Rukmika entered her room, and straight away sat down on her desk taking out a blank scroll and dipping the quill in ink.

'Pranipat Rajkumar Arjun' she wrote at the top.

But the she stopped, thinking what she should write. Should she start by thanking him or should she ask how he and his family is. Should she ask him to tell about himself or will it be too forward.

He had sent her a rose and Rukmika knew he was smart enough to understand what sending a red rose meant. So asking him about himself shouldn't he too forward.

Setting a blueprint of what and how she wanted to write, Rukmika dipped her quill in ink and started writing. When she was done she grabbed a rose from the flower vase and kept it inside the letter and rolled it, tying it with a thread.

"Lata ! Lata !" Rukmika called.

"Yes Rajkumari ?" Lata entered the room.

"I want you to send this scroll to Dwarika. But don't let anyone know it especially Yuvraj." Rukmika said.

"As you wish." Lata nodded.

-- FEW DAYS LATER --

Arjun was packing his stuff so to leave for Varnavart. He wondered whether a letter from Rukmika will come or not. He had to leave tomorrow morning from Dwarika and worried if the letter comes after he was gone.

When he had first laid eyes on her she seemed to be so ethereal that he thought he had seen the regal and beautiful thousand petalled lotus that Devi Laxmi carries in her divine hand.

Seeing her was the first time he had gotten a joy after a long while. In his tough life he had never fully gotten a single joy, everything came at a very high price.

It was his 14th birthday a moment of joy interrupted by the death of his father Pandu and mother Madri. He then with his brothers and mother Kunti went to Hastinapur, joy of getting a family was short lived because of hatred he and his brothers got from their cousin Kauravas.

He had gotten an excellent teacher, and the joy of serving him were always interrupted by taunts and unwanted rivalry by Kauravas and Karna.

The day of Kridangan came, he was termed as the best archer and then was challenged by Karna who for some reason too keen on turning their rivalry in enmity. But as per Angraj, Arjun had always cared the least.

His eldest brother Yudhishthir had gotten the throne but still there was a worry of that Kauravas will again do some treachery.

Meeting Krishna seemed to be the only full joy that he had gotten. His friendship didn't come at a high price. Arjun looked at the moon, a part of him didn't want to leave Dwarika, didn't want to leave his Madhav.

He wanted to stay here and write letters to Rukmika, the second full joy of his life. It seemed destiny was going a little easy on him now.

"Rajkumar, a letter has come from you." A servant said entering.

He gave the scroll to Arjun and left. As the archer opened it the sight of a red rose filled his heart with delight. Arjun opened the scroll and started reading it.

••••••

Pranipat Rajkumar Arjun

I express my gratitude for informing me about the well-being of my elder sister. It was very kind of you. The situations at Vidarbh are also calming, only Jyesht Bhrata Rukmi is still angry.

And I must say that the valor exihibited by you that day was unparalleled. I was in awe, for I have never seen a warrior half as good.

It is an honour to be acquainted with a warrior like yourself. Returning the favour with a rose.

With warm regards
Rukmika

••••••

Arjun looked a the letter and then at the rose and smiled.

'I must write her a letter after reaching Varnavart.' Arjun decided.

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A/N

Wanna see the 1000 petalled lotus ?

This is know as the Ultimate Lotus, and is one of the rarest of its species. This lotus can have about 800 to 1000 to 1600 petals. They are mainly found in China, Vietnam and North India but now are also grown in south India as well.

It is said that Radha Rani used to carry 1000 petalled lotus and our goddesses sit on these lotuses as well.
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