Love & Betrayal

~ The Pain

"I can't belive this! Jyesth bhrata can't do this adharma, if it was about we four then I had a second thought but jyesth? This can't be true, there's something more we don't know." Arjun spoke up as he sat with concern on his face. Subhadra kept her hand on his shoulder as she changed a look with valandara who was sitting with her husband and on a little distance there were nakul and shadev. Shadev was silent from a long time while nakul was just blank and bheem, arjun were unable to belive. They four have seen their eldest brother's love for fire born princess then how should they belive this? But if not then who is speaking truth? They don't have any doubt on draupadi but at the same time couldn't trust the situation.

"I think we should leave the topic here. Instead of this we have to do something about maata's anger. Jyesth isn't in good condition, we have to do something." Valandara spoke up trying to distract everyone from the topic. They all nodded but then subhadra said. "What about draupadi jiji? She suffered a lot and now didn't even get a proper welcome in our family. We couldn't do anything for their marriage atleast now we have to do something."

They all looked at each other then started thinking about it. "I'm tensed for rajkumari maithili. What will be her reaction?" Nakul said which brought a tensful look on their faces. Shadev looked stressed and unsettled about that thought.

...........

It was night time and draupadi was sitting on the bed with her son. She was now changed into the Royal clothes just like before, but devoid of any jewellery. It was feeling very new for her, the luxurious life which she had left years ago had again come to her feet. She cooed her son who was randomly staring at everything with curious eyes.

"Maa.....this is so big!" He told as draupadi smiled and caressed his hair. "Putra, it's late you should sleep now." She told him to which he sat up and shook his head.
"I want to meet baba." His demand got her to exhale a breathe as once her son decided something then he won't go back without it. She didn't say anything and went to the balcony. After long time she had this moment. Few minutes later she could hear the laughing voice of prativindya but that didn't break her silence. She just turned to face him and saw yudhishthir sitting on the bed with prativindya completely hidden in his arms.

"Baba!" Prativindya squealed as yudhishthir kissed him and hid his face into his little neck. His heart could finally sense the peace, the happiness he was craving for from years. He himself know how many storms were going through his inside but at that time he only knew one thing and that was his son and his wife.
"Baba, why didn't you come before? I love you don't leave me and maata." Prativindya innocently said which brought out the suppressed guilt. He hugged his son and promised to never leave him. "I promise, now we will always live together." Prativindya wrapped his hands around his broad shoulders and soon slept in his arms. Yudhishthir warmly smiled as he laid him down on the bed and looked for her. Their eyes met as he saw her looking at him already but she immediately turned to other side. He first covered his son and then went for her.

He stopped when she was just two steps away. The two steps were feeling so huge as the emotions washed over him. He started rewinding everything. Their first meet, then love, then their souls getting one and finally the separation. Everything was so fast to even understand, he couldn't even take a choice for it. As the memories came to his mind he felt weak to approach her.

"I can't understand what's happening. Should I trust your words now or remember those? Today is real Or that day when you said those things to me. Which is your actual face? Sometimes I hate you but my love overpowers it. I was heartbroken with the news of your death........and when you finally came I can't decide anything." Her throat bottled up with pain as she tried to compose herself but those tears already came. Yudhishthir felt guilty, at the same time he felt the need to clear every misunderstanding but then what should he tell? He can't blame his sister too, it was his call to take decision.

Unable to understand he kept his hands on her shoulders then bringing her closer to him hugged her from behind. His face hidden on her neck. Her feeling weak held on his arm. She wanted to forget everything but couldn't with what she faced.

"Please forgive me panchali! Punish me whatever you want but please forgive me." He said sitting on his knees while holding her both hands.

"I can't! I will try but I can't promise. That days troubles me till date, I can't forget it easily." She said with no emotions. Taking back her hands she walked inside. Yudhishthir closed his eyes with pain but accepted her sadness. He walked inside and stood near the bed as she was sitting near her son while caressing his head. He sat near her feet and just kept starring at her. He wanted to say many things but couldn't express himself, he was grateful to her for coming into his life and at the same time feeling shame on himself about how he just threw her away without any fault of hers.
"Panchali!" He called to which she responded but avoided to look at him. "Don't forgive me easily. I promise to seek forgiveness from you, I will do everything to get back your trust and love. For now I'm happy that you are with me."  She didn't speak a word but his words definitely affected her. She felt the same emotions for him which she had years back before confessing her love. She still feels the same rapid heart beats whenever he comes closer maybe the distance between them placed them on the same place where they were years back.

Later after few time she started feeling sleepy but it was feeling too much awkward to even move. Her actions were telling that she wasn't feeling comfortable which went noticed by him. He stood up on his place and stood at a distance.
"You should sleep now, it's already late." Her posture relaxed when he said that. She just didn't react but acted accordingly. Taking her son in her arms she laid down. Her eyes closed but the fear didn't go. She was scared of him. Scared that he may again touch her which was still a nightmare for her. Yudhishthir, who was just covering both her son and wife with blanket unintentionally touched her hand to which she jerked upon sleep.

Draupadi jerked out her hand and looked at him. She didn't show much emotions but he could clearly see the fear in her eyes which broke his heart badly. His breathe unevenly let out as he dropped the blanket and stepped behind. "I'm just helping. You both sleep here I have some work so I won't be staying at room. If you needed anything then please inform me, I'm just outside." He told to which she nodded and laid back on her place tightly holding the blanket.
Yudhishthir just heavily breathed in and started going. "Take care!" She heard him but decided to be quite.

...........