Dhriti closed her eyes as she sat in dhyaan mudra in front of the idol in Gauri Temple.

This had become a part of her routine ever since the talk with Kanha a few weeks ago. The fact that her mind was unknowingly unstable and constantly fluctuating, had pushed her further to mend it and get back on track. And meditating was the only way out, to find peace as well.

"Narayan! Narayan! Pranam Maate." She heard Devarshi's voice, but didn't turn around, thinking he wasn't really there.

"Maate, I'm really here." He smiled as Dhriti opened her eyes turning around as a smile crept her face.

"Devarshi." She got up as he touched her feet.

"Whose message have you brought today?" She smiled.

"I have my own message for you." He smiled back sitting down on the floor.

"You can't revive your complete power if you don't stabilize your mind.
Why do you think you got those visions when you had already decided not to know the future?" Narad reasoned, putting Dhriti in a deep thought.

"Because you never controlled your subconscious, Maate.
You had successfully gained your hold over your superficial mind but what about that subconscious mind who knows everything?" He continued as Dhriti kept listening.

"Are you telling me to leave aside all my human like emotions?" She asked in agitation.

"At some point, I would answer this as a yes." He nodded.

"What....." She mumbled.

"Yes Maate you need to, at some point, although not now." Narad spoke as she shook her head.

"Keeping aside all my emotions towards everyone includes my family as well. I-I can't do that Munivar. Don't suggest me unbelievable things." She took a deep breath.

"This isn't going to be something unbelievable once you look back at this conversation after a few years." Narad smiled.

"You will keep finding this hard until you have the fear and constant worry about everyone in your heart.
When Shishupal wrongly behaved with you, you had the power to slaughter him. But you didn't. Because you were afraid that one wrong step in anger can reveal your identity.
And Maate, that's what we call destiny." Narad spoke.

"Maate, you yourself declared, that your birth on earth by the hands of Pitashree would sow the seeds of war against Adharma.
You told Prabhu, that this time you would be the one fighting and not him. Then tell me, how will you do that if your own visions and thoughts are making you weak?
The world is already aware of Mahalakshmi's motherly love and compassionate nature.
Now's the time to show your spiritual power, Maate.
The entire Trilok is waiting to see, how strong you are." Narad reminded her.

"Devarshi, you've done a great job in telling these little aspects to me.
But--" Dhriti spoke with tears in her eyes.

"But what Maate?" Narad asked, not wanting her to release those tears.

"Why can't she come down to me? I've been everyone's Sakhi. But even I need someone to pour down my thoughts." Dhriti softly croaked looking at her idol.

"You have Yagyaseni, Yogamaya, your dear Ksheer Sagar has incarnated as Devi Revati. Can't the both of you have a relation like Devi Sita and Urmila?" Narad smiled.

"No Munivar. You don't understand na!" She kept the thali in front of the idol, tears streaming down her face as she rapidly exited the temple, not wanting anyone to look at their Yadavkumari's opposite demeanor.

"Hey Prabhu Narayan! Forgive me if I spoke something wrong.
Also, Indra Dev would appreciate your divine presence as the Devtas are about to discuss something important. " Narad sadly looked up, as he disappeared.

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

"They haven't approached Magadh Naresh yet. And we haven't heard about any heated talks among Shishupal and Dwarkadheesh. That simply shows, they have some different plan in their mind before declaring a war on Magadh." Shakuni rolled his dice.

"He did not had any talks with Dwarkadheesh Vasudev because I've heard that soon he would be handing over his throne to his son. Most probably Rajkumar Balram." Karna revealed.

"No! No Angraj. There, that's where you go wrong in your perception. Those Yadavs are not that innocent ones. They are calculative. And Dhriti! Though not born with their blood, she sure has those brainy perceptions. She knows how to smoothly turn tables around without any effort. She has the knowledge of almost everything around. And you can't even outsmart her verbally." Shakuni explained as the other three sat in confusion.

"Okay but why are you praising her?" Dushasan opened his mouth.

"Because she's praiseworthy......And scary as well." Karna let out.

"No! Because Mamashree is thinking something out of the box? From a different perspective." Duryodhan proudly looked at Shakuni as he nodded.

"You think Dwarkadheesh Vasudev would make Mahabali Balram and Rajkumari Revati the next Dwarkadheesh and Maharani instead of his remarkably distinct, brave, almighty son Krishn and this extremely strong willed Putra Vadhu, the one having political skills higher than Vidur, whose talks are all over Aryavart?" Shakuni got up.

"Absolutely not! Mamashree! Here I'm not even a Yuvraj with a successful Ashvamedh Yagya and you're saying about Dhriti, who's younger to me, being the next Dwarkeshwari?" Duryodhan looked up, shocked.

"You should take a visit to Vrindavan and other towns nearby where Krishn supposedly grew up. They literally worship the both of them." Karna added.

"Who? Krishn and Dhriti?" Duryodhan laughed.

"Yes. But they call her by the name Priya. I don't know why. Some also say that Krishn is not someone ordinary." Karna spoke, gaining another set of laughter from the other three.

"You are very innocent Bhrata. You believe in everything." Dushasan patted him.

"Leave it! What do we have to do next Mamashree. We can't sit here and do nothing about it." Duryodhan trend his attention back to Shakuni.

"Look Bhanje Duryodhan. There are high chances of Vasudev crowning Krishn as Dwarka's next king. And Balram won't raise any objection on it because he too must be believing in the same thing. If we make him change his descision, your Guru Dau, would be the next king. And not to mention, an angry man like him is easy to manipulate than a calculative Krishn." Shakuni wickedly smiled.

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

'Can't the both of you have a similar relation like Devi Sita and Urmila?' She repeatedly remembered Narad's words as she slowly paced towards Revati's chambers.

