|| Never Without You || [ The Tale Of Arjun-Draupadi ] (I)

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟹

Paanchaal, Kaampilya

Arjun exhaled sharply. 

He didn't know his worth; to be proud enough to have defeated the Princes of Aaryavart in the Swayamvar or be a worthless statue with the lingering memories of him being his father-in-law's perpetrator. His feats have been gossiped about since yesterday, but he couldn't bring out the scale of his feat with his past. 

He stiffened even further, never having the urge to obliviate as much as before.

 Arjun felt small, small enough when the world held him high.

His breath caught in his throat right there, as he felt Drupad's arm generously extending around his shoulder, almost engulfing his mortified self. A ragged breath whispered out his lips, with him shutting his eyelids as much as he could. Facing a battle seemed way easier than this. 

"Forget it son. . ." The low quivering whisper made Arjun gulp deeply.

"Forget it, else it will trouble us both." 

Arjun shut his eyes; almost squeezed them, his heart busy jolting within. His lips curled ruefully. 

Why was it so easy to forgive him?  Why?

Why was it so easy for him to forgive and forget, and owe him something which could mortify him to this extent? 

WHY?

Somewhere down his heart Arjun wanted to see the hatred for him in Drupad's eyes, those burning red eyes in the battlefield that had shot him arrows of ache and anger; at least he would have been in peace that he would've hated him. He wanted to feel his wrath, his hurtful words, his swears once again. The anger for destroying his Kingdom, the rage for plundering his homeland. 

And there was none.

More than that, he was over-owed by him. . .

At least a single taunt would have solaced his heart. 

Not this forgiveness, which he had never asked for in the first place. 

WHY WAS IT SO EASY FOR HIM TO FORGIVE HIM LIKE THIS?!

He did not realize his heavy breaths almost sounded like desperate pants, the sea of shame and guilt thrashing the shores over and over again as Drupad slowly freed him from his embrace with a weak smile. 

Arjun's chest tightened even more, the mortification clawing him from within.

Whispers and gapes floated through the hall like rustling leaves of the blisters, and some couldn't even come to terms that Drupad had accepted the Pandavas, and their bizarre desire. 

The latter somehow gained semblance, shifting away from Drupad instantly with a silent breath.  The wave of awkwardness was like the thick air of winter shrouding them both in its mockery of twisted fates. 

Drupad cleared his throat with a small smile that widened almost instantly, as he resumed his mirthful self with the crowd.

.

.

.

"Bless you sons, bless you!" Vyaas lifted the Pandavas, one by one with a satisfied smile. 

"Without you, it would not have been possible, grandfather," Yudhishthir gulped with a watery smile, folding his hands. Vyaas let out an affectionately hoarse chuckle. 

"What am I, Yudhishthir?" Vyaas patted his shoulder mirthfully, "The real game is being played by Naraayan himself." 

"I am just a pawn in his games. . . present whenever necessary."