Adrika's POV

          The last day of the epic. I woke up very very early. My husband's innocent sleeping face was right besides my hands. Seemed like he was holding my hand to his face while sleeping. I carefully moved out of the bed, got ready and went out. First I visited my force. They were all awake and preparing. My force didn't face much casualties like others. We lost three werewolves and one elves till now. Which was a good result for war like this. I spent the early morning with them. Then I went to see my healers. They all worked really hard during these days. They all look exhausted yet energetic at the same time. They greeted me and told me about the preparation they were doing. I spent a long while with them as well. It was almost time for war when I reached my camp. They were ready.

"There you are. Adrika. They all are waiting for you." Droupadi said.

"I was just... " I was saying when I saw the brothers. "Tilak to kia nai abtak tumne Droupadi."
(You haven't perform tilak till now.)

"That's why they are waiting. Pratibandhya's request actually. His theory that his Maa has so much power that if she starts the day it will beneficial. "

        She said and everyone laughed. I didn't argue. What ever suits her. I took the thali she was passing me and went to Jyesth. Whenever I look at him I could see respect, admiration for me. But this time, I only saw love in his eyes. Nothing else. When I went to apply the vermilion, as a small woman I need to stand on tip toes. But he hold my hand to stop me. I looked at him confused. Then he bend down to my level. This was a small gesture, but was too powerful. I put the vermilion on his forehead.

"Do you recall our first meeting Adrika? You didn't let me bow for you to put the circlet on me. But you earned it. You are and always will be the only lady I will bow down to." He said holding his hands out to hug me. I had no problem giving into that.

             All the brothers followed their eldest and bowed down to me when it was there turn. The chain broke at Sutosom who had quite a hight on me decided he would do anything to not let me touch him. Everyone laughed at his practical joke at the end Prithvi who was standing next to him hold the back of his neck and forced him to bow, while showing no emotions.

"It's not fair." Som yelled after I was successful.

"Thank you son." I said to Prithvi. He smiled playfully before saying

"Anything for you Adrika!" In a heavy tone.

"Did he just imitate me? Did you just imitate me? Oh.. You are in big trouble young man." Dristadyumn yelled from one corner. This cracked me off. I laughed.

"There it is. You idiots owe me now." Prithvi said to his brothers and I looked at everyone with confusion.

"We didn't get a chance." Shree protested.

"Your problem. Not mine." Prithvi said.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Your sons are playing a game, who will cheer you up first. After.." Nakul stopped.

"Angraj Karn was a dear friend, brother and one of the most amazing person I am lucky to have a chance of meeting. I adored him dearly and his passing will affect me for rest of my life. But I have his happy memories with me and I know for certain that he won't want me to be pining over him." I said to myself.

"That's right.. Ang.. Jyesth loved you so much. When it came to you he was ready to give up anything. So yah.. He won't want you to suffer." Parth said.

"And you have these idiots and me to cheer you up." Prithvi said putting his arm around a still frowning Som. I chuckled again. What would I do without you my babies? "See.. You guys didn't had a chance." He sassed.

"You are the eldest right.. So you are also the biggest idiot among them. Now be serious. You are heading to war." I said before going to Aadi.

"Nothing will happen to them Maa. And today we will win the war. You will see." Abhi said. He was still recovering so no way I was going to allow him to go to war.

"Who said you are going to win the war? Nothing you can do to win the war. Remember it.. Carve it in your brain as deep as you possibly can. No one wins the war. You survive it." I said in a heavy tone.

"Does not matter what the results are! In your favours or your opponent's! None of you will win. Because it's the war that wins. War always wins. The thing that you call winning is just the survival." I continued

"You talk like war is a living things." Shrutasen said.

"Yes young prince. Your mother been to enough war to see the true form of it. Lost enough to fear it." Legolas said. I smiled at him. He was there in several of them. I moved to Dristadyumn.

"War is powerful. We face it. We try to survive. But when we do, we left scared for life. Scares on body and soul."

       I said tracing my fingers on a nasty scar on his arm. He looked at me and stopped my fingers by holding my hand. I looked up as he was giving me a sympathetic look. I turned to my kids.

