The banquet that followed the wedding was bountiful. Numerous vessels laden with delicacies were presented one after the other, each flavour cooked to such perfection that even an ascetic would have a hard time not drooling at the aroma. Everyone who had eaten the previous dish more in eagerness lamented at the limited space in their stomach when they could have a few bites of the next dishes. All in all, it was a lengthy affair which would definitely be a topic of praise for the upcoming days.

Evening turned into night and soon earthern lamps were lit up as everyone proceeded towards the courtyard and gardens. The young and some women decided to retire for the day. Subhadra and Arjun departed together, not before a few good natured teasing and congratulations were thrown their way. Then the wine was brought out. Goblets were filled as easy chatter passed between the masses. Abhijishya spotted some even forgoing the goblet and drinking straight from a jar. Now that the ceremony was coming to a close, people chose to scatter into small groups which left Abhijishya here with her husband sitting with her family, sipping wine feeling content in a heartily full stomach.

The flame from the torches drew shadows on their faces as Abhijishya watched them talk seated in a loose circle. She felt warm, a combination of both the wine and the company. Her brothers Balram, Krishna and sisters-in-law Revati, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Jambavati, Nagnajiti along with Satyaki, Kritavarma and his wife were seated with her and her husband. She made a mental note to thank Mitravinda, Laksmana, Bhadra and Rukmini who assured her that Anvi would be minded by them.

"So when can we expect to receive your wedding invitation, Satyaki?" Revati spoke, her eyes glinting in interest.

"I think I forgot to instruc-" Satyaki stammered trying to get up but Kritavarma and Balram held him down with their superior strength. The former shot a betrayed look to Kritavarma before looking beseechingly at Balram.

"Revati asked you a question," Balram patted Satyaki as if consoling him.

"You swore you wouldn't tell anyone," Satyaki hissed at Krishna who instead glanced back innocuously.

"As if," Revati scoffed. "Kanha doesn't need to tell me anything. Anyone with eyes in Dwarka can see your smitten eyes whenever you look at the Andhaka maiden."

"Andhaka?" Kritavarma's eyebrows climbed up his forehead. "You fancy a maiden from my clan? Why am I hearing of this now?"

"Now brother Kritu, I don't fancy her-" Satyaki protested.

"Oh he is in love!" Nagnajiti interjected gleefully.

"Huh," Satyabhama uttered thoughtfully. "And here I wondered what strange rituals he was participating after he seemed to take a different flower everyday from the gardens."

"Don't forget the sweets. And oh the anklets! I saw him conversing with the jeweller the other day," Kalindi whispered as if revealing a conspiracy.

"He is besotted! Charmed! Enchanted!" Jambavati added then sighed, softly gazing at Krishna. "Must be at first sight." Krishna smiled back with equal endearment.

"Wait! It is not-" Satyaki sputtered, his face an alarming shade of red.

"Thus is the nature of love," Nakul nodded sagely, sending her a side glance then taking a long sip of wine as if it were the source of his wisdom.

Abhijishya giggled, pushing him a little as he seemed to gradually recline over her form. Nakul seemed to remember they still had company and righted himself.

"Would you leave us all wondering? Or else I would have to depart wondering who you like," Abhijishya added trying to look as mournful as possible.

Satyaki narrowed his eyes. "That won't work on me. I won't tell you her name."

"Aha! That means there is someone," Nagnajiti grinned before pulling in Jambavati towards her. "Do you think it is the maiden in pink garment we saw yesterday? The one with the mole on her chin."

"The one who was asking about Treasurer Vaibhav?" Kritavarma's wife asked. Abhijishya wondered what was her name.

"What?" Satyaki looked aghast. If human faces were able to blow steam from their ears, he would certainly be doing that.

"Now, now Satyaki. Some maidens don't prefer warriors you know. They would rather settle down with someone who could give them a life without anxiousness over their husband's safety over battle," Satyabhama commented, her lips twitched knowing well that her words acted akin to air over jealous flames.

Revati hummed. "Bhama is right. The blossoms of love are quite partial you see. They won't bloom for just anyone."

"Satyaki is not just everyone," Krishna jumped in before Satyaki could perhaps truly start weeping. "Bhabhishree, haven't you bullied my friend enough?"

"She isn't bullying Kanha. We are all merely looking out for Satyaki so he too might get fortunate enough to experience marital bliss," Balram interjected, thumping Satyaki on the back to cheer him up. Revati smiled fondly while everyone exchanged non-discrete glances at Balram quick defense for his beloved wife.

Krishna chortled, conceding to his elder brother. "As you say, dau."

