Shatasringa

Arjun's POV

Three days had swept over with the incident. I appeared to shove it off myself, but somehow the effect was still vibrant and intact in my heart, and a part of me wished it to be. Something which is vague, yet not vivid.

I flipped aside on the hay grass mattress, resting my eyes on Bhrata Bheem who was snoring in deep sleep and clutching my duvet and having Jyesth's arm around him. Sahadev's leg was practically over my chest as I gently removed it, not wanting to disturb his slumber. I don't know why, but sleep wasn't gracing my eyes for some reason and I was wide awake, blinking.

The cool winds of the spring greeted my curls as I crept out of our quarters for some fresh air. My lips kicked off in a lopsided smile witnessing the one sitting on the doorstep with her head bowed down as was busy sewing some torn clothes of us.

"Phalgun." Kunti Maa's voice was soft yet commanding, "Why didn't you sleep yet?"

Pritha Maa was like a replica of Pitashree, just like soulmates. Jovial yet composed, so loving and compassionate. Her level of enragement is equivalent to her loving the five of us unconditionally. She is the only one who can tame my unruly curls, and would be the one to stay awake if any of us are unwell.

So pious, so pure, so much that a smile on her face is enough to etch the same on mine, and tears on her lashes pour out mine without any delay.

But as time passed and I was coming of age, she appeared to me more as a friend too along with a mother. A friend who keeps all secrets you share without a doubt. Just like father, she too comprehends my feelings, our confusions whenever I feel down. I asked her once, how?

She replied, 'I am your mother, Arjun. And you are my delight.'

Delight she called me. I heard vague statements on how delighted she was on my birth. And everyone referred to me as Matrunandan at times.

Am I that precious to her? What did I do to be addressed by her?

A sheepish smile spread across my face as I rested my palm on the wall and strode towards her, "How did you recognize it was me?"

"Knowing you for fourteen years and an additional nine months." Her voice was crisp as she slightly turned at me and squinted her eyes, shaking her head. One can even detect the love in her voice even though miffed, how?

"Can't sleep, Maa." I truthfully confessed, shrugging as I crawled up towards Maa with drooping brows. I kept on staring at how she was sewing Bhrata Bheem's torn angavastra with an additional piece of cloth she had managed to gather. "Why?" She nudged after crossing her brows, her eyes yet resting on her moving fingers.

"Don't know." I trailed off with a deep sigh. I instantly felt an arm around my shoulder which insisted me to rest my head on the owner's lap. That arm of love, that arm that provides protection like a banyan tree to the tormented travelers a cool shade. I swiftly obeyed, crouching down and resting my head on her lap. Her clothes smelled sweetly of fruits and dampness of the mud, which soothed my senses.

"What happened Paarth?" her soft voice rang in my ears, I felt her fingers gently grabbing my curls in a fist and releasing them.

Paarth.

Pritha's Paarth.

Whenever she addresses me so, I can't help a smile that blooms on my lips. My fingers gradually encircled around the edge of her cloth as I held it, "You and Pita, will be beside me forever right?" I don't know why, my heart spelt out those phrases after a short spell of silence.

"What type of question is this Arjun? Why will we desert you?" She crooned, dashing her fingers down my tresses benignantly, I began to feel drowsy, "I don't know, but please don't desert me." My hand slightly shivered as it frantically tried to search for my mother's longer one, as I gripped her wrist. I didn't realize what got into me that moment, but a deep fear within me appeared to crawl out from my heart which I had embedded for years, suddenly.

"Arjun," her voice transcended from an affirmation to a soft one, as I shut my eyes close not even wanting to imagine a scene without my loved ones.

I am nothing without you and Pita, Maa. Try to understand.

Am nothing without you both and my brothers...

I felt my lashes sticking down, as Maata gently caressed my head, while I clung onto her like a climber does to a tree trunk.

*****

A/N

Kunti Maa my favorite 🥺❤.

Arjun is like-- Phero na...najar se najariya...

*sighs* His fear of losing his loved ones, it was both his strength and weakness.

Signing off for today~

Kiritija Nushkie