Chapter 35: RIDDLE?
NO ONE'S POV
It's been a week and everything is going good, Kunti and the Pandavas are still at kampilya.
Waking up and doing her daily routine Aadhya had the urge to hold a sword and practice with it, so roaming around she came across princess Shrikhandini in the practice room, going in she said, "pranipat princess Shrikhandi may I have A sparing match of sword with you? I have been wanting to hold a sword since long!" hearing this Shrikhandini replied, "pranipat princess Aadhya, well of course we can have a sparing match, I would love a patner" making Aadhya smile in reply, after warming up, Aadhya took a sword and played with it a little to get it's grip, ready Aadhya said, "shall we start?" and Shrikhandini nodded in reply and they started the sparing match.
The sound of swords clashing could be heard, dodging, attacking, counter attacking, both were not giving up, not wanting the other to win they both attacked trying to take the lead or put the opponent in a tough spot, Aadhya was enjoying every bit of it! She had a smile the whole while she was sparing after all she held a sword after such a long time. After the sparing match was over, both were wiping their sweat when Shrikandini said, "I guess you really love swords, you were smiling the whole time we were sparing."
Aadhya looked towards her and replied, "yes I do love them, since I held the sword in my hand I knew it was going to be my speciality I felt connected to the sword, plus how can I not enjoy I had such A amazing sparing partner to spare with" making Shrikhandini smile at the comment, then a voice comes, "jiji!! oh even you are here Aadhya good I want to tell you guys something" said Draupadi, they turned to her and Draupadi continued, "jiji I was searching for you because Maha mantri Vidur has come here to meet mata kunti, Aadhya and arya (the pandavs)" hearing this Aadhya smiles and excitedly asks, "kakashree Vidur is here!! really!!? where is he?"
Both smile at her excitment, Draupadi reples, "right now he is in the sabha, arya and mata are there as well, I was going to call you after jiji", Aadhya says, "well can I go ahead, please!!" Draupadi replied, "of course you can" hearing this Aadhya rushed to meet her kakashree, how can she not be happy, he is like a father figure to her as well and after all who wouldn't like to meet their own after A long time, running Aadhya almost bumped into Avyukt, she stops her self and Avyukt asked, "aree!! Aadhya careful, where are you going in so much hurry?" Aadhya replies, "well kakashree Vidur is here I'm going to see him, come lets go!!" she started dashing again making Avyukt laugh at her innocence and excitement, Draupadi and shrikhandini came, and Draupadi asked, "what are you laughing at sakha?" Kanha turns and says, "just at someones excitement and innocence" and they walked to the Sabha.
Aadhya touched Vidur's feet to take his blessings and gives him a huge smile, he smiles back after blessing her he says, "putri Aadhya I'm so glad to see you are doing well, I have missed you so much", Aadhya replied, "of course everyone would miss A amazing person like me" making everyone shaked their head at her comment she continued, "how are you kakashree, how is everyone?" to which Vidur replied, "I'm well putri, others you will have to see yourself as I have come here to take you guys back to hastinapur" making Aadhya stop smiling and looked at Kunti who nodded in reply making her feel assured.
Everyone came and then Vidur looked at Arjun and Draupadi saying, "come here both of you, let me bless the newly wedded couple" everyone shared A knowing look with eachother, after knowing all five pandavas married Draupadi and the reason he was in shock and denial but accepted knowing they had their reasons. He went to rest after they decided they will leave for Hastinapur in two days. After lunch aadhya saw five little girls play with their dolls, she smiled
remembering her dushala jiji and she decided to watch them for sometime and one girl asked, "how did they fell in love, we want to hear their story" the girl holding the newly wedded couple said, "oh they met and soon they fell in love" the third girl asked, "so fast? how did they know it's love?" the girl smiled and said, "aree! You don't even know, love is when we feel happy with them, we think about them when someone says the word love, sometimes we wonder what that person is doing, when hearing their name we have butterflies in our stomach, it's so simple how don't you know?"
