Dharmyudh : The Rewritten Destiny

83. The Final Wedding

The first rays of the morning sun bathed the palace of Dwarika in a golden glow. The entire palace had been decorated like a bride. Variety of flowers like marigolds, roses, and jasmine adorned every pillar and window. Vibrant colors shined in the sun from silken flags that fluttered in the wind. Beautiful rangolis painted the floors along richly carpets leading to the grand open mandap in the palace courtyard.

The air buzzed with excitement as maids hurried through the halls, carrying trays of flowers, perfumes, and sweets. The people of Dwarika filled the streets outside, their laughter and joy creating an atmosphere of a festival. The Yadav and Pandav families had gathered for a very special occasion..... the marriage of Arjun and Subhadra, and Karn and Jhanvi.

The mandap stood at the center of the courtyard, a beautiful structure draped in golden fabric and was covered in flowers all over. 
Beneath its shade, the sacred fire flickered softly.

Yudhisthir, Bheem, Nakul, and Sahdev mingled with the guests along with their wives. Rukmini and Revati moved among the servants, overseeing the arrangement of sweets and meals for the grand feast. Krishna and Balram welcomed the guests with warm smiles and easy conversation.

The kingdom was alive with joy, and the courtyard buzzed with chatter and laughter as the time for the ceremony drew near.

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The sound of cronch shells announced the beginning of the rituals. From one end of the courtyard, the Pandavs accompanied Arjun as he walked toward the mandap, wearing a plain white dhoti with a deep green angavastra. His brothers walked beside him. As Arjun approached the mandap, his gaze found Subhadra, who emerged from the opposite end of the courtyard.

Subhadra, dressed in a stunning crimson sari adorned with gold embroidery, walked beside Balram. Her cheeks turned pink as she met Arjun's gaze, a small, shy smile playing on her lips. When he winked at her, she looked away quickly, her blush deepening.

From another path came Krishna, walking with Jhanvi. Jhanvi wore a radiant yellow sari, and her hair was adorned with fragrant jasmine flowers. Her steps were light, but her narrowed eyes darted toward Krishna as he leaned closer with a mischievous smile.

Krishna:- Jhanvi, where is your groom? Has he gotten cold feet?

He said softly. Jhanvi gave him a sharp look but then glanced around the crowd. Karn was nowhere to be seen.

Jhanvi :- He was supposed to meet me here.

Her voice tinged with annoyance, making Krishna chuckle,

Krishna :- Perhaps he got lost in your beauty.

Jhanvi rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as they reached the mandap. Balram turned to the Pandavs, his brows furrowing slightly.

Balram :- Where is your eldest brother?

The Pandavs exchanged puzzled looks. Yudhisthir raised a hand helplessly, while Draupadi, who stood nearby, shook her head, her questioning gaze mirroring Balram's.

Before anyone could say more, two young voices rang out, carrying through the courtyard.

"He's with us!"

Came the gleeful cries of Dhruvsen and Prasen.
Heads turned toward the entrance as Karn emerged, led by his sons, their small hands tugging at his angavastra as they guided him toward the mandap. Laughter rippled through the crowd as they took in Karn's appearance.

He wore a rather unusual combination: a pink angavastra draped over his shoulders, a deep red dhoti, and a bunch of jewels that seemed to clash with each other. His arms bore golden armlets, his chest gleamed with a heavy necklace, and his wrists jingled with multiple bangles. A lopsided crown rested loosely on his head.