Hastinapur

Arjun's POV

"Two cups of counterblasts, one cup of indirect ultimatum, half cup of limit-recollection and yes," I leaned against a tree, tossing a small pebble in between my fingers, "Sprinkle some savageness, according to taste." Dashing my orbs across towards the edge of the artificial fountain, my lips shifted up into a smirk after perceiving a set of astonished pairs of eyes epoxied on me.

"Wh-what was that?" she blinked, completely caught off guard. The ripples she was concocting in the waters, halted momentarily as she continued lingering her gaze upon me. I am damn sure she must be marveling that from where do I miraculously appear from thin air out of nowhere.

But, how on earth can I leave her alone right now? 

"Recipe," I ticked my jaw, spinning the pebble higher, "Recipe, to memorize. Trust me, it will be fruitful in your stay in Hastinapur."

"The thing is that you need to blend those ingredients in front of some highly dunderheaded individuals." 

Her features softened gradually, as she pulled out her hand from the waters. The distaste plastered on her face was still fresh as interlocked her fingers and let out a breath, lowering her lashes and resting in on the grasses. The moon hung low in the cloudless blue black space, ennobling her already arresting visage though deprived of the usual spark.

I had already envisioned that sooner or later, she won't be spared. She won't be, when the chances of demeaning her had been easier. And I know too, that my sharp roasts, Bhrata Bheem's overprotective stance for her or Jyesth's warnings would lose it's effect in the time being for them.

And visibly, it is losing. And I can't let that happen when I am the sole reason for it. 

I can't stay back as a periodically aloof person, which is a way of escaping from everything. Or rather every feeling. Enough of it. She has been here, directly or indirectly, because of me.  

If she been thrown into a cage because of me, then I shall be the one to bring her out. If that spark of fire vanquishes due to me, I shall be the one to light it back again.

Period.

"No, I probably can't afford that." she peered at me through her lashes, lowering them back again and began rubbing her palm with her thumb, "He-here it seems like you'll have to breathe too with permission." she couldn't, or rather didn't try to abstract the sense of mock that followed her statement. Her eyebrows knitted back, as she pushed back a strand of hair from her forehead.

"You have to afford that. I am not asking you to overdo it, just respond when things go overboard." I know, I can't be illogical with her. She'll land in trouble to if she tries to argue to much, of course she will. Not my statement, but experience screams that. The fact is those who support us, to are under their support.

So it is useless, better be practical.

But neither can I allow her to swallow down every crap blasted down upon her.

"Is it so easy as you speak?" she shook her head, clicking her tongue.

"No, not easy. But its not that difficult either." I shoved the pebble away and strode towards her, "Not difficult, when you learn rekindle that spark back." 

"What is the use in that? There are enough of them to blow it away," her lips shifted up in deride, as she slightly splashed the water in the pool. Her words unknowingly made my heart twist painfully. Witnessing her wither away like a lotus before it can bloom, right in front of my eyes, is not a very pleasant sight. 

She turned cold within a few months of her arrival. I did spot her working like a steadfast individual, sometimes like a lifeless human so as to meet up to everyone's expectations. And above that, some 'brilliant' individuals were crushing the already crushed soul of her.

"Mmmm," I shook my head, articulating a small smile on my lips, "No one can blow away that spark except you, Krishnaa." 

Her raven orphic shot above, curiously as it began assessing mine. "Rekindle it, nothing will happen. Its really cold here, the spark is necessary for all of us to be alive." I bit back a sigh, resting my eyes upon the blue flame.

"N-no, Arjun. Fire can bring warmth to the one seeking for it, yet it can cause horrendous destruction." her voice was squeakily low, as she lowered her head and continued twirling the edge of her saree, "And I don't want, I don't want to..."

"To destroy anyone." she peered back, her eyes darkening under the shadow of skepticism. She looked away, breathing in and licking her lower lip, "They said that too. I, I don't want that to happen."

"Now I am afraid that, if that spark spreads in the wrong direction. It is going to consume everyone in its flames. I don't want to play with this disastrous fire." she continued, her voice dying out.

"Who asked you play with disastrous fire?" I pursed my lips and sat down on my knee, to have a clearer glimpse of the fire-born Princess. Her almond-eyes which one appeared to convey warmth, were scouring me devoid of them. As if searching for something to grasp the warmth back. It became clear to me; I did not have to ignite the fire but also give it a certain direction too. 

