On the other side of the palace, a chamber was filled with queens and other princesses. They were receiving regular updates relayed by the maids. This is one of the opportune moment for women in the palace to chatter and gossip.

An abrupt entrance of men — quite different from the ones of the maid— disrupted their ambiance.

The heavy strides announced the arrival of Śakuni, prompting an immediate hush among the women, who recognized him and quieted.

Śakuni, laden with silent discontent, didn’t waste words. Servants filed in, bearing trays adorned with lavish treasures.

“As you must have heard, Lord Bhishma made an unannounced visit and graced our lands today,” Śakuni announced, capturing everyone’s attention, “These gifts are brought by him from Hastināpur. They are not without expectations from return, of course. As nothing in this world is truly free.”

Eager gazes darted between the women, seeking confirmation of their suspicions. His words indicated the particular thing, but they still wanted to hear his words to have an official confirmation.

Śakuni relented as he sighed in his mind, “A marriage proposal arrived with Lord Bhishma. Father accepted. Princes Gāndhāri is to be wed to Dhrutarāshtra, the first prince of Hastināpur.”

Cheers erupted upon hearing this news. They enveloped Gāndhāri in embraces, showering her with congratulations.

Amidst the jubilation, her focus lingered on her brother’s solemn gaze.

*CLAP*

With a thunderclap of a namaskār, Śakuni brought everyone’s attention to himself again.

Forgive me, my ladies,” Śakuni spoke with a wide diplomatic grin plastered on his face, “I need a word with my sister alone for a moment.”

The ladies didn’t say anything in reply and went out of the room while keeping their heads down.

Śakuni kept his eyes on the group of women until he was sure they were out of the room. In doing so, his head turned so much that he just chose to complete the clockwise rotation of his neck instead of reverting back like a normal person.

Assured of the privacy, he looked back at his sister. All the formalities were gone and a scowl was visible on his face.

His sister never judged him for who he was. He can be just him around her.

“You don’t look happy brother,” Gāndhāri, unperturbed, showed concern in her gentle voice.

“Hmph! How could I not be?” Śakuni retorted, “First that Bhishma walks in and acts like he owns this place. Then, father has agreed to marry you off to the FIRST prince of all the people.”

“First prince?” Gāndhāri was confused.

“Have no fear, dear sister,” Śakuni put hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, “I’ll talk to Father and see if I can convince him to revert his decision. It’s still not too late. Trust your brother.”

“En.”

Gāndhāri didn’t have the full grasp of situation yet nor why his brother was concerned. But she just gave a confident nod to show her trust.

With this, Śakuni departed even more vigorously than he had entered.

Gāndhāri just shook her head.

‘My brother’s love for me can be so overwhelming sometimes.

‘If father has agreed to a marriage proposal, he must have thought something about it.

‘I wonder, what my future husband is like…’

Gāndhāri contemplated about her future, harboring a glimmer of hope since she would be marrying the oldest prince.

***

As dusk settled, Gāndhār Naresh was talking with the mother of Gāndhāri in their chambers.

Both were discussing what to do and how to do things related to the hospitality of Lord Bhishma and the impending nuptials of Gāndhāri.

Gāndhār Naresh sighed as he looked at the sky through the window, mused.

"Are you discontent with this marriage, my husband?" The Queen inquired, a touch of mild curiosity in her voice.

"Not precisely," he responded, his gaze fixed upon the stars. "But pondering the marvels of fate. Who could have envisioned that the lotus of Gāndhār would be marrying the first prince of Hastināpur?"

"Indeed," she nodded in agreement. "But one certainty is that your son is discontent with this arrangement."

"Of course, I am not," Śakuni interjected, affirming his discontent.

Both of them moved their head in the direction the unexpected presence.

Śakuni had was standing around the door. Not sure if he was listening their conversation from how long.

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“Oh, you!” Gāndhār Naresh muttered.

