Dhriti's POV:

Memories plagued my mind. His touch still lingered, a memory that no matter how hard I tried just won't leave me alone.

For reasons unknown, there was a pull tugging me towards him, like I was teetered to him, that was constantly pulling me closer to him.

The vivid details of his handsome face were tattooed in my mind. Those dark orbs that reflected not only a world of agony, but also a soft heart. The striking warrior with in him, nearly snatched my breath everytime.

What was wrong with me? No matter just how hard I tried, the memories just won't leave my mind.

He was a cocktail of such different traits, that I couldn't even imagine were possible.

That mesmerizing deep voice sent delicious shivers running down my back-

Oh god what was wrong with me?! I shouldn't be thinking of him that way. We are strangers.

Since the moment he had saved my life, the stranger had taken a root in my head. Or maybe my heart...which was crazy, I know.

I didn't know his name, but there was this restlessness in my soul, that craved to meet him.

That longed to see him. Yearned to talk to him. And it just won't go away. The more I tried to stop thinking about him, the more they frequented.

His handsome face surfaced in my mind, violating my attempts to push his memories out.

See my mind was practically putty in the hands of this handsome stranger.

Those plump pink lips and glowing soft skin, layered with beads of sweat and flushed with heat of the fire, had my heart pounding harder, my skin itched for his touch.

Those warm rough hands, the feel of his heavy fingers, holding me still.

A ghost of their lingering touches caressed me, capturing my soul in his hands.  And I didn't know just what to do. I was helpless to those toasted almond eyes, that were haunted by pain.

I wanted to take all that pain away, just how beautiful would those eyes look lit with joy-

My eyes flew open. Those eyes. They just wouldn't leave my mind.

This was stupid. My brain said I hardly knew him. But my heart didn't care.

And it was driving me nuts. I wasn't used to this restlessness, uncertainities, what should I do?

The plain white ceiling greeted me, but all I could see where the few moments that I had with him, playing on in a loop.

With a groan I sat up. Annoyance and frustration swirling in stomach. Barring the thoughts of the stranger from my mind.

But he swept in like a soothing wind on a hot summer night, caressing my soul. Bringing it alive.

Enchanting it with his mesmerizing ebony orbs.

Lighting me up with emotions, I didn't know what to do of.

A defeated sigh passed through my lips, what is happening to me lord? Am I going crazy?

I hardly met him, than why does it feel that I know him for a lifetime? That he was from whom I had awaited so long.

A breeze swept in the room from the balcony, tracing my skin, with its soothing caress.

Shaking my head at my insanity, I moved to the edge of the bed.

I needed to move. If I lay here another second, I will surely go crazy or probably drive someone else to insanity.

I needed a bath. Maybe water will help douse those fiery memories of his.

After the fire yesterday, Krishn had got me to this room, Karn had come awhile later.

They had been so concerned. And Rajmata Kunti she was the sweetest lady I knew.

She and her highness Gandhari had been here for the longest. It took hours for me to convince them, that I was indeed fine.

Sweet tantalizing fragrance of roses teased the air, a soft wind carrying them from the open balcony, fluttering the curtains the playfully.

Pulling my attention to itself.

Stars decorated the early morning sky, the sun was not yet out.

Yet my sleep was nowhere to be found. He seemed to have taken everything with him. Leaving me just craving more.

And there were his thoughts again, like a old friend greeting me, warming me up from within.

Those intense ebony eyes still held me a captive. God, I really needed to stop. What were the chances of us meeting again? Maybe we wouldn't see each other ever again.

A sharp ache rose in my heart, for some reason the thought of never seeing him again pained me.

This was ridiculous. Just plain stupid.

"Ugghh! Get a grip Dhri, you don't even know him."

But my heart just won't listen to my frustrated plea.

Shaking my head, I crossed the length of the room, I moved out after randomly selecting a set of clothes to wear tonight.

I checked in the mirror on the way out, my illusion was still in place.

A commoner. A nobody. And the realisation was freeing. No expectations, no obligations, just nothing.

Smiling to myself, I walked out of the room, opening the huge doors.

Silence and darkness greeted me, the silvery glow of the moon, was the only thing lighting the place up, along with the flickering flames of the oil lamps.

Fragrances of various flowers from the gardens around, swirled in the air. Soothing my heart and soul.

The soft cool breeze of Hastinapur, felt amazing on my skin. And the memories of the stranger kept me accompanied.

Hastinapur seemed to be the home of tantalizing perfumes. And I just loved it.

The familiar sense of deja-vu washed over me again. I had walked this hallways, run through this corridors.

