"Why can't we just present Mamashree Shakuni, Bhrata Duryodhan, Bhrata Dushasan and Angraj Karna directly in the court and let them admit their crime." Nakul said with everyone sitting across a room, discussing about their return back to Hastinapur.

"Its not possible to make them admit their sin. We dont have a single proof against them. And Purochan, who might have admitted , is already dead." Sahadev explained gaining a nod from everyone.

"But what about the fact that Dhriti and Mahamantri Vidur had already sensed something was cooking? You said Mahamantri had also sent you all hints via his spies disguised as messengers." Dhrishtadyumn inquired.

"I can't stand in the court and make people rely on my vibes. We needed solid proofs which we dont have at the moment. And we can't reveal that Kakahshree had sent spies along with hints about the ploy. If that is revealed, according to the law, he would be removed from his position for spying on Angraj and sending spies to Varanavat without any permission of the King." Dhriti spoke up, presenting her point.

"Each one of you have a point kids, but we need look into the matter from a different way. Presenting the guilty in the court or announcing an attack won't be in our favour at all.
Vasudev and Balram, what is your say?" Drupad said looking over at the brothers.

"You're right Maharaj, openly despising their mistakes won't favour us right now. Peace making amongst each other is the only option left." Kanha spoke.

"Peace making? We could have forgave them for one crime. Not when they keep repeating the same thing. When Angdesh was in danger, Jyesht Pitashree didn't gave a second thought and sent Dhriti to his rescue.
Angraj has acted ungratefully. He knew about the whole ploy created by Mamashree. If not any of us, he could have atleast informed Dhriti about this." Arjun explained.

"No Arjun. Tactics don't work this way. We have to attack the opponent in a way he would never expect. Right now, Mamashree Shakuni would expect you all to seek revenge by waging an internal war. Therefore, our only effective counterattack is Peace making." Dau explained.

"Baldau is right. We have to get on peace terms and act maturely." Yudhishthir said as everyone agreed, except Dhriti who seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"Do you have some other plans Priya?" Kanha smiled with a questioning look.

"Huh? No no. I agree with Bhratashree, even though I would have loved to slaughter the trickster with my sword all at once." Dhriti thought looking back at him.

"That's clear. Then what's eating you?" Kanha asked.

"What's your next destination? Hastinapur or Dwarka? And let me tell you if you're going to Dwarka, I'm coming with you." Dhriti lightly smiled looking at him as Kanha loudly chuckled making everyone look at him.

"What happened Vasudev? Are you alright?" Bheem asked patting him.

"Yes Bade Bhaiya, I'm, I'm fine." He smiled.

"What happened to him Dhriti?" Draupadi whispered.

"Nothing Bhabhishree. Its just that I'm very funny." Dhriti giggled, leaving a confused expression on Draupadi's face.

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

"I will miss you Draupadi. You got Dhriti with you at Hastinapur. Now I'm left all alone once again." Shikhandi smiled sadly as Draupadi hugged her.

"Putri...." Her mother gently carassed her as Draupadi cried in her arms.

"Don't cry Putri, don't cry. Bid farewell to your family with a smile on your face." Kunti patted Draupadi.

"Y'all better take care of my sister." Drishtyadyumn playfully patted the brothers.
"I hope to see you soon warrior." He smiled at Dhriti.

"Yes Bhrata um Drishtyadyumn. But why is your name so hard to pronounce." She smiled making others laugh.

"Putra Drishtyadyumn has never laughed so much in the past whole year than he has when you all were around. " Drupad chuckled embarassing Drishtyadyumn.

"See, I told you I'm just a bit more funny." Dhriti whispered to Draupadi.

"Got it got it. Now let's go. Which chariot have to decided to ride upon, there are so many." Draupadi smiled moving towards them.

"Yeah actually the numbering is a bit shuffled right now. I'm sure Jyesht will take you along with him." Dhriti  smiled as Yudhishthir slowly escorted Draupadi with him on his chariot.

"Kanha, you didn't answer my question. Where are we going, Hastinapur or Dwarka?" Dhriti said making Kanha laugh.

"That we'll see. First race towards my chariot. " He said running.

