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

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟹𝟶

Paanchaal, Kampilya

"Now you must release the locks of the bride's hair to liberate her from her parental restrictions. . ." 

Arjun nodded, the corner of his lips curved up slightly, turning towards his bride, who was already looking as red as a flushed rose of the morn. 

Why? Because all he did was intimately brush his thumb over her knuckles while pronouncing the Kama Stuti. 

And by now, he could confirm that every action of his would lead her to blush like a mess. He could feel her release a little breath she didn't know she was holding; a wafting wave of her amorous scent infiltrated him as he leaned forward, his finger almost ghosting over her ear to pluck out a few strands of her dark hair. 

Her lashes fluttered softly, and so did his damned heart, as the tips of his finger took a chance to discreetly skim over the corner of her ear causing her to flinch slightly at the 'accidental tickle', shooting him another look of innocence. He had to bite the corner of his lip to hide his threatening smile, "With Varun's binding noose, your father protected you. . .he who led you to lovingly to this sacred union. Now I establish you in the protection of Dharma, with mutual understanding, I accept you as my love and wife."

He sighed out loud, almost a bit audibly at the last line as the entire crowd burst into an applaud of cheers, the conches blowing. 

His wife.

He felt the sudden jolt rushing to him at the thought. 

HIS WIFE.

He still couldn't believe he was no longer dreaming. . . no longer just weaving his delusions only to realize those were not true. 

No. He couldn't afford to have it like an another futile moment with a random blue lotus when he thought it to be her dainty, delicate hands. 

The heartbreak for him was real that evening at the forest for him. 

He knew he was being dramatic, but can the Gods blame him when she was the one who had blurred his sanity? 

"Hey. . .?" He whispered leaning close, shifting to her in a discreet slide as the crowd were in ecstasy without making it obvious.

"Hmm. . .?" Came an immediately soft hum from her side, as she blinked.

"Listen, just squeeze my palm for once no," He gushed out in a go, not even regretting for a moment what he said. And he would never. Draupadi's eyes fluttered wide, as she looked side to side with her eyes for a moment at his words, "What?!" She almost squeaked like a small sparrow.

"Arrey do it, please. . ." He whisper almost like a dramatic plead, furrowing his brows.

"B. . . but why?"

"O how I wish I could explain you now. . . but I can't!" Arjun whispered lower, shaking his head with a shrug, "But just do it!" 

Draupadi almost stared at him for a few good moments, blinking in her innocent confusion, "A-alright. . ." And without wasting any moment, she grabbed his palm in a the sudden awkwardness, making her nails digging into his knuckle in the fiddly hustle like a needle, causing him to gasp inaudibly and look at her with widened eyes, "Ouch my God-"

"SORRY! SORRY!" She immediately pulled away her hand with an embarrassed look, her face scrunching up, "I. . .I didn't mean to-"

There was a visible scratch on his knuckle skin, with the marks of her nails, "You call this 'holding' hands?" 

Draupadi peered at him for sometime with her large innocent eyes batting her long lashes, as if someone accused her of something very serious, and then looked away; her cheeks heated up in embarassment and lips slowly curled into a little pout, "I told you sorry." He murmured under her breath.