The Unconditional Love - Arsu

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GURUKUL
    In the vibrant courtyard of Gurukul, a flurry of activity engulfed the students as they busied themselves with preparations for the arrival of Kanyakul's students. Amidst the cheerful chaos, Dushasan couldn't help but notice the rare gleam of happiness in Duryodhan's eyes.

"Bhrata Duryodhan, why the radiant smile today? It's been a while since I've seen you this happy," Dushasan remarked, curiosity piqued.

Duryodhan's grin widened as he replied, "Well, wouldn't you be happy too? After all, we're finally going to meet our sister again after so long."

  Meanwhile, the Pandavas, accompanied by Shaurya, exchanged excited chatter about the upcoming reunion. Bheem, his booming voice filled with cheerfulness, commented on Duryodhan's unexpected joy.

"For once, Duryodhan's actually happy about something good," Bheem remarked with a chuckle.

Shaurya nodded eagerly, adding, "I'm excited to meet Subhadra again. It's been far too long."

Yudhishthir expressed his own anticipation. "Though we've never met her, hearing about her from you, Shaurya, has made us excited to meet her."

Nakul, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, added, "I can't wait to meet my prankster sister."

Sahdev, with a knowing grin, teased, "You already cause enough trouble on your own, Bhrata Nakul. Who knows what mischief you two will get up to together?"

   Bheem's thoughts turned to food, his stomach rumbling at the mention of Subhadra's culinary skills.

     Meanwhile, lost in his own thoughts, Arjun couldn't help but marvel at how Subhadra had managed to capture the hearts of his brothers even without being present. Nakul noticed Arjun's silence and couldn't resist a teasing remark.

"We're all excited to meet her, except Bhrata Arjun," Nakul quipped, a playful grin on his face.

Shaurya turned his gaze towards Arjun, curiosity evident in his expression. "Why's that, Arjun?" he inquired.

Without hesitation, Arjun replied, "No, No, I'm very much looking forward to meeting her."

Nakul couldn't resist teasing him further, "Oh! Someone's very eager, huh?"

     Before Nakul's teasing could continue, Guru Dronacharya's commanding voice interrupted, calling Arjun to attend to a task, saving him from further teasing. With a nod, Arjun excused himself from the conversation, heading towards the forest to fulfill his Guru's orders, his mind still filled with thoughts of the upcoming reunion with Subhadra.

     Arjun ventured deep into the forest, seeking the rare herbs Dronacharya had requested. His journey led him to the bank of a serene river, where the gentle flow of water mirrored the tranquility of the surroundings. As he approached the river, he caught sight of a beautiful girl running gracefully along the bank. Her complexion was as luminous as the moon, and her eyes, deep and enchanting, resembled blue lotuses. Her wavy black hair flowed behind her, and Arjun found himself entranced by her mesmerizing beauty. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had known her all his life. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her when suddenly, a voice broke his trance.

“Why are you staring at my friend?” a girl’s voice accused from his side. Startled, Arjun turned to see another girl standing near him, her eyes filled with suspicion. He hadn’t noticed her before, so captivated was he by the running girl.

“I—I didn’t mean any harm,” Arjun stammered, trying to explain. “I was just—”

But the girl wouldn’t let him finish. “Don’t lie! I saw you. You were staring at her!”

    As this confrontation unfolded, the girl running by the river, Subhadra, realized that her friend Vrinda was no longer behind her. Turning back, she saw Vrinda engaged in a heated exchange with a boy. Intrigued and slightly worried, she made her way over to them. Upon seeing the boy, she too felt an inexplicable connection and a sense of recognition.

“Vrinda, you started fighting here as well?” Subhadra asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

Vrinda pointed accusingly at Arjun. “This boy was staring at you!”

Subhadra shook her head and gently reprimanded her friend. “Vrinda, don’t say such things. You must be mistaken.” Turning to Arjun, she smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry about her. She can be a bit over-dramatic sometimes.”

Vrinda gasped in protest, but Subhadra ignored her. Arjun, trying to ease the tension, said, “It’s fine. I’m a stranger to you both, so her reaction is understandable.”

     With a gracious smile, Subhadra introduced herself. The name sent a jolt through Arjun; she was the same Subhadra who had captured his thoughts since the moment he first heard her name. Struggling to maintain his composure, he introduced himself. At the mention of his name, it was Subhadra’s turn to feel a flutter of recognition. This was the same Arjun with whom she felt an inexplicable bond.

     The initial awkwardness melted away as they began to chat, their conversation flowing effortlessly as if they had known each other for years. Shy glances and soft smiles passed between them, leaving Vrinda feeling like an unnoticed third wheel.

     After some time, Vrinda broke the spell, reminding Subhadra, “Guruma must be worried and searching for us.”

     Before Subhadra could reply, Vrinda took her hand and began to lead her away. Arjun watched them go, his eyes fixed on Subhadra’s retreating figure, a smile lingering on his lips.
•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•
TO BE CONTINUED...
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