Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 34 : The Heartbreaking News

The Weight of Loss

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the forest as the other Pandavas, accompanied by Kunti, rushed toward the clearing where Arjun knelt. The eerie glow of the dying flames painted the somber scene with an otherworldly hue. Their hearts were heavy with dread, the cries of grief they'd heard from a distance now growing clearer with every step.

When they reached the clearing, they froze.

Arjun was on his knees, cradling Aaradhya's lifeless body in his arms. His tears streamed unchecked, his face a portrait of anguish as he rocked her gently, whispering her name as if willing her to wake up.

"Arjun..." Kunti's voice trembled, her motherly instincts immediately drawing her toward him. She fell to her knees beside her son, her hands shaking as she reached out to touch Aaradhya's cold, unmoving form.

The sight was too much for her. "No," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Not my daughter... not Aaradhya."

The other Pandavas stood frozen in shock. Nakul and Sahadev exchanged disbelieving looks, their expressions etched with sorrow. Bhima clenched his fists, his entire frame trembling with restrained anger as his gaze darted around the clearing, searching for the culprits who had caused this tragedy.

Yudhisthir stepped forward, his face pale and grief-stricken. He knelt beside Arjun and placed a comforting hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "Arjun," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "We... we need to know what happened."

Arjun didn't respond immediately. He continued to hold Aaradhya close, his tears falling silently. Finally, he whispered, "I wasn't here... I wasn't here to protect her."

His words were laced with self-reproach, each syllable a dagger to his own heart.

Yudhisthir's gaze fell to Aaradhya's serene face, and his throat tightened. "There is... something you should know, Arjun," he began hesitantly, his voice heavy with grief.

Arjun's tear-streaked face turned to his elder brother, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. "What is there to know? She's gone!" he cried, his voice raw. "What could possibly matter now?"

Yudhisthir closed his eyes briefly, as if summoning the strength to speak. When he opened them, he looked directly at Arjun. "Aaradhya was with child."

The world seemed to stop.

Arjun's grip on Aaradhya's body slackened as his mind struggled to process Yudhisthir's words. "What... what are you saying?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"She was pregnant, Arjun," Yudhisthir repeated, his own voice cracking. "She wanted to tell you on your birthday. She wanted it to be a surprise."

A fresh wave of grief crashed over Arjun as the weight of Yudhisthir's revelation sank in. His hands trembled as he looked down at Aaradhya's lifeless form. "Our child?" he choked out, his voice breaking. "She was carrying our child?"

Kunti gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. "Oh, Aaradhya..." she whispered, her heart breaking anew.

Nakul and Sahadev both lowered their heads, their shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Bhima turned away, his chest heaving with barely suppressed rage and sorrow.

Arjun's tears fell faster now, his cries echoing through the forest. "I wasn't there... I wasn't there for her, for them," he said, his voice filled with despair. He buried his face in Aaradhya's hair, his sobs muffled but heart-wrenching.

Kunti placed a trembling hand on Arjun's shoulder. "My son," she said softly, her own tears streaming down her face, "this is not your fault. Aaradhya... she loved you deeply. She knew how much you loved her."

Arjun shook his head vehemently. "I should have protected her, Maa. I promised her I would. I promised..." His voice broke, and he clung to Aaradhya's lifeless form, as if holding her tighter could somehow bring her back.

Krishna, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. His face was calm, but his eyes glistened with unshed tears. He placed a gentle hand on Arjun's head.

"Partha," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of divine authority and compassion, "this moment is a test of your strength. Aaradhya's love for you transcended all boundaries, and her sacrifice was born of that love. But her journey does not end here, nor does yours."

Arjun looked up at Krishna, his eyes pleading. "Why did this happen, Madhav? Why couldn't I save her?"

Krishna's gaze was tender but resolute. "Fate is a tapestry, Partha, and each thread is woven with purpose. Aaradhya's love and sacrifice will resonate far beyond this moment. Trust in the divine plan, even if it is shrouded in pain."

Arjun clenched his jaw, his hands tightening around Aaradhya. "I will never forgive myself for this, Krishna. Never."

Krishna's expression softened. "Your love for her will give you the strength to carry on, to honor her memory and the life she carried within her. Trust me, Partha, her story is not over."

The Pandavas stood in silent mourning, their grief a collective weight that pressed down upon them all. The forest, once filled with the chaos of battle and the roar of flames, now seemed eerily still, as if the very world mourned with them.

And in the center of it all, Arjun sat cradling the woman who had been his everything, his heart shattered into pieces that only time—and perhaps the promise of a greater purpose—could hope to mend.