Siyanshi: My beloved

12

"So this is the Great Archer Rajkumar Arjun's palace..." Siyanshi thinks as she now walks in the palace corridor of the lost city of Indraprastha of her era. "Rani Siyanshi ki jai. I am Survi, your personal handmaid in Indraprastha." Survi comes. "I will be looking forward for our friendship." Siyanshi says.

"Friendship?" Survi asks surprised. "Yes! I am not only new to this family but new to aryavart as well. I don't know anybody else except for my sakha, swami and Bhadra jiji. Sakha most of the time will be in Dwarka, Swami will be busy in court and warfare whereas jiji will be busy in some other works meaning I will be left all alone. Everybody needs at least one friend in their life." Siyanshi says.

"Now! Show me where my chamber is." Siyanshi says. "This way rani." Survi leads Siyanshi to her section of the palace. "This section of the palace is chosen by the rajkumar himself for you. This section of the palace has access to its own private garden. The garden has various species of flowers and even a lotus pond which you can see from your balcony." Survi says halting Siyanshi.

"What happened rani?" Survi asks. "Can you take me to the pond?" Siyanshi asks. "Yes, rani. This way." Survi leads Siyanshi to the garden. "This garden was made under special instruction of the Gandhivdhari. This lotus pond is specially made for you." Survi says as Siyanshi crouches down near the pond with 1000 petal lotus blooming.

*****

"Jiji, can you take me to meet maharani?" Siyanshi asks. "To Jiji? So suddenly?" Subhadra asks. "Yes, could you please take me to meet maharani. I have something important to tell her." Siyanshi says, making Subhadra nod and take her to Draupadi's palace.

Despite a warm welcome from her mother-in-law and two co-wives and a warm hug from Draupadi, Siyanshi wasn't at peace. She had heard how upset Draupadi was at Subhadra's entrance in Indraprastha meaning she must be upset in hers as well. She needed to pacify and assure Draupadi that she will never be able to compete with Draupadi.

"Go in and tell dasi to ask for your presence from jiji. I will wait for you outside, here." Subhadra says. "Thank you, jiji." Siyanshi hugs Subhadra and goes inside. "Rani Siyanshi ki jai. How may I help you?" a dasi asks. "Go inside and tell Maharani that Padmapriya Siyanshi has come to pay a visit." Siyanshi instructs the dasi.

<< Cue: Siyanshi isn't the biological daughter of Samudra and Tirangini. The two found her in 1000 petal lotus during the yagna to solve the drought. They kept this a secret until Siyanshi overheard their conversation during the Roka along with Arjuna. I had written this in the previous chapter but for some reason it isn't visible>>

"Maharani ki jai! Maharani! Padmapriya Siyanshi asks for a presence." the dasi says. "Why didn't you address her as Rani Siyanshi? Don't you know who she is?" Draupadi asks. "I am aware of who she is maharani but she instructed me to give this as her introduction." the dasi says. "Permission granted." Draupadi gives the permission and the dasi goes to call Siyanshi who was waiting outside.

"Maharani has granted the permission rani.'' The dasi says and escorts Siyanshi inside. "Videha vasini Siyanshi asks for permission to touch maharani's feet and ask for blessing." Siyanshi crouches down but is stopped by Draupadi.

"You are a suryavanshi rajkumari, you belong from the land of Devi Sita. What are you doing?" Draupadi says. "I am the daughter of a merchant, a prince of Videha but you are the daughter of the Panchal Naresh Drupad, the fire born princess of Panchal and the Queen of Indraprastha. I have married into your family, by our relation you are now my elder sister. And it's the duty of the younger sister to touch her elder sister's feet and ask for blessing." Siyanshi says.

