DaanveerPutri

The Dawn of Yet Another Birth Anniversary

Crisp streams of daylight glided in through the open windows, gifting the ivory curtains having allowed them entry, with the gentlest of a cherry blossom-scented breeze. Against which their sheer silk drapes danced, before cascading with its golden ambience upon the maiden who lay asleep. Loosely wrapped within the softness of the cashmere silks of bedding, caressing her glowing skin, as she lay doused in the brief moments of hypnagogia.

Even in her semi-conscious state of sleep, the corners of the princess's lips turned up the slightest inch, as her awoken heart acknowledged within the caressing rays of golden warmth - the smile of her treasured Surya Putra.

Finally, having obtained the state of eternal rest and peace his conflicting mind had yearned for since birth, Vasusena smiled down upon his dearest one, from his abode far, far away in Surya Loka. The crimson hued orb of the solar region, bathed by the golden glow of its ruling deity – his father.

The happenings of the four years that've rolled by like the waves of the tempestuous 'samudra,' having yielded well to the nature of the unpredictable sea itself. Moments of smile, closely trailed by an incessant clouding of tears. Bursts of excitement ebbed away by the flow of confusion. Tremors of longing singed by the incinerating flames of desire for normalcy. The learned ones were never quite mistaken when they had termed life as a never-ending cycle – eternally in constant motion.

Buried questions regarding the past – the shadows of what had once been. With their answers drifting in the air, as the white hairs of wistful dandelion heads. Just above the reluctant stretch of the mourners' reach.

Yet today, he could not bring it upon himself to ponder on the waves of turmoil, that clouded the palace of Hastinapura and its residents without fail at determined intervals. Rather, the luminosity of his thin-lipped smile further intensified with the radiance that'd glistened eighteen years back on this very day itself.

The day on which Daanveer Karna had lost his heart once more to a blanketed, feminine creation of the Almighty he'd held for the very first time in his arms. The soft peck of his lips against her forehead, silencing the wail having contorted the angelic features. And in its place leaving behind a mysterious flicker of wonder, as her minute finger had curled around his marginally larger one. The caress of the soft newborn skin healing the taut one, calloused by its intimate bonding with the rigid string of the Vijaya bow. And alas those small, rosy lips had stretched themselves into a toothless grin. Harnessing within their grasp the heart of the hard-headed man, who'd drowned both himself and his loved ones in his desire for proving himself. Whether that be as superior to his newfound younger brother in archery, or his loyalty as a devoted friend.

And now eighteen years later, despite the many events having transpired – from the demise of his identity as Anga Raj Karna to the birth of her own as Vijaya Nandini – the hold of her smile on his heart refused to waver even the slightest.

And as if that were insufficient, the smile of the Surya Putra widened to sport a full-fledged grin, as he acknowledged the silenced footsteps of his dear Indra Putra nearing Mitravinda's chambers.

Arjuna acknowledged the respectful greetings of the handmaidens with a gentle nod, as he allowed himself entry through the heavy oakwood doors of the young Kuru Kumari's chambers. A smile gracing its presence upon his lips, as his searchful gaze immediately located the sleeping angel occupying the centre of the grand room. The child-like tangle of the nymph limbs within the ivory sheets, unhinged the knots of princely duties weighing down the shoulders of the Madhya Pandava, as he sauntered his way towards its maiden. Who still carried within her bosom, the heart of a mere child.