The festival of Holi brought an air of excitement to Dwarka, and the palace was alive with activity from the early hours of dawn. Subhadra woke up earlier than usual, her mind buzzing with a plan to color Arjuna before anyone else could. She quickly got dressed and rushed toward Arjuna’s chamber, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
As she neared his room, she paused for a moment, trying to steady her racing heart. But to her surprise, the room was empty. “Where could he have gone so early?” she wondered aloud.
Before she could think further, she felt a sudden splash of color on her cheeks. Startled, she turned around, hoping to find Arjuna. But instead, she saw her sisters—Devika, Valandhara, Karenumati, Vijaya—and her best friend, Dushala, standing there, grinning mischievously.
“Dushu! Jiji! What is this?” Subhadra exclaimed, pouting as she wiped the colors off her face.
“Oops, sorry, bestie,” Dushala said, giggling. “Did we interrupt your plans to color your lover?”
The other sisters burst into laughter, exchanging teasing glances.
“Wh… what? Lover? I… I don’t have any lover!” Subhadra stammered, her cheeks turning red as she tried to deny it.
“Ooo, we can see that, sis!” Karenumati teased. “Look at you—blushing already!”
Subhadra couldn’t take their teasing anymore and ran after them. The five sisters scattered, giggling as they hid behind a pillar. Watching her run around in search of them, they signaled to each other to execute their plan.
---
While Subhadra continued searching for them, Dushala slipped away to the garden to find Arjuna. Karenumati quietly climbed to the upper floor, carrying a bag filled with vibrant colors. The remaining three—Devika, Vijaya, and Valandhara—waited at a strategic spot near the palace entrance.
In the garden, Arjuna was also searching for Subhadra, determined to color her first. He walked among the trees, a playful smile on his face, when Dushala appeared, pretending to be out of breath.
“Bhratashree! Bhratashree! An accident has happened!” she cried, clutching his arm dramatically.
“What? An accident? Where?” Arjuna asked, his smile vanishing as worry crept into his voice.
“Inside the palace! Please come quickly!”
“But what happened? Tell me, Dushala!”
“I… I don’t know the details,” she said, trying hard to suppress a giggle. “But Bhrata Yudhishthira is panicking. You must come at once!”
Though suspicious, Arjuna followed her without further question. As they reached the palace, Dushala discreetly signaled Vijaya, who nodded and alerted Karenumati to get ready.
---
Subhadra, still unaware of the scheme, was running around, searching for her mischievous sisters. Suddenly, she bumped into someone and lost her balance. Before she could fall, a pair of strong arms caught her.
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up and saw Arjuna holding her. For a moment, time seemed to stop. Their eyes met, and they were lost in each other’s gaze, the world around them fading into oblivion.
Karenumati, watching from above, saw her cue and poured the bag of colors. A cascade of bright powders fell on Arjuna and Subhadra, covering them in hues of red, yellow, and green. The sudden burst of color made them laugh, but their laughter quickly gave way to another moment of silence as they gazed at each other again.
Unbeknownst to them, their sisters and Dushala watched from a distance, beaming with satisfaction.
“They look perfect together,” whispered Devika.
“They’re destined to be,” added Vijaya, her voice filled with warmth.
Even Krishna, who had just arrived with the Pandavas, stopped to admire the scene. A lone tear escaped his eye as he thought about the sacrifices his beloved sister and best friend would have to make in the future. Yet, for now, he chose to focus on their happiness.
---
“Paaaaaarth! Subhuuuuuuu!” Krishna and Dushala called out in unison, breaking the couple’s reverie.
Arjuna and Subhadra quickly stepped back, their faces flushed. The teasing began immediately.
“My, my! Dear brother and naughty sister, romancing out here in the open?” Nakul said, smirking.
Arjuna, embarrassed, started chasing Nakul. Meanwhile, Subhadra turned to her sisters, only to find Devika standing alone. The others were nowhere to be seen.
“Where are the others?” Subhadra asked, narrowing her eyes.
Just then, she spotted Yudhishthira being chased by Devika. Laughing, she joined the chase and caught him, smearing his face with colors. Yudhishthira retaliated, covering her face in vibrant hues.
“Bura na mano, Holi hai!” Subhadra giggled. “Oh, and sorry, Bhratashree, for ruining your romance with Devika!”
Yudhishthira turned red, his stoic demeanor faltering as he stammered, “W-what are you saying, Subhu?”
“Haha, look at Dharmaraj blushing!” Dushala teased as she added more red to his already flushed cheeks.
The group dissolved into laughter, moving on to find Vijaya and Sahadeva. They discovered Vijaya chasing Sahadeva relentlessly, trying to color him. Subhadra and Dushala couldn’t resist joining in.
“Happy Holi, Bhratashree and Bhabhi—I mean, Jiji!” Subhadra and Dushala said in unison, as they smeared colors on both Sahadeva and Vijaya. The two turned crimson, but their smiles betrayed their happiness.
---
In the garden, Krishna and Balarama were plotting to color Subhadra. “Dau, she’s too fast. We need a plan,” Krishna said.
They quickly arranged a pot of fresh makhan (butter) and placed it on a rock. As Subhadra walked by, tired from running, the aroma of the makhan drew her in. She began eating happily, unaware of her brothers hiding nearby.
The moment she was distracted, Krishna and Balarama jumped out and smeared her face with colors. Subhadra turned around in mock anger, but when she saw her brothers’ wide smiles, she burst into laughter.
“You finally got me!” she said, hugging them. The three siblings laughed together, enjoying the playful moment.
---
That night, the Pandavas, the princesses, and Krishna gathered in the palace, reliving the day’s memories.
“Kanha, this was the best Holi of my life,” Yudhishthira said, glancing at Devika, who smiled shyly.
“I agree,” Nakul said. “But what made it special were the colors of love.”
“True,” Yudhishthira said. “And the purest love we witnessed today was that of Arjuna and Subhadra. Their bond is unlike anything else in the world.”
Krishna, listening silently, felt a pang of sadness as he thought of the trials awaiting the couple. But he quickly masked his emotions with a smile.
“Why are you tearing up, Kanha?” Valandhara asked.
“These are tears of happiness,” Krishna replied. “Seeing how much love and affection you all have for my sister and my Sakha fills my heart with joy.”
“And maybe a little jealousy?” Sahadeva teased.
Krishna made a mock pout, prompting everyone to burst into laughter. As the room filled with joy and camaraderie, Krishna hugged Yudhishthira, silently praying for the happiness of all those he loved.
---
So friends, how was the chap?
Hope u all liked it!
Happy reading 😊
Thank u ❤️
YOU ARE READING
Krishnaanuja: The Goddess Of Illusion (Editting)
Historical Fiction(On hold) Devi Subhadra, a divine figure in Hindu mythology, is the beloved sister of Lord Krishna and Balarama, and the wife of Arjuna. Revered for her grace and wisdom, she symbolizes purity, devotion, and familial love. Often depicted as serene a...
