From Vague To Vivid

Chapter 5

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

The statement made Arjun turn to now look into her.

He was frowning, his brows furrowed as he searched for the emotion her eyes would have held when she spoke them. But he couldn't tell?
Was it mockery?
Was it sarcasm?
Or it was just truth.
Plain simple truth?

"Arjun you are mistaken if you thought I blame only you for my plight. No, the conversation I had with you was the same I had with your brothers. But they didn't come to my chamber at night?
Why are you here?"

Panchali knew she was deliberately hurting him and by looking at him she knew she was successful.

Arjun wasn't knowing what he was doing when he suddenly grabbed Panchali's shoulders and pinned her to the wall that separates the inner chambers from the balcony. Her petite body crushed against his huge one.

The air of tension between them was thick.

"They didn't come because they didn't know you would be awake at this time of the night Panchali. And what same conversation? Are you implying that you told every one of us that you love that one THE MOST?"

Panchali's eyes held fury as she glared him. Her palm collided with Arjun's chest in a hard manner which made him stumble backwards a little.

"What do you think of me Arjun?"

"No you're...you're right." Arjun's response was immediate, cutting her off from speaking any further.

He made some more distance between them. This time Arjun's voice softened as he said,
"Its your duty Panchali to love all five of us the same and...and that's what you are doing.
I just..forgive me. None of my brothers came here, neither should have I. I am sorry I tried to manhandle you, I think I should go."

Nudging her, Arjun tried to move away.

But just when he was about to leave the balcony Panchali held his wrist halting his movement.

He could feel both the warmth of her long fingers and the coldness of the gold ornament, she was wearing on her wrist.

For a while they stood like that with tears in their eyes backs facing each other. Both used their free hand to wipe their tears and Panchali finally came in front of him and hugged him with a force.

She rested her head on his chest  and let the tears flow first time after the fateful dhyut sabha incident.

He rested his chin on her hairs and closed his eyes. His arms were secured low on her back holding her close. His grip was tight like he was afraid to lose her.

None of them was speaking, Arjun was not anticipating in what way the things will turn now between them.
Her scent, her skin, her breaths, her heartbeats and the music of her swaying duppatta somehow soothed Arjun. He was just in the moment. No one else mattered to him now other than the woman in his arms.
But somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he was losing his self control and making things difficult for her. But then now he was not in a state of holding himself back anymore.

Neither was Panchali. She felt her heartbeat come to a halt for a moment when he made a move to go. And she did what her heart told her to do, unlike the day when she let him go for 12 years shutting her heart up.

And now his tight grip on her waist made her remember the day of her wedding to the five mighty Pandavas. She stumbled when she was walking towards them because she was not in the present, she was overflooded with emotions and she came back to present when Arjun gripped her hand to stop her from falling.
His grip was tight, back then too. And that was the first moment when they not only conversed with their eyes but also completely understood what the other one felt at that moment from the silence they shared.

And since then eye locks and silences are everything their relationship is all about.

...

The cool breeze made its effect on Panchali's soft skin as goosebumps arrived there. Arjun was quick to notice them and immediately led both of them inside the warmth of the chambers closing the balcony doors.

"I must learn to endure the cold. I will not be having these luxuries for the coming 13 years."

Arjun did not reply to her and instead paused for a moment before he said,
" I am mad at myself Panchali for the first time. I never... never felt jealousy with my brothers.
I never felt hurt seeing you with them. I never felt that in these 20 years of our life Panchali.
I thought my love was not possessive. I thought I was over these emotions then what ... WHAT made me act like the way I did.
WHY?"

....

....

So... two chapters at one go...😎
Since the scenes were completely related I couldn't let you forget the previous chapter.

Tada,
Until next time.