"I cant believe this." Drishti muttered watching everything around her. The whole place prepared for the wedding, Duryodhan sitting in the mandap waiting for his bride. His parents, Kunti and Bheeshma arrived as well from Hastinapur.
Karn was with Duryodhan the whole time and everytime Drishti glanced at him she couldnt help but blush remembering what she did yesterday. He was flustered as well and she was loving every moment of it. Since yesterday both hadn't talked at all and she was quite grateful for it because she needed to time to build some courage to face him and maybe he needed it more than her.
She glanced at Krishna standing at a distance, who grinned mischeviously and she couldnt help but be a little shocked, "Gosh, he is going to enjoy it the most today."
She couldnt believe how chaotic the environment was around her. She justed hoped everything to happen nicely and was also quite sure that it would because she believed in Krishna.
Balram gladly stood with his wife beside Duryodhan, listening to the priest while Rukmini just pulled her son away from Mamashree who was being troubled. Drishti laughed lightly with Dushasan by her side watching the two of them.
"Call the bride." The priest said and suddenly Drishti couldnt keep calm. She quickly excused herself with Rukmini to bring Subhadra, telling Balram's wife to remain there with everyone.
"Ow!" Drishti fake yelped causing Rukmini to stop worriedly, "What happened Drishti?"
"I think I sprained my ankle." Drishti tried to lie and Rukmini got even more worried. Drishti needed to rush to the place where they planned they'd meet. After successfully convincing Rukmini that she was fine, Drishti told her to go alone and herself stayed there.
"Okay." Rukmini said before leaving and just as she was out of sight, Drishti quickly ran. She reached the decided place to find Krishna standing with Arjun already.
"I told you to atleast shave!" Drishti said irritated and Arjun rolled his eyes, "Its your wedding today."
"Anyone could recognise me without beard." Arjun defended himself while Krishna chuckled. "You guys carry on, I'll get Subhadra."
Just as Krishna left, Arjun turned back to Drishti, "How is your burn?"
"Even though you did a disastrous job at treating it," She said quirkily, "I am fortunately fine now, so yeah thanks."
"You are careless, thats why that happened." Arjun grumpled. She sighed, "Leave it now, cheer up alright, you're gonna get married again!"
"There's nothing to cheer up about it," Arjun said flatly, "I have already been married thrice."
"WHAT?!"
He stared at the mortified look she held on her face. She was speechless now. He sighed, "Long story, will tell you later."
"Damn, you're a player." Drishti murmured still shocked and he didnt understand but still nodded at her.
"And now you're gonna have a fourth wife," She said and held up an imaginary mic in front of his face, "So how do you feel now? Is it thrilling? How do you think your life will be now?"
"I-I, I dont know?" He was growing horrified now and suddenly she laughed, "Gosh, look at you, you are scared but anyone could be, four wives is a lot, I guess."
He shrugged and listened to her ranting about different things. He watched how her whole body spoke with her, she laughed on her own jokes and he laughed on her laugh. But he could still feel like something was off about her, she was hiding it. He could see it in her smile, thats not how a cheerful person smiles, her smiles were more about trying to hide something grave.
"Drishti," He stopped her in a soft tone, she stared at him, he looked concerned, "Is there something hurting you deep down?"
Her breath hitched. Was that so evident? She looked away from him not knowing how to answer that. He saw it yet again, that hesitancy and troubled look on her face. He knew she was holding something back but didnt want to bring it up, as if she was scared of it or something.
"What? Why would you say that? I am just as fine." She stood up completely avoiding his gaze, he followed her unconvinced, "No I can see it, you are different now, not like earlier. You are - you are just different, there is something sad about you-"
"Arjun!" Both turned on hearing Krishna's voice and saw him coming towards them with Subhadra by his side. Drishti was grateful as she was now spared from the topic.
Subhadra's face lit up on seeing Arjun as Drishti smiled, atleast someone was getting their story completed. Krishna urged them to leave as soon as possible as it was now getting late. Quickly seeking the blessings of her older brother and bringing Drishti in a short quick hug, Subhdra got up on the chariot with Arjun.
"Take care of her." Drishti said with a small smile aimed at Arjun, who nodded likewise in her direction, "And you take care of yourself."
Soon Subhadra led the chariot with Arjun by her side, he gained behind seeing Drishti waving at them with a smile and slight tears in her eyes, a smile tug at his lips as they left and he waved back at her again experiencing the same weird feeling in his heart.
***
"Where is she?!" Duryodhan roared as he recently got to know Subhadra had fled away. Everybody was tensed and infuriated with what Subhadra did.
"I am telling you mere bacche, this Vasudev is behind all of it!" Mamashri sneered pointing Krishna who was trying not to smile. Duryodhan went to Balram urging him, "Ask your brother, where did he hide your sister?"
"Vasudev why aren't you saying anything?" Pitamah stood up as well meanwhile Drishti was clinging to a quietly sobbing Gandhari who was so excited for her own daughter in law and Drishti felt extremely bad for her.
The arguement went on, Duryodhan claiming to declare a war against Dwarka, Karn supporting him, Balram anxious about his sister, Krishna being interrogated every once in a while, whereas Drishti and Dushasan who were tired of the drama, sat somehwere at a far end, Snowy with them and talked about their favourite food that was not prepared in the wedding today.
"Dushala's wedding food was much better," Dushasan said munching a sweet dish gaining a nod in agreement from his accomplice, "And Draupadi's too, I remember eating for two hours straight back then."
"No snacks werent that good in Panchal," Dushasan protested and Drishti frowned, "Ofcourse they were, everyone was praising the cooks. But yeah, I like our home's food best out of all."
