BUTTERFLY FROM THE FLAME (JOY AND GENTLENESS OF THE FLAME)

Chapter 29

Arjun was controlling the rein of the chariot with Draupadi between his arms. "So how did you agree on eloping me PARTH?" Draupadi asked making Arjun look at her. "You knew?" Arjun asked. "I had my doubts of not being a brahmin but just shoved it off but today morning I took a portrait of yours and added some longer hair and every feature that you have in this brahmin disguise." Draupadi said. "Smart wife. Madhav gave his own example so I agreed." Arjun said. "If he didn't then you wouldn't?" Draupadi asked. "Wha-no-I mean- " Arjun said and Draupadi chuckled seeing him stutter. Seeing her Arjun just smiled and shook his head.

As they were riding Draupadi's body stiffened remembering Kunti's orders. Arjun sensed her body stiffening and stopped the carriage. "Krishnaa?" Arjun called. Arjun let go of the rein and turned towards Draupadi who was in verge of tears. "Dear? What happened?" Arjun asked worried. He lifted her chin up and stared at her big doe like eyes but Draupadi instead of sharing her internal turmoil she got off the chariot and ran towards the forest.

"Dear wait!" Arjun said and started following her. Arjun then finally caught her by wrist making her stop. They stayed in that position for a while until Arjun cleared the distance and back hugged her as she didn't turn around. "What happened?" Arjun asked softly. "Did you find the solution?" Draupadi asked. Arjun just stood silent not being able to understand how to answer her. Draupadi understood and started to tear up "Does that mean I will be divided among you six?" Draupadi cried and Arjun just hugged her tighter.

"My brothers said they will have to take vanvas then." Arjun said. "What?" Draupadi asked shocked. "I don't want to be the reason of the separation of you and your family." Draupadi said. "Let it be, let the marriage be then-" Draupadi said but was cut off by Arjun pinning her against the tree. "Don't you dare to say that!" Arjun said. "Pa-" Draupadi said but was again cut off by Arjun. "Shh! Not a word! Do you have any idea how much it hurts me? Do you know how many times I died when I heard about your wedding with ayan and Duryodhan? Do you have any idea how much I missed you? Do you have any idea how happy I was when I won you in swayamvar? Do you have any idea how much I LOVE you?" Arjun said almost shouting.

"Wha-what?" Draupadi said not believing her ears. "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU STUPID!" Arjun said joining his forehead with hers. "But what now? If I marry you then you will be separated from your brothers and if I marry Duryodhan you won't." Draupadi said. "My marriage with Duryodhan will be for your betterment, unders-" Draupadi said but was cut off by arjun and what he did was absolutely shocking. Arjun pulled her by waist and leaned against her making her rest her back on the tree and smashed his lips against her and started kissing her wildly full off overwhelming love and affection. 

Arjun without breaking the kiss leaded her to the chariot and broke the kiss. He then carried her and got on the chariot. He then sat on the seat placing Draupadi on his lap. Suddenly a dagger came flying towards draupadi making her eyes go wide. As the dagger was closer she shut her eyes tight and waited to feel the pain but the didn't come at all. She slowly opened her eyes to see the dagger right infront of her but caught harshly by Arjun resulting his hand to bleed making her gasp and take his hand. Seeing her concern brought a smile to Arjun's face but it soon faded and turned into a glare hinted towards Shakuni, Duryodhan and Dushasan who were on the other side.

The dagger belonged to Shakuni through which Arjun quickly understood it was his plan to murder either one of them. If the dagger reached Arjun the Draupadi would have to marry Duryodhan and if Draupadi then Arjun would get the blame and eventually sentenced death and the dagger was aimed towards Draupadi which angered him. The three gulped in fear as Arjun was glaring at them as if he would appear anytime infront of them and kill them. 

"Let go of the dagger! It will just worsen the wound you have already created." Draupadi said gaining Arjun's attention. Arjun held his hand with dagger high up making the three confuse. He took his hand right above Draupadi's head and held it even tighter and slit out the dagger making Draupadi gasp. Blood started to flow from his wound wildly and landed on her maang. He fisted his hand harder making the blood flow and make its way fast to Draupadi's maang. He turned his head towards the three and smirked. Duryodhan fisted his hand in anger knowing that Arjun was teasing him and went off along with the rest.

Arjun then opened his fisted hand but the blood still flowed till draupadi's maang. "Have you gone mad?" Draupadi said taking his hand. She then took her pallo and tore it and wrapped around his hand like a bandage making him stare at her lovingly while smiling. "Why are you smiling? Doesn't it hurt?" Draupadi asked. Seeing her being worried for him "No." Arjun said dreamily until. "Ouch!" Arjun winced in pain as Draupadi tightened the cloth on his hand. "Didn't you say it doesn't pain?" Draupadi said and continued her work.

"Was there a need to be that heroic?" Draupadi asked. "Yes!" Arjun said. "Why?" Draupadi asked. "How else would I claim you mine?" Arjun said wiping the blood that made its way to her forehead from her maang. "Near there is a shiv-shakti mandir. You could have gone there and brought sindur and filled my maang!" Draupadi said. "Still this feels different and nice. Heroic type." Arjun said. "Nice? It feels nice? Cutting your hand to fill my maang?" Draupadi asked making him nod. "How else then? I didn't know that shiv-shakti temple was nearby." Arjun said. "Still! Was there a need? You could have done that when it was just slightly cut! But no! You needed to deepen the already deep wound!" Draupadi said.

"You should have told me not to." Arjun said. "Then what was I doing? Was I talking to air to stop?" Draupadi said. "Like I said I didn't know that shiv-shakti mandir was near and you were talking about marrying that Duryodhan." Arjun said. "If so then couldn't you stop after few drops? Who fills maang for 2 minutes straight? Were you trying to fill my maang or wash my hair from your blood?" Draupadi said and Arjun just smiled and hugged her tightly and took the reins and started driving the chariot. "Your hand is injured mister. When will you listen? Wha-" Draupadi said but was cut off by a short sweet kiss.

Arjun broke the kiss making Draupadi blush. As Draupadi tried to speak arjun again claimed her lips and broke the kiss after a while. "This is the only way I can stop you from talking so shh!" Arjun said and pecked her for the last time and focused on riding the chariot. Draupadi blushed quite hard and buried her face on his chest making him chuckle.