""Mor mukuta or kanankundala
            Banshidhara Mohana
            ranga firata Giridhari""

Once vidushak recited this four lines to my little self when i was eagerly listening to the glorious story of how the naughty cowboy, every gopis' manmohana, defeated the great king of Mathura , his own adharmi maternal uncle.

       I get goosebumps on realizing ,  how beautifully the poem had described the person who is standing just in front of me.."Madhav". My heart has again got filled with an enormous joy, love and peace at the same time. How many years had passed Madhav since I last saw you ? .....it just seems yesterday!

                Was i looking at him shamelessly ? How long ? Jayadrath forcefully pulled me against him ..when i came back to my senses.

Jaya:" What do you think you are
            doing Duhshala ? Dont make me hurt you intentionally!"

      He whispered coldly..giving me chills through the spine. 

Du:" I-I...what have i done Jayadrath?"

Jaya:" Oh so you were so..oo
           mesmerized with the sight of your 'cowboy lover' that you even forget the whole world ? What a shame Duhshala ! Your husband is here, just beside you and you ? Disappointing !"

     I don't find any word to protest. He is right , isn't he ? Look at you Duhshala , what a shameless lady you have become. If  Madhav has noticed this too..i have to hide myself under the sea.

        Dwarka. What a splendid city! Its beauty is only comparable with Narayan's 'vaikunth' itself.

   The Yadavas are busy,  welcoming the Kurus. Sreeman Balram and Maharani Revati , Shree Krishna and Maharani Rukmini, the previous Yadav King Basudeva and his two wives, Mata Rohini and Mata Devaki , along with Subhadra are here to greet us.

        Probably no one has noticed my absent mind except Jayadrath. They are talking with pitasheree, pitahmaha and others.

" You must be Sindhumaharani Duhshala ? isn't it Subhadra?"

       I looked at her when she addressed me. Vidharav princess Rukmini. Divinely beautiful ! I probably have mistaken her with Goddess Laxmi herself.

Su:" Hmm? Oh ! Yes-yes bhabi..she is
         my dearest sakhi Duhshala."

  My eyes moved to Subhadra , her voice is shaky. On a close look , her eyes are bit swallowed, the always charming smile that makes her resemble to her bhrata , has got replaced by a fake one. Though these can't affect her breathtaking beauty at once.

         I hugged her. She hugged me back. I missed her so so much. I wish she gets to marry her love.

Su:" Sakhi, please meet me tonight
       after all these...my dasi will escort you to my chamber."

      She whispered, and i nodded slightly without letting others know.

Krishna:" Now , now Subhadre, you
                   are going to be your sakhi's bhabi soon..you two can always cling to each other after that..haha..now let your bhabi took her arti."

Su:" Right bhratasree..i am going to be
         her 'bhaabi' ( sarcastically)"

Krishna:" Yes ! am i wrong Duhshala?"

      I looked at him..his eyes are fixed on mine. He has a mischievous grin on his face. Wait! He has a second meaning Duhshala! Think , think ! His eyes are definitely  telling something else is hidden in that word! Bhabi..bhabi...umm..oh right ! Bhrata Arjun..even if she marries bhrata Arjun she will be my bhabi either way.

      I returned his mischievous grin with an understanding one. My eyes lit up with that thought.

Du:" Of course not Madhav. Subhu
        you are going to be my bhabi soon hahaha."

         Subhadra looked at me, clearly not getting an idea on what just happened.
     
       We all come back to our senses as Jayadrath dramatically coughed to draw our attention.

Rukmini:" Oho , my
                    bad ..Sindhunaresh and sindhumaharani , please let me took your arti."

Du:" Call me Duhshala , bhabisree."

Ruk:" Haha..sure Duhshala."

            After all the welcoming rituals we all are escorted to our respective chambers.

          Its a peaceful evening in Dwarka. Peacocks are roaming through the palace gardens ..their keka has made this evening more dreamy. Cowboys are returning to their mothers after a long day. The Sun is setting at the horizon. I am witnessing all these with an unnatural peace and joy in my mind.

                  Suddenly i felt someone's arms wrapped my waist from behind.

Jaya:" (resting his chin on her head)
            how was the eye contact ?"

Du:" What ?"

Jaya:" You can be anything but dumb
             priye !  you clearly know what am i asking about. He is so in love with you ".

Du:" whom are you talking about
          Jayadrtah? I am not getting anything..what eye contact , who is in love with me .."

    He smirked and make me look at him.

Jaya:" I am talking about your cowboy
             lover. Don't think that i haven't noticed that mischievous grin on his lips when he was staring at you shamelessly in front of everyone."

