𝔸𝕁 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔸𝕁

I woke up drowning.

The struggle to wipe the water away gripped me, as I tried to find the way I could breathe. It was an all consuming fear, not being able to breathe.

Distantly I heard a voice calling my name.

"AJ! AJ! Ajatshatru Singhal! "

However, instead of panic, I could feel the anger coming off in waves from the one calling my name.

Which was when I felt a slap on my cheek.

Squinting my eyes open, I saw Devika.

"Devika? "

"No you idiot! It's me! Wake up! You have training! " Now how was I to know if it was Saag or my Devi?

My Devi?

"Alright alright! Fine. " I said, sitting up to see my pillow wet and the source of the flood being a glass of water.

" What is up with you? You could have just woken me up by shouting! "

" I could have. I did. Rather instead of Kumbhkaran, you should have been Raavan's younger brother. You would not wake up at all and Raavan would be defeated earlier. " She sighed, sitting on the bed next to me.

The audacity! First she woke me up this way and now she's tired?

So I pulled her head on my shoulder.

"Kya hua? " (What happened?)

" Nothing. Come on. We have to go to the grounds for training. " She said as she lugged me along.

There in the ground we saw my face twin, Yudhishthir, practicing with his spear.

I could see the chiselled back, the golden glow to his skin and a rather lion like physique. He looked fierce in all but his face. His face held the serenity one would expect Gautam Budhh to have.

" Oh you're here! Come, we'll start soon. First, we begin with stretching the body. "

That's easy, I can do that.... Right?

I did go to the gym a week after my CLAT exam. A week.

So I did attempt to stretch when,
" Aaaah! "

The couple turned around to see me, sitting on the floor holding my calf in pain.

Saag, who was laughing at my pain went silent from a look from her husband.

Oh really? So you listen to that face but not mine....

WE HAVE THE SAME DAMN FACE!

Her generous husband sat down by my side, helping me stretch the leg out. What is surprising is that I'm sure such a muscle pull would take a week to heal. This didn't even take ten minutes. These people are experts.

Which is when Devi chose to make her entry.

"What happened Kumar? Got tired so easily? "

" No! I'm -I'm perfectly fine. Come on Yudhi, we'll start again. "

The man in question looked at me with worry.

"Are you sure? You did suffer an injury. We should do something-"

"NO! I mean, no. We'll begin now. " I staggered up. Meanwhile, Saag on the other hand was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"Priye, your friend is hurt, why do you laugh at his pain? " Her husband asked. Finally, someone sees my pain.

She whispered something to him and he looked at her confused.

If she managed to confuse the Yudhishthir. Then I don't even know what she can do.

While I was busy talking to myself, I saw Saag bump her head on the ground while doing a surynamaskar.

The way I burst into laughter should be criminal. Three pairs of eyes turned to me, one of shock, one of understanding and one of pure joy.

" Hence proved my dear patidev why I laughed at my friend's pain before. " Saag said , coming to give me a hug.

" Now shall we practice, bhratashree?" She asked, moving back.

This day of my life will always be a memorable one to me.. The man teaching me lived up to his name. Even despite my immense fumblimgs, mistakes, accidents and the injuries I accidentally gave him, he never lost his focus and patience. He was incredibly careful to what I wanted and what I needed. At the end of the day, all I managed to learn was how to hold and strike a spear the right way. But it was better than any day of learning in my life.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

As I trudged my way up to the room, I heard the sound of anklets.

" Yes? " I did not put a name. Either way I would be stuck.

" Kumar, do you wish to go down to the gardens for a stroll? I know Hastinapur is a bit rigid, so I have asked Sagarika and Yuvraj to come too. " Devi said, standing in front of me.

I wanted to sleep, but looking at the innocent request she made with those doe eyes made me want to follow her to even hell.

"Yes, I'll come. Just give me a few minutes to clean. " I said walking into the room.

As I made my way out, I saw her. She had her hair in a side plait and the maangteeka adorning her head shined bright. But it was not upright.

"Your maang-' I began, but went up myself to fix it.

Looking down, I saw two caramel eyes staring at me. In the night, the two looked more and more like the warm dark fire, one that beckons travellers to comfort. Her eyes brought me home.

" Kumar? Shall we go? Thank you for fixing my maangteeka. " She said and I moved back, clearing my throat.

" Y-yes. Lest we miss out on the beautiful night sky. "

She walked in front of me and I realised how I looked.

Lovelorn.

Stupid AJ. We're here for work and leave. Not fall in love.

But the second part of my brain said,
'Saag also fell in love here. Is it necessary to leave '?

The constant debate warred in my mind till we reached the gardens. There I saw the husband and wife sitting side by side.

Yudhishthir laughed at something Saag said, who blushed a bit.

It was so different. The man who was the very epitome of peace and serenity, laughed so freely and comfortably, with no care in the world.

It made me think of how much they had changed each other and for the better. Saag was a rather reserved person, not speaking up even if she was right. Now she was more confident.

It's what I want too. Someone who I can be myself with. Looking over to my right, I saw Devika going on about her kingdom's chess games and the way her father did something or the other.

The glow in her eyes was so bright, like the star, Sirius. Brightest in the night sky. She looked so animated in her explanations, like a child being excited about her favourite toy.

It made me realise what I want.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^

That night, as we made our way back to the rooms, I began my plan.

As she began to leave, I called out to her, "Kumari, I have a proposition. Meet me tomorrow early morning, I have a poem for you. " I said and she smiled, " Ji Kumar. "

Her smile spoke more than the thousand other words she could have said to me.

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Alright... So what's he about to do?

Tell me in the comments how it was and vote if you liked it.

Much love

And Shubh Choti Holi

Radhekrishn ♥