Aadhya heard this and in shocked she gasp and realizes that she was thinking of one person while the little girl was explaining what love is. She walking in daze asked herself one question, "is she really in love with Avyukt?" she then sat under a tree and thought for awhile, she giggles saying, "sometime even A child teaches us great things" to which a voice asked, "what did you learn from a child Aadhya?" she looks up and sees her three lovely bharatashrees Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev, she asked, "what are you doing here Bharatashrees?", and Nakul said, "Aadhya your Bharata Arjun asked you something won't you answer him? Even I want to know what did a child teach our oh great advisor" hearing this Arjun and Sahadev laughed.
Sahadev commented, "now even I'm interested" she gets embarrassed thinking what she just figured out and said, "well now I wonder how it will be to leave you guys in suspense since you are so curious about it" seeing their reaction she giggles and says, "be in suspense I will never tell you now, bye!!" and rushes to her chamber to give herself sometime to calm down and sink in this new feelings and then thinks, "I love him but does he?" in this thoughts she doesn't leave her chamber till dinner time and pack things as well.
AFTER DINNER
Aadhya was taking a stroll after dinner to get some fresh air, walking she saw Avyukt, she went towards him, "Avyukt are you taking A night stroll too?" he turned towards her and replied, "yeah you can say so" Aadhya said with a shy smile, "want to take A stroll together" he said, "sure! why not!" and they started walking together, after A few miniutes Avyukt said, "so Aadhya when will you tell me, when was the first time I helped you" Aadhya replied, "oh yes I think I can tell you now, well it was our talk in your rasoi ghar, remember you asked me what I would do when there was no rasoi ghar where I go to stay, this gave me a hint as things in varnavath were quite suspicious so I thought what you said and then came to know their plot and we could escape in time"
Hearing this Avyukt smiled and said, "wow Aadhya this is what you thought of that? I just asked you to start a small conversation" Aadhya giggled and said, "Avyukt I know you were giving a hint, you even gave bharata Arjun the five stones as A hint and then told him the story of mata saraswati which gave us the idea of digging underground and escaping, I won't fall for your tricks" he smiled mischievously and said, "I see now you know my secret, so let's see if you can solve this riddle or not" saying this he gave her A tulip flower and said, "I will take my leave, good night Aadhya, have a good time solving the riddle" he smiled and left Aadhya with his riddle.
AADHYA'S POV
I reached my chamber and started
to think about the riddle, we are leaving for hastinapur day after tomorrow, is this a warning to stay away from this flower? But a red tulip isn't A poisonous flower, what else can be the reason? she kept looking at the flower for few minutes then she thought, wait tulip symbolizes perfect or eternal love. She blushes realizing the answer of this riddle and held the flower close to her then she says "me too avyukt, I can't wait to give you the answer next morning!!" then she started thinking about the whole day, how in one day everything changed, in the day she came to know about her feelings and her doubts were solved in the night by the person himself.
KANHA'S POV
I smiled happily hearing Aadhya's answer, but now it's her turn to wait, she has kept me waiting for this moment for so long, I smiled thinking about her reaction when she will know I'm not there anymore, I slept happily knowing she is finally mine! And we will become one soon!
THE MORNING
Aadhya woke up not realizing when she fell asleep, she got ready for the day a little more excitedly, after doing everything she was on he way to find Avyukt and she met kunti on her way, "putri did you start packing? we are leaving tomorrow so tell the dasi if you need something they shall arrange it for you, and putri look at you did you get any sleep last night? you look tired, come rest with me for some time" Aadhya smiled hearing this and said, "mata I have packed almost everything don't worry, if I need anything I shall ask the dasi and I would love to take a nap on your lap, how can I miss that chance but mata give me few minutes I want to talk with Avyukt, I will come to you after that."
Aadhya was about to leave when Kunti said, "but putri he has left for dwarka long ago, he had some urgent matters to handle so he left" hearing this Aadhya said dissapointedly, "oh he left! Okay then mata
let's go I will take a nap" Kunti nodded and they went to Kunti's chamber and Aadhya slept on her mata's lap disappointed about not waking up a little early and hoping everything is good in Dwarka.