Suryavanshi Yuvrani To Empress Of Aryavrat

Part 38: Radhika Sakhi

The next morning after she woke up before dawn, she quickly went to the well to draw water for her mother, and then place them in kitchen. She quickly brought the aarti plus dry clothes along with her as she walked to the bank of river Yamuna. It was still dark, and a bit cold, but she kept walking and walking, upon arrived, Kathiravani took out her sandals and placed them in dry place, she entered the river, "Pranam..." she whispered softly greeted the river, the fresh water touched her feet, made her sighed in relief as she kept walking to the middle, until it engulfed her waist, then she started her morning ritual of praying to Surya Narayan.

She finished praying and then bathe, before came out to the shore and changed in bush, she came out again and finding Radhika already waited for her. "Good Morning." Kathiravani greeted her with smile on her sun-like face, Radhika chuckled at her excitement,

"Good Morning, Chandrika." she greeted Kathiravani with soft and a bit mischievous tone, it was scary how much Radhika resembled Kathiravani's brother, Krishna in this light.

They both sat down as the other friends came and played in river, Kathiravani and Radhika caught up with many things that they missed on each other, including how marriage had treated Kathiravani.

"there's one thing i must warn you, Chandrika." Radha said softly, Kathiravani hums,

"what is it? tell me, Sakhi..." she says enthusiastically, as one of their friend, Tungavidya braided her hair and placed various flowers to her long hair, Radhika chuckled softly, she held Kathiavani's hand,

"sometimes life isn't fair..." Radhika said softly, "sometimes life allow you to hurt, to be betrayed by people closest to you, being questioned about your character, making you questioning your worth, but Chandrika, remember who you are, and never lose sight of who you are."

Kathiravani chuckled, "what do you mean by that, Sakhi? who would dare to do that to me? Yuvrani Kausalya of Ayodhya, Maharani of Ramaprashta and Yuvrani of Hastinapura?" she asked with a hint of smug in there, Radhika chuckled fondly,

"you will know when it is time." Radhika said softly, Kathiravani shook her head,

"please don't speak riddles with me like Bhrata does... you both are too similar, it is annoying." Kathiravani almost whined made Radhika chuckled and patted her head.

"Sometimes playing dice can hurt someone's hands, you know?" Radhika said with a smile on her serene face, Kathiravani hummed,

"yeah, it is part of gambling, i don't like people who gambled. waste of time, waste of resources, waste of everything." Kathiravani added with a chuckled, while Radhika nodded along,

"yeah. sometimes dignity and pride can be gone too by playing dice." Radhika continued, "or sometimes, wife can be gambled away, as prize if the gambler lost everything."

Kathiravani frowned, she felt shiver and anger, "what kind of husband is that, Sakhi? gambled away his wife? it is a sin that even Mahadev can't forgive." she said shaking her head in disbelief, Radhika shrugged,

"sometimes it happens in life, we can't predict life after all."

***

After spending half of morning with Radhika and all Asthasakhis, Kathiravani went back home. She brought all the flowers for pooja and placed those in front of the idol of Narayan and Narayani inside the house. She walked and found her husband and brothers in law.

"Good Morning." Kathiravani greeted them, she bent down to touched Yudhistira's feet but her husband hold her shoulder and kissed her head instead, she placed tilak on his forehead, then her brothers in law came to touched her feet, she gives them prasad. "where are Maiya and Baba?" she asks, Yudhistira placed his hand on the small of her back out of habit,

"Maiya and Baba went to collecting milk and bring the cows to river, they told me to tell you that, and also to let you assigned what would us brothers do." he explained to his wife softly, the way he looked at her full of love and devotion, as if she was the only person that mattered the most in the whole wide world.

"Yes, Babhi. Please assigned us some work!" Nakul said with grin, he looked at her elder brother, "and Jyesth, stop look at Babhi like that!" he teased playfully making Yudhistira shook her head, Kathiravani giggled,

"fine fine. Come on." Kathiravani brought them to backyard, to the vegetables garden, she let them tended to the garden while she entered the kitchen to cook for lunch.

Kathiravani cut the vegetables when she felt someone's arms circled around her body and rested his chin on her shoulder, "what is it, Natha?" she asked softly as Yudhistira tightened his hug, "something's wrong?"

"nothing, i just missed my wife." Yudhistira said as he hummed as he hugged her from behind, Kathiravani giggled,

"what kind of brother left his younger brothers and ran to his wife? Bhima, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev would protesting " she says softly as she cut vegetables skillfully, Yudhistira hummed as answer,

"let them be, they don't have wife yet. but i do have wife, and i want to spend time with my wife instead of them. they are boring, i'd rather be with you instead." Yudhistira said, he knew he was being clingy, and not his usual calm, collected and mature self, but this was his own wife, the one he wed with rituals, and with her he felt comfortable to let out of his armor, with her he could he vulnerable and she would accept him wholeheartedly.

***

author's note: Hello everyone. please forgive me for disappearing for months almost a year lol. I was busy, i got new job in new place, so i've been busy with job. happy reading.