" Arjun, tell me, what has been occupying my dhanurdhari brother's sharp mind? " I asked him as he shook his head, sitting on a rock nearby.

"Bhabhishree, I can't really tell you what has occupied my mind, for there are too many things that swallow my peace. "

I looked at him surprised. Why was he in such a state?

"Well, we could start with the most striking one, the one that has occupied your mind the most? " I asked hesitantly, sitting by his side to keep a comforting and welcoming hand on his shoulder.

" Bhabhishree, a few days after you left, me, Nakul and Sahdev came across a temple in Panchal. Thinking on our feet, we were about to leave when the rishi we had brought with us requested us to wait for him, so that he could go and pray yo devi Parvati. So we were waiting when a bright palki made it's way to the outskirts of the temple, out of which stepped someone we never hoped to see, never wanted to see and had no plans to see, but eventually we did. "

"Well, who was it? " I asked, already dreading the answer.

" Panchal kumari, Druapd suta, Krishnaa, Panchali. " He said softly, her name as if a prayer for the soul.

"Panchali. Panch-PANCHALI! " I shouted and he looked up at me in alarm.

"Y-yes bhabhishree, is something amiss? I understand that she's a fire born, but even Sahdev, the ever silent went rigid when he saw her entering the temple. "

"You don't understand! Fire born Arjun! She's a flame herself! " I exclaimed, the gears of my mind whirring as I thought of which one of my sister's she was. Vishvruchi, or Sphulingini?

"I understand that bhabhishree, but why do you fear, we will be leaving here in a few years, I'd say soon, since Bhabhishree Hidimba has already begun to prepare for her birth in the coming month. " He was bewildered.

" I know that, it's just, time waits for no one... With Yu- Arya's firm staunch that I won't do anything for a few years, I fear the rate at which the two idiots will reach the weapon. "

"Ah, I understand. " He sighed.

In my own worry, I forgot why I came here in the first place.

"Come here. " I said softly, inviting him to rest his worries.

"Bhabhishree how can I -"

"Shh." I said soothingly, as I let him rest his head on my shoulder.

"She's so beautiful bhabhishree, her skin resembles the most beautiful night sky, the one where I can shoot arrows in without any light, yet her mere presence is as if the sun himself has stepped into the room, she has eyes like yours but hers have a deep fire in them that I can't explain. They are pools of lava, yet the soothing waters of the Ganga, they are the fires of nark for those who hurt her, yet the welcoming fountain of someone ras and amrit for those who cherish her heart. I can see it in her smile, those beautiful petals, as if that of a dark rose, with the most subtle shade of the red dahlias. " He sighed dreamily and it was hard for me to keep a chuckle in.

"Bhabhishree? " He asked, worried that his confession was met with contempt.

" No,no ‌I'm not being accusive or judgemental of you, it's just adorable to watch you, such a strong warrior being captured by the beauty of a women. " I told him, pinching his bearded cheeks softly.

If he could blush, he would have, with downcast eyes, hiding the admiration he held.

" Don't you worry, life will  take you her way even if you don't want to go there. " I clapped his back as we made our way out.

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"So, do you like her name? " Yudhishthir asked, testing his head against my shoulder as I sat at the table, trying to use some of my brain to remember all that I have ever studied.

If someone ever told me I was willingly doing physics, I will deny it point blank . But that's what life had come too.

I was trying to recall all that I had studied in the last three years.

"Hmm, oh yes, I do like it. " I told him absently.

We spent that evening in silence, because we chose it. Seeing as Bheem and Hidimba had whisked away Madhu for 'practice' as they called it, we were in the room.

We each chose an activity full of silence, when our world is usually taken up by sounds.

I sat on the bed with a paper, a quill on the side table with its inkpot, while Yudhishthir sat by my side with his bookstand and a book about economics and politics.

Boring.

The silence did not last more than two hours.....

"Ey! Yudhishthir. I'm bored. " I poked his side.

"So go eat something, or play
something. " He muttered.

