|| Never Without You || [ The Tale Of Arjun-Draupadi ] (I)

| 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑬𝑩𝑶𝑹𝑵 |

 Kaampilya, Paanchaal

The flames raged higher and higher, threatening to touch the tip of the sky.

Cackling and dancing with the winds like there was no tomorrow. The sky was a delicious tint of grey and dark, the clouds thickening around, arousing a deafening roar from the heavens.

The chants didn't stop yet, amalgamating itself with the claps of thunder. The winds picked up in a hefty speed, trembling the trees but not enough to perturb Yaj and Upyaj. The air was bagged with a sweet yet restless fragrance, of an anticipation they waited for. Red and tawny sparks flickered and spluttered here and there, with a maddening splendor that all watched with awe.

Drupad stared at the sacrificial altar, his eyes wide and jammed; he wrapped an arm around his son Dhrishtadyumn and pulled him close, who had just emerged from the same. Prishati looked on, along with Shikhandi, Satyajit and his brothers, their hearts twanging against their chest with cue.

The fire roared and so did the sky, in an apt sync.

No one knew when the did the flames cackle nor the thunder.

And then, there was a thin line of a smile that curved on Drupad's lips.

The flames began to mould into a coruscating outline. It seemed like fire within fire, that was burning within.

"My God. . ." Drupad let out a bare whisper, a thrill punching in his guts.

The fire was moulding itself, slowly yet steadily, as if each curve was a skill of ages. The tawny silhouette of a humanly figure was emanating with each syllable of chant, like a miracle that dug the eyeballs out. They held on to their hearts, praying with folded arms.

Their was a shriek that tremored as they could see the humanly curves of the two eyes that outlined from the flames, the raging locks of hairs which raged like the flickering sparks. And there was a sudden, vehement fragrance which had no link to the thick smell of the ghee and agaru around; it was sweet, enough to churn a lingering, dreamy inebriation of blue lotus.

The flames seemed to open its hidden chamber.

Drupad watched with a bated breath.

And with a blink of his eye, a dark feet cut through the fire, landing out on the altar.

Like the first ray of Sun, the first drop of rain and first whiff of wind. 

A longing blessing, an unblemished boon of the sacrifice. 

A gift of the Gods.

The sky seemed to break through all over again, defying the nature with a deep hum that rumbled across the clouds, "Behold, King Drupad! Your daughter is parallel to none!"

Drupad felt the thud of his heart betraying it's pace, his wonderstruck eyes roving over the lady that took another step out of the fire. The outline of the coruscating embers garnered, letting the world behold it's one of the best creations ever in history.

Her long, dark untamed curls waved unabashedly with the stormy, eddying winds. 

"Her beauty is such that one never has heard nor seen!"

Clouds seemed unhurried with their artistry, rendering splendorous palette of a dusky hue kissed with the subterfuge of blue, almost like the depth of a flame. Her slender dark arms rested in poise beside her suavely wide hips, girdling her narrow, curvy waist. Her elegant frame boasted of a sensual balance crowned with the soft allure of a voluptuous bosom draped with a flimsy, light saffron cloth of birth.