𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟾

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Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Brahman Dev, isn't the meal up to the mark?" 

Arjun flinched slightly with a ragged breath, peering up at the potter's wife who had an edgy smile on her lips. Her fingers dangled with a jar of curry, abruptly halting the ladle at the latter's leaf platter. 

And that's when he realized he had swept into a daze, and not even half of the flat-bread was eaten. Realizing he had barely touched his meal, a flush of embarrassment washed over him, "N-No, it's perfect! I was just I...." He smiled as much as he could, tearing the flatbreads and dipping into the curry. 

He gaze locked with Bheem for a moment, who peered at him, raising a brow with a little smile. He immediately looked down, pretending to be busy slicing his flatbreads as much as he could.

Since the time they had returned from the temple, his younger brother was lost

"I thought that-"

"No no, it's not so." Arjun assured further with a smile. The potter's wife satisfactorily nodded, and moved over to Bheem and Yudhishthir to fill their curry bowls.

"You, alright?" Nakul nudged him slightly, waving his brows. 

"Yeah, what would be wrong with me?" Arjun replied, grabbing the glass of water beside him and taking a long drink, emptying the half of it. To be found staring into nothingness at the temple, unless Bheem called him from behind, wouldn't be a story worth narrating though. And above that, getting deliberately drenched from head to toe, when he could've easily sheltered under the trees. 

Only to realize, she was already gone.

And he? He was still breathing in her fragrance like a delirious soul. 

 He wiped the corner of his mouth, stifling a witless smile that threatened to break free again.

 Those  damp abyss tresses, fluttered back and forth as she was led away by her handmaidens, but she turned back. Again and again, with those yearningly deep, dreamy eyes of hers, leaving a trail of her maddening fragrance. 

Those deep and dreamy eyes of hers.

"You seem lost—-"

"Hnn, maybe..." He languidly rubbed the sides of his temple, angling his head with a lazy smile, soaking the flatbread in the curry, letting it drip.

"What?" Nakul furrowed his brows, exchanging an awed glance with Sahadev, who had stopped chewing his morsel in between and gazed back at their brother. Arjun widened his eyes almost instantly, shaking his head, "No, no! It's nothing, I am fine!" Passing an edgy smile to the twins, he resumed eating. 

Nakul continued to watch him, then glanced at Bheem, who was engrossed in his food, oblivious to the silent exchange.

"Eat....you both quietly," Arjun muttered, his jaws warming up as he looked away, this time vowing not to look anywhere but at his platter.

Goodness!

.

.

.

"Really, I don't know how to express my gratitude," the potter said, his voice thick with emotion. He loaded pots onto his cart, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "I almost thought that—"

"No need, Aarya, it's our duty," Yudhishthir replied gently, securing the bull to the cart. The midday sun blazed in the sky, contrasting with the cool winter breeze that rustled the leaves.

"Still, thank you so much..."

Arjun chuckled as he placed the last two pots on the cart, carefully stacking them. "But take care this time."

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