Karn and Arjun's Draupadi

The awkward dinner

Draupadi's pov
Angraj was Duryodhan's closest friend thus he was invited a week before the marriage. The pandavas were busy renovating their new kingdom Indraprast. I had not visited Indraprast yet. Arjun daily sent me letters apologising for  breaking my heart. But his letters coildnt mend my heartbreak. However I had to forgive him one day. Indraprast was not an independent kingdom yet. The Yagna would take place after Dushala's wedding.
As we reached Hastinapur I was surprised by the welcome we recieved. Duryodhan was being respectful towards me. He didnt seem like the pure evil Arjun had described him. Then I thought opinion differs. Duryodhan could be hostile towards Pandavas but he was kind towards his friend and his wife. Dushala was a beautiful and sweet girl. She was so cheerful and friendly and thus I made my first girlfriend. Subhadra and I shared a common understanding but we were not friends. We might be in the near future.
"Tonight Mahamahim has invited us to dine with him and mata Kunti. He wanted to discuss few stuff" Angraj whispered to me .
I nodded.
"Mahamahim is a very disciplined man. We need to be careful not to offend him. It's the first time he has invited me to dine with me. " Karn said nervously as we rested in our chamber.
"It will be fine. And how is this the first time he has invited you. You have been Duryodhan's friend since so long" I asked.
"Well I am a suta. They dont share the same room as me. I dont know what changed so suddenly that he invited me" Karn said.
I tried to calm down. But his face was so piteous.  I could feel his empathy.
"Why do you want to impress Mahamahim who insulted you in this manner?" I asked genuinely confused.
"Your pandavas insult me the most. Doesnt mean I will wage a war against them. Arjun has always showed me my place but he is still a part of my life. He is my wife's favourite husband" he said smiling at his own joke. However I noticed a melancholy hanging in his stare.
"Who is your first love Angraj?" I find myself asking. I didnt know why O asked him that question. But now when I had asked it I wanted an answer.
He smiled his drop dead gorgeous smile.
"I dont think I have ever been in love" he replied his eyes shining with a grace.
"And your first love must be Arjun" he said smiling again.
"You have a very beautiful smile Arya" I said and cursed myself immediately for speaking my mind.
Karn was taken aback. He looked at me strangely as a smirk slowly appeared in his face. I couldnt help but blush.
"You look beautiful when you blush Panchali. But what is making you blush?" Karn asked as leaned towards me .
We were so close. I tried my beat to get a hold of myself but his presence affected me too much. His smooth curls covering his eyes were distracting me severely. I slowlybtoucbed them and removed them to reveal his beautiful large brown eyes looking at me with passion.
"I think...I think I should..." Karn stammered.
I looked at him as his brown eyes devoured me. His lips were so close to mine. I feared the inevitable. And the worst thing was I wanted what I feared so much.
"Bhabhisree!" It was Dushala outside my chamber.
"I think I should leave" Karn completed his statement and left. I was still recovering from the closeness and the feeling which had consumed me so badly. What was it about Angraj that made me so rogue? So selfish? So passionate?

Karn's pov
I tried my best to resist her touch. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When she touched me I could feel my heart beating louder than ever. She looked at me with a look I couldnt decipher. She loved Arjun. Why then did we have such amazing chemistry? Why did she blush when I looked at her with such hunger in my eyes. I wanted her so bad. But what about my promise? I couldn't be with her unless she wanted me to . And it killed me every moment.
As evening drew closer I thought of checking on Panchali. We shouldn't be late for the dinner.
As I entered her chamber I found her trying to tie her blouse strings. I immediately turned around.
"Daasi thank god you are here...please tie this!" She said.
I didnt know what to say or what to do.
"Panchali...Its me" I said. Panchali was taken aback as she turned around holding her blouse awkwardly.
"Angraj...I...can you please help?" She asked.
I nodded.
"Please tie this string" she said surprising me. I had expected her to tell me to call a daasi.
I hesitated as I approached her. I slowly tied the string as my hand brushed against her bare back. She shivered as I touched her . My fingers brushing against her skin created magic as I observed her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were closed . So my touch affected her. That's strange. Yet oddly satisfying. As I completed tying her string I was intrigued to see her not moving. She was standing in her exact position . I picked up her dupatta and wrapped it around her bare waist . My fingers touched her bare waist when I suddenly realized what I was doing. How could I be so weak?! But Panchali did that to me. She affected me severely and I couldnt control my desires when she was close. I immediately withdrew. She too quickly opened her eyes with a loo of realization and guilt.
"We will be late" I said.
She nodded .

Arjun's pov
Pitamah had called for us immediately saying there was an emergency. Our mother too said it was urgent. We reached Hastinapur. Angraj and Draupadi were already present as the dasis informed us. Pitamah had invited us to dine with him tonight where he would reveal something important to us. I didnt know what it was but I was slo said that Karn and Panchali too would be present there.
Panchali...I wish you forgive me soon. Whenever I saw Panchali with Angraj I couldnt help but notice the chemistry between them. Even though they didnt love each other they looked so perfect together. It was painful.
Subhadra was my second wife but she was my sole happiness when Panchali was away. She understood me so well. Her sense of understanding and her selfless love for me was the most precious thing I beheld. Panchali was like  my love but Subhadra...she was like my soulmate. My wife. Maybe I loved Subhadra as well. Was it a sin to love two people at the same time?
Krishna too loved Rukmini and Radha. His heart beat was for Radha while his breath was for Rukmini. But then again Krishna was different.
As we reached Pitamah's chamber I could see Panchali and Karn ready sitting there conversing with our mother.
They were shocked to see us. They didnt know we would join them.
"Be seated Putro!" My mother said as we obeyed her order ad sat down for dinner.
As the evening advanced we found ourselves in a very awkward position. We didnt know what to talk about. Karn and Panchali were quiet most of the time. We brothers were so confused.
"We were thinking of visiting Anga sometime. We have never been to that part of the countey" Bhrata Yudhisthir said trying to break the silence.
"You should definitely come. We will welcome you with pleasure" karn replied. Then no one spoke.
"I need to tell you all something" It was maata Kunti.
We all nodded. What did she want o say before Angraj?
"Kunti I think we should wait for sometime...let them take some rest" pitamah said and left for a walk. Maata too followed him. We didnt know what to do. Slowly we all rose to leave. Panchali followed Karn . We all were so confused. What was happening? Why were we invited if they didnt have anything to say to us?
As I strolled in the garden I noticed three figures whispering among themselves. Who were they? And why were they out here in the middle of the night.
I slowly went closer and took put my bow and arrow.
"Who's there?!" I shouted.
The whispering suddenly stopped.
As I held the lamp before their face I was shocked. What were they doing here? At night?