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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟽

Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Daughter?" Kunti placed a hand on the Princess's shoulder with a faint smile, "Come with me dear. . ."

 "I have some garments with me, you'll feel comfortable in it." 

Draupadi nodded slowly, returning a smile to Kunti. And sparing a swift, last glance to the five of them, she went behind the elderly lady inside the hut. 

Arjun stared her as he long as he could with a bated breath, only to realize what he was doing, till she was once behind the doors. 

Mad man, what was he doing? 

He squeezed his eyes shut, chewing down his lower lip to cut down his sheepish smile.

But his madly thudding heartbeats just had another tale to tell.

.

.

.

The Brahmins had already started gathering around the hut, smeared with holy ashes. They chattered amongst themselves happily. Yudhishthir was already greeting them with the twins. 

It was clear that they had the urge to be served at the household.

The potter's wife had came out, stunned at everything. Not believing that these simple Brahmins could one day, have won the Princess's hand out of all. She had to make sure what she heard was right, with the murmurings happening how the dark-skinned Brahmin, with blazing amber eyes had pierced through the target, and how the bulky, muscular one had thrashed the living daylights of the rageful Kings. 

But one glance at the Princess and the bow was enough to knock out her breath for a good while.

"Vijay?" Yudhishthir took in a long breath, striding towards him, "So many Brahmins?"

 Arjun's gaze swept over the huge number of the sect who were waiting to be served, "Honestly, I had no idea. . ."

Yudhishthir clicked his tongue in worry. How were they going to serve so many of them, right then? The potter's wife had said that she had only prepared food for the five of them and for Kunti, and it was difficult to arrange so much in a short time. 

They also had. . . Draupadi now to take care of.

 Bheem counted vaguely the number of Brahmins who had came over, releasing a deep breath at the realization.

"Alright listen, you both," Yudhishthir nodded, patting Bheem's shoulder "You both do one thing,  get some alms from the nearest houses as fast as possible. . . you'll get enough today. I'll look after the Brahmins with Maata, Nakul and Dev." 

"And. . . try to get some more fruits this time. Don't know what the Princess would like to eat."  Yudhishthir's jaws warmed up for a moment, the three of them sharing a glance with each other. Bheem bit on the corner of his mouth, clearly looking away to hide a threatening grin, while Arjun simply let his teeth graze of his lips with a tiny smile.

But what else could they do?

The happiness was too much to hold, and too much to hide. 

"Let's go Bhrata Bheem," Arjun mumbled through a breathy smile, only to be alerted by the vague screeches of a chariots. 

The two chariots kept to a lurking halt, and at once the two enigmatic Princes of Dwarka stepped out like the world was in their command.

"Vaasudev?" Yudhishthir inhaled a staggering breath, congealed. Bheem had his gaze too stilled upon the two brothers, Nakul and Sahadev joining them in a while, bartering stunned a eye-lock.