Raghukul: Mahabharat

Chapter 12: The 9 months

News of Draupadi's pregnancy spread rapidly across the kingdoms, filling the hearts of many with joy and celebration. In Panchal, King Drupad, Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandini smiled with happiness and relief. Drupad, who had always worried about Draupadi's future, felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. Dhrishtadyumna, ever the protective brother, was pleased to see his sister settled and content. Shikhandini, who had always shared a special bond with Draupadi, rejoiced at the thought of her sister becoming a mother.

However, in Hastinapur, the news was received very differently. Arjun's reaction was nothing short of explosive. He locked himself in his private chamber, a room filled with memories of Draupadi. On the wall, a large portrait of Draupadi hung, capturing her beauty and grace in a moment of stillness. It was a constant reminder of what he desired but could not have.

Arjun paced back and forth, his face twisted in a mix of rage and despair. He swept his arm across his desk, sending everything crashing to the floor. Scrolls, ink pots, and ornaments shattered into pieces, mirroring his fractured state of mind.

"How could she do this to me?" he muttered, his eyes wild with anger. "She was meant to be mine."

His obsession with Draupadi had grown over the years, festering into something dark and consuming. He often found himself lost in thoughts of her, his mind filled with fantasies of possessing her, of making her his own. The news of her pregnancy was a dagger to his heart, a brutal reminder that she was now irrevocably bound to another man—Karn, his most hated rival.

Arjun clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms until they drew blood. "I won't let this stand," he vowed, his voice a low growl. "I will have her, no matter the cost."

He turned to the portrait of Draupadi, his eyes burning with a twisted mix of love and hatred. "You will be mine, Draupadi," he whispered, his voice trembling with intensity. "I will take you from him. I swear it."

His thoughts grew darker as he imagined the lengths he would go to claim her. Deceit, manipulation, even violence—nothing was off the table. In his mind, she was a prize to be won, an obsession that consumed his every waking moment.

As Arjun stood there, seething with rage and plotting his next move, the news continued to spread. Friends and allies rejoiced in Ayodhya, celebrating the coming of a new heir. But in Hastinapur, a storm was brewing—a storm fueled by Arjun's dark obsession and his unwavering vow to take Draupadi for himself, no matter the cost.

As the months went by and Draupadi's due date came closer, the atmosphere in Hastinapur grew tense. Arjun's obsession with Draupadi deepened, casting a shadow over his once noble demeanor. He became withdrawn, his thoughts consumed by the image of Draupadi and the life she was building with Karn. The portrait in his chamber seemed to mock him, a constant reminder of what he could not have.

His behavior grew increasingly erratic. He would spend hours in his room, staring at the portrait, muttering to himself. His temper flared at the slightest provocation, and his training sessions became brutal displays of his inner turmoil. Those who knew him watched with growing concern, but none dared to confront him.

Shakuni, ever the opportunist, observed Arjun's descent with keen interest. The former Gandhar Raj had long since cast aside any semblance of honor, aligning himself with Duryodhan and the darker forces within Hastinapur. He saw in Arjun a pawn ripe for manipulation, a tool to further his own ambitions.

One evening, Shakuni approached Arjun, finding him in his chamber, brooding over the portrait of Draupadi.

"Arjun," Shakuni said smoothly, his voice dripping with false concern. "You seem troubled."