Parth's Madhava 💙 : OS on Arjuna after Krishna's vaikuntha gamanam

||MadhavaSakha||

Arjuna galloped on his stallion , as fast as he could. He had been riding continuously since 2 days ,his tired body was aching really badly .He could sleep for a thousand years now, but perhaps what he feared he would see ,would take away the sleep of many. He tried to quell such thoughts.
It had been years since the war of Kurukshetra. Sometimes, he had terrible nightmares of scenes of that war. He would wake up, covered in sweat. But, his nerves would calm down the moment he thought about --Madhava,his Sakha. The morpankha set beautifully on his crown,his lips gently moving and playing enchanting music on his flute which descended like mist on the world. His lotus feet ,which were the eternal shelter adorned with alingan .
He rode faster as fast as his stallion would take him, there was no time to waste.
Earlier, Krishna would usually become his charioteer and drive him from Hastinapur to Dwarka. They would reach within an hour!! But, today there was no Krishna only he.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draupadi, the now Samragyi paced in her room. They had received a message from one of Dwarka's allied kingdom ,that Dwarka was ruined. She didn't believe it, nor did Arjuna. After all, what could happen to Krishna's own city? But, then what about the curse of Gandhari? She feared the fate of the one who saved her when nobody did.

Subhadra had just recovered from a serious disease ,and was still weak. So ,she had not told subhadra about it . It would affect her health if she knew . Nakula and Sahadeva were in Madra Desh. Bhima was too on a tour to nearby areas and Arjuna had strictly told her to not tell anything about it to Yudhishtira .He was now the emperor of Bharatvarsha , he already had many worries

Her chain of thoughts were broken as little Parikshit tugged at her sari .

''Why are you crying pitamahi ?'' the boy was confused to see his lively and energetic grandmaa weeping.

She lifted her grandchild and held him close to her bosom.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was devastating. Dwarka, the city of dreams now seemed like the city of horrors. Vultures and jackals were feeding on what was left of the people. Corpses littered all around .The city which had been brimming with life and joy was now left with only death and disaster. People were crying and howling on the streets. Some people were trying to escape , leaving behind their sole possesions. He sped towards the palace at full speed . The palace was dangerously silent . It was slightly ruined,but not completely broken.

''Bhabhi Rukmini?? '' he called out to Krishna's queen.

No response.

''Balaramji??Bhabhi Revati ??''

Still no response.

'' Where is everyone!!'' he screamed again, trying to push the tears that threatened to spill.

He felt he heard muffled cries from a room.He unbolted the door.

What he saw knocked the breath out of him. Women , huddled together in a corner.All dressed in white. They looked petrified to see him.

''Dont worry i wont harm you'' Arjun spoke softly.

With a start he realised that these women were krishna's consorts!!

''Where is Madhav??'' he asked fearing their answer

The women broke into loud wails now.

''Maharathi Arjuna !!''

Arjuna turned around , it was Udhava--Krishna's cousins and one of the survivors .

''Udhava??where is madhava??''

''H-He...''

''Tell me Udhava!!!''

''No more..he was shot dead by a hunter ..by mistake''

'' I dont believe it..show me his body if what u say is true''

'' We have burnt that already '' Udhava fell to his knees as he completed that.

This was a second kurukshetra.

''What?????how ...'' tears finally found release out of Arjun's eyes now.

He stumbled as he walked out of the palace.his eyes lifeless almost dead .His once prized Gandiva dangling uselessly on his shoulder. He left his horse , and walked towards the woods.

''Why Madhav!!!!!!!'' he screamed as his voice echoed in the dense forest.

''Where are you madhava..'' he sank to his knees, his body shaking with sobs.

He was devastated. What is he without Krishna??

''Parth''a mellifluous voice called cheekily to him
'Arjuna looked around tentatively
''Parth ,now don't tell me that Bhadra and Sakhi threw you out '' Krishna chuckled micheviously with his arms at his waist. Krishna!! How was he here?? Was Udhava lying? But why would he lie... Krishna was right here with his usual mischievous eyes and his flute casually tucked into his waistband. His Madhav, his sakha, his narayan was here in front of him.
''Madhav you ?''
Madhav's smile widened at his words.
''B-but... You were''
''How can I be dead Arjuna?  '' he smiled
''Why are you leaving us Madhav?? What will I say to Subhadra, that her brother left us??and Draupadi, should I tell her that her saviour will no longer be there to save her? ''
''and who told you I'm leaving? And about my sakhi, I'll be always there for her " Krishna laughed softly
''H-how? ''
''I'm eternal, always there for the one who loves me and remembers me with their whole heart.Always. This is my word . ''

''B-But why did it have to end this way??"

''Karma. The citizens of Dwarka are suffering for their karma. They had become proud and arrogant. They were thus paid back in their own coin''

''Even you Madhav??"

''Yes why not? Karma is universal ,it touches everyone.Even animals.In my previous birth when i was Rama i killed Vali by shooting him behind his back. The same karma caught up with me ,when i too was shot .''

''But,what do i do now Madhav??''

'' Do ur duties.They come before any emotions. Go help ur brother rule Hastinapur. Take care of my sakhi and bhadra.''

''As u say Madhava..'' Arjuna replied ,he looked up to see that Madhav had vanished.But,he didnt feel sad now,he knew Madhav was always with him.

The gentle wind carried a morpankha , Arjuna held it.

The morpankha was a reminder to him, that Madhava was eternal..

                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: So , i hoped you liked my OS. Plz note that some parts have been imagined and are not faithful to the original historical source. Pls do comment and vote if u liked it. Do check out my book ''The war in exile'' based on Ramayan . 

Har Har Mahadeva!!