The Unexpected Bride : Mahabharat

Fifty Seven : Little Acts of Love

Parthavi

"What happened to you?" Arjun asked, his voice laced with curiosity as I stood beside him, watching as Sindhraj made his entrance into the palace.

"Nothing," I muttered under my breath, almost to myself. "I just thought kings were supposed to be...handsome." My thoughts drifted to Dushala, wondering how someone as beautiful as her could end up with him. I quickly shook my head, mentally scolding myself for being so shallow. After all, beauty wasn't everything.

Arjun leaned in slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Your husband is standing right beside you, little explorer, and you're busy talking about other men?"

I bit my lip to suppress a smile but couldn't resist teasing him. "Well, you already shattered my illusions about princes being handsome," I quipped, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "And now, it seems I was wrong about kings, too."

He shot me a side-eye, the kind of glare that held more amusement than irritation. The corner of his lips twitched as if he was trying hard to maintain his stern expression, but I could see right through him. I held back my laughter, knowing full well how much fun it was to push his buttons.

"Oh, so I'm not handsome anymore?" He asked, offense coloring his tone.

I raised an eyebrow, my lips curving into a smirk. "I never said that, Arya. Just that... expectations can be misleading."

He shook his head, trying to keep his expression serious, but I caught the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Remind me to shatter more of your illusions later," he muttered.

I couldn't help but steal a glance at him. The way he tried to maintain that stoic expression, only for it to crumble under the weight of his amusement, was endearing. There was a warmth in his eyes, a softness that made me feel at home in his presence, no matter the grandeur of the palace around us.

"You know," I said, nudging him gently, "for someone who's supposed to be a fierce warrior, you're surprisingly easy to tease."

Arjun's eyes flickered with a playful glint as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur only I could hear. "I let you tease me, little explorer. You should know that by now."

I rolled my eyes, though a smile tugged at my lips. "Of course, Arya. You let me win everything, don't you?"

He tilted his head thoughtfully, his expressions serious. "Not everything. Just the things that matter."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden shift in tone. "And what exactly do you think matters?"

Arjun's gaze softened, and for a moment, the playful banter between us faded into something deeper, something that made my heart flutter. "Your smile," he said simply, his voice barely above a whisper. "That matters the most."

My breath caught in my throat at his words, and I looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. How did he always manage to disarm me with such ease? It was infuriating, and yet... I couldn't deny how much I loved it.

"Now, just focus on your husband, little explorer, or I know how to get your attention," Arjun murmured, managing to keep a perfectly straight face while looking ahead as Taatshri and Pitamah welcomed Sindhraj. His calm demeanor contrasted hilariously with the mischief behind his words, and I felt a surge of panic at what he might do next.

I tried to subtly scoot away from him, hoping to avoid any embarrassment. After all, we were in public, and Arjun had a knack for making me flustered. But before I could slip away, he quietly grasped my hand, holding it firmly. "I want to stand beside you," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, yet filled with that same teasing tone that made my heart race.