"Putri! Now it's time of all of us to take a leave." Kunti smiled at Hidimba.

"Yes Hidimba, almost every local in Kamayaka knows about our real identities and that's not safe until we make a decision to return back to Hastinapur." Yudhishthir said.

"I understand Mai and Jyesht Shree, but before going, I want Vikrodhar to bless Ghatotkach by applying a tilak from his blood on his forehead." Hidimba smiled as Dhriti placed the little Ghatotkach in front of the murti of Kamayaka's Kuldevi.

Bheem smiled as he proudly slit his thumb and applied the tilak on his little son's forehead.

Soon enough, bright light, coming from the idol itself started surrounding Ghatotkach and he slowly transformed into a tall, strong young man with a gentle smile on his face while everyone except Hidimba and Dhriti were stunned.

"Now I know why Kanha made me feed you that Tulsi leaf." Dhriti smiled as she fondly looked at her nephew.

Ghatotkach touched his parent's feet as the three of them hugged each other.

"Putra, She is your Pitamahi." Bheem smiled as he introduced him to Kunti.

"He is your Tatshree and all others your Kakashree." Bheem said pointing towards Yudhishthir and others.

"And she is my Bua." Ghatotkach completed him as he walked towards them to seek their blessings.

Hidimba emotionally hugged Dhriti as they all were about to depart.

"Now I'll be wandering around the lake all alone Dhriti." Hidimba sadly smiled.

"No Bhabhi.. That place is special to me. You'll always find my presence there." Dhriti assured.

"But Pitashree, after leaving Kamayaka, where will all of you take a shelter at?" Ghatotkach asked in worry.

"Kampilya." Dhriti beamed knowing that's the nearest place and also Kanha is at Kampilya right now.

"Yes. That would be a safe place. Also its not far away from Kamayaka. I'll pray Devi Mata for you all to have a safe journey." Hidimba smiled as all of them left this mystique and elusive kingdom with memories.

*At the same time, Kampilya.*

"Draupadi? Now where is this girl!" Dhrishtadyumn said while glancing in her room only to find no one.

"Dau, have you seen her. She's no where in the palace." He enquired.

"Don't worry, I'll go find where she is." Kanha smiled as he exited knowing where is Sakhi would be.

"What is this bride-to-be doing along side the pond instead of spending her time inside her home before getting married? " Kanha smiled at Draupadi curiously looking towards the pond.

"Govind look! Isn't this peculiar! I had never seen soo many lotuses in Panchal anytime before. " Draupadi's eyes twinkled as Kanha picked one of them.

"She's coming." He smiled as he whispered.

"Who's coming Govind?" Draupadi asked in astonishment.

"Mahalakshmi." Kanha looked at her as her astonished face turned into fits of laughter.

"Oh Sakha. So you want to say, Lakshmi is coming to Kampilya? Now?" She said still laughing.

"Panchal has always been in wealth and prosperity. That means Devi Lakshmi's kripa was always upon us." She smiled explaining him.

"No Yagyaseni. Mahalakshmi is Chanchal. She never waits at one place. Because the whole world needs her, and it would be unfair if she stayed at one single place. So wherever and whenever her devotees, without any feelings of vanity, call her, she comes to them." Kanha smiled as he explained.

"And that's why we celebrate the Lakshmi Poojan every year? " Draupadi questioned.

"Yes we do." He nodded as Draupadi wanted to ask another question.

"Sakha. Why does everyone adore the love of LakshmiNarayan?"

"Lakshmi-Narayan. Hmm, because they are one of  the most divine couple in the Dev Lok. Narayan's love for Lakshmi was proved when Samudra Manthan took place to free Lakshmi from Rishi Durvasa's curse which made the entire the entire Dev Lok deprived of her.
Also, Lakshmi's devotion was proved when Mata Sita left the earthly abode so that no one in the coming yugas would call Shri Ram unjust, tangled in Patni-Moh and less dedicated towards his Praja." Kanha explained as Draupadi's face lit up.

"Got it! I would go and pray to Mata Lakshmi and Shri Narayan to bless me and my wedded life ahead of me." She said as she got up, running towards the palace leaving Kanha beside the pond still holding the lotus.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Kampilya looks so different. Its greener and fresh from the last time we visited it." Bheem said.

"Where do we take shelter now?" Dhriti asked.

"The people here are kind. They won't refuse to give us shelter if we offer to help them in their chores." Kunti smiled as they walked towards a house.

"Kaka, we are brahmins arriving here from far away land and we need a shelter to stay here at Kampilya for a few days. Would you let us take shelter in your house? " Arjun politely asked the man standing at the door.

"This is the wrong house." Dhriti whispered.

"Why?" Nakul whispered back.

"Not vibing with the man standing there." She said.

"Keep your vibes with you Dhriti. Don't be judgemental." Yudhishthir spoke.

"There's a difference between judging and vibing." She said not looking at him when the man shouted at Arjun.

"You all are Sadhus? Liars! You all don't even look like them. If you think you can fool us by behaving like a saint and stay at our house, you better go away from here. Right now before I call the sipahis. " His voice raised as the 7 of them walked away.

"Very very kind they are." Dhriti huffed.

"Let's ask someone over there." Yudhishthir spoke.

"WE ARE NOT BEGGING ANYONE TO LET US STAY IN THEIR HOUSES ONLY FOR THEM TO INSULT US IN RETURN. ARENT WE CAPABLE OF BUILING A SMALL HUT?" Dhriti practically shouted as all 6 of them stared at her.

