17

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Akarshika was wearing a light green saree with a lot of jewelry. Her mother, Arshi, was now here so she had to obey her.

Akarshika was looking at Dushala and Jayadrath. She really didn't want them to get married. They weren't good for each other.

This must have been suggested by her father, she guessed. Who would give such ideas except for him.

She rolled her eyes.

“I want some fresh air, ma.” Saying that, Akarshika went towards the garden.

She wanted a break. A real one. After this marriage of course, she came upon a river and admired her reflection.

She smiled looking at it until a thought came upon her. So wait, she was not the most beautiful princess in Aryaavart.

That kind of hurt her. She sighed, not knowing how to think, what to think. She just didn't want to see the reflection.

Was she jealous? Or was she just hurt?

She rolled her eyes. “Why would I be jealous? I just have to take a deep breath and accept that Draupadi is the most beautiful one,” she thought.

Who would make her understand that beauty is not everything? Well, it's totally not her fault. She always had heard she was the most beautiful one and all of a sudden everything changed.

Suddenly, someone bumped into her. “Can't you—” she was about to scream until she saw it was Draupadi.

“I am—” before Draupadi could apologize, Akarshika replied, “It won't look good if the future samragyni apologizes.”

“Well, anyone can apologize if it was their mistake,” Draupadi spoke. Akarshika smiled. How her father has always said apologizing meant something as disgrace.

She knew it was wrong, but maybe being with him had given him a bit of his thinking, which she didn't want.

“Who are you?” Draupadi asked smilingly. “Ghandhar princess Akarshika,” Akarshika answered.

“Gandhar raj's daughter?” Draupadi questioned with hesitation. That man was clearly trying to do everything bad to her husbands.

“Don't worry, I am not bitter like him,” Akarshika replied with a slight smile. Draupadi laughed.

“You indeed are the most beautiful one,” Akarshika spoke, looking at her. Draupadi thanked her with a smile.

“You seemed quite scared at the engagement,” Akarshika joked, while Draupadi smiled sadly.

“Or is it confusion?” Akarshika asked, and Draupadi again replied with a smile. Suddenly, they both heard maids gossiping, “How can a woman marry five men?”

Akarshika caught Draupadi's hand and went towards them. “What are you guys gossiping about instead of doing your job?” Akarshika screamed in a demanding tone.

The maids were scared and bowed down to Panchal kanya and the princess and left.

“Panchali, if you are feeling sad because of their words, then don't, because that's not going to help. I heard Panchal kanya was bold and strong,” Akarshika tried to do the job she wasn't good at, consoling.

Draupadi smiled.

Uluka was ranting something random to his new friend, Sri Vri. “Can't you stay silent for some time?” questioned Jaya randomly.

“Well, I can't, because everyone listens to me. How can they say no to me?” said Uluka. Jayashri looked at him and rolled her eyes.

“Sri Vri—” before Uluka could say, Jaya cut him off, saying, “My name is Jayashri, not Sri Vri.”

“Ok, Sri Vri, I am leaving. Bye.” Saying that, Uluka went towards the food. Jayashri sighed and stormed away with a smile.

Soon, it was night. Akarshika and Subhadra were in Dushala's room talking.

“Well, Dushu, are you going to leave Hastinapur and go to Sindh in just a few days?” Subhadra randomly questioned.

Dushala just felt that, so she's going to leave her parents, her brothers, and her friends all of a sudden. "Well, it's like a new start," Gandhari said, coming into the room.

"But it hurts leaving everything you know for years," Subhadra questioned again.

"It sure does," Gandhari said, remembering how she left Gandhar too. The sad one was Shakuni upon her leaving.

"Well, why should only we leave? Men get to stay?" Akarshika spoke her thought with a frown. "Because only women can do it," Gandhari said with a smile.

"Well, I don't want men leaving after marriage too," said Subhadra. "Why?" questioned Akarshika.

"Because bhrata Balram and Krishna will leave, right?" she said with a sad smile. She didn't want her brothers to leave.

"Well, I would be happy if Uluka leaves," remarked Akarshika, and Dushala laughs.

"Says the one who gets tensed even if a rose thorn hurts Uluka," said Gandhari. "Well, I was a child back then. Now, whatever happens, I will not care, bua," Indu remarked as Subhadra, Dushala, and Gandhari laughed.

"Dushala, tomorrow we will leave for the Shiv temple, so sleep now," Gandhari spoke, and Dushala nodded. "Can I come too?" Subhadra questioned with a big smile.

"Of course, you and Indu must come," Gandhari answered with a smile.

Indu nodded and left towards her chamber. She sighed on her way towards her room. Yes, for a moment, she forgot who Dushala was marrying.

