Indraprasth

Arjun's POV

I am smiling unreasonably too much nowadays. Too much for my own good.

A little extension of my hand of friendship towards her happened or not, and there went my heart leaping in heaps and bounds. A little exchange of sweet words happened or not, and there I unknowingly did starting weaving fine tales in my mind. A little giggle from her and there goes the urge of re-hearing it again. 

Now that my yearning for archery and yearning for a single glimpse from her is attempting to go hand in hand, definitely I am going bonkers.

Definitely I am behaving like some certified demented individual. You are alright being aloof only I guess, Arjun. Aloof only. Actually the thing is that I can't go aloof again because I don't feel like being that again. 

Because this feeling is ain't bad though. I mean, its good. Good, its nice. Beautiful. I am kind of enjoying.

Yeah I mean I am thinking about the feeling in Khandavprasth. Its nice, everything is slowly, gradually, appealingly falling in its place. Stunning palace, breathtaking views, peacefully silent, excellent harmony-

And Krishnaa too...

I mean, such a wonderful person she is, ain't she?

I agree, we didn't get enough time to spend with each other due to her newfound and huge responsibility of handling the Kingdom alongside Jyeshth and a recent long expedition of mine took me almost two months. But since now everything is falling in place again, we can afford to see each other a bit more than we used to do.

I am still figuring out, that how does she maintain a momentous demeanor when circumstances desire from her and then from no where blooms up her inner innocence and childishness.

 It is not that easy to believe but, but, but I surely want to see her repeating the expression that day, when she trying to cover up a conversation that certainly turned a bit awkward for both of us. 

The way she scrunched up her nose and bit her lip realizing it, followed by a cumbersome scratching of her head. She slightly shrugged and tried to bite back her smile, making it a bit demanding from me not to plant a kiss right on her cheek. 

Only on the cheek?

I mean, yes, I can try to swiftly place a harmless kiss on her palm or something...

Or her tresses, they are thick, long and beautiful too. Or maybe her forehead, or maybe her-

Sh-shut down your wild imagination Arjun!

Warmth crawled to my jaws as a 'not so innocent' thought swept through my mind, making me shove it off instantly. I grazed my foot against the stiff bark of the tree, under whose shade I was resting myself on the moonlit night in vast and mystical gardens. I somehow didn't mind the cool breezes that started brushing off the curls from my forehead. 

I sighed back, leaning my head against the tree and rolling my eyes towards the half-moon which lit up the dark sky as usual. 

Smiling. 

Damn it Arjun, stop that stupid smile. But the weirdest part is even that the thought of stop smiling is making me titter now. And the thought that I am tittering is making me chuckle softly.

I don't know what's wrong with me nowadays. But it is feeling better, its good, its nice. 

 I feel good, I feel wholesome, I feel new. I want to feel it. Again, again and again.

And I want her  to feel it too...

Before my heart could then dip down into the deepest of memories, I was snapped out of them by the faint yet familiar scent of blue lotus. Following it, my eyes spotted the beguile dark visage of the woman for whom I was waiting for. Appearing to meet my eyes too, she waved at me standing across a small bridge over a stream. 

I kept gawking at her, half-dazed as she scurried through the path and paused before me. I couldn't help but notice how her expressive huge eyes twinkled in my presence, and her face held an exclusive shine. I don't know whether my eyes deceive it nowadays or is it, reality.

What do I exclusive do to receive such warmth from her eyes? 

I noticed her gradually raising her eyebrows as her fingers intertwined with each other and peering at me subtly. I realized I was literally gazing at her, still leaning casually against the tree. She slightly started cracking her knuckles, while I chose to deliberately continue what I was doing so as to keenly assess her behavior in front of me. 

I was trying to hide the smirk which was itching sweep across my face seeing her becoming a bit flustered. Aye, she does blush because of me! I don't know why but a small sense of triumph made a place in my mind. 

"Can we go?" she bit on each word, as if trying to divert me from what I was doing. I noticed her gaze resting on me and leaving me after intervals. 

"Yes, yes, when did I stop you?" I dramatically blinked twice, extending my palm towards the path. Her expression clearly told me that she is definitely thinking that something fishy is definitely going in my mind.

Is she wrong?

Well....

"You are coming or not?" 

