Prakriti P.O.V
I was walking along the shore of ocean in Dwarka, this site has a special place in my heart, whenever I am in deep thoughts and want my mind at peace, I come to this place, it hold lots of memories since I was a child. Children were playing around with the ball, I could see my brother Krishna among them, a smile pulled on my face when I looked at my brother who was becoming child with children of Dwarka. My brother is great at everything. Then my eyes moved past brother and I stared at Prince Dhuryohdhan who was standing a bit far away with Gandhara King and his brother Dushasana who were looking at my brother in distaste. I started walking towards them, my saree moving behind me with a grace. When I reached near them, their eyes went towards me. I joined my hands in greeting gesture "Pranam" I said standing before them. Gandhara King chuckled nervously and gave me blessing while the two brother stood there with straight face, I could detect a little smile on Prince Dhuryohdhan face by my presence.
"Can I ask your purpose of visit in Dwarka?" I questioned with raised eyebrow, Gandhara King doesn't go anywhere without purpose, what does he want from Dwarka now. King Shakuni started smiling his cunning smile giving his nephew a glance. "Your brother Balram invited us for the mace competition, you see, he is my Duryodhana's teacher" he responded smiling. I nodded and gave them a smile, as much as I dislike them, they are part of our family.
"How was your exile?" Prince Dhuryohdhan asked, I turned my gaze at him and gave him pleasant smile, "The time was great which I have spent with my loved one's" I replied, I know they have every news about us, after all they were keeping track on us to see if we are getting an upper hand or not, still uncomfortable after getting the whole Hastinapur for themselves. Gandhara King opened his mouth to say something but before he could, an arrow swiped past him and embedded into the tree behind them. He looked startled and started to look around for the archer who shoot the arrow. I smiled as I looked at the familiar arrow.
"Who was it?" Prince Dhuryohdhan asked annoyed, looking around. I chuckled and turned myself around and looked at my son who was standing in front of me with a mischief smile on his face. I gestured him to move towards me, he nodded and bowed his head in front of me, coming near. I turned back and we both looked at the people in front of us who looked flabbergasted staring at my son with their mouth open. My son put his hands together and greeted them all. "He is Prince Arjuna and my son, Abhimanyu" I said proudly, even at this young age, I am proud of my son, he loves nature just like me, attentive and focused just like his father, he is combination of both.
They looked at my son with criticizing eyes "Why are you learning archery at such young age son, doesn't your parents let you live your childhood?" Prince Dhuryohdhan asked in a taunting tone, I frowned but let my son handle it. My son looked straight in his eyes and gave him a smile "Elder Uncle, the archery which you have seen is in my veins, I don't need to learn it and my parents are the best in the world, no one can get a better parents like them" he said in his sweet voice, my heart puffed with satisfaction hearing my son's word for us. I put my palm on his head and ruffled his hair in affection, he looked at me smiling and I returned the smile. Gandhara King scoffed lowly, I frowned and looked at him raising my eye brow "Do you want to say anything, King Shakuni?" I asked him, he quickly shook his head "Your son is just like your mirror image" he chuckled, I internally rolled my eyes but on the outside I smiled at him "Thank you but he is more like his father" I said and pulled my son in my arms "What are you doing here, dear?" I asked him sweetly putting my hand on his cheek and removing the dirt, he was playing in the sand. "Father is searching for you" he said looking in the direction of our home. I nodded my head and turned my head towards the visitors and bowed my head "I am taking my leave now" I said, they nodded their head, before walking away I looked at them one last time "When we will meet next time, it will be time of our Raj Suya yagya" I said, Gandhara King face fell and Prince Dhuryohdhan looked angry while Dushasana stared at me with clenched jaw. With one last smile, I walked away from there leaving them fuming behind.