Not possible. Maybe this architecture was same to some other place I went to? Because I would remember won't I if I had been to Hastinapur ever before?

Shrugging the thoughts of I stepped in the bath area.

A quick bath and all my morning rituals later, I decided to move to the gardens.

It was still dark outside, with no movement of any life out there.

The cool wind caressed my face, pulling a sigh out of my lips. It felt so good to be here.

With everything so quite, the world seemed so serene.

The flowers looked beautiful in the night. Their fragrances lingered in air, tugging a smile on my lips.

I felt at peace. I felt home. For the first time in my three years of life that I could recall.

I was happy and satisfied. How strange was it? That it took me moving away from my family to feel at home.

That a stranger's house seemed more mine, than the one I was born of.

The sound of bells had my head turning. Confusion filled my mind, as I gazed at the temple ahead.

Everything in this place looked so pristine. Yet it seemed like no one had stepped in this temple, in years.

Curiousity unfurled in my chest, as I walked towards the temple.

And that same sense of deja-vu greeted me again. I walked up to the marble steps of the temple.

The familiar calmness seeped in my bones, that I did everytime I entered a temple.

It was a beautiful temple, with intricate craftsmanship. Fingers traced over the various fine work that engraved the stones.

Beautiful. Didn't even summarize it.

The platter of colors in the corner, tugged my attention. As a grin unfurled on my lips.

Yes! Let's make a beautiful Rangooli. . .

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Third Person's POV:

Memories greeted Bheem as he stepped in the temple. The smiling face of his wife, washed over his mind like a tide.

This temple always brought back memories of his wife, charring his heart with anguish. Yet he returned here every morning.

Not for the torture but just to feel her presence. Just so for a few moments she was with him, even though reality slapped him hard everytime he left this place.

This place was home for the memories of his Drau, it was why no one was ever allowed here. Except for him and his brothers who personally looked after the temple.

Draupadi everyday in the morning without fail came to this temple, and made the very same rangooli.

The memory of Ayushman and her sitting in the temple surfaced. A broken smile curved on his lips,  just how crazy had his brothers gone that day.

His fingers grazed over the cold marble, walking in looking at the fine architecture.

The phantom joyous laughter of his wife still echoed off this walls. The sweet sound of her anklets still reverberated through the place. Her blue lotus fragrance lingered in the air.

A soft feminine humming broke his chain of thoughts, a frown contorting his features.

Fury blazed in his mind. Who dared defile his words?! Who dared to step in this place?!

"Who is-"

Bheem's words died in his throat, as he gazed at the colours that decorated the floor, creating an intricate rangooli design.

His heart thumped, freezing mid beat, as he tried to process what his eyes were seeing.

"Drau..." an agonished whisper slipped through Bheem's lips, his eyes turning glassy.

This wasn't what he had expected the moment he had walked in.

His Drau. There had been a flash of happiness, before he recalled that the girl who would make this design was no longer here.

Fury stormed in his heart. How dare someone make such a cruel joke with him?

How dare they draw Drau's rangooli?! How dare?! His hands fisted, jaw set, as breathing came out rapidly.

"Oh I didn't know someone would be here this early." Dhriti whispered, walking in with another platter of colours. Joy lit her words excited to make another new friend.

After all it was not everyday she could get a knew identity.

She didn't look up, her years of habit of being a princess rooted in.

Dead silence greeted her. The hair on the back of her neck rose. Her hackles rising.

She looked up, dark orbs glared at her. A sheen of tears lined the eyes, fury blazed through those orbs. But instead of fear she felt his pain.

The man was built like a mountain, muscles packed, a warrior at every sense of the world.

A leatal aura poured out of him, warning people from miles away. His face contorting in a barely contained rage.

This man was a raging storm of fire wrapped in a human form. Devastating yet alluring in a bizarre way.

"Who drew this?"

He didn't shout. Yet the impact of his storming rage could be felt. Like a storm that was about to hit.

He was a walking tsunami that threatened to sweep her away to her death. Yet she didn't fear him.

That life saving instinct would just not rise.

"Who. Drew. This?" He gritted each word out, emphasizing every syllable.

Confusion slithered through her, she gazed at the rangooli and back up at the handsome giant.

What was his issue? Colours?

"Me?"

It came out more of a question, rather than a statement. Suddenly the room felt all too small, his rage expanded swallowing the space him, making him appear larger and way more stronger.

Those intense orbs gazed at her with so much abhorrence, that she practically chocked on it.

