Hiii my lovely readers... 😍😍😍😘😘😘
Back with a long chapter. ..
Please refer the previous chapter for details. ❤️❤️❤️
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Gangaputra asked, "Do you know about Ashtavasus??"

"Noooo???" Shikha's voice trailed.

Gangaputra started telling her everything he knew about Ashtavasus. The eight gods representing the fundamental elements of nature.

He told her how the Ashtavasus stole the Nandini cow of Rishi Vashistha on the insistence of God Prabhas's wife. And when they asked for mercy, the Rishi took mercy upon them and reduced the effect of his curse. The seven brothers who assisted on stealing would be liberated on the first year of their birth by Devi Ganga.

But the one vasu, Prabhas, who did the act will have to endure the curse for a very long period.

Shikha was listening carefully to whatever he was telling her. The rich baritone of his voice has dropped into a lower octave which gives a lulling effect on his storytelling. She could hear him all day and night.

"Devi Ganga took the task of liberating the cursed soul of the Ashtavasus... So do you understand something??" Gangaputra asked her lifting his brows.

"Wait!" Shikha  chuckled. "This story you told me is an awful bedtime story. I mean what kind of Gods steal cow... And what would they do with it??? And that silly woman, God Prabhas's wife, why would she wants her husband to do something which would put a curse on him... And all of them get cursed, but she hadn't suffered at all??"

Shikha has no idea that he was telling his personal story, that's why she took it lightly.

Gangaputra explained.  "Okay that's not true. They committed a sin out of their prankishness and whimsicality... And every one of them suffered due to it."

"Seriously??? What did she get??" Shikha mocked.

Gangaputra without any humour answered her in a serious tone. "Eternal Separation. From Prabhas"

Shikha's humourful mirth died too. "That's not fair. Others get the chance of redemption, but she got an eternity of separation from her husband. That's really not fair, Gangaputra."

Gangaputra chuckled this time."You are such a contradicting character. One moment you were spitting fire at her, and the next you went all compassionate over her"

Shikha smiled at her freaky behaviour. "what happened to her, then??? What's her name???"

Gangaputra  said wistfully.  "Varsati(Varastrī). She was the sister of Brhaspati. She was a lovely lady also known as Yogasiddha. She practiced brahmacharya and yoga and roamed around the entire universe, bereft of attachment. She, then married Prabhas."

"But what has any of these to do with Devi Ganga as your mother??"Urgently, Shikha asked.

Gangaputra came out of his trance. One corner of lips lifted in amusement."You have no patience at all, no???"

Shikha chuckled.

Gangaputra then told Shikha the curse upon Devi Ganga. How king Mahabhisha had the chance to visit Brahma lok and how their obscene behaviour made her to be a mortal and be his wife and come back after breaking his heart. 

He told the story of King Pratipa of Kuru and how she accepted being the wife of King Shantanu. She married him on one condition that he wouldn't ask her actions, the King accepted her and her condition.

And how she drowned her seven children one by one and the King saw it with his breaking heart. When she was about to drown her eighth son, the King asked her; by breaking his vow that why she is doing it. She has already conditioned upon him that he would not ask and if he would ask  she would immediately leave him. She took the child with him and after 25 years bring him back with all the knowledge of the world.

So this is it. Gangaputra was telling her his own life story, thought Shikha.

Gangaputra was really amused this time. Shikha was tongue-tied.

"So do you connected the link from link... Or do I need to explain it more??"inquired Gangaputra.

Shikha shook her head in no and before he could say anything further, her volcano erupted. "How could your mother try to kill you??? How could she did that to those seven children??"

"You're taking it wrong, Princess. She was helping us to liberate from our curse."

As if explaining him, Shikha said, "Look Gangaputra... You all were Gods in your previous birth.. but when you become mortals, death become inevitable. What possibly worse could have happened if you all have lived and died naturally??"

Gangaputra tried to explain her back. "You are still not understanding. She did what she has to do. It's liberation, not death. Simple."

"No. It's not." Shikha said hotly. "She tried to drown you too. How could you be so casual about it???"

"I'm cursed that I didn't get that. Otherwise I would be liberated too."Gangaputra breathed.

She didn't say anything on his this stupid liberation thing. She was furious that his own mother tried to kill him. She was equally furious that he had a wife. "And your wife .. do you remember her ... how did she looked???" A hint of jealousy was there in her voice.

Gangaputra shook his head. "No. I couldn't remember her face at all"

Shikha already knew the later story. How he was denied of being the Yuvraj due to his stepmother and how he took the celibacy vow, the Bheeshma Pratigya, which ruined everyone life including his own. And hers also.

