Nakul yawned, his mind was hazy in sleep, a distant feminine voice broke his slumber spell.

"No."

"No."

"No."

He blinked his eyes harder, rubbing them, clearing off the sleep, as he stood up. His eyes focusing on the petite figure of his wife who lay in the bed, thrashing in her sleep.

"Drau." He called, his voice hoarse. Concern unfurled in his chest, he rushed towards the huge round bed, canopy surrounding it.

He flicked away the silk material of the canopy, sitting beside her on the bed, facing her.

"Princess." He called alarmed, her face was contorted in a panicked expression,  as she moved restlessly on the bed.

"Please don't touch.." Her words grew frantic, tears tracing down the corner of her eyes.

His heart clenched, the familiar spark of fury ignited in his chest. And for what felt like the hundredth time that night, he wanted to pummel the face of those attackers.

"Drau." He called louder, shaking her shoulders. Concern built higher in his chest.

"Wake up princess." He requested, frowning down at her.

"Drau." His tone grew urgent, clutching her shoulders, he shook her.

"Open your eyes." He commanded, jolting her sharply, her eyes flew open, terror masked her features, she breathed heavily.

Sweat beaded her forehead, while she gazed at him panicked. "A..a...aa..arya. Arya." Stammering she looked around, trembling like a dry leaf, her eyes gazing around in trepidation.

His protective streak came rushing out,  seeing her so vulnerable arose something so powerful in him. The need to cuddle her and croon sweet nothings in him was overwhelming.

Seeing her so vulnerable,  arose the protective side in him.

He cupped her cheeks, "Easy, easy. Breath princess. Calm down." He cooed, his heart hammering in fear, seeing her so terrified scared him.

"No..no..they..were her..here." she stammered, her throat tightening making it impossible to speak coherently. Her eyes were wide in terror, trembling like a leaf, she gazed around, as if expecting someone to jump on her.

Seeing her so scared, it broke his heart in to thousands of finer pieces.

"Shh. It's okay. I am right here. Calm down love. No one is here except me." He assured, his voice soft, cupping her cheeks, he made her look in his eyes.

She froze, as though finally registering her surroundings. Those dark orbs held hers captive, pulling her out of that dark pit of dread, that seemed to pull her in like quick sand.

  "Arya?" She asked cautiously,  her bottom lip quivered, he nodded, smiling at her encouragingly.

Wiping her tears with his thumbs, he held her stare. "Yes love, it's me. Your Arya. It's okay. It was just a dream. You are here with me.  Safe and sound." He whispered, resting his forehead against her holding her close.

Shutting his eyes, he breathed in her fragrance, easing the protective beast in him, that was clawing to come out.

"Calm down. And breath along with me." He commanded, laying her hand over his heart, guiding her through each  breath, making her match her breathing with his.

"That's like my girl. You are doing amazing Drau." He cooed, guiding her to calm down. His firm and soothing voice, rooting her to reality. 

He pulled her in his lap, making her sit sideways. Running his fingers through her hair, he hummed, laying her head in the crook of his neck, his arms wrapping around her waist, protectively pulling her closer to his chest.

"Easy doll." He whispered, pressing his lips to her forehead. Her breathing calmed, "it was just a dream." She mumbled to herself in an assuring manner.

Repeating his words.

"Yes dear, it was just a dream. You are safe. You are with me. Don't worry, I won't let any harm come to you." He promised, crooning the words in her ears, moving his body back and forth, setting a soothing rhythm,  that often mata Kunti did for him when he had a nightmare.

Holding her eyes shut, she slowly calmed herself. His close proximity proving to be a greater strength than she could as for.

A peace settled over her, fear dissipated and all that was left behind was a sense of completeness.

His strong band of arms around her gave her a sense of security.  It made her feel the safest.

Humming a distinct melody, he held her close. The tight grip of dread eased around her heart, his voice though not perfect, was fine.

But, the warmth and comfort that it provided her was unlike anything before.

The distant sound of the crickets, and the crisp wind, whispered the arrival of winter.

He had expected the silence to be awkward,  but all he felt was a calmness, that fabricated so deep in him, that explaining it using the crutches of words,  felt impossible.

Tracing the pad of his rough callous fingers on her smooth silken waist, he hummed.

Time seemed to have frozen in place, a peaceful silence cocooning the two. Resting his chin on her head, he interlaced his fingers with hers.

"What was the dream about?" He finally asked, breaking the silence. "I dreamed, that those men, they returned and. . .rape..." Her voice faded,  pushing away the images, that were sorely burned in her mind.

