Thank you guys for waiting, i didn't know where the story was going but now I do, I'm really sorry... Hope you'll understand

Unedited

"Maa" I heard the soft voices of my kids and took a deep breath to composed myself

"Pragati, Kirti... Come here" I called them, they were standing at the door looking a bit hesitate, probably seeing my tears

"Did he do something to you? " Kirti asked angrily pointing his finger at Arjun.

I looked at Arjun who had an amused yet proud smile on his face so had I. He was so protective towards me and his sister even at such age

I kneeled down and kissed on his forehead "He did nothing to me and I wasn't crying dear! "

"Then? " Pragati asked coming closer to me

I looked at Arjun only to see him gazing at the kids intensely, From the look on his face I could tell how eager he actually was for them to know who he was to them.

"Kirti Pragati... Go inside, I'll come in a minute" I said and got up

"But we were inside only! " Kirti winced

"Kirti... Mother wants to have a very important talk with you two. You want to listen or should I only tell it to Pragati? " I raised my brows and Pragati smirked

"No! " He said immediately looking at Pragati then added "I want to know the important thing too, I'll go inside! " He said and unwillingly went inside with Pragati following him and telling him something like 'Maa only wanted me to tell the truth'

"They're always after each other, aren't they? " Arjun asked with a soft smile

"Always! " I shrugged my shoulder and looked at him , he took my hand in his and looked deep into my eyes

"Arjun, I think it's time for them to know the truth... About us, about you... But" I gulped the knot that had formed in my throat and looked away

"But? But what Krishnaa! Do you think I'm in a state where you can test my patience?" He asked maintaining his usual calmness but the smile he had was gone. Then added looking deep into my eyes "I just want to take you and my kids back home and then teach Duryodhan his lesson! " I saw him clenching his jaw he tighten his hold

"Arjun... I don't want my children anywhere near Duryodhan... Mata Kunti once told me how Duryodhan had poisoned Bhrata Bheem... Arjun I can't take risk of their lives" I told him

Arjun was bewildered as if couldn't believe what he was hearing, I felt horrible for saying this, I was being a good mother but was I being a good wife to him?

"What? " He asked removing his hands from mine and I immediately missed the warmth of those rough big palms.

"Arjun... I'm sorr... " But he interrupted me

"You think I can't take care of my family? " He asked calmly, too calmly for my liking

"No... I didn't mean that, I--"

"Then what Krishnaa? I need you to explain, just because Duryodhan had poisoned Bhrata Bheem doesn't mean I'll let him poisoned my kids too, yes when he kidnapped you I failed to save you, I admit. I never thought he would stooped down to this level... " He sighed, he looked so exhausted,

"You know what, you can live here with them, it doesn't matter if I'm their father or not, you took care of them since their birth. You fought for them.. No matter how much I want to spend the rest of my life like a normal father, no matter how much I want you back in my life..... " He turned away.

There was a pause, an uncomfortable silence which was making me feel suffocated, I was finding words to say...

I went near him and placed my hand on his broad shoulder and called him in a soft whisper

"Arjun.. "

"I don't think you should tell them about me, I mean they would probably want me to stay with them and....and it would be harder for me to leave" He whispered in a bit shaky voice...

I wrapped my arms around him from behind and placed my head on his back

"I'm sorry Arjun... Do you think I love living without you or see my kids yearning for father's love despite having a father like you? No, I don't, there wasn't a day or moment that I stopped thinking about you... No matter how much I tried... " I bit my lower lip to stop my tears and continued "you know just the thought of seeing Duryodhan makes me sick. Those dark days come right in front of my eyes... Yes I'm afraid Arjun... Very much"

Arjun turned around and wiped my tears off of my face gently... He took my face in his hands and made me look at him

"I don't want you to be afraid of them. I promise I will make sure no one can harm you or our kids. Please... Trust me for the last time, I'm feeling terrible for making you suffer so much, give me an opportunity to prove myself a good husband and a good father.... Please" He sat on his knees

"Okay! " I said with a soft smile "Kirti and Pragati deserve your love and stop blaming yourself, I'm sorry that you felt that way, it wasn't your fault. What they did was actually unimaginable" I said as he got up then added "let's go inside, they must have started their silly fight already" I said and Arjun laughed

"Don't laugh, you will go crazy.... They're actually very difficult to tackle"

"I can't wait to go crazy" Arjun said with an ear to ear smile which filled my heart with joy, how many times I've dreamed to see this smile?

**********

Third person's POV

"But Pitsshri, you are the king now" Duryodhan yelled, he was desperate.

"Lower your voice Duryodhan! Don't forget whom you're talking to"  Dhritarashtra said in a cold voice

"Don't mind him Maharaj, he is still young.... But having said so, I can't disagree with him either... You're the King now, and your eldest son: Duryodhan, is the righteous heir of the throne" Shakuni smiled at Dhritarashtra, it was a dark and lifeless smile

"But Shakuni, Yudhishthir is older than Duryodhan, try to understand... He has been crowned as the Yuvraj already!" Dhritarashtra breath out and clenched his fist. Like any father he also wanted to see his son as the King

"So were you Maharaj, than your brother Pandu but they used your blindness as a weapon to defeat you and make your younger brother King, all of us know you are far more worthier than he was.... Would you let the same thing happen to your son Maharaj? " Shakuni said in a pained voice, expressing how unhappy he was for Dhritarashtra

"But... What I can even do? Tatashri Bheeshm.... " He got interrupted by Duryodhan

"Don't forget you're the King Pitashri and Pitamah  himself says he promised his father to serve the throne of Hastinapur" He smirked looking at Shakuni who smiled back

"I need some time to think.... I want to be left alone" Dhritarashtra said

"But--"

"As you wish Maharaj" Shakuni's high pitched voice didn't let Duryodhan finish and he looked at his uncle with confusion as they went out of the room

"What did he mean by 'I need some time to think' ? What is there to even think ? " Duryodhan hissed at Shakuni

"Don't worry my dear, the medicine we just gave would do the rest of our works... I know your father quite well, you'll be crowned as the king of Hastinapur.... "

"You promise? "

"I do"

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I Updated!! Wooho thanks to Corona for the vacation😂

Jokes apart, please take care of yourself and your family... May Lord Krishna's blessings be with you....

I hope you liked the chapter :) I'll be regular from now on, I'll update once / twice in a week

Thank you
Love
Unmesha