Uncertainties and Unresolved

He lay unnaturally still to be in slumber. Her sleepless eyes were trained on his well sculpted back observing the barely noticable rise and fall of his ribs.

Her husband was wrapped in a golden hue as the dim light of the few lit diyas danced over his well oiled skin. Pale lines ran amuck over the stretch of his skin, some old and some fresh pink. She mutely scorned the sharp blades that made knicks and cuts over his lovely body. He shouldn't have had to suffer all the pain. Yet she was doing the same.

Gulping down the choked feeling in her throat, she leaned reaching to caress his head. His mane of dark wavy hair lay spread out on the silk pillow making patterns. As her hand hovered over his head in hesitation, she heard his heavy sigh and noticed his form stiffen.

Abhijishya quickly retracted her hand. Once again they were engulfed in thick silence. But this time Abhijishya didn't know how to breach it.

Sahadev and she had been flung back in their time earlier in the evening. She didn't remember much of their return. Her body had succumbed to exhaustion and promptly gone limp in the safe arms of her brother Gopal.

"Forgive me," Gopal had said. The next words seemed far away then. Something about her powers couldn't be allowed to manifest before she became aware of her true self. Sahadev's face had looked stormy and pained opening his mouth to reply. Then she had fainted.

She had awakened to Nakul's careful hands applying ointment on her feet. He was understandably angry. Upon his enquiry of her whereabouts which caused her injuries, she had lied through her teeth.

"The palace bored me," she had said. "And the hundred polite replies to the various kings with agendas made my head heavy so I needed some fresh air. The afternoon breeze was rather enchanting. I needed some solitude so decided to walk by River Yamuna. Then I got lost."

Nakul could always discern her lies. "Will you ever tell me the truth?" The question had felt heavy as his eyes bored into hers. She knew what he meant then. He wanted her unaltered truth; not the half lies and omissions.

She had looked away; her mind scrambling for reassurances but she was silenced by his demanding expression.

"Don't bother," he had snapped. "You never tell me the things that you should be telling me; things that end up hurting you," he ran a frustrated hand through his shoulder length hair. "I can't help you if you never tell me what is happening. I never push you to tell me everything." His face had hardened. "But this time you are in a delicate condition. I won't let any harm befall our child."

Abhijishya had reeled back as if struck. Anger and hurt entwined in guilt rose in her. "You think I am so irresponsible that I can't care for our child?!"

It was wrong. She was twisting his words. Her mind knew but her tongue continued under the storm of emotions. "I didn't wish for all this to happen with me. All of this," she had seethed out as her fingers clutched the bedsheets, wringing them in her hold.

Nakul clenched his jaw and did not utter another word. By the time she noticed the sheen of tears in his eyes, Nakul had finished dressing her wound and left her chamber.

Moments later, Charu came in with a plate ladden with food and refreshing water. Abhijishya had eaten her meal mutely ignoring her companion's incessant question.

Even though Nakul returned for the night, he had proceeded to take his place in her bed without addressing her.

"Arya," she scorned herself for sounding so vulnerable. Nakul ignored her call.

"Nakul... Please," this time her voice was quiet and tired. Abhijishya didn't know what she was asking for or whether there was anything to ask for. All the happenings had faded into too many tangled thoughts which made it hard to understand her feelings and harder to spell them out.

Strong arms pulled her against a chiseled chest. "When things like this happen to you, I feel helpless," a confession was murmured in her ears. A sob curled in her throat as she pressed her face on his skin.

She clung back to him; desperate for forgiveness, love and a spec of understanding for the things she herself couldn't fathom entirely. "I am sorry," she whispered thickly.

A slight shake of his head accompanied his rough fingerpads gently wiping the tears pouring out. "I know you are, love," her eyes were coaxed to meet his.

"Mohini," his tongue halted over his given name that was much cherished. "Your silence is incorrigible," another tired sigh escaped his lips. "But from what I have percieved, these are dangerous waters you are treading."

