𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 || ArDi ||

25. The News

The huge trees of Indraprastha forest experienced various shades of nature in the past two years. They bathed in the summer tempest and saw peacocks dance when it rained. The dark grey clouds thundered and lightning-sparked, the trees stood quietly, listening to the rhythm of falling rain. They stood quietly, letting the rain wash away the pain of yesterday. And everything else was lost, like tears in rain.

And as nature changed its hues again, so did the huge trees. The green leaves of the trees let go of the green stain and embrace the shades of yellow and orange.  In every falling leaf, there was some pain, some beauty, and that is how new leaves grew.

 Cold winds wandered in the wintry forest to live a quiet dream. The birds hid in their nests to save themselves from the snowflakes.  It was about the life of the crystals hanging down the leafless trees, the architect of that one flake which was made with perfection, the warmth within the frost, and the crisp of a sunbeam. 

But no winter lasts forever. Warmth comes in with a different light. In the depth of winter lies an invincible spring. It is the time of the year when flowers bloom, so does hope. Lonely clouds floated high over the valleys and the mountains and golden daffodils beside the lakes and under the trees, fluttered and danced on the tune of the warm breeze.  It was the renewal of life and reappearance of green color everywhere.

The sun laughed announcing his rule, letting the streets burn. But it was the time when laziness finds respect. The smell of ripe mangoes and the sound of unseen crickets filled the surroundings.  

And then as the year proceeded, the cycle repeated. Such was the story of Indraprastha from the last two years. 

Two years. A long time, isn't it? Time passes so fast. And when you are asleep it is as if the moon conspires to let the night end in a second and the long day be no longer than it. Time moves slowly but passes quickly. How long is forever anyway? Maybe just a second. Time flew as swiftly as a bird in his flight. 

Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev returned after their long campaigns. Nakul and Sahadev had won the hand of two beautiful princesses- Kerenumati and Vijaya, both of them were beautiful humans with beautiful souls. The minute they entered Indraprastha, Draupadi knew she had two more sisters in her family. They formed an unbreakable bond. Kerenumati and Vijaya, in their newly wedded days, followed Draupadi like her two tails. She helped them adapt to the new environment and bear with the distance from their families. 

About Arjun? Draupadi sighed thinking about him. They weren't communicating much, except the formals letters he sent along with the heaps of diamonds, jewels, gold, and other valuable substances and Arabian horses, elephants, and other battle instruments such as swords, javlin, mace etc. 

However, there was one conversation they had that had found a special place in her memories. At the end of one letter, where he had sent information about the accounts of the jewels he had brought, there was a small message he had send to the royal treasurer of Panchaprastha, nothing much, just a simple sentence that spoke volumes, "I miss you so much that I don't know what to do anymore." 

The royal treasurer's lips pulled back in an enchanting smile. She sent him a reply, "Write letters how you feel when you miss me." 

"Letters?" She could almost hear him scoff unbelievably, "Darling, I might end up sending you books about my feelings." 

***

"Pranipat Indraprasthayini" 

Draupadi's head shot up from the heap of scrolls as a maid arrived. "Yes?" 

"Indraprasthayini, Maharaj Yudhishthir requests your presence in the royal court." The maid bowed down as a sign of respect. 

Draupadi knitted her eyebrows. Meeting? At this time? She frowned but anyway nodded her head.