suffered, and for every tear that had been dropped off and women's eyes, every blood drop compensated!".

She stood up in a rage and said, "I will go and eradicate those Kauravas! NOW! And I will eradicate the entire Kuru race!", and started to sprint out, but Krishna stopped her by holding her hand, "Ishwari! This is not the time! Trust me! And forget it for the time being!". She yanked his hand away and asked, "What do you mean? I have to forgive them? Forgive him?", Krishna nodded and said, "Ishwari! Please forgive him now! This... This forgiveness will lead him to the first step of destruction!". She looked at him with hope in her eyes, while he nodded smilingly.

She wiped her tears and bobbed her head, "Okay Then Kanha! But i promise! I will make sure... That they die... In the most impossible way!", she grunted out. Krishna caressed her head and said, "Now! Get ready! It's time for you to leave this place!". She looked at him and said, "I- I can't face Dau now! I basically ran away from the battlefield... And.. that's why the worst thing a commander should do!". Krishna looked at her sadly and said, "Yeah! He became angry and demoted you from your position! You are no longer the commander of Dwaraka!".

She chuckled dryly and said, "I expected this, Kanha! And it doesn't affect me anyways! As I don't care about anything materialistic anymore! The only thing I care about is Draupadi! And her safety! Sorry, Kanha! I can't come to Dwaraka leaving her!", she sighed. He shook his head and said, "I wasn't talking about you coming to Dwaraka! You are going to Vanvas! With them! For 12 years! And incognito for 1 year!". She looked at him wide-eyed and shouted, "What? Why should I go to Vanvas for the mistake Yudisthir has made?".

Krishna said holding her shoulder, "Duryodhan refused to give any chances to you! He made Yudisthir play again! And you are included in that game as you went against the rules in the hall of Hastinapur!". She scoffed and said, "This man will never change! He lost everything, and yet he played again! Where is he?". Krishna replied, "They all have been waiting for you to open the door since last night! And today, as soon as the sun rises, you all have to leave!".

She grinded her teeth and ran outside the chamber, and started shouting at him as soon as she spotted everyone, "You have no brains?", making them look up and sigh in relief as they saw her. Yudisthir was hanging his head low and wasn't saying anything, "I'm talking to you, Samrat! This isn't the Dyut sabha for you to stay silent!", and scowled.

Everyone tried to stop her by holding her, but no one, even women folk, could touch her. They were surprised at why even the women weren't able to touch her. Arjun went forward to hold her, but to his and everyone's surprise, he was pushed back by a force. He widened his eyes in terror as he realised that, he isn't able to touch her. His heart broke at the realisation that she entirely dismissed everyone's existence of her life, including his. He looked down with extreme guilt and he knew that he deserved it. He didn't deserve to touch her. Still, he asked her with his voice breaking, "Wh- Why am I not able to touch you?". Ignoring him, she went in front of Yudisthir and demanded for answers. Draupadi went forward and said, "Answer her, Samrat Yudisthir! Even If this happened to me, I would have forgiven you! But- but my sister -!". Draupadi hugged her tightly crying, which she reciprocated.

He came forward and extended his hands, "Panchali! Vaishnavi! I'm extremely ashamed of myself for what happened! And I'm not seeking an apology from you! Because I know I don't deserve it! But Arjun made a promise that he will burn my hands if I roll dice", making Arjun look up at him. "Do it Arjun", he said expressionless. Arjun was hesitant for a moment, but he came forward and put his brothers hands in fire. Vaishnavi was looking at it emotionless, feeling nothing. According to her, he deserved more than this.

But as soon as she saw her sister, who was holding the same expression as hers, her heart softened and said, "Enough! I didn't tell you to emotionally blackmail me! I'm past those feelings now! I'm here for nobody, nobody except for my sister", and shot a look at Arjun. He looked at her and his eyes broke into tears, unable to handle the intensity her eyes were holding.

