Vivaah Bandhan: The Story Of Dharmaraj & Yagyaseni

Chapter 19: Familiar Sensations

Yudhishthir finally returned back to his chanbers, tired to the bone after a long, tiring debate session with an eager Viraat. He had to give the elder king credit for his intelligence, which was really shine & benefit his kingdom if not subdued thus by Keechak.

He was pleasently thankful to enter the warm chambers, the fire crackling perfectly & a soft, more than comfortable bed readied perfectly for him. The decor was minimal & simply while being elegant, just the way his liked it. It had been long that someone had gone to such lengths to see to his comfort. Just like his beloved wife did.

He relieved himself of his of his heavy, formal garments, changing into soft cotton clothing, forgoing the Angavastra & slid under the sheets. Though he was echausted to the bone, Dharmaraj knew well that sleep would be sparse & uncomfortable, as it had been ever since he could no longer hold his Draupadi in his arms each night. It had been a small thing, but it brought him immense comfort & joy to nuzzle against her, kiss her silken tresses & creamy, soft skin. It made him forget all his worries, fixes, tensions etc in his wife's loving embrace where there would be nothing but love.

Somehow, after what seemed like eternity, finally Yudhishthir fell into a fitful slumber.
He groaned when someone lightly tugged on his coverlet, wondering who it was at this hour, but too much in sleep to do anything more.

" Main bhoot hoon... hahahaha!!!"

Someone whispered or rather ' tried' to whisper menacingly & chortled to himself softly, stopping short when 3 pairs of eyes glared at him.

" Sachmein Nakul?"
They rolled their eyes at the pouting man.
However, effectively subdued, he tried a simpler idea....
" Bhratashree!"
He leaned closer to the whispered in Dharmraj's ears, his voice filled with reverence as well as pain & longing.

Dharmraj awoke with a start, launching up from the bed. He at first grew alarmed seeing four strange full grown men sitting on his bed, looking at him with...... puppy dog eyes?

" Mere priya jyeshth bhratashree!"
The one with a hunched back cried out, jumping onto him, tackling the stunned. Kank into a hug, making the two nearly fall back flat on the mattress.

Feeling wetness on his chest, he realised that the man was crying, & awkwardly patted him, not hesitating to comfort even a seemingly unknown person.

Wait a moment.... jyeshth bhratashree?

The others too looked extremely emotional, tears shining in his eyes, especially in the larger man's brown orbs, who looked eerily like.....Bheem?

" Jyeshth!"
Another sob came from the man hugging him, carefully lifting his head. The warmth of the embrace, that voice & the wisdom shining in his tear filled orbs, Dharmaraj knew without a doubt that it was his Sahadev as he pressed a kiss on his youngest anuj's forehead, hugging him closer. This only caused the youngest & wisest Pandava to cry harder.
Dharmraj continued to hold him, pleasently surprised yet alarmed seeing his brothers there all of a sudden.

B: Jyeshth...Sahadev kehna chahta hai ki hum aapse bohot krodhit hai, aur aapse baat karenge.
Bheem spoke, his voice heavy with emotion as he struggled hard to control himself. Yudhishthir chuckled when the head nestled in the crook of his neck that of now, who he knew as Arjun shook furiously in agreement, before burying itself back there.

Y: Anujo....tum sab yaha? Indraprastha ki vyavastha kon dekhraha hai?
He asked with concern, making Bheem gasp dramatically, clutching his heart.
B: Jyesht iska tatparya ye hua ki aap mujhse adhik prem Indraprastha se karte hai? Ab toh sach mein baat nahi karunga!
He huffed & pouted which didn't exactly suit, his strong, powerful wrestler look.