***
I went in my chamber while Abhimanyu joined the children playing near the shore. Arya was sitting on the bed, lost in his thoughts. "You were searching for me, dear" I asked him with a playful tone, he turned his head towards me and gave me his smile which I love the most. I slowly walked towards him and sat beside him, he quickly pulled me into his arms and sighed "I just wanted to hold you, I miss you" he said while hugging me, I chuckled and let him hug me for a bit. I can tell he is tensed about something. "I was just here few hours ago" I said breaking the hug and looking at him with raised eye brow. "It was such a long time ago" he said whining, I chuckled and pulled his head on my lap stroking his hair gently, he sighed and closed his eyes. "And what if I have to stay away from you for years, how will you manage it?" I asked joking. He quickly opened his eyes and put his palm on my mouth shaking his head "The time will never come, your place is by my side for always and forever" he said affectionately, I pulled his hand away from my mouth and took it in my palm squeezing it. "Forever and a day" I smiled, we will never be part away from each other because we are one soul two bodies.
"Now tell me, what is gnawing at your heart?" I questioned him massaging his forehead. He hummed enjoying the massage "I was thinking about Raj Suya yagya, we have to get it done with as soon as possible" he said, crease appearing on his forehead again, I slowly stroke his head and getting rid of the tension. "Everything will happen soon, I have trust in you and our family" I said and he looked at me again, his eyes sparkling with love in them, "I fell in love with you more as the time pass" he said kissing my palm. I stared at him in adoration, sometimes I feel like that I am the lucky one here getting him as my life partner who completes me.
***
"You know, the first problem will be Magadha King, Jarasandha, he won't let you complete the Raj Suya Yagya" Brother Krishna said, I was sitting with him in the garden, its been a while since we have a conversation like this. I really missed my brother a lot, between the time of being establishing our Kingdom, then exile, I couldn't get the time for my dear brother. I nodded my head in response "You are right brother, he will definitely going to create a problem for us" I responded, Jarasandha is Adharmi, he hates my family as well so he won't be helping us anytime now, after being defeated by my brother multiple times, he is vengeful towards us and just searching for a moment to take revenge. "As a General Secretary of your Kingdom, what do you suggest, Prakrite" he asked smiling, glancing at me. I rubbed my chin, thinking. "He is very powerful, his strength is enormous" Brother continued praising him, "Brother Bhima is most powerful, his strength is unmatched as well" I retaliated quickly and realized what my brother was saying to me in riddles, Brother looked at me and gave me his secretive smile, I smiled back at him getting the idea to eliminate our enemy.
"Brother, to help us in Yagya, can you come with us to Indraprastha?" I asked him, I know he has lots of responsibilities in Dwarka but we need him right now. He chuckled and put his hand on my shoulder "You don't even have to ask, my little sister, Your brother will always be there to help you" he said patting my head gently, I beamed at him, I can count on him anytime. "Won't you have to be in the competition to help Dau?" I asked again, Dau called number of Mace warrior for competition, he started laughing, I waited for him to stop his laughing fit. After laughing for a bit, he turned his gaze at me "My dear Prakrite, Dau can handle himself and the competition just fine besides what will be my work in a Mace competition!" he smiled, I nodded my head and turned my face forward looking at the nature around me. "Can I ask you a question, Brother?" I said thinking about something, he stared at front as well, his face falling a little but he nodded his head indicating me to go on. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to ask him the question that has been in my head for a while. "When you met Abhimanyu for the first time, there was sadness in your eyes, why was it brother?" I asked, I saw the look on his face which is disturbing me. He sighed and pulled his hand back from my shoulder, putting on either side of him. I waited for him to speak. "Your son will become a great warrior, he will always be remembered in the history for his war skills and dedication" he said not meeting my eyes, "But?" I said, I know there is something he is not telling me, as a mother I care for my son very much and always wish for his well being. Brother turned his head towards me and gave me a small smile "Future is unknown Prakrite and it can be change as well, people write their own destiny with their deeds, don't worry for him for now" he said trying to lessen my worries but I couldn't just forgot about it. "If you say so" I said finally, with a smile on my face. Time like this I feel that I should open my internal power to see past, present and future but I told myself that if brother is saying that everything will be fine then it must be, I believe him.