|| Never Without You || [ The Tale Of Arjun-Draupadi ] (I)

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟺

Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Princess, now garland him! If you both continue to stare at each other, the Sun shall settle!" 

Arjun bit on his lip subtly, to stop the threatening smile that was daring to etch out. 

She was going to be his. Forever.

And that thought alone was sending chills down his spine. For a moment he felt like his heart was about to erupt with overwhelm, for he felt everyone all at once. The mere feeling that he could see her everyday from now was thrilling him to the core. 

He gazed back at her, who now had a little, shy smile on her face with her lashes lowered. She slowly stretched out her arms, and tiptoed slightly and slipped the white garland around his neck, her knuckles innocently brushing over the sides of his collars making him purse his lips again at the fluttering feeling in his core. 

The way she had gone lost in his eyes that day at the temple, inadvertently holding his hand to her shyly avoiding his gaze and blush with a smile—

He would no longer have to dream about her, or wait for days just to catch a glimpse of her or be only chose to be happy just to have a whiff of fragrance of her blue lotus. It felt that it was like an ending to those days of a deep, long yearning. 

She was his. And he would be hers. 

And that feeling—

"THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR!" A loud roar suddenly made him look up with his brows raise, and Draupadi turned around for the same. The King of Magadh flared in anger along with other few, who were bubbling with rage. Drupad stood up with his sons, and Shikhandi drew out his sword, stepping down from the stage. 

Arjun raised a brow incredulously, his lips twitching. 

"WHAT KIND OF JUSTICE IS THIS KING DRUPAD?!" One of them barked, raising his sword, "THIS IS OUR INSULT! DRUPAD YOU HAVE INSULTED US!"

"YOU HAD INVITED AN ENTIRE ARYAVART OF KSHATRIYAS JUST TO HUMILIATE THEM?! SO AT THE END THIS MERE BRAHMIN TAKES AWAY YOUR DAUGHTER?!" 

Commotion increased among the public and so did fear.

"Listen to me Kings! This was a Swayamvar, and the rules were clear!" Shikhandi argued, breathing in.

"Oh we don't care about the rules! It is a blatant insult!" Duryodhan joined, tightening his hold on his mace, "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT NOT WE BUT THIS POOR BRAHMIN MANAGED TO HIT THE TARGET! IT'S NOTHING BUT A DECEIT BY THIS BRAHMIN!"

"EXACTLY! EXACTLY! HE HAS DONE IT BY DECEIT!"

"Please, please calm down! Kings, please!" Drupad shook his head, his brows furrowing in frustration, "IT'S NOT AS YOUR THINKING!" Within a few moments, the area of the royals heated up. Seeing a few Kings protest, the rest of them started barking as well, clanging their weapons in anger and rage, "IT IS AN INSULT! AN INSULT TO THE KSHARIYAS!" 

Arjun felt his grip tightening on the bow, a flicker of anger whistling past him. 

How was that when they couldn't accomplish something they blatantly blame the one who does it? 

"LISTEN TO ME KINGS! Such behavior doesn't suite you!" 

"AND SHALL INSULT WILL?! AND WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT KING DRUPAD TO INCLUDE THE COMMONERS?! SWAYAMVARS ARE ONLY FOR KSHATRIYAS!"

"IS THIS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PANCHALANS?!"

"LOOK, IT WAS CLEARLY MENTIONED IN THE RULES—THERE IS NO ARGUMENT REGARDING THAT!" Drupad flared, shaking his head, "MY DAUGHTER SHALL GARLAND WHO OVER SHE THINKS DESERVES HER! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION HER CHOICE, HER WISH!"