Anya's ancient antics: a mahabharat tale

chapter:13

After that day, Anya found herself avoiding Duryodhan without even understanding why. Every time she saw him in the distance, she would turn away, her heart pounding inexplicably in her chest.

Subhadra and Dushala noticed the change in her behavior and tried to confront her about it."Why are you avoiding brother Duryodhana? Did something happen?"

Dushala asked one afternoon, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.Anya waved it off, avoiding their gaze. "Nothing happened! I just... I don't want to bother him, that's all."

She wasn't sure if she was lying to them or to herself Truthfully, she didn't understand why her heart raced whenever she thought of him.

At night, after dinner, Anya was strolling in the gardens with Dushala, while Subhadra had retired early due to exhaustion from packing their things for their trip to Indraprastha. The moonlight bathed the garden in a soft glow, and the gentle breeze played with Anya's hair.

"I should be sleepy, but I'm not," Anya murmured, her thoughts still distracted.

Dushala smiled, about to say something, but then a messenger approached, telling her she was summoned by her mother. "I'll be back shortly," Dushala said before hurrying away, leaving Anya alone.

Anya continued her aimless walk, lost in thought, when she suddenly bumped into someone. Startled, she looked up to find herself face-to-face with Angraj Karn. His warm smile greeted her as he gently steadied her.

"Careful, princess," Karn said in his usual soft, yet teasing tone.

"Oh, Angraj Karn! I wasn't paying attention... I'm sorry," Anya quickly apologized, embarrassed.

Karn chuckled. "No harm done. What has you so deep in thought? You looked like you were about to walk into a tree."

Anya gave a half-hearted laugh. "Just... thinking about leaving for Indraprastha. Lots of things on my mind."

Karn tilted his head, giving her a knowing look. "Hmm, I heard you've been avoiding Mitra Duryodhan lately," he said casually, though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I think it's best you two talk. Avoiding someone like him only makes things more... interesting."

Before Anya could respond, a familiar deep voice cut through the air, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Is that so?" Duryodhan's voice was low, but it carried an unmistakable authority.

Anya turned slowly, and her breath caught in her throat. Duryodhan stood a few paces away, his broad chest bare, his muscular frame exposed as his uttariya was casually draped over his arm. His dark, curly hair swayed slightly in the breeze, framing his strong features. In one hand, he held a drink, the liquid shimmering in the moonlight. In that moment, Anya couldn't help but compare him to a cold yet dangerously alluring CEO, the kind who commanded respect without saying a word.

Her eyes locked with his, and the intensity in his gaze made her heart skip a beat. He was both intimidating and mesmerizing.

"I... I was just-" Anya stammered, unable to find the words.

Karn's lips twitched with amusement. "Well, I'll leave you two to talk. Goodnight, princess," he said smoothly, giving her a knowing glance before walking away, leaving Anya rooted to the spot.

She could feel Duryodhan's eyes burning into her, and she wanted nothing more than to leave. But her feet felt glued to the ground.

"I should... I should go," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to leave.

But before she could take another step, Duryodhan's strong hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back to him. In one fluid motion, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his fingers brushing the bare skin of her slender waist. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she gasped, her breath hitching in her throat.

"Where are you going, Anya?" Duryodhan's voice was deep and husky, and there was a dangerous edge to it. He pulled her closer, their bodies almost touching. "Avoiding me... and now leaving Hastinapur for Indraprastha?" His lips were so close to her ear that she could feel his warm breath on her skin, making her shiver.

"Am I really such a bother to you?"Anya's heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice.

"It's not like that," she whispered. "I... I just... my brother is in Indraprastha, and I want to see Kunti Ma, Draupadi, and the Pandavas..." Her words trailed off as Duryodhan's grip on her waist tightened at the mention of the Pandavas."Your brother, and the Pandavas..." he muttered, his voice laced with jealousy.

His hand slid up her waist, grazing the soft fabric of her dress before resting on the small of her back, pulling her even closer. His other hand gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his dark, intense eyes.

"Is that why you're so eager to leave?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with tension. "To be with them? To leave me behind?"Anya's breath caught in her throat as their faces were mere inches apart. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body, the smell of alcohol lingering on his breath as he spoke. Her mind screamed at her to push him away, but her body refused to move.

She was frozen, captivated by the intensity of his gaze, by the way his hand rested possessively on her waist."N-no... it's not like that..." she stammered, her voice trembling.

Her hands instinctively moved to his chest, but she couldn't muster the strength to push him away. She could feel the hard muscles beneath her fingers, and the heat of his skin was intoxicating.Duryodhan's thumb brushed over her lips, silencing her once again.

"You've been avoiding me, haven't you?" he whispered, his lips so close to hers she could almost feel them. "Why, Anya? What are you so afraid of?""I... I don't know," she breathed, her pulse racing as his hand roamed the length of her waist, sending shivers down her spine.

He leaned in closer, his lips grazing the corner of her mouth, his breath hot against her skin. "Stay here," he murmured, his voice low and commanding. "Don't go to Indraprastha. Stay with me."Anya's head was spinning, her thoughts jumbled.

She couldn't think clearly, not when he was so close, not when her heart was pounding so fast she thought it might explode. "I... I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I have to go..."

Duryodhan's hand tightened around her waist as he pressed his forehead against hers, their lips almost touching. "You want to leave me?" he growled softly, his jealousy evident. "You want to be with them?"Anya closed her eyes, her breath shallow as she felt herself getting lost in the moment.

"No... I-" she started, but before she could finish, his lips brushed against hers, just for a moment, soft but filled with intensity. Her heart stopped, and she felt her entire body tremble under his touch.

But just as quickly as it happened, Duryodhan pulled back, leaving her standing there, dazed and breathless. His eyes were filled with something unreadable as he stepped away, releasing his hold on her.

"You're still just a bratty kid," he muttered, his voice returning to its usual cold tone, though there was a hint of something else-something deeper-lurking beneath the surface.
He turned his back to her, walking away without another word, leaving Anya standing there, stunned, her lips tingling from the almost-kiss.

She stood there, unable to move, her heart still racing as his words echoed in her mind.