If looks could kill she would certainly be a hundred feet under the ground, rotting her way up to the hell.

What in the heaven was this man's problem?

He took a step ahead, her heart roared in her chest, all she could hear was her blood flowing through her veins.

It wasn't that she was scared of him, she should be but she wasn't.  Which was strange in all ways.

The intensity of his persona had her retreating back.

His face darkened, a cloud of pain and wrath shielding his features.

Inherently terror never rose. Had it been anyone else, she had no doubt that her heart would be screaming in terror.

But this giant ahead of her didn't scare her.

"How dare you?"

He hissed, darkness tinting his words. Gritting the words out with an effort, like he was struggling to hold in his rage that threatened to destroy everything.

Confusion marred her features.  What the hell was he talking about?

The pull between th doubled like eternal magnets destined to be together. Could things just be anymore weird?

He is threatening her and she is feeling this pull towards him? Like seriously?  It was like her heart didn't get the memo that this man ahead was ready to make kebabs of her.

He pushed her against the wall, his arms holding her in place. "Who told you to draw that?" He spat the question.

Anguish and wrath twirling in his mind, which only blazed wilder, he felt his heart tug towards the young maiden, who looked more confused than scared.

"Answer me!" He roared. His words reverberating off the walls making her jump.

The momentarily fear that she felt fled, thing damn handsome asshole of a giant! What the heck is his issue?!

Annoyance sparked in her chest, as she pushed him back.

He stumbled back, more due to his shock than her strength.

"What in the hell is your problem?"

Dhriti snapped back, glaring at the man ahead of her.

Her temper flaring up.

He was handsome, but he was also an absolute asshole. And she'll be damned if she let another man walk all over her like they did in Viratgadh.

This was her second chance to a new life and she'll wouldn't let this Netherland giant foil that for her.

"Who sent you here?! Who allowed you to step in here?!" He roared, his temper flaring.

"Excuse me? I certainly did not see a board out there forbidding any entiries. And why would I need someone's permission? This a temple for the name of lord, not your freaking bedroom."

"Do you know who you are talking to you brat?!"

"Brat and me?! You are the one throwing a tantrum over someone entering a temple. And I am a brat?"

She asked exasperate. Who the heck was this nut of a royal?! Sure thing he was a handsome man, but this was insanity at it's best.

Screw this man! Bloody Baboon!

"Tantrum?"

Bheem's nostrils flarred, glaring at the girl ahead of him.

And just for that moment all the baggage and agony that roared in him calmned, instead all he felt was frustration towards this new girl that he had never seen before.

"Who the heck are you?!"

She smirked, folding her hands on her chest. Giving him the stink eye.

"A million times better person than your Baboon butt."

She snapped and walked out.

His annoyance notched up certain degrees, as he marched out behind her. He'll be damned if he let this brat walk away with the final word, specially not when he had not had her name!

He is the damn prince for the sake of lord. And this was probably the first woman in years who didn't fear him. First individual to be exact.

He marched behind her in the gardens, the early morning rays warmed the sky. The distant sounds of his brothers practicing reached his ears, but his gaze narrowed on her back.

He reached out wrapping his hand around her arms, swirling her in.

Flames zapped up through his body, setting his heart at fire. His eyes capturing her stunned one.

"You can't just walk away brat."

"Oh see me do just that."

She gritted the words out, her heart pumping erratically for this man. She wanted to hug him, to get lost in those dark soulful orbs.

His grip tightened on her arm, electricity zapping down her soul.

She blinked,  tugging her hand free.

"You are one hell of a knuckle headed man! What the hell I have done wrong?!"

"First you dare defy my orders and than you have the audacity to question me back?!"

"Oh forgive me your highness. If your magnanimous ego is so fragile that it got shattered by my words-"

"How dare you call me egoistic?!"

"How dare you call me brat?!"

"Because you are one!"

"And you are a Baboon!!"

Duryodhan rushed to see what all the commotion was all about. Dushasan along with the Yadavs following him.

"The heck is happening here?"

Dushasan scratched the back of his head gazing at Bheem squaring of with a girl? Heh? The fuck?

Since when did his brother chose girls as opponents? He rubbed his eyes and looked back.

Yes it was indeed a girl! Holy God bhraata Bheem was sparring a girl his attention?

Talk about God father's of alien abuction. The man who avoided girls like plagues was interacting with one?

Hail the lords today the sun should definitely be pink and the water green. This is the end of the world.

"Just looking at your face I feel just how spoiled of a prince you are. You certainly are one of those people who wants the world to jump just because he ordered. But I am not afraid of you!"