Well, he is not that bad, right? If he treats Dushala well, then that's good news, right?

Suddenly, she bumped into someone again. Was the floor of Hastinapur that slippery? It was twice a day.

Yes, it was the last person she wanted to meet on earth, Arjun.

He smiled at her while she rolled her eyes and was walking away.

"You forgot to apologize," he spilled salt on the new wound. She turned around and said, "Well, I am older than you."

"Yes, the oldest grandmother," he said with a smile.

"Ugly tadpole," he spoke. "Annoying lizard," she replied. They both still stormed away.

She remembered her Uluka. Well, Uluka feared her a bit, but he... "How can he call me a tadpole?" she thought.

She entered her room.

It was a full moon night. Her eyes fell upon the starry sky. She looked at them from the window.

Her mother often said she looked fair as the moon, maybe because she was born on a full moon night. That's why Arshi called her Indu. Indu meaning moon.

She glanced at the moon one last time and went to sleep.

The Next Day

Akarshika was talking to Subhadra. They were in the same palanquin. Subhadra was ranting about how her mother always takes Krishna's side whenever they fight.

While Ma Devaki and Bharta Balram support her, and Rukmini bhabhi and Revathi bhabhi just chuckle at their fight.

"What does Vasudev do then?" questioned Akarshika, actually indulged in her ranting because what else can she do.

"He wouldn't take sides, you see," Subhadra replied. That's when Harsh said, "We reached the temple, princess of Dwarka and princess of Gandhar."

Soon, they both got down. Dushala, Jayashri, Draupadi, Gandhari, and Kunti also came.

Soon, they were all in the temple. Dushala was praying to God, wishing her marriage would make her new life happy.

All the other girls also prayed.

Outside of the temple stood Harsh with other royal soldiers. That's when the air echoed a gasp. He looked at her, the letter girl.

She quickly backed off and started walking away.

While Harsh followed her.

"Devi," he called. She didn't turn and kept walking away. Prema, her dear pigeon, was tired from flying so he landed on her shoulder.

"Devi," he said again, coming in front of her and stopping her. "Am I disturbing you?" he questioned. The pigeon was definitely interested in this love drama.

He looked serious, and she stared at him with confusion.

"I really thought you loved me, but maybe I was wrong. I apologize for my inappropriate behavior, I apologize if I hurt you. Don't worry, I won't ever show you my face again, girl," he spoke and left with a straight face.

She didn't speak a word, feeling confused and sad. Prema looked at her, and she looked back at her companion, sighed, and glanced at him disappearing as he walked away.

She felt sad.

He stepped into the temple to see Akarshika looking for him. "Where were you again?" she inquired.

"I apologize," he said. Akarshika could sense he was gloomy, so she nodded and said, "Let's go now."

"I love you," Uluka proposed.

He looked deep into eyes infront of him. "Just how beautiful you are," Uluka spoke.

"Just how beautiful you are, Uluka," he said, looking into the mirror. Akarshika glared at him.

She rolled her eyes and looked into the mirror to check if she looked good. "Didi," Uluka called.

Akarshika hummed, looking at the mirror.

"Did you fall for someone?" he asked.

Akarshika coughed and looked at him. "Shall I call a maid for water?" he spoke, keeping water beside him.

Akarshika glared at him, took the jug, and drank the water. She took a deep breath.

"No," she screamed as she left outside.

"She definitely is in love," Uluka remarked.

She was walking aggressively, not angry at Uluka, but at herself. She didn't know the answer to how she could reply.

She saw Dharm Raj on her way, decided to ignore him, and started walking normally. Suddenly, he held her hand.

All of a sudden, Akarshika started feeling butterflies with the sudden touch and looked into those eyes that had caused her many sleepless nights.

Her brown brooch shined bright.

He looked at her with a smile, her voice building some confidence as she questioned, "Wha—what?"

He smiled, creating serenity around the atmosphere, and gave her an anklet.

She gasped and said, "My anklet."

"You lost it last time," he replied. "It's not right to keep someone else's things," he spoke, handing her the anklet which chimed.

She took it with a slight smile.

"Thank you," she thanked, looking at him. He nodded, and she stared at him for a moment before starting to leave. She looked back at him and smiled, truly.

He replied with a smile too.

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Can I delete this book?

I don't know I cringed writing this chapter?

krishnaamanmohanaa commented the most, thank you sakhi (≡^∇^≡)

The theme will be sent tomorrow

Also krishnaamanmohanaa will soon write boards so a chapter for her!

Best of luck Sakhi!

Anyway I don't want to talk but we are getting close to the main part and

ᏰᎾᎨ ᏰᎾᎨ