Chapter 33

I excused myself from there. That was the best option I could think of at that moment. Even if I explain myself to her, it won't do any good. So, I left the couple alone as they walked towards the tree house. I joined others.

They walked silently. It looked as if they were on their way to meet headmistress of their school to discuss a biology project. Awkward right? They looked the same. They will figure it out though. They just need privacy.

Apparently, Nakul didn't believe that. He left us and joined them. And started conversing with them. More than conversation it felt like he was telling Draupadi embarrassing stories about Arjun. Because Arjun looked embarrassed.

After a few moments, Arjun turned and started walking towards me. He freaking left Panchali with Nakul. By now Bheem and Sehdev had started their own conversation so only me and Yudhishthir walking together.

"What are you doing here?" I shouted at him as soon as he was near.

He came to the point, "Can you talk to her, before I'm too embarrassed to say anything to her, especially because of Nakul?"

"What? No, why?" I asked in shock.

"It's just, you are good with people. I'll owe you one, do me this favor." He asked. Entire time Yudhishtir silently watching, he looked amused by our talk.

"What made you even think that? And you definitely don't want me talk to her, right now." I answered.

"You're good when you want to be. And why wouldn't I like that? Maybe a female support is all she needs." Doesn't he understand women even a little bit?

"Can you not see she wants you with her?"

"Okay then, let's go together. At least you can counter Nakul." He suggested.

"Do you want a divorce before officially marriage ceremony?"

"No." was his quick answer.

"Then go. To her. Right now. Alone." I answered. "Also, tell Nakul if he doesn't leave you alone right now, I'll tell everyone about that thing."

"What thing?" Yudhisthir asked, finally deciding to enter the conversation.

"Yes, what thing?" Arjun continued.

"Nothing." I denied answering. "Nothing at all." I then shouted at Arjun who had started pacing forward. "Also, you owe me one."

I heard a chuckle beside me. I turned to talk to him, "What are you laughing about?"

"It's funny how you have all of my brothers wrapped around your fingers."

I made a face mouthing very funny.

After a few minutes of walking peacefully, question popped up in my mind. Do I really wish to ask him that, knowing he can't lie? No. But I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Is Draupadi attractive?"

"Why do you wish to know that?" He said avoiding it. I won't let it slide and asked him to just answer.

He took a moment to reply. Really why would you need time? Should it not be a quick response? But he slowly said the words, "Yes, she is an attractive person."

Really now, she is attractive huh. Why doesn't he go after her? "All men are same. Pigs." I said and increased my pace.

He caught up with ease, still smiling, "You didn't have to compare the entire male human race to pigs." Seeing my anger he said, "Now don't get angry, you asked the wrong question."

That fueled my anger even more. I stopped walking and said, "So I'm the one who's wrong? Is this all a joke to you?"

Hearing this, even he got serious and took a step near me. He is a head taller than me so I tilted my face a little. He looked down and slowly tucked a stand of hair behind my ear. If he thinks this will save him, he's wrong. I won't budge even if it's hard.

"This is never a joke for me and never will be. She is an attractive person. But your question should have been. Do you find her more attractive than me? Or do you find her attractive? No and no. You are the most beautiful one for me. No matter how many new faces I see. I don't find them attractive, because you and only you are on my mind. All the time."

"You're lying." I couldn't believe someone could love me so much. I couldn't believe someone could love so much.

"Love, I can't lie." He came closer and whispered in my ear. "Also, I find your jealousy endearing."

I turned my face breaking our eye contact, "I'm not jealous." I felt heat creeping up to my face

"You are and now you are also blushing." I opened my mouth to say, but he cut me by saying, "Don't even try to lie. I know you do that a lot."

"I think we should catch up with others." He said looking up.

"Huh," I was still in a daze.

"They are about to reach. Don't you wish to see mata's expression when she gets to know about Arjun's marriage."

I turned to find that they were almost near the tree house.

Shit.

I ran like crazy knowing I would be late. No, no, no. How could I forget it? I need to get there before they reach. Even then I knew it was impossible, because by then they had reached the door and I not even close. After a moment seeing their expression, I knew everything had ended. It was all because I was distracted. Aarohi, think. Don't lose hope so soon. But I was late.

