The Unexpected Bride : Mahabharat

Fifty Eight : A Dance of Temptation

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Arjun

"Pranipat, Madhav," I greeted, welcoming him to Hastinapura. He responded with a warm smile, pulling me into a familiar embrace. It was always a comfort having him here, like a piece of home finding its way back to me.

"Govinda!" came Parthavi's voice, bright and full of excitement, as she ran toward us, her smile lighting up the space around her. I could never tire of that sight, my innocent little explorer, always with that infectious energy. She bent down, offering her greeting to Madhav.

"Kalyaan ho," he blessed her with a soft smile.

Without missing a beat, Parthavi lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous joy. "I was waiting for you only, and you know -"

I couldn't help but interrupt her, amused by her enthusiasm. "Parthavi, let Madhav rest at least," I said, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.

She stopped mid-sentence, huffing in frustration and turning her sharp glare at me. "Fine," she grumbled under her breath, crossing her arms in a way that was utterly adorable. "Govinda, I'll meet you in the evening then. Right now, I'm very busy. Dushala will be waiting for me, and I have to go to her before the haldi starts. And you -"

Madhav chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he cut in, "You are getting late, Sakhi."

Parthavi's eyes widened in realization. With a quick nod, she spun around, rushing off at a pace that made me stifle my laughter. Her hurried steps had a charm of their own. There was something so endearing about her determination to handle every little detail. I watched her retreating figure before I turned back to Madhav, who was already smiling knowingly.

Together, we made our way to the guest chambers. The air between us felt familiar, yet something subtle lingered beneath the surface. Madhav's presence always brought a strange sense of comfort and purpose, but today, there was gravity in his silence that I couldn't quite place.

I glanced at him. "Madhav, you seem unusually quiet today. Is something weighing on your mind?" I asked, half-expecting him to give me one of his cryptic answers.

He gave me a small, knowing smile. "There are many things, Partha. The wheels of time are always turning, and with them, the fate of kingdoms and people. But today is a day for your family, for celebration. Let us not burden it with heavy thoughts."

His words were gentle, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more he wasn't saying. Madhav was never one to burden others, especially when it came to matters of destiny and dharma, but I had learned over the years to read the subtle cues in his behavior.

"I understand," I nodded, though a knot of unease tightened in my chest. Madhav had a way of protecting people from truths until the right moment. I wanted to push him, to ask him more, but I knew better than to try. If he wasn't telling me, it was because I wasn't meant to know yet.

Instead, I shifted the conversation. "How was your journey here? I'm sure many have sought your counsel along the way."

He chuckled lightly, his expression softening. "The path is always full of seekers, Partha. Some seek answers to their questions, and others seek answers to questions they do not yet know how to ask. But each soul is on its own journey, and I only guide them toward what is already within them."

I smiled, recognizing the familiar wisdom in his words. Madhav always had a way of turning the simplest conversation into something profound. "And what of your journey, Madhav? What do you seek?"