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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟸

En-route to Kaampilya

"But fate was cruel....even after being pure-hearted, she couldn't get a husband." The sage exhaled deeply, with half-closed eyes.

"Then...?"

"Sorrow had garnered the depth of her heart. All hopes were lost and shattered! Mind distraught! But when the mind is distraught, it is Lord Shankar who always redeems..." Vyaas's lips curled into a lopsided smile. Arjun was listening to him, his brows furrowed, not even blinking for a moment. The son of Satyavati stood up, breathing deeply and his smile widening as he spun around. "Days passed, years passed! Yet no sign of the Lord of the Lords! But when the mind is pure and the mind is collected, no force can stop you from attaining the Almighty! Nalaayani had achieved it too!"

"The moment she was waiting for was finally there! Adidev Shankar, the Lord of the Lords, was finally in front of her!"

Arjun suddenly felt a trail of goosebumps erupt. He breathed in deeply with furrowed brows, trying to calm himself down. Lord Shiv's allusion always had a torrent of ardor within him.

The four of them looked on curiously as Vyaas continued, "Excited! Exhilarated! Enlivened! Lady Nalaayani felt all the joys of the world together! 'Ask for a boon, lady!' That's what Lord Shankar said, pleased with her utmost devotion!"

"Lady Nalaayani said, 'O Lord! I am devastated! Even after austerities, I couldn't find a husband worthy of me!' She cried piteously," Vyaas solemned, his lashes lowering for a while." Then she began, 'O Lord! O Lord of Goddess Parvati! I want a husband with all the qualities! Give me a husband with all the qualities, Lord! My husband shall possess the caliber I wish for! Lord Shankar, my husband shall be blessed with all the skills! Grant me the wish of such a worthy husband, Lord!' She wept,"

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "The Lord was intelligent....he knew that there could be no human who could be born with all the qualities together....but what to do? The Lord cannot deny a boon to his devotee! He said, 'Lady Nalaayani! I am pleased with your austerities! But, blessed soul, since you have asked for a husband with all the qualities five times, then you shall have five husbands thereafter!' "

The Pandavs immediately exchanged amused glances with each other. "Then?"

" 'I will be blemished, Lord! Five husbands?' She stared at him with shock marred on her face. The eloquent Ishaan smiled and said, "Lady, the boon you demanded is a tedious one....no man on earth can possess all the qualities! But worry not! You will still be considered pure and true, in spite of having five husbands! Each husband of yours shall possess qualities that you had demanded for, and the five of them together shall be one unit for you!' Saying so, the Lord disappeared from her sight..." 

There was a short spell of complete silence for a while. 

Yudhishthir side-eyed Bheem who was looking down with slightly furrowed brows; Nakul and Sahadev briefly looked at each other and then at the eldest; and then at Arjun. He was sitting silently with arms wrapped around his knees, the calm enigma around him was contrary to the situation, "And she is reborn as Princess Krishnaa...right?" He muttered after a while. 

Vyaas smiled a bit more, nodding. 

"But Maharshi....does, does she remember her past?" Sahadev ushered, fidgeting with the edge of his angavastra, "I mean..."

"A soul is un-tarnished, my son. A promise made in the last birth can never be forgotten. Even if she doesn't recollect, she can feel it. Sentiments do stay....You five just do what is destined for you. You have no control over consequences. It shall fall in place once you do the deed," He breathed out, smiling softly at the five of them, "I know, you shall not disappoint me. You shall see, one day Krishnaa will restore what you had lost..."