I wanted to cry. Now he will be married too. What option did he have? Anyways, like always I will be the one ending up alone. No matter what I do I always end up like that. You can't change the future. It will always find be the same. More than me I'm worried about Draupadi. I've been alone my entire life. I'll survive. And I know she's strong too. But I don't want others to test her strength. Why do women always have to stand on some pedestal and give tests to satisfy others?

My pace slowed as I reached the top, knowing the disaster I had to face. And I was ashamed of myself too, for being late, for forgetting. Draupadi looked shocked as if she couldn't comprehend what was said. How could she accept being objectified and shared among all? All? Wait a second.

As soon as I reached up, I asked their mother, "Bua, can you please repeat what you said?"

She herself was shocked and guilty at what verdict she had given to a poor girl. But still she looked at me and answered, "I'm sorry dear." Why is she saying sorry to me? Taking a deep breath, she repeated herself, "Maine kaha, Joh bhi jeete ho Arjun, voh aapas tum paach bhai aur Aarohi, aapas main baat lo."

(I said, whatever you've won share it equally among you five brothers and Aarohi.)

"Pur main koi vastu nahi jise aap aapas main baat le." Draupdi desperately tried to undo the words which were spoken.

(But I'm not a thing to be divided which you can divide.)

Mata Kunti replied almost on the brink of tears, "I'm sorry putri. If I could take my words back I would."

I could feel Yudhisthir's presence behind me. I knew the suggestion he would have given in the past. But now there was a slight alteration in the sentence itself. What will he do now? There was a chilled silence before lives changed.

Yudhistir took a deep breath, "It is best if we four brothers take sanyas and Arjun rightfully marries Draupadi."

Arjun responds in split second, "I am not going to let my elder brothers take Sanyas because of me. It is better if you marry Draupadi jeasth."

"No Arjun. That's not possible." He answered.

"I don't think the words in itself are possible." I answered. Is no one going to pay attention to the fact that even I'm included there.

"Haan mata, main apna kaunsa hissa rajkumari Aarohi ko du." Draupadi said supporting me.

(Yes, what part of me can I give to Draupdi.)

"I cannot marry Draupadi," I turned towards her. "Even if you are gorgeous. No offence."

She replied, "None taken," It felt like she was just happy someone had taken her side and considered her.

"Or do you want me to take sanyas as well?" I asked.

"That is not necessary as you cannot marry Draupadi." Yudhisthir was quick to my rescue. Why is he not standing up himself in the similar manner?

"Fir kya karna hai? Hum mata ke shabdo ko nazarandaz toh nahi kar sakte na." Arjun said. I will kill this guy. Yes, I know it is important for them, the rules they live by. But I'm fighting for your wife here. At least give solutions with the problems.

(What should we do? We can't ignore mother's words.)

Think Aarohi think. I looked at Draupadi and then her jewelry.

Something clicked in my brain, "Bua, rather than considering Draupadi as an object, which she is not, we can consider the objects she's wearing like jewelry, clothes and divide it. Like when bua says eat that watermelon. That doesn't mean we have to eat the entire thing. We just eat the pulp, which can be eaten. So, why can't we divide the things which can be divided?"

Arjun agreed, "What you said, makes sense."

I turned towards him and said, "Obviously."

"Let's go forward with this idea." Yudhisthir said.

Right then my head exploded. I cried out in pain as my knees fell to the ground, but my fall was softened by Yudhisthir. I think he was trying to say something. But I couldn't listen. My head hurt. It felt like someone was zapping me with electrical shocks. As quickly as the pain came, it vanished. For a second, I didn't know if it was real or I had just imagined it.

Then I realized the position I was in. I was on my knees as Yudhisthir held me in his arms. His hand gently rubbing my head as if trying to soothe the pain. When he realized I had stopped screaming, he pulled back a little just to look at me and I saw fear in his eyes for the first time.

"Are you alright?" His concerned eyes held million questions about my well-being as his lips uttered one.

It took me a second to realize what he had asked and another to realize what had happened. I was still in shock when my cracked voice whispered, "I-I don't know. I don't know, w-what will happen."

He understood what I had meant. Right at that moment, I had lost all the memories of their future.

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Word count: 1803