Kaampilya, Paanchaal

"Attention, attention!" 

The crowd hollering  had their attention gathered towards the gates, as if a wave of bated breaths.

"Attention! The sinless daughter of Drupad, the Princess of Paanchaal, Princess Krishnaa Draupadi is entering the Swayamvar!" 

The pin drop silence that had been for a while suddenly burst into peals of mirth, with the crowd rushing forward towards the gates, only to be abstracted by the guards. The craze of witnessing the Princess was massive, the ones who had came far from all over Aaryavart was almost cursing the guards for blocking their ways. The windows and terraces of the magnificent palaces were jam packed in no time, with men and women spilling from their trying to peer or peek out. 

Men wanted to see the beauty, and women wanted to know 'why' men wanted to see the beauty. 

Women were astounded. Mothers and wives included. The mothers who had seen their sons not bothering to look at a woman had fallen into the loop of daydreams, and the wives who had claimed with pride that their husbands would never look at any other, seemed to be burning in envy. 

Yet, even the women wanted to see her. 

What was there so mesmerizing about this Princess, that their men were losing senses over her?

They whispered amidst themselves, complaining or exaggerating about their men, brothers or sons. Some even laughed that they were just here to ogle at the handsome Princes who would be arriving, and some joked about how they were desperately waiting for the Princess to be wedded off, so that their men would stop day-dreaming about her. 

Nevertheless, one thing was common. 

All had wanted to see the Princess Draupadi.

The Princes and the Kings had their hearts held, their gaze stuck at the entrance.

And soon, a whiff of the fragrance of blue lotus made their breaths halt then and there. 

She.

It felt as if the gate towards the Heavens had just flung open, and all the trail of heavenly beauty had swirled into her. 

Some had their words stuck right there in their mouths, some had their jaw hung down and some felt as if they had been numbed at the moment as if they had a spell casted upon them, while some had to take the support near them from stumbling. Women cupped their mouth, while some who had felt that they were the prettiest, had their cheeks dusted with crimson and some, had an immediate flame of envy invoking in their heart. 

Even the sound of the trumpets and drums seem to fall into deaf ears, for all they could see was the mystical damsel. 

Her long, dark tresses were adorned with the reddest of the roses. The tender breeze fluttered her loose bangs of hairs. Deep crimson attire swathed her suave frame, no less than the evening carmine rays of the Sun unfurling upon the dusky sky. The gold glittered upon her, an ode to the aureate. 

The scythe of beauty had gored upon them, then and there.

.

.

.

An enchantress. She was no less than that with the way just her glimpse had stunned the crowd. 

 Casting a vivid charm. If not the war, then it here that the heart of men were brutally wounded. 

Her flowing crimson garment trailed behind with the handmaidens, the whiffs on wind hauling her arousing fragrance. Thick locks of hairs that rolled beyond her hips swayed, her swanlike frame gaiting through the aisle like an allure unshackled. 

She trailed through the aisle as if she owned it, the ravishing fireborn searing her way like a trail of fire itself.

"Haaye Raam...." Arjun didn't even realize his mutter, his breath hitching.

Th-that was Draupadi? 

She looked ravishing even in the minimal when he saw her at the temple of Shiv, but now...

He exhaled deeply, as the ardent whiff of the fragrance of blue lotus swept past him, that he had to close his eyes for a moment, a lopsided smile drawing on his lips. He breathed again, closing his eyes for a good while and opening them again, watching her striding towards the other side of the arena. 

And for a moment, he could even assure that he had heard Bheem swear louder than him.

Arjun watched deliriously, his dreamy eyes trailing towards her path....

God save him.....

.

.

.

Drupad massaged the side of his temples discreetly as he watched Jayadrath's face flushing. The latter was gnawing his teeth, trying to atleast divulge the Kindhura, but was huffing deeply. He licked his lips as already scores of laughter were coming from all around. His jaws clenched, looking at one last time at the oddly carved bow, placed his fingers underneath in another attempt to lift.

And as luck he would have, his foot slipped slightly from there, and he almost stumbled forward. Gritting his teeth hard, he stepped down from the platform, with a lowered head and returned back to his seat. 

Whispers and laughter spread across the arena as soon as he walked away. 

The Princes and Kings on their seats, who were already defeated were either grumbling under their breath or laughing loudly on the other's defeat, to make themselves better about themselves. Some were eyeing the Kindhura and muttering and while others had hung down their face in shame.

No wonder, the Swayamvar suddenly felt like a prize that could never be won. And they, all of them had just come to have their egos crushed.

"—We would now like call upon, the glorious King of Ang next, Angraj Vasusen to try his luck!" The drums heralded, as the announcer called upon.

There was pin drop silence again. 

Vasusen Karn. They had all heard his name, for this youth had suddenly attained fame for showing his valor at the Hastinapur Kalapradarshan, and given that he was a student of Parshuram, the whispers and expectations increased. 

"A really nasty man he is honestly," Saatyaki whispered in Krishna's ear with a twisted face, who's lips curled up slightly at his words, "Aha?" He watched the son of the Sut walk towards the platform with a confident face.

"Yeah, I don't know why does he have so much pride. And he—he boasts a lot," He shook his head in a deadpan. 

"But I have heard he's a great archer as well." Krishna muttered back, brushing Saamb's curly locks who was dozing off in his lap.

"Nah, not even a chance in front of Prince Arjun. If, if only he would've been alive...." Yuyudhaan trailed off, resting his chin on his fingers and sighed. 

"Let's see." Krishna mumbled, gazing back at Drupad who shared him a slightly worried glance, straightening himself. The latter only smiled back, closing his eyes as if in an assurance. 

.

.

.

There was suddenly a huge uproar. People stood up from their seats, cupping their mouth. So did the Princes and the Kings. 

What the rest couldn't do, was done by someone, finally.

"Arjun he..." Bheem's lips twitched in agitation as he watched Vasusen, with a great difficult had somehow managed to pick up the bow, and string it. Arjun didn't respond, his eyes just narrowing down to the way his grip was dwindling upon the bow, with furrowed brows. 

"What the hell—"

Arjun exhaled, hearing Bheem swear under his breath. 

There were hollers and cheers as Karn picked up the arrow kept beside. His muscles strained in discomfort, as he tried to hold the bow properly in his grip, but was somehow keeping himself standing. He panted softly, walking towards the pool and kneeled down, watching the reflection of the fish.

"He won't—" Arjun muttered, taking Bheem by surprise as he suddenly gazed back at him.

"What?" 

"He's using his entire strength. I don't think so that is even required to lift this bow," Arjun tilted his neck to have a better glimpse from the crowd. Karn was had the arrow on the bow, and was waiting for the right moment to hit the fish's eye. 

"Are, are you sure?" 

"Hmm. That's what it looks like from here." Arjun's gaze zeroed down at the Karn, who was visibly struggling to keep the bow straight. 

"No no no....please no—" Bheem chanted, fidgeting with the edge of his angavastra holding his breath, "No—"

Arjun's eyes jutted up as the arrow was released.

There were huge gasps as cheers everyone glanced up, all their eyes on the rotating fish. 

But.

But—

The arrow was struck, right at the fish's tail. 

*************

A/N

There's a reason why I showed Karn partially succeeding in stringing the bow--

First, you cannot deny he was the son of Surya so his strength was a matter of fact. Second, he was also a very good archer so he had a better idea how to handle bows but yeah-- Arjun was top notch.

Third, meri iski gajjab beijjaddi karani thi🌚🌚🌚🌚

And beijjaddi hits more when you fail at the end moment *smirks*

Signing off for today!

Kiritija Nushkie