“Yes, me,” Śakuni didn’t miss the underlying emotions, “Father…”

"Hmph! You spoke so wisely in the royal meeting, advising against confrontation with Lord Bhishma. And now you expect me to annul the marriage and bear his wrath," Gāndhār Naresh questioned.

"Firstly, I'm not a fool like your other children, eager to display valor and risk their lives," condescension laced his words.

"Secondly, my dear sister wasn't part of this. That Bhishma-"

"Lord Bhishma," his father interjected firmly, "You'll address him with respect."

"That Bhishma," Śakuni's expression twisted into an angry smirk, eliciting a sigh from his father, who lamented his son's rebellious nature, "believes his prowess entitles him to demand unwavering obedience from us all.

"My dear sister deserves the finest. The first prince doesn't fit that description. Decline the proposal or send another bride. I doubt those celibate old eyes can discern who truly embodies the princess of Gāndhār."

“You know that’s not who Lord Bhishma requested for. There is only one girl known throughout the Bhārat as Gāndhāri. Even you can not deny the fact that no one else can be her stand-in.”

“Tch,” Śakuni clicked his tongue as he didn’t have any counter to this. His father had hit his weak point.

“I understand your concern,” Gāndhār Naresh, a seasoned warrior knew that he shouldn’t let this opportunity go and keep up the momentum. “The first prince may not be ‘flawless’, but he holds the first position. Marriage isn't solely about the individual, but also about the family. The Kuru clan is revered across Bhārat. They uphold their dharma. Your sister will lead a prosperous life as the queen of Hastināpur."

“…”

The prospect of Gāndhāri becoming the queen of Hastināpur quelled the dissent brewing in Śakuni's mind. With its strength, Hastināpur could emerge as the nexus of power and politics.

"Very well," Śakuni eventually conceded after contemplation.

A sigh of relief swept both the king and queen, and a glint of triumph sparkled in Gāndhār Naresh's smile.

"But I will accompany her to Hastināpur."

"WHAT?!" Gāndhār Naresh exclaimed, caught off guard by this declaration.

"You'd be foolish to expect blind trust in Bhishma and his family from me. Who knows what might unfold when she goes there? I'll ensure she secures the title of queen," Śakuni affirmed, sensing Gāndhār Naresh's unease.

A concern rose in Gāndhār Naresh’s mind.

"Don't resort to your devious schemes, son."

"Hmph! There's no distinction between honorable or dirty in a scheme. The end goal matters, not the path," Śakuni retorted, striding away.

"You and your scheming mind," Gāndhār Naresh muttered under his breath.

Śakuni halted, stating, "This scheming mind is why you respect me, father. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the heir today," before exiting the room.

***

Few days later.

Bhishma, having confirmed the marriage, journeyed back to Hastināpur in his chariot.

Observing his charioteer's hastened pace, he intervened, "Calm down, Adhirath. There's no need for haste. Or is there?"

“Forgive me, my lord. I let my heart influence my brain.” Adhirath slowed the horses.

“No need for apologies. But why do I sense concern over your face?”

My wife is due to give birth soon, my Lord. It's her first time, and I am anxious," Adhirath confessed.

Bhishma arched an eyebrow. "First time? I was under the impression you already had a son. Is he not yours?"

Adhirath hesitated briefly before responding, "Well, my Lord, we are not his biological parents. We discovered him in a box drifting in the river. Nonetheless, we've raised him as our own."

"Even after many years, my wife couldn't conceive. The instant we laid eyes on him, it felt like destiny for him to become our first child. He's a blessing, truly."

Observing his friend, seemingly lost in reminiscence of the day he found his son, Bhishma couldn't suppress a smile.

"In that case, let us hasten to Hastināpur. Take a few days off after our arrival. Return only with good news."

"Yes, my Lord," Adhirath acknowledged.

With a flick of the reins, Adhirath urged the horses onward, the chariot racing toward Hastināpur.