"Panchali, I am certainly not talking about the fire you are thinking I am talking about." her pupils dilated momentarily, "I am talking about the fire which provides warmth, yet is enough to fear those who desire to blemish it."

"How is that possible. Fire can either provide warmth or destroy, there is no in between." she lowered her head as she shook it, not breaking the gaze though.

"Who said you that? Think about it, in a cold bleakly night when everyone sits around a fireplace to gain warmth. They stay close, yet maintain a distance from that fireplace. That fire in the logs isn't uncontrollable, they know that. Don't they?" my lips stretched into a small smile, "Then why do they maintain a distance from that too?"

"Because that fire in those pieces of wood can burn them too," I chose to complete my own question, seemingly drowning the latter one in her thoughts, "That is the spark I am asking you to generate. Will provide warmth from afar until they maintain a good distance, but enough to burn down when they cross the line. This fire doesn't become a wildfire though. This is ain't the fire you are skeptical about, Krishnaa."

"Trust me, you can roast anything in a low flame as well. But the flame has to exist." her eyes manifested its color, signaling that maybe she is able to grasp what I am endeavoring tp convey.

"Make this fire your weapon, not the reason for your fear. If you fear, the fire will slip out of your hands, and when you own its power it will protect you," My forefinger inadvertently inched up towards her forehead as it twirled her a thick lock of standard that had fallen down on her face due to a whiff of wind, "It will protect you, by becoming your armor." 

Her eyes drank around my entire form with a hint of astonishment, but it wasn't impossible to notice the tiny ray of hope that had flickered in them. "And yes, breathe freely. If you search with your whole heart you'll find even the Almighty, and this is nothing but air of freedom. You'll find it too." I scrunched up my nose, tittering to reduce the intensity of the atmosphere, finally pushing back her strand of hair back to where it should belong to.

Her lips shifted apart, her eyes still fixed upon me with amusement. Enough to convince me that if not completely, I was half way successful in what I was seeking out for. 

"Yes, no say something?" I raised my eyebrows and waggled it, pursing my lips.

She blinked randomly, snapping out of the momentary stiffness she was in and started bobbing her head, "Hmmmm, hmmm." her lips shifted up into a smile, not that of mock or of deride. But a warm one which my heart was itching and dying to see.

"Come now, come inside." I pressed my lips and stood up, rubbing off my palms with all the soil it had. She sat there, assessing me with those keen eyes which were screamed nothing but appreciation which I don't think was necessary. It was supposed to be done from my side, which I wasn't doing till now. 

"Aye, what are you calculating so much? Come," I tittered, extending my palm for her to clasp. "Trust me, nothing wrong shall happen." I ticked my jaw, giving her the assurance which she needed for then. She pursed her lips and smiled, inching up her cold fingers and claiming my warm ones.

"One more question I need to ask." her dimples became prominent, as she stood up.

"Go on."

"Are you going to be aloof again?" she softly inquired or rather blurted it out softly, making a straight face, her dark orbs eyeing me with curiosity and hope. Warmth dashed to my jaws as I felt guilty for a while with the question, catching me off guard instantly. But that was a different phase and hopefully I am trying to overcome it. I am learning to cope up, and she too probably. And it can't possibly help if I try to shove her away from myself.

And someone has told me that, if I push myself away from her it is going to end up in disaster. For both of us.

"No." I firmly answered her back and held her hand securely, "No, I am not going to anywhere." Her features relaxed, as she nodded with a small smile, "You sure about it?"

"Very sure." 

Oh yes, I am very sure about that. Now that I have ignited the spark, watch how I turn it into her constructive fire of life.

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Krishna and Arjun :-

* Being an excellent friend *vibe check pass* ✅

* Being an excellent partner *vibe check pass*✅

* Being an excellent motivator *vibe check pass* ✅

* Being an excellent father *vibe check pass* ✅

* Being an excellent son *vibe check pass* ✅

* Being an excellent brother *vibe check pass* ✅

* Being an excellent individual *vibe check pass* ✅ 

Also the song I have put above for the chapter *vibe check pass* ✅

*Just ArDi things*

*Innocent Draupadi not understanding Arjun's double meaning jokes*

Arjun--Yaar, terepe bahut mehnat karni padegi yaar...*rubs his temples*

Not Arjun being the only 'shaatir' friend in the group who spoils an innocent newcomer 🤣🤣.

Guys I seriously don't know what I have blabbered in this entire chapter of 1600 words lol .🥴🥴🥴🥴

Tell me how the chapter was 🙈.

Signing off for today~

Kiritija Nushkie