Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Daughter?" Kunti placed a hand on the Princess's shoulder with a faint smile, "Come with me dear. . ."

 "I have some garments with me, you'll feel comfortable in it." 

Draupadi nodded slowly, returning a smile to Kunti. And sparing a swift, last glance to the five of them, she went behind the elderly lady inside the hut. 

Arjun stared her as he long as he could with a bated breath, only to realize what he was doing, till she was once behind the doors. 

Mad man, what was he doing? 

He squeezed his eyes shut, chewing down his lower lip to cut down his sheepish smile.

But his madly thudding heartbeats just had another tale to tell.

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The Brahmins had already started gathering around the hut, smeared with holy ashes. They chattered amongst themselves happily. Yudhishthir was already greeting them with the twins. 

It was clear that they had the urge to be served at the household.

The potter's wife had came out, stunned at everything. Not believing that these simple Brahmins could one day, have won the Princess's hand out of all. She had to make sure what she heard was right, with the murmurings happening how the dark-skinned Brahmin, with blazing amber eyes had pierced through the target, and how the bulky, muscular one had thrashed the living daylights of the rageful Kings. 

But one glance at the Princess and the bow was enough to knock out her breath for a good while.

"Vijay?" Yudhishthir took in a long breath, striding towards him, "So many Brahmins?"

 Arjun's gaze swept over the huge number of the sect who were waiting to be served, "Honestly, I had no idea. . ."

Yudhishthir clicked his tongue in worry. How were they going to serve so many of them, right then? The potter's wife had said that she had only prepared food for the five of them and for Kunti, and it was difficult to arrange so much in a short time. 

They also had. . . Draupadi now to take care of.

 Bheem counted vaguely the number of Brahmins who had came over, releasing a deep breath at the realization.

"Alright listen, you both," Yudhishthir nodded, patting Bheem's shoulder "You both do one thing,  get some alms from the nearest houses as fast as possible. . . you'll get enough today. I'll look after the Brahmins with Maata, Nakul and Dev." 

"And. . . try to get some more fruits this time. Don't know what the Princess would like to eat."  Yudhishthir's jaws warmed up for a moment, the three of them sharing a glance with each other. Bheem bit on the corner of his mouth, clearly looking away to hide a threatening grin, while Arjun simply let his teeth graze of his lips with a tiny smile.

But what else could they do?

The happiness was too much to hold, and too much to hide. 

"Let's go Bhrata Bheem," Arjun mumbled through a breathy smile, only to be alerted by the vague screeches of a chariots. 

The two chariots kept to a lurking halt, and at once the two enigmatic Princes of Dwarka stepped out like the world was in their command.

"Vaasudev?" Yudhishthir inhaled a staggering breath, congealed. Bheem had his gaze too stilled upon the two brothers, Nakul and Sahadev joining them in a while, bartering stunned a eye-lock. 

But Arjun was frozen and still, then and there. Or rather, too stunned to realize that a deep, ragged breath left him with a rendering clutch in his guts. He felt an on-spot effervescence, perhaps a rush, like a  bolt of lightning streaming over his skin. His ambers raved around, faster than the moving clouds. 

Why did he always feel that with him?

His peacock feather fluttered seamlessly with the gentle zephyrs, his long, broad leonine figure was a precise suaveness of an unmatched warrior; and a charm he owned which Arjun swore would linger for a good while even if he vanished from there any time. 

And for the God, those deep auburn eyes chose to sweep at Arjun, all at once. 

His gaze was strong and unwavered, not that which could pierce, but one that could absolve. 

Arjun bit on his lips to gulp down a breath, feeling everything all at once. Again.

He was like. . . a fine touch of God. No, rather God himself. 

"Vaasudev?" Bheem's sharp voice faltered at the pitch, but was enough to draw out Arjun. He now felt he could breath, after inhaling a handful of air. 

Krishna's lips bloomed wider, as he strode towards them with Balram, "True that. Valor couldn't be hidden at last, isn't it?" 

Yudhishthir let out a breathy chortle, looking down and shaking his head. 

"Very happy to see you'll fine and dandy," Balram chuckled, patting Sahadev's shoulder who returned a full grin, followed by his twin..

"But. . . how did you, I mean-" Yudhishthir felt himself out of words, "How did you know-find us?" 

"I told right, it's difficult for you five to be hidden for long." Krishna chuckled, wrapping his arms around Yudhishthir, who could do nothing else but grin back with a patting hug, "O God! How do you do this Krishna?"

"What is this Krishna. . ." Nakul was enveloped in a hug soon, "Never knew we would meet each other again, like this!"

"Don't tell me, I do love impromptu meetings brother!" Krishna laughed, with a friendly thump on his back.

"Of course, of course!"

The laughter of a God had to be infectious, and that it was. Arjun felt his heart flutter almost rhythmically with Krishna's chuckles, and gaze not daring to blink, lest he missed something that he shouldn't. He always saw him, like he was the first ray of the Sun, first drop of rain and the first whiff of wind he felt.

