Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable

(A/N):

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Inside the chamber, the tension created by Devara’s little prank had completely disappeared, replaced by an easy warmth between the two of them.

Princess Indhumati had placed her sword back beside the mirror, though she continued to give Devara an accusing look as he stood before her with the black shawl still hanging loosely around his shoulders.

"I still cannot believe you actually did that,"

She said, shaking her head.

"What kind of groom sneaks into his bride’s chamber disguised as an enemy?"

Devara smiled innocently.

"A groom who was prevented from entering through the proper entrance."

"You were prevented because you were not supposed to come here."

"I prefer to think of it as an unnecessary restriction for our love."

Indhumati folded her arms.

"My mother would disagree."

Devara sighed dramatically.

"Your mother has already defeated me twice today."

Indhumati laughed hearing him.

"Good. Perhaps someone finally needs to keep you under control."

Devara looked at her with mock offense.

"You sound suspiciously pleased about that."

"I am."

He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.

"Yet you smiled when you discovered it was me."

Indhumati’s cheeks warmed slightly hearing his teasing tone.

"I smiled because you looked ridiculous hiding under that shawl like some shady thief."

"That was part of the plan."

"Then your plan needs improvement."

Devara placed a hand against his chest as though wounded by her criticism.

"After everything I have endured today, this is how my own bride treats me?"

Indhumati laughed again.

"Your own bride?"

Devara chuckled hearing her.

"You are going to be my wife very soon. Surely I am allowed to remind you."

She shook her head affectionately.

"You are impossible. And yet you and your father chose me to marry you."

"I suppose I made one questionable decision."

Devara laughed softly.

"You are going to regret saying that."

"Perhaps,"

She replied, smiling at him.

"But I have already accepted my fate."

They were still smiling at one another when suddenly footsteps echoed through the corridor outside.

Both of them froze.

Devara’s expression changed immediately.

Indhumati’s eyes widened.

The footsteps were approaching.

Then came a familiar voice from the other side of the door.

"Indhumati?"

It was Queen Devayani.

Devara and Indhumati stared at each other.

"I have remembered something I forgot to give you. Open the door, child."

Neither of them moved.

Devara slowly looked toward the door.

Then back at Indhumati.

Indhumati looked equally horrified.

Her mother was standing directly outside.

And if Devayani opened that door herself, there was a very good chance she would discover the groom who had supposedly banned from entering the chamber a few minutes earlier standing inside with her daughter.

Devara whispered in low voice,

"Your mother has returned."

Indhumati whispered back,

"I noticed."

Another knock sounded against the door.

"Indhumati? Why are you not answering?"

The two of them remained completely still.

Devara slowly pulled the black shawl back over himself.

Indhumati stared at him in disbelief.

"What are you doing?"

"Improvising."

"That is what caused this situation in the first place."

Devara gave her a helpless smile.

Outside, Devayani knocked again.

"Indhumati, open the door."

The two looked at each other.

Their playful conversation was officially over.

Now they had to figure out how to explain why the groom was secretly standing inside the bride’s chamber before the wedding.

Just when Devara and Indhumati thought they had managed to escape the situation, another knock sounded against the closed door.

Knock. Knock.

Both of them froze.

"Indhumati? Why have you not opened the door yet?"

Queen Devayani’s voice came from the other side, followed by another gentle knock.

Indhumati’s eyes widened as she looked toward Devara.

Devara looked back at her, and for perhaps the first time that day, the great warrior who had faced rakshasas, divine beasts and even Kandarpaasura looked genuinely terrified.

His eyes darted around the chamber desperately, searching for somewhere to hide.

The window was too far.

The balcony was exposed.

The wardrobe was far too small.

And there was absolutely no time to think.

His gaze suddenly dropped toward the bed.

Indhumati followed his eyes and immediately understood what he was thinking.

Her expression became one of disbelief.

"You cannot possibly be thinking..." she whispered.

Another knock came.

"Indhumati?"

Devara pointed toward the bed.

Indhumati covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

"You are the future husband of a princess, a king, and the son of the Trimurtis, and this is your solution?"

Devara hurriedly whispered,

"Do you have a better one?"

She opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Devayani called again.

"Indhumati, open the door."

That was enough.

Devara quickly dropped to the floor, pulled the black shawl tightly around himself and rolled beneath the bed.

