En-route to Kaampilya, Pilgrimage of Somashravayan

'You're Narattma Arjun....you know everything...'

He slowly felt himself growing languid in the waters, its soothing waters lulling him into a state of weightless tranquility. Feeling as if his body was light enough to be floating along with it. Unbounding him from the rigid realms. 

So calm, so blissful and placid....

'I am nothing without you, Sachi. Just a lifeless carcass.'

 Arjun gasped deeply within the waters all of a sudden. His breath escalated almost instantly, as he panted, heart pounding in his ears vividly like the galloping hooves of a wild stallion. Wolfing down himself to the ineludible tenor, he let out a frantic gurgle only to be allayed by the river again. 

'Maybe in this birth or that, I can be never without you.'

He heaved underneath, struggling for breath. 

'Accept me as your, my love. I am yours. Forever.'

He almost jerked himself up from underneath, feeling short of breath. He cupped his face, as drops of water trickled down from his drenched self. His brows furrowed, his lips parted open as he tried to calm himself with deep breaths. The phantom changes that continued to linger within the air still had the undeniable lucidness. 

What was that?

What was that?!

He blankly stared at the waters which had stilled down again, as if nothing happened at all. 

What was that.....

His heart had still not halted it's pace. It felt so real. He could almost hear it rumbling within the waters. He felt that he could almost grasp it with his bare hands, so much so he felt that it almost occurred within him. Within him.

At one point, he felt like the voice belonged to him solely. Indifferent from him. 

Arjun began to sigh softly, followed by a deep, long breath, his gaze trailing to the cluster of blue lotuses that were in bloom in the stagnant back-waters of Ganga. The petals ruffled languidly with the winds. The stalk felt tender against t his fingers as he detached one. His brows narrowed instinctively as he looked away, brushing his knuckles over the little petals, the amoring fragrance arresting him.

What was that.....it felt so real. So achingly real.

He hummed, his lips parting, feeling edgy. Closing his eyes, he felt a lump forming in his throat.

Why did it feel so....

A strong, cavernous urge began to stir within him—

Arjun's senses immediately alerted as he caught hold of a sharp, swishing arrow with his artful fingers that came whizzing right in front of him.  His eyes zeroed down upon the sleek weapon, he snapped the projectile in two. The sound of splintering wood echoing in the stillness of the forest as he crushed it further nonchalantly, striding out of the waters, his vigilant ambers flickering around.

"Who's there?" He lifted the burning wooden torch hanging from the tree which Bheem had left for him. His lips twitched as there was no response, "I repeat, who's there?!" 

"I barely entertain half-wits like you....." 

He twirled around on the other side, his brows furrowing, as the trees behind him rustled. Adorned with ornaments from head to toe and a diadem on his forehead, a figure almost as tall the tree beside him emerged, with rage marring his visage. His eyes blazed fire as he glared at Arjun wielding a bow of divine craftmanship.

Arjun's lips curved up slightly, amusement evident.

"Why?! Being foolish aren't you? How dare you step into my forests without my permission, you fool!" Angaraparn thundered, gritting his teeth as he charged at him with his bow, "Don't you fear your life?!" 

"This forest is mine! Bhagirathi is mine! And you with your handful of brothers dare step in here?!" 

A mirthless chuckle left Arjun's lips as he shook his head incredulously. Claiming what is God's as his, who can be a greater fool? 

"How can you claim mother nature as yours, Gandharv?" He raised a brow, "Who has the right over her? It's for everyone, not you alone...." 

Angaraparn snarled, "Foolish mortal, do you even know who I am?! I am the King of Gandharvs, Angaraparn!"  His voice thundered through the trees, a declaration of his divine lineage. "By my command, even the bravest of souls tremble in fear! And yet, you, a mere commoner, dare to challenge me? Do you not value your own life?!"

Arjun's lips curled into a sardonic smile, his gaze unwavering, "When did the question of being dead and alive even arise? I just asked you a simple question! How Devi Ganga can be solely yours, when it is the river that leads to heaven?"

"How can you be having right over what ain't yours? Foolish are your thoughts not mine, King...." 

"Aye, aye! Your tongue works too fine right?! Too fine right?!" Angaraparn barked, throwing daggers through his eyes, "THEN COME AND FIGHT ME, YOU FOOL!" He threw back his head, gritting his teeth in anger.

Arjun's brows narrowed at his words, tilting his head as a half-smile spread on his lips, turning his attention to the flickering flames of his torch.

