It had been about three days since Saag had left. I was hoping that all three of them made it back safely.

Musing in the thoughts, I looked out into the roofscape panorama below me, countless huts and hill top houses scattered in the city, with welcome interruptions from the step farms.

I felt two hands snake themselves to my chest and a head being kept onto my shoulder.

I raised my own to frame her hands.

"What is it? Is there something amiss dear wife? " I hung my head back in bliss.

" No, I'm fine. I just missed you. " She whispered, her words hidden in the concavity of my shoulders.

"Really? But you had just gone to the markets." I chiacked my wife, who laughed melodiously.

"Why Swami, didn't you come and do the same after being in the court all day yesterday. " She jibed back, hands tugging on tighter.

" I did, but my dear, that's because you're the swamini of my heart. " I answered softly, rubbing my thumbs against her hands.

"Well, you're the swami of mine. " She answered, finally turning me around. My hands made their way around her waist to hold her close as hers reinstated themselves onto my shoulders.

(INTIMACY AHEAD. NOT EXPLICIT.READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED)

" So, what are your plans for today? " She asked, placing her head against my heart.

"Well, we were about to leave on a trip-"

"Where to! " She jumped up excitedly knocking her head into my chin.

"Aah! " I rubbed at my sore jaw.

"Sorry! " She exclaimed, looking around to figure out how to heal the pain when I caught her arms and brought her back to me.

"Do you know we have a saying in Kaliyug. We say it to infants. " I asked her, looking into her caramel brown eyes.

"N-no. What is it? " She asked, simultaneously wanting to move away yet stay right where she was.

" It says, to heal an injury, we kiss it better. Won't you heal me my love? " I whispered into her ears and she let out a breathy sigh.

"I-s-sure." She answered back, I had to strain my ears to be able to listen to her.

She stood on her tip toes and I could feel the hesitation roll off her body in waves.

"It's alright. I'll just apply -" I was stopped in my attempt to soothe her by the press of her soft lips against my chin, slow, yet sure kisses, trailing either side of my mandible.

Each press brought a new feeling of peace, yet excitement to me, as I was now able to sense even more, the silky brush of her saree against my shoulders as she leaned over to the other side. My ears picked up on the tinkling of her beautiful bangles and that darned scent of jasmine. It would be the end of me.

"There. It should be healed now. " She whispered,backing down to her feet, looking up at me with wide, blown eyes, her pupils seemed to have enlarged, for I could see more of the black than the caramel in her eyes,her breath fast and rapid... I knew because I felt the rapid rise and fall of her own chest against my own.

"Oh? I still feel some pain, maybe he-"

"Yuvraj? Maharaj is calling you to the sabha urgently. "

It was as if someone had dunked a pail of ice on the two of us, we pulled back and I sighed.

Smiling at her, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, before moving away when I was pulled back by a soft tug to my wrist.

"What is it? " I asked looking back at her, when I saw her characteristic smirk, it was more beautiful than any ornament she ever wore.

She made sure and bold steps towards me, standing right next to me on her tip toes as her words brushed past my ear, " I am going out for practice of weapons, I might be hurt afterwards. "

"Oh? Where? I'll prepare the balm -"

"No, no, I'll tell you where, after all, just like you said.. We'll kiss them away. "

I love my wife, if I don't tell her enough, I should.

If I walked into the sabha red and fanned myself at regular intervals, it wasn't my fault alright!

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"Putr, we need for us to leave for Panchal in a few weeks " Pitashree said sternly and I looked up in surprise.

"Paanchal? Why? "

"My son, Maharaj Drupad wants you to participate in the swayamvar for his daughter, a year later. She has recently been born from the fire. Draupadi,that's her name. " He told me and I looked up in alarm.

"What? Pitashre, you know I'm already married. " I exclaimed and he sighed.

"I know, I did try and tell him that but he refused. He claims that there are two people he desperately wanted to compete for his daughter's hand, you, Kumar Arjun. Seeing as he is dead in the eyes of the public, he wants you to participate. " My father placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Can't we refuse? " I asked and he shook his head.

"We're not that powerful to refuse a direct command from the king of Panchal. You may go and lose the competition if you need, I won't blame you. I don't wish to put the ego of having a competent son over your happiness. To me, I have found my daughter in law and daughter herself in Devika and look at rhe coincidence of the world, they even look the same." He said fondly.

"Alright pitashree, me and Devika will leave for Panchal in a few weeks. The year is nearing its end and it will definitely take us at least six weeks on chariots to make it till there. . I'll go and participate in Raajkumari Draupadi's swayamvar. " I answered honestly.

I turned my head around to the sound of a falling thaali, as I looked at its owner, a tearful wife who's face reflected betrayal. Ah, she just heard the last of my words.

"Devika! " I shouted, following her frantic run across the palace to our chambers where she slammed the door in my face.

"Devika! Devika! Open the door! I am not participating in Raajkumari Draupadi's swayamvar to win! I need to do it so that Panchal doesn't break their ties with our kingdom! Open the door! " I banged the door, feeling my palms redden from the force.

I knew well enough that saying 'you haven't listened to the whole thing' Or 'you have me wrong doesn't work'. You have to tell them the truth before itself.

"Devika, please open the door. I told you the truth. You know I promised you I won't marry another. " I cried, sitting against the door.

Slowly, the door creaked open to reveal a rather furious wife, she had heat emanating from her being, fierce and quick short burst of flames in her hair.

"Is it true? Are you truly going there solely to loose? " She asked in a cold voice, quite unlike the heat rolling off of her.

I scrambled up to grab on to her shoulders, when I was restricted by the show of a hand.

"Alright. I'll stay back. " I whispered and she carefully lowered her hands.

" Yes, I do plan on losing. The oy reason I am going is because pitashree says we cannot refuse the invite, otherwise I wouldn't even go. " I told her softly and my wife finally sighed.

"But won't it be insulting to the princess? " She asked, chewing on her bottom lip.

Assuming I was in a safe zone, I went up to her to release her rosy lips from the confines of her anxiousness.

" Why would it be? If no prince in the world has the competence and ability to win the competition held for your daughter's hand, then you should be proud that your daughter would never have to compromise with someone and be unhappy. Yes, relationships do require compromise, but that should not be the basis of your marriage. It should be love and more than that, trust and respect. I'd rather, if I had a daughter that she find the prince of her dreams of she wants to than have to live her entire life with a margined winner in her swayamvar. " I told her, framing her face.

" I'm sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you, I just heard and my mind went purely in the wrong direction. " She whispered and I sighed, pulling her into a hug, she relaxed immediately.

"It's alright. But from now on, we must trust each other. That's what the basis of any good relationship is my dear live, trust. You must trust that I will tell you and I trust that you will tell me. It's alright. " I pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.

"Yes, I promise. " She mumured and I picked her up in my arms, a yelp came from the woman I love.

" What are you doing? " She asked, giggling as she put her hands around my neck, leaning her head against my shoulders.

"Taking you for a bath. You need a rest. " I said and she sighed happily, closing her eyes.

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Panchal raaj Drupad still didn't get over his arrogance.... But it's fine... Jahan kanha hai wahan darna kya?

Tell me in the comments how it was and do vote

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