MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

DETEST FOR AUREATE

FLASHBACK

"I am tired of travelling so much but because of that Gandhar Raj I have to............I am seriously gonna punch duryodhana. Why in the hell does this bastard trust everyone except himself?"

A certain Archer with bright gem on his forehead muttered angrily as he walk through the crowded path of market until he felt himself being collided with someone but decided to ignore it only to hear yells from behind making him turn around to look at the person who is yelling.

"what the hell! can't you see where you are going? Lost your mind, huh? And still is not apologizing, the audacity! You-............."

And there are many words that came after that but ashwatthama didn't comprehend any if them as he find himself lost in those onyx eyes that are sharp as dragger while throwing glares.

Swiftly turning around, the brunette hair shook in such way, that turned his whole world upside down.

Coming out of the captivation, Ashwatthama look around, finding himself the centre of attention in his best friend's Rajya before he walk towards the Rajya's palace to meet his friend.

"karna"

"hello drauni"

Small greetings got exchanged between before they slightly hug each other while walking around the Rajya, talking about Gandhar Raj, the information they found about it, how to confirm it and how to find more information. It was all calm as they walk back from riverbank after karna's Surya Puja until ashwatthama notice someone lighting up lamps inside the palace, though it can be maids too but he is sure this one is not maid cause the dress isn't like one beside the only lamps that are being light up, are the left ones from the maids.

"karna, that person?" Karna, noticing about whom ashwatthama is talking about, went there taking attention as he exchanged greeting before introducing ashwatthama.

"Drauni, meet vrushali, my childhood friend. Vrushali, meet Ashwatthama, one of my best friend and Northern Panchala Raj"

Ashwatthama can clearly see the way vrushali's eyes widen, must be rewinding the incident of morning when they collided and vrushali scolded him so much which he didn't listened since he was lost in those onyx eyes, just like now.

Bowing her head slightly, vrushali look into ashwatthama's eyes before turning around to leave from there and no one questioned it why, as ashwatthama thought it might be because of the morning incident.

"thanks, you can go now"

"yes, Panchala Raj"

Which quickly became false when ashwatthama observed the fact that vrushali isn't being embarrassed about that incident but, is ignoring him and avoiding him. He noticed how always she changes her way whenever she see him coming from front, the way she leave the room immediately in between of her talk with karna when he enters the room, the way she ignore his presence whenever they he coincidentally meet vrushali in the garden but never exchanged greetings with her since she ignores his presence and the way she always comes to talk to karna or ask him anything but ignore him (ashwatthama) who sat near karna.

The avoidance and ignoring mostly made ashwatthama worried and curious as why she is avoiding and ignoring him. He does not know what he did to deserve it or is it for the fact that he gawked at her during that incident when she was scolding him, did she find that creepy? Uncomfortable? If yes then he is ready to apologise and he does feel bad that something about him has made vrushali avoid and ignore him.