Du:" Jayadrath! don't put your shallow
         minded meanings to our deep understanding."( glaring at him)

Jaya:" Hahaha..deep understanding ?
           And what is that Duhshala ?  How you guys can make everyone else fool and marry each other ? I knew it all along , that filthy yadav is upto something , what else he can do ? That cow boy can't even rule a kingdom! How can he ..after all he is just a mere cowboy and nothing else. He only knows how to steal makhan and womens' heart. Shame on him ! But i am telling you Duhshala , if  that characterless filthy Yadav lay a hand on you ..i am going to cut is head down!"

         My hands unknowingly raised and I slapped him hard on his face. I can't control my anger anymore. I want to destroy his whole existence !

Du:" Enough Jayadrath! Enough! How
         dare you call him characterless ? Have you ever looked at yours ? What a nasty character you have ?  Its rotten , it makes me ashamed ..my entire life has destroyed because of you ! I hate being called your wife. I am surprised by your courage ..that you dare to call him, who is the Swami of Dwarka, all rubbish things while standing on his ground ? If you hate him this much , why you bothered to come here ? At least my respect would have been spared a little if you hadn't come with me."

     I nearly growled like an injured lioness. I am so disgusted with him. How can he call my Madhav such a rubbish thing ? I can forgive anything but not his insult !

Jaya:" Yo-you..you slapped me ?
           ( holding her shoulder ) you slapped your husband Duhshala!!! do you have any idea what you have just done now ? ( shouting ) "

      His eyes are red as blood..he is shaking me in anger for an answer.

Du:" I ...have done nothing wrong..
        Not even said a wrong word ! "

 
Jaya:" You slapped your husband
          because of your external marital affair !  I never dreamed this  in my worst nightmares ! You are mine Duhshala!! Only mine ! And i don't like to share ...I am going to punish you so badly after we return to Sindhu. Prepare yourself for that !!"

      He pushed me on the floor ..and stormed off from the room. I slowly get up leaving a deep breath and sit in front of the dressing table. Maids began to adjust my makeover.

                After some time mata send me to Subhadra's chamber with the weeding garments and ornaments.

        When i entered ..i found her looking at the garden. I stand beside her.

Su:" Oh ! sakhi , when you
          come ?" ( wiping a tear from the corner of her eye)

Du:" Just now sakhi. Who is him ? "

Su: " Ha ? Oh ..ah..umm..he is a young Yati. But he is so powerful. He can see past and future."

Du:" Can i meet him sakhi ? I just
       want to touch his feet."

Su:" Sure sakhi..come with me."

       Subhadra led the way ..and i followed her. His figure is so known to me! Subhadra said he arrived just one month ago and he has already  become her close friend. Bhrata Balram has insisted her to take care of him. There is definitely a mystery around him.

          As we come close to him , all of my doubts just vanished. He is none other than Bhrata Arjun.

Su:" My lord ! she is Kuru princess
       Duhshala , my dearest sakhi. She wants to take your blessings."

    As she called , bhrata Arjun opened his eyes and looked at me . His eyes lit up and he gave me a broad smile.

Du:" ( touching his feet ) pranipat
          mahatma."

Ar:" Kalyan ho Sindhumaharani."

Su:" Duhshala, you wait here..i am
        bringing his dinner."

     As Subhadra left with the maids..I turned to bhrata Arjun.

Du:" Bhratasree! You haven't told her
         yet ?"

Ar:" No , Duhshala..i am not getting
       any idea ..how should i tell her. Moreover  her weeding is tomorrow..what can i do now ? "

Du:" ( patting her head) can't you see
         how much unhappy she is. She doesn't want to marry bhrata Duryodhan. Please bhratasree i am begging you , rescue her from this misery ! "

Ar:" but how Duhshala ? And what if
        she doesn't love me ? You know right how much i love her..i can do anything to win her over..but i am not sure if she wants me too or not. "

---" Certainly my little sister loves you
    Parth! "

      We startled and found Madhav coming towards us.

Ar:" Madhav! you came at the right
         time. Show me a path Madhav."

Krishna:" yes yes, that is why i am
                  here Parth!"

  He gives both of us an assuring smile.

Kri:" So, the situation is..Subhadra
         doesn't know yet that you are Arjun. Her marriage has got fixed with Duryodhan. In this case if you want to marry her..there is only one way.."ABDUCTION". "

Ar:" What ? How can I abduct her
        Madhav ? if i do so, bhrata Balram and you have to stand against me! and i will never raise a weapon against you guys. In this case my plan will be failed and she have to marry Duryodhan. No , no its not a good plan Madhav."

