𝑨𝒓𝒋𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒂 : 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆

मन्दैमहे

WE MEAN IT

"Explain," she demanded, her brows furrowed, her voice cold. They stood in the garden, the very same place where they used to spend time together.

"Yes," he replied, joining his hands and kneeling before her. "I’m sorry for hurting you, unknowingly. And I’m so grateful for the help you’ve given me through all of this."

She turned toward him, her expression softening with concern. "Don’t say that…"

She placed her hands on his shoulders, gently pulling him to his feet. "I never wanted you to kneel before me," she said softly, her voice laced with sincerity. "Honestly, I was being childish... and I know, deep down, you would never hurt me."

She turned away, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s tough being you... and I’m sorry for adding to your burden," she said softly, the weight of her words lingering in the quiet air.

"Don’t say that, Princess Subhadra," he said, smiling warmly. "You were the best thing that ever happened to me. And I thank you, not just because you brought happiness into my life... but because I realized something when I was away from you. I had dreams where I couldn’t see your face clearly, but I knew the sound of your anklets, the jingling of your bangles, the faint chime of your earrings, and of course, your voice. Even though you weren’t physically with me, you were always here, in my heart."

Both of them were lost in each other’s eyes, the world around them fading into nothingness. Their mouths were dry from the nervousness, words trapped behind their lips. There was something mysterious, almost unspoken, in their gaze—an understanding that went beyond words, pulling them closer in silence.

Even after speaking so much with each other, there were still unspoken words lingering between them. The silence stretched on, yet it wasn't uncomfortable—it was filled with emotions that couldn't be expressed in words, only in the quiet understanding that passed between their eyes. The longer the silence grew, the deeper their connection felt.

Krishn smiled and murmured to himself, "Yellow turns into orange, just as friendship slowly transforms into a love that can exist only between two souls who truly understand one another." His eyes twinkled as he observed the unspoken bond growing stronger between Arjun and Subhadra.

Kaṅka suddenly asked with a playful curiosity, "So, what's your favorite flower? Just wondering."

Subhadra, feeling a bit shy, turned her back to him, her gaze falling to the ground as she softly murmured, "Kankabar." A gentle smile played on Kaṅka’s lips. "Kankabar," he repeated, his voice tender.

The revelation of Arjuna’s new name alongside Subhadra’s favorite flower created an unexpected tension between them. As the words hung in the air, a mix of emotions stirred within Subhadra—nostalgia for Arjuna and the warmth of her connection with Kaṅka.

Kaṅka sensed the shift, his playful demeanor faltering slightly. He looked at her, searching for understanding in her eyes, aware that the mention of Arjuna could stir feelings she had long cherished but kept hidden. The atmosphere grew thick with unspoken words, both of them caught between the past and the present, navigating the delicate balance of their feelings.

“Why would you choose the name Kaṅka?” she asked, her curiosity piqued. “And what about Devi Kunti? Is she well? You should bring her to Dwarka; I’ll take care of her. You’d better bring her here before I—”

“Princess Subhadra, please give me a chance to speak,” he interrupted, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “And didn’t your brother teach you to ask questions one at a time?”

Subhadra rolled her eyes playfully, a small smile escaping despite herself. “Fine, go ahead. But don’t think you’re off the hook just yet!”

“Kaṅka is a bird, a sparrow,” Arjun said, gazing intently into her eyes. “But it also represents strength. I want to be a source of strength for my mother, for my brothers, and for all the people who trust and believe in me.”

He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in, the weight of his commitment evident in his expression. “In this new identity, I’ll do everything in my power to protect them, to honor their faith in me.”

“Arjun—I mean Kaṅka,” she said softly, her eyes filled with sincerity. “I promise you this: I will always support you, even in your toughest times. Our bond is so pure that we don’t need to exchange words to understand each other. But know this—I will always be there for you, no matter what.”

She reached out, her hand brushing against his, a gesture that spoke volumes of the trust and connection they shared. "I'll wait for you, I'll wait.." She smiled and said those words that send a assurance to his mind and heart and made him relax

“I mean it,” she said, her gaze steady and sincere. He nodded in response, feeling the weight of their unspoken promises. “I mean it too, Subhadra. When the right time comes, I’ll… I’ll be there for you, no matter what.”

Meanwhile, Grantha and Sauvira (Nakula and Sahadeva) exchanged amused glances as they noticed Princess Subhadra walking out of the garden, her demeanor light and happy. Sensing an opportunity to tease her, Sauvira cleared his throat dramatically and declared, “Kaṅka, I mean it!”

Grantha chimed in with mock seriousness, “I mean it, Princess!”

They were essentially reenacting the moment they had witnessed earlier, their playful antics aimed at teasing Subhadra. She slightly pouted and approached them, unable to suppress a smile at their antics despite her feigned annoyance.

“Teasing me? Haha, very funny!” Subhadra exclaimed, but before she could finish her sentence, Grantha and Sauvira took off running, laughter trailing behind them. “Wait! I’ll pull your ears! Come back here! You were mocking me?!” she shouted playfully as she chased after them.

Meanwhile, Ajatashatru and Vrikodara (Yudhishthira and Bhima) watched the scene unfold, their faces breaking into hearty laughter at the sight of Subhadra’s spirited pursuit, the joy in her voice brightening the atmosphere around them.

Subhadra embodied happiness, radiating brightness and serving as a source of motivation not only for Arjun but for the entire Pandu family. Devi Kunti had already welcomed her as a daughter, and Yudhishthira, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva regarded her as their sister, cherishing the bond that intertwined their lives with love and unity.

Yudhishthira turned to Bhima and said, "She'll bring so much happiness to our family, especially to Arjuna's life."

Bhima nodded with a smile, fully agreeing with the sentiment.

:3 hii~ how's the chapter? I hope you guys loved it<3 I know the chapters have been a bit short but I'll try my best to improve the length of the chapters! Also did you guys observe the way Nakula and Sahadeva tease Subhadra? Isn't it very cute and innocent 😔🎀 it's healing to see good Dever and bhabhi relationship! Isn't it?

I'll update soon on 28th or 29th and I'm also planning to write a special chapter for Dasara... it’s gonna take a while but I think I'll write 9 chapter. I'm taking it as a challenge for my writing😸 how does that sound?