"Pitashree.... " Dhriti's mind kept repeating his name as Pandu appeared.

"Don't worry Putri, you should trust Shakuni's grave tactics and Bhrata Dhritarashtra's vanity. Shakuni will keep trying to bring a hindrance in your life. Right now he's trying to do the same." Pandu assured standing behind her as a smile appeared on Kanha's face.

"Pranam  Kakashree." He smiled looking  behind.

"Krishn, I'm glad my daughter is blessed with a husband like you. As a father, what is more blissful hand giving his daughter's hand to someone who would love and respect her dearly. Promise me that both of you would stay happy with each other." Pandu leaned down, blessing Kanha.

"I promise you Kakashree. Your daughter, is a part of me. I'm incomplete without her." Kanha smiled back.

"Bhanje! This is the right time. A perfect time to put a barrier in this smooth wedding." Shakuni whispered.

"Mamashree! Spare this day for Lord's sake. Its her wedding, and there are so many other royal families. What will they think?" Karna sternly replied.

"Karma never waits for anyone Angraj. And I don't fear the presence of any royal family. My only purpose if to take the revenge of each and every move of these Kunti's children." Shakuni said looking back.

"What do we have to do Mamashree?" Dushasan asksed.

"You don't have to do anything dear bhanje, you just have to stand here and watch the chaos created by my games." Shakuni said as he approached Dhritarashtra.

"Why are you walking there Maharaj?" Shakuni whispered to Dhritarashtra.

"To do Dhriti's Kanyadan Gandhar Raj. What kind of question is this." Dhritarashtra said.

"That's what jijashree that's what? Why are YOU going there?" Shakuni tried to explain.

"Gandhar Raj, Pandu is not among us to do his daughter's Kanyadan and Var Pooja and the wedding rituals can't be proceeded without completion of these." Dhritarashtra spoke.

"Yeah. Yeah you can go and do the rituals instead of Maharaj Pandu. Afterall, you consider her as you daughter........ But don't forget! You still have to consider her as your daughter and her siblings as you sons when it comes to their rights over Hastinapur. Then if your 'daughter' asks for her and her brothers'share in the kingdom, you have to give it to them.
So think about it. 6 of them, all have their respective rights on Hastinapur. Then what will be left in my Bhanje Duryodhan's share?" Shakuni said with an evil smirk on his face putting Dhritarashtra in thoughts.

"You're right Gandhar Naresh. In all this, I forgot about my own sons. No! This can't be. My Duryodhan has a right over all this." Dhritarashtra said as he walked forwards to announce.

"Everyone present here. I would like to announce that, I would not be performing the rituals of Kanyadan and Var Pooja. I've done it once during my Putri Dushala's wedding and I can't handle the intense feeling of separation of a daughter once again." Dhritarashtra said as everyone started looking at each other in shock.

"He just refused to do the Kanyadan of Devi Mahalakshmi and the Var Pooja of Shri Narayan. What kind of person he is Prabhu?" Narad asked looking at Kanha.

"Dear Devarshi, he did not refuse to do the rituals, its more like he does not deserve to do this auspicious task." Kanha smirked back.

"Priyaa.... Why are you so shy today. That too from me?" Kanha looked at her.

"I don't know. Maybe because you're looking too good today. I can't even meet your eyes without crying." Dhriti said still looking down.

"No no, I love my Priya the way she is. And I know she's not shy. So now look at me." Kanha smirked.

"Kanha really!" Dhriti internally giggled, completely forgetting about other worries.

"Jyesht Bhrata is right. Doing a daughter's Kanyadan is never easy. Therefore, on behalf of my Bhrata Pandu, I'll do my Putri Dhriti's Kanyadan and Krishn's Var Pooja." Vidur smiled walking towards the mandap as a wide smile appeared on Dhriti's face as she looked at Kanha and Pandu, who nodded at her in return.

"Kakashree...." Dhriti smiled at him.

"I'm always there for you Putri. I'm never letting Bhrata Pandu down." Vidur said taking the thali and a kalash full of water as Pandu stood beside him.

"Groom should place his feet in the thali to be washed with milk and water as a ritual of Var Pooja." The Pandit announced as Kanha put his feet in the thali. Both Vidur and Pandu started washing his feet with milk and water but Pandu, only  being visible to Kanha, Dhriti and the other Dev Lok Vasis standing there.

Kanha and Vidur joined their hands in front of each other as the Vidur stood up to come on Dhriti's side with a heavy heart.

"What happened Vidur?" Bhishma asked seeing Vidur not proceeding with the rituals.

