Shatasringa

Arjun's POV

No, it can't be my delusion now. 

Neither did my ears betray me.

I heard, clear and crisp this time. That voice, lulled out my name like it solely belonged to Him. It felt like I was accustomed to the voice, yet it felt alien and distant. Before I could fathom my next move, I was already sitting up and allowed the twins to take over with curiosity lunging in myself.  

I sneaked out of the throng, my eyes roaming around the darkness hungrily. Hoping to have a glimpse of whoever called me, made my heart swivel with an unknown emotion. Without my brothers' notice, I stealthily crept behind the temple, frantically searching. 

"Arjun.. don't you recognize me?"

The voice appeared to be emanated from the atmosphere itself, no one appeared to have been calling it out. It manifested from the environment itself; but how. I shut my eyes firmly, drawing in a deep breath.

"Arjun.."

Who?

Who is yearning for me with so much love?

Calmness descended in my senses subtly, as my body appeared to relax. Not only my name, I could probably now sense the longingness in that voice, that magnetic effect of being lured into.

Why are You ahoying me with so much love?

Why?

I didn't even realize that I had stepped into quite of the wilderness behind the temple, dazed. The abrupt feeling of longingness had engulfed me, as I yearned for the one to address me again. It felt like my life would be futile without Him, it felt that my soul would be sucked out if that voice didn't call out my name again. 

What am I to you?

Why are you asking for me?

I felt the saliva choking on my throat, as my mind was on the brim of emotions. My lashes felt dimly wet, for what I don't know but it appeared as if I was jammed on spot. Neither could I follow, nor could I leave. It felt that my soul had discarded my body, I didn't feel myself anymore in this world.

Who are You?

Why is it so that I matter to You?

Why is that you yearn for me with this unknown emotion? 

"Phalgun?" I shivered, as soon as I felt a warm calloused palm on my shoulder blade. But though shifted to reality, the daze continued. "Phalgun? Yo-you what are you doing here son?" Pitashree's concerned voice was followed with his grasping of my arms as he turned me around, half sitting.

His pale face glanced at me with worry, his eyebrows curving up to the middle of his forehead as his lips quivered. I kept on staring into his dark orbs, my own brimming with tears as I gulped, my breath hitching at intervals.

"What happened Arjun?" He whispered, caressing my face all over with his loving hands and cupping them, "Why-why are you-" I couldn't speak, nor fathom anything worth uttering as I simply clasped his palm which rested on my cheek. His fingers crawled up below my eyes as he wiped the tears, as he brushed back my dark hair. 

"Pitashree," I finally found my lost tongue, as I whimpered, "Pi-Pitashree, someone is yearning for me." I managed to speak out, as a streak of tear rolled down my cheek. Within moments of his arrival I found my jaws effused with warmth as my lacrimal paved its way. 

"H-he," I instantly wiped the tears with my own palms, glancing around hungrily for a possible glimpse, "He-someone, someone was calling out for me."

"Who, Arjun?"

"He always claims that why don't I recognize Him. He calls for me every time." I wept silently, my fingers firmly entangling around his warm ones, seeking solace, "I can't recognize Him Pita." I felt broken as I spoke so, as if someone would jab me for saying that I couldn't recognize Him. 

"But son, here is no one? About whom are you speaking about?" Pita glanced around, apprehensively and then at me, knitting his brows as his palms swept all over my weeping face. I felt slightly dejected at his denial, though I knew that it was something unbelievable. I myself don't know who had called for me yet I felt to expect him knowing about it. 

His lips locomoted to a lopsided smile as held my arms and dipped my head in his shoulder. I snaked an arm around his neck, my heart yet quivering but now a bit calm, "Calm down son, it's perfectly alright."

"It's alright."

Pita's those few words always provided solace to my soul, it comforted me to some extent. But my mind was yet perturbed, yet in the state of comprehension. His words relaxed, but couldn't rest me for the moment. I simply shut my eyes back, savoring the embrace.

"Come Arjun, your Maatas and brothers must be equally tensed. And above that, even I too came without informing them." He rose up after a titter, and bent down to cup my cheeks as he brushed my wavering curls down on my head smoothly. I subtly smiled, encircling my fingers around his little finger and striding along with him. 

What is that is beyond my comprehension?

First that glimpse of that, I don't know- Then this certain voice behind which I got attracted, as if it bound a thread around my soul and drew me slowly. It tampered with my senses so heavily that within moments I found myself yearning for it, weeping for it and requesting Pita to search for it.

What is that, that appears quotidian yet so transcendal? What is that it appears close yet so distant and afar?

Something is there, beyond Shatasringa, beyond the trees and clouds here, beyond the Moon and the stars.

It feels as if everythi-everything will....

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A/N

If ya know ya know 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Signing off for today~

Kiritija Nushkie