𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 || ArDi ||

26. His bride.

KINDLY NOTE***

Dear Readers,
On the previous chapter, the book received a lot of comments refusing to accept a co-wife, and I respect your opinion.
I am a proud ArDi-an and feminist so I refuse to support polygamory in any form, but taking the views of people of that time into consideration, marriage was not only a sacred bind but also a way to boost the relationship between two kingdoms.
I request you all to maintain your calm and procceed with the story. I promise I'll try my best not to fail you.

THIS IS NOT A SPOILER OR A HINT. THE STORY WILL CONTINUE AS I HAND PLANNED TO.

Enjoy the chapter, the next one is coming soon! I don't wanna keep you hanging.<3

***

"Krishnaa! Krishnaa!" Malini came rushing into the royal chamber of the Queen of Indraprastha.

Arjunsangini frowned looking at her maid and friend. "Malini?" She knitted her eyebrows, noticing how tired Malini was. It seemed as if she had done a world tour on her feet. She was panting and breathing heavily. Sweat forming on her hairline."Sit down." Draupadi offered her a seat and passed a glass of water in her direction. Malini gulped down the water in one go and slammed the glass on the side table.

"Now tell me. What happened?" Draupadi asked in a soft voice.

That question made all colors drain from Malini's face. She lowered her lashes, hiding her midnight black eyes. Her lips trembled as she fidgeted with the end of her saree. The difference in her behavior did confuse Draupadi. Malini was a cheerful girl and was never afraid or nervous of anything. Even during her marriage, she was the one to calm down her husband who started crying in the mandap itself. But this behavior was not a characteristic of Malini which Draupadi knew. Draupadi assuringly smiled and held Malini's shivering hand in hers, "Tell me what happened, Sakhi. If you are in a problem we will find a solution together."

Malini's lower lip trembled as she looked up at the blue eyes with her teary ones. She did not know how or what she should tell to Draupadi. She was not crying for herself but for her Sakhi. The one who could be any better. The one who was a pure soul with wild eyes. The kindest heart and the most beautiful mind. The moment Malini saw Draupadi descend from the fire, she knew that this one was no ordinary one. And that was the day she discovered that Draupadi was fierce and strong, and full-on fire, she was the one whose passion burned brighter than her fears. Malini knew that Draupadi will come to know, if not today then tomorrow. But she feared if Draupadi could take the news. "Maharaj Arjun is on the outskirts of Indraprastha. He will arrive anytime now-"

Malini stopped to notice how rapidly Draupadi's facial expressions changed from neutral.

A wide smile marked its territory on Draupadi's face. Her Arya was coming back! After long two years, she will finally meet him! The thought of being back in his arms, to experience his warmth, was enough to make her feel tingles all over her body. A red hue climbed up her cheeks and her heart started beating wildly in her chest. Butterflies started their dance in her stomach. This was the same feeling that she felt when she saw him for the first time in the Shiv Mandir. It was as if she was falling in love all over again. Each day of these two years was no better than hell for her. Each day she woke up only to realize that his handsome face won't be the first thing she sees. His alluring golden hazels won't be the thing she could lose herself in. It was the worst phase of her life till now. But now- Now that loneliness won't kill her like a slow poison anymore. The silence in their chamber won't be deafening anymore. The swing in the balcony- where they spent the most precious moments till now, won't haunt her anymore. He was coming back. He was coming back to her!!! She probably would had never known the depth of her love till this separation. "He-he is coming back?" She stuttered not knowing what to do. She has so many things to do! She had to make preparations for his arrival. She had to make sure that all the wealth Dhananjay brings along should be properly kept. "Oh my god! Oh my god! I have so many things to do! Why am I just sitting here!!?" Draupadi got up from her place. The smile never fading from her face. She could not contain her happiness.

"Sakhi!!" Malini said pulling Draupadi back on her seat. "I have not completed the sentence yet!"

Draupadi was in no mood of listening but anyway, she nodded asking Malini to continue.

"Maharaj Arjun is on the outskirts of Indraprastha. He will arrive anytime now.."

Draupadi glanced at Malini anxiously. "Continue" She urged though an unknown fear gripped her heart.

"He will arrive anytime-" Malini averted her eyes away from Draupadi. Her tongue could not make up to pronounce the next part but she did. "-along with the Princess of Manipur."

With that Draupadi could hear her own heart breaking.

"He- what?" She asked, the gentle curve of her lips pulled down and vision blurred with tears. Alas! What she dreaded the most had happened. He let her down.

***

Arjun jumped down from his horse. "We can stop here for some time to rest." He commanded in his manly voice, the guards nodded their heads and started finding a comfortable place to rest.

Arjun sighed reaching out to the Manipur princess' chariot, "Rajkumari, we have stopped for a while, you may rest in the chariot itself."

The princess, whose face was covered with a veil replied, "How far is the ride, Indraprastharaj?"

Arjun glanced at her, his silky curls dancing on the tune of the soft blowing breeze, "Consider about two hours to go." The princess blinked her eyes in acknowledgement. Arjun passed her a small smile before he walked away towards the banks of river.

The small smile on his lips did not take long to transform into a serene expression. The lofty, forested Shiwalik Range glanced over the King of Indraprastha and the river flowed merrily creating a barrier between the mountains and Arjun. Some wild waterweed covered the swampy lands and certain parts of the clear water. Memories flooded back into Arjun's mind. His beautiful golden eyes trailed the flow of the river in the opposite direction till the point where he could see it merge with horizon. Miles away, on banks of the same river was the place when he and the woman, who he now calls his Dharmpatni, had met. Just the thought of her was enough to bring a pink hue on his cheeks and a twinkle to his eyes.

The watery grace of the river seemed magical to me at that moment but of course not more than the beauty sitting on the river bank with her head leaned against the trunk of a large tree.

No matter how hard he tried to stop the guilt flooding his heart, he could not help it. The guilt grew and multiplied like cancer, trying to cease his very existence. No matter how much he tried to ignore the voice at the back of his head, asking him to at least write a letter to her trying to clear misunderstanding, he just could not. He was well aware of the terrible mistake done by him and prepared for the consequences.

Her beautiful electric blue eyes were shining like the river, a few designs were drawn on her neck, forehead and the area beside her eyes, the small nose pin giving her pointed, sharp nose an adorable look, a few hair-jewelries and necklaces was all she had worn and white roses were tucked in her long, dark, curly hair which left open for the lion cub to play with...

However, little did he know about the pain and suffering he had unknowingly caused to his beloved, the one he promised never to hurt. Her ever happy shining sun was lost behind the his clouds of darkness which conjured her. Agony and rage filled every cell of her body. Her heart was burning in racking pain. Her eyes prickled with the flames of distress and heart throbbed and stung. She shut down the doors of the chamber in heart, letting herself drown in the ocean of betrayal and suffering.

Meanwhile, Arjun's heart sang in happiness with the thought of returning back to her. He knew she will hate him, but then love him again. Cry and yell at him but then forgetting all of this, she will return back to where she belongs- with him.

***

🤐Don't kill me please.

*runs away*

*pauses*

*comes back for a while*

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*runs away again.*

- Ariana.