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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟼

Paanchaal, Kaampilya

Kunti immediately stood up, pushing back a strand of loose hair behind her ear as her wide eyes weren't able to move away from the pair before her.

She cupped her mouth, striding towards them as her voice faltered with a tremble, "Son, she...?" her eyes darting between Arjun and the Princess standing beside him, her head bowed.

Arjun swallowed hard. "Y-yes, Maa," he stammered, feeling lost for words with his throat starting to turn dry. His heart pounded in his chest, as he looked between his mother and the woman at his side.

This—this was not how he had thought it would be. 

The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Arjun inhaled sharply, stealing a glance at his stunned brothers. 

"Maata?" Kunti was hauled out of her spiraling thoughts as Draupadi's lips tugged into a faint smile, with her folding her palms in front of her. Her lips quivered as she bit on them, slowly reaching out to cup the Princess's hands, "O God..."  

"What did I even say?" Her voice cracked, and her breath hitched as she glanced wildly around. Her cold hands, clammy with sweat, tightened around the Princess's warm ones as she lowered them down, "O my God!" 

"What did you do Vijay? Why didn't you say you had brought Paanchaali home?!" 

"Who refers their wife to as alms, son?" Kunti's voice tremored with her gaze stuck upon him, "What did you do? You saw I was praying, didn't you?!"

"You know right that I...." Kunti fumbled, shutting her eyes momentarily and shaking her head.

Arjun dared not meet her eyes, pressing his lips together hard in cluelessness. 

He had no idea. He really didn't have any idea that his mother would have—

He had thought, he had thought that—he would let his mother know about her. Let her know before they decided to tell Draupadi about Vyaas. That was their plan, that was what they had always decided!

For they never took any decision without Kunti's approval.

He had thought he would just surprise Kunti, and—

And now, he was stuck at his mother's bizarre words. 

Arjun bit the corner of his lip, his jaws tightening. 

But more than that, it was more aweing that her words weren't wrong either.....it was supposed to happen—

That was their destiny after all. But the way it was happening all, he didn't....

Now what was he supposed to do? 

Should he remind Kunti about Vyaas's words? Maybe it had slipped out of her mind...maybe he should. 

That was the only way out now.  

But before he could say anything, his mother held Draupadi hand suddenly and led her to Yudhishthir, who stiffened momentarily.

"What should I do now son? Say something atleast! I did not know, that when he said alms...." Kunti slapped her forehead in panic, the haunting realization hitting her,  "I didn't—this will be a sin, O God!"

"I shouldn't have said it, I shouldn't have! What, what sin did I commit in ignorance, Naraayan..."

"Maata, Maata..." Yudhishthir nodded in a breath, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Maata, please, calm down. It's not what are you thinking like!"

"But son..."

It—it's nothing so—there won't be any sin and all-" Yudhishthir sighed, nodding a bit, sharing a gaze with Arjun.