Krishna interrupted her. ‘I am not questioning the way you handle your household staff. Dominion of women, I say. I am asking, do you know her?’

‘Of course, I do. She is…’ Draupadi stopped short. She thought of the treatment she had meted out to Aila. The way her ladies mocked the woman’s dress. Of the mark of two tears on her neck… the same that Karna had.

Draupadi burst into tears. She ran to Krishna and hugged him in a tight embrace. He did not flinch, merely stroking her hair in a brotherly manner, one eye on the door, lest Calm stride in and carry out Satyabhama’s threat.

‘I don’t want that life!’ she sobbed. ‘But he is so...’

‘...gorgeous,’ Krishna completed. ‘I know, little one, but even beauty tarnishes with time, exposing the suffering beneath. Princess,’ Krishna patted her back, ‘it’s alright. Release the darkness before tomorrow. Renew. Rejuvenate. Tomorrow is a new day, the start of another chapter; when you can be who you really are. Use the wisdom learnt from past mistakes. I am not going to lie to you that it will not be hard. But I know you are ready. Let the girl go and the woman be born.’

Draupadi did not answer, barely understanding the words he spoke. But somehow, they comforted her. ‘I know I have been childish,’ she finally said. ‘All this debate for what? He isn’t even participating.’

‘The one thing I have learnt about swayamvars is that they never go according to plan. Nothing is certain. But we have to be prepared for the eventuality that Karna vies for your hand.’

Draupadi’s eyes brightened momentarily, and right on cue the noxious smell in the room intensified. It was all Krishna could do not to gag himself. The ointment he had applied to his nostrils to deaden his sense of smell helped, but only to an extent.

‘There is no way a Resht can compete with the great nobles who have sought my hand, let alone win,’ said Draupadi. ‘It’s not as if I have a choice. My feelings for the Resht are irrelevant. Let him compete and lose. Destiny will take me where I am bound.’ Krishna stiffened, visibly. ‘Did I say something wrong?’ she asked.

‘Karna cannot be allowed to compete, Draupadi,’ he said. ‘Under any circumstances. Not if you do not wish to wed him.’

‘But he is just a Resht,’ Draupadi said. ‘How can he possibly win?’

‘A Resht he is, but with exceeding great fortune,’ Krishna told her. ‘He got to dance with you, after all. Luck can cause strange mishaps. If he wins, no one can deny him your hand.’

Krishna could see this still sounded like music to her ears. She knew she could not have him, but she wanted to see him fight for her. ‘But what can I do?’ she asked, half-heartedly.

‘It is your swayamvar.’

‘Only in name,’ Draupadi scoffed.