"Krishn! Krishn!" Dau called entering his chambers.

"Arey arey Dau Bhaiya. What made you so restless?" Kanha chuckled at him.

"This Jarasandh has sent a letter for you. Read it and tell me what he wishes to say before his death." Dau fumed as Kanha opened the letter, reading it.

"These Lotuses......" Dau smiled, seeing Kanha still quietly reading the letter.

"Nandi and Narad gave it to her....." Kanha smiled back, without diverting the attention from the letter.

"What did he say in the letter Krishn?
Decided to surrender?" Dau asked with a bit of hope.

"No Dau, never expect such things from Magadh Naresh Jarasandh.
The day you defeated him for the first time, was the day he vowed for revenge." Kanha smiled.

"So you mean to say that he'll fulfil his revenge? Then let me tell you, I won't let that happen." Dau coarsed.

"Calm down Dau Bhaiya.
Everyone takes some or other vow, but it does not mean that everyone holds the righteousness and ability to fulfil it. You see, even Gandhar Naresh Shakuni has taken a vow against the insult he faced back at Dwarka's Rajasabha, what do you think, he'll fulfil it?
We'll consider that he starts working on it. But what if someone stops him right in the middle?
Pran toh pura nahi hoga na....." Kanha smirked.

"You could have answered my question with either a yes or a no. But no! You had to puzzle me." Dau looked at him.

"In simple words, let Jarasandh do whatever he wants to.
Let me see, how far he goes. Who knows, maybe someone might stop him in between." Kanha chuckled, handing back the letter to Dau.

"And what about the reply? He needs one. What will you write?" Dau aksed.

"Well, I know a person who can give him the reply of his life." Kanha wiggled his brow with a light smirk.

"Yes! This time I know who you're talking about!
Immediately sending a letter to Indraprasth. Dhriti stayed there for a long time. Even we miss her here now." Dau joked, before walking out of his chambers.

"Priya....." Kanha called looking around his empty chambers without Dhriti.

"Oh hi there! I thought you forgot me but I see you miss me hmm...." Dhriti joked as she walked through the hallway, keenly observing Mayasur's illusions.

"I don't remember mentioning that I miss you." Kanha jokingly chuckled.

"You don't need to mention that.
I already know it." Dhriti stated partly laughing.

"Fine Fine. Yes I do and Kanha would really appreciate Priya's presence in Dwarka." Kanha replied.

"I'm getting so idle here. Everyone is treating me like a Queen. Not letting me do absolutely anything.
Even Shatanik and Prativindhya make sure I don't move from my place. A bed ridden lady I am.
I'm Chanchala. I can't sit at one place." Dhriti pouted as she looked at her feet and the bottom of her dupatta getting wet due stepping into one of those illusions.

"Who had asked Jyesth and Bhrata Arjun to tell Mayasur to do these illusions. Its surely going to create problems to anyone who visits Indraprasth as a guest.
Spent 5 whole months here and still not able to make out the difference.
Jaha pair rakhu waha paani hi paani hai." Dhriti ranted.

"Priye!" Kanha called with a sudden excitement.

"Yes?" She lovingly asked.

"Remember the way we used to play a game to see who gets distracted easily?" Kanha joyously asked.

"Oh yes! How did I forget that game. Start!" She exclaimed.

"Writing a letter to the Samrat of Indraprasth requesting him to grant me the permission to take his dear sister back to her Dwarka.
This time if I arrive without a previous letter, he won't let me in." Kanha laughed.

"Bhrata Yudhisthir is waiting for Archer's arrival to take their final step in defeating Jarasandh." Dhriti started.

"Got caught while stealing Makhan because you weren't there." Kanha chuckled.

"Ha! Mamashree certainly has something going on in his tiny brain.
Sent a letter saying they would come to meet me but never showed up. Not that I wanted them to, by still." Dhriti informed.

"Got a letter from Jarasandh that he would avenge Kaalvakra's death." Kanha laughed.

"What did you say?" Dhriti asked seriously.

"You lost Priye!" Kanha said controlling his laughs.

"I did not." Dhriti huffed.

"Game clearly stated that. We keep telling things around and the one who breaks the chain loses." Kanha stated.

"Alright Alright take the win. I'll get back to this later.
But now answer my question. What did you answer him? And how did he dare to send you that letter in the first place?" Dhriti raged.

"I haven't replied to his letter yet. Thought I would let you do that. You excel in this afterall.
Calm down." Kanha tried to praise in the middle of his chuckles.

"Anyways, How's my little one doing there." Kanha changed the topic as Dhriti suddenly flustered.

"God child has started kicking me.
Very active all the time. According to Mata Kunti and the Raj Vaidya, at 5 months the baby is very healthy.
Everyone except Prativindhya, Sutasom and Jyesth, wants a girl and they waiting to see who wins." Dhriti gave a report making Kanha smile more than usual.