"With which hands should I perform this Kanyadan, Pitamah? These are the very hands who have patted her back whenever she made us proud. The same hands who wiped the tears escaping her eyes in Bhrata Pandu's memories. All my life, I've treated her as my own daughter. Given her the warmth of a father, and now? Now I should do her Kanyadan? Give away that dear piece of my heart?" Vidur asked with sadness in his voice as a tear trickled down Pandu's face. Vidur have really cared and nurtured Dhriti, more than him.

"The feeling of separation from Dhriti is mutual Vidur. But you have to fulfil the customs of a rightful father. Putra Pandu would have done the same if he would have been with us today." Bhishma patted him as Vidur started the rituals of Kanyadan.

Pandu smiled as he said down along with Vidur as they stroked the turmeric paste and put a beetle leaf on her hand. His each and every activity, unknowingly followed by Vidur.

"I, Samrat Pandu, give away my daughter Dhriti to Devkinandan Krishn with the promise of utmost love, prosperity and respect." Pandu spoke patting both Dhriti and Kanha.

"Just like Maharaj Janak loved Devi Sita above all, Maharaj Pandu have always and forever loved and adored Dhriti the most amongst all his children.
Lakshmi really has the fortune of having a loving father written in her every incarnation." Mahadev smiled.

"I, Maharaj Pandu's Anuj Vidur, on his behalf, give our Putri Dhriti and all the prosperity and serenity she has within herself to Yadukul Tilak Devkinandan Krishn." Vidur said in a cracked voice a placing Dhriti's hand on Kanha as the overjoyed crowd started  throwing the petals of  marigold on the bride and groom.

A little tear escaped Dhriti's eyes as she saw the happy yet sad faces of her Pitashree and Kakashree.

"Arya Putro, are you all okay? The five of you have been all quiet since the start. Come on! Smile a bit. She won't like to see your faces hung low." Draupadi asked standing along with her husbands.

"I can't make it till the end without crying." Arjun said blinking his eyes.

"The Kanyadan is done, now gathbandhan, Sapta Phere and then Vidai. Done! My didi will be going." Sahadev sadly spoke as Draupadi tried to assure them.

"Do you realize Devi, that even we have to bid them a farewell after vidai." Parvati spoke.

"Yes Devi Shakti, we have to take a leave, without her realizing that her Sakhis Parvati and Saraswati were here to meet her." Saraswati said, occasionally showering them with the flower petals.

"Call the bride's brothers and groom's sister to do the gathbandhan. " The pandit said as the 5 Pandavas walked towards the mandap.

Yudhishthir walked first as he held Dhriti's shawl in his hands

"Gathbandhan holds a huge importance in the rituals of a successful wedding. The five elements put inside the bride's shawl before tying it to the groom's Angawastra have individual reasons." Kripacharya started speaking as the crowd got quiet to attentively listen him.

"First, gold mudras. They signify the abundance of wealth in their married life." Kripacharya continued as Yudhishthir put some gold mudras in her shawl.

"Prabhu, what kind of leela is this? Where there is Mahalakshmi, how can there be shortage of wealth? Dwarka is always going to remain the most prosperous and wealthy state of Aryavart." Nandi nodded.

"Second, Turmeric. It ensures well being of the bride and groom and a state of health in their surroundings." Kripacharya spoke as Bheem placed a little log of turmeric in her shawl.

"Third, the flowers. These symbolizes love, peace and harmony between the couple." He further spoke as Arjun put some flowers in the shawl.

"Fourth, Durva, to keep their love tender and unconditional for the rest of their lives. If any misunderstanding arises, it shall be swoon away. " Kripacharya explained as Nakul put the Durva.

"The last element, Dhanya. It shows that the family of the newly weds should never experience any shortage of food and hunger shall not trouble them." He ended as Sahadev put few rice and wheat grains in them.

Yudhishthir then folded and tied the elements in her shawl and handed it over to Subhadra to proceed with the gathbandhan.

"The groom's sister shall now tie his Angawastra to her shawl and successfully complete the gathbandhan custom." The pandit announced as Subhadra put all her strength in trying a knot around the two pieces of cloth.

"This shall never open loose." She said pulling it for the final time making Kanha and Dhriti chuckle at her.

"The Sapta Pheres hold another important aspect in a wedding. While taking each phera, taking agni devta as the witness, the bride and the groom have to promise each other a few things.
Mangal Phere ensures trust and coordination in the lives of the couple.
For the first four pheres, the groom leads while, the last three would be led by the bride. " The pandit spoke as Dhriti and Kanha smiled looking at each other.

