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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟼

Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Please. . .I-I cannot bear the guilt for which I couldn't suffice." Tears damped his clenched jaws. Arjun felt his chest tightening like a vice that had grappled him like a vulture's claws would with his prey—he sank to his knees completely. 

So much was kept away from him, and one led to another. It was like a maze that led him, and there was no escape from it. Life was always a convoluting labyrinth for him. 

Always. 

"Arjun," Drupad sighed with a broken whimper, lifting him slowly. Arjun shut his eyes harder, his teeth gritting in this weird struggle. He, the most beloved and trusted student of Dron—now in front of Drupad—his teacher's enemy, coming into his life like a door of duality. His father's dearest friend yet Hastinapur's arch nemesis. 

"This, this was never fault of you'll. . ." Drupad slowly mumbled, looking away with a deep breath, "You did what seemed right to you. You were bound to Dron and—it was what was expected from Hastinapur after all."

"I knew, no one from Hastinapur would've dared to think and stop it. . ."

"This, this is not right," Yudhishthir shook his head wildly, tears blurring his eyes, "Even if it was regarding our promise to Gurudev, this. . . this, everything would just. . .eat us from inside!"

"That's how the world works my son. Not every right thing is completely right, nor every wrong deed is wrong after all," Drupad turned around, his lips twitching as he bit on his sarcastically, "You five carried out the Dharm of your teacher and—"

"But we couldn't carry the Dharm of our father." Bheem's jaw clenched slightly, his fingers fisting in his palms with a slight jolt, "And we could never deny it. This would be our truth forever, pricking like a vice of a thorn." 

"And if it pricks harder, it would never let the wound heal Bheem," Drupad shook his head, a little smile curling out, "And it is not necessary to wound the same place over and over again. . ."

Arjun's gaze swept over him, the stains of tears lingering on his jaw.

How he wished he could wipe out the enmity between Drupad and Dron on spot! 

How he wished he could make Hastinapur forget everything and embrace Paanchaal. . . like how his father had wished for!

"This is what I have learnt myself." Drupad sighed deeply, "Guilt and revenge when too harsh, leads to nothing but doom. Don't fall into this vice of hatred like me." 

"But guilt stays till it is not justified," Yudhishthir folded his palms slowly, lowering his head, "And even if by knowing the truth, if we still chose a blind eye—I could never show Pitashree my face in the heavens for God's sake. . ." 

Arjun inhaled a deep breath. What not had Dron done for him?

From loving him like his own son, honing his skills—making him what he was today! 

But deep down, deep down he knew that what Dron had asked for was never entirely right. 

And he could never deny that, even if he wanted. Dron would always be his choice and Drupad would be the one who would find a way to pull him back. 

His heart lingered for Dron, he knew he couldn't—he could never question him. Ever in his life. 

For him, Dron was purer than anything else.

Yet Drupad. . .Drupad was like the storm that would wipe what his eyes would deny to see—the truth.

It was clear as water. And it was for him to choose.