Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love

Prologue

"In the dance of time, love is the rhythm that never falters—no matter the yuga, no matter the form."

— Rishi

Prologue: The Silence Between Us

The wind howled through the desolate forest, its mournful cry echoing across the vast emptiness. Aaradhya stood at the edge of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the horizon, where the setting sun bled into the ocean. A deep, aching silence surrounded her, the kind that made the world feel distant, unreachable. And in that silence, there was only one thought—one name—that haunted her heart.

Arjun.

His face flashed in her mind, a haunting memory of the love they once shared. A love that had burned bright, only to be extinguished by the weight of their duties, their destinies, and the forces beyond their control.

It had been months since she had seen him—since the day they had parted, torn apart by the responsibilities that had always loomed over them. The day she had watched him walk away, leaving her with nothing but the promise of a future that might never come.

She had tried to move on, tried to bury the pain deep within her chest. But every day felt like an eternity, and every breath felt like a reminder of what she had lost. And still, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget him. She couldn't forget the way his touch had made her feel, the way his eyes had promised her a love that transcended all boundaries.

And then, she heard it.

The sound of hooves pounding against the earth, steady and determined. Aaradhya turned, her heart racing, and there he was—Arjuna—his silhouette framed by the fading light. His presence was like a storm, sweeping through her heart, awakening feelings she had tried so hard to suppress.

He stopped a few feet away from her, dismounting from his horse with practiced ease. His eyes were filled with something she couldn't name—something raw, desperate, and full of longing.

"Aaradhya," he breathed, his voice breaking the silence. "I never meant for this to happen."

She looked at him, her heart a confusing tangle of emotions. "But it did, Arjuna. It happened. You left."

"I had no choice," he said, stepping closer, his voice filled with regret. "I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with you more than anything in this world. But the world... it doesn't let us choose our path, does it?"

Aaradhya turned away, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "No, it doesn't. And now, we're too far apart. You have your kingdom, your duties. I have mine. There's no place for us. Not anymore."

Arjuna's hand reached for her, but she stepped back, her heart breaking at the thought of his touch. It had once been her salvation, but now it felt like a distant memory.

"Aaradhya, please..." His voice cracked, and she could see the pain in his eyes, the vulnerability that he rarely allowed anyone to see. "Don't you think I know what I've lost? Don't you think every moment without you has been agony? I've fought wars, I've conquered kingdoms, but none of it has mattered. Because without you, nothing feels whole."

She closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. She hated that she could still feel his love, could still feel the pull between them. But she also knew that their love was forbidden, that it had never been meant to be. They had been caught in the dance of destiny, each step pulling them further apart.

"I can't, Arjuna. I can't live in a world where you don't belong to me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't be with you when I know you can never truly be mine."