"This is cheating Kanhaaa." She said managing to run in her heavy lehenga.

"Look at this girl. She'll fall for once." Bheem said face palming himself.

"I won!" He grinned as Dhriti started explaining.

"There was no way I was going to win this race wearing this. And you started running first." She said motioning at her lehenga.

"Yes Yes Priya. Afterall, this wasn't the last race." He said pulling her up on the chariot as they saw Dau and Kunti approaching, finally bidding Panchal Naresh and his family a goodbye.

"Carry on the race. Bua will ride with me. " Dau chuckled as all the chariots started leaving.

"Arey Kanha, give the harness to me. I'll ride it." Dhriti smiled as Kanha gave it to her.

"So you know the way to Dwarka?" He chuckled folding his hands as the horses started moving behind Bheem and Arjun's chariot.

"We're going to Hastinapur Kanha." Dhriti nodded laughing.

"She's driving the chariot?" Draupadi smiled looking back at Dhriti and Kanha.

"Its just the start. You don't know what all she does Panchali." Yudhishthir smiled back.

"We're now entering the territory of Hastinapur. Being the Jyesth, you should proceed with Panchali, we'll follow." Bheem announced as Yudhishthir proceeded.

"Everyone will be alright?" Dhriti asked Looking at Kanha.

"We had an option to go to Dwarka." Kanha chuckled.
"Joking! Everyone needs us here. And trust me, we can make it right. Now give your little hands a rest." Kanha said taking the harness from her as she smiled.

"Pitamah looks offended and angry. And where are my Kakahshree and Kakishree?" Dhriti asked as she smiled at the sight of Vidur and Sualabha standing with an Arti thali.

The people were glad to have the Pandavas and Kunti back at the palace as 'Hail Pandavas and Maharani Kunti' echoed the whole way.

"Come Bhabhishree." Dhriti said as she serrated form Kanha and moved towards Draupadi, so she doesn't feel alone.

"I was just looking for you. I'm scared." She whispered, a wide smile still plastered on her face.

"Yeah I can see that through the smile which you're faking." Dhriti and Draupadi laughed as they realized Pitamah was just a few steps away.

The growing tension was evident as Bhishma did not smile at anyone, not even at his favourite Arjun and Dhriti.
Dhriti felt her heart break to see Pitamah so upset with them. After seeking blessings from Dhritarashtra, she immediately walked towards him.

"Ayushaman Bhava." He muttered as Dhriti bent down to touch his feet.

"Pitamah, you know we would never disappoint you. Then why are we getting such an unwanted welcome?" She said looking up at him.

"Pranipat Pitamah." Kanha smiled, touching his feet.

"Won't you bless me Pitamah?" Kanha asked.

"What blessing shall I give you Vasudev? Its time for you to bless us that the aftermath of this unholy event won't put a Kalank on the history of Kuru Vansh." Bhishma replied in a sad voice.

Dhriti took a deep, disappointed breath as she made a way for her brothers and Draupadi who came to seek his blessings.

"Akhanda Saubhagyavati Bhava putri. I'm sorry for whatever happened in your fate. I still can't believe it." He looked at her.

"She needs respect and acceptance, not sympathy." Dhriti said as she left the scene.

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

Everyone entered the Raj Sabha one by one and took their seats as Kunti and Gandhari directed Draupadi towards their seats from where they got the view of the whole sabha below.

The atmosphere was tensed and Dhriti was internally fuming knowing that she would burst out any second if someone tries to insult her brothers or Draupadi.

"Remember Dhriti, we dont have to wage a war." Dau patted her, moving towards his seat.

"Didi, you don't seem okay." Nakul whispered bending out from his seat.

"I'm not okay. Just look around. All you find is discrimination and negativity." She whispered back.

"Then don't look around na. Look at me, and calm down. Raise your points only when you feel the need to. Don't give mamashree and Yuvraj, even have the slightest chance to oppose you for the anger building inside you." Kanha smiled at her as everyone stood up from their seats to welcome Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Vidur , Dronacharya and Kripacharya.

"First of all I would like to unfold my extreme happiness about the arrival of Kunti, Pandavas and the brothers' new wife Panchal Rajakanya, Rajkumari Draupadi." Dhritarashtra smiled as Dhriti's face bore the 'complete the formalities later please' expression.