Krishna held her shoulders and shook his head, "No Ishwari! He is not emotionally blackmailing you! He is trying to repent for his mistakes, which aren't his. Bhrata Yudisthir, don't punish yourself, instead think about punishing those who deserves it!", he concluded, making everyone realise their purpose now. Vaishnavi chimed in, "I don't care who are with me and who are not! Once this vanvas gets over, I'm going to kill each and every one of those Kauravas with my very own hands!".

Bheem stood up and said, "Vaishu! I promise! I'm going to kill all the Kauravas for you! For panchali! I... Will avenge you guys! Trust me, Vaishnavi! Please!". Nakul, Sahadev and Yudisthir joined as well, "Yes, Vaishnavi! Give us a chance!". Yudisthir said, "You have always saved us from many dangers! We are always indebted to you! We, for sure, will avenge you!". She looked at Arjun who was silent all this time, as he started to speak, "We are not asking you to forgive us, Ishwari! All we ask for is one chance!", and joined his hands.

She looked down thinking and looked back at her sister, who was holding her with her dear life. She sighed deeply and said, "Really? You expect me to believe you? You wouldn't understand my pain! The body which was only supposed to be seen by my husband -", and looked at Arjun, who held a remorseful expression, and continued, "has been exposed to everyone! Ha! You would only understand if you men are disrobed just like me! Huh!", she scoffed at them.

When she didn't get any response from them, she continued with a rage, "You all have lost my respect; my trust! And I-", she was interrupted by little suthanu's voice, "Mama!". Her expressions softened and she looked down, and saw that suthanu was pulling her dupatta to call her, "Mama! Why are you crying?". She couldn't hold back anymore and started crying miserably while holding her. Everybody's heart broke as they saw an ever smiling, ever energetic Vaishnavi being absolutely heartbroken, and they were almost responsible for it. She didn't want any of them to see her crying, so she lifted up suthanu on her arms, and said, "Do whatever you want!", and left the place.

***

She was in her chamber, giving away all her jewelleries and all her clothes away, she was wearing saffron clothes. Subhadra entered her chamber and wanted to hug her, but was skeptical that if she allows her to touch her or not. Vaishnavi noticed her and said, "It's okay! You are my sister!". Subhadra broke into tears and immediately hugged her, while she stood there motionless. Subhadra broke the hug and held her cheek, "I will miss you! Abhi will miss you!", as vaishnavi was holding Abhimanyu in her arms.

She smiled at the little fellow, who wasn't leaving her little finger. She smiled with tears and said, "Subhadra! He is my son! My son! Don't you dare let him forget me!". Subhadra said with a sweet smile while tears running down her face, "Vaishu! He indeed is your son! When you return back, he will see you as his mom! And Aarya will be happy about it too!", at the mention of him, her smiled dropped. Arjun, who was about to enter the chamber, stopped and listened to the whole conversation. Vaishnavi chuckled dryly, when Subhadra spoke, "Vaishu! Give him a chance! Please! It was his fault, I agree! But they all were severely brain washed by that Shakuni mama! And- And why wouldn't you let him touch you?".

Vaishnavi looked at her and said, "It isnt me who controls that! It's my heart! Right now my heart wants him to go away from me! He has broken my trust, Subha! It- It takes a lot of time to gain back that trust. I-", she stopped as she spotted Arjun near the door. Subhadra ordered the servants to leave the room and she left as well, giving them privacy. He looked at her with sad eyes and looked at his hand, which was holding something. "Ishwari! This chain of yours! I-", he proceeded to come forward, but the force stopped him. He chuckled sadly at his misfortune and said with a vulnerable voice, "I- I'm sorry!", he choked and he couldn't hold his agony anymore. He fell on his knees and started crying, while she was just looking at him expressionless.

He looked up at her and said, "This chain! It- it broke! I will definitely re attach it! But, I don't want you to put it by yourself!", she scoffed and said, "I wasn't planning to anyway!". He looked at her with hurt in his eyes, but composed himself and said, "One day, you will accept me and I will be able to touch you again! That day, I will tie it to you by myself! It's my promise!".

