"STOP!" Draupadi yelled before Karn could shoot the arrow in the sky.
Everyone stared at the bride who stood up in shock followed by the rest others. Drishti didnt know what to do or how to stop Draupadi.
Karn, who was just about to shoot the arrow, set it down and stared at the woman with a confused frown. "What happened Rajkumari?"
Drishti just wanted to melt at his heavy voice.
"I will not marry you!" Draupadi yelled confidently.
Several gasps and murmurs arised in the crowd at the statement of the bride. Drupad and Drishtidyum rushed to Draupadi worriedly asking her why she doesnt want to marry the only one who is capable of completing the task.
"Pitashri, you wanted me to marry Rajkumar Arjun, and I will only marry him, no one else." Draupadi answered without any hesitation while the crowd wondered what was going between them.
"But Rajkumar Arjun is dead, Draupadi." Drupad said. Drishti rolled her eyes mentally.
"No, I can feel it that he is somehwere here and only he will win me!" Draupadi said.
"Okay, so lets quitely tell Angraj Karn that you cant marry him because- because you just dont want to okay, just try to not offend him he is a nice guy-" Drishti tried to explain it but everyone stared at her weirdly on why she was defending a man she doesnt even know. Meanwhile Krishna gave a teasing look to Drishti.
"What I mean to say is that we should not make everything so enraged just try to explain it to him decently instead of yelling at him, alright Draupadi?" Drishti asked gaining a reluctant nod from Draupadi.
"What is this going on?" Duryodhan yelled.
"My daughter has to say something." Drupad said after going back to his throne.
Everyone sat down on their respective chairs on the stage while Draupadi stood looking down at Angraj Karn. Drishti was still worried not knowing if Draupadi will manage to explain it to Angraj Karn decently without insulting him.
"I cannot marry you Angraj Karn!" Draupadi called confidently. Drishti saw how Karn's confused expressions turned into angered one.
"And why is that?" He snapped angrily.
No please dont get angry... Drishti thought to herself desperately and turned Krishna sharply wide eyed as she heard a chuckle come from his side.
This is a very serious situation going on! Stop laughing! She scolded through mind and Krishna placed a finger on his lips above his charming smile.
"I cannot marry you and thats my decision I dont need to give a reason for it." Draupadi said sounding a little too rude to Drishti.
"What is it going on Maharaj Drupad, what is the problem with your daughter? Does she wishes to stay unmarried whole her life!" Duryodhan yelled.
Drishti knew nothing is going to end well here. Karn could be seen getting furious and everything inside Drishti was stirring violently.
"Do you already have chosen someone for you Rajkumari?" Karn snapped at Draupadi "If yes, then call him let him win you and close all this act!"
"I have not choosen anyone!" Draupadi lied confidently in Drishti's opinion "I am just not going to marry a sutputra!"
Everyone gasped in the place loudly and before Angraj Karn could say anything in his defense another voice spoke up harshly.
"Dont you dare Draupadi!" Everyone saw Drishti glaring at Draupadi furiously shocking everyone. Draupadi's mouth hung open as she stared the girl beside her in disbelief "Did- Did you - say to me?-"
"Yes!" Drishti said fiercely. She turned to stare down in the ground where Angraj Karn stood staring at her in a little shock. Drishti gulped as her face softened and she continued to speak. "No one has the right to say anything about anyone's birth, caste or their background, that is not something that defines person's heart and clearly not Angraj Karn's."
Drishti was smiling softly and mesmerized at the King whose face too crooked into the littlest of smiles at her words. He clearly did not expect that coming from her or anybody nor did anyone else as they all stood shocked as no one had ever said something like this.
"Drishti!" Draupadi hissed going closer to Drishti grabbing her hand harshly breaking her eyes contact with Angraj Karn "Are you seriously defending him over me, I am like your sister and he is a sutputra-"
"He's not!" Drishti snapped and instantly regretted as Draupadi's face turned confused, Drishti fumbled with words before saying "I mean, I dont care from what caste he is! Caste is just the worst way to judge someone, a person is known by his acts, his deeds, his character not by his parents, occupation or anything."
"I am glad, you dont think like everyone else over here." Angraj Karn's words towards her caused her cheeks to heat up as she felt her heart flutter under the smile he was offering her. Stop blushing Drishti! She scolded to herself.
"And I am glad I ever got a chance to see you, A-Angraj Karn." Drishti smiled shyly, blushing hard as she casted her eyes downwards. She just couldnt understand what kind of effect this man was having on her causing her to blush so much.
"Drishti!" Drupad called scoldingly from his place "What kind of behavior is this? You cannot talk like that!"
"I am sorry Maharaj but I said what was right in my opinion, I know its Draupadi's swayamvar and she has the whole right to choose the person she wants to marry, but she has no right to insult anybody at all, that is and forever remains wrong in my view, judging someone on the basis of their occupation and name will forever be unacceptable." Drishti finished confidently knowing she was right in all aspects.
I think you are winning hearts Sakhi. She froze on hearing Krishna's voice and realising who he was talking about. With a jerk of her head she saw Angraj Karn was staring at her with a total unreadable yet soft look. Shit shit shit, Drishti!!! What the hell! What if he recognises you?!
Gulping heavily Drishti cleared her throat and composed herself and sat back down before turning to Drupad and saying "What I wanted to say, I have said, now if you like you may conduct the swayamvar."
Drishti avoided everyone's eyes now and especially his.