He felt his heart would rupture out of his chest, the moment his gaze trailed up towards him. 

Arjun wasn't hallucinating now when he realized that Krishna's eyes flickered with a bizarre aura, something which felt was just. . . wholly for him. There was an ache in his throat, as he tried to let his breath go down, but it chose to be stuck there, as he inhaled more. 

He couldn't meet his eyes, nor take away his eyes from him. 

Krishna's lips kicked up into a further smile, as he strode towards the third Pandav, with a gaze that the latter could swore had the entire world in it. The whiff of holy sandalwood, the divinely crafted Peetambar, the iridescent peacock feather, all felt so. . .even a few years gap seemed like ages for him.

The solace he gave him, the comfort he had given him, like home. 

His lips couldn't decide for a moment whether to let it smile, for he felt he had lost control over himself. He shut his eyes momentarily, to let his hands touch his feet.

"Started again?" A little chortle, and a grip on his shoulder made Arjun still, as he got lifted up, "Come on Arjun, how many times I told you? Why make me feel old?" 

Before he could realize, he felt the scent of sandalwood taking over him, a pair of warm arms enveloping him like he was his own. 

And Arjun couldn't help but grin at his embrace, the ever so embrace that he missed for long.

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.

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"Arjun, my God!" Krishna broke the hug, raising a brow, "You literally blew everyone's mind today, huh?!"

"Madhav. . .it's- it's nothing so." Arjun looked down, his jaws warming up as he shook his head. He was used to praises, and he always took them with a humble smile, but when Krishna did. . .

Krishna chuckled, "Yeah, and this the same thing you say over and over again!"

 Bheem chimed from behind, wrapping an arm around Arjun's shoulder with a playfully shaking grip, "No use Krishna! Fill him with praises and he'll just look at you like he did nothing!"

"Seems like we'll have to get you back to Dvaraka again, there nothing of your humbleness shall work!" Balaraam thumped his back, making the latter smile faintly, turning a peal of light, shy chuckles.

"Govind, Dau!" Draupadi's cheerful voice caught their attention. Arjun watched her with even wider eyes, as the latter sprinted towards Krishna like there was no tomorrow. 

She. . .she knew them?

"Arrey Sakhi!" Krishna's eyes twinkled, as he strode towards the Princess. The simple saffron raiment wrapped around her dainty figure, her loose strands of dark hairs wavered around with the eddying zephyrs, but all she knew that moment was to greet--- her friend.

He was her friend? 

And for a moment, he couldn't un-see how the Princess looked at Krishna, the way he did.

The way he did. 

Her ragged, stirred jolts of breath, her eyes twinkling with cheerfulness and a thrill he was absolute she too had felt in her heart. 

Like him.

"Sakhi, you're alright?" Arjun felt that Krishna's voice suddenly carried a swirl of worry in it, for he almost rushed towards her, "You aren't hurt, aren't you?" Krishna brushed a hand over her head, narrowing his eyes over her visage, searching for it. 

"No no, I am alright! And I was thinking whether you'll come or not!" She giggled with twinkling eyes. 

"Arrey, how couldn't I? I can't leave Paanchaal without seeing you off!" He chuckled, patting her head.

Leave Paanchaal? So soon?

"You're leaving now?" Arjun's retort was coupled with Draupadi's, both at the same time, making them look at each other for a brief moment in complete surprise.

"Y-yes," Balram carried on with the cue, "Actually, we have to leave to Dwarka as soon as possible. We can't stay here longer. . . if the Kings find out, they can follow here."

"You can't trust them." 

Kunti came out of the hut, her brows narrowing as she immediately saw her two nephews. But as usual, she steadied herself for hiding her identity. Krishna and Balram touched her feet, obviously without letting out a hint who she was to them, and folded their palms.

"You're leaving, Vats?" Kunti muttered, her eyes raving around the two, "You both have just came. . ."

"Exactly, atleast have something?" Draupadi looked at Krishna and Balram, biting on her lip eagerly. 

"No no Krishnaa, some other day." Krishna breathed out, "If we stay longer, you'll be delayed. Also we can't take the risk of staying here further. . .I take your permission Devi." He nodded in a cue at Kunti, who returned the same. Don't worry, I shall be back within a few weeks. Take care Sakhi. . ."

"Please go carefully!" the Princess wished back, her smile fading with a little sigh.

"Vijay?" Yudhishthir patted Arjun, "Just go a bit forward with the Princes. . ."

Arjun nodded with a weak smile, though his heart faltered, he had a faith somewhere that they would be meeting again.

For their story, had just begun.

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

🤗🤗🤗🤗Parav meet!

And Drau is always the cutest 🥺🥺🥺🦋🦋🦋

Don't worry, more ArDi moments will be following soon, abhi to ArDi scenes ki baarish hi baarish 🙈🙈🙈🙈

Signing off for today!

Nushkie