"No. No. I can't. I can't go and meet her right now. Anger and frustration is flowing through my body. I need some time alone." She mumbled to herself before turning around, taking a path towards her chambers.

As she entered, she saw Kanha calmly sitting, taking light swings along with the breezes on the swing.

The sight pleased Dhriti as she wanted to go join him, but her mind diverted her direction. She took steps behind, leaving the chambers when Kanha called her.

"What did Devarshi told you?" He questioned , without turning back.

"As if you don't know." She replied, without turning around either.

"I would like to hear your sweet voice, giving me a vivid description of what he said." Kanha smiled as he stopped the swing, finally looking towards her.

"Kanha, I'm serious." She nearly whispered.

"I know." He mimicked her.

"No you don't know! You would have not being sitting here if you actually knew I was serious and things are bothering me more than ever now." Her voice drastically raised, as she ran out of the chambers.

"Running away from this won't help, Priya!." He called, running behind her.

"You don't even know what would help you Dhriti!" Her mind exclaimed as she looked around. Obviously there were only two places in the entire nagari where someone would find Dhriti all alone. The sea shore, near her spiritual father Samudra Dev or at the Gauri Temple with her Sakhi Parvati.

Right now, she didn't find it surprising why her feet didn't direct her towards the temple but towards the shore.
She let herself collapse down on the sand as she let out a cry she was suppressing for a very long time.

Kanha came to a rest as he sat beside her, wiping the sweat running dowm his chiseled yet soft,  indeed very attractive face,  with Dhriti's Angawastra.

"Kanha! Why are you following me?" She pulled her piece of cloth back to her possesion as he gave out a loud laugh.

"Yes Yes! I'm not following you. Munivar told me that Indra Dev wants to discuss about something important. That's why am here." Kanha continued chuckling.

"Don't laugh. Let me be angry for atleast sometime?" She nearly pleaded.

"Really? Why should I ?" He playfully raised his eyebrow.

"Because I want to cry." She huffed.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because I'm angry." She replied.

"Why?" Kanha kept asking, as he held his laughter.

"Kanha! Go away if you want to trouble me." She started crying once again, holding his hands.

"I'm sorry. But let me laugh. Please. Thankyou." He spoke in between his laughters.

"Done?" She asked, now finally wiping her eyes as Kanha nodded a yes.

"You know, Devarshi was worried thinking that he made you cry by telling you about somethings." Kanha smiled.

"I'm sorry for him. I never meant to make him think that. Just-- I really need Gauri here. Its like Lakshmi needs a Sakhi, Kanha are you understanding?" She looked at him, with hopeful eyes.

"Am I not enough or something. Hm... That's sad. We play almost everyday, in which I let you win we practice together in the armoury, we spend so much time talking random things and..... We love each other soo much.
Still Gauri?" Kanha faked disappointment.

"There's a difference between Sakha and Sakhi. And I need my Sakhi." She stated, giggling at Kanha's disappointment.

"I came once, and you didn't recognize me. My mistake?" They heard Gauri's voice echoing as they waited for Indra to start his approach.

"My mistake that Kanha didn't remind me of my true identity beforehand?" She questioned back.

"What? My mistake that you asked to forget your true identity until the right time?" Kanha unbelievably laughed as their loud chuckles and constant interrogations have nearly created minor disturbances in DevLok.

"Shri! Shakti!" They heard Brahma dev's commanding voice as both the Devis went quiet.

"My mistake that I wrote all this in your destiny. Good that I'm not letting the two of you meet so soon. Now silence before chaos emerge in DevLok." He ordered.

"My greetings to all the devgan sabhasads, Devraj Indra, Tridev and Tridevi." Narad greeted, starting the discussion.

"Dantavakra, the mighty King of Karusha dynasty had once gotten a boon for his strong penance from Vidhata Brahmadev that he could not be defeated by any weapon.
Jarasandh, upon known this has joined hands with him to destroy the existing Aryavart and create the kingdom on a new bare land, giving him full powers." Indra explained.

"So what trepidation do you have regarding this Indradev? He is talking about MrityuLok, and you reside in DevLok. Infact I should be the one worried about Jarasandh's plans." Kanha smirked, clearly knowing Indra's intention behind all of it.

"Just like Bali, I fear that even king Jarasandh would have his eyes upon Indrasan." He revealed, waiting for others to reply as Parvati lightly cleared her throat as an indication to Dhriti.

"You are right at some point Devraj. I, as your well-wisher would like to inform you that in the coming years, my brothers would complete their respective conquests and exile making Jyesht Bhrata Yudhishthir the Chakravarti Samrat of Aryavart.
I would like to know if you consider him as a threat to Indrasan." Dhriti compactly spoke gaining a proud smile from Kanha.

"No Mahadevi! I would never ever suspect you Bhratashrees or Anuj of something like this.
I was talking about Jarasandh's increasing power and Dantavakra's ego." Indra stuttered.

"Jarasandh would have been singlehandedly killed by either Narayan or AdiSesh bur since his destiny had something different in store for him, he's still alive, which I believe is not for too long." Mahadev intervened.

"Bhrata Mahadev is right. Jarasandh's kaal is approaching him. But even after his defeat, Dantavakra would take all the necessary steps to fulfil their agendas." Saraswati laid her points.

"He's currently making a huge mistake of thinking that, being the one who can't be defeated by any sort of weapons is similar to being an immortal." Parvati spoke up.

"Mother's love towards her child is the only weapon which can put an end to King Dantavakra." Kanha gave a solution, sincerely smiling at Dhriti's direction as a bright ray of assurance appeared on everyone's face, knowing that everything is safe at the hands of  Lakshmi-Narayan.

_________________________________________

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