Arjunsangini - An Ardi Novel

The Peculiar Report and the Trade of Weapons

"Drau!" Drishtdyumna whined.

"Not now Dyumna I have a lot of work!" Draupadi said making a gesture for him to leave her.

"I will not." Drishtdyumna said finally. Draupadi gave her a withering look but with conviction, her twin stood the ground.

"Suit yourself." Draupadi sighed and hid beneath the reports from the soldiers lying on her desk.

"Drau we need to talk." Drishtdyumna said as patiently as he could.

"Uh-huh." Draupadi said absentmindedly.

"Drau!"

"What is it?" Draupadi said now annoyed.

"Can't you see I am working!" Draupadi said and went back to reading the report.

Hmm... This is peculiar. Tiger attacking villagers, ah it is wounded. Must be so scared, poor thing! Draupadi thought.

"I have had enough." The prince said hoisting himself from the seat he had decided to sit. He made his way to her absent-minded sister and in a flurry seized the file from her hands and dragged her away with him.

"Dyumna! How can you- I was working! This is serious stuff! There is a tiger! Dyumna! Are you even listen- Wait, where are you taking me? This dragging me to places is getting very frequent! Beware the next time I may flip you over." Draupadi humphed but let herself get dragged.

"I am not too fond of it either but isn't like you are ever eager to hang out with your adorable brother or anyone else for that matter. Don't you dare think something sadistic like 'I was hanging out with my misery' okay?" Drishtdyumna said not looking back.

"I was not!" Draupadi replied.

Maybe.

"Wait where are we? Since when does the palace have this new garden?" Draupadi asked.

"Well, sister it's not like you roam the palace in your free time!" Drishtdyumna his voice held mockery but there was truth in it. Their father's health had gotten stabler and now Draupadi was handling all the 'paperwork' as she called it. She didn't do work all the time but she didn't like to spend her free time with anyone now. She visited their father regularly just to check on him. If she was in the mood she even went to visit their elder sister, Shikhanadini who was the busiest of the lot. And Drishtdyumna, she didn't need to visit him as he came to her annoy her daily.

"But seriously this place is beautiful! The gardeners outdid themselves this time!" Draupadi said impressed. It was so gigantic in its dimensions that it took several moments for her to register every part of it.

The entrance was marked by a thin wooden arc-like composition which was barely visible because the vines were covering it. The pathway lined with stone slabs at such a distance that the earth was also evident, was narrow at first and opened up to a sumptuous view. Her eyes first darted towards the artificial stream to the left. Slabs of rock were placed at intervals to create a waterfall effect and also to hide the mechanism behind it. The descending water made a subtle peaceful sound and collected into a small pond which was filled with white lotuses. Draupadi thought she even spotted a fish or two in there. Her eyes travelled to the rightmost corner where two upholstered furniture sat beside each other with opulent fabric and intricate patterns. Opposite the pair of seats was a mattress for those who wished to be closer to mother nature Draupadi guessed. Between that configuration was a wooden trunk which was to be used as a table. Draupadi thought it would be uncomfortable to sit there during the noon when the sun was at its best. Apparently, the gardeners had thought the same and had attached a canopy-like structure to the poles near the seating area which was made of such a fabric that allowed enough light to enter that would be pleasant but not hurting. But the star of the show was the limestone fountain situated at the heart of the garden. Its stages were sculpted like petals of lotuses which enlarged as they descended. At the top of the fountain was attached a four-headed elephant whose' trunk sprouted out water. Draupadi had never seen anything more elegant.