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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟻

Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"What the heck do they even think of themselves?!" A few Brahmins complained, panting for breath as they safely came out of the arena.

"First none of them could prove their merit-- and above that! Above that they had the audacity to attack us!"

"Exactly!"

"No wonder why Lord Parshuram had vanquished these proudy Kshatriyas once upon a time!"

"Exactly, exactly! Can't prove their worth but still have their egos high on their heads!" A few of them sat down on the ground to rest, splashing their faces with cool water, fanning themselves with their upper garments.

Arjun quickly rushed towards them with Draupadi, along with a few more Brahmins, far away from the Swayamvar arena. The chaos amidst them was slowly subsiding, as they gathered around the young couple with their unanimous worries.

"You alright...?" His brows knitted close as his gaze darted towards the Princess, panting. Erratic breaths escaped from her lips, with her cheeks flushed. Her disheveled strands of hairs, wandered, a few clinging to her sweaty forehead.

"Yeah, and you?" She muttered glancing up, pushing back the strands of her hairs behind her ears.

Arjun nodded back in a jiffy, perturbed. His worried eyes lurked around, searching for Bheem, a jibe of light panic seizing him as he was no where to be seen.

Where the heck did he go?

"Your-your brother is nowhere in sight..."

"That's what-" Arjun's breath hyped, biting the corner of his lower lip, "Princess, you wait here, hmm-" He exhaled, still looking around taking a few steps back,"-le-let me go and find him."

"Should I come with you?" He felt a tug on his wrist, momentarily halting him, taking him aback for a while as he turned back at her. With her quickened breaths, her innocent eyes hinted worry, as her soft palm gripped over him. And he wished he could deny the stutter in his heart, for it wasn't the time to feel so.

"N-No, no Princess!" He opened his mouth, shaking his head vigorously, "You-"

"Arrey! Here he comes!"

"He came, he came!" The Brahmins squealed happily, rushing towards him.

Arjun and Draupadi's gaze immediately snapped towards the other side, as Bheem came out with a few other Brahmins. Panting and swathed with sweat and dirt, he marched towards Arjun immediately.

The latter sighed, rushing towards him and enveloping his brother in a hug, "You both alright?!" Bheem's panting voice gurgled. Arjun broke the hug, passing him a small grin that tugged on his lips and nodded, as they gazed back at Draupadi. Bheem stiffened, inadvertantly poising himself, feeling her eyes on them. She smiled slowly, lowering her lashes down, standing with her hand over her other wrist and peering at them.

Arjun looked back at Bheem, and so did he with a perplexed, little smile, both knowing where their fate would be heading to from now.

All they could do, was wait for the destiny to unfold the way it should.

"Let's head for home...it-it's going to be sunset soon." Bheem suggested, looking up at the sky.

"Yeah yeah! Let's go! We'll come along as well!" The Brahmins unanimously hollered, giving up their sour moods, "Come brothers!"

"For the first time a Brahmin is getting married to a Princess! Is it a small feat?! Let's celebrate!"

"Let's celebrate!"