LOVE: To Infinity And Beyond

Blossoms

The news of the birth of Arjun and Draupadi's bubbly daughter soon reached Panchal, Dwarka and Hastinapur. In a week, the news of the birth of Subhadra's son also reached Indraprasth. Unlike his other wives, Arjun was pretty happy at the news of the birth of Subhadra's son. He was still at Indraprasth. So, it was decided that Subhadra would come back to Indraprasth as soon as possible. That would also let the babies have each other's company. Kunti decided to do the official naming ceremony of the two babies together. However, she let the parents have the liberty to decide the names, before they were officially sanctioned by VedVyas Dev. Krishna has already named the baby boy Abhimanyu. Hearing the name, Arjun instantly fell in love with it. He was itching to see his son and hold him in his arms.

One fine afternoon, just a day before Subhadra and Abhimanyu reached Indraprasth with the high-security convoy, Krishnaa and Arjun were sitting together watching the antics of their hyperactive baby girl, Krishnaa suddenly asked Arjun, "What should we name her Arya??" She was really worried about naming her. However, she was already calling her by a nickname--- Priu, which she uttered , the moment she had first held her in her hands. Arjun gazed at his baby girl. Before she was born, he thought that he could never love anybody as much as he loved his Krishnaa, and that, his stock of love could not be expanded any further. However, his baby girl has shattered his concept. His love for her is increasing with every passing moment. She was merely two weeks old, and already crawling all around, shattering diyas, moving away her mother's jewelries here and there, grinning and laughing the whole day long, clapping without reasons, blabbering cute and weird sounds to all her family members--- and what else... and what not. Arjun grinned to himself, as Krishnaa joined in the grinning spree as their daughter suddenly turned around to look at them and laughed out loud, as if the most amusing thing in the world has just happened. Arjun and Krishnaa also burst out laughing. The baby however, soon turned away and continued crawling on the bed, towards her mother's bookstand beside the bed, which was her favourite thing in the whole palace. Suddenly a name struck Arjun, in sync with her nickname, "Pragya..", he muttered. Krishnaa looked into his eyes, as both of them smiled and looked towards their daughter, who was already trying her level best to open a big book. The name was just fit and perfect.

A day later Abhimanyu and Subhadra arrived. Right at the palace gates, he extended his arms towards Krishnaa as she took him in her arms. Immediately , he seemed to forget the whole world as he gazed deep into the depths of her crystal blue orbs. Krishnaa's eyes glistened. Arjun knew in a moment, why he was feeling that strange pull towards Abhimanyu-- he was Krishnaa's son, afterall, biological or not... Krishnaa took Abhimanyu to her chamber, where Malini and Nitambini, both were busy tackling Pragya. She went to Pragya with Abhimanyu. Pragya immediately stopped the monkey-business that she was doing and turned towards Abhimanyu, who was set free beside her on the bed. The two kids stared at each other for quite some time, stunning all the people in the room, which included the whole royal family. Subhadra and Krishnaa exchanged surprised glances. Arjun kneeled down beside the bed, thinking to himself, how beautiful kids he had made. He couldn't help but smirk and accredit Krishnaa in his mind. Abhi's hazel eyes met Priu's honey-brown ones, as the purest and strongest brother-sister bond , ever, formed -- promising eternal love, support and protection to each other. Then suddenly the two kids grinned wildly as they hugged each other. Their amused parents couldn't help but let a few tear-drops slip out of their eyes.

The time for Arjun's departure arrived in a week. According to Krishna's instruction in the letter he had sent via Subhadra, he first has to go to the Northwestern Frontiers. Just a day before his departure, the official naming ceremony of Abhimanyu and Pragya took place, together. The kids couldn't sustain without each other for a moment. Take them apart for a split second and they will cry and pout to no limits. Subhadra has already surrendered to the antics and mischiefs of the two infants. Thus, Krishnaa practically has become the mother of both of them, feeding them, taking care of them and doing everything , all the time. By this system, the kids could also stay with each other. Krishnaa wondered, how, two infants, who couldn't even talk, communicate and connect to each other so well and do literally organized and collaborated mischiefs together...

During the naming ceremony, Ved Vyas ji, called the royal family together, with the kids, separately from the other guests, as he said something literally important, "These two kids will set an example of sibling bond.. There's no power that can separate them, and till they are together, there shall be no power in the world that can defeat them. Moreover, I need to specially mention Pragya. She will grow up to be a woman of substance, empowering thousands of other women. She is born for the world. She will remain as invincible as her father and as regal as her mother. The aura and fame of these two will spread all over the world, as they will be remembered till the end of time. However, I need to add, they will die valorous and glorious deaths of warriors, fighting their last breaths out..." Everything was absolutely perfect, but which parent could control their tears after the last line? Pride and agony swelled in their chests, as their eyes glistened, looking at the two innocent and jolly lives...

"This can't be!! I can't tolerate the two of them this darn happy!!", Duryodhan roared, as he paced their secret planning chamber. Karn, Ashshwatthama, Duhshasan and Shakuni were seated all around in the room. Karn couldn't recognize the strange feeling of hurt that was accumulating within him since he had heard of Arjun and Krishnaa's daughter. He somehow was feeling that she was supposed to be his, and the baby his, too. However, he couldn't reveal that feeling here, in front of his friend, who was himself dying to get hold of that lady. "But Bhratashree, getting to her seems to damn impossible!!", a disgusted and frustrated Duhshasan replied. Duryodhan stilled at his place. Was it really impossible? He so much wanted to lay his hands on that woman, since he first saw her. Her beauty was stilled boring into his hearts, unfurling dark lust and desire within him. Unlike, what the world thinks of him, he himself knew that he had a brighter side to his character. Bhanumati would also agree to that, given, the way he loves and cares for her. But, there are reasons he just can't put up with that Arjun...