She slapped him continuously and said, "You are the one to talk about promises, A-", she stopped, as she didn't even want to utter his name. "Why did you stop? Call me Arjun!", he said desperately. She retrieved her hand back, but he held it, and kept it near is cheek, "You- I- I can touch you?", he started crying. She pulled her hand back harshly and said, "You are concerned about it now? Wow! You have just raised the bar yet again to distrust you more, A-", but she stopped again, refraining from calling him by name.

He cried, "Why aren't you calling me by my name?". She chuckled sadly at him and said, "You have lost every right on me! Don't you dare tell me what to do!", she said angrily and left the place. Arjun looked at her hopelessly, and looked back at the broken chain. He soon looked determined to fix everything, the chain and his relationship too.

***

"Wha- What have I done!??", Duryodhan held his head and sat at his bed. Karn came forward and held his shoulder, "You did the right thi-" but Duryodhan yanked his hand away, "Don't! Don't! Why- why did i do this to my Vaishnavi! I- I was supposed to take revenge only on that wench, Draupadi! Not her!". Shakuni came forward and asked him, "But dear Duryodhan! You are the one who ordered your brother to pull her saree!". Duryodhan growled and pushed all the things that were on the table and screamed, "It wasn't me! The- The voice! It told me!", he whispered out.

Karn looked concerned and asked, "Which voice, Mitr?". Duryodhan held his shoulders and said, "T- The same voice which told me to throw my mace on her! Which told me to convince Shriman Balram and that Yudisthir to make her marry me! Which told me to... Which made me fall in love with her!". Shakuni and Karn shared a look amongst themselves, as they didn't understand what he was speaking about.

As they were about to ask him further, a furious Ashwathama entered the chamber. "Duryodhan!", and he slapped him hard. Karn went forward to stop him, but duryodhan extended his hand towards Karn, stopping him. Ashwathama continued to slap him more, as Duryodhan was taking them silently. Ashwathama didn't understand his friend's behaviour and stopped, "Why aren't you stopping me?". Duryodhan looked at him and said, "Because I deserve it! For what I have done to her! She- She wouldn't look at me the same right?". Ashwathama looked at him confused and asked him, "What are you talking about?". Duryodhan then explained everything about the voices he keeps hearing.

Ashwathama said holding his shoulder, "Duryodhan! She won't be angry at you for what you have done to her! She will be angry for what you were about to do to Draupadi! Now, go apologise to Draupadi! Atleast, Vaishu will consider you a living being then!". Duryodhan looked at him with a shocked expression and shouted, "No way! I apologise to THAT WENCH? Not happening!".

Ashwathama sighed and said, "Then Deal with it! You either Apologise to her and give whatever the Pandavas lost; or go ahead with your plan of destroying them", and left the place. Duryodhan held his head again and started to contemplate about what Ashwathama just said. And he chose what defines his character; Destroying them.

***

Every woman in Indraprasth started to leave to their respective kingdoms, while bidding a teary goodbye to their husbands. Arjun asked Krishna to take care of Subhadra and Abhimanyu until he returns back and take them with him. Dristadyumn came to get the children of Draupadi, who weren't leaving Vaishnavi at all, tightly hugging her. "Mama! Please don't leave us!", every child cried holding her and Draupadi. Both of them with a heavy heart, handed them over to Dristadyumn.

Soon, everyone of the womenfolk tightly hugged them both, and were also happy that Vaishnavi finally alllowed them to touch her. After they all left, All the five Pandavas, along with their commom wife Draupadi, and Arjun's wife Vaishnavi, started to leave for exile. They all stopped near Krishna and fell on his feet. Krishna told them, "Everyone! I won't worry about you, you have my sister with you guys! All I say is, listen to her! Listen to whatever she tells you guys to do! Jyesth Yudisthir, you too!", to which he nodded understandingly.

Soon, they started their journey towards the forest, and found a place for them to live. Soon, everyone got into the work of creating a hut, getting woods and cleaning the place. Vaishnavi was silent all along, purposefully ignoring every one of them. To break the ice, Nakul asked her, "Vaish! Do you want water?", and looked at her awkwardly. She ignored him and continued to clean the place. But soon, she started coughing because of the dust from cleaning. Nakul immediately left all his work and said, "Wait! Lemme get some water for y-", but she cut him off rudely, "Did I ask?", making Nakul look at her with a little hurt in his eyes. "I- I'm sorry, Vaish- Sorry- Vaishnavi!". Vaishnavi felt bad and said, "P- Please do your work Nakul! Don't disturb me!", and continued cleaning. Sahadev held his shoulder and nodded his head, reassuring him.

