𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐌

Draupadi

"Why did you choose me?" was the first thing he asked me after we were announced Husband and wife. 

I had walked out of the hut, a few hours past midnight. The five Brahmans I called my husbands were fast asleep. Just an angvastra on their upper body was enough for them. but it was too cold for me.

I had taken a seat outside the hut and that's when he joined me. He had been quiet most of the time to the hut from the capital city of Panchal, occasionally turning and checking if I followed him. Sometimes asking me if I had any problem walking or was uncomfortable. 

Not once he asked something about... our marriage. We just met and we were married within the blink of an eye. He asked nothing about it. 

"Why did you choose me?" he asked now when nobody was here to interrupt us. Maybe he was waiting for the opportunity. 

"Why do you think I had a choice?" I was in a mood to stretch the conversation, though I was oblivious to its negative outcomes.

"I saw your Brother objecting. your father's face contoured in dissatisfaction. They didn't want to marry their precious little princess to a poor Brahman like me" He turned his head looking into nothingness. 

"I have nothing to provide you, Krishnaa." His tone turned sad, but I couldn't help but notice how beautiful my name sounded in his voice. the hairs on my body stood upright. you're going crazy, stop it! the voice inside my head screamed.

"I don't have a palace it keeps you in like you deserve. I don't have silken beds you can sleep on. I don't own any gold that you can wear... it is just.. me" he turned towards me, eyes softening. 

"You had the option to reject me. You didn't. Why did you do that?" He demanded. 

I sigh. 

He was the only one in the crowd who didn't look at me with eyes filled with lust. I wasn't a prize to be won. He didn't say that out loud, but I felt it, deep under my skin. 

He came forward unannounced and without an invitation. He wasn't invited and pleaded to marry me. He was willing to take me to be his. Not out of lust, not out of ego, not out of wealth. 

He saw me. just me. His eyes lingered on my face, silently asking for permission. I nod. I allow him to participate. 

he lifts the bow in one go, unlike everyone else who couldn't even do so.
He strings it and the seconds go by in the blink of an eye.

He hit the target. 

I didn't think twice before picking up the garland, ignoring my twin who pleaded with me to wait and think before making a decision. but the decision was already made. He was my husband now.

When a certain someone screamed and provoked the crowd, "Burn her alive" he screamed. I did notice how my husband's first instinct was to stand in front of me, covering my entire form. I didn't fail to notice how his first instinct was to protect me and guard me from the crowd. 

I didn't fail to notice how he didn't think twice before taking his bow and attacking anyone who looked in my direction. 

I didn't fail to notice how he offered to carry me when he thought I was uncomfortable. How he took off the heavy jewelry and carried them all the way to the hut to make the journey easier for me. 

I noticed how he told his mother to allow me to rest since I 'walked a long way'.  I wasn't supposed to hear that considering how far I was sitting from them, but I did.