Looking up at the night sky, Satyaki asked as he gulped down more wine, "What if she truly doesn't prefer me then?" He sounded rather miserable then seemed to perk up. He turned towards Nakul with eager eyes, "My friend, Nakul! You must divulge your secrets. What makes you so desirable to all women of Aryavart?"

Nakul glanced at Abhijishya who merely raised an eyebrow in question. Laughing weakly, he said, "Shouldn't you be asking that to my brother-in-law Krishna, Satyaki?"

"How modest," Krishna commented, his eyes mirthful enough that they twinkled in the dark.

Abhijishya blinked. Perhaps she should stop drinking. Then she glanced at the half full goblet. It would impolite to waste such good wine so she sipped some more.

Satyaki huffed. "You know what I mean. Krishna is outwordly charismatic. Everyone loves Krishna. Brother Balram won over Bhabhishree with his famed might. I dare not compare." Then he earnestly said, "You, however, are like me. We are both equally handsome. How did you manage to charm so many ladies and get sister Abhijishya to marry you?"

Nakul looked slightly indignant at Satyaki's words. He was far better looking than Satyaki. Although they had similar physique, his features and dressing sense were surely far superior. "I look at the mirror before I step out of my quarters unlike you."

With that, everyone burst into laughter. Abhijishya tried not to laugh outright but she also broke into helpless giggles. She silently knocked her shoulder against Nakul's arm in quiet comfort because she sensed her husband's ruffled feathers.

"What is wrong with my appearance?" Satyaki protested. "I will have you know I have rejected quite a number of proposals from maidens."

"Is that so?" Krishna appeared confused. "Last I heard, Elder Satyaka is quite worried that you might remain unmarried."

"Why are you telling everyone that?" Satyaki whined, burying his face in his hands as once again everyone laughed at his expense.

"To get you married of course," Krishna answered with all the sincerity of the world.

"Fine!" Satyaki stood up abruptly, determined to prove everyone that he was indeed one of the most eligible and desirable men of Aryavart. "I am going to get a wife and I will prove everyone that she is smitten by me." Saying so, he chugged rest of the wine from a jar and stomped off.

Kritavarma, on the other hand, grew alarmed. Springing to his feet, he yelled, "Come back here, Satyaki. I am going to break your legs if you dare elope with our clan's girl." He urged his wife to get up and stormed after Satyaki while his wife gave them apologetic looks at their rude departure.

"We might as well leave the decor on. Most likely we will have to host another one soon," Satyabhama remarked.

Balram shook his head. "Kakashree Satyaka would take great offence. As it is, Satyaki spends most of his time here." He glanced at Krishna.

"He is a diligent," Krishna answered, his words were carefully neutral.

"Diligent in sparring and archery, sure. Official work? He stubbornly refuses to lift a finger," Balram huffed. "Once, Satyaki jumped through the window when I tried giving him some documents to review which his father sent!"

Revati laughed, her shoulders shaking as some wine spilled on her garment which earned a gasp from Satyabhama. She blinked, letting out a last exhale of laughter. "Ah, I should depart before the stain becomes stubborn. Arya?"

Balram was out of his seat in a flash. "Yes. It is rather late. We-" He paused. The previously occupied seats of their sister and brother-in-law were empty quite mysteriously. He didn't even hear them move.

"They didn't elope, did they?" He remarked dryly. In all honesty, he was done dealing with eloping couples. "They do know that they are already married, right?" He looked at his younger brother to which Krishna laughed merrily.

------------ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ------------

"Are you seriously kidnapping me?" Abhijishya tried to use a deadpan tone but her amusement was hard to miss. She was being carried over her husband's shoulder, her nose grazing the waist of her handsome kidnapper. Earlier, Nakul had swiftly stolen her away too fast for her to voice her protests.

Nakul remained stubbornly silent.

"Now you are ignoring me. Wow, don't I feel loved?" She tried to being out a reaction but she failed. Now, she was getting a bit dizzy from hanging upside down and a little nauseous. "Arya, put me down please or else I am going to be sick all over your back."

With that, she was put down with care as she kept her eyes closed, waiting for the world to realign with her brain. A steady hand held her, another rubbed her back apologetically which melted the annoyance she had felt quickly.

Opening her eyes, Abhijishya still shot her husband a weak glare, "Did you have to carry me like a Neanderthal ?"

"Remind me to ask about this new word later," Nakul replied then proceeded to tug along his indignant wife with him.

"What has got into you? Must you be so bruttish?" Abhijishya complained. If she were totally sober, she would be embarrassed after she had been carried in open sight through the entire garden. Now, she couldn't bother with trivial matters. She just wanted to go bed now.