Abhijishya couldn't help her watery laugh. Dangerous - she didn't know what could be classified as that now.

Nakul sent a withering glare her way, endowed in equal amounts of weariness, sympathy and exasperation. His expression only fueled her laugh; this time carrying a merrier note to it.

"Abhijishya," Nakul pulled away, resting his back on the mattress, his exasperation now multiplied by his wife's antics.

"Sorry, sorry," Abhijishya gasped out as her chuckles subsided. "It's just... mood swings I guess," she shrugged.

Nakul was unable to stop the upturn of his lips. His palm found Abhijishya's stomach and stroked it lovingly. It was still mostly flat except for a tiny baby bump if one were to know her body as well as Nakul did.

Cupping his cheek, Abhijishya leaned over him. "I know you are worried," her thumb traced the delicate skin under his eyes. "I am not exactly going around looking for trouble. Things tend to spiral out of control very fast. But please try to understand that I am not intentionally involving myself in these situations."

"I understand that, Mohini. It worries me not knowing how to help you, how to protect you," Nakul muttered crading his fingers through her hair. "I leave the choice of telling me everything to you. I only pray that you and our baby remain healthy and safe."

Abhijishya nodded; once again grateful for Nakul's infinite patience and acceptance. Perhaps someday she'll tell him everything; just not yet. She only hoped that day he would understand her predicament and not scorn her.

"Somedays I wish things were more simple," she murmured closing her eyes, suddenly feeling all the weariness of the world weigh her down. Nakul soothingly rubbed her back. "But..." she trailed off.

"But?" Nakul questioned.

"But then I wouldn't have met you," she opened her eyes to find a pair of warm brown eyes staring at her in surprise and love. Words failed him in that instance.

His lips descended over hers like the first raindrop of monsoon drenching the summer hard soil. One moment in his arms made all the strife worthwhile.

------------ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ------------

"Who is that beside Draupadi jiji?" The question was thrown at Reva who was struggling to massage Abhijishya's scalp with some hibiscus oil while the later swayed on the garden swing.

The afternoon sun felt pleasant in the cool breezy weather.  After much pleading from both Reva and Charu, Abhijishya had given in and agreed to let them oil her hair. The only condition was that she would decide where to sit down for the task. She was not someone who took pleasure in causing her friends' distress by making their life difficult. This was merely payback for telling on her to her husband when she didn't finish her meal in the morning. (She had no idea how they expected her to finish a portion that was as large as a quarter of Bhrata Bheem's breakfast. Reva disagreed saying she was exaggerating everything. What a liar!)

Reva huffed finally giving up. There was no way she could oil Rajkumari's hair with the constant swaying. She didn't want to hurt her. She mock glared at Abhijishya's winning smile when she stepped away and turned to look at the direction Abhijishya had gestured in.

Two beautiful ladies were walking down the stone path of the garden while picking flowers busy conversing amongst themselves. Decked in gold jewellery and scarlet attire over dusky skin, it was unmistakably their Empress Draupadi. Beside her in heavenly blues and pearls, a tuft of peacock feather dangling from a emerald studded girdle was the soon-to-be wife of Vrishnikumar Krishna.

"Ah her!" Reva exclaimed excitedly. Wiping her oily fingers on a rug, she started braiding Abhijishya's hair. "From what I heard from Kumudini, she is the daughter of Surya-- but then some say she is the daughter of the washerman who lives by River Yamuna. Word is that she has Vrishnikumar enamoured in her beauty. Why, ofcourse, yesterday Yadavshreth himself brough her with him. She is going to be his wife once they go back to Dwarka."

"Bhratashree's wife?" Abhijishya hummed contemplatively. "What is her name?"

"Kalnidra or... no, wait. Kadilna?" Reva scrunched her eyebrows trying to remember the name she had heard.

"Kalindi," Abhijishya murmured as her gaze remained fixed on the pair of women now approaching their way.

"Yes! Yes! Kalindi," Reva nodded. "I think you'll like her Rajkumari. She seems quite witty and has a boisterous laughter."