"After your Highness?" I crossed my arms across my bosom, my gaze still lingering upon her. "No, I will walk beside you." she blinked, grinning a bit. Her exotic figure garbed in minimal ornaments, reflected the lamp lights scattered around in the garden as well as from the glimmering moonlight. 

"Hmm, so that you can merge our shadows with each other, isn't it?" I waggled my eyebrow as my lips shifted up into a smile, catching her off-guard again. Her eyebrows knitted up signaling her inability to digest the sudden revelation.

"What?" 

"Oh, you are innocent now Krishnaa." I gently strode towards her, making her raise an eyebrow, "You think I didn't notice that day when we were returning from our Swayamvar? You were deliberately walking in such a stance so that our shadows on the ground get merged which each other, isn't it?"

Her eyes widened slightly with amusement. She opened her mouth for defense, but was tongue tied for her own good. 

"What do you think? I didn't notice that?" I ticked my jaw, releasing a deep sigh and pursing my lips.

"So? So what?" she rolled her eyes a bit, trying to hide her smile, "Now come." she started walking without looking back anymore, while I tried to stifle a chuckle. 

We strode through the canopies for sometime, without exchanging any words. But I couldn't help but feel the tingles that arose as our bodies brushed against each other, while we walked down. Okay, this was getting way to awkward and the closeness wasn't helping it either. 

So I broke the ice with some random talks and I don't know how the earth the discussion transported to my childhood days. Within moments, we were behaving like two kids, laughing like carefree souls as if we were old friends. For a moment it was as if we had forgotten all the sophistications of royalty and were just two persons, reveling.

We began pulling each others legs, and after that the conversation shifted to the prank that I once played in the forests. She literally facepalmed, trying to take then the fact that I had performed the prank.

"O Mahadev, " she managed to speak in between her laughter, "N-now I am really feeling bad for Maata Kunti." She closed her eyes and continued with her titters, trying to sober.

"Hey, now you too don't say like that huh? I am feeling embarrassed now," I complained, looking away. I slowly sat down on the royal swing up to which we had traversed while walking.

"Goodness, that day I received a good lecture from Jyeshth and Maata," I mumbled, recollecting those golden days etched in the memory lane.

"Serves you right okay, who does like that? Seriously?" her body vibrated after her poor attempt of biting back her laughter.

"Ahaha, you're laughing yourself heartily and then blaming me?" I scanned her up and down in mock while she held my extended hand in order to sit beside me in the swing.

"Wh-what I ain't--" she bit her lip to hide the chuckle, when her foot absent mindedly hit mine making me grab her wrist and turn the direction of her fall.

She stumbled over my figure with a squeal, entangling her arms around my neck. My heart skipped a bit saving her intended fall, but her delicious scent of blue lotus made me forget how to breathe for a while.

Her pristine orbs enlarged, met mine, were yet to comprehend what was happening but all I could focus was the fact on how close we were. Her warm sighs fanned over my face, causing spark to zap down my spine as the tips of our noses slightly brushed.

I could feel her palm turn colder as it unintentionally slipped from my neck towards my shoulder. Her face was reeking warmth, as she attempted to blink yet peer me through her long lashes.

Her innocent face wasn't helping either as my eyes momentarily jammed on her petal like soft kissable lips, slightly parted for breath, making my thumping heart resurface those desires again.

Should I kiss her....

I mean, only once...I just want to see.

How it feels like...how it feels like to kiss-

Only once, only once...

It'll, it'll will be a harmless one, only once, then I won't do anything...

I don't think she would mind...she won't, it is just a harmless kiss and nothing else.

Just once, please.

Just once,

Without wondering anymore, I leaned in, allowing our noses to brush a bit more while my arms gradually held her waist. Sucking in a deep breath, I swiftly rested my lips on the corner of hers and pulled back immediately.

Damn. Damn.

Damn...

Her eyes widened even more due to sudden shock as I fluttered open my eyes, expecting her to push me away. But to my perplexity she continued breathing hard, her grip tightening upon me. Her eyes darkened, not with resentment, yes with astonishment but swirled with a different emotion which made my heart dip down and hammer hard.

I just didn't know what got into me, but I dipped my head again and touched her lips with mine, pulling back once more. Now go away for God's sake Krishnaa, please. Please.

Please....

I closed my eyes instantly, waiting for the impending disaster and the fact that I ruined everything with the stupidity of mine. Ruined everything, the friendship which was blooming between us, I distorted it.

