It was the second Prahar of the day, as the sunlight peeped inside the huge chamber, enhancing the glow of the white interiors with the golden natural light.
Panchali blinked open her eyes, as a strong ache shot up her head.
A soft mourn left from her lips due to the pain she felt in her head.
And finally the unfamiliar ceiling grabbed her attention, as she frowned at it.
Gazing at the huge white chamber, her eyes settled on the man sitting beside with his eyes closed.
"Arjun?" She muttered and slowly got up.
Her acts made Arjun come out of his peaceful slumber, "You're awake? How are you feeling now?"
Panchali nodded, "I am fine. Just a strong headache. But tell me, how am I here?"
Arjun was taken aback by her sudden question and regained himself, "Actually you fainted after coming out from Bhabishree Bhanumati's chamber."
She titled her head sightly at his answer, "Bhanumati's chamber?"
He nodded while she tried to remember what happened.
"But I don't remember anything." Her confused voice made Arjun frown in suspicion.
She was with Aryan first, then a maid informed them that Bhanumati had slipped into labor and then both of them went and the Mid Wife informed her that she was being called by Bhanumati.
She entered and witnessed Bhanumati trying to push out the baby. She was telling something and then...
The words were not clear, her movements were blurry in her mind.
And then blank... As if her mind fell into a dark abyss.
She couldn't recall anything. The pain became intense such that the more she gave pressure to think, the more intense she could feel the pain.
"Are- are you okay? Please, don't try to think or give pressure on your brain." Arjun's concerned voice made her come out of her thoughts, and looked into his eyes.
The depth of concern and worry for her behind the hazel brown eyes of Arjun made her question her own sanity towards him.
"How did I come here?" Panchali asked directly in a stern emotionless voice, making him startle as he blinked his eyes at her tone.
But he didn't break the eye contact, being truthful, "I carried you here after you fainted in the corridor."
The answer prolonged their eye contact for few more seconds, with Panchali being the first one to break it.
She placed her feet over the ground and got up, immediately her head felt dizzy, and she stumbled.
Arjun was about to hold her arms, but she steadied herself, "I'm fine."
And she moved out of the room, going past him, while Arjun sighed looking at the direction she went.
Panchali ascended the stairs, towards her room. Thoughts running through her mind.
Over the four months of her marriage with the five men, she never once felt uncomfortable with any of them.
Instead the soft sides of their always intrigued her to think otherwise about them.
When she gained her consciousness, if any other man was in Arjun's position, except his brothers and Aryan, she would have thought something else.
But nothing wrong came in her mind witnessing Arjun beside her, on the same bed.
Because for the fact, she somewhere knew that Arjun or any of his brothers would never ever touch a strand of her hair, in her unconscious state.
Ssomewhere she felt safe with them. Reason not known.
Maybe because they never said to carry out their relationship with her ahead. Or maybe, they never tried to impose themselves over her.
And Panchali could never understand one thing. That being, they were married for a whole four months and her husbands never made her uncomfortable. Neither of them.
They could have simply denied being in a relationship that would not hold any future. But they didn't.
Until now. Obviously no one.
She humiliated them several times, spoke words that hurted them to no end.
On her Pehli Rasoi, she made dishes so spicy that hardly anyone could have it. But they did.
They didn't want any of the family member to think her made food was not eatable. They had every bit of the food she made.
Every time she tried to put them down, they would again rise as if her deeds did not affect them a bit. But she knew, they were hurt.
Just like Arjun carried her to his chamber after she fainted.
He could have left her over there, recalling the way she behaved with him everytime. But he didn't.
Sometimes she felt, they cared for her, they were concerned about her.
Or was that what she only imagined and assumed?
The thought left an unsettling feeling over her cold heart.
What was that? Why was she feeling like that? What was happening with her?
Clearing her thoughts, she entered her office room, and spotted Aryan, who turned towards her with a file.
"How are you feeling now?" Aryan asked her.
She ignored him and sat over her chair, turning on the laptop, which made him frown.
"Panchu, I am asking something. How are you feeling now?" Aryan asked again, making her look at him.
"Why do you care, Aryan? You didn't even think to carry me to my room." Panchali mentioned, making him sigh.
"Why would I when your husbands are there to take care of you?" Aryan replied being uncomfortable suddenly.
"What?" She exclaimed.
"Nothing. It's just that I cannot get into a married couples room abruptly."
He was suddenly getting awkward.
She sighed as her thoughts came back again rushing to her mind.
"You know what Aryan, I can't understand them. I humiliated them so many times, spoke harsh words to them, yet again they never tried to make me uncomfortable." Panchali's words startled Aryan, because Panchali noticed their body language.
"Uh- I think they care for you as much as I do." He mentioned.
"But you are my friend, they aren't."
"Every relationship is based on friendship, Panchu. And moreover they are true gentlemen. They would never try to do anything with you without your permission." He made her understand.
"Or, maybe they started falling for you." Aryan declared nonchalantly making her steep in her posture.
Few seconds passed as silence prevailed around them.
"Pyar naam se nafrat hai mujhe." Her eyes hardened as she barged out leaving behind Aryan and his thoughts.
An agonizing watery laugh slipped from his lips as he looked at the chair she was seated.
"Pyar se nafrat..." He trailed off as he wiped the corner of his eyes.
"Are you sure, Arjun?" Bheem exclaimed.
"I am, Bhrata Bheem. She indeed stated that she couldn't remember anything that happened." Arjun once again mentioned.
"But why wouldn't she remember?" Nakul asked.
"Exactly, it's like her memory has been washed from her mind. But how's that even possible?" Sahdev voiced out, making them think and gaze at where she was seated in the ceremonial hall.
The loud chantings of the priests and along with some murmuring was the only thing that was heard throughout the hall.
The Naming Ceremony of the daughter of Bhanumati and Duryodhan was going on two days after she took birth.
Though she was named Arushi but it should have been performed with all the rituals.
"And you're spilling it now Bhrata Arjun?" Nakul deadpanned.
"I know, Nakul, I should have said it earlier but I was myself trying to think clearly. I was trying to join the dots, where I missed but at last I couldn't." Arjun sighed, being disappointed.
"Is there something that we don't know?" Yudhisthir's suspicious question made his brothers look at him with a frown, and then at Panchali, who was looking at the on going ceremony, unaware of their hunt over her personal life.
"Now the mother would whisper the name on the child's ears. If the child smiles, then the name has been accepted." The Royal Priest declared.
Bhanumati then whispered the name on her daughter's ears, as the baby giggled showing her toothless grin, making everyone overjoy and melt iver her cuteness.
While Yudhisthir's question made a knot form in their stomach, thinking so many worst thoughts.
Dear Readers,
I know I know this one was a short one but I was too eager to update next and nothing could be added more.
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Thanking You,
Hiya