Both didnt even realise she referred to the palace as her home, which was quite understandable. Hastinapur had become her home now where she had her friends, a mother like Gandhari, Mamashree who pampered her like a father, all the elders adored her and all of Duryodhan's brothers were like brothers to her as well. So yeah that was her home.
"How long are we going to wait here now?" Drishti asked fanning herself with her chunni while Dushasan had put Snowy at a job to fan him.
"Dont know, even the bride left," He shrugged irritated looking at his brother who was still arguing with Krishna and Balram.
"I have to be in Indraprastha tomorrow." Drishti reminded Dushasan who rolled his eyes. It was long decided that Drishti will be spending a few days with Draupadi and Prativindhya. Draupadi invited her on the occasion of Arjun's exile ending and as promised last time she couldnt decline.
"Come get up," Drishti stood up pulling Dushasan with her, "Drop me to Indraprastha, I'll get my things."
"Doesnt she treat me like her driver, sometimes?" Dushasan asked to Snowy once Drishti left gaining a nod from the owl. Soon Drishti got the permission and blessings from Krishna and Gandhari before almost leaving.
She halted for a bit to wave at Karn who was going to be stuck with Duryodhan the whole time now. Karn secretly smiled back at her and she after savouring him in her eyes went with Dushasan, who was excited to be at Hastinapur as soon as possible to meet a special someone.
"I'll be home in a few days, Ma." Drishti said while hugging Gandhari before leaving, who kissed her forehead with a smile, "Okay come soon and have a safe journey."
Drishti nodded and pulled away while Dushasan stared at his mother slightly grumpily, "Even I am leaving, Mata."
"So?" Gandhari asked confused, "I'll meet you in a couple of hours again in Hastinapur. Now go, take her nicely."
In their journey, Drishti watched how both Dushasan and Snowy were excited to meet Kritika. She chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Boys.'
When they reached Indraprastha, Drishti had quite a tough time convincing Snowy that they needed to be there for a few days and will go back to Hastinapur soon. Finally when a sad Snowy agreed, Drishti went in the palace of Indraprastha asking Dushasan to come with her as well but he denied hesitantly saying he was getting late.
"Atleast meet your nephew once." She urged but he was actually getting late and had to leave much to her disappointment. Before Drishti could even enter, Snowy flew in indicating everybody of her arrival and spoiled her surprise.
"Drishti!" An extremely elated Draupadi pulled her in a hug, "I am so glad you have come now!"
Suddenly an adorable cry was heard and Drishti saw the apple of her eye, in his father's arms. She quickly ran towards him and pulled him in her arms from a deadpan Yudhistir whom she didnt even notice enough to say hello.
The rest of the evening was spent laughing and chatting with the three Pandavas, Draupadi and Prativindhya. Yudhistir as usual didnt sit with them because he was not a fan of the future girl.
"So you are coming from Duryodhan's wedding?" Bheem asked offering her a plate of laddoos and she rolled her eyes, "Duryodhan is still single guys."
"What? How?" Draupadi asked and Drishti suddenly felt bad for her. She decided not to tell her the whole thing right now because it will only upset her and it was harmless to not tell the truth at the moment because it would be out tomorrow. "Even I dont know."
"Poor Duryodhan." Nakul laughed, "I want to know how he must be feeling after getting dumped at his own wedding!"
Drishti almost scolded hin for talking like that about her friend but stayed shut as she didnt want to kill the mood of the evening and the cousins had always been like this so she didnt feel the need to meddle.
***
"Prati, do you remember uncle Snowy?" Drishti talked to the infant in her for-the-babies voice and clearly Snowy didnt like being called uncle.
"How is he his uncle?" Draupadi asked chuckling and Drishti nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah Snowy isnt uncle, Snowy is your cousin, Prati!"
"Now how that?" Draupadi asked.
"See, you and I are like sisters so your baby and my baby will be cousins."
"Snowy is your baby?" Nakul asked snorting entering the room and Drishti nodded brightly, "Ofcourse, I adopted him, he is my baby."
"Right Snowy is ullu ka pattha." Nakul said trying to hold back a laughter while Draupadi's eyes widened surprised, whereas Drishti shrugged, "Yep."
Nakul and Draupadi both laughed loudly and Snowy kind of shook his head at Drishti and flew out of the window, while Drishti sat there confused. "What happened?"
"What is the meaning of Ullu ka pattha, Drishti?" Draupadi asked between laughs knowing Drishti didnt understand at all.
"Snowy is an owl, that is ullu, so he is an ullu ka pattha, what's wrong with that?" She asked and Nakul was still laughing holding to a wall.
"Ullu ka pattha means son of an owl." Draupadi explained and waited for Drishti to get it but she still wasnt getting it maybe judging from her expression so she had to add, "You just said Snowy is your baby."
Now it dawned upon Drishti as she understood why was Nakul laughing so hard the tears came out of his eyes.
"You!" She stood up grabbing a pillow and threw it straight at his face, not missing the shot. You see I am fan of archery. She smirked to herself.
"Panchali." Suddenly Sahadev entered causing all of them to halt because of his seriousness. Draupadi frowned going near him, "What happened, Arya?"
"Bhrata Arjun has come," Sahadev said and a wide smile etched over Draupadi's face, "This is s great news-"
"Married to Subhadra." Sahadev interrupted and everybody saw how Draupadi's smile fell and a look of utter shock and betrayal dawned on her face. Drishti sighed quietly, here we go.
*Author's Note*
Q. Who do you think is Drishti's fav Pandava?
What did you like about this chapter?
Thankyou for 7k votes on DRISHTI and 200 followers, ilysm guyss!!💋
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