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Arjun's POV
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The last drop of patience seeped out of my system. It has been three days and I couldn't catch a glimpse of her. It was my year with Draupadi. She has completely abandoned me to rot. Little does she know that I could be an arrogant and demanding husband. There was no way she could know much about me anyway. She seems like a distant memory that once existed owing to the time we have been separated.

I took self assured strides towards her chamber. Darkness painted itself across the otherwise tranquil balcony. The potted creepers that decorated themselves on the intricately embellished doors of her chamber looked withered. I remember meticulously planning a chamber for her while we initially designed a working plan for the construction of Indraprastha.

It took all my strength to open the door. My eyes were clouded with black soot. I let my fingers turn a knob to light a lantern on my left side. The light of the lantern flickered unevenly in an angle throwing it's shade on a huge mirror with cracks. My heart shrugged at the sight my orbs perceived.

On our first wedding night, I gifted Prisha a huge mirror of her height which was embellished with uniform blocks of silver and uneven streaks of bronze on the corners to signify the union of fire and water.

They very same mirror lay before me with cracks spreading themselves like the web of an insect. It deterred me from looking at the complete face of Paanchali who was looking on the floor with her back facing me.

My legs trembled on the sight of two broken entities. She sat on the floor with her long tresses left undone and shabby spread across the floor like feathers of a peacock, covering her bare back. An orange cotton robe clasped her perfect body. She was devoid of any metal or precious stones.

I gathered courage and walked towards her looking at her tattered reflection in the mirror while she kept staring on the floor without blinking. I sat on the floor and turned her face to look at her eyes. The sight of her empty forehead made my eyes moist.

She shifted her head away from my hands as if she was repelled by my touch. My heart bled by that gesture.

"Arya! May I know the purpose of your visit" she spoke in a low voice. The fact that I still kept my self together after being broken by her formal words was a miracle. 

"Prisha" I exclaimed and she shut her eyes annoyed. I placed a hand on her shoulder and she moved away again. She took a sharp breath and spoke "I am following the vows of celibacy. Please restrain from laying your hands on me".

Realisation dawned upon me that she followed the rituals all the years we were supposed to be together during my absence and this was my year with her. She waited all this while to break them together with me.

A clutched my fist and my nails dug themselves deep into my skin. I walked towards the corridor and removed every orange robe that covered the silks and velvets of the room. I took the plate of royal food that was left unattended and sped towards her.

I offered her a spoon of sweet morsels of rice. She tilted her face away in rejection. This time I took a barfi and fed her lifting her chin forcefully. She was left perplexed. Her vows were broken after she tasted the luxurious royal food. She shot daggers with her eyes and walked past me.

I held her wrist making her immobile and said "I haven't completed yet". She tried to revolt but I placed a hand on her shoulder and  commanded "I am your husband and you can't deny me my rights". I could see her eyes showing a glint of vulnerability for a moment but was masked by a tough look again. She stood silent as if she was being a dutiful wife.

Looking straight into her big eyes I brought all the loose hair that spread across her body together. I leaned closer to tie it with a knot exposing her bare back to the moon. She shivered due to sudden breeze.

I distanced myself from her for a moment and she kept staring at the ground. I adorned her hair with the fragrant flowers of kundo which I brought from Manipur.

The white flowers shone in her hair like stars in a dark night sky. It's fragrance was negligible to the fragrance of my yojanagandha but she seemed to distinctly identify it.

My Prisha looked dull with the partition of her hair bare so I filled it with Sindoor. She reciprocated to this act by embracing me and her tears mercilessly ran down on my bare chest.

I stroked her long tresses and she seemed to relax on my chest. She wispered in my ears "Paarth! I felt empty without you. I missed you!".

Those words left a deep imprint in my heart. I decided make her feel special tonight.

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I looked at the window to see a setting moon. It felt like it is almost time for the sun rise. I looked at Paanchali who lay breathless beside me. Sweat beads on her shone like diamonds in the moon light. She indeed looked like a work of art.

I stared at her beautiful orbs and she being the coy one chose to look everywhere but me. She gently started removing the withered  flower petals of kundo that were stuck on my chest.

I lifted her chin to look at me and said "I will  treasure this moment forever dear wife". She gave a dangerously blissful smile on the word wife.

I felt complete immersed in her eyes.

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Next morning
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I was at the river side offering salutations after morning bath. My brother Bheem has joined me for the morning ritual and was working on his muscles by the river side.

I joined him and he spoke in length about the clades of our army. He is putting in a lot of effort to keep me informed on everything I missed. I felt distant and was affected by the rush and activities of the city.

Madhav tried to acclimatize me with the city environment in Dwaraka. Sometimes I wonder if he is just always there to pave an easy path for me. His contagious smile and energy never let me feel like I was exiled for a lot of time. He always spoke to me like he spoke to me a day before whenever we met after long time spans as well. I am able to cope with the city life because he made me adapt to back in Dwaraka. The thought of him brought a smile on my face.

"Bhratha Bheem! Do you know Madhav is a brat. He made Rukmini and Satyabhama cook and serve me meals that he wanted to relish by pranking them that I was a saint yati by name for I had to be impressed as it was vital for the prosperity of Dwaraka. Can you believe that everyone in the palace bought his theory?" I laughed.

"You seem to be in a very cheerful mood this morning Arjun!" brother Bheem exclaimed.
I felt the potrait of my Prisha appear before my eyes. She makes me a happy man indeed.

One of the palace guards appeared before us informing that we were supposed to be summoned in the court. Brother Bheem recollected that it was the fifth day of the week. At my confused expression he informed me that the fifth day of every week was the Queen's court day as she was the incharge.

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It was my second court session after my exile. I had seen brother Yudhisthir conduct his regular court session a day before yesterday. He had a calm demeanor and spoke mildly.

Every person stood in respect as she walked inside dressed in bright red colored robes. Red was indeed her color.

She seated herself majestically on the throne beside the King. She ordered to begin the proceedings. All I could observe was she spoke with utmost honesty and not to please people. She spoke with authority and confidence.

She did not spare a glance at me all through out the session but what she spoke last echoed in brain more than required.

"I shall be leaving on a state duty for a month. I would expect to read the proceedings in my absence once I come back . So make sure they are legibly recorded"

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I cannot stay away from her. We had barely few days left in her year with me. I followed her after the court was adjourned.

I felt she could sense my presence as she stopped and spoke with her back facing me without turning around "Arya! I am supposed to fulfill certain state duties and besides that I don't want to be a third wheel between a newly wedded couple. So I would be leaving for a month".

I stood numb and speechless looking at her retreating figure.

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A/N
Hi guys!

Do share your thoughts about this chapter.

Should I continue this?

I have actually completed this two shots.

I will consider continuing  this or starting another short story based on your feedback.

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