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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟺

En-route to Kaampilya, Pilgrimage of Somashravayan

'You're Narattma Arjun....you know everything...'

He slowly felt himself growing languid in the waters, its soothing waters lulling him into a state of weightless tranquility. Feeling as if his body was light enough to be floating along with it. Unbounding him from the rigid realms. 

So calm, so blissful and placid....

'I am nothing without you, Sachi. Just a lifeless carcass.'

 Arjun gasped deeply within the waters all of a sudden. His breath escalated almost instantly, as he panted, heart pounding in his ears vividly like the galloping hooves of a wild stallion. Wolfing down himself to the ineludible tenor, he let out a frantic gurgle only to be allayed by the river again. 

'Maybe in this birth or that, I can be never without you.'

He heaved underneath, struggling for breath. 

'Accept me as your, my love. I am yours. Forever.'

He almost jerked himself up from underneath, feeling short of breath. He cupped his face, as drops of water trickled down from his drenched self. His brows furrowed, his lips parted open as he tried to calm himself with deep breaths. The phantom changes that continued to linger within the air still had the undeniable lucidness. 

What was that?

What was that?!

He blankly stared at the waters which had stilled down again, as if nothing happened at all. 

What was that.....

His heart had still not halted it's pace. It felt so real. He could almost hear it rumbling within the waters. He felt that he could almost grasp it with his bare hands, so much so he felt that it almost occurred within him. Within him.

At one point, he felt like the voice belonged to him solely. Indifferent from him. 

Arjun began to sigh softly, followed by a deep, long breath, his gaze trailing to the cluster of blue lotuses that were in bloom in the stagnant back-waters of Ganga. The petals ruffled languidly with the winds. The stalk felt tender against t his fingers as he detached one. His brows narrowed instinctively as he looked away, brushing his knuckles over the little petals, the amoring fragrance arresting him.

What was that.....it felt so real. So achingly real.

He hummed, his lips parting, feeling edgy. Closing his eyes, he felt a lump forming in his throat.

Why did it feel so....

A strong, cavernous urge began to stir within him—

Arjun's senses immediately alerted as he caught hold of a sharp, swishing arrow with his artful fingers that came whizzing right in front of him.  His eyes zeroed down upon the sleek weapon, he snapped the projectile in two. The sound of splintering wood echoing in the stillness of the forest as he crushed it further nonchalantly, striding out of the waters, his vigilant ambers flickering around.

"Who's there?" He lifted the burning wooden torch hanging from the tree which Bheem had left for him. His lips twitched as there was no response, "I repeat, who's there?!" 

"I barely entertain half-wits like you....." 

He twirled around on the other side, his brows furrowing, as the trees behind him rustled. Adorned with ornaments from head to toe and a diadem on his forehead, a figure almost as tall the tree beside him emerged, with rage marring his visage. His eyes blazed fire as he glared at Arjun wielding a bow of divine craftmanship.