Vehemently, Shikha exploded. "I really can't believe it, Gangaputra. Your life is a mess and hell. Your own mother tried to kill you .. your father's own happiness was important than yours ... Your stepmother wanted the kingdom for herself and her sons and you were forced to serve your incompetent, spineless stepbrother. What did you get in all this???  It's a good thing that your father is no more otherwise I would have fought with him!!!"

Gangaputra placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh... You are talking rebellion"

Gangaputra's eyes twinkled due to amusement. And Shikha was looking at him with wondering eyes. Did he really shut her mouth???

Gangaputra talked amusedly, "And anyone who talks rebellious about Hastinapur... I kill them." He whispered in her ear. "Mercilessly."

She shivered a little due to his warm breath falling on her ear. It feels like her whole body has become oversensitive. She could feel the heat of his body. He smells so fresh and nice and like outdoor garden, he must have been doing his vigilance there also.

This game of seduction is going in reverse direction. She should be the one to knock him out, but he is the one doing all the work. She swallowed. The best defence at this time, is ignorance, thought Shikha.

Feigning annoyance, she crossed her arms and looked away like a child, actually he made her like a child. It's not because of the age gap but his comforting presence. Like Panchali act like child in her presence. The feelings are obviously not same with him.

Shikha mumbled loudly. "There's no goodness and humanity in this world... See what you get in return in  the great Hastinapur... threatening over your life. Damn fine sight." She pouted.

Gangaputra laughed heartily. He has no idea she is so funny. She talks like a mature person one minute and another minute, she is all child. He chuckled. "Hastinapur comes first, my dear young lady!!! And if by my impudent behaviour, you felt threatened, then please kindly accept this as my apology."

He tugged at her one hand and put his royal dagger on her palm.

Like his attire, his weapon is similarly white. Both of his hands sandwiching her palm.

Shikha couldn't believe it all. First he has wrapped his Angavastra around her and now he was giving her his royal khanjar... What could she interpret it. Is it liking or caring or.... She couldn't even say it to herself... Because she couldn't hope for it.

Is it Love??? And he said her "My dear young lady".

Am I really 'dear' to him???

She looked at him. He smiled.

"I Apologize." softly Gangaputra said.

Shikha's voice choked a little. "A.. Accepted."

She curled her palm around the heavy weight of the dagger. He took his hands back and was looking at her fascinated. She was looking at the dagger in awe. She chuckled. "Not bad Gangaputra... We haven't even started to be friends and you are presenting me with gifts."

Shikha looked at his eyes for explanations but he remained silent. His eyes twinkled.

She took the dagger from the sheath and ran her finger on its surface. "Ah!" Shikha flinched.

Gangaputra was there in a flash holding her hand. "I should have known better than to give it to a silly girl like you. It was sharp, couldn't you see, and... Why did you have to play with it????"

When he looked at her finger there was nothing on it. He glared sternly at her mischievousness. When he tried to grab the dagger from her, she hold it close to her. "Mine now!!!" Shikha chuckled.

His mouth hyphenated even more sternly in annoyance. Shikha chuckled loudly. He's such a doll. "I was checking it only.  You got worried???" An impish Shikha asked.

Yes, he was worried. She basked in his silent compliment.

Gangaputra looked elsewhere. "The night is getting late. Go to bed now!"

"Spoilsport!" Shikha hyphened.

"Go!" He chuckled and she laughed.

Shikha is never going to forget this night.

She could never have thought that some day she would be having this cordial conversation with him. He is so sincere and amiable.

She looked at closely at him. He was so near her.

His eyes were twinkling like some precious diamonds.

Her eyes stopped at his mouth. Adamant yet soft. Firm yet lush. Stern yet smiling.

The smile tugged on his lips made him look younger. And the dimple on his chin... She never knew that he got dimple when he's smiling.

She is seeing a new man. A man she could fall for.

Why wasn't he like this with her in her previous life.

Could she had felt like this if she has waited for him. But as he said, she has no patience at all.

As Amba, she was very ferocious and savage with him. Amba was bloodthirsty. She was also one of them who wanted to make his life hell. She wanted his death and he would have gladly accepted death because for him death is liberation. And see the irony of it, he couldn't die due to the Iccha-mrityu.

She couldn't help, but she feel him now. His life is an inferno where at every point of his life, he has burnt. How could she thought him to be cold???

She was extremely jealous when he told her that he has a wife. He must have loved his wife exceedingly to put his own life in the living hellfire.

It would change everything if his heart belongs to someone else already. She couldn't understand but she would never see him involved with anyone. It put a bitter taste on her mouth, just by thinking him with anyone else.

He suffered so much. He has to pay for his wife's quirks and stupid behaviour. He has to suffer in this life a lot too.

Just look at him now... What kind of material he's made of... That living in such a mess, he still saw the ray of hope and made everything for betterment. Who could have thought that Hastinapur could be this happy.