"Last time, you said you rather liked me bruttish," Nakul sent her smug smile before kissing her cheek.

Abhijishya huffed. "If you are done with your smug remark, could you be obliged to telling me where we are going?"

"Patience," Nakul mumbled which only made Abhijishya more inclined to stomp her way towards their assigned chambers.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath. It was nearing dawn. They were walking for quite some time. She felt tired. She should have cajoled him into their bed much earlier.

They were in an orchard now. Abhijishya opened her mouth to inform her husband that she really wanted to return when she stopped short.

Small balls of hopping white fur littered the grass. A twitching pink nose was peeking from a burrow under a mango tree. "Oh," Abhijishya gasped.

"Shh," Nakul hushed her. He carefully approached a small rabbit and lifted it in his palms. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he slowly brought in near her.

Abhijishya held her breath as the small white rabbit was placed in her palms. It looked fidgety for a bit but settled down. She cautiously petted it's head as it snuggled into her hands. Her throat felt thick all of sudden.

Nakul wrapped an arm around her waist. "What are you thinking?" He whispered.

Abhijishya sniffled, feeling a bit foolish tearing up over rabbits. "Rabbits. They are just so tiny and cute." She felt her insides turn mushy as they sat down on the grass.

Nakul laughed. The rabbit snuggled in her hands startled and darted away at the noise.

"No!" Abhijishya let out a loud whisper. "Look what you did!"

"I apologise," Nakul held up his hands in surrender. "You were just so adorable I couldn't help myself." He pinched Abhijishya's cheek lightly.

"Don't sweet talk me," Abhijishya looked away.

"Mohini," There was an imploring lilt in his voice which made Abhijishya seek his eyes.

"Do you remember the first time you were angry with me after we got married? I had brought you a rabbit then. I could see it in your eyes how you wanted to keep the rabbit but still asked me to return it to it's family," Nakul spoke warmly and took her hand in his.

Abhijishya inclined her head. "You remember that?"

"I wouldn't forget a moment spent with you and for you," Nakul answered sincerely. "I just wish for you to know that I recognised that quality in you somehow before that. The ability of thinking from other's perspective. Throughout these years, you have given me confidence in the knowledge that even if I err, you would always correct me. If I were to buckle under any burden, you would share your strength and uphold my burdens. I wish to do the same for you." He worded everything carefully.

"You do," Abhijishya rushed to assure him as she clenched her fingers around his hand. "You always do. We don't see eye to eye in somethings and I recognise that I have a tendency to do things solely by myself but I respect your judgement." She paused, trying to articulate her thoughts correctly. She knew that Nakul was privy to her contacts but never pried much.

"However, what happened at Indraprastha hurt my reputation. You are my husband so I understand you wanting to smooth everything over on my behalf. But I wish to handle this on my own. This is about my individuality. About my competency. I am proud to be your wife. When I pass by, everyone has some praise ready on their lips about you. I revel in that. I just want that when you also meet people, they have something good to say about me apart from my identity as your wife. Please don't misunderstand." Abhijishya beseeched earnestly.

Cupping his wife's cheek, Nakul smiled, "Thank you for telling me. I understand what you mean. Believe me, I am proud to be known as your husband and I will be proud when you emerge victorious. I might not always agree with everything you do but I trust your judgement too. I love you, Mohini but before that I respect you."

Abhijishya leaned her head against his shoulder. "I won't fail you. Ever."

"Darling, you can't even if you tried. You love me, afterall," Nakul pecked her temple.

"Using my endearments on me. You aren't as suave as every maiden of Aryavart thinks you to be," she teased, enjoying the rumble of his chest as he chuckled.

"Says the woman who is in love with me," Nakul retorted playfully, embracing her in his arms.

"The man I fell in love with is a bit foolish in his love for me. I found it charming. Or else I would've never married him," Abhijishya rolled her eyes.

Instead of replying, Nakul chose to tickle her in retaliation which sent peals of laughter being released into the quiet of dawn. Finally when he relented, Abhijishya was gasping as she lied over him on the grass surrounded by curious rabbit audience.

She rested her head on his chest, closed her eyes as he caressed her back. "I love you, Arya but we didn't sleep a wink. Now I can feel the headache coming."

She received a sheepish kiss on top of her head. He said, "I'll massage your head with some herb oil."

"You better," Abhijishya murmured.

A.N. - Am I the only one having a shitty year? Especially in August and September. (dunno about October yet)

Anyways, thank you for reading. Leave a comment if you feel like it.

Until the next time,

Byeee :')