𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 || ArDi ||

Bonus Chapter.

~ TERE NAINA ~

The throne of Hastinapur had been occupied by great rulers of the Kuru dynasty. The giant throne had two peacock statues made of pure gold climbing out from the base. They stood back-to-back and their beautiful tail studded with emeralds, diamonds, opals and other precious stones formed the backrest of the throne. The eyes of the peacocks were made of diamonds and their blue hue shown by sapphires. From the chest of the two statues sprouted the handrests of the throne which ended in the forms of head of roaring lions, a symbol of royalty. It was cushioned with velvety, deep red silk.

A deep sigh escaped Arjun's lips as his red-flickered golden eyes gulped the beauty of the throne from which many rulers had dictated people the path of dharma.

Was he ready for this?

The last rays of the evening streaked into the grand court. Pin drop silence prevailed in the majestic walls as the empty throne bare witness to the storm Arjun was facing.

Did he deserve the throne?

The sky was a canvas, lit crimson red like the holy fire which saw day and night engage in a sweet embrace. The sun, a weary traveller, bid the world farewell as he seem to drown in the ocean of horizon and leave behind a myriad of colours; blending, mingling and amalgamating into the hues emotions.

Will he be able to provide justice to the title?

Arjun's hand rose to caress the head of the peacock statue, that reminded him of the Morpankhdhari. Thousands of thoughts rose in his mind as he thought of the next day.

The crowning ceremony of the Emperor.

He sighed again. He still needed some time to digest the fact.

How he wished his Madhav was here!

He swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes fluttered close reminiscing the Manmohana. His alluring complexion like that of a dark rain cloud more effulgent than the radiance of a million suns. A beautiful peacock feather adorned his curling locks. His lotus-shaped eyes looked at Arjun with fondness and an idyllic smile bloomed on his lips like a brahamakamal in the brilliance of moon-rays as he spoke; Each word seemed to be the thread which wove the tapestry of Arjun's truth, "When did I ever leave you, Paarth? I am always with you."

A fond smile graced Arjun's lips as he opened his burnished coppery eyes. Madhav was right as always, he never really left his side.

"Arjuna."

Arjun's eyes snapped to the ethereal beauty who just entered the court. If it were anyone else who came forth to his view after bearing a witness to the heavenly form of Krishn, it would had been a catastrophic contrast.

But his Krishnaa?

She seemed befitting to be his sakhi, an excerpt of his element. Her eyes, large and seraphic like the petals of a lotus, shone with magnificence of her divine origin and gazed at Arjun with all the love the world had in store. Her visage bore moon-like brilliance, framed by the dark blue ringlets which posed a sharp opposition to the white garlands of mogra. And then the deific shyama rang shared by the three Krishnas embellished her body. The redolent aroma of blue lotuses saturated the air, an idiosyncrasy of the Yajnaseni.

Arjun, with his eyes wide as soccers, remained trained the enchantress who walked with the sway of her hips, her hands placed on her protruding belly.

The smile on Draupadi's lips widened as she noticed the besotted expression on her husband's face, "Even after all these years of marriage, you stare at me like that?"