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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟽

Kaampilya, Paanchaal

The palace seemed like a living enchantment of the coruscating heavens that day.

The courtyard rumbled with pristine laughter and mirth mingled with the strums of veena and the symphony of melodies. Dancers twirled in elegant circles, their feet alighting rhythmically with the tunes. Women giggled and chirruped like the larks of spring, their golden bangles tinkling in exuberance. 

The heavy fragrance of jasmines and rose was like an intoxicating ambrosia that floated along with each whiff of the wintry zephyrs.  

The statues studded around the courtyard, like living embodiments, cascaded waterfalls. The wide arches, bedecked with fresh flowers and lush greenery, hung low under the dappling sunlight.

Servants busily wound in and out, carrying massive cauldrons of scented milk-water and holy turmeric paste.

 The music and melody rhythmed with an upbeat crescendo as the royalties gathered, in proud regalia and lavish layout. There was a current of levity that hummed through like the choirs of joy echoing amidst the blistery winters. 

"Haye. . . such a boy like gold! God forbid an evil eye!" The old women laughed around, circling around Arjun, who's jaws were flushing like ripe apples. Since the morning, he was seen as a bull's eye for endless laughter and tease for the elderly women, that too mercilessly.

God knows what women found joy in teasing men who were about to be married.

"Evil eye? I bet evil eyes would be put to embarassment tonight!" The ladies laughed, looking at Arjun who snapped his eyes open wide at their unhinged words. 

"Exactly! Young man should pray that no evil eye should interrupt him at night!"

What the hell!

Arjun cleared his throat slightly, shifting a bit in edginess as he sat on a huge royal cauldron. The rays of sunlight glistened over his bare, lethally carved torso, like the earth kissed hue lavished by the amalgamation of gold. His loose curls bounced over his shoulders in thick, silky locks—tempting the winds to flirt with the tender ringlets.

But gone was his nonchalant utterly warrior confidence, making him indeed look like a teenager boy in adolescence getting classed for coaxing a girl.  The women, specially the older ones, were unhinged from left right and center on him, sparing no moment to coat him with digs of embarassment. 

"Prince, have you ever tried aphrodisiac before?" One of the girls giggled cupping her mouth, and the other girls laughed seeing Arjun's shocked expression, "W-what?!"

Seriously?!

"Don't lie hmmm, golden Prince!" 

"Of course, of course, he has! He is just lying for our sake!" The girls laughed, slapping their palms with each other and giggling loudly, "Say the truth Prince Arjun! Why so shy?"

"Say Prince! Say no!"

Arjun blinked his eyes rapidly at their shameless words, his cheeks dampening with red.

"Of course he has Maala, he is also a man after all! How long could he control himself?"

Oh oh goodness!

"No, no—it is nothing so. . ." Arjun looked away immediately, shutting his eyes hard. 

He wasn't even married yet, and they had already begun?

"Seriously? How do we know you haven't?" One of them wriggled her brows playfully, chuckling at his mortified face. "Arrey can't you see? He is blushing like a virgin girl! Do you think he could've?!" And there was a chorus of teasing laughter once again.