His grip on her tightened, holding her close, he pressed his lips to her forehead.  "You know when I was young and got nightmares, mata always told me that they are nothing but reflection of our own fears. And fear resides where the person is uncertain of their safety." He began, his gaze focused on their interlaced fingers.

His huge hand dwarfed hers. "Drau, I know what today happened, should never have. But, let me tell you that,  like today we will always and I mean it, we will always protect you." He promised.

"I know how you feel." His voice wavered, "You do?" Surpise laced her words. His eyes stung, memories surfaced.

He nodded, his forefinger reached under her chin, he turned her head sideways, his gaze meeting hers.

"Yes, I do understand.  Because there was ones a time, under different circumstances, but I, too felt so lost." His voice was thick with emotions, the eyes that Draupadi had always seen sparkling with mischief had tears in them.

"I was young, when I had lost Mata Madri. I love mata Kunti, just as much I loved her. We lived happily in the forest, with our father, mata Kunti and Mata Madri. We didn't really have all the luxuries, but we were happy." His tone had taken a distant quality,  while his face looked far off in the darkness, lost in the storm of memories.

"It was probably the happiest time of our life. Like everyday, after practices I, with my brothers had gone out to play. Running the through the forest, hiding in its thick green blankets. 

I often hid so perfectly, that no one could ever find me. I always won. That day too, my brothers had given up,  and I had won. With the extra laddoos of my victory,  I was running home." Happiness  laced his words, Draupadi watched his eyes brim with tears.

"Till I reached the door. It was open, I called mata, and Pitashree." Her heart clutched, the face that had happiness moments ago crumpled in an devastated one.

"They lay dead. Right in the center of the hut, where my mother would put me to sleep. Lay dead. My father wouldn't move.

I tried so much Drau. I called them, shook them begged them. But, they were gone..." His voice faded, gazing in the distance, his face had a completely lost and devastated look.

The wounds that he had suppressed years ago, were throbbing once again. Never in his life he had spoken about the incident to anyone.

He wouldn't dare. It was an incident that he had locked away deep in his heart.  Tears rained down his eyes, his throat tightened making it impossible for him to swallow.

The images of his parents laying dead on the ground,  played over and over again in his mind.

His heart crumpled, shattering once again, the way it had all those years ago.

Draupadi's heart hurt for him, she wanted to apologies, and tell him she understood. But did she? She had her parents who were alive,  and couldn't even imagine losing them.

No words could ever make it better for him. So, she did what he had done with her. Wrapping her arms around him, she embraced him hard.

Tears rained down her cheeks, wrapping his arms around her, Nakul hid his face in her neck and crumpled.

He let himself mourn ones again,  his body wrecked with silent cries, he hicupped and sniffed. Completely crumpling in her arms.

For years he couldn't sleep for more than two three hours, every night, nightmares regarding his parents would follow.

He would see them dead everytime. He had intended to tell Panchaali about, how he felt lost in the new life in Hastinapur, when he had first reached here.

But, instead his agony had found a way. There was just something about her, that made him bare his soul, till he was nothing but to his most vulnerable form.

Her fingers combed through the back of his hair, moving in a soothing manner. He shut his eyes, breathing in her scent deeply.

He cried for what felt like forever, he cried till his heart felt light, till his eyes were a deep shade of scarlet, his face flushed.

Time slipped, she held him. And he broke. Her silent support, and caresses touched him more deeply than any words ever could.

It was like, she understood,  exactly what he needed. Calming the raging storm of grief, he just embraced her.

It felt good to cry. He felt light,  as though tons of weight had been lifted off his chest. Pulling back slowly, he cupped her cheeks. Making her look in his eyes.

"I have lost too many precious bonds. I was helpless back than. But, never again Drau. Never again. Never will I ever I lose my brothers, never will I ever lose my mother. And never in my life am I ever going to lose you. Never."  He promised, his dark orbs blazed with a passion, his gaze held hers captive.

Hers softened, lips curved in a soft smile,  her hands cupped his. "Arya, I don't doubt it. But,  I promise, as long as I am alive, I would never let any harm come to you and our family." She promised, her words though soft held determination.

Nakul smiled a watery smile, he pulled her closer, his lips pressing on her forehead.  Sparks ignited, a warmth unfurled in her chest,  while he held on still.

Her eyes held shut,  experiencing the warmth that suddenly lit her from within. He pulled back, his warmth left her.

