𝐓𝐔 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐀

[32]

Pandavas, Kauravas, Karn, Ashwatthama were on the groom's side, and currently busy checking the last minute arrangements but the said groom was sitting there without any tension in the world, just lost in daydreaming.

"Shaadi Keshav ki  hai parantu chintit hum ho rahe hai"

("Keshav is getting married but we are worried")

Arjuna sighed as he brought his Priye Keshav's mukut. He made him wear that while mata Devki and Mata Rohini entered the room. Both mother held a soft gaze for their son and they prayed to God to keep all evil eyes away from him.

Krishna stood there with his signature smile. They were praying to him to keep evil eyes away from him, quite ironic, isn't it?

Meanwhile, Dussala who originally wanted to be on bride's side, and Karn offered to go with her, well everyone understood this was just excuse to see Draupadsuta, but Ashwatthama, who offered same, had glares coming in his direction, with Bheem almost coming to him with his gada. He then gave some weak excuses which made everyone somehow went along with.

But Krishna was her brother, in some way, so she decided to be on groom's side and enjoy her sister in law coming home, instead of welcoming him as her brother in law.

Ever since their trip to North Panchal, Dussala and Ashwatthama had came closer, way closer than they were before. They can now talk without being awkward or their talk being limited to Duryodhan, they discovered that they have lot of things in common, but that's what Dussala thinks.

The thing is Ashwatthama had to bribe one of her maid to know about her interests, dislikes, things she loves the most, and every minor details of her life. All this just to know her better than anyone, in past he used to scoff at such lover boys and used to think only a fool would go to any extent to know their beloved better or impress them and thought that a true warrior is one who have no distractions.

"Now who's the fool?"

Ashwatthama's subconscious mind taunted him as he was currently making bracelet from Dussala's favourite flowers, the wedding was long forgotten by him.

"And who was the one to give me such ideas?"

He shook his head, his subconscious mind, aka himself, gives him so many reality checks for his liking. He finished making two bracelet and searched for Dussala to hand then to her, she couldn't wear gajra as she was wearing hair ornaments and while talking to him she mentioned that she wanted to wear gajra of her favourite flowers but she can't do that.

"Kripinandan, is this...is this made by you?"

Dussala asked with hesistation, carefully taking them as if they were the most precious thing in the world, wearing them almost instantly, too carefully to not break them. Ashwatthama nodded while keeping his face expressionless and cold. Dussala was about to say something but someone called her, she pressed her lips in a thin line, muttering a compliment she went. That was only then when he felt like he can breathe properly now and let out a long sigh in frustration.

_______________________

Krishna, the king of Dwarka stood along the side of the agni with a composed stature and regulated breath as if the instant had been momentarily suspended for alignment. The sal trees surrounded the clearing as if they were the silent spectators who comprehended the significance of what was about to happen.

He was awaiting Satyabham, not with eagerness but with design. There was no eagerness infused by emotions but preparation dictated by dharma."The eternal fire had been lit with the wood of arani," its constant blaze serving as both witness and sanction. A rishi chanted Vedic mantras in the corner, adjusting the ritual in harmony with universal order. Krishna's eyes remained lowered, as etiquette dictated, doing what rishi dicted and waited for the one his heart yearned for, eager to start their journey together. 

He knew how Satyabhama would come—untarnished by embellishments, swathed in handloomed fabric colored with the hues of the soil, bearing an unrivaled conviction that did not require endorsement. Her entrance would not disturb the atmosphere; it would reshape it.

While he was waiting, Krishna thought about the transfer of duty that was to soon happen. Kanyadaan was not handing over; it was faith bestowed on him. When kusa grass was to tie their clothes, it was to be the mark of commitment without having any fall-back options. The imminence of Saptapadi was to lay out their partnership guidelines in terms of sustenance, strength, prosperity, continuation, harmony, friendship, and spiritual development, every step being a quantifiable commitment, and not something from the realm of fantasy.A subtle change in the air marked the presence. Krishna stood up straight—not out of nervousness but anticipation. This union would never be announced with loud statements or with the need for approval from anyone other than the fire that was burning. Satyabhama was not arriving to fulfill him. She was arriving to co-govern a life that was designed on the principles of control and purpose.

Satyabhama came unexpectedly, but still the area moved around her. Krishna felt it even before he got to see her; He sensed her before she came closer to the madap, the air softened as if they are welcoming their Mother. When he looked up, he saw her walking with her father and cousin brothers, her delicate steady steps felt painfully slow to him, if possible he would had walked up to her and taken her in his arms to take her to mandap, but alas he couldn't.....not yet..

Her appearance made his breath hitched, her beauty never failed to catch him off guard, she looked up once and their eyes met and the time seemed to slow down. She only moved on after having the rishi's gaze on her, her feet came to the ground with soft assertion. Krishna did not move, and his eyes were downcast, but he was very conscious of the fact that this very moment was the final confirmation of a decision that had been made in principle but was now being ratified in action.The rishi commenced with the invocation by putting over the Agni the clarified butter and sacred herbs. The fire kept on responding evenly, neither flare-up nor drop—this was an approach by the fire to the balance point. Satyabhama was brought to Krishna's side, he gave a small squeeze on her hand when she sat beside him.

While mantras were going on, her father placed her hand for a moment in Krishna's, her father's eyes held emotions that were begging to be expressed but he controlled them gracefully, he stepped aside after giving Krishna a small smile and patting Satyabhama's head one more time, a small symbol that he trusts Krishna with Satyabhama.

Krishna was aware that what he had just received was accountability and not authority.Their clothes were tied together with kusa grass, a connection that had no symbolic loopholes. This was Hata Bandhana, the irrevocable term. Krishna felt the slight pull of the knot and through that he clearly grasped its purpose: two lives, separate and independent now but through a contract interdependent.

Satyabhama felt the sudden calm when it was happening, the ache she felt all her life was suddenly fading as if she found the cure to that ache. She was worried will Rukmini and Jamvanti accept her? Will they be welcoming or cold? But little did she knew that there was feast going on in Dwarka because their king was to come with their new Rani.

Sorry if the chapter seems rushed (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

Also, Happy New Year guyss💗💫