After greeting Arjun Subhadra started to lighten the earthen lamp for veneration, and sang a prayer as usual. But her voice was devoid of it's usual ecstasy. It's not that song she sang was an emotional one or complaining one towards God. But her sadness has made that effect on the lyrics.

Before he could ask anything to her after getting offerings she folded her hands indicating about her leave. It would be an understatement to say that he was startled. Along with that he was concerned also, much more than the normal level where concern usually plays it's role.

His concern went beyond the normal level, because he has observed her facial expression very keenly. It was reminding him about the day when he departed from Indraprastha.

Flashback:

Warrior prince Arjun had stood outside of Indraprastha to take leave from his family. He had entered into the chamber of draupadi, the common wife of brothers due to an emergency. At that time his eldest brother Yudhishthir was there. So, according to the previously decided rules of their married life now he has to leave his kingdom for twelve years, and have to live an acetic life.

His family members were utterly sad, and somehow guilty also as they all had accepted that rule of exile. Now they had nothing to say Arjun except of some words of goodbye wishes. Yudhishthir and Draupadi were reasoning themselves for the incident. Yudhishthir as being the king, as being the eldest had covered up the guilty well with his calmness. But in case of Draupadi it was clearly visible.

Her sadness was seeming deep to no extent due to guilt. When he looked into her eyes he found that deadly was prevailing there. He knew about the reason of that silence. She was trying to hold herself up from breaking down. The eyes which used to vibrate the air with cheerfulness were wondering over the concept of console, that till how far it can frame protection for her feelings to fall fragile in upcoming days.

Not only draupadi the same sadness was there in Ulupi's eyes too when she was biding farewell to him. The eyes which had captured his heart once were tackling not to add tears to his departure.

He got married with her due to her bold stand of getting him as her spouse. He couldn't deny his good fortune which was standing in front of him as the living image of selfless love. But finally the time came when he had to go ahead in his journey. He still remembered her eyes. There was pain of separation and struggle of maintaining serenity unlike Draupadi. But the difference was that Draupadi had guilt in her eyes, but Ulupi had the glint of goodness, because she was expecting his child.

She was the first woman with whom he started his couple life. But he couldn't able to live the pleasant moments of parenthood. After birth of their son Iravan he had visited her. It went same when he was about to experience parenthood for second time.

Yes, that happiness of being a father again was a gift from his warrior queen, Chitrangada. Chitrangada wasn't only sharp in warrior skills, but also in case of beauty too. Though the alliance of Manipur was significant for newly established Indraprastha still also he can't deny this fact that her warrior self had occupied it's worthy place in his heart at first place.

They both had enjoyable time in each other's company. Most of their time had passed with practice and horse ride which was his quite favourite. She made him feel pride and pleasure, affection and astonishment each time without letting a single bit of lack be present in those. After getting the news of birth of their son, Babrubahan he had visited them, and had spent sometime with them.

But when he was leaving Manipur there was an assurance in her eyes along with the agony of being apart from him physically. That assurance still has it's soothing affect on him.

Flashback ended

He came back to present when his thought shifted on Subhadra. Today he saw the same seriousness, silence and sadness in her eyes which were solely saying about separation from any dear one. But who can be that person whose separation made Subhadra numb like this?

Each love story has to face hurdles before happiness. It's the obvious fact of love life before getting felicitated in limelight. Rose petals are too delicate. But along with tenderness they have thrones too. Like this both pleasure and pain do their journey side by side, and time discharges it's role of making both of those highlight in our lives. A turn was about to appear in this love story to justify these statements.

A giant palace was getting decorated with each kind of luxury possible in the world. There was no festival, no special occasion too. But still effort has engaged in perfect embellishments. A pair of eyes were examining the on going, and a satisfactory smirk was there, over his lips, generating the vibes of discomfort in that delighted scenario.

"Mamashri!" A voice made that person turn with a smile, but smirk was still there along with his smile.

"Come, dear Duryodhan. How's this preparation?" That person who was none other than Shakuni asked to Duryodhan, the infamous rival cum cousin of Pandav brothers.

"It's too splendid, Mamashri. He will be spellbound by this for sure," Duryodhan replied to his maternal uncle while moving his eyes over the decorations.

"He need to be, dear. We have to success in this plan. So, don't forget the agenda which I told you," Shakuni placed his hand on Duryodhan's shoulder to provoke the effect of his words upon him.

"Don't worry, Mamashri. I will act in the way we planned," The duo chuckled over Duryodhan's answer.

"Pandav brothers had gained enough political benefits. Now it's our turn," Shakuni told in a confident voice making Duryodhan determine to giving them a tough competition.

At Dwarka:

Arjun was strolling in garden in tension. Subhadra's gesture was same during lunch time also. She didn't interact with him. He thought to give a bit space to this issue. So didn't ask anything to bother her. But now he was blaming himself that why he did that as tension has made restlessness whirl inside him with high pace.

On the other side Subhadra was staring at the setting sun by sitting under a tree. The light orange sun rays were making her cheeks glow with it's reflection. The pearls of her jewellery and tiny mirror boarded upper stole were shining like stars due to the strike of sun rays over their surface. She was looking ethereal with the shade of sunset.

But she was inattentive emersed in a thought which was no less than a puzzle to her. She was searching any side of the ocean of that thought where she can halt as she was feeling her drowning each moment. Unknown to her Arjun was observing her from distance.

He couldn't resist himself to go near her. He called her, but she didn't respond. After some trials he didn't hesitate to place his hand on her head. His touch made it's instant way towards her sensation. She got up from her place, and hugged him tightly making him bewildered.

So readers, here's the next part.

Now questions.

(1) Any fact you liked here?

(2) Any gesture to be commented?

(3) Any guess or expectation for next?

Give response according to your heart and conscience.

LAXMIPATI SHRI NARAYAN, please accept the positivity of my this work as an offering to you in name of all wellbeing of my LIFELINE.

RADHE RADHE 🙏