Petrichor - Time Travel To Mahabharat Era

34

"Now, Someone from bride's side come and give her hand to the groom", the priest announced. Hidimba just looked down as her only family, her brother, is dead now and there is no one from her side. Bheem saw her and started to get worried. "I- I don't have-", Hidimba Started saying, but stopped as she saw Vaishnavi taking her hand and putting it on Bheem's hand. "As someone in the Younger sister's position, I give my lovely elder sister to you, Rajkumar Vrikodar! Take care of her", she said and Bheem just smiled at her, kept his hand on her head and ruffled. She giggled closing her eyes as his hand was bigger than her head. Hidimba just hugged her and said, "Thank you, Little sister", for which she smiled and hugged her back. Nakul and Sahadev, who were sitting beside the groom, pulled her to sit with them. All three brothers looked at her suspiciously and examined her. It looked like they four were chatting with each other. She looked at them and whisper-asked, "Guys, what is wrong?". Bheem immediately smirked and asked, "Vaishu! Your Kumkum is unusually big today? As if SOMEONE applied it to you". She looked at them with big eyes, where those three were just smirking playfully at her.

***

"Vaish! Do I really have to do this? Come on man!", Nakul whined as Vaishnavi stood there with a stick in her hand and the purple cloth tied in her head. "Well, You lost the challenge bro!", she said and hit him slightly with the stick. "Ouch! Okay okay! I'll do it", he said and went towards Simba. Nakul, Bheem and Arjun were standing there, stifling their laughter.

Nakul started muttering with an annoyed expression, "Listen! Simba! You are really handsome, Okay!". Vaishnavi kept her hands near her ear and started yelling, "Haah? I can't hear you properly!!! Come again?". Nakul retorted back, "Hey! The bet was only to tell the horse! Not to you", and showed his tongue out.

She kept the stick on the ground and stood with the support of it. She kept another hand on her hip and said, "Haiinn! Look, I am the winner of this trend- Uh- I mean challenge! Challenge! You do as I say", she ordered.

Nakul helplessly looked at his brothers, who were looking at everything except him. Then his eyes went to Simba, who gave an 'I can't do anything bruh' look. He stomped harshly and started saying, "Tch! Simba! You are the most handsom-", but was cut off by the group, "We can't hear you". He took a deep breath and screamed, "Simbaa!!! You are the most handsome being to ever exist on earth. More handsome than MEEE!",  and he looked at others, who were just laughing at him.

Vaishnavi dramatically said, "Hufff! Nakul! Why are you screaming? You crazy or something?", she came near him. He just smiled, nodded his head and swiftly took the stick from her hand. She looked at him wide eyed and gulped saying, "Nakul! No! No! We are friends right?", she started moving backwards. "Friends? You crazy or something?", he said and started chasing her. She went behind Sahadev and he got the hit accidentally.

"Ah! Nakul! You are so dead now!", Sahadev said and started chasing Nakul. "Vaish! Stop! It's all because of you", Nakul shouted and started to chase her. They three were running around and accidentally Sahadev dashed into Bheem, making his Laddoo fall on the ground. They all stood there shook at that and Bheem was having the scariest expression. "Sahadev! You are dead today!", he screamed and now joined them in chasing each other.

Arjun was just laughing, clutching his stomach looking at the four. Soon, Vaishnavi bumped into Arjun, who held her tightly from falling. The other three were busy fighting each other. He pushed some hair strands from her face and tucked them behind her ears. "Be careful!", he said and smiled. She smiled back and said, "Life is really easy now, right! I feel sooo free", she said and extended her hands as if she was flying, and his grip on her waist tightened so that she wouldn't fall.

He just smiled looking at her, thinking that he would just do anything and everything in the world, just to get this sight once more. She continued saying, "Awh man! I'm gonna miss all this!". He smilingly frowned and asked, "Miss?". She said, "Yeah! I have to go back tomorrow righ-", but stopped, realising that it's time for her to return to Dwaraka. His smile died down slowly as she looked at him with a sad expression. Soon, his grip on her waist also loosened. He thought she would be with them, forever.