"Respect the war. Then the sacrifice of them who it took. Maybe then maybe there is a chance you would find some peace surviving it." I said. "Understood?"

"Yes Maa." They all said.

"Now go. Prepare your rides yourself. No helps. This is your punishment for being reckless." I said. They all gave submissive bows and left.

"It's astonishing how easily arrogance can be gained." Bhrata krishn said.

"Ability in such young age as them. Arrogance isn't avoidable. But we need to know when to pull the lace." I said.

"Good God you are here. No one can approach them like you did." Jyesth said. I smiled at him.

         That day we didn't get much casualties. So Helisha took over instead of me, it gave me time to spend some time with my daughter, Uttara and Subhadra. I felt like I was in indraprastha before everything went down. When we had a beautiful and peaceful life. My days with Droupadi and Subhadra. She also joined us after a while. And in a long while I was happy. Truly happy. Towards mid day we started getting news of battle field. We heard that Bhrata Duryodhan gone into hiding and the war officially over. But as per his promise bhrata bhim had to kill him. Then there was a news that made my heart cheery like a toddler. Dau was here. He came down to meet us. One look at him and all these years of pain vanished. He always fill me up with a sense of security. I was always safe with him.

"My fire flower. " He said holding his arm out. I ran into it. And broke down crying.

"You did great my baby.. Why are you crying? You did better than mine and Kahna's imagination. I'm so proud of you. So proud." He said while stroking my head.

"I thought.. I thought I would..." I chocked

"Shhhh... I know. I know. But see. I'm here. aren't I?" He said. "We don't have much time dearie. I need to go to them. I will see you soon." I left him finally.

"Yah.. I will be waiting. Here." I said wiping my face.

"Subhadra.. Take care of your jiji for me ok?" He said to her softly.

      She just beamed up as Baldau asked her to take care of me. It was always the other way around. I smiled at him. We waited anxiously for any news. But they all came back with the news of Bhrata Duryodhan fatally wounded in fight with no chance of survival. It's ended. I sighed. The bad blood was purified. It's all came down to this moment. I hugged my husband. I didn't care where I was. I felt him chuckled. I never showed but it didn't mean I wasn't scared for him. He was and will be my everything. I didn't even wanted to think what would happen if I had to live without him. I was not in favour of 'Sati' but now I could see why some women did it willingly. Maybe at that state of mind, death seem to be better option than living without the man you love the most.

"I'm alright." He said softly. I didn't let him go.

"Shut up." I said. To which he chuckled.

"Adrika we all are here." I heard Parth.

"I can see you." I said not moving.

"So do we. We can see you Adrika." He said.

"Good to know your tremendous eyesight parth." I said again. God this man.

"Parth. Take a hint. She is saying she doesn't care." My brother said. I sighed.

"My heart was in my mouth all these year. Over.. Finally." I said and left my husband.

"I was going to complain you love your kids more. Now I won't." He said.

"How's he?" I asked my brother. No need to mention who I was talking about.

"Fatal. Won't last long." He said. I nodded, I could feel my tears. I don't know why... After all this I lost my ability to hate or anger. I was just at peace. Hurt. Sure. But peaceful.

"well... I.. Um.. You all take rest.. I'll be with you in some time." I said.

"Where to.... Maa... Maa..." I heard prithvi yelled. But I didn't answer him.

         I took the horse from a soldier and rode to their camp. I met gurudev Kripacharya outside who just bowed in respect and asked me the cause of my presence. I looked up to him. Maybe my tear stained face gave him his answers. He smiled.

"Came to see your brother dear? Ah.. I miss time when we could distinguish between good and bad. Right and wrong. Gray wasn't a shade back then. Well. What can I say? We didn't had complexities of personalities like you. I can take you to him girl. But what for?" He asked.

"Maybe when you can see gray, you will understand gurudev." I said.

        He nodded and lead me to a camp. When I reached there I saw blood everywhere. A white cloth that covering bhrata Duryodhan's lower half of the body was covered in blood. I gasped to which he looked up and smiled.