"My blessings are always with you. You are welcome in my palace and heart, Chandramukhi Siye." Draupadi says. "I don't want to live in your majestic palace nor in your heart. There is already a huge crowd in your heart. I just want to stay near your feet and serve you." Siyanshi says. "You just called me your sister. A sister's place is not in her elder sister's feet but her heart. You are now my youngest sister, you don't belong in my feet but my heart." Draupadi, pleased with Siyanshi's words, pulls her into a hug.

*****

It's late night and Siyanshi is now preparing for bed, as she prepares the bed the door opens revealing Arjuna. She then goes towards Arjuna and helps him with his jewelry. "I heard that you went to see Panchali today." Arjun says.

"Yes, you heard it right." Siyanshi replies. "Why so? Were there any problems?" Arjun asks. "No, why? Can't a sister go and meet her elder sister?" Siyanshi asks. "No, it's not like that." Arjuna says. His eyes fell on the vase where the sun drop flower was kept on the vase. "Priye?" Arjun calls and Siyanshi hums in reply.

"I am considered as the best archer in the world by everybody. Well, that's what I thought so until months back." Arjuna says, gaining Siyanshi's full attention knowing where it was going to go. "Few months ago, somebody dared to doubt my skills and challenge me. She said that how can Gandhivdhari be the best archer in the world when he hasn't competed with all the archers in the world. She then challenged that if I successfully aim at the sun drop flower then only she will acknowledge me as the best archer. What are your thoughts on it priye? Now that I have successfully aimed at the flower and made you mine, what are your thoughts on this?" Arjuna asks.

"Back then I said what I said. I was raised outside aryavart, my whole life I stayed in Videha and never once set foot out of it. Never once I had witnessed your skills, your skills were highly praised. Never once missing a target sounded impossible, you yourself called me chanchala on various occasions so me questioning your skills was a part of my curious nature. Plus you have already won both the challenge and me. Now stop teasing me swami." Siyanshi says, earning a chuckle from Arjun.

"If I don't tease my wife then who will? As savyasachi you teased Gandhivdhari Arjun very much. Now as Gandhivdhari, let me take in the pleasure of teasing you." Arjun says. "If so then... swami I have a question." Siyanshi says. "My sakha Gopal turned out to be Dwarkadheesh Shree Krishna and the brahman devta I served turned out to be you. Both of you have told me many stories about each other but one particular story caught my attention. It's about you, though I trust my sakha very much I personally want to hear it from you." Siyanshi says.

"What, priye?" Arjuna asks. "Did you really seduce Rajkumar Rukmi in the form of Brihannala?" Siyanshi asks bending down near Arjun's ear making his eyes wide as he completely forgot about that.

Siyanshi just laughed and tried to escape but Arjun caught her hand and pulled her back, her back meeting his broad chest. Arjuna had his one hand wrapped around Siyanshi's wrist and the other around her waist. Siyanshi was wearing a plain dark navy blue saree with thin golden bordering; Arjun was wearing his usual signature white dhoti with golden bordering. Both their dresses complimented their skin colors perfectly. Arjuna's well built tall figure hovered over the petite figure of Siyanshi's. Siyanshi's head came in line with Arjuna's heart, his touch sends shivers down Siyanshi's spine.

"Where do you think you are going, priye?" Arjun whispers in Siyanshi's ear as the moonlight shines on them. Siyanshi's ocean blue eyes clash with Arjun's copperish hazel eyes, Siyanshi was struck by the arrows of the god of desire upon seeing her husband's unreal beauty without any heavy jewelries, gold or angavastram on his body.

Arjuna who was long ago trapped by the beauty and charms of his wife sensed the change of his beloved's body language and the atmosphere. Both which were in his favor he dug his face on the crook of his beloved's neck and lightly bit it causing Siyanshi to tighten her grip on his hand by the sudden act of her husband.

Arjuna then turned his beloved towards him after leaving a reddish mark on her neck. He lifted her face up by chin and caressed her face sensually. Falling weak to her husband's affection and beauty, Siyanshi wrapped her arms around Arjuna's neck. The moon looked really beautiful that night.