"Don't know why, I think deep down you already know who's going to win. And this is a part of your maya that I can't know the truth about it this soon." Kanha smirked.

"You'll know soon, my trickster." Dhriti smiled.

"Dhriti! Putri have you seen Nakul anywhere?" Kunti shook her out of her thoughts.

"Nakul? No. Must be somewhere here in the palace. Why are you so worried?" Dhriti asked putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No Putri, we all have tried calling him throughout the whole palace, but he didn't answer back. He's not in the palace." Kunti informed.

"No Mata, he's in the palace, I know. Let me see." Dhriti left, assuring Kunti.

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

"Nakul?" Dhriti called, walking towards his lone figure.

"Nakul!" She shook his still body as he jerked.

"Didi? You-you here?" He stuttered in a low voice.

"Spill it quickly." She spoke, sitting beside him.

"I-I have nothing to say but." He said, not looking at her.

"Okay then....." She shrugged getting up as Nakul stopped her.

"Didi..... Wait didi!" He stood up crying in her arms as the older sister smiled, gently carassing her.

"Now tell me..... What's bothering you and making your mind so restless?" She smiled as Nakul composed himself, wiping away his tears, and taking a seat on the cool swaying grass.

"Didi, my mind is not stable, I can't devote my time to a particular work. I'm getting distracted." He spoke, now clearly looking at her.

"You're in love." She patted him.

"How can you say it so firmly?" He turned.

"Look here at me brother.
Love is not just a sense of attraction towards someone. Its beyond that. Its mutual respect and understanding.
If you're getting distracted by someone's thoughts, it may or may not be love." She smiled.

"If it's not love, then what is it?" Nakul looked at her.

"Infatuation, Attraction. Just a coping method to escape a particular situation maybe." She spoke.

"No it is love." He shook his head.

"Why do you think like that? Fell in love on the day you met her?" Dhriti let out.

"Falling at first sight is not wrong. Its still love." Nakul replied.

"Falling in love at the very first sight is not wrong. But the fact that a person can't make out the difference between love and attraction is also not wrong.
And there! There you lost it. You didn't gave yourself any time to sit and think about it." Dhriti said.

"Because I got occupied with so many responsibilities. I just could not." He shook his head.

"As I said earlier, love is understanding, mutual respect, a sense of trust and devotion.
If it would've been love, you would have taken out some time thinking about it rather than sitting here and crying about it." Dhriti further explained.

"No no no! Didi you're insulting the meaning of love.
Falling at first sight is confusing then tell me, didn't you fell in love with your Kanha at the very first time you met him? Now answer me, what is it? Love or just attraction? " Nakul raised his voice.

"Nakul! Stop right there.
Love is not everything!
The world won't stop if you don't fall in love with someone at a particular time.
There is a world outside the entanglement of love, and I want you to come out of it.
There should be a balance between everything." She stopped him midway.

"Your question is about my love for Kanha?
The day I'll answer this question of yours will be the day you'll have uncontrollable tears in your eyes.
You'll get an answer to your question
That day, I promise you that, I'll myself wipe all those tears escaping your eyes." She said taking a deep breath.

"Love is all about the pain, about that entanglement you were talking about.
You never felt the pain didi, but I am feeling it right now." Nakul put a hand on hers.

"I did not face the pains of being in love?
Which mahagyani told you this?" She sarcastically chuckled as a lone tear escaped her eyes.

"I never saw you in any pain. Not crying, nor opening up about it to anyone. Isn't this enough to know that you had the easy way?" Nakul asked.

"Did you come to see me crying all alone in my chambers, or did you hear my constant prayers to Mata Parvati?
Did you ever tried to think it the other way round.
Being silent always does not symbolize a sense of calmness. It may show the endless inner battles and waves of emotions.
Think 100 times before you say something." Dhriti fired.

"Love is synonyms to pain. Its the principle of Prem-Yog which you're denying by saying that love is not everything.
Yes didi, you said love is not everything, actually its above everything. The pain is above everything. And you're denying it." Nakul spoke.

"There should exist something like Prem-Yog for me to deny it brother. There's nothing like PremYog.
Take yourself out of the Moh Maya for a few minutes and look at things like a learned man." Dhriti said.

"There's a huge difference between falling in love before marriage and after that." Nakul spoke.

"Don't you blame Panchali." Dhriti crossed her arms.

"Why shouldn't I? Give me one reason why shouldn't I do that?
And I'm not blaming her. She was a is in the situation asking with us.
But I never asked Mata Kunti to carelessly ask us to divide her.
Jyesth did not ask my me if I was willing to do it. I was taken for granted for being the younger one and I ultimately had to do it." Nakul went on as tears brimmed Dhriti's eyes.

