"Your face was too funny." Arjun chuckled. Syamantaki didn't say anything, she kept smiling after hearing his laugh after so long.

"Why are you looking at me like that ?" He asked bringing her out of the thoughts.

"Oh.... Umm.... I got worried." She said.

"Worried about what ?" He asked.

"Well... I am writing about you ! If you disappear then from whom will I take the information.... That's all." She said.

"Oh I see. But are you not angry that I scared you ?" Arjun asked.

"If it gives you joy and makes you laugh, then scare me a thousand times. I will not complain even once." Syamantaki said. At that Arjun frowned, and seeing his face Syamantaki shrugged her shoulders.

"What I meant Tapasvi, was that I too like to spread joy and make people laugh." She covered up.

"Oh. I am sure people would be overjoyed just by getting a glimpse of you." Arjun said.

"Why do you say that ?" Syamantaki asked.

"Your opulance brings optimism and warmth. You were born through Suryadev, weren't you ?" He asked.

"Not exactly." She said.

"Then how were you born ?" Arjun asked curiously.

"I... Um... Well we're here to know your story not mine. You'll come to know my story one day for sure." Syamantaki said.

"Then I'll wait." He smiled and then gestured her to sit, which she did and he sat in front of her.

"So yesterday you told me about your family.... They all seemed very lovely." Syamantaki said.

"They are. My brothers and wife are the sweetest beings you'll ever meet." Arjun smiled.

"Then why did you renounce them ?" She asked all of a sudden.

Arjun looked at her and frowned, her tone was not that of curiosity but it had the essence of accusation.

"T-To do penance." He said looking elsewhere.

"Why did you want to do penance so bad that you left your family while still in Grihasth Ashram ? Did someone enlighten you ?" Syamantaki asked.

"Life, Syamantaki. Life took away a lot of things. Penance was a way to get my most precious possession back." Arjun said.

"What was this precious possession ?" She asked.

"A princess, like yourself. She was my precious possession, one of the few good things that happened in my life was her. But then destiny like always, took her away from me." Arjun said,

"Were you married to her ?" She asked.

"We were about to but destiny had other plans." He said with tears brimming his eyes.

"But she wasn't yours." Syamantaki said.

"What do you mean ?" Arjun asked frowning.

"You both were not married... She didn't become yours.... Neither you became hers.... Then why weep when you lost something that wasn't yours ? Why don't you go back to your family ? I'm sure they miss you." Syamantaki said.

"I cannot. I have taken an oath that as long as I don't bring her back I will not show my face to them." Arjun said looking at the other side.

"That's not it.... What is the real reason you left them ?" Syamantaki said.

"I told you I have made an oath." Arjun said trying not to look at her.

"If that's the truth then you would've been able to look at me and say it." Syamantaki said.

"Fine ! I didn't leave them because of an oath ! There is no oath that can separate me from them ! I left because I feared that everyone around me would meet the same fate ! My father ! My second mother ! And then my love ! I didn't want them to be the next one !" Arjun finally said what was suppressed in his heart for so long.

Syamantaki looked at him sadly, as a lone tear escaped his eyes but he wiped it away instantly and gazed to the other direction.

"I think that's it. I have enough information now." Syamantaki said looking down at the paper.

"I hope I was of help." Arjun said.

"You were. You're truly a great man, a great sage also. Can I ask for one last thing from you ?" Syamantaki asked.

"If it's in my power, I'll give it to you." Arjun said.

"Just by the Mansarovar, my camp is set. If you'd come there after you complete your penance for the day, I would like to honour you and wash your feet." Syamantaki said.

"Alright." Arjun said.

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A/N

It's time for the climax 🌝🌝🌝