Today, this fire would either whisk away or show his audacity. 

"Shall leave you burning until you turn into ashes..." Angaraparn clenched his jaw, drawing out his bow to summon arrows laced with venomous flames. One pierce was enough to impair someone for lifetime. His lips twitched in rage, the urge to wipe down the calmness out of the mere mortal in front of him was now fervid for him.

Unknown that the son of Indra was the strike of lightning himself. 

His eyes narrowed down as he hoisted his make-shift wooden shield, the flames of his torch cackled as the wooden weapon was given a kindle from it. 

The armament blazed almost instantly. 

The tranquil air was perturbed with the swishing arrows, almost appearing like conflagrant streaks of comets. 

Arjun waited for the right moment.

 And in the blink of an eye, he hurled the flaming shield skyward, his movements a blur of calculated precision. With a swift kick, he launched the shield, the blazing projectile whirled around, the flames casting dancing shadows across the forest floor,  scattering the arrows of Angaraparn like leaves in a tempest.

With a resounding crash, the arrows shattered into fragments, their deadly trajectory disrupted by the onslaught of the counterattack.

Angaparn's eyes widened, "What the heck--" he sputtered, his jaws locking in frustration as he glared at his adversary.

Arjun's lips twitched with a hint of amusement, a steely resolve gleaming in his gaze. "If you seek a battle with divine weapons," he declared "Then so shall it be." He tilted his head, his ambers blazing like the Lord of Fire himself. 

Agneyastra was all he needed for now.

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Angaraparn found himself tumbling down like a tree uprooted by a raging storm.

His divine chariot was raging in violent flames, the once-proud vessel now a twisted wreck consumed by fire. His diadem rolled over and spluttered into two. His bow snapped into pieces.

It happened so fast. With a blink of an eye. He was just mounting his chariot with rage marred on his visage, ready to unleash hellfire upon Arjun. But it back-fired. Immensely. His gaze had wavered from the latter momentarily, and there came a dangerously blazing weapon swishing and hitting his chariot; and there was ear-wrenching blast heard. With a deafening thud, he crashed to the forest floor.

His eyes turned bloodshot, his tongue tasting the saline blood which he gurgled out. His palms fisted, as he tilted his head to look up slightly.

Those golden orbs flickered with wrath.

Angaraparn breathed, shifting back slightly.

Those ambers wavered like flames on blaze.

The Gandharv's face had blanched, a nauseating tremor rushing down his spine.

Undeterred, Arjun strode forward, his movements fluid and graceful, like that of a lion on the prowl. He was enveloped in an aura of fire, his very essence pulsating with raw, untamed aura. His knotted curls flared around his shoulders with the zephyrs, resembling thunderous clouds primed for a storm.

"Who are you.....?" Angaraparn rasped, attempting to steady himself on his elbow, his voice strained with anguish. "Who are you?!" Despite his pain, his eyes blazed with defiance as he gazed upon the approaching figure.

"Let my eldest answer that for you," Arjun muttered, his voice a low growl as he seized Angaraparn by the neck, his grip ironclad and unyielding. With a handful of hair clenched tightly in his fist, dragging him. Angaraparn yelped, still feeling immobile due to the energy of Agneyastra over him, he breathed and groaned out loud.

"Oh God, what is happening?!"

Panting voices of Yudhishthir and Bheem echoed throughout as they came rushing, their eyes widening.

What seemed like a massive mien of cogency, was now at the mercy of their brother.

"Wh-who is he?" Yudhishthir strode forward, gawking at his brother and then at the semi-conscious Gandharv. Arjun held his victims neck firmly and made him tilt in front of Yudhishthir, "Give your identity, King."

Angaraparn gritted his teeth, trying to break himself free from his grip.

"Shall you or not?!"

Angaraparn moaned in pain as the latter's fingers almost dug into his flesh, he let out a screeching yelp as the sharp sting of pain shot down through his spine, "I shall.....I shall! I shall say all!"

"Angaraparn!" A wailing voice caught their attention, as Arjun's swift gaze was transferred to the other side. "Oh my goodness!" Dressed in gold and raiment of sapphire silk, a woman came rushing with tears in her eyes, "Angaraparn!"

Arjun squinted his eyes, his hold over Angaraparn loosened for a moment. Yudhishthir and Bheem looked at each other, "Is he your..."

"He is my husband, Aarya! Please spare him for God's sake!" Kumbhinasi fell at their feet almost instantly, tears trailing through her swollen eyes, "H-he has made a mistake Lord! Spare him I pray! Please...let him go!"

