In this fresh retelling of the Mahabharata, Draupadi is bound by destiny to Arjun alone, their love a powerful force amidst a world unraveling in chaos and adharma.
As the whispers of war grow louder and betrayal strikes from within, their bond is...
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Arjun watched as Draupadi silently walked away toward the pond. Her usually confident and graceful demeanor seemed clouded by something heavier, something unsettling. He had noticed her quietness all day, her distant gaze that rarely met anyone’s eyes. It was unlike her. She hadn't uttered a word when they decided to return to Hastinapur, and that silence weighed heavily on his heart.
Concerned, he excused himself from the others and followed her.
When he reached the pond, his heart tightened at the sight. Draupadi sat by the edge, her hand lazily moving through the cool water, her eyes lost in the ripples. The evening sun bathed her in a soft, golden glow, making her look ethereal, but the beauty of the scene couldn’t hide the heaviness in her soul. She seemed so detached, so far away in her thoughts, as if the weight of the world was pulling her under.
Arjun approached slowly, his steps soft on the earth. He sat beside her, not saying a word, hoping she would sense his presence. But Draupadi remained motionless, her eyes still fixed on the water, as if it held the answers to all her worries.
Minutes passed in silence. Arjun’s heart ached. He could feel her pain but couldn’t grasp what it was. Gently, he spoke, his voice tender, filled with concern, "Krishnaa, what weighs on your heart so heavily? Please, share it with me."
Draupadi finally turned her face to him, and what he saw took his breath away. Her eyes, usually fierce and filled with determination, were now clouded with emotions he couldn’t immediately understand. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over, yet she held them back. The sight of her like this, so vulnerable, shook him to his core.
Without thinking, Arjun reached out and cupped her face in his hands, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "What is it, my love? What is hurting you?" he whispered, his voice full of love and worry.
Draupadi placed her hand over his, her touch trembling. "Arya... I am scared," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "As we return to Hastinapur... Kauravas' hatred will grow stronger. I fear... there will be more schemes, more traps. What if they succeed in breaking us apart, Arya? I cannot stay away from you... the thought itself kills me.”
Arjun felt a lump in his throat, his chest tightening at the sheer vulnerability in her voice. He had always known Draupadi to be strong, fearless, yet here she was, opening her heart to him in a way that broke through all his defenses. His thumb gently wiped away the tear that escaped her eye, his heart heavy with love and concern.
“krishnaa,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You are my strength. I cannot be broken as long as you are with me. We’ve faced worse, and we have come through it all—together.”
He leaned in closer, his forehead resting gently against hers as he spoke with quiet intensity. "No scheme, no force in this world, can ever take you away from me. Not while I live, not while I breathe. We are bound by more than just fate—our love, our loyalty, our strength... nothing can break that."