"Who has a boisterous laughter dasi?" Kalindi called out having heard the tail of their conversation.

Abhijishya got up gracefully and folded her hands. "Pranipaat Jiji. Pranipaat Devi."

"Kalyan ho, Dhruvi," Draupadi replied with the smile. Kalindi, on the other hand, stood  with a slightly confused expression on her face.

Abhijishya arched an eyebrow to which Kalindi clarified," I admit I was expecting to be addressed as Bhabishree from what I heard of you from Yadavkumar."

"I didn't want to presume anything without being introduced to you first," she replied smoothly.

"Also, Dhruvi doesn't like anyone addressing her friends Reva, Charu, Kumudini and Parnika as dasis," Draupadi spoke up clearly familiar with the stiff smile Abhijishya wore whenever she was displeased.

"Pardon me then. I didn't mean any offence. Is this Charu then? I hear you caused quite an uproar," Kalindi sent an apologetic smile before gently taking Abhijishya's hand in hers to convey her sincerity.

"It is alright, Bhabishree. I admit I have been rather irritable these days," Abhijishya admitted, squeezing her hand sheepishly.

Kalindi shook her head good naturedly. "It is understandable. The days have been hard on Samragyi and especially you, given your delicate state."

Abhijishya's hand instinctively moved over her baby bump and her cheeks flushed pleasantly. "It is true that we have been busy--" her words died down when her eyes noticed the twins talking some distance away under a mango tree. Nakul was speaking to Sahadev rather heatedly while Sahadev looked both remorseful and weary.

"Dhruvi?" Draupadi placed her hand on Abhijishya's shoulder. The later gestured towards the pair when Sahadev said something back and walked away, brushing off Nakul's hold on his arm.

"This is getting worse," Draupadi murmured as concern coloured her features. Turning towards Abhijishya, she asked," Do you know what all this is about? I have asked around but haven't received a likely reason. Even Aryaputra Yudhisthir isn't aware of it."

Abhijishya's shoulder slumped as she ran a tired hand over her eyes. "I know... but I don't know how to fix the situation. I haven't really spoken to Arya about it. From what I gathered, Arya blames late mother Madri for the death of late Samrat Pandu. He was never able to forgive her after she leaped into the burning pyre. This topic has always been an unhealed wound between them."

The atmosphere turned somber as they contemplated the situation.

"Perhaps..." Draupadi started seeming uncertain of her next words. Seeing Abhijishya and Kalindi's expectant faces, she continued," I have something in mind but it has the potential to either make the situation worse or resolve it."

"Better than just being a spectator if you ask me," Kalindi opined. "Afterall, the dispute is quite visible to everyone. Many rumors are flying around. I heard from my attendant that the quarrel is about the division of Madra kingdom."

Abhijishya grimaced. It was only a while longer before someone took advantage of this fissure. "I agree. Maybe we can help resolve the situation."

Draupadi nodded; now confident and determined. "First I'll need to speak to Aryaputra Yudhisthir and Aryaputra Sahadev." She sought out Abhijishya's eyes. "I trust you to handle Aryaputra Nakul's side."

Abhijishya's eyes widened slightly before a soft smile played on her lips. "I'll try my best Jiji. But what is your plan?"

Draupadi flashed her a grin. "Say, how well can you paint?"

A.N. - Hellosssss!!!! I am not dead!! Whoosh... really needed to say that.

Dhi crossed 75K views today!!! I knew I had to update after I received really lovely texts from my readers about how much they liked my work.

I am sorry but I am afraid I can't update fast. College life is busy. I try to write in my barely existent free time.

Anyways, do vote, comment and recommend my work if you like it.

Let me know what you think about this chapter. Feel free to point out errors in my writing (didn't have time to edit).

P.S. I don't know if this chapter was alright or not. I have been a mess lately. Sorry if I disappointed you.

P.P.S. What do you think about the banners? I'll be putting them in all the chapters when I get time.

P.P.P.S. Suggest a better chapter name please.

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