""As much as I know she can defend herself.. I forbid anyone from touching her." He said to everyone present in the room. They all stand down. I didn't know if they intended to attack me or not. I just didn't care.

"Jyesth.. " A sob escaped from my lips. He gave a faint smile.

"Walking away from you that day didn't work right? You are here with tears for me. I'm here breaking from those tears. But that doesn't mean the enmity is over." He said. I didn't want him to suffer like this.

"For us it is. And I don't want to hear what ever you are planning.. I just.." I said desperately for him to calm down.

"Come here sweetie.." He called. I went to him and sat. I touched his legs and he winced in pain. I jerked my hands back. I could not understand what I was feeling.

"Maybe... I ca.. Can heal.." I was saying but he didn't let me finish

"No my sister.. It's not worth trying. I'm ready to go. Maybe if I could make it up for my sins in some birth and then I would have you. We would have a relation like you and bhim."

         He said and made me smile. He did smile too. I took out a potion from my dress and gave it to the healer.

" Mix it with turmeric, pinza phul and ghee. Make a paste to apply. It will reduce the pain." I instructed. I turned to him. He was holding my one hand.

"Take care of everyone. Mata, pitashri... Kalashri vidur. Can you do that for me?" He asked.

"I will. They will be fine. Try to sleep now." I said.

"Will you be staying with me?" He asked. "Will they let you?" I smiled.

"Sure." I said softly.

      He griped me hand little tighter and slowly fall asleep. I slipped my hand out of his iron grip and kissed his forehead. I needed to leave otherwise I would try to heal him. I walked away. When I reached my horse I heard my name being called. I saw a figure running towards me. Ashwatthama. He stopped in front of me. He just stood there looking at me. But his eyes. It shows a man who has been in war with himself. And he was badly loosing. I was looking into my eyes for answers. I gave him a kind smile. Which maybe broke him even more. I could see pain in his face. Internal pain. Spiritual.

"The answers you have been looking kumar, I don't have them." I said smiling. He looked panicked and hurtful.

"Please.. Adrika.." He pleaded.

"You know my answers." I said. He looked even more in pain. I close the gap of two step between us to hold his hand and put his thumb on my pulse point.

"These are my children." I said. He looked up to my eyes. I cupped his face with my both hand.

"I don't know what you are to me. Never wonder. Never cared. Just have a greater respect for you. Always had. I saw you being protective over me. Rise weapon for me. Hurt in my sorrow." I said looking into his eyes. Then  I cupped his face with my both hand. He leaned into the touch.

"May be it's time for me to say goodbye to you. Kumar Ashwatthama. My most uncertain relationship. My friend."

        I stepped back and left him standing there. Froze. I didn't look back. I knew what I left there. There was no turning back. I let out a sigh and went to my family.

Third person POV

          No one asked her where she was. She didn't said anything either. They all took their dinner and sat around fire. Telling tales. Singing songs. A big happy family. Things got to how they met Adrika.

"He froze?" Aadi asked astonishingly to Arjun who was telling them Nakul and Adrika's first meeting.

"Oh.. Absolutely. Adrika was looking at me for answers. But your father he was just stopped." He said earning laughs.

"You are seriously telling these to our children, Parth?" Adrika asked not looking up from a book she was reading.

"We are adults. At least I am. So go on." Prativindhya said. Adrika just shook her head smiling.

"You remember the temper tantrum when Adrika didn't said anything about the epic Anklets?" Bhrata bhim said.

"That wasn't.." Nakul defended but no one heard him.

"Epic Anklets?" Abhi asked.

"This one." Adrika said pulling her dress higher to show the anklets she was wearing.

"Wow..." Uttara said.

"You are still wearing it?" Droupadi said.

"It was his first gift. The most charming prince of his age sat on his knees put it on my feet. What better way of knowing that he was the one than this?" She replied.

"That Aadi and Vriti are your parents. You just can't understand them." Sahadev said.

"That's why the tantrum! He expected appreciation for his gesture not the anklet." Bhim said

"I remember he did was upset when I didn't said anything." Adrika said closing her book.

"Like you don't have any stories." Nakul said.

"Because I don't." Adrika said reopening the book.