Dushasan's jaw dropped.

Holy hell and cheese parathas! This girl is fire! She said all that to his cousin. Uh huh. There is just no way she'll survive.

Bheem's nose flarred like a bull ready to charge. He could just imagine his cousin transforming into a bull and turning this girl into a mush under his hoofs.

"And looking at you I can just see what sort of an insolent girl you are. Lacking respect and manners how to speak to the Prince."

"Prince of what? Cavemen? Suits you perfectly. "

Dushasan joined his hands looking at the sky. "Oh god please grant her soul peace when she reaches you. Or maybe it's my cousin who'll greet you soon."

To her credit she was holding just fine against his mountain of a brother. The girl was fierce and his brother? Intense.

Mirth zinged through the air, Duryodhana and Krishn grinned. If only he had a bowl of butter things would be perfect.

"Dhriti?" Karn's uncertain voice had Krishn grinning. "Yes Dhriti!"

"More like Mata Bhardrakali reincarnated." Duryodhan chuckled seeing the two go off at one and another. Ready to rip of a new one.

"Brat!"

"Baboon!" She snapped.

Dushasan gapped along with Karn and Dau. While Krishn and Duryodhan threw their head back laughing.

"Baboon! She called him Baboon?"

The eldest son of Gandhari howled with laughter.

"And you are a spoiled brat!"

"Brat?" Krishn doubled with laughter.

"What in the heaven is wrong with you two?" Karn blanched, his brother and best friend were ready to snap each other's neck there was nothing funny about that.

"You!" The duo roared.

Karn lunged ahead tugging Dhriti back, while Dau did same for Bheem, before they could get in another verbal sparring battle.

"Calm down Dhri!"  Karn commanded.

"Bheem relax!" Balram tugged Bheem back.

"This Baboon just dared to shout at me like hooligan for no reason!"

"Hoolingan?!" Bheem growled. "You owl!"

"Owl?! You wide eyed chimpanzee with cold!"

"See how she is talking!" He snapped pointing at the girl.

"Oh right and you are sprinkling flowers from your mouth right?!"

"You insolent brat!"

"You knuckle headed Baboon!"

Krishn and Duryodhan were bent over laughing. Dushasan for the life of him couldn't understand what to do, he gazed at the duo. Karn and Balram struggled to tug away them that were ready to kill each other.

Bhanumati rushed in with Pauravi, hearing all the commotion. "What are you laughing about Arya?" The first wife of Duryodhan asked sternly, his laughter disappearing like it never existed.

This Kuru men seriously needed some crash course in common sense everything was a joke to them.

The eyes of the two women nearly bugged our of their sockets as they gazed at the duo who were ready to kill each other by words.

"Who the hell is she?!" Bheem snapped.

"My best friend Dhri. Forgive her she's new here. " Karn said tugging her back.

"Don't you explain anything to this hot head!" Dhriti growled.

"Best friend?!" Bheem hissed, squinting his eyes at the girl, turning to look at his elder brother like he had lost his mind.

"What is wrong with you jyest? Why befriend this Shurpanakha?" He asked pointing a finger at the girl in question,  whose mouth dropped open in shock.

"Shurpanakha? Did you just call me Shurpanakha?!" She snapped.

"Oh yes, I did. Shurpanakha! Shurpanakha! Shurpanakha!"

"You Kumbhakarna!"

"Who the heck are you calling Kumbhakarna?!" Bheem growled infuriated.

"You Kumbhakarna!"

"You guys do realise right that this Shurpanakha and Kumbhakarna were siblings. . ." Dushasan stated with a tinge of hesitancy, making all the heads snap towards him.

"Shut up Dushasan!" All the men snapped together.

"What I was just saying...." He mumbled to himself.

"He is my brother Dhri! And she is my best friend Bheem." The eldest son of Kunti explained, trying to calm the storm. Maybe just maybe they'll calm down.

"Brother?!"

"Best friend?!"

Instead things just got worse.

The duo shouted together, shock paralyzing them, pointing a finger at each other as they faced Karn ,who suddenly was the center of the attention.

They were glaring at him like he had committed the world's biggest sin.

"Fate made a cruel joke of you, must be hard to have this monkey as a brother. You've got my sympathies friend."

"Brother you've got shitty taste when it comes to making friends."

The two said simultaneously.  Their heads snapped towards each other.

"Cruel Joke?!" Bheem growled.

"Shitty taste?!" She hissed at him.

"Oh god not again!"  Karn facepalmed, gazing at the two, as allthe hell broke lose once again. . .

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