Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 15 : Drona's Words

Bound by Duty

The soft rustling of the wind through the trees echoed in the air as Arjuna and Aaradhya stood in the serene gardens of Hastinapur, their hearts beating in unison, lost in the quiet, shared moment between them. The moonlight bathed the royal palace in a silver glow, casting an ethereal light over the grounds. In this peaceful solitude, the world outside seemed distant, irrelevant. There was no war, no kingdom to rule, and no future obligations to consider. All that mattered in this moment was the connection they shared—one that transcended time and fate.

Arjuna gently pulled Aaradhya closer, wrapping his arms around her, his heart swelling with love. Aaradhya rested her head against his chest, her breath calming as she melted into the embrace, finding comfort and warmth in the solidity of his presence. The bond between them had become so much more than mere affection; it was a soul-deep connection, one that neither of them could deny.

But just as they were lost in each other, the tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sound of footsteps approaching—heavy and deliberate.

Arjuna immediately pulled back, his arms slowly dropping to his sides as they both turned toward the approaching figure. The familiar tall and imposing form of Drona, Arjuna's teacher and mentor, appeared through the shadows of the garden.

The moonlight cast long shadows on Drona's face, and his eyes were narrowed with a cold, calculating expression. He paused, looking at Arjuna and then at Aaradhya, before speaking in a voice laced with authority.

"You cannot marry each other," Drona's words cut through the quiet night, filling the air with an unexpected tension.

Aaradhya's heart sank, the joy that had filled her chest moments before now replaced by a deep, unshakable dread. She looked at Arjuna, whose brows furrowed with confusion and concern.

"Guruji, what do you mean?" Arjuna asked, his voice steady but laced with confusion. He had been so sure of his feelings for Aaradhya, so certain that their bond was true.

Drona stepped forward, his eyes focused sharply on Arjuna. "You are a prince, Arjuna. Your duty to the kingdom, to your family, and to the greater good is far more important than personal desires. You are the heir to a legacy, a leader in waiting. The people of Hastinapur look to you for guidance and strength. This marriage—this union with Aaradhya—is not one that can serve the interests of your position."

Aaradhya's heart clenched in her chest. She had known that the weight of duty often overshadowed personal desires, but to hear it so plainly from Arjuna's own teacher, his mentor, felt like a knife to her soul. She had dreamed of a future with Arjuna, of being by his side as they navigated the challenges of life together. But now, it seemed as if fate had already decided their path.

"Guruji, we cannot ignore what we feel for each other," Arjuna said, his voice filled with emotion. His hand instinctively reached for Aaradhya's, and she grasped it tightly, as if it was the only anchor in a storm that was quickly rising. "Aaradhya is not just a woman to me—she is my equal, my partner. Our bond is something that goes beyond duty, beyond politics."

Drona's eyes softened for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by the stern, calculating expression that Arjuna had come to know all too well. "Arjuna, I understand your feelings. But you are not a man who can live by feelings alone. You must see the bigger picture. The marriage you desire will bring no benefit to Hastinapur. In fact, it will only bring conflict, distraction, and uncertainty."

Aaradhya's breath caught in her throat. She looked at Drona, her eyes searching for understanding. "But why? Why can't we be together? What harm does it cause?"

Drona's gaze softened for a moment, and his voice grew colder. "Because there is another path you must take, Arjuna. A path that does not include this woman. You have been chosen for greater things, and your marriage is one of duty, not choice. There are many other alliances to be forged, ones that will secure the future of Hastinapur and the greater realm."

Arjuna stood silent for a moment, the weight of Drona's words pressing down on him like a heavy stone. He had always respected his teacher, had always sought his counsel, but now he felt something inside him shift—something that told him he could not simply abandon what he had found with Aaradhya.

"I cannot agree with you," Arjuna said, his voice firm, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his eyes. "My heart belongs to Aaradhya. I cannot marry someone else just because it is expected of me. I have never been one to follow the path laid before me without question. My life has always been my own to decide."

Aaradhya looked up at him, her heart swelling with a mixture of fear and hope. She had always believed in the strength of their love, but now, facing this challenge, she wasn't so sure. What if Arjuna was torn between his love for her and his duty to his kingdom? What if his loyalty to Drona and his royal responsibilities made him choose duty over love?

Drona's expression darkened, and he stepped closer to Arjuna, his voice low but commanding. "Arjuna, you have always been a warrior. You know what is at stake. This is not just about you and Aaradhya. This is about the kingdom, the future of your family, and the very survival of Hastinapur. You must think beyond your desires and make the decision that is right for your people."

Aaradhya's voice trembled as she spoke. "But what if what is right for me—what is right for Arjuna—is to be with me?" Her words, though soft, carried the weight of her heart, filled with love and longing.

Drona turned his gaze to her, his eyes hardening. "You are a princess, Aaradhya. You have your own destiny to follow. And that destiny does not lie with Arjuna. I will not stand by and watch my student make a decision that will harm his future and his family's legacy."

Arjuna's hand tightened around Aaradhya's, but he knew the weight of Drona's words was not something he could easily ignore. The silence that followed felt unbearable, like a thick fog that clouded the air, making it hard to breathe. The night that had once felt so full of possibility now seemed overshadowed by the looming reality of duty and expectation.

Aaradhya's voice broke through the silence. "So, you are telling us that we must give up what we share? That our love—our bond—means nothing in the grand scheme of things?"

Drona did not answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on Arjuna, as though waiting for him to make a decision. The pressure was immense, and Arjuna could feel his mind and heart battling with one another. He loved Aaradhya with all his being, but he knew that the path Drona spoke of was one he could not ignore.

Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with regret. "I wish it were different, Aaradhya. But duty is calling. There is no other choice."

Aaradhya felt her heart shatter in that moment. She wanted to protest, to scream that love should come before all else, but the words caught in her throat. Arjuna was torn—his love for her was clear, but the weight of his responsibilities, the legacy of his family, was an obstacle too great to ignore.

She took a step back, releasing his hand, her own fingers trembling as she did. "I understand," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

And as the tension hung in the air, the garden around them felt colder, darker—like the weight of a thousand unspoken truths had descended upon them.

Drona turned, his back to them now, as he began to walk away. "Make the right choice, Arjuna. For the sake of your kingdom, and for your future."

Arjuna stood frozen in place, his heart torn in two. He had never felt so helpless. He wanted to follow his heart, to be with Aaradhya, but the responsibilities of his future seemed to pull him in a different direction.

Aaradhya stood there, her body trembling as the echoes of Drona's words reverberated in her mind. Would their love truly not be enough? Would she have to let go of the one person who had brought so much meaning to her life?

The night stretched on, full of unanswered questions and unspoken fears, leaving Arjuna and Aaradhya standing at a crossroads—one where love and duty seemed to be on a collision course.