Empire of Righteousness ( The Beginning)

Chapter 132 : Cruel Fate

"Partha,"

Arjuna pays respect to his beloved Madhav. After Draupadi left to attend in the kitchen, Arjuna was left alone in his chamber. At this time, Krishna came to him.

"Why is your face so dark, Partha?"

"Do I have any reason to smile anymore, Madhav? I feel like a corpse?"

"Why Partha? What do you lack in life?"

Arjuna looks at his sakha in disbelief. After what was confessed by his mother and brothers a few moments ago, Arjuna feels like his time is frozen. He is in utter disbelief.

"Panchali...my Panchali..."

"Partha, did Sakhi scold you?" Krishna jokes.

"Why is my fate so cruel, sakha? Why must I endure such betrayal?"

"Fate isn't cruel, Partha. It's all about accepting and moving on to the next chapter,"

"Move on? Did I ever, sakha? I never moved on from that day. You know that,"

"Partha, sakhi is with you. She is your wife, your lover, your friend. She is the mother of your children. What more do you want?"

"I don't know. She is so close to me I can touch her just by extending my hand. But I feel I can't get enough of her, I can't get enough of loving her," Arjuna whispers, "I am going crazy, Sakha. My love for her grows each passing second. I feel like jumping in the fire, so your sakhi could notice me. I feel like leaving everything behind and elope with her. I feel like getting lost in the forest walking side by side with her the way we did after her swayamvar."

Arjuna breaks down, "Everything was possible. But my own mother and Jyest betrayed me, Sakha. How can I accept that?"

Krishna holds Arjuna's shoulder, "Bua Kunti was scared because she knew each one of you loved sakhi no less than the other. And Jyest's order followed his desire to bind the person he loves by his side. Even if they didn't want to, their act resulted in betrayal towards you."

"Rukmini loved me without seeing me. Radha loves me without me by her side. Partha the love you five have for her is no less than the purest of love. You fall for her without knowing her, without seeing her. Such great is your love!"

"All five of us?"

"Yes, Partha. All five of you. This is the beauty of love, Arjuna,"

Arjuna looks at his Madhava hopefully.

"You might compete me soon, Partha,"

Arjuna's mind travels to the day when Krishna asked him to present what he loved the most, to his wife.

Draupadi is busy with the rituals of a newly married bride. It's not very long they all moved to Indraprastha after marriage, Kunti insisted on performing all the rituals here as well. With everyone present from Hastinapur, Dwarka and Panchal, Draupadi will be performing her Pehli Rasoi.

Serving everyone kheer, Draupadi stands before the elders as they present her gifts.

"How do you like my daughter in laws cooking, Mahamahim?" Kunti asks.

"Uttam! Ati Uttam!" Bhism praises.

"You have ate foods of her hand. From now on she is your responsibility. Her honor is your honor," Kunti says.

Bhism happily presents Draupadi a beautiful necklace. Kunti moves to Dhritrashtra, then Maharaj Draupad, Balram, Shakuni. Everyone presented her with the most valuable jewelry. In front of Krishna, Draupadi stops. Her mischievous smile only Krishna and Arjuna could see. Kunti stops seeing Draupadi stopping in front of Krishna.