"Krishn, more than half of the time, you're simply away from Dwarka." Vasudev spoke with a hidden resentment.

"He's snatching away the title of Chanchala." Dhriti thought, pursing her lips with the same resentful shrug.

"And what about Karusha Naresh and Viranth? They're here for your help." Vasudev continued.

"Priya's assistance will be enough." Kanha replied with an assuring voice. Which didn't help but Vasudev eventually nodded, patting Dhriti.

"Not sure about it, but why is it always that the worst catastrophe strikes everyone when Dhriti and Krishn aren't together?" Revati mumbled, standing closely beside Dau.

"Let's pretend you didn't say that, Revati." Dau glanced back.

"Dhriti, apply the tilak, putri." Devki reminded her as Dhriti nodded, taking the thali from the Daasi's hands as she faced Kanha, who was expecting the unexpected.

Her watery eyes mildly twinkled as they reflected a deep worry behind those curtains of indignation and sterness.

Imagine her as Dhriti.

Does the jewellery seem a bit too less? But she's still gorgeous.

"Why that face?" Kanha summed up a smile.

"Because I don't agree with what you are up to, Dwarkadheesh." She pierced her sight back into his as she finished applying the tilak on his forehead. Next stood Arjun, waiting with complete unsureity, wondering whether his little sister would really do his Vijay Tilak or not.

As soon as she took a step away from Kanha, the sharp sterness traced back on her chiseled face, highlighting the felicity of her features, effortlessly expressing the presence of those deep, unhealed wounds in her tender heart.

Regardless, She did.

She did her brother's Vijay Tilak as well.

She did as her gaze travelled towards Shatanik and Vaishnavi, looking up at her with undivided adoration. The kids had no idea and would probably never posses any about the events that took place months ago.

An amusing smile curved on her lips as she noticed herself gaining back her childishness.

"What?" She squinted her eyes at Shatanik as she finished up.

"Deciphering the reason behind the glum look on your face.
Should there be a better reason to smile other than the fact that I'm staying back with you?" Shatanik subtly crossed his arms, making others laugh.

"Ofcourse not!
Now? Am I still looking gloomy?" Dhriti asked with a giggle as she carassed the two little heads.

"We shall get going now." Kanha announced, clearing his throat.

"Yes please." Vaishnavi frowned at the statement.

"Both of you staying angry at me, at one innocent man, isn't fair Vaishu." Kanha grinned lifting her up as she covered her loud laughs, resting her chin on his shoulder, pretending to be sad about the whole thing.

"Shatanik you aren't a baby." Dhriti playfully gritted as she predicted through his pleading eyes.

"Please." He continued.

"I'll send you back at Indraprasth." She threatened amidst a giggle.

"I'll take you with me." He answered.

"Ugh. If we fall, and get hurt, you are answerable to my husband." She sighed with a chuckle, picking him up like Kanha did to Vaishnavi.

"Satyaki you big giant enormous Traitor!" Dhriti nearly screeched as she looked at her Sakha holding the reins of Kanha's chariot.

"You've got Kritavarma, let me take Satyaki along with us." Kanha spoke.

"Kritavarma? Who is disappeared half of the time, like he's now." Dhriti completed.

"Did anyone cry over my absence, Dwarkadheesh?" Kritavarma appeared out of no where.

"Yes, Maharani did. Don't disappoint her until I'm back." Kanha eyed, as they shared a laugh which died down on Dhriti's short sulk which didn't last for long either.

"Madhav, wait!" Arjun suddenly desisted to a halt as he mounted down from his chariot, walking straight at his sister.

"I hope you've received 'that' letter from her side. As unauthenticated as it seems, it still holds some pompously hidden and solemn significane." Arjun slowly whispered.

"What letter?" She furrowed her brows, perplexing looking at him.

"Dhriti, are you listening?" Arjun softly shook her arm.

"Haan. I did.
I was figuring out what you spoke, sounded something like Kanha would do." The two sibling slightly chuckled, after a long time in a while.

Dhriti nodded at her brother, still recalling any news she received regarding an 'unofficial yet official letter' as she gazed at Kanha, one final time.

"Take care and return soon." Her eyes, once again, glinted in worry.

"Don't worry Priya, I will. You take care of yourself, and others as well. Yuvraj Viranth seems to be on the back foot about you. Remind him what you actually are." He loving smiled back as she turned around,  walking back with Shatanik still in her arms and Vaishnavi holding her other hand.

"What letter, why and who this 'her' now? I'm very much sure I haven't received any letter, lately." She mumbled to herself, before pacing to her chambers.

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

"Nothing in the assembly. All the other letters and scrolls in the study have been answered either by you or Dwarkadheesh." Kritavarma reported.

"Not here! I've gone through the same letters twice." Dhriti sighed, completing yet another round around her chambers.

"What if the sender didn't mention his or her name on the letter to maintain the secrecy?" Kritavarma raised his brows.

"You mean, the letter didn't actually reach me?" Dhriti drew the same expressions.

"That's what I mean, but it's pretty much impossible. All the messages are delivered to you or Dwarkadheesh either directly by the royal messengers or through me.
As far as I remember, you haven't come across any letter which wasn't related to the matters and decrees of the state.
Did rajkumar Arjun inform Dwarkadheesh about the same?" Kritavarma opposed his own statement the next second.

"Kanha would've spoken atleast something if he was aware of all this beforehand. He didn't." Dhriti rubbed her temple restlessly.

