•|| Arjun~ Becoming the Peerless One ||• (II) ✔

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟺𝟻

Hastinapur, Nagarasahrya

Arjun's POV

"What does Duryodhan even think of himself?" Bhrata Bheem fumed, striding furiously past the corridors with anguish marred on his face, with me following him subtly in thoughts, "His forgery really pisses me off!"

"Bhrata Bheem, calm down-" I inhaled a deep breath, a smile stretching on his face; knowing very well that he was still enraged over the fact that it wasn't the matter of Vasusen being installed as the ruler of Ang, but his spiteful words for me and the elders, "Forget about it, please!"

"How can I?" He exasperated, coming to a halt and looking around, "That man—that man was openly ridiculing you, Guru Dron—and Duryodhan's pretense is just making me—"

"He just trying to rile us all, I feel—"

"Rile, definitely! But Arjun everything is clearly visible to from since the day Vasusen entered Gurudev's ashram," Bhrata Bheem interjected, crossing his arms around his chest and his face contorting in disgust, "He is just being used by Vasusen, or is using him—just like parasites do. This Vasusen, definitely knows the art of manipulation," He shook his head and gazed back at me.

"His forgery of appearing innocent just irks me!"

And I couldn't help but agree with his words. 

The way he was trying to win over the Kauravs during Gurukul, or for a moment even spite all the students against him for not providing him with the knowledge of Brahmasheer. The fact that him leaving abruptly had acutely caused a disrupt amidst the students all well for a few days and there was a surge in the rumors of Gurudev favoring me or Drauni the most. And Bhrata Duryodhan, he seems to be taking advantage from him or vice versa.

The installation of him as the King of Ang, why does it feel like it was done out of a motive rather than a goodwill? 

But for now, something more important was concerning us rather than Vasusen or Bhrata Duryodhan—

The moonlight casted its tranquil luminescence that contrasted with the ochre flames of the lamps that flickered through the dark pathway of the endless corridor, leading us finally to Maata's chamber. 

The door was half open and a few whisperings were audible from inside. Gathering a breath, both of us exchanged a glance with a smile of ardor, we slowly pushed open the hinge and peered inside. Jyesth and the twins were already there, convening themselves around the bed, "Maata?"

Jyesth turned his head at the call with his lips curving up, "Maata, look who is here-"

And there was a frail figure who gathered herself up and peered towards the door. 

With that, my heart surpassed several beats—a burnished gulp that cleared down through the knot in my throat, countless sighs finally moulding up to into a faint smile. Twelve years—twelve years had swept over, I had been etching out that face amidst the moon, the stars and through the endless darkness—

Her lips quivered in an attempt to speak, but it closed down into capturing it between her teeth, a few wrinkles appearing incongruous against her still gleaming, wheatish complexion, "Ar-Arjun? Bheem?"

Her nose flared as there were watery chuckles mingled in her quavering tone, as she waved her arm towards us, "Oh my, come here! Let me have a close look of you both!"

"Sure Maata, specially Bhrata Bheem who—" Nakul halted midway, biting his tongue witnessing Bhrata Bheem shooting deadly glares of 'affection' for him, Jyesth and Sahadev bursting into peals of laughter, "Maa!"

Sauntering inside, both of us rushed towards her, "Maa, are—are you alright?" Grabbing her shoulder, my glance worriedly fell across her figure that was half-covered with a duvet, and a copper bowl of warm water was alongside the stand, "She was warm when we arrived—" Jyesth bit his lips, and grasped her icy fingers within his warm ones.

"Maa, but what happened? Why, why did you lose consciousness during the Kalapradarshan?" Bhrata Bheem's arm wrapped around her figure while he perched on the bed, his brows drooping down in a forebode. Her lips perked up in response as she brushed her lips on his forehead, "Oh God, I am fine sons! It was just a—just that I was feeling a bit weak!"

Her words faltered, and it did not take me moments to figure out that she was lying—

"Arjun, my goodness!" She instantly deviated from our question and spun towards me, her lips curling into a beam, her palm brushed against my jaw and landed on my shoulder, "You—you have grown up so much!"

My heart suddenly fluttered at her words, a smile crawling up on my face as I enveloped her palm in mine and brought it close to my lips, "I missed you so much—" Her eyes were flashing with a sense of the longing warmth that made me feel that I was finally back, back home. Her rhythmic beats of heart swirled with the love that soothed me, those gentle caress of her fingers that could calm my raging thoughts the moment it stroked my tresses. 

"Really, Maa! The last few days, we couldn't just focus, all we wanted is to catch a glimpse of you," Sahadev gulped, massaging her feet mildly. There was a sudden drop as all of us fell in a deep silence, beholding each other with moistened gazes—after so many years, we are together.

Just like those days—

Bizarre it was, how I was eager to spill up everything to Maa, how much I missed her warmth, her love, her voice—her gentle strokes that at once could drift me off to sleep, her laugh, her embrace—everything. But now, I don't feel like speaking anything, just envelope her figure in my arms and bask in her love, reminiscing every feeling that had hibernated in my heart for years. 

And just witness her to my heart's fullest!

A sudden knock upon the door, snapped us out of our musings. Swiftly brushing off the tear from the corner of my eye, I spun towards the door. Jyesth stood up and strode towards the door, and went outside to speak with the attendants.

"Taathshree Dhritarashtra summons us in his chamber, brothers—" He came inside, closing the door and inhaling a deep breath.

"Now?" Bhrata Bheem raised a brow.

"Hmm, I think we should leave—even Maata needs rest I believe," His lips curled up into a smile as Maata gave a brisk nod, patting Bhrata Bheem's arm, "Go and greet your Taathshree well, sons— " 

"Arjun—" Her fingers suddenly wound around my wrist as I was about to ascend from her bed. Her features hinted blankness for a while, she glanced away with the corner of her lips caught between her teeth, "I want to—I want to talk to for sometime-"

"Alright, Phalgun—join us later?" Jyesth nodded with a smile, as the four of them greeted Maata and exited the chamber.

"Maa? Is something, something bothering?" I clasped her fingers in succor, breathing in while a pinch of dread swirled in my stance.

★★★★★★★

A/N

*coughs* Kunti Maa making Arjun sus-

Par kya kare....it's not easy as it looks like 😷

Waise iske next wala is the last chapter of the book 👉👈

Signing off for today!

Kiritija Nushkie