The illusionist [Mahabharat] [Slow Updates] [Under Editing]

28

"Mayu! Mayu!" Whispers like echoes woke Mayuri. Cracking open her eyes, she found herself in a giant room, prettier than any she'd ever seen. Krishna, Draupadi, and the Pandavas, crowded around her, worry etched on their faces.

"Finally awake!" Panchali exclaimed, her hand grasping Mayuri's. "Jiji, what happened?" Mayuri asked, sitting up on the comfy bed. "You fainted, priye" Bheem reminded gently. "Where are we? Still Khandavaprastha?" Mayuri wondered, eyes darting around the fancy room. "This is Indraprastha now, our home," Yudhisthir said with a calming smile. They'd been scared out of their minds, her sleep stretching for hours like forever. If not for Krishna's cool head, they'd have gone nuts.

"Why'd you faint? Didn't you eat?" Nakul asked sternly, his dark eyes serious. Mayuri remembered eating a bit, but not enough to fall flat on her face. The reason for her collapse remained a mystery. Krishna, who'd been quiet all along, finally spoke. "Exhausted and barely ate, that seems like the most likely guess, wouldn't you agree, my dear?" he asked with a playful glint, though his eyes held a hidden secret.

Mayuri nodded, catching the quick looks her husbands and Panchali exchanged. "Are you five? You gotta eat, sweetheart!" Arjun scolded, his jaw clenched. Seeing her lifeless body had sent shivers down their spines, the worst fears flashing through their minds. Mayuri, tempted to pout at his scolding, understood their worry. "I'm okay, Arya," she started, but before another lecture began, she cut them off. "Anyway, this palace needs exploring! This room alone is amazing!" With a burst of excitement, she jumped out of bed and dashed out, leaving a trail of surprised laughter in her wake.

"Priye, wait!" Sahadev called after her, but she was already gone. "This girl..." Panchali chuckled, shaking her head, before they all followed Mayuri out, their laughter echoing through the grand halls of Indraprastha.

Mayuri burst from the chamber, her laughter bouncing off the polished marble walls and swirling around the intricately carved pillars. The sprawling garden stretched before her, a tapestry of vibrant blooms and emerald lawns, shimmering in the afternoon sun. Her heart swelled with a joy she couldn't contain. This was Indraprastha, their home, Indradev's blessings and Vishwakarma's artistry.

From this vantage point, the palace rose like a dream from the earth, its ivory towers seemingly floating on a sea of verdant foliage. It was like Dwarka in its splendor, Mayuri thought, her breath catching in her throat. As she ran, marveling at every detail, a pair of strong arms scooped her off her feet. She gasped, then relaxed as she recognized Arjun's familiar gaze, sparkling with amusement.

"And why, my little hummingbird," he teased, a hint of sternness lacing his voice, "are you running around barefoot?"

"Excitement, Arya!" she whined, her bare feet tingling against his warm chest. "I just had to see everything."

He chuckled, carrying her towards a lavish bench nestled in the shade of a willow tree. "We have a lifetime, priye, to explore every nook and cranny of this palace. No need to rush." He gently lowered her onto the cool stone, the fountain's gentle melody filling the air.

Dipping his hand into the cascading water, he surprised her by cupping her foot in his palm. The crimson alta bled into the water, the silver anklets tinkling as he carefully washed away the dust. Mayuri instinctively tried to pull back, but Arjun's eyes held a quiet insistence. He knew she was going to start bullshit about why as a warrior he shouldn't touch her feet but he didn't give a damn.

Mayuri opened her mouth to protest, but Arjun's gaze silenced her. There was a fierceness in his eyes, a possessiveness that warmed her heart. He wasn't a warrior, not here, not now. He was just Arjun, her husband, and this was his way of showing her how precious she was.