Draupadi saw the situation getting heated and intervened, "Uh! Aarya! Could you get me some water please?". Nakul nodded and went to get some water, feeling bad that he had lost his friendship with his best friend. Sahadev said slowly, "That was a little rude, Vaishnavi! Nakul might not look like it, but he easily gets hurt!". Vaishnavi immediately looked at him and said, "oh yeah sure! Even I might not look like it, Sahadev! I get hurt too! And I'm deeply hurt! Give me some time damn it!". Bheem and Yudisthir came towards them and Bheem said, "Vaishu! I'm sorry on behalf of my brothers!". Vaishnavi scoffed and said, "don't waste your sorrys Bheem! They are precious. Instead be sorry for what actually deserves your apology!", and continued cleaning.

Draupadi looked sad as nothing seemed to be going right there. Arjun kept silent as he knew what she must be going through. Draupadi immediately started to go towards her to comfort her, as she saw tears in her eyes, but a thorn got stuck in her feet. "Aah!", Draupadi shreiked, gaining Vaishnavi's attention. She immediately went to hold her feet by making her sit on a rock and take out the thorn, while Yudisthir volunteered to help. But, vaishnavi raised her hand stopping him, "Dont have to! I can't entrust my sister's safety to you guys anymore! As long as I'm with her, there's no need to get overwhelmed with love for her safety!", and continued to pluck the thorn out.

They all stayed silent and stood there, as they knew, they totally deserved this treatment. After all, she sacrificed herself for her sister, their wife. To cool down the topic, Draupadi said, "Where is my Aarya? He didn't return yet?". Sahadev immediately got alerted and said, "I'll go fetch him!", and left the place. Vaishnavi was trying hard to take the thorn out, but she wasn't able to.

Bheem slowly took over Draupadi's feet and started taking the thorn out, while saying, "If there are tears in eyes, you cant see, Vaishu!", he took out the thorn and looked at Vaishnavi, who, just as he said, was looking back at him with tears in her eyes. He sighed and said, "I miss us, Vaishu! Our friendship!". She avoided him and diverted the topic by saying, "Hey! Your brothers didn't return yet! Why don't you go look for them?", she said looking at Arjun.

He felt bad as she still wasn't using his name to address him, but still nodded and went in search of them. "Are you okay, Krishnaa?", to which she nodded at her and got up with her help. Vaishnavi made her sit back again and said, "You don't! I will take care of everything! Take rest! I will cook today! Bheem will help me! Right Bhe-", she trailed off looking at the hopeful eyes of Bheem. "Sure! I'll help you Vaishu!", he said almost immediately and started to get into the work of cooking.

Vaishnavi then took Draupadi inside the hut, while Yudisthir wasn't feeling good and told Bheem, " Bheem! Go look for your brothers! I'm not feeling good!", to which the latter nodded and took his weapon and left the place. As soon as Vaishnavi came out of the hut, Yudisthir came in front of her and said, "Vaishu! I know you are angry at us! And I know this is not because whatever happened to you! This is because we failed to protect your sister! But, i promise! I will avenge you! We will avenge you! But please! Don't give us this silent treatment! This is killing us!", and had tears in his eyes.

Her expression softened as she saw those tears, and was about to speak something, but a tensed Draupadi came out of the hut saying, "Aarya! Ishu! They! My Aaryaputr! Didn't return yet!". Vaishnavi didn't understand why they didn't return yet and looked at Yudisthir, who gave them his weapon and said, "You guys keep this! I know vaishu, you are strong! But, you are my responsibility too! If I didn't return, please go back to Panchal! And seek safety!".

Vaishnavi came forward and said, "I'll come with you, Jyesth!". Yudisthir smiled and said, "Thank you, Vaishnavi! For calling me Jyesth again!", and left the place, leaving Draupadi with her.