Her thoughts were like matchsticks. One thought burning the other.

Gangaputra felt uncomfortable by the way she was looking at him but he saw that she has zoned out.

He gazed at her succulent and kissable lips.

This is a very atrocious behavior Gangaputra Bheeshma; behave yourself, he chided himself.

This is another first in his life when he opened up with anyone. He has never told a soul about this past of his. Not even his own family know about it. Then why did he feel like telling everything to her, he has no idea.

Enough now.

He cleared his throat. She came out of her trance. He saw her questioningly but she shook her head in nothing. She jumped softly from her place and took a step towards him. "I think we should call it night." She murmured.

He nodded.

They haven't taken a step, when she stopped him.

"Gangaputra, wait!"

He turned towards her and smiled. It wasn't a smile actually, just the corner of his mouth stretched. But he felt like smiling. Like an idiot.

She is so talkative that she may talk through the whole night, he thought.

Gangaputra asked softly. "What???"

Shikha don't want to leave like this. One major fact that is connected to both of them is still unsaid. Amba. She has to know what he thinks of her. Chuckling, Shikha questioned. "What about the Princess who went crazy on you??? You didn't tell me about it???"

She spoke it lightly and casually so that he may not get suspicious that she is that same Princess. "Amba??? Right??? That was her name no??"

His smile died. "What about her???

Shikha eyed him. "You tell me???"

Gangaputra went still. Why she has to speak about her now. He has almost forgotten about her in Shikha's presence.

He almost felt blissful with her. A night he would never forget.

But his past may haunt him forever, it seems.

His past flashed before him like a lightning. And his guilt-card took him back extensively. How he wish that she(Amba) haven't done it what she did, because of him. He is reason some woman died. Just because of him. It's still killing him day by day. Slowly. He could have preferred a one time death rather than this.

Gangaputra quipped coldly. "I insulted her and she killed herself. End of the story."

Shikha got stunned by his remark. "Why... Why are you saying like this???"

"It's the truth, Shikha. And no further questions now." Gangaputra declared.

Shikha. He called her that, in a heated moment. What has she expected, that he would call her name... Romantically??? Like some old romantic love story.

She has no idea what she did to make him furious. His expressions were masked. He didn't even need to raise his voice on her. But still, she could feel the intensity at which he said.

He crossed his arms like protecting himself from her and looked away and not in some childish behaviour but pondering.

He shuttered himself from her. From her. She can't believe it. One moment, he was so free with her and now the sudden change of his behaviour thunderstruck her.

And for the first time, she hated Amba. For coming between him and her.

"It wasn't your fault." Shikha concluded.

He didn't seem to hear her and when she saw he wasn't responding to her, she placed her palms on his cheeks and turned his head towards her. "It. Wasn't. Your. Fault." She shook him as if emphasizing her words.

She can't believe it, this big guy has unresolved issues and still he is suffering from them. And the major problem is she is the reason of his issues.

When he looked at her for assurance, she looked straightly in his eyes and nodded. "Believe me."

He lowered his guards and she couldn't help herself from embracing him. But he didn't respond to her hug. She felt bereft.

A moment later, he jerked her away from him, holding her arms. His grip wasn't hurting, but firm. "No. Stop this right now."

Shikha just looked at him astounded.

"This is not right!"

"What is not right, Gangaputra???" Shikha questioned impulsively.

Gangaputra looked away and then at her.  "I'm two generations your older, Shikha. This is not right at all. Think about it logically. I apologise again for my behavior, but we can't continue this."

What!!! He's ending whichever even has started to build. Their emotions.

"This???"

"Don't play games with me!!" Gangaputra accused. "You know what I mean.  What game are you playing??? Whatever it is, end it now."

Shikha was spellbound. She couldn't discern why he is behaving like this. One moment he was so easy-breezy with her, another he was back in his warrior mode. And does he know about the game of seduction??? She literally have no idea when her game ended and real emotions started working. It just been few days with him. And this is the first time she was knowing the real him.

When she didn't reply, he shake her a little. "End. it. now."

She pushed away his hands from her. "Leave, You .. you selfish hypocrite!"

It was him who was stunned. Gangaputra masking his emotions again. "Go to your room now, Princess!"

Shikha wanted to punch him right now. He is back in his cold behaviour.  "I don't take order from anyone. And specially not from you... I know the way to my room and I'll go there whenever I want. You don't have to fake your care about my welfare. I can take care of myself."

She took out the dagger which she has tucked in her waistline and put it in his hand again.

Shikha said hotly. "And your apology... Not accepted!!! Now please leave now. Mahamahim Bheeshma." She emphasized the last two words.

She walked back to the railing.

And for the first time in his life, he backed out. Many damned first are happening these days.
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