You shouldn't have done it, what did you do....

What did you do? What--

Before I could muse further, I felt a tug on my curls and a pair of warm lips touched mine for a brief moment and pulled away instantaneously. 

I blinked open my eyes, breathing out deeply only to have her close near me as she peered with those glistening orbs and clutching my upper garment firmly. We were exhaling hard, it was as if  my heart would just explode out right from my chest.

I searched in her eyes for assurance, and for once I could confirm that each and every part of it screamed for it. It was like as if in a trance, as I couldn't fight back the urge anymore and rested my lips on her again for a short while, removing it away.

Damn Arjun, what are you doing for heaven's sake? Stop it Arjun, stop my mind played those words again but all I did was again brush the corner of her lips with mine and detached it, after lowering her down gently on the swing beside me.

She touched mine back following it and instantly shoved it away and that's where I decided to give in.

I really don't want to care about what happens or the consequences it would follow. I only what we wanted for the present moment.

I really didn't care...

Before I could even know what I was doing, I yanked her by her elbow and swiftly plunged down to capture her lips with mine. Blood rushed to my veins and to my entire senses as I started sucking her upper lip, the craving arising madly making my mind go completely blank. Each and every part of appeared to be sprung alive due to the effect, as I yearned for it.

She responded after a while with equal vigor, her fingers snaking up to my tresses while mine had already made a mess with hers. My hand inadvertently grasped her head and pulled it closer, as I began tasting her supple lower lip and swept my tongue inside making her moan softly.

She tasted sweeter than honey, and I was driven lunatic with each passing moment as I continued exploring her mouth and caressing her back. My calloused fingers brushed past her scented locks, resting upon her shoulder briefly and grazed it down towards her waist. Her smooth skin felt butter against mine, as I could feel each and every pore of her reacting to my touches. 

The kiss became messier and hotter with each passing moment....

She drew even close, running her fingers past my curls thoroughly while she kissed me, kneading her nose with mine as our breath mingled with each other. Butterflies danced in my stomach, as now we were literally devouring each other lips.

Realizing that we were going short of breath, we slowed down though the cravings continued from both side. I dared not open my eyes as we unfortunately had to pull away, my lips still reeking of the sweet torture it had gone through.

I was completely clueless what to do next, as I started breathing heavily, my senses not being of any help either. I felt myself freaking jammed on spot. I could feel my jaws hot, not warm, hot as my forehead curls felt slightly drenched.

I licked my lips, finally composing myself and mustering courage to open my eyes when I felt her flinging, no totally leaping over me all of a sudden. I rarely get caught off guard, and this is surely one of them.

She snaked her arms around my neck and almost plunged her head in the crook of my neck without any prior warnings. I could feel her chest heaving against mine wildly, and probably her heart beat too. Mine wasn't doing good to either, trying to calm itself down. I held her close after sometime.

Good, very good, stay there. Stay freaking there for sometime. I don't even wish to see her face for now.

"Wh-what did just happen, Arjun?" Her voice sounded squeaky as she gripped my upper garment, but to my absolute relief there was no sign of guilt or hurt.

A huge boulder of burden appeared to be removed from over me.

I shook my head and closed my eyes firmly, trying to possibly overcome whatever happened. I wrapped an arm around her and pressed her head firmly on my neck sideways and tapped it, "Don't know. Y-you just stay wherever you are. Do-don't talk for now."

Ah, I didn't expect this but I felt her frantically nod in the crook of my neck. I don't know but I felt like facepalming real hard, yet laugh and giggle at this awkwardness. I am undoubtedly drunk right now.

"I can't open my eyes now," she dipped her head more, making me suck in a breath and bite my lips, "Even better. Even. Better."

"You just silently stay there, did you understand?" I chewed on my words and pursed my lips, tapping her head a bit vigorously.

And again she responded by nodding heavily. I closed my eyes back firmly and shook my head, and rested my forehead over her head and side by side continued to fight back my urge of exploding.

I, I had only thought of placing a quick kiss on her palm, and this happened--

Not that I regret or feel bad but, but, but--I don't know what to say-I am on cloud nine even to think something properly--

I have gone crazy. Completely crazy. Save me, someone please. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Guys, after reading this chapter, neither you guys know me nor do I know you :)

2500 words, I was definitely high yesterday :)

Not even asking how the chapter is :)

Signing off for today~

Kiritija Nushkie