Chapter 32

Third Person P.O.V

Months have passed since Arjuna met Manha, their encounter were frequent, one way or another they found each other or it can be said that Prakriti was creating situations where they spend time together. One day, Manha invited Arjuna in her home for lunch in gratitude, Arjuna accepted the invitation whole heartily and went to her home.

"Welcome Gandivadhari Arjuna" Manha said with a smile on her face, Arjuna gave a soft smile to her and entered in her home, it was fairly a nice house on the outskirts of forest. "Why do you live here alone outside of forest?" he asked raising his eyebrow in confusion. Manha eyes widened a little at the unexpected question "I like to live near nature" she responded calmly, with her answer Arjuna gave a low chuckle. "Why are you chuckling Prince Arjuna?" she asked, he didn't recognize her, did he?

"My wife also loves nature" he said, his eyes sparkling with happiness when he think about Prakriti. This got Manha attention "Panchali Draupadi?" she questioned, Arjuna shook his head then suddenly he changed the topic. "I am hungry Devi, are you going to fill my stomach only with conversation" he joked, Manha laughed "You take a seat here and I will just come back with a delicious meal" she said gesturing towards the seat, he nodded his head and sat on the fluffy coverlet on the ground. Manha went inside the kitchen and took a deep breath changing herself into her original form. "Why did he stop when the conversation was diverting to me" she asked to herself, Arjuna behavior has been changing since he met Manha, he is spending more time in the forest rather than with his family and he speaks lots of praise about Manha to his family, it is like he is changing slowly.

"Arya, why are you doing this!" she whispered feeling insecure. Then she started making rice pudding for his Arya knowing she makes the best pudding and he has complemented her many times about it. She put the serving in a bowl and take it to Arjuna. He was calmly sitting waiting for her, she served the bowl in front of him, "Start eating, Gandivadhari" she said and stand a little distance away from him. He nodded his head and slowly took a bite of the rice pudding in his mouth, he closed his eyes devouring the sweet taste. "It is the best pudding in the world" he eulogize her, Manha face fell hearing that, she was expecting some other response. "But you are a Prince of Indraprastha, you must have eaten delicious food than this?" she said with a frown on her face. Arjuna shook his head and a serene smile appeared on his face. "You make the best rice pudding" he responded, Manha turned her head around as a tear fell from her eyes.

Everyone was having a light conversation waiting for the food to be prepared. Prakriti came out of kitchen with a big bowl in her hand. She served the rice pudding to all pandavas, Bheem licked his lips looking at the deliciousness in front of him. One by one, they started eating moaning at the taste of sweetness in their mouth. "You make better rice pudding than me even I will agree to that" Bheem said moaning at the taste. "Yes, Prakriti sister, it is luscious" Nakula said taking another bite of the pudding.

"It is the best pudding in the world" Arjuna praised her with impressive smile on his face, Prakriti is Annapurna in herself.

Prakriti smiled hearing these words coming out of her family mouth as they devoured the food in satisfaction.

Now her Arya is praising other woman for the dish, more tears fell from her eyes and she wiped them away before putting a fake smile on her face and turning around. "Are you just saying this to make me happy or do you really liked it" she asked again with a doubtful look on her face. Arjuna smiled "I said the truth from my heart Manha" he responded which crushed Prakriti more from inside.

After finishing the food, Manha sat in front of Arjuna, a question on her lips. "I can tell, you want to ask me something Manha, go ahead" he said waiting. She sighed and opened her mouth "Since the day I met you, I fell in love with you" she started, Arjuna eyes widened at her blunt statement. "I want to marry you" she said at last looking at Arjuna. He stood up suddenly from his seat in shock "But Devi, I can't marry you, I am living a life of Brahmin, I can't provide you the happiness and comfort of a palace" he responded quickly, Manha stand up as well "I don't want all of these, I would be happy to live with you like a Brahmin" she said walking closer to him. She was waiting for him to outraged reject her.

"But I am already married to two women" he said.

From the inside Manha was happy that he is not ready to marry her but she has a little doubt that he is not denying her either. She smiled "A kshatriya can marry as many woman as he wants" she stated not giving him other option but to reject her. "I am alone and in danger here, this place is full of demons and wild animals, isn't it Kshatriya dharma to save me" she further said.

Arjuna stood there frozen without speaking another word. "If you don't want to marry me then you can tell me straight away" she said with a grimace on her face and when Arjuna didn't responded, she turned around "Fine, Prince Arjuna, I got my answer" she murmured.

Arya didn't get ready for marriage, he won't break my promise and fall for other woman, I was just over thinking all these things.

She smiled and started walking when suddenly Arjuna grabbed her wrist, she frowned and turned around looking at Arjuna in confusion "I will marry you" he said, Prakriti whole world stopped all of sudden, she stood there numb staring at Arjuna. He gave her a wide smile and put his hand on her cheek "I will marry you, don't worry, this is my promise to you" he said which shattered her heart.

***

Prakriti P.O.V

I stand there frozen staring at the door from where Arya just exit promising Manha that he will marry her by tomorrow.

"You are the only one for me as well, you will always hold my heart forever, I promise you that there will be no one besides you, just you and me" Arya said with sincerity, I was touched with his feelings.

Just you and me.