Draupadi too sat back at her seat a bit grumpily, as it was clear she was not into marrying Angraj Karn at all costs. Karn put down the bow and arrow back slightly glaring at Draupadi and went back to his place. Drupad cleared his throat and announced "I am sorry, Angraj Karn but my daughter doesnt wish to marry you, I would like to call this event off-"
"No, Maharaj Drupad" Krishna interrupted him before he could finish "The swayamvar is meant to be conducted and it shall be."
"But how?" Drupad asked.
"If the Kshatriyas are unable to fulfill the task we shall invite the Brahmins in it, now." Krishna advised smilingly.
Drupad seemed to consider his offer and nodded making announcement about it and invite the Brahmins present over there to participate, though he was quite conflicted as his daughter will now not be married in a royal family as a queen and might become a Brahmini asking for alms, but it was still better than getting married to a shudra or staying unmarried whole her life.
"Dont worry, Maharaj, as you know Draupadi was blessed at her birth, which will not only prove to be a bright future for her but also it might change the destiny of the family she is married in." Krishna consoled the King.
Drupad smiled satisfactorily and watched the Brahmins come forward and try their luck out. A few of them failed though. Meanwhile Drishti could feel certain someone's eyes on her frequently and couldnt help but blush everytime catching him gazing at her.
It was until one of those five Brahmins being encouraged by his brothers was sent forward to perform the task. Drishti raised an eyebrow and nodded at Draupadi who was mad at her, but soon all her anger faded away as Drishti gestured that the person who is to win her was that Brahmin.
Draupadi couldnt keep calm, so did Drishti and everybody else.
That Brahmin, who in real was Arjun, picked the bow up in one stroke suprising the whole place and the Kauravs and Karn to be shocked. He was Arjun, they knew in one second.
Arjun locked eyes with Draupadi first then, with the fish in its the reflection in water and just in one go he aimed correctly at the eyes winning the competiton. He won Drapuadi.
Flowers started raining, music, dance, just everything became so cheerful now, it was the time of celebration, the man won Draupadi, the one who deserves her had finally won her and she was esctatic.
Drupad who was extremely happy stood up clapping towards the Brahmin who just won "Putri, go put the garland around your husband's neck."
Krishna encouraged the girls to go forward, Shrikhandini and Drishti moved along with Draupadi who carried a beautiful garland going towards her future husband. Drishti was internally squealing with excitement, she was going towards the Gandivdhari Arjun, her another favourite character.
"He is so handsome, isnt he?" Drishti whisper asked excitedly causing Draupadi to go wide eyed and Shrikhandini to snort.
"Yes, Draupadi would look so beautiful asking for alms with him." Shrikhandini joked. Draupadi playfully glared at her two sisters, all of them knew who he was. He was Arjun.
Once they finally stood in front of him, Draupadi smiled gaining one back, and Drishti who couldnt control herself at all grinned widely and said "Hi, I am Drishti, we're going to be great friends!"
Draupadi's eyes almost bulged out, while her elder sister bit back a chuckle, and Arjun was also slightly shocked but chuckled nervously nodding at her. Drishti nudged Draupadi indicating her to put on the garland "Go on, come on."
Draupadi blushed slowly putting the garland around his neck, as he bent his head a little. The other four Brahmins were seen clapping loudly and happily meanwhile the Kauravs had their jaws clenched glaring at whom they knew as Arjun.
Drishti saw that Karn was not angry, infact he looked a little calm, maybe because he recently got to know the Pandavas are alive, thankfully. She knew how he must have felt when he got to know they were dead, he never hated them, for sure, just he felt the need to prove himself as the best after struggling with the societal norms.
Drupad came forward happily and Arjun and Draupadi bent down to touch his feet and seek blessings. Drishti recently got to know that Draupadi would have to leave straight away now, she was shocked. She didnt want that to happen this soon. She wanted Draupadi to be happy for a longer while.
"I will miss you Drishti." Draupadi came towards her hugging her tighty with tears in her eyes as her farewell was going on.
"I will miss you too." Drishti mumbled sadly closing her eyes hugging back. How she was regretting already about what was going to happen to Draupadi.
"Listen Draupadi" Drishti pulled away with tears welling in her eyes "I know you are a strong woman and you believe in god that he will do right by you always but please be strong even when life gives you no more hopes, and everything becomes so difficult, just remember whatever happens, happens for good-"
"Yes Mata" Draupadi mocked tearfully. Drishti shook her head with her lips quivering trying very hard to not break into tears right there "Just always remember, I'll always be by your side, no matter what, Your little sister will always be there for you, and I love you so so much."
"I love you too, you idiot." Draupadi pinched her cheek playfully. Both the girls chuckled hugging again before it was finally the time for Draupadi to leave after greeting everybody.
Meanwhile Draupadi was hugging her father, Drishti turned to Arjun who stood close by her "Listen, I know who you are-"
Arjun's eyes widened in horror. Drishti chuckled playfully "I know, you are all alive and all but what I want to say is please please take care of my sister or you know what.."
"Or what?" Arjun asked folding his arms playfully.
"Or I will hunt you down and haunt you all your life!" Drishti joked dramatically. Arjun laughed asking "So in real you are a tiny little Rakshasi from Kaliyug?"
Drishti laughed but nodded her head yes and flaunted her red colored long pointed nails causing his eyes to widen in horror, she laughed more.
Finally it was the time Draupadi was leaving. Drishti watched her go with tears in her eyes leaning her head on Krishna's high shoulder.
"What about me now?" She asked.
"Come let me tell you." Krishna smiled holding her hand leading her somehwere.
*Author's Note*
Q. What do you think will happen now?
I dont know but I think this chapter was kind of shit, was it?
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