MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

ANGUISH

"Bhanu" The whisper of her own name felt so painful that she wished she could vanish right away as he look past his face, into the room, only to realise it is his childhood room and she sincerely wishes it should be her who should had been in the fire instead of him.

She took few deep breathes before opening her mouth but stopped when the sound of footsteps entered the corridor as Duryodhana pulled his face out of her grasp, going outside the room to find it is Dushasana who look astonished at the sight of couple and room's condition.

"I heard sound from here..........what happened?"

Bhanumati though that he is not in condition of answering hence she stepped forward but before she could say anything, a blank voice echoed the corridor "we found the empty room caught on fire on its own"

Bhanumati throwed a surprised look at him before glancing at her brother-in-law who also wasn't buying the explanation but is smart enough to know when to back off as he nodded before going back.

She turned to her husband to speak something but before she could say anything, his steps practically sprinted towards their room while she remained alone in the corridor.

By the time, she entered their room, he was fully down inside the blanket. She recognised his uneven breathe, showing that he is awake but she decided to let it go as she also went to lay down on her side, going through today's all events.

IN THE MORNING

The morning to her luck, can't be drag late, hence she has no choice but to wake up. While getting up from bed, she glanced at the unmoving laying figure beside her who face isn't facing her as she went to freshen up with a tired sigh.

Even when she came out to get ready, he was still sleeping making her mood down but still, after taking motivation she went outside to work.

While pouring herself a cup of tea, she moved towards other cup, only to pause upon remembering his avoidance towards her as she took her cup before leaving the rasoighar.

While walking in the corridor, bhanumati found herself facing her third sister-in-law as she smile upon her eldest sister's presence "Jiji!"

"Good morning Hidi"

"Good morning! How are you? And where is bhratashree? I got to know about yesterday's incident from Arya but other than that, how did yesterday went?" The teasing voice only made the tea more bitter as the asked person found her throat clogged before she swallowed hard, opening her mouth "Good...........Arya is still sleeping"

"Ohh, maybe yesterday was a bit hectic. You should have sleep more too jiji. Now you have to take care of yourself too"

It was a bitter smile in reply but luckily Hidimba was too much in moment to notice as they both walk towards the nine month pregnant lady whose delivery date is nearing. Though they weren't expecting to find Draupadi sleeping while her husband, rubbing her feet.

They both smiled at each other lightly before walking away to give privacy to the couple as Hidimba muttered "how cute. We have such lovely couples in our palace" while glancing at bhanumati who flinched before nodding weakly.

"Hidimba" It didn't took much time for Hidimba to leave Bhanumati upon hearing her husband's voice who rarely calls her at day time as they still managed to spend time together in the day, either early morning or late night.

"I will take emy leave now, sorry jiji"

"No need for sorry Hidi, it's okay"

"Ji"

And just like the air in the surrounding again become cold making her stare at the ground with slowly blurring vision. She ran towards her room, fortunately finding it empty of his presence as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

Slowly taking her right hand towards her stomach, resting it to find her stomach warm making her tears fall freely.

It didn't took a moment to fill the room with painful cries as the crying person slide down to the ground, hugging her stomach tightly only to let out painfully loud sobs. It is good that she closed the door otherwise it would had a big mess but it doesn't seem like she would be comprehend enough to understand the chaos that would had created.

She swing herself back and forth while still sitting on the ground, wishing to find warm comfort anyhow but it didn't felt like how his arms embrace her warmly yet protectively.

And the thought only made her cry more as she let out all her pain, unknown to the presence inside the bath palace who vision itself become blur upon hearing her cries of pain that are slowly turning into coughs but it still didn't stopped her tears.

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