Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 31 : The Forest

A Race Against Time

The halls of the grand palace echoed with Arjun's frantic footsteps. His breath came in sharp gasps, his heart thundering in his chest. The flickering light of his protective astra was an ominous sign, and the absence of his beloved Aaradhya had his mind racing with fear.

Reaching the royal wing, he flung open the chamber doors. The room was empty, eerily still. Her belongings were undisturbed, and yet the emptiness felt heavy, as though it bore the weight of a terrible secret.

"Aaradhya!" Arjun's voice cracked, but there was no reply.

With mounting panic, he turned on his heel and strode quickly to the adjoining quarters where his mother, Queen Kunti, was seated with his elder sisters-in-law, Devika and Valandhara. Their faces brightened momentarily at his presence, but the urgency in his expression quickly snuffed out their smiles.

"Mother," Arjun began, his voice sharp with worry. "Where is Aaradhya?"

Kunti frowned, her hands pausing mid-gesture as she set aside her puja plate. "Aaradhya? I thought she was in her chamber. Has something happened?"

"I can't find her anywhere," Arjun said, his voice rising. "And the astra I placed for her safety—it's failing!"

Devika, Yudhishthira's wife, exchanged a nervous glance with Valandhara, Bheema's queen. Both women looked troubled, but Valandhara finally spoke.

"Ashwatthama," she said cautiously. "He came earlier and said he needed to speak with Aaradhya. He took her with him."

"What?" Arjun's voice was a harsh whisper, his eyes widening in shock.

Valandhara nodded, concern etched into her features. "He said it was urgent. But now that I think about it..." She hesitated, her brows furrowing. "There was something strange in his eyes. A... fierceness."

"Ashwatthama," Arjun repeated, his teeth clenching as a wave of fury surged through him. "Where did he take her?"

"We don't know," Devika replied, her voice filled with unease. "He didn't say."

Without another word, Arjun turned and bolted from the room, his blood boiling with rage. He knew Ashwatthama too well—the man's possessiveness and twisted sense of honor had always simmered beneath the surface. If Ashwatthama had taken Aaradhya, Arjun feared the worst.

In the Forest

Aaradhya's eyes fluttered shut as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. The last thing she remembered was Ashwatthama's face, his expression cold and unrecognizable, as he pressed a damp cloth to her face. The sharp smell had burned her nostrils, and within moments, darkness had swallowed her.

Now, she was limp in Ashwatthama's arms as he carried her deeper into the forest. His grip on her was firm, his jaw clenched tightly. Guilt flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a hardened resolve.

"This is for her own good," he muttered under his breath, as though convincing himself.

Ahead of him, hidden within the dense foliage, a group of figures waited. Duryodhan stood with his arms crossed, a smug grin on his face, while Shakuni twirled his dice idly in his hands. The faint light of the moon glinted off their faces, casting long shadows that seemed to mirror their dark intentions.

"You've done well, Ashwatthama," Duryodhan said as Ashwatthama stepped into the clearing. His gaze shifted to the unconscious Aaradhya, and his grin widened. "So this is the one Arjun holds so dear. What a beauty."

Ashwatthama's lips curled in disgust, but he said nothing. He gently laid Aaradhya on the ground, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His expression softened for a moment, but Duryodhan's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"What's the plan now?" Duryodhan asked, his tone laced with anticipation.

Ashwatthama straightened, his face hardening again. "We make her understand her place. She needs to see that her loyalty to Arjun is misplaced."

"And if she doesn't?" Shakuni asked, his voice deceptively casual as he tossed his dice in the air.

Ashwatthama's jaw tightened. "She will."

Duryodhan laughed, the sound harsh and cruel. "Let's see how loyal Arjun can remain when his precious wife is no longer his to claim."

Back in Indraprastha

Arjun tore through the palace, his eyes blazing with determination. He questioned every guard and servant he came across, but none had seen Ashwatthama or Aaradhya leave. His frustration mounted, and his fists clenched at his sides.

Finally, he stopped in the middle of the grand hall, closing his eyes and forcing himself to breathe deeply. He needed to think clearly.

"Where would he take her?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing.

Then, a memory surfaced—Ashwatthama's fondness for a particular forest on the outskirts of the kingdom. It was a place he often retreated to when he wanted to be alone or away from the chaos of palace life.

Without wasting another moment, Arjun sprinted toward the stables. He mounted his horse and spurred it forward, the wind whipping past his face as he rode with a single goal: to save Aaradhya.

The forest was dark and quiet, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of nocturnal creatures. Arjun dismounted his horse at the edge of the forest, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. He moved swiftly but cautiously, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

As he ventured deeper, a strange sensation washed over him—a mix of dread and determination. He couldn't explain it, but he knew he was close.

"Aaradhya," he whispered under his breath, his voice filled with resolve. "Hold on. I'm coming."