I still remember the vow he made to me on our wedding night. He told me that there will be no one, just him and me. He broke the promise by marrying Krishne but I understood it because it was fate but now he is breaking the promise again by getting ready to marry Manha. A sob escaped from my mouth as I slide down on the ground crying with my misery. I shouldn't have done this, I shouldn't have taken this test to prove his loyalty. Suddenly everything changed in a moment. I was happy before all of this happen, before this ugly feeling erupted in me and now it has taken me too far. Tears rolled down my cheeks as my heart filled with pain and agony. I didn't know that my test will come to this conclusion.

Slowly with a pained heart I went back home and saw everyone happy and conversing with each other. "Hey Vibha, I was waiting for you, come on" Krishne said smiling, I tried to smile back but it came out as a grimace. She tensed by my behavior and came quickly towards me "What happened, are you alright?" she asked in concern. I can't burden her with my problems, she already has enough on her plate, I shook my head and gave her a soft smile "I am fine, just a bit tired" I lied, trying to lessen her worry. She still stared at me but in the end, she nodded her head. "You should rest then" she said grabbing my arm and taking me inside, I stand there and looked at the blank wall numbly as she made bed for me. "Rest here, I will bring something to eat for you" she said standing up, I moved my eyes towards her and nodded my head. She came closer and put her hand on my shoulder "You are fine right?" she asked again, "From morning, I have this weird feeling that something is wrong" she said exhaling a breath. I put a calm expression on my face and took her hand in mine "I am fine and don't worry, nothing bad will happen" I reassured her with a comforting smile. She nodded her head and pulled me in a hug. I sighed and hugged her back, desperately in need of support right now.

***

I waited whole night and next early morning for Arya to disclose this information to us that he has promised to marry Manha but he didn't utter a single word about her. Unable to control myself anymore, I walked towards Arya when he was stringing his bow sitting on the steps. I sat beside him. "How was your day Arya?" I asked him casually, he stopped and put the bow aside giving his whole attention to me. "It was great" he responded.

"Something different happened?" I pressed for answers.

He shook his head "Nothing beloved, it was normal day like any other day" he said not telling me about the promise. I took a sharp breath, he is still hiding this from me.

"Have you met Manha yesterday?" I said getting to the point, I can't control this pain and guilt inside me. Suddenly a smile appeared on his face and his eyes shined with happiness "Yes, I met her and she also invited me in her home to show gratitude" he responded calmly, I just stared at his face in surprise, how is he hiding the conversation between him and Manha.

"What happened, Prakriti?" he asked when he saw my shocked look, I shook my head "Nothing Arya" I said in dejected tone and went away from there, inside home because if I stayed there some more, I would have blurted out everything which I would have regretted later.

***

Prakriti (Manha) P.O.V

I was in the house on the outskirts of forest, waiting for Arya to come and marry Manha as he promised her. My eyes were filled with tears as I decorated the whole place with flowers and diyas. I still can't believe that Arya broke my trust and promise, he didn't even think of having a conversation with his family before marrying Manha. He shattered me with his decision. I could feel his presence outside so I moved out and saw him standing there. I looked at him, his face was turned in other direction, "Gandivadhari Arjuna" I called him, he turned his body towards me and looked at me, I was dressed in a red and yellow lenga for the wedding.

He looked at me with a soft smile on his face, "Manha" he uttered.

Maybe Arya has understood that he is doing wrong by promising Manha for marriage.

I had this little hope inside me.

"Manha, do you want to say something before marriage?" he asked.

My eyes filled with tears and I slowly shook my head. He is ready for the marriage, he regret nothing.

Our relation was infinite, aboriginal then why did you agree to this marriage and end our relationship.

Why Arya, why!

He walked towards me and I directed him to the back side of the house where I had done preparation for marriage. I pulled the garland from the platter and he did the same. I remembered the time of my swayamvar when he won and our wedding took place. Slowly I put the garland around his neck and with a smile, he put the garland around my neck. Then we went to arbor and sat side by side in front of fire pit starting the ritual of wedding.

"I will be with you forever, in happiness and in pain, I will fulfill all of my promise" he said with dedication.

You have already broke every promise to me and gave me all the pain in the world.

We stood up and circled around the fire pit vowing for our coming happy life and marriage. He hold my hand and started walking around fire pit.

"I will be there for you in sickness, in pain, good times and bad times" he vowed completing one circle.

You have already left my side Arya.

"I will stand by you through thick and thin" he said

You are not by my side any more.

"I will forever love you and cherish you" he promised.

I stopped myself from crying in the middle of ritual.

You have forgotten the love between us by agreeing to this marriage.

After this ritual, he applied vermilion on my forehead and finally completed the ritual by putting crown on my head. I moved forward to touch his feet, my vision blurred because of tears in my eyes. He stop me and put both of his hands on my shoulder. "I will forever be with you and dedicated to you, you can trust me" he said smiling.

After destroying my whole trust, now you are asking that I should have faith in you, Arya.

Now I don't even have any right to call you 'Arya'.

"Are you happy? what will your family think about the marriage, what about your wives and mostly what about Prakriti?" I asked him, I couldn't stop myself any more.

"I am happy here and I know Prakriti will understand this" he said which made me more angry. I turned away from him crying my heart out. "You broke her promise, how will she understand this?" I asked in frustration.

"I know her very well, she won't be angry".

I can't do this anymore.

"I am your Prakriti, Arya" I shouted in pain.