"Don't worry about it, tomorrow right away, I'll congregate all the royal messengers and enquire about the same.
Grab some rest now, you've been running behind the two kids the entire day." He chuckled, taking a leave as Dhriti slightly nodded, her mind tracing back to something she was trying hard to recall.

She habitually shrugged, separating her delicate headpieces. Her shiny, black hair, smoothly cascaded down her back as she moved under the mild moonlight, pushing all her worries at the back of her mind, trying to find some inner peace.

She smiled, looking at Vaishnavi's toys scattered all around her chambers.

"This girl will never get enough of her games." She chuckled to herself, picking them up in her pallu. Not long before she continued her placid and unadorned antics, a past realization struck her.

"Really, I heard them saying something about decrypting jumbled words." Vaishnavi said clinging on Kanha's arms as Dhriti sighed with a chuckle.

"Vaishu said she heard Viranth speaking about decrypting something.
What if that message was actually meant to reach me but this man created a blunder? But who gave him that letter?" Dhriti sighed, gritting her teeth in annoyance.

"Kanha! You always leave me alone in such situations." Dhriti's voice cracked as she ran towards Vaishnavi's chambers not paying any heed to the loud kinkles made by her delicate bangles and payals.

"Vaishu! I'm soo sorry but wake up Vaishu!" Dhriti slowly whispered, not wanting to wake Shatanik sleeping aside.

"What? Is it morning already? But I've just slept." Vaishnavi sleepily spoke.

"No dear, its still midnight. But I–I need your help Vaishu. Pitashree isn't here." Dhriti tearfully explained.

"What is it Maa?" Vaishu jolted up straight. Keenly looking at Dhriti's tensed face.

"A few days back, you said you heard Yuvraj Viranth and Karusha Naresh talking about decrypting some letter, which is actually wrong, but didn't you?" Dhriti sat beside her.

"Yes. I clearly did hear him saying that. He's very suspicious." Vaishnavi snuggled close to her.

"Anything more you saw or heard? Try to remember.
Earlier today, your mamashree asked me if I received any letter which I suppose is meant to be something secretive.
That's when me and Kritavarma realized, I haven't received any such letter and assume this blunder to be created by Viranth. I'm not sure but my vibes are not to be ignored.
Vaishu, I'm blabbering because I'm a bit panicked but are you understanding what I mean to say?" Dhriti jumbled up.

"You mean Yuvraj Viranth was possibly talking about decrypting the same letter Mamashree Arjun inquired you about. Right?" Vaishnavi simplified as Dhriti nodded.

"What else did Mamashree say?" Vaishu asked further.

"The letter, which I was supposed to receive, was sent by a girl. And he didn't mention anything about 'her'." Dhriti faked a smile of utter disappointment.

"Now, how many ladies do I actually know?
Samragyi, Shubu and Karenumati. Although I haven't met Uloopi and Chitrangada, I do know them but this just jumbled up further." Dhriti clutched the surrounding cushions.

"Maa! Oh god didn't you realize this? How can you let go of this huge loop hole?" Vaishnavi yanked in surprise.

"What loop hole? I think I've lost half my senses." Dhriti blinked a few times.

"Pitashree and Mamashrees are at Magadh to oppose Maharaj Jarasandh's oppression.
Yuvraj Viranth and Karusha Naresh are allies of Magadh and are still in Dwarka asking for political helps.
Rajkumari Karenumati is the only lady you all actually know, who's kingdom is under the alliance of Magadh but she has always opposed it.
So maximum chances fall under the probability that, the secret letter was sent to you by ChediKumari and Yuvraj Viranth, knowing this has blundered the paths." Vaishnavi explained with exceptional amount of gestures as she finally took a deep breath.

"Eating almonds and Walnuts during pregnancy helped a lot." Dhriti mumbled, starting at Vaishnavi's huge decoding.

"Maa? Are you alright?" Vaishu shook her.

"You're coming to the courts and assemblies with me from next time. You're better than Kritavarma in tactics." Dhriti patted with a smile as she got up.

"You're somewhere right Vaishu. Viranth has probably interrupted a smooth going plan but I need proofs against the statements which he'll throw at me." Dhriti sighed, now pissed with Kanha.

"There's one person, who may help." Vaishnavi looked at Dhriti with a glint in her eyes.

"Chitraksh....." Dhriti squinted her eyes with a grin, humming a song as she tried putting her little girl back to sleep.

"She's just six. Brain child." Dhriti thought, chuckling to herself.

_________________________________________

Tadaaaaa! I'm back with a not-so-good-update even when I said I won't update in November.
*Grins*

Now, now, the chapter won't be up to the mark because....... Because I feel it isn't.
Sorry for that guys. Sorry *sobs*

But but,
I have an announcement to make skskskksksks.

Me and my Fab4, i.e.
DrKanu  Sayra612 and mythooolover have finally collabed to write a Time Travel Book based on Mahabharat.

This story would cover the most unturned and unexpected events of the Dwapar alongside a lot of humor, tragedy and the overall story of mahabharat and I promise the 4 of us won't disappoint you.

Now if you love me, which I know y'all do, It would be great if you all check out our book which you'll find on DrKanu 's wattpad account.

Here's the first look of the book.

Do give it a read and don't forget to tell me how you like it.
The character aesthetics and our personalized glossary is up. The first chapter will be published just today so yayyyyy.

Anyways,

Hope you like it.
If you do, don't forget to vote and comment.
Thanks.
xx.