BURNT DREAMS

The sound of the distant clatter surrounding her forced her out of her oblivion, the calloused hand that had entrapped hers, caused her unfocused gaze to shift to the owner.

The small callouses gracing his hands a tell tale sign. He was an archer; but she possessed an archers eyes: sharp and precise and despite being clouded by sleep, she knew. She knew his presence.

The marks that adorned his skin were mirrored in hers. Because like him, she wielded his weapon with as much, if not much more ferocity. She was nav durga in her truest form. A shadow of adishakti. He, her shiv.

He had fallen asleep by her side.

Peacefully, somewhat.

Despite the clear discomfort in the position he had subjected himself too.

She could see the small tense creases on his forehead as he held onto her for dear life.

He looked more handsome than ever, and Draupadi hated herself for even thinking along those lines.

He was responsible for every pain in her life. Only him. And yet she couldn't stop her hearts beat for him. It irked her to no end. How she could still feel so much for the man who had left her standing alone for so long, for the man who had bruised her heart multiple times in multiple different ways?

It had truly baffled her.

She was sure if Govind was around, he would term it as Prem, he would salute her for not giving into Moh and he would say in his ominous tone that this was the tether between soulmates.

She resented it.

And yet instead of hating him, she hated herself for it. She hated the way her heart hummed the tune of his name, the way the restless, erratic beats thummed the same way he pulled the strings of his treasured dunush.

She hated the capability he possessed to bring forth emotions that she had long learnt to bury as required from a Queen. But more than anything she hated her inability to control her emotions when it came to him.

She hated the way she fell mercilessly at his feet begging for another ounce of love, for another moment of bliss with him.

She hated it all. She hated circumstances.

But she could never hate him.

The moment was soon over, as she jolted her palm out of his harshly.

The sudden movement had clearly had its desired effect.

It forced him out of his solemn slumber, and his hazel eyes met hers in utter relief.

"Thank god." He whispered, forcing himself up, and gently trailing his fingers through her hair. He pulled himself forward, planting a kiss to the side of her head, until she placed a palm at his chest and forced him back.

"Leave." She croaked out, the tears that had dried against her face the previous night now coming to life again, as she wretched her gaze from his.

"Panchali." He called. He never called her so, unless in the presence of others.

No one was there but the tethered souls.

She bit her trembling lip, turning further away from him, and forcing herself to her feet.

She had ignored the wave of dizziness that had suddenly overcome her. She had one goal, and that was to get far away from him as soon as possible.

She could hear the sigh that escaped his luscious lips. And she could distantly make out his shuffling despite the thundering of her heart. She scurried up, rushing her movements to the point where she swayed, only to be caged in his muscular arms, against his toned chest. She averted her eyes.

"Rajkumar Arjun. Leave me at once." She spat venomously.

She had noticed the way he had recoiled at her hostility and blatant ignorance towards their relationship, but his grip remained tight. Focused on his target.

As always.

His Queen was fuming under his even gaze, but even the Mahanayak Arjun, despite being calm and collective was beginning to get frustrated.

"You need rest. Stop with this." His tone was direct, precise and cold. Just like he was.

But her fire was reaching heights, and he could feel the heat radiating of her body.

"What I need is for you to leave. And if you won't I will."

"Draupadi!" The dagger lodged in her heart twisted at the animosity.

Could he not read that he was killing her?
Had they fallen out off tune so much within the past twelve years?
Had they destroyed the only foundation that Draupadi knew as her life line?

She cursed slightly, startling him as she shoved at his chest. Her power was no joke. Of course, the warrior Queen could best her husband when the time called for it.

"I do not wish to see you Rajkumar."

Now he was dying in her animosity.

"You said you accepted her as your own. You claimed her as your sister."

"And she is. Because before she is your wife, or my co-wife, she is Govind's sister. She the sister of my brother, my Sakha which therefore defaults her to the position of my sister."

"And yet you possess so much venom my Queen."

"If you're worried about the treatment of your second, no apologise your fourth wife, I can reassure you now Prince, your precious love will remain unharmed."

"That is not what I meant."

She scoffed. "Of course not. So pray do tell me Rajkumar, did you lose your way to your wife's chambers that you stumbled into mine? Because if that it the truth than you best be on your way. I do not wish to see my little sister in tears because of her neglectful husband. After all I know that pain all to well."

She snarled the last bit aggressively, noticing the way his fists clenched and unclenched. Another tell tale sign that she was pushing him too far.

