Book 1 of Maharani Devika Trilogy (Previously known as DharmaPriyaa: The Lady Who Loved Yudhishthira)
She struggles to prevent an unwanted marriage.
He is thrown into murder attempts.
But love still found its way, overcoming all the dangers.
_______...
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Shivi
"How are you feeling now?"
Devika sat erect on the ornate bed. "Much better." She smiled at Shaivya. "Come, sit."
Shaivya sat close to her and observed the wound on her shoulder. It had not healed yet completely.
"You have done such a thing that I can't even inform this to the royal physician!" Shaivya frowned. "If Bhrata comes to know then..."
"No need of informing anyone. My Guru has taught me how to handle such wounds." Devika assured her brother. "And the initial treatment was already done to it. I'm fine now."
"I can see it very well how fine you are!" The Prince sighed. "Why, Didi? Who told you to rush to the Pandava camp at night?"
Devika looked away. "My conscience did."
"Continuous lying also came from conscience?" Shaivya narrowed his eyes.
Devika chose to keep quiet.
"Anyone else will not understand this. But I know you. You are that idealistic Princess who has never ever lied in her whole life! What made you sacrifice your Satya Dharma in a while? Who are the Pandavas to you for whom you could even let go of your lifelong vow?"
"Go revise the scriptures once, brother!" Devika tried to smile. "Lying for saving someone's life is not adharma."
"I understand. But even then, the life risks you have taken for the Pandavas seems too strange to me. You simply could have left it to me alone but you didn't. I don't think this much can be done unless it's for the sake of a loved one!"
Devika grimaced. "The Pandavas are good people, Shaivya. They have suffered a lot of injustice including murder attempts since childhood. Shouldn't one feel sympathetic and protective to them?"
"Is it just that?" Shaivya raised an eyebrow. "I agree that Yuvaraj Yudhishthira is a great person. I myself am impressed with his care for his people. But with all my admiration for him, I could never do what you have done!"
Devika rose to her feet, grimacing more.
"Have you come here to investigate on me?"
Shaivya shook his head. "No. I have a news to give. Something you won't like to hear."
The Princess turned to her brother with question in her eyes.
"Your anticipation failed. Shivi is now ally of Duryodhana, just as I have feared!" Shaivya's lips pursed.
"How come?" Devika gasped in an unexpected shock. "Pandavas are now in Hastinapura and the power is in their hands!"
Shaivya's face darkened.
"Didi, Pandavas have been banished from Hastinapura!"
"What!" Devika exclaimed. "Yuvaraj is banished from his own kingdom? What madness is this?"
