Love Beyond The stars : A Passionate Tale

Chapter 2: My Saviour, My Husband

PRESENT TIME......

Panchal......

The whole palace was beautifully illuminated by thousands of diyas & glittered even though moonlight was scarce that dark, black night.

The daasi bowed before the crown prince of the kingdom, albeit a little surprise as for the first time he entered the living areas of the royal women.

On his request, he was guided to Draupadi's former chambers & left there after he requested for privacy.

Dhristadyumn was reluctant to admit that he was missing his younger sister. Draupadi's mesmerizing, innocent giggles one which he'd claim to torture his ears, was something he was craving to hear again deeply.

He shook his heads to clear it out. He was here simply to get this feeling out of his head so that he could concentrate on annexing further kingdoms into Panchal, & making it even larger & stronger.

Draupadi's chambers were a soft lavender, & still smelt faintly 9f fresh blue lotuses. Dhrishtdyumn was suddenly hit with a wave of nostalgia, remembering every time his sister had been subdued or scorned by him.

Had he been too harsh? But then Pitashree had always taught him, from the moment of his birth that she as well as all women were insignificant, & he needed to focus on Panchal & on eliminating Dronacharya.

His fingers hesitantly traced the silken sheets on her bed. Why did he wish to see her, hear her giggle again. Why did he want nothing more than to hear her call him ' Bhratashree or Jyesht' just once more.

When she had been here, he'd never given her the time of the day, avoiding her like plague. But why did he hate her in the first place? Because Pitashree influenced him to? He couldn't think of a valid reason no matter how hard he tried. There must have been something right, he tried to reason desperately.

Just as he finally got up to leave the chambers before anyone saw him, he stopped short hearing a conversation. There stood his elder sister, Shikhandini & a well dressed man, conversing rapidly.
Sh: Kintu ye kisprakar sambhav hai, mahoday? Ye swarna aabhushan toh...meri behen Draupadi ke hai!
Dhrishtdyumn noticed her voice grow heavy with emotion as she mentioned his younger twin. She had always loved Draupadi dearly, he knew. Love was a waste of time, that'is what he was taught to believe. But...was it?

J: Ji Rajkumari.... mujhe bhi aashcharya hua tha. Ye aabhushan toh maine hi banaye the, Rajkumari Panchaali ke liye. Aaj pratah hi ek vyakti aakar inhe mere sahayak ko bech gaya, jab maine baadmein dekha tab mujhe gyaat hua aur main yaha aagaya.
The jeweller bowed respectfully, while Shikhandini looked really worried & confused.

As Dhristadyumn walked away, he too was confused, unable to understand what was going on. There was no way Draupadi had sold her own jewels? Then who? Was she in danger?

*****

* SWOOOSHHHH!!!!*

A young man, stood at the foot of a semi covered cave, horrified to the core. Having been trapped in the storm, he had only meant to take a look at the severity of the storm to determine if could head back, when he witnessed the horrifying scene.
He saw the silhouette of woman fall into the icy depths of the river from the tall cliff in the distance , quickly disappeared underwater completely, especially since she made no effort to struggle & come up. His eyes were wide & wild with fear.

Pushing the rock protecting the inside of his temporary sanctuary from the cold rain with all his might, he bolted across to the stream, diving in without a second thought.

Navigating through the icy waters, the young man struggled to catch hold of the drowning female. Having swum in lakes most of his life, he was able to keep up without drowing inspite of the vicious waves. However, the deep dark sky & the even dismal waters made it difficult to locate the said woman.