Love & Betrayal

~ Good News

As always draupadi was alone in her chamber. She was walking around the room with frightening fingers and worry printed on her face. She was feeling nervous and scared at same time. Prativindya stubbornly wished to sleep with his grandmother, she tried to convince him but at last kunti also requested her to let him be with her and then she couldn't do anything. She was now in problem on how to face him alone. Every night she pretends to sleep holding her son but now he's not there.

Though she don't fear him but feels nervous when alone with him. She just wanted to run away. Just then she heard the footsteps and that made her feet turn cold. "Why's he so early today?" She blabbered and started finding something to hide behind.
After entering inside he saw the room empty. His eyebrows narrowed with confusion. Where's she? He could feel her presence, the fragrance of blue lotus was fresh in the chamber and he was sure about she being in there. Just when he was thinking to see her, in a certain corner behind the curtain his eyes caught her flying drape.

Unintentionally a chuckle left his lips. He decided to play around and without making any noise he went towards the same corner standing a bit backward so that she won't see him and stood their silently. Whereas draupadi was waiting for him to enter the snangrah so that she could leave the chamber but she failed to hear any movement from him. Due to the long silence she confusingly held the curtain and peeped outside from it only to see none there. She was surprised as just few time ago he was there. She walked two steps further and checked around.

"Where did he go?" She thought in low voice. There yudhishthir smiled as he came behind her and tapped on her shoulder. Draupadi turned around but soon screamed to see him suddenly before her. With the unexpected reaction yudhishthir felt panick striking him, he immediately came closer and covered her mouth with his palm.

"Panchali, why are you screaming? Please clam down." He said as his palm over her mouth and other hand on her waist. Draupadi kept her palms on his chest as she looked at him with wide eyes. She babbled something under the palm to which he gave confused looks. She finally came out of shock and hit his arm with angry facial. He took his hands back making an innocent look.

"You scared me and then not even letting me scream properly." She complained while glaring at him while he stood there blank but soon laughed at something.

"What? You are laughing? What is there to laugh? Tell me." She asked with more angry look which he found cute. She was always like this. And he loved it when she turns angry. "Forgive me, my mistake!" He said while trying to control his laughter.

"What are you laughing at? Don't talk to me. First you scared me and now laughing at me." She hitted on his arm and walked away from there. Yudhishthir controlled himself and followed her as he held his ears and apologized. "I'm really very sorry. You look cute while scolding. I just wanted to tease you little."

She huffed at him and crossed her arms. "You are so bad, arya! I just don't want to talk to you." She said in a flow not realising her words but he did. The call hitted him hard as he came to reality. His face turned blank while eyes filled with a hope. She just called him 'arya'. It was so pleasant to hear yet felt acceptance. From the time they had married she never addressed him anything except maharaj, but today it was like she gave him the right. Suddenly draupadi turned to face him, seeing his face she realised the situation and pushed herself out of what she was doing. She felt it a bit wrong and decided to move but before that he caged her in a hug.
It was unexpected for draupadi, she was stir on her place without no thoughts in her mind. This hug just rewinded the old memories of them. The comfort and warmness filled with love.

Yudhishthir snuggled more with her as he didn't want to let her go. He caressed her back gently, drauapdi closed her eyes feeling comfortable and at the same time her face was turning red. He was suddenly showing so much affection towards her. "I was trying not to bother you until you forgive me and accept me but trust me it's getting impossible to see you far away from myself. I know, I'm forcing you but please atleast let me see you everyday. I'll become your slave, do everything you say but just stay in front of my eyes." He said and yet again a shock for her. Isn't he taking a 360 degree turn. When did he become so bold?

Wasn't he always bold for her? It was him confessing about his love to her by directly entering her chamber. And always showed his love openly to her.

She thought. Yudhishthir then broke the hug and held both her palm. He kissed on them and thanked her again and again for giving birth to their child when she could have easily abandoned him. Draupadi didn't say anything as she couldn't form any word. She just heard whatever he was saying. When she finally thought that it's enough, got an another surprise. He came closer and very gently kissed on her forehead. He smiled at her warmly as his eyes holding affection and love. She was stir when he left the hold on her. He asked her to take rest as it has been a tiring day for her. Draupadi robotically nodded her head and tried to get on bed as soon as possible. She immediately changed then laid on the bed and covered herself with the blanket. She was so much embarrassed, after almost and hour she peeped out of the blanket, now to see him engrossed in his scrolls and checking out his documents.

She covered herself again and closed her eyes, sleep was far away as those dreamy events were not letting her mind to stop thinking. Still with that she slept.

............

"Jiji!" Draupadi turned back as she heard valandara calling her. She greeted her with a smile but the younger lady wasn't seeming good. She came and hugged her. She confusingly narrowed her eyebrows and patted on valandara's back in a relaxing process. "Are you fine valandara? Please tell me what happened."  Valandara looked at her then to their surrounding and dragged draupadi with her.

"What happened? Atleast now tell me." As both the ladies sat in draupadi's chamber she finally asked. Valandara was nervous and hesitant to speak while draupadi was patiently waiting for her to say something. "Jiji something is happening to me. I'm getting moody and feeling nausea, vomitings. I...had gone to vaidya and.....i...." She said but didn't complete her words instead lowered her eyes. Draupadi who was having a very strong feeling made her look at her by holding her chin with a smile. "Are you....really? Is it true vala?" Her smile grow bigger when valandara shyly nodded and hid her face.

Draupadi jumped in joy and immediately hugged her. She was just so much happy with this news.

"Maa!" They both got distracted as prativindya came running and climbed over draupadi. He lazily hugged her and closed his eyes resting on her lap. Draupadi caressed his hair and spoke with him but he was already sleepy and dozed up soon.

"How does it feel jiji? I'm very scared, what if I fail to take care of it? I'm so confused jiji." She worriedly said with tensed face. Draupadi smiled softly as she looked at her son and then at her sister in law. "You should not be scared vala. Just remeber that you will be a best mother and don't be scared, I'm with you. Bharata Bheem is with you. We all will take care of your child. And I'm so happy that finally someone will come to make my silly son responsible." She lastly cracked a joke to which they both giggled.

.............