Arjun was an accomplished archer, a Gandivdhari, a powerful warrior and the nightmare of all those who are not named Karn.
He had been fighting his entire life.
He had been fighting for survival from his childhood to Indraprasth.
He had fought his own father to help establish Indraprastha.
What he couldn't fight off were thoughts of his rival's wife that came to him like .... he couldn't even compare..
He had come across her after Kalapradarshan, when she went to call Karn home and he left. He was speechless at her beauty that could put Apsaras to shame.
He and her introduced themselves and his charm initiated a friendship between them both.
He began to spend time with Vrushali and his feelings for her increased. He almost kissed her when they sat near a Riverbank at night but she backed out and ran away.
He was heartbroken and his every thought was plagued by her image, her smiles. He could never forget her, even when he got the news that Karn married Vrushali.
Draupadi couldn't hold a candle to her and she was known as the most beautiful woman in the world.
Today, he saw her once again when they invited many Kings, including Karn from Anga, to their Jeysht's Kingdom to start relations. The only thing that shocked him was that Karn arriving with ... Vrushali.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Vrushali was not a materialistic woman and wore a simple saree but even that did not diminish her beauty. Many Kings in the hall stared at her lustfully. Shishupal even hooted " ay Sutputra, how much will you take for a night with her ?! ".
The Kings laughed and Arjun was enraged but before he could do anything, Shishupal had 2 arrows in each of his eyes and another in his leg while Karn held his bow.
Their laughter stopped when they saw his cold furious expression and felt fear and horror when they looked at Shishupal screaming in agony as he pulled out the arrows and his eyes and leg healed. Arjun at that moment was pissed with Krishna for giving him a boon of him killing Shishupal only after he insulted him 100 times.
Vrushali held Karn's arm to calm him down and he did.
Arjun met her gaze directly for a moment and then she looked away to Karn.
He stopped Yudhishtra from kicking Karn out of Indraprasth. Arjun agreed with what Karn did, strange as it was to admit it. It was for Vrushali's sake.
He couldn't get her out of his head and he needed to confront her.
-
" Arya, where are you ? "
It had been 2 days since they had arrived and Vrushali had been keeping herself busy as she worked with the maids to cook for her husband and the rest and also help them in anyway possible. Being Queen didn't mean that she had forgotten her roots.
Then when she came to her room, she saw an arrow stuck to the Wall with a note.
Karn had told her in the note to come meet him in one of the unoccupied rooms. Vrushali was suspicious as Karn had told her that he was leaving for 2 days for some important work.
Now Vrushali had to wonder how this room was unoccupied as it was lavish, clean and the bed was covered with rich sheets and a blanket.
" you have been avoiding me, Vrushali " Arjun said, appearing from behind the door and locking it with them both inside.
" Arjun ! " she exclaimed
" in the flesh " he came close to her.
" Stay away from me !. I know how to defend myself " she threatened him, stepping away.
" good, I want you to be safe "
" what do you want, Arjun ?! "
" I wanted to see you ! " Arjun growled, looking at her as he took 5 steps forward, almost coming close to her.
She had to control her breathing from the feeling that arose when he came so close to her, every time she looked at his muscular form. Even after so many years, he had such an effect on her.
Vrushali looked into his eyes and felt old feelings return. With a low voice, she asked " but why me ? .... ".
" Because I love you, but you already knew that didn't you ? " she nodded, letting her eyes down " and you felt the same.
She numbly nodded, but was shocked at her action and looked at him in fear.
" why did you marry Karn ? " he asked quietly.
" I loved him, I have loved him for a long time " Vrushali answered.
" but you loved me too, I saw it in your eyes " Arjun came closer to her.
Vrushali looked at him in sadness " yes, I did ".
" then why ? " Arjun questioned.
" you want to know why ?. You were a Rajkumar and Devputra on top of that, and I was a Sutputri. Me being a friend to you would gain disapproval from both sides, getting close to you would be unacceptable ".
" you think I cared for the opinion of strangers I didn't know ?. You think it was important to me more than my love for you ?! " Arjun asked her in anger.
With every word, he took a step forward until they were in close proximity to each other.
Vrushali was shocked and was silenced by Arjun's lips on hers.
She froze. Her body was paralyzed as her heart rate sped up. Desire began consuming every part of her consciousness when the logical side of her told her to push Arjun off.
" Arjun, stop it !. I'm married!. You are married ! " Vrushali somehow withdrew from the kiss, even through she was strangely reluctant.
" I only married Draupadi to save her respect, and that too on behest of my brothers and Krishna revealed my identity under my disguise as a Brahmin and forced me to participate. When Krishna told me to marry his sister, I refused. I had proposals coming to me but I refused - ".
" You always insulted Karn. Insulted him for his caste !. You indirectly insulted me ! "
" I was expected to behave that way, otherwise my Jyesht would have never ascended the throne as King of Hastinapur " Arjun said sorrowfully " the people are so discriminatory .... our pitashree taught us to treat human beings like human beings. Do you know how I felt when I insulted him ?. I felt joy and sadness in equal measure .... sadness that I dishonor my pitashree's teachings .... and joy that I insult the one person who took the woman I loved from me..... Sometimes, I wished Pitashree didn't die and we still lived in the forest.... I wouldn't have to be tied to these damned rules and could at least choose for myself ! ".
There was a silence that filled the room for a moment before they both let out small tears from their eyes, both feeling sad at their fate.
" Arjun ..... not a day went by when I didn't not think about you " Vrushali said with slightly teary eyes.
" I will not stop you from leaving. Your happiness is all that matters to me " Arjun said, reluctantly turning his head away.
Vrushali stood shocked for a few moments before leaving the room, depressed.