As they all didn't return with Yudisthir even after so long, Draupadi wasn't feeling good about it and held Vaishnavi's hand and squeezed it, "Ishu! I'm- I'm scared!". Vaishnavi reassured her, "Don't worry, Krishnaa! They just went to fetch wat-", realisation hit her like anything as she understood what was happening.

She stood up swiftly and started muttering, "No no no no no!", making Draupadi even more anxious. She held her head and realised that they all were probably dead now. Her husband is dead now. "A- Arjun! Everyone! No!". She started to go towards the place, but stopped as soon as she saw them coming towards her.

She sighed in relief and shouted at them, "You guys! You-", she kneeled down started crying, "I'm glad! I'm glad you all are okay! Thank you gods!!", and continued to cry hysterically. They all melted at the sight and Arjun kneeled down to her level, rubbing her back. She immediately hugged him and cried more, "I- I thought you guys were- d- de- dead!", and snuggled into his neck.

Nakul said with tears, "I thought you wouldn't care even if we were dead!", to which she broke the hug and threw a rock at him, with Arjun's hand still around her waist, "If you speak like that, I'll kill you by myself!", and smiled at them all with tears. Bheem smiled from eye to eye and said, "Finally! Our Vaishu is back!", and Sahadev said, "Sorry Vaishu! I thought you were being rude! But- But you were just caring about us all!". Draupadi, while wiping her tears happily as everything between them is sorting out, asked them all what happened. Yudisthir then explained how his father, Dharmraj, came to test them and asked him to choose one of them, to which he chose Nakul as he is the son of Madri, by making one son alive from his father's another wife too.

Vaishnavi felt proud of him and said, "That's a good decision, Jyesth! For someone who always takes bad decision, that's good!". While others saw it as a joke, Yudisthir understood she said it purposefully to remind him again about all his wrong decisions. Arjun slowly wiped her tears and smiled at her. She looked at him and noticed that they were still in the hugging position, and slowly parted away from him, making his smile disappear.

She stood up and said, "Guys! It's high time! You all need to do the needful! And start it from now! Nakul! Sahadev! You guys go pray for the Ashwini Kumaras and get the healing powers from them! It's you guys, who will stand as the life support system for the soldiers during war!", to which they both nodded.

She turned towards Bheem and said, "There is only one person who is the greatest in physical strength! It's the son of Mata Anjani! Your brother! You go south and pray to Lord Hanuman, and seek his blessings! And also pray for him to participate in the war in any form and side with us!", to which he nodded as well.

She turned towards Arjun and started, "Ar-", he looked up with hope, but composed himself as she still didn't utter his name, "You go to North, Kailash! There is another weapon which is more powerful than Brahmastra! It's the Pasupathastra! You pray to My Mahadev with great devotion! And my Mahadev will definitely give to the boon of his weapon! And also, ask for his blessings for the war!", he hid his hurt and nodded at her determined.

She looked at Yudisthir and Draupadi, "You guys! I will be staying with you! What you do is do a lot of good deed! And get Punya! You guys are supposed to be the Samrat and Samragyi of the entire Bharatvansh in future! And Rishi's and Muni's support and blessings are also necessary for it! So, from now on, get onto that work! Do a lot of Seva to them! I will get them to you!". As they all bid goodbyes to each other, they started to leave to their assigned places, while Arjun looked at her with hope in his eyes, that she will start something to him. She looked down holding herself back and started to go inside Along with Draupadi and Yudisthir. Not getting any words from her, heart broken, he turned to leave with a heavy heart. But, a hand held his wrist and made him turned around. He saw that Vaishnavi held his hand, and was looking at his hand which was holding onto her chain with dear life. She took it while sniffling, and tied it to her right hand wrist by herself and said something, which just made his upcoming years of Tapas.

"Be careful".

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Huff guys! Finally onto vanvas, aren't we? How many of you didn't expect Ashwathama's appearance in this chapter? Poor guy didn't get enough screen time in my story after he got rejected 😭 😭

Anyways, how was the chapter guys?? Please vote and comment! 😁 😁 !!