"Didi, you know what? Bhrata Arjun had won Panchali's hand in her swayamwar with his utmost capabilities. And we, the four of us were put on a condition to marry Panchali.
Mata could have taken back her words but she didn't.
Jyesht could have asked me for my will but he didn't.
But now, I want you to understand me. Even if I'm wrong, let me speak my heart out because I've kept these thoughts ever since and I can't continue further." Nakul fell at her feet.

"Even I need a chane. Even I want to fall in love. Once! Only once I want to listen to my heart, without thinking about anyone else or what everyone will feel. I want to live it my way didi, I want to...." He cried harder as words didn't leave his lips.

"Get up Nakul. Don't cry my dear brother. I understand every single word you spoke." Tears finally left Dhriti's eyes.

"I'm telling you, go! Go follow your heart without any second thoughts.
No one will question you, or punish you for that until I'm with you. But before that......." She smiled, wiping his tears with her dupatta.

"Before that understand the meaning of my words and what I'm about to tell you." She turned.

"The existence of mortal humans along with their immortal souls, brings in the four principle yog.
Karma
Bhakti
Gyaan
Raj." She spoke, wiping her eyes.

"Karma means action and walking on the path of Karma Yog means performing action without the attachment or expectation of an outcome.

You cease to identify with the ego and all action is seen as an offering to the Divine Lord. 

The heart is purified so ego, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, and similar negative qualities vanish, creating space for pure love, sympathy, tolerance, and compassion." She explained, keenly studying Nakul's face.

"Bhakti is the yog of devotion, ultimately to the Divine, but it can initially be a guru, your family, a friend, or anything that creates strong emotional ties.
What did you say earlier? PremYog?
Hm.... That falls under this.
Because Prem is Bhakti, its utter devotion towards someone we love.
Its complete dedication without having any expectations for the other person to return the same amount of love.
Love is not just a characteristic sense everyone has.
Its rare. And you find it when you take time and start discovering yourself." She smiled, finally making him understand.

"Gyaan Yog is the path of knowledge or, more correctly, wisdom.
It is the way towards Enlightenment through the process of reason—particularly the process of discrimination between what is real and what is not real,
what is true and untrue—through self-inquiry.
Understood? Through self inquiry. Giving yourself some time. Forcing your mind to think about itself and not about the surrounding.
Neither the past, nor the future. All that matters is the present." She continued as Nakul joined his hands in front of her.

"Raja Yoga means the “Royal Path.”
Just as a king maintains control over his kingdom, you must maintain control over your own “kingdom”—the vast territory of your mind. The safest yet the most vulnerable of all.
It’s the path of meditation, mantras, and techniques.
Your perception of the Divine Self is very important.
If the body and mind can be made still and pure, the Self will instantaneously shine forth." She ended, turning towards her brother, surprised to see him joining his hands at her.

"No no Nakul, what are you doing?" She smiled, making him rise up.

"Then tell me, who are you? What is this unique radiance surrounding you?" He said devotedly looking at her.

"I'm your sister.
The human form of a never dying entity. And this radiance is not mine, its the shine of respect you have for me in your heart, which is surrounding me." She embraced him.

"We all make fun of Bhrata Yudhishthir for being the way he is.
But Nakul, one day, keeping all the jokes aside, go and talk to him.
Step into his world and even if it is for a few minutes, perceive the things the way he does. I'm sure you'll find something. You may like it or you may not. Both are the possibilities. But it's completely your descision of what to take from it, and what to leave behind.

Do this with all four if them. With your Panchali as well. Because every life is unique. Brahma dev have given each one something different from others.
Now as curious human being,
It completely lies in your hand whether to take in new things or try to be content with life has given you." Dhriti explained, partly surprised with herself.

"I've never done this. But now, let me do it didi." Nakul smiled, giving her  a poorna namaskar, with his entire body surrendering himself at her holy feet.

"Bless me like you've always done.
Be the loving sister of mine that you've always been, teaching me ways of living life. Putting me on the right path every time I stumbled and being that little goofy sister reminding me that living each moment is what matters the most." Nakul gave a small chuckle as Dhriti raised her hand.

"Tathastu....." He divine voice slowly mumbled as a ray of light reached Nakul's head from her hand, purely blessing him.

"At the end of all this, I realized two things.

One, Karma, Bhakti, Gyaan and Raj Yog are interconnected and to open the doors of our lives we need to have a balance between them.

Second, it hit me that you've always wiped the tears of almost everyone.
B

e it me, Sahadev, Jyesht, Bhrata Bheem, Bhrata Arjun, Mata and even Panchali.
But we never did that in return. We never walked up to wipe your tears and that makes me feel guilty." He looked down.

"You should not say that Nakul.
I've taken this birth to shower my love and the power I hold at the same time. And I don't expect anything in return from it." She slowly muttered walking away.

"What?" Nakul asked, not sure what she mumbled.

"Nothing!
Just that I would like to know who's this lucky girl, this handsome man of Aryavart fell for......" Dhriti teased as they started their usual banter.

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