Empire of Righteousness ( The Beginning)

Chapter 155 : His Portrait

A few days passed. Arjuna was so guilty he didn't meet her eyes. He avoided her at all costs.

At first he thought his Madhav wanted him to remind him of the beautiful memories. Her love for him. But it isn't the only thing. He will know things that she has buried so deep in her heart. He will know things none of them ever knew.

He looks around in her chamber. He believes it's here somewhere. He carefully looks inside her clothes and chests.

"You won't find it here, Partha,"

Arjuna turns around off guard and completely embarrassed.

"Then...did she..."

"It's preserved in the place where Rajkumari Draupadi fall in love with the archer at first sight," Krishna sits down smiling, "It's her palace in Panchala."

Arjuna also sits down beside his Madhav.

"Krishnaa feared how your brothers will react if they find out about her love for you before marriage. You know Bhrata Bheema is really short tempered in this case," Krishna explains further.

"To make others comfortable she completely disregard me..." Arjuna whispers.

"She never did. But she also had to be equal to five of you. What would your brothers do if she is on your place? Obsessing over only one of them? Partha, I repeat, your brothers love her no less. They might have fallen for her first, but she fall for them harder,"

"Despite all these betrayals!" Arjuna mocks.

This time Krishna gets both angry and offended, "Arjuna, if we begin to talk about betrayal, I will lost count of yours. You left her when she needed you the most. This society permits men to marry as much he wishes. He doesn't need to consider his wives feelings and he can be partial all he wants. Krishnaa married you five and not once let you feel jealousy or wrong. Krishnaa knows you five more than yourselves. That woman is aware of your every breath, your scent even your footsteps. And, I made you five vow to so many things to ensure her happiness. Even taking oughts, you five failed her."

Arjuna looks down, "I apologize, Madhav. I said wrongly."

"Being equal isn't easy. It takes an uncountable amount of devotion and love for that. You can leave any other wives without regret. Can you leave Krishnaa?"

"Madhav," Arjuna cries in panic, "Madhav, I fear even death won't let me be separate from her. This isn't only mental pain but also physical. My soul won't be at ease even in death if not beside her."

"Partha, love comes with it's share of pain. Those who haven't suffered it, haven't tasted love yet. Krishnaa is yours, her love, her affection is yours. Her heart is set on you. Don't make her go away,"

Maharaj Draupad is immensely sick. Dhristadhyumna didn't tell his sister. Nakula and Sahadeva have spend sleepless nights beside his bed.

Yudhisthira, Nakula and Sahadeva thought their father in law will scream at them in anger and they were honestly prepared for it. But when he turned around to look at them, he only sighed to turned his back on them.

They touched his feet. He only nods sighing again.

"What blessing can this old man even give you now?" he mutters.

"Pitashree, you staying over our head is enough of any blessings. Please rest well," Yudhisthira gestures his brothers.

With a quick talk with the royal physician, Nakula and Sahadeva begin their treatment. Maharaj Draupad would be in unconscious state most of the time. His chamber is filled with heavy scent of medical herbs.