"No seriously, I'm not going to stand there and see an unrespectful man insulting my family. And you all don't even let me confront them. So it's better we build our own hut. If anyone has an objection, they still have to stay in that hut." Dhriti completed her sentence in a single breath as she walked towards the forest rejecting the path towards the main town with Kunti following her proudly.

The dawn approached as the 6 sibling stood smiling at the sight of the hut they had made from the gathered woods and dry grass.

"You all would sit adoring your work of art of should we go inside." Kunti asked getting up as they chuckled at their Mata's sudden humour.

"That was a kind of joke Dhriti would have cracked." Arjun said.

"If I would have cracked the same joke, you all, especially Bhrata Yudhishthir would have not even smiled, leave alone laughing." Dhriti said with crossed arms.

"Okay sister, my mistake that I don't hold the capablity of understanding your humour." He smiled.

"That does not count. Whether you understand the joke or not, you should laugh, just like I do." Sahadev said running inside the hut as Dhriti ran behind him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Dhriti bent down to collect some water in her earthen pots as she heard two ladies gossiping about the swayamwar of Draupadi.

"I've heard that Panchal Naresh has invited all the kings and the wealthiest royal families of Aryavart. " One of them spoke.

"Yes. Even Vasudev Krishn has arrived here in Panchal. There were talks that Maharaj Drupad had asked Vasudev to accept Panchali but he refused the offer." Another woman said as Dhriti got more interested in their talks.

"Vasudev Krishn denied Yagyaseni for some other girl. That means that girl would definately be someone special. There have been rumours that Dwarak Shreshth already has a sweetheart." The both whispered making sure no one hears.

"Yes girls! Its me. The sweetheart." Dhriti giggled at her own thought as she got up but stopped midway after hearing another one speaking about Hastinapur.

"Even Yuvraj Duryodhan of Hastinapur has been invited for the Swayamwar. But it's not certain for Drupad to marry off Panchali to him as he has already married Princess Bhanumati." The said as they walked away not realizing Dhriti had been sitting there listening to everything.

"Yuvraj Duryodhan! Hm.... Sounds like a crazy idea, but I know what I have to do." She giggled as she rapidly paced towards the hut.

"Bhratashree! Mata!" Dhriti called as she placed the pots on the ground.

"What... Why are you panting?" Arjun started.

"This is the craziest idea I've ever got, but you have to go." Dhriti said as all gathered around her.

"Idea? Go where?" Yudhisthir asked.

"Panchali's Swayamwar." She said as everyone looked up .

"Ha! You think Panchal Naresh would marry off his daughter to a brahmin." Arjun said.

"Anyone of you is a brahmin?" Dhriti raised her eyebrow.

"And it does not matter who you are. Because it does not solely depends upon Panchali's choice. Her brother Rajkumar Dhrishtadyumn has arranged some competition. The one who wins it would get her hand in marriage." Dhriti explained.

"Mata..." The brothers looked at Kunti as Dhriti pleaded through her eyes for Kunti to say yes.

"You all should go. No matter what the competition is, I believe anyone of you can win it." Kunti smiled.

"Okay, now complete the remaining news." Nakul turned towards Dhriti.

"Bhrata Duryodhan, Dau and Devkinandan are going to be there." Dhriti spoke.

"Dau and Vasudev?" Bheem asked in shock.

"To help Panchal Naresh and Dhrishtadyumn." Dhriti smiled as she completed her sentence.

"Oh. I thought-" Sahadev started.

"Yeah yeah, I know what you thought." Dhriti laughed as they continued their chores.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Mamashree! Do something, do anything but either me or mitra Karna have to win this swayamwar. Panchal is a powerful kingdom, we all would be in lots of benefit." Duryodhan laughed.

"Although they are powerful, Panchal Naresh was still defeated by the Pandavas." Karna reasoned.

"Their existence is no more mitra. Stop thinking about them." Duryodhan replied.

"I have heard Devkinandan Krishn and Balram are also attending the swayamwar." Dushasan said.

"Impossible! Balram is already married and Krishn was in love with Dhriti." Karna looked down.

"No Angraj! This Krishn is a mastermind. More elusive then we all can even think. He definately has some scheme, some intention behind it." Shakuni said playing with his dice.

"Don't worry mamashree. He would be weaker, knowing that his beloved has died in a 'massacre'." Dushasan and Duryodhan laughed as all were ready to reach Panchal tomorrow.

"You could not be more wrong Bhrata Duryodhan. Lakshmi has always been always been this Narayan's strength. And there's no point of my incarnation if she would have not been here. I had lost her last time, I won't let that happen now. No matter what. " Kanha sighed as he heard Draupadi approaching.

"Sakhi? Here at this hour?" Kanha smiled.

"Govind, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. But you should consider one thing, I don't want to marry Yuvraj Duryodhan." Draupadi blurted out.

"Why Yagyaseni?" Kanha questioned.

"I know how when Kaling Rajakanya Bhanumati rejected him in her Swayamwar, he held her by her wrist and abducted her. I don't want an egoist to disrespect me in a way against my wishes." Draupadi fumed.

"I told you Draupadi, there are only two men in the whole of aryavart who are capable to win that competition. And that's the reason why Maharaj Drupad has arranged such a competiton." Kanha assured smiling at here.

"If you say so, I'm assured Sakha. Thankyou. And by the way, you should give that lotus a rest. I know you won't tell me about her. I'll find it out myself. After all, you'll obviously bring her to my wedding. " Draupadi giggled as she left.

"I won't need to bring her. She'll be there herself."  Kanha smiled as he kept the lotus on the rack beside his bed and drifted off to sleep.

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