"Maharaj, the mantri mandal is not at all happy with the Pandu Putras' decision to marry a single woman. This is against Dharma." A mantri got up from his seat.

"Come on Pandu Putro now speak something otherwise Maharaj Pandu's daughter has to open her mouth." Dhriti looked at her brothers, specifically Yudhishthir to speak.

"Maharaj, we never intended to commit this act. But we all know that we can never intervene with what fate has in store for us. This was Mahadev's boon to Panchali, and that can't be changed. We all had to accept it." Yudhishthir spoke.

"Do the 6 of you think we are some fools? Is that woman, married to 5 brothers, the one who was able to please Lord Mahadev?" The same sabhasad replied.

"Mantriji, we never said you are a fool. Then why are you calling yourself one? And no matter who she has married, you have to respect her. Call her Rajkumari Draupadi, Yuvrajni its your choice." Dhriti got up, saying all her words in the softest way possible.

"Bhrata Yudhishthir is no more the Yuvraj of Hastinapur to call her Yuvrajni." Dushasan got up.

"Oh yes, we'll come to that part later. First let's clear out the mess in all of your brains. Give all of us a chance to explain, and stop making assumptions. That would be favourable for everyone." Dhriti said as she sat down.

"I think, letting Rajkumari Dhriti participate in the Raj Sabha is also Adharm." Another one shot up.

"Mantri! You are exceeding your right to put your opinions." Vidur got up from his seat a Dhriti looked down in dismay.

"We can't believe in the character of a woman married to 5 men. Tell her to give Agnipariksha." A few men shouted together.

Everyone's eyes immediately shot up in flare as Dhriti's stare immediately moved towards Draupadi looking at her husbands and Dhriti to stop this havaoc.

'I won't let you feel dejected in Hastinapur.' Her words of assurance to Draupadi ringed in her ears, making her get up to fulfil her promise.

"Okay, she'll give Agnipariksha. But before that, call all the men from Hastinapur, who have more than one wife. Even they have to give the Agnipariksha." Dhriti said , now standing in the middle of the court.

"What are you saying Rajkumari!" Shakuni spoke.

"Why not Gandhar Naresh? If a man can have more than one wife, without being called out, then tell me why a woman, who had to marry 5 men, not by her own desire, but due to the boon she got from Mahadev, is called Characterless? " Dhriti said as the whole sabha suddenly fell silent.

"Tell me. Hastinapur- everyone says is a land of no discrimination. Then prove it! Ask all the men to come and prove their pure character and my Bhabhishree would give her Agnipariksha. Cause the one who's emerged from the fire, has no harm to prove her innocence in the fire." Dhriti continued. A wide smile spread on Kanha and Dau's face as her brothers looked at her astonishing skills.

"Maharaj, we all are ready to prove ours and Panchali's innocence, if all other men stay true to their words." The 5 brothers spoke getting up together.

Bhishma got up from his seat, walking towards the 6 siblings, the usual smile now growing on his face, which relieved Dhriti and Arjun.

"You all have once again proved the principles of equality and respect." Bhishma patted them.

"I'm proud to call all 6 of you my shishyas." Dronacharya smiled.

"Hey Pandu Putro, Hey Rajkumari Dhriti, you all have opened our eyes and cleared the dirt in our hearts. Forgive us for what we said earlier. We were too consumed in our egos." The sabhasad stood up in praise, ofcourse except Shakuni and his dear nephews.

"Vatso you all need rest. I request my sipahis to escort you all to your respective rooms. My Kul Vadhu will have a grand welcome and completion of rituals tomorrow." Dhritarashtra smiled.

"Vasudev and Balaram, I request you both to stay here for one more day, to celebrate all the festivities with us." Vidur smiled as they smiled and nodded with the elders dismissing the sabha.

"This is not the end." Shakuni wickedly whispered.

"Ofcourse its not Mamashree....." Kanha smiled standing beside him.

"Um uh Vasudev. I hope everything is best at Dwarka." He faked a smile.

"All is well in Dwarka but not in Hastinapur mamashree. That's why I'm here. " He chuckled exiting the hall.

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