The Queen - Story Of Draupadi

Chapter 8 - Arjun x Draupadi

Arjun. The one who won my heart first. The one who I accompanied. The one who I was perhaps born for.
My heart thumped against my skin. Arjun, I whispered again.

The first time I had had the glorious opportunity of viewing his extravagant persona was in Dwaraka. I was there to attend Govind's wedding with Satyabhama and so was he. I had just born out of fire back then; adding to the spice, it was my first trip out of Panchal, my first little adventure.

He seemed much more guarded with everyone else, but much to my pride, it didn't take him so long time to open up to me.

Quiet, Ambitious, Focussed and Wise. Quite the ideal warrior he was.
Romance was not his thing though, he was more of a reluctant type. I recall.
But his charm and chivalry could impress any woman without even trying.

Realism - he believed in and real he is.

We met, we loved and we lost; all in that one month. Returning to our respective kingdoms, all we did was dream about each other.
I wrote him a few letters even, but none of them were replied to.

He already has a lot going on in the family, I had shut myself down.
From what I had heard, his cousins were constantly trying to achieve the crown. And for that, they could do anything.

Letters? I received none of them, he had complained when asked. During his anonymity in the forest, that is.

I remember how I completely lost myself when I heard the news of death. Death of him and his family.

But I knew, I knew that the sons of the five elements of the universe would never succumb to fire. They only romanced with it.

Proving my irresistible thoughts, he had appeared in my window a few weeks later but only in the minimal saffron clothes.
The reason for that, is still unknown.

We kept meeting and spending time with each other secretly in the romantic snow scraped mountains of Panchal, till my Swayamvar was finally announced.
Then, I wasn't allowed to step out of the palace.

Today, during our wedding ceremony, it felt like a dream come true. Cherishing each and every moment, we kept stealing glances of each other. His eyes told me he felt the same way as I did. We were waiting for this moment since the day our eyes met in the hallways of Dwaraka.

The noise of his footsteps were finally heard and my longing vanished. With each sound, my breathing increased.

He silently creak opened the door and his vision quickly found me.

"Krishnaa," he whispered before heading towards where I sat near the window, overlooking the moon.

He leaned forward and held my waist. "The moon is so full today," he rejoiced with twinkling eyes.

"He is," I agreed. "It's Poornima."

He nodded and cupped my cheek, "you're glowing more than him though," praising me.

I blush and look down. His charm didn't fail to drown me once again.

"You know what, Prince Arjun? You are a big flirt and you don't even know it!" I informed him.

His eyes lit up, bringing out the child in me.

"Nope. I only genuinely compliment people." He grins innocently.

"Oh really, Dhananjay?" I smack his arm, "then why are so many girls always around you?" And smirk.

"I have no clue," he shakes his head before letting out a loud laugh. I laugh with him.

"Agnisuta," he calls me by a name people rarely use, tenderly ending my laughter.

"Hmm?" I reply.

"I love you, you know that, don't you?" He takes me by surprise.

I nod. "I know, Paarth. Of course I do," I stammer, sensing tension.

"I-I will always keep you happy like this," he runs his palm through my face. "I promise." He frowns like a child trying to convince someone.

"I know, Paarth. But why are you telling me all this?" I cup his cheeks.

"Because Panchali, I'm afraid Hastinapur isn't a happy place," he looks away, "but the five of us have decided that we'll try our best to let nothing effect you, we promise."

They've decided? They are that concerned?
Of course, Panchi. You're their wife now. They....they love you. My heart melts in love. I'm sold here.

"Paarth," I turn him back towards I. "Just all of you being along, is my greatest source of happiness." I smile with conviction.

"I love you," a whisper involuntarily escapes my mouth.

"I love you too," he pulls me into an everlasting embrace.

.

Next morning, I wake up with my head on his lap.
He is sitting on the couch and his head has tilted on the right awhile sleeping.
I can't believe he slept like that the whole night, his body might be aching with strain.

"Paarth!" I try to wake him up, "Paarth!"

"Huh?" It takes him a moment.

"Go and sleep on the bed, your shoulders will trouble you, otherwise." I direct him.

He looks at me blankly, subconsciously aware. I giggle.

"Yea...right." He says after turning his neck out of pain.

I tuck him up in the bed, for it's too early for him to wake up, and ready to go.

"Where are you going?" He asks, catching ahold of my wrist and chuckles, "I used to dream about you waking me up as my wife like this, you know!"

So he dreamt too. I rejoice.

Meanwhile, he pulls me towards the bed so I almost fall on him.

"I have to go, Paarth. It's my wedding with your first younger brother today," I tell him with a stern expression. I can't fall for his antics now.

"Hmm..right." His face immediately drops and he lets go of my hand.

My eyes well up and I walk out of the room as fast as I can.

___

(A/N) : here you go. I said what I said.
It's quite obvious that they didn't want it to happen. I mean...who would? That doesn't mean she doesn't love the others or anything. It only means that it was very unusual of the situation. It's obvious he didn't like it. None of them liked the sharing thing but they accepted and embraced it like the champions that they were.

I love you all! Thanks for reading <3

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