BONUS 1

                                    

                                          
"Priye? " Yudhishthir mumbled as I walked into the room that day. 
As per their agreement, The Maharaj of Vajji did give his daughter the chance to choose. 
And.. Unsurprisingly, she didn't choose Rudra. She chose someone neither of us expected her to. 
She chose mine... And I kept wondering. 
But he's still so young. 
My husband had to remind me. 
"Priye our son is twenty five, You still think of him as the boy you held in Vajji's gardens. But he's a man now. He knows the art of humanity and the skill of life. You must let him go." He said softly, pulling my into a hug. 
In Vajji, it was customary for the groom to go live in his bride's home. 
Now, I don't mind it at all. But for me, who's always lived in Delhi, in Hastinapur and all these regions, I haven't imagined my son leaving me. Ever. 
But, I am reassured by one thing. 
My husband and I raised a strong, responsible young man, who will treat his wife well. If he doesn't, well, Madhu isn't far away. She'll be coming back from Dwarka soon enough. 
" I know, it's just hard to let him go. " I mumbled into his arms as he hugged me closer. 
It had been nearly thirteen years since the war ended. Thirteen years since Yudhishthir and I took the throne and things had been.. Interesting to say the least. 
" Mumma! Why don't we have AC's here!"  My darling daughter whined in one particularly hot day. 
But, let me tell you this. If I can survive the summer heat.. It's not hot okay! 
So I sat by my daughter " Bacha if it's too hot just go for a swim. " 
" Mumma, " She sighed, flumping onto my shoulder, " I've been in the water ever since summer began. I didn't know how hot it gets without the AC. " 
My husband on the other hand was, well, you saw how he was when our daughter and our son had lived in the forests right? 
He constantly feels he is unable to provide for his children's demands. 
Which isn't true. Our children love him, but I do sympathise with her, she had only been back from Kaliyug for about a week now. 
Krishna's mercy always makes me realise just how much I lost and gained. 
" Come here Madhumita." My husband called as she stood, fanning herself with her dupatta, walking up to him. 
He stood up and held her face gently. 
" I'll figure out how to get an AC here for you, you will never complain of the heat as long as I am alive. " He gently pulled her into a short her, kissing her forehead. 
" Now, would you like to spend a day out while I figure something out? " He asked and she looked at him in confusion. 
" Papa, as much as I know you want to get me an AC, it's fine. I don't need one -" 
" My daughter is not able to bear the heat, it's my job to make sure she lives comfortably, now go. " He very nearly shoved her laughing out of the room. 
" You do realise, she's just going to adapt to it in a few more days? " I said, walking close to him. 
" Yes, but my daughter needs to have the comforts of the world -"