"I am doing my duty to my first wife."

She chuckled bitterly. Murmuring "first wife" between her luscious lips.

"Well in that case you are dismissed. Run a long now."

"Krishnaa I swear-"

"Do not finish that sentence Prince, if you are going to say unreasonable, I might just murder you on the spot. And where will that leave me, a widow for one husband, a criminal in the eyes of everyone else. So just do us both a favour and leave."

"You fainted last night."

"Must have been from the pain you have given to me. Rest assured Rajkumar Arjun,
I will live."

"Why are you doing this? Why won't you look me in the eye?"

"Because I know that if I do, I won't be able to stop myself.  I know for a fact that I will become weak like always, and I can't afford that."

"My love is your weakness." It sounded more like a statement, than a question.

And yet she answered, the underlying question that had arisen in the heat of their argument.

"You should know Arjun that you are my biggest weakness and yet you are my strength when I fall weaker. Because that's what love is. It's just a shame that I was the only one to fall and feel that."

"Krishnaa."

"I think that's enough of the reminiscing for tonight don't you think Prince?"

He stepped forward, only for her footsteps to fall back in retreat. She stretched out her palm, causing his steps to stop.

"Please Arjun."

"You believe you're the only one hurting my love you're wrong. I know I've let you down too many times to count. I know that as not only your husband but as your best friend that I haven't been around to take my share of your pain like I vowed to. I am your culprit, and I have wronged you, there is no denying that. But don't you ever say that my love for you isn't present. You've been mine in every single life, in every life after this godforsaken one. That is our truth my love. You're Shakti and I, your shiv. Jab Adishakti hai, tabhi Shiv hai, varna kuch nahi. You know it, I know it, this entire universe knows it."

She pulled her hands out of his grip.

"It does not make this any easier Arjun."

"I know. And all I can do is apologise."

"No it's not. What you can do Rajkumar, is stand by my side. You can hold my hand instead of letting it go time after time. You can love me instead of pushing me away in fear of what your brothers may think. I am the wife of five, but you were my first husband, and in the eyes of my heart and soul, you will remain so. You have a bigger right over me than they do. And yet, you decide not to wield it. I was made to be yours. Your weapon, your love, your wife. And yet here I am, not even being able to express my utter discontent, that my husband has married another."

She took a menacing step forward, her hands now gripping his upper garment tightly in her clasp.

"I never cared when it was your brothers. I hoped instead they'd turn their attention away from me, and they could read it like a book. They understood, and they never pressured me because more than anything they respected and they valued me. I learned to love them, but not in the way a wife should love a husband because that was reserved only for you. They knew since day one Arjun. Everyone knew but you. Everyone understood that I could live for you but not without you. And they knew that the day you left, I left with you, but somewhere along that journey you left me."

"You left me Arjun. How could you do that?"

"Priyee."

"No." She said, a tone deafening in defeat.

"I can't do this Arjun. Not right now. It hurts too much."

"I'll make it up to you." He vowed vehemently.

"And I hope for both ours sakes that you do. Because I don't think my heart can handle another abandonment from you. Arjun I swear, this is the last time I put my utter faith in you. My complete trust...lose it again, and that will be it. There will be no forgiving and no getting this back. If I turn away from you-"

"If you turn away from me, I'll follow you until you look back. I'll care for you from afar, I'll make sure that no daggers pierce you from behind-"

"And will you save me from the arrows, or will you be the one shooting them?"

His eyes softened.
It dawned on him...
His words didn't mean anything.

So despite her best efforts to pull away, he trapped her with in his arms. Allowing his heart, that she now rested upon to do the talking, hoping that she could hear the pleas and apologise and truthfulness behind the vows.

Because he didn't want to fail her.

Not again.

But he had.

And he left her bleeding at the hands of his family yet again.

Authors note:
Hello fellow readers it has been a long time since I've updated this side of my writing, and I hope you all enjoy this one shot as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

I just wanted to say that I see all the messages and love that this, and A love that brings pain is getting, and although I haven't had the time to respond individually I do see it, and it's heart warming to see that a story I started over seven years ago is still receiving so much love. Regarding updates, I really want to continue and considering I have an extended summer this year I am hoping that I can begin to start writing more for it. I thank you all for your patience and I hope that you can continue to do that until I can post more regularly. I swear I will finish it even if it happens to kill me. Lol.

Thank you once again. And lots of love to you all. Stay safe and enjoy this xxx