"Alright." I said, walking out to see no one. Everyone was busy doing something.

"No one's there! " I walked in, flopping onto the bed.

"Well, practice your flame then. " He sighed, giving me a short smile.

He was right though, I should practice it.

So I sat in one corner of our room on the floor, chanting my name and practicing my flame. Ooh! That rhymed.

'Krishn! Hello! '

'Sakhi, do you really find the most abnormal times of the day to talk to me'? He asked, he sounded as if he was panting.

'What are you doing '?

' Helping a girl run away from her poor fate'. He answered smug.

'She ran away from her fate.... To you ? Is she alright? Was she tortured by her captives '? I asked snickering.

'Very funny Sagarika, no, she called me herself, saying that she loves me, I should come rescue her'.

'Are you sure she didn't say send an army... Don't come yourself'?

'Sagarika, don't insult her love'.

'I'm not'!

'Sagarika I -'

"Sagarika? " Yudhishthir spoke suddenly.

I opened my eyes to see him sitting right in front of me, worry clear in his warm brown eyes.

"Are you alright? " He asked, wavimg a hand in front of my face.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be? "

" Well, you were making weird faces and then laughed at odd intervals. I thought something happened to you. "

I thought over in horror of the plethora of weird faces I must have made, slapping a hand to my mouth in horror.

In the background, Krishn was laughing like a madman, with continuous repetitions of, ' Haha. Told you! You have gone mad'!

"No no. I'm fine.. " I told him softly cupping his face.

" That's nice. " He said, sighing as he sat down next to me, placing his head in my lap.

"It feels nice to be here. " He murmured, closing his eyes and picking one of my hands to hold against his mouth, pressing soft kisses to the palm.

"What's up with you? " I asked, chuckling as I ran my other hand through his hair. Women, explain to me, why us using both shampoo and conditioner does shit for our hair, when these people use a two in one and have thr silkiest hair ever.

" Nothing, I was missing you. " He smiled.

"Right..... From across the room? What's actually wrong? " I asked, turning his head to face mine.

He groaned, running his hands over his eyes before sitting up.

" I- I don't know. I'd say I'm worried. " He mumbled.

"Worried? About what? " I asked confused.

" I am worried about your health. You would be used to pain medications and more advanced healthcare in your times, now you're healing from childbirth and not even in a palace. I just hope that after the oncoming four five weeks, you regain your health. " He muttered, holiding my hands as he interlocked our fingers, studying them.

" Well, I can tell you, even if we had pain medication, the health here is better. Maybe not in all aspects, but I feel better rested than ever. I hope to regain most of my strength in the next few weeks too. " I smiled, kissing the corner of his lips.

"Hmm. But I worry -"

"You can, but it's not required. You know, there was a lesson I learnt, long back. Worry brings nothing but more chaos. Worrying about something won't change it's outcome, nor would it help you actually give your best in the situation. So throw all your fear away and approach each probablem with care and confidence. "

"I know." He smiled, putting his head back in my lap as we repostioned ourselves.

Yet again, the silence stretched only for a while as the sound of cries pierced through my sleep haze.

I opened my eyes to see a frantic Bheem holding Madhu.

"What is it Bheem? " I asked, gently taking her in one hand as I adjusted Yudhishthir's head to give me some space.

" Bhabhishree, she had been crying continuously. I thought she might be hungry. " He smiled, going out.

"Ole! Why are you crying? Shh. Papa's sleeping. We'll be happy after food won't we? " I whispered to her, shifting the saree to give her her food.

If being quiet after getting food is a human skill, then everyone learns it right after birth... This is why children! Enjoy food, stare at the screen later.

"Whatshap-" Yudhishthir asked, wiping the sleep away from his eyes, getting up.

"Nothing, she was hungr-aah. No biting. " I winced, staring at my daughter's squinted eyes, as if she knew I was admonishing her.

My husband coughed into his hand and I looked up at him, " Do you have something to say? " I asked and he hid his face behind his hands.

"Thought so. "

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Sooo... How was it?

Tell me in the comments and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