A coldness settled in her, she missed his warmth. Once again she wanted to feel that kiss, that warmth.

Gazing down at her, he blurted. "Wpuld you sing a lullaby for me?" The request shocked him too, he was pretty sure,  if his brothers heard they would tease him to death.

The Nakul who made girls sing love songs, was asking for a lullaby instead?

A sparkle of hope rose in him, he gazed down at her,  awaiting her response.

Surpise filled Panchaali, while she gazed up at her husband. Lullaby and her? She had never sang before.

What if she sings bad? Her first instinct was to say no. But, his hopeful gaze had her halting.

And instead, to her shock, she  found herself nodding.

A huge grin split on his lips, lighting his handsome face with a beauty of another word, making her breath hitch. 

And in that moment she realised,  to make him happy she would do anything. His eyes lightened to their dark chocolate brown self, that lit with joy.

He sat her on the bed, and hurriedly lay his head in her lap, laying on the bed sideways.

"Sing." He demanded, she blinked down at him. Still surprised by his excitement.  Her heart lightened, a slow smile made it's way on her lips.

"Let me warn you, I am not the finest of the singers." She said honestly. "Doesn't matter, sing." He urged, gazing up at him.

Somewhere today their bond had changed, he could feel the deeper connection, he had bared his soul, and she had graciously held him.

It made him feel a deeper bond with her. Gazing up at her nervous face, he sighed in relief as her long, dainty fingers ran through his hair.

"Aa leke chalun tujhko

Ek aise desh mein
Aa leke chalun tujhko
Ek aise desh mein
Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Pariyon ke bhes mein..
Aa leke chalun tujhko"   

Her melodic voice was the sweetest that he had heard, the lullaby strung something deep in him, as he gazed up at her beautiful face, that had taken a serene glow in the twilight.

Her hair blew back in the cool winters night.  His heart thumped as everything seemed to slow down, and it felt like slowly everything was fading, what left behind was them.

Him and her.

And their little world, tucked away from every evil.

"Ho chand chahe aadha
Ho phir bhi roshni
Ho chand chahe aadha
Ho phir bhi roshni
Ummeed jo na chhute
Har baat hai bani"

Her gaze held his, the sweet baritone, pulled him in like a moth towards the flame, ready to burn and turn ashes.

"Raaton ke sur se nikle
Subah ki raagini
Lori tujhe sunaun
Lori tujhe sunaun
Bachpan ki ek main
Lori tujhe sunaun
Bachpan ki ek main

Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Pariyon ke bhes mein..
Aa leke chalun tujhko.."

His hand reached out, capturing one of hers in between both of his, he interlaced his fingers with hers, her free one ran through his hair.

Holding her one hand close, he felt himself relax.

"Main aasmaan ko khidkiyon se
Ghar mein laa doon
Main aasmaan ko khidkiyon se
Ghar mein laa doon

Saare ke saare taare
Yahan chun le la doon
Sapno mein rang mann ke
Yoon hi bharti aayi hoon

Har dard bhool jaaun
Har dard bhool jaaun
Yoon hi khel khel mein
Har dard bhool jaaun
Yoon hi khel khel mein

Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Pariyon ke bhes mein..
Aa leke chalun tujhko.."

Gazing down at her husband,  as she sang, she watched his eyes grow heavy. Nakul tried to stay awake, gazing at her beautiful face he wanted to spend the entire night.

But, for the first time, after what  felt like forever, sleep pulled him in. Peace and calmness ruled his heart, he breathed more freely, more easily.

The years of pain had been lifted, clutching her hand harder, he let himself lose in the sea of slumber, that promised a great sleep ahead.

"Dena tu mann ki shakti
Maalik mere mujhe
Dena tu mann ki shakti
Maalik mere mujhe
Meri katha vyatha
Hai sab pata tujhe

Main jab bhi dagmaagaun
Tu thaamna mujhe
Chhode hain swapn saare
Chhode hain swapn saare
Teri dekh rekh mein
Chhode hain swapn saare
Teri dekh rekh mein"

She shut her eyes, laying her head on the headboard,  her mind swarm with Nakul's words.

Somewhere  down she felt her husband's need for their entire family in Hastinapur to be one. She prayed to lord to help her achieve the feat.

"Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Milti hain jahan khushiyan
Pariyon ke bhes mein
Pariyon ke bhes mein..
Aa leke chalun tujhko..

Lalala.. mmm…"

Her voice faded into nothingness,  as she lost her battle to sleep. Wondering, how difficult would it be to unite Kauravas and Pandavas. . .

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