"Sure you do." Subhadra said. "Somnath. 4years after Aarya's exile."

"That doesn't count." Adrika said.

"Masi don't hear her. Tell us what happened?" Vriti said.

"Well Jiji was home after 4 years with my two devars. So bhrata Krishn took us to festival at Somnath. There was this beautiful princess from chola. She took a real interest in my devar ji here. After all he was the most handsome prince of his time. Still is. And wasn't married. So it was obvious. Jiji didn't liked it. So she cornered the girl and threatened her that if she ever found her around HER prince again, she would personally kill her." Subhadra said and everyone looked at Adrika.

"You did that?" Droupadi asked. Adrika rolled her eyes.

"You were actually jealous? Wow! That's the best compliment I got." Nakul said.

"I wasn't jealous and this story doesn't count." Adrika said calmly.

"Why not?" Abhi asked.

"Because Chola dynasty don't have a girl in 3 generations now. She wasn't a princess. She was an assassin. Came to kill us." Adrika said placing the book down and looking at everyone. They all looked at each other.

"How did you know?" Arjun asked.

"There were three men. Bhrata Krishn was with Rukmini bhavi. Aarya was with me. Even we introduced ourselves to her as a couple. Chhote kumar was alone that time. In a normal circumstances a girl will choose him. But he was just too smart for her. And she had a secret. So she went for Aarya instead to get close to us." Adrika said.

"I wasn't stupid either." Nakul said in a defensive voice.

"In case of women.. You are. You were stupid enough to think I choose Parth." Adrika said. Then looked at Arjun "No offence parth. Warriors aren't very appealing to me."

"You made it loud and clear." Dritadyumn said. Adrika gave him a look. And he smirked. Everyone laughed at both.

"Guilty." Nakul said.

"Uufff.. Wow.. What happened to her after that?" Uttara asked.

"I don't know. I never saw her after that." Subhadra said.

"Maa... What happened to her?" Abhi asked suspiciously.

"I killed her." Adrika said normally before going back to her book. Everyone looked at each other

"That was dark." Arjun said. "It was great. We should do this more often."

"Yah.. Whole family together." Bhim said.

"This won't be happening regularly though." Srutasena said. That caught Adtika's attention. "We will join higher education in Island."

"Right.. They have been talking about it for a long time now." Jyesth said.

"They have done enough for the family. Now its time for us to do something for them. Let's make a promise, we will let them take their own decision." Adrika said. Everyone agreed.

           The camp fall silent with night getting deeper. Everyone fall asleep except for Adrika. She was standing by the door. Anxious eyes waiting for something. Steady finger running along the edge of the sword. Then she heard it. The sound of attack. She looked back to her sleeping husband and said

"I'm sorry my love."

         And went out. Fighting with the army she saw a force apart from her was also resisting them. Her shadows. They were assassins. And this was a assassination attack. That meant they could fight. So they did. Adrika saw a glimpse of Ashwatthama and ran but he just vanished and in front of her was the most horrific scene she ever seen. The sword fell from her hand and a heartbreaking sob escaped. Dritadyumn laying in the pieces of own flesh and blood looked up to the woman of his heart. Adrika fall near him. His eyes were following her every move. She carefully pick him up into her lap. She didn't know what to do. First time in ever. She didn't know.

"Finally in your arms..." Dritadyumn said in a soft voice. Adrika was crying her eyes out.

"Don't speak.. You are.. Oh my god... What.. What I'm gonna do.." She said panicking. It hit her unexpectedly. She maybe forgot what else was going to happen that night.

"Adrika.. We both know it's my end. Let me spend it peacefully with you. I want to look at those beautiful blue eyes of yours as last thing in this world" He said. Adrika cried harder. She wasn't ready to loose him.

"Don't say it Dristadyumna.. Please. I can heal you. I can.. Just like last time." She more like consoled herself. He smiled.

"I am broken beyond repair Adrika. And I guess I don't want to be repaired now. I don't have anything to live for. Sons are no more. Father and sister too. Wife won't last long once she get the news about the kids. Now I am ready. See.. You are holding me like the most precious thing of your life. Crying for me. I can expect this much