"I admit, I admit our mistake, please! We had been blinded by greed and power!" Kumbhinasi's voice was choked with tears as she pleaded for mercy. Crawling towards Angaraparn, she wrapped an arm around him, her heart aching at the sight of her husband bruised and disheveled, "Please, please I beg you!"

"Release him, Arjun." Yudhishthir's voice was firm as he narrowed his brow and nodded towards him. Arjun gave a curt nod, releasing his grip from over Angaraparn. The fallen king gasped in shock, his face contorted with disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

Angaraparn sighed, as Kumbhinasi held her husband close and sobbed silently. He immediately snaked an arm around her, drawing her close, wiping away her tears with his bruised fingers, "I am so sorry.....put yourself in a jeopardy too."

Arjun looked away for a while, a soft sigh leaving his lips.

They were ready to die for each other. Like soulmates.

Eternal soulmates—he closed his eyes momentarily, the rage that infuriated within him swayed away.

"Go back Angaraparn, and do not fall into the avarice of greed further," Yudhishthir calmly sighed, exchanging a glance with Arjun.

"I can't."

Arjun's gaze trailed at his meek voice.

"There is a norm of the Gandharvs. I have to follow that," Angaraparn lowered his head further, holding Kumbhinasi's hand in his, "My name is Chitrarath Angaraparn, and I have been defeated. My chariot is burnt down into ashes," His face flushed as he closed his eyes, standing up with slight difficulty, "Norm says that I have to offer something to the one who had defeated me. Therefore I wish Arjun to partake my knowledge of chaksusi and a hundred horses to each of your brothers...."

"No, no." Arjun wetted his lips, shaking his head, almost instantly, "I.....I don't require them Angaraparn, it's fine! You, you can go back..."

"Don't Arjun, please!" And for the first time, Arjun saw a little smile blooming on his lips, "I failed to recognize you and your brothers, son of Indra. You aren't an ordinary mortal, chaksusi can't be handled by all! You deserve it!"

"But--"

"Listen to me, chaksusi isn't an ordinary vision. I have attained it after penances—"

Arjun's stance softened as he breathed in deeply, "If it's a virtue of your penance, I can't equal it Angaraparn—forgive me—" He gazed back at Yudhishthir and Bheem feeling a bit fiddly at his words, "It's so wrong..."

"How is it wrong?"

He never had the urge to accept things for which he couldn't toil for. Chaksusi was Angaraparn's fruit of penance after all.

"He won't, King—" Bheem laughed, "Know my Arjun, that's his trait. He would rather toil for it—so forget it."

"Then I shan't move unless Arjun accepts it—he deserves it after all!"

"Then ask something from Arjun in return—isn't it? And then you can take the knowledge of chaksusi from him!"

Arjun gazed at Bheem and blinked unbelievably, his jaws turned slightly warm, "Bhrata, I—" The latter had a knack of drawing out of most quirky solutions to give him the best.

"Ask Angaraparn, what do you want from him in return?"

"Shall you take the chaksusi knowledge if I ask something equivalent from you?" Angaraparn raised a brow at Arjun. He latter glanced back at Yudhishthir, who let out an inaudible chuckle and tilted his head, "Ask...."

"I, I want your knowledge of Agneyastra in return."

"Knew it." The latter muttered nonchalantly.

"How?" Angaraparn muddled.

"Had seen the thirst in your eyes to learn it," Arjun quipped, his lips kicking off into a smile. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Arjun ne Angaraparn ko nahi, Angaraparn ne Arjun ko DISTURB kardia. 😌😌😌

BTW, this entire sequence has a separate chapter in itself, the 'Chaitraratha Parva'

And I have skipped the later parts, here actually Arjun and Angaraparn turn fast friends *coughs* and Angaraparn tells him the story of his ancestors, Tapti, Vashishth and all that.

Like Arjun forgets everything and literally sits with him to listen the tales 🤣🤣🤣🤣Koi keh hi nahi sakta thori der pehle inme ghamasaan ladai hui thi 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

Arjun goes like--'O Evil One' to 'O Knowledgeable One' faster than anything else 🤣he's too cute 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

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Yeah, and do NOT disturb Arjun 😌😌😌😌

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While he's having a moment with blue lotus....🤫🤫🤫

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He DOESN'T like it at all 😏😏😏

Signing off for today!

Kiritija Nushkie