Du:" Wait na bhrata Arjun. Madhav
          has not done yet. Lets hear his entire plan first."

Kri:" Indeed. Be patient my dear
         Parth. You are so eager to marry my sister (smirking ) ok. So , as i was saying , abduction is the only way. But I haven't said that 'you' will abduct my sister parth! "

       He looked at us with his iconic smirk ..challenging us to get what he is planning.

Ar:" what do you mean Madhav ? Hey
        Mahadev ! I am not getting his idea , help me my lord ."

-----" What Idea ? Bhratasree , when you joined ? "

      We three found Subhadra , standing behind us. She placed the food one by one in front of him and started fanning.

Su:" Yati ji , you should start eating
         now. Was my bhrata again confusing you with his peculiar ideologies ?"

Kri:" Subhadre..my ideologies are not
          peculiar at all.  You always just--"

Su:" Ok , ok bhratasree let him eat
        peacefully now. You can prove yourself right after that. "

        I found myself giggling at their relationship. They are undoubtedly the best brother and sister one can ever have.

Kri:" Ok ok..Parth have your dinner
         peacefully..i will meet you later."

Su:" What ? Parth ? "( surprised look)

       I looked at Madhav's expression ..and can't help but laugh at his reaction..he pressed his tongue with teeth ..despite of his mastered acting skills ..its clear that he has done this deliberately. Uff!! Madhav!!

Ar:" Ah..um.um..Su-Subhadra..I -I was
       about to tell you..but.."

Su:" You..you are Arjun ? "

Ar:" Ah..ye-yes! "

Su:" And you both hide it from me ?
         And sakhi you too ?"

Du:" No, no sakhi..its not like that.. I
         recognised him when you introduce me..couple of hours ago."

Kri:" So what ? If we even have done
          that ?  Subhadre..my dear little sister...he is Arjun...My parth ..and your..."

Su:" Bhratasree! "

       She got up to bit him..and he started running away from her..hahaha. Bhrata Arjun and I can not stop laughing at this sight.

     After some time they finally stop.

Kri:" ( panting ) are you guys even
         going to make up or not ? Should we give you some privacy ? "

Du:" Yes Madhav..lets go for a walk.
          we should leave them for some time."

      He nodded and we left them at one section of the garden while we walked towards the other.

       The full moon night is so beautiful. The mild breeze and the scent of parijat soothed my mind.

Kri:" So..how are you doing
           Duhshala ? "

Du:" You already know the answer
          don't you  Madhav ? Oh I met Samba, Charu and Bhanu..they were playing at the corridors. Lovely  sons you have..haha.."

Kri:" Haha...no one can defeat them 
          in naughtiness. Just stay here and watch them. Specially Samba."

Du:" Yes ..Samba resembles you
          completely. "

Kri:" Yes..everyone says that. He is the
          most intelligent one among them..after Praduynma. Mahadev knows what he is going to be in future." 

Du:" He surely will become great. I
        heard about Pradyunma..I am so sorry for your loss Madhav."

Kri:" So many years had passed
          Duhshala. I wish wherever he is, he is safe. Huh..!"

            We returned to Subhadra and Arjun after some time. They finally made it up and are hugging each other.

Kri:" Aham! if you two love birds are
          done ..can we proceed to the plan ?"     

       They startled and broke apart. I giggled.

Ar:" Madhav ..so what's the plan. You
        have kept us in dark." 

Kri:" Subhadre..Parth is telling ..that
         he can't abduct you!..."

  He gave her the same challenging look.

Su:" Yes bhratasree...but..I can abduct
         him right ?"

    Bhrata Arjun and I shared a glance in surprise.

Ar:" What ? What are you saying pri-
        Subhadra ? You will abduct me ?"

Kri:" Good , good..very good ..excellent
          suggestion Subhadre. I knew it my yogmaya will never fail. Parth , i don't see any other obstacle now. What do you say ?"

Ar:" What can I say Madhav ? Your
         sister and you are one of a kind. If you two have planned it then so be it . Otherwise  I am not getting Lord Somnath's reward any other way. "

Kri:" Haha..right ..i have told you that
           you will get the reward of your tapasya on Somnath only. The time has arrived. Subhadre , you will go for puja , early in the morning tomorrow. Arjun will wait for you there with my chariot. And after completing your puja ..you will board on his chariot and elope with him. But remember only you will be the charioteer ok ? "  

      They both nodded in agreement.

We returned to our chambers quite late at night. Tomorrow is going to be melodramatic.