His movements were so hurried that one of his jeweled ornaments struck the wooden frame with a faint clink.

Indhumati immediately looked toward the door.

Silence.

Fortunately, nobody outside seemed to notice.

She hurried toward the door, attempting to compose herself before opening it.

She took a deep breath, straightened her clothing and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to make herself look as though nothing unusual had happened.

Meanwhile, beneath the bed, Devara pressed himself against the floor, silently questioning every decision that had led him to this moment.

He had faced an army of demons without hesitation.

He had wrestled Pushpasura.

He had stood before Kandarpaasura.

And now he was hiding beneath the bed because his future mother-in-law had arrived.

’This is humiliating.’

Indhumati opened the door.

"Mother..."

Queen Devayani stood outside, but she was not alone.

Behind her stood Crown Prince Dhumakethu, Indhumati’s elder brother, dressed in his ceremonial attire.

Beside him stood their father, King Padmanabha Varman, whose dignified expression carried the calm authority of a ruler preparing for the wedding of his daughter.

Their uncle, Kumara Varma, stood beside them with a warm smile, apparently pleased to see the family gathering together before the ceremonies began.

Indhumati’s heart nearly stopped.

For a moment she wondered whether her mother had somehow sensed something.

Then Devayani looked carefully at her daughter’s face.

Indhumati was standing unusually stiffly.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes kept moving nervously, and there was an unmistakable tension in the way she held herself.

Devayani smiled knowingly.

"Why are you looking so nervous, Indhu?"

She asked as she entered.

"Is the wedding finally beginning to make you nervous?"

Indhumati blinked hearing her mother.

"Yes... Mother,"

She replied quickly.

Under the bed, Devara silently closed his eyes.

’Please believe her.’

Devayani did not suspect anything.

To her, her daughter’s nervousness was perfectly natural.

Tomorrow Indhumati would be married, and the realization of leaving her childhood home and beginning a new life with Devara would naturally make her emotional.

King Padmanabha Varman entered behind his wife and looked at his daughter fondly.

"Your mother is right. Even the bravest princess may feel nervous on the eve of her wedding,"

He said gently.

"There is no shame in it."

Dhumakethu chuckled hearing his father.

"Father, I think you are making her even more nervous."

"I am merely reminding her that she is allowed to feel whatever she feels,"

Padmanabha Varman replied.

Kumara Varma laughed softly.

"Let her breathe, both of you. She has probably heard enough advice today to fill an entire palace library."

Indhumati forced a smile.

"Yes, Uncle."

She subtly glanced downward.

The edge of Devara’s black shawl was barely visible beneath the bed.

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she quickly looked away.

Dhumakethu walked farther into the chamber, completely unaware that his future brother-in-law was lying beneath the very bed beside which he had just passed.

"We came to see you because everyone is preparing for the ceremony,"

"Father wanted to make certain everything was ready from our side. Mother also insisted on checking whether you needed anything."

Devayani nodded her head.

"And I wanted to speak with you privately before the ceremonies begin. There will be so many people tomorrow that I may not get a moment alone with my daughter."

Indhumati swallowed hearing his mother’s word.

"Of course, Mother."

Beneath the bed, Devara heard every word.

He slowly turned his head toward the opposite side of the bed, hoping nobody would bend down for any reason.

Then Kumara Varma suddenly stepped closer.

Devara’s eyes widened.

Indhumati noticed him approaching and immediately began praying that nobody would decide to inspect the floor.

Kumara Varma stopped beside the bed and casually rested his hand against one of its carved wooden posts.

Devara held his breath.

The uncle glanced around the chamber.

"Everything looks ready."

Indhumati gave the most innocent smile she could manage.

"Yes."

Devayani watched her daughter for another moment, noticing the faint blush that still lingered on her cheeks.

She smiled warmly.

"Do not worry, my child. Whatever you are feeling tonight, it is natural. Tomorrow you will begin a new Chapter of your life, and you will not be alone. Your family will always be with you."

Indhumati’s expression softened.

For a moment, the panic disappeared.

Then her eyes flickered toward the bed again.

Because she knew that hidden beneath it was the very man who was supposed to begin that new Chapter with her.

And judging by the faint movement of the black shawl beneath the bed, Devara was silently begging her to make sure that Chapter did not begin with him being discovered hiding underneath it.

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(Author note:)

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