From Vague To Vivid

Chapter 4

Previously

Dhananjay was perplexed. His actions and thoughts seemed unknown to himself.

Both Arjun and Draupadi spent the night in their chambers recalling and thinking about their confessions to each other.

Draupadi was not so satisfied with her reaction. She shouldn't have left the chamber. Many questions are still unanswered between the two and now she doubted, will they ever be answered or their equation will always be termed as a forbidden, questionable and debatable one in the history.

Can they reconcile or has too much water passed through them?

...

 Meanwhile as much as Arjun tried he couldn't comprehend the way things turned out to be. They have to leave for the vanvaas day after tomorrow and Arjun was determimed to talk to her again before their departure.

Things were always complicated for them in the past too and to ease them Arjun tried to be friends with Panchali. And the action turned out to be fruitful. Panchali always looked for him when she was in need of expressing her emotions and feelings which was not easy for her to do with her husbands. And he felt proud of it. At least he had her exclusively in one way.......

WHAT? Did he just think that? He....

His thoughts were out of control now and there's only one person who could fix them. Draupadi herself.

....

Arjun paced towards her chamber. Even when it was past midnight he was quite confident that similar to him she also must not be able to sleep tonight.

As he walked through the corridors another aspect of reality struck him.

Indraprastha was so silent, so dark. Like every citizen of their kingdom is mourning for their soon departure. Arjun first time felt that he failed not only his wife but also his citizens, his dear citizens whom he promised to never let down. The thought that even the innocent citizens have to perish for their actions made his stomach churn.

Arjun was in a state of trance when he realised he was just outside Draupadi's chamber and he asked the dasi outside to leave them alone. He hesitated, the Mahanayak hesitated in entering her chamber. But he was not shocked. Panchali always tend to bring the vulnerable, broken and emotional side of him no one had ever seen.

Panchali was standing in the balcony of her chambers and became aware of the presence of the person behind her, the same one who was roaming in her mind for hours now. But she did not acknowledge his presence, not until she felt cold hand on her nape.

Panchali immediately turned but Arjun didn't look in her eyes, he was busy working on her nape and soon she realised he was unhooking one of her necklaces. The necklace she wore as a symbol of the wife of the five pandavas.

Panchali was looking into his eyes and was not in a state of speaking. The necklace was now in his hands. Arjun slowly went inside put the necklace in the chamber before returning to her in the balcony.

Panchali was still rooted at the same place not able to understand what he was doing.

"Indraprastha is so beautiful" , Arjun initiated looking at the balcony view.

Panchali bristled indignantly. "That necklace.....why did you....", she couldn't continue. Actually she didn't know how to continue.

Arjun finally looked into her eyes and spoke, "whatever happened in the morning didn't finish."

He moved towards her and cupping her face with his hand slightly caressed her soft skin with his rugged thumb.

His one simple gesture made Panchali's heart flutter, her skin tingled under his and she would have hugged him and kissed him if they were in a different situation.
But now she wanted to push him away for trying to gain affection in physical ways.

But all it needed was one glace at the soft stare of his hazel eyes and once again her actions became contrary to her thoughts.

She slightly took a step back which made Arjun take his hand back.

Her action hurt Arjun in some way. He couldn't help but think
'Does she hates me so much that the mere touch of mine is now extremely uncomfortable for her. But no matter what, if my touch couldn't comfort her, my words would.'

Arjun again restricted his eyes from looking into her lotus like orbs and instead fixed his gaze to the balcony view as he spoke,
"When you said you love me the most your expression suddenly changed ... you.... you flinched when you looked at the necklace.
At this moment Panchali I don't want you to be The Pandavas's Wife. I don't want you to be The Queen.
I just want you to be the simple woman that you are.
I want you to be Parth's friend. My dearest friend. "

Draupadi didn't expect that.   

Arjun said those words with a tone of finality.  His expressions were grave and he was still looking at the balcony view.

But since Arjuna was not speaking any further, neither looking in her direction she decided to speak.

"Arjun I love all my husbands, the same way you love all your wives."