Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 11 : The Favor

Winds of Change

The air was thick with the tension of an impending storm. The war had just ended, and the battlefield was strewn with the remnants of conflict—bloodied soil, broken weapons, and the silence that follows the clamor of battle. Arjuna stood amidst the chaos, his heart still pounding in his chest, his mind clouded with the aftermath of the battle against Drupad. The victory was his, yet it felt like an uneasy triumph, one that would have far-reaching consequences.

His Gandiva, the mighty bow, now rested on the ground beside him, its string no longer taut, its power silenced by the end of the war. The warriors who had fought with him and those who had fought against him were now scattered across the battlefield, some dead, others wounded, and yet, the victory felt hollow. The fight had been brutal, the cost high, but Arjuna had known all along that it was inevitable. The battle had to be won, and Drupad had to be defeated.

But what awaited him after the war? What lay beyond the bloodshed and the dust?

As the final victory cry echoed through the air, Arjuna's mind was torn between the war that had just ended and the road ahead. He had done his duty, but now, there was something else—something that tugged at the edges of his consciousness. He had been summoned to the royal court of Drupad, the vanquished king, to hear his words. There was no mistaking it—Drupad, the father of Draupadi, had something to say to him, something that would change the course of his life.

Meanwhile, in Hastinapur, Aaradhya stood in the quiet of her chambers, staring out of the window at the vast horizon. Her heart felt uneasy, as though something immense was about to unfold, a shift in the balance of fate that she couldn't quite comprehend. It was as if the winds of destiny were stirring, whispering secrets only the wind itself knew. She had spent the day meditating, trying to calm the growing sense of unease within her, but the feeling remained—persistent, unyielding, as though the threads of her life were being pulled in directions she could not yet understand.

Aaradhya had always been attuned to the subtle energies around her. From the moment she had stepped into Hastinapur, she had felt the pull of something larger than herself—an unseen force guiding her, nudging her toward her purpose. And now, as the echoes of war still reverberated through the land, she could sense that change was coming. Something monumental, something that would forever alter her world, was on the horizon.

But what was it?

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Her connection to Arjuna, the bond that had grown between them, was undeniable. But that wasn't what troubled her. It was something deeper, something she couldn't quite grasp. The feeling that the fates of everyone she loved—especially Arjuna—were about to collide in ways none of them could predict.

Back on the battlefield, the dust had settled, and Arjuna made his way to the royal palace of Drupad. The heavy weight of the battle was still on his shoulders, but he knew his duty. Drupad had requested his presence, and Arjuna would not deny it. As he walked into the grand halls of the palace, he was met by the solemn figure of Drupad, his once-proud posture now deflated, humbled by his defeat. The king's face was weary, but his eyes still held the fire of a ruler who had seen his kingdom lost, and his pride shattered.

Arjuna stood before him, his eyes steady, his mind focused on the task at hand. He had defeated Drupad in battle, but now it was time to hear what the king had to say.

"Arjuna," Drupad's voice was calm but edged with a hint of uncertainty. "You have won the war. You have brought victory to your side, and now, I must ask you for a favor."

Arjuna's brow furrowed. "What favor?"

Drupad sighed, his gaze lingering on Arjuna. "I have lost much in this war, but I have one thing left—my daughter, Draupadi. She is my pride, my strength, and now, I wish to give her to you. I ask that you marry her, as a token of respect for the battle that has been fought. You are a great warrior, Arjuna. My daughter deserves someone worthy of her, someone who can protect her as she deserves."

Arjuna was taken aback by the request. Marry Draupadi? He had not anticipated this. He had heard of the princess—of her beauty, her intelligence, her strength. But to marry her? It was a responsibility that seemed too great to bear.

"I... I do not know what to say," Arjuna replied, his voice uncertain. "I have not come here for a marriage proposal, King Drupad. My path has always been one of battle. I have never sought the bond of marriage in the way you speak of."

Drupad's eyes softened, as if he understood the warrior's hesitation. "I understand your reluctance, Arjuna. But I ask you to consider it. Draupadi is no ordinary princess. She is destined for greatness, and she will be a force beside you, not a burden. I have seen the bond between you and her. I can feel it in the air. It is not by chance that you have crossed paths. You, too, are destined for a path together."

Arjuna remained silent for a moment, his thoughts swirling. He had always known that his life would not be his own—that his duty to the kingdom, to his family, and to his own destiny would shape his every step. But to marry Draupadi, a woman of such power and strength? It was a bond that seemed as fated as it was daunting.

"I will... I will consider it, King Drupad," Arjuna said finally, his voice steady, though his mind was far from certain. "But I must return to my kingdom first. There is much to be done, and I cannot take such a decision lightly."

Drupad nodded. "Of course, Arjuna. I trust you will make the right choice."

Back in Hastinapur, Aaradhya's unease deepened as the evening wore on. The feeling of something impending—something monumental—gnawed at her. She paced the room, her thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. Arjuna had gone to the battlefield to fight for his kingdom, but what if the battle he had fought was not the end of his journey? What if there was more?

She closed her eyes, focusing on the deep connection she felt with him. Her mind drifted to their last moments together, the promise he had made to return to her. She believed him with all her heart, but there was a part of her that feared the unknown. The forces of fate were at play, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the path ahead for both of them was fraught with peril.

And then, as if on cue, her vision blurred. She saw Arjuna standing before Drupad, and the words echoed in her mind—"I ask that you marry her..."

Aaradhya gasped, the weight of the vision pressing down on her chest. What was happening? Why had she seen this?

She stumbled back, her breath shallow, trying to steady herself. She had not expected this. A marriage proposal? To Draupadi?

Her heart twisted in her chest as she tried to make sense of the vision. What did this mean for her? For Arjuna and her future together?

The confusion swirled within her, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. She had always known that Arjuna's path was complicated, that the bond they shared would not be easy to navigate. But this... this was a twist she hadn't foreseen. The winds of change were blowing, and Aaradhya could feel the storm approaching.

She could only hope that, no matter what the future held, she and Arjuna would find their way back to each other.

As Arjuna made his way back to Hastinapur, his heart was heavy with the weight of Drupad's proposal. He had never expected his life to take such a turn. The war had been brutal, but it had been a battle of warriors. This was different—this was a battle of the heart. And Arjuna was not sure he was ready for it.

He had won the war, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to fight for Draupadi's hand—or if his heart was already spoken for.

The answer seemed to lie somewhere between the choices fate had laid before him, and the woman who had already claimed his heart, even without him fully realizing it.