Not edited at all , Figured out if I wanna finish the book I can't wait to edit and then post... but will definitely edit later 😓

Song- Rasiya

Draupadi

I closed my eyes feeling the scented zephyr caressing my curls while a shiver ran down my spine as I dip my feet into the icy water, leaning against the pillar.

My fingers curled around the long green grasses as the distant sound of his unbearably fruity voice reached my ears, the man who was the sole reason behind my misery.

Or was he?

Could I actually blame him or anyone as a matter of fact except my own fate?

That was the worst part, I had no one to get vexed upon, no one to held accountable for what I was going through,

I had no one.

A lone tear trailed down my cheek and I didn't make any effort to stop it. I was done playing I wasn't absolutely terrified of what was coming up, because I was.

"It is not possible to follow Maharshi Narad's words if we don't set a proper rule that would make things easier" My mother in law's words rang in my head as a scoff escaped my mouth.

"If you spend a certain period of time with each of my son, it'd keep a track on..." She had trailed off, her remorse filled eyes looking anywhere but into mine as she searched for an appropriate words to convey something I already understood so I did what I had to, saved her from further embarrassment by letting her know I understood even through I had hell lot of 'what ifs' swirling in my mind.

"My voice is that bad?"

Started I let out a small gasp as the unexpected voice husked making me look up "You" I let out a breath of relief when my eyes collided against the infamous arcane ambers before I quickly tore my gaze off of it and settled them on a plain rock "Why do you always come like this" I expressed my ire

"Like what?" He asked, sounding rather amused while taking a sit beside me much to my discomfort, my toes curled as his rough forearm brushed against mine while his maddening spicy scent sailed through my senses as usual.

"Like you came in my Swayamvar" I whispered before adding even a lower voice, wishing he didn't hear it and praying he did "Like those squall in summer days, comforting and disrupting everything at the same time"

"You didn't answer my question" He asked "Is my voice that bad that you had to leave?"

He either couldn't hear what I just said or chose to ignore my last sentence, I presumed the second one was the correct guess.

"You know Madhav felt bad, even Kalindi—"

"Why do I always have to think about others feelings and not my own?" I snapped, barely controlling my anger as I tried to breath normally "And I do not believe my presence was needed there, I've already fulfilled my duty and now it's my time to give myself what I need which is peace and you are interrupting it, if you're done blaming me you may leave"

I gasped for breath as I finished realising I had again spoken more than I was supposed to. He didn't reply and the awkward silence was the last thing I wanted so I decided to leave.

As I was about to stand on my feet I was stopped by a gentle yet firm grip around my elbow. My gaze dropped down at his fingers that coiled around my wrist before darting toward his face that appeared sumptuous under the silvery ray, I hated how ridiculously handsome he looked

"I need to go" I mumbled, but the firmness that I had aimed for was missing. There was a pause, Arjun didn't say anything neither did he make any attempt of leaving my hand.

"Ar-"

"I know" His voice silenced mine making my heart dropped in my stomach. He tested his gaze off of the small pond and settled those golden orbs on me and the moment our eyes clashed I knew he actually knew.

Ages went by as we kept looking at each other, communicating our soul out without a single sound escaping my mouth and suddenly an abrupt vulnerability wrapped its claw around my neck making it difficult to breathe as I felt absolutely naked. I had no idea what gotten into me as I burst into tears.

I closed my eyes, I knew the future events that were about to take place would bring no good but right then I could do anything but think as I felt his arms wrapping around my body, engulfing me in the kind of warmth, I didn't know I so desperately needed.

"I..." I trailed off before drawing in a sharp breath as I made a pathetic attempt to explain what I was going through "It's—"

"Sh..." He whispered giving a soft kiss on my hair and I obeyed him. I either way had no energy left to put my emotions in words.

"I just want you to know, no matter what the world perceives about you or the relation you share with us, you are what you think you are so don't you ever dare to doubt my wife, of her sacred soul"

I smiled while tears rolled down my cheeks "What if your wife actually fails in her duty? What if—"

Before I could complete my words Arjun pushed me off of him and placed his finger on my lips "She won't"

There was so much firmness in his tone that I almost forgot the wife he was so possessively defending was actually me. My attention immediately dropped at his finger that was pressing on my lips and his minty breath that was fanning my face as he continued "You think I love her just because she is insanely beautiful? Because she has the most addictive eyes the world has ever witness or because she got this incredible fragrance of blue lotus to hypnotise me with?"

I actually had no idea what he was trying to convey because all I could concentrate on how he was coming closer and closer with each word with his eyes were glued on my lips and our breaths mingling together.

And even before I had the time to figure anything out, I felt something soft on my lips and froze, completely and utterly while my soul left my body. My eyes closed instinctively, I didn't know what was happening everything around and inside me was spinning as Arjun slowly moved his lips on mine earning a gasp from me as I hold onto his broad shoulder. His hand which was supporting my lower back tightened its grip and another was before pushing his tongue into my mouth.

The kiss slowly started turning ferocious, he was kissing me like he was marking me, claiming me and somehow it felt like he was preparing me for something heart wrenching, something only he knew as if it was the last time he would ever get to kiss me.

A tear rolled down my cheek, a tear of fierce bliss and an unknown fear.

Arjun finally broke the kiss only when we both felt the extreme need of oxygen as we gasped for breath. My eyelids felt too heavy to lift, as I started played with the chain around my neck still trying to register the fact that Arjun had just kissed me.

Blood rushed into my cheeks, I just wanted to get up and get as far away from him as possible to let the stupid grin, that I was fighting so hard, out.

Grinning like an idiot right after my husband kissed me was the last thing I wanted.

Please say something

"You should go and get some sleep"

Almost as if listening to my prayer he broke the silence.

"Huh?" I stared at him not really expecting that but I quickly masked my disappointment "Ye-Yes, I should"

I rose on my feet and forced my legs to move a small part of me hoping Arjun would stop me but he didn't. As I passed by him, I stopped and glanced at him, the corner of my lips curled into a small smile as I turned to face him. He watched me while I took the end of my veil and took it close to his mouth with confusion flickering across his aureate orbs. I wiped the red lip colour around his mouth that he got from my lips.

"Good night, Arya" I whispered before walking off letting the grin I was fighting win.

..........

I know it's not good 😭 I wrote after ages guys, I actually planned for something more intense 😭

But anyways, ArDi finally kissed 🥳
I know most of you hated those  almost kissed chapters.

I actually miss my old readers who used to ask me to make them kiss all the time 😓 you guys know who you are and if you're reading this, hope you liked it 🤗

Jay shri Krishnarjun
Arjunaradhika