"Now, the bride and groom should begin the mangal Phere." The Pandit spoke as Kanha took his step towards as flowers started showering on them by both the people present there and by the people up there watching the divine pair.

"By considering agni as our witness in the first round, I promise, no other woman shall enter our lives to take your place. Its you forever till the end." Kanha smiled.

"Believing Agni as our witness, I promise that my loyalty would forever be in your favour, and no one shall try to make it otherwise." Dhriti smiled back finally looking up as they completed their first phera.

"Hey Priye, I promise that I'll never leave your side. Whether I'm physically present or not, my presence will always be felt by you." Kanha said.

"Kanha, I promise that I would never let you down. I'll always maintain an atmosphere of happiness and prosperity in our family. I'll be with you in sickness, in health, through thick and through thin." Dhriti said as they started their third round.

"Hmm.... Third promise..... I won't let you get into any trouble because of the pranks you pull. I'll always remain your partner in crime." Kanha smirked as Dhriti wanted to laugh but ended up coughing in order to suppress it.

"Didi are you okay?" Nakul asked standing nearby, as Dhriti just smiled and nodded her head yes.

"That's what I was thinking about. How can we stay without giggling. Anyways, Kanha, I promise I'll sneak out some Makhan for you when no body allows you to have it." Dhriti giggled back as it was Kanha's time to crack a wide smile.

"They definitely have a funny conversation going on in their minds. Why do I know them so much?" Arjun said making the brothers laugh.

"For the fourth phera, Priya, you complete me. Your soul and mine are the same. Therefore I promise, till the time you and me are together, no evil shall enter our and our loved ones lives." Kanha said.

"I promise that I'll be with you, on your side everytime to destroy both these social and spiritual evils." Dhriti smiled back.

"The Vadhu will step forwards for the remaining three rounds." Kripacharya announced as Kanha held her hand while she walked in front of him in her heavy attire.

"I promise the I will nurture our children with all my love from the very start. Nothing shall ever put them in any kind of troubles." Kanha smiled.

"I promise, that both of us, together, would be responsible for the upbringing of our children. I promise that I would put all my love, efforts and my morals in their upbringing to make them a better versions of us." She smiled at her thought.

"This sixth time, I promise to never get tired of your endless talks and  to give you all the answers to your never ending questions." Kanha chuckled.

"I'll finally get my answers! Okay I promise that I'll  understand each and every word you speak. I would face the truth and bravely face whatever comes in our share in the future." Dhriti smiled ending the sixth round.

"Lastly, I promise that I'll be like a best friend as well as a loving husband to you. So now on, all secrets are locked here." Kanha and Dhriti laughed.

"Kanha, our relationship is not just confined to a be husband and wife tied with these threads of worldly rituals. I know, we're beyond that. We're best friends, we're soulmates. And I promise to stay the same till the end." She smiled as both of them stood beside each other, joining their hands in front of the Agni Kund as the crowd cheered on the completion of the Mangal Phere.

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

"Yes Mamashree? What happened to your plan? In the end, the one you insulted by calling 'dasi putra' was honoured to do the Kanyadan and Var Pooja." Karan taunted standing beside Shakuni.

"Yes mamashree. You asked us to stand and watch the gossip and rumours spreading. Where's all that." Dushasan asked.

"Oh Dushasan! Why are you so dumb and blind with Mamashree 's plots?" Karna mumbled , keenly looking at the happy atmosphere around him as a smile created upon his face.

"What are you smiling at Arya?" Vrushali smiled standing beside him.

"I never had a sister, Vrushali. But now looking the 5 of them having their best times in their sister's wedding makes we want to have one." Karna said smiling.

"Then you should go there and indulge yourself in some positive activities, away from this negativity Arya." She said glaring at Duryodhan.

"You know I can't Vrushali. Although I've been in talking terms with Dhriti, her brothers hate me to death. And the reason is quiet obvious." Karna said turning towards her.

"Arya, as far as I know a woman's heart, Dhriti is not someone who would insult you and she won't refuse to even break a wide smile to greet you. And I've met her. She's not as intimidating as the you think she is. She's a kid inside a woman's body. Trust me. Now come." She said pulling Karna by his hands as they neared the mandap.

"Is this a interval or break between the rituals or something?" Dhriti said leaning towards Kanha.

"Is my Priya hungry now?" Kanha raised his eyebrow.

"Ofcourse I am. Aren't you? We've been fasting since the morning. And everyone is eating the sweets without me. Look there, Subhadra and Draupadi Bhabhi. And not to mention Bhrata Bheem." Dhriti said straightening her shawl as her eyes turned towards Kanha, already smiling at her.

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