As soon as he left her, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me? You have to leave?". She looked at him confused and said, "What? I told you all right? As soon as I woke u-", she trailed off, remembering that he was not present when she told them. She kept her hand on her head and said, "You were not there when I said this, Arjun! Sorry, I didn't realise". He just chuckled sadly and said,"Well! Have a great journey I guess!", and left the place immediately. "Arjun! Arjun, Wait!", she called him shouting but he was already out of the sight. The three brothers stopped fighting at that and thought that they should do something about this.

***

"Mata! I'll take a leave then?", Vaishnavi came to the main area where everyone was talking and laughing. "Already Putri?", Kunti asked sadly. Hidimba also joined, "Vaishnavi! We didn't even talk properly! It's just been 3 days and you already want to go?". Nakul said, " What man Vaish!!! Without you, it would be really boring! Don't go already!", he pouted. Sahadev also joined, "Yeah Vaishu! You stay here for 3 more days". Bheem got up from his place and roared, "You are not going anywhere! This is demon king's order".

Vaishnavi just chuckled sadly and said, "Guys, I have to go! I promised my brother that I'll return". Yudisthir thought and said, "As much as we don't want you to go Vaishu, it would be right if you leave to your place". Vaishnavi, acknowledging, looked at him and said, "Well, Thanks for that Bhrata!". He just smiled in return and ruffled her head. Bheem looked at Arjun, who was silent all this while, said, "Arjun! You go drop her until the end of this forest". Vaishnavi just looked at him, who didn't speak with her since the previous day. Yudisthir also said, "Yes Arjun! Ensure her safety!". Arjun replied lowly, "As you say, Jyesth Bhrata!", and left the place without saying anything else.

"See you, Mata!", Vaishnavi hugged Kunti. "I will miss you, Putri!", she said with tears. "We will meet soon, Mata! Trust me! Everything's gonna be alright!", Vaishnavi said smiling. Kunti just nodded at her and she went towards Hidimba, who hugged her and said, "Take care of yourself, little sister". Vaishnavi just chuckled and said, "Okay! Big sister". They both shared a smile and she went towards Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev who just group hugged her.

"Take care!"

"Don't forget to eat food properly!"

"Don't forget us!"

They all were saying different things to her, for which she let out a crying chuckle and said, "If you guys do like this, it'll be hard for me to go!". "Who told you to go then! Stay Vaishu!", Sahadev said. She broke the hug and said, "I have to respect the promise I made to my brother, right!". They all nodded and waved their hands in bye. She waved back and went to Yudisthir and got his blessings. "Always be happy! And also ask the well being of Vasudev!", he blessed her. She told bye to all of Rakshasa clan who just screamed Bye in gibberish.

She went to Arjun, who was ready with Simba, not saying anything to her. She went and hopped onto the horse and Arjun hopped on the horse following her. She finally waved a goodbye to all and Arjun started the journey. All while, they were silent as they didn't know what to tell each other. Both of them didn't speak anything to each other. Her back was touching his chest with each step of the horse.

Due to the wind, her hair was getting into his eyes. She immediately tamed them saying, "Sorry!", but he just stopped her, looked at her and said, " Don't! It's okay! I like it this way". She just smiled little and refused to make eye contact with him again. She wouldn't be able to leave if she does. Soon, they reached the destination, both blaming the time for being too short.

He got down of the horse and smiled sadly at her. "From here, you can go straight without turning anywhere! You will reach Panchal! There, seek help from my Gurudev Dron to reach back to Dwaraka", he told her looking down, as if hiding his face. She held his hands, which were gently stroking Simba, and called him, "Arjun!", which made him look up at her.

Both saw that they had tears in their eyes. "Do I really have to go?", she choked. Blinking his tears, he adamantly shook his head in a no. He barely managed to say, "D- Don't!". She wasted no time and immediately jumped on him from the horse, who held her and fell on ground hugging her.

"Vaishnavi! Don't- Don't leave me!"

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Hey all, how are y'all doing? 😊 I just got caught up in some work so I didn't upload this yesterday. Anyways, here it is.

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