DESPERATION FOR OBSERVATION

Subhadra opened her eyes, feeling as though she had just woken up from a dream about her conversation with Arjun. She quickly closed her eyes again, hoping to continue the dream, only to realize it wasn’t a dream at all—it had actually happened. She jumped out of bed, rushed to the mirror, and stared at herself. "It wasn’t a dream! Oh, it really wasn’t a dream!" she whispered in delight.

Meanwhile, Arjun couldn’t sleep much that night. For the first time, he felt nervous about showing his skills. He had never doubted himself before, but now, the thought of impressing the princess had his mind racing. "What if she’s not impressed?"
"What skill should I show her first?"
"Will she like my bow?"
"What kind of arrows should I use?"
Countless thoughts filled his head, keeping him awake.

As for Devi Kunti, her heart felt heavy. She didn’t know much about what was happening, but she sensed a connection between her son and Subhadra. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she thought about what the future might hold. She knew she could trust Krishna to guide them all.

Krishna, resting in his room with his eyes closed, saw the past, present, and future all at once. He smiled knowingly, feeling the emotions of all three of them as if they were threads woven into the same fabric of fate.

Everyone was gathered in the main hall as Krishna and Balarama introduced some guests to Devi Kunti and her five sons. Subhadra sat on her royal seat, her eyes fixed on Arjun, who was clearly focused on the introductions and not paying her any attention. He didn’t notice her watching him, which made her purse her lips and shake her head in frustration. She was desperate for his attention, growing increasingly annoyed. With a slight pout, she mumbled to herself, "Why isn’t he looking at me? Oh, Prabhu!" She rolled her eyes dramatically.

Just then, she suddenly felt his gaze on her. She gave him a brief glare before turning away with a pout, her expression showing that she was clearly upset.

Arjun, confused, wore a worried look. "What did I do now? Why is the princess upset? Is she mad at me?" he wondered to himself, trying to figure out her sudden change in mood.

The day had turned into night so quickly. The guests had just left after enjoying a delightful meal, but Subhadra felt disappointed. She thought Arjun had completely forgotten the promise he’d made to her. Feeling upset, she stood up and hurried down a random hallway, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Balarama, noticing her absence, asked, "Where is Subhadra, Krishna?"

Krishna, knowing exactly what was going on, simply smiled and glanced at Arjun. "It seems she’s a little upset, Dau... You know how she gets when she’s upset. Once she hides, no one can find her."

At that moment, Arjun’s eyes widened as he suddenly remembered the promise he had made to her. He grabbed his bow and arrow

"Oh no," Arjun muttered under his breath before dashing into a nearby hallway. He stopped, closed his eyes, and listened carefully. He focused on the one sound that could lead him to her—the soft, rhythmic jingle of her anklets.

And then he heard it, not far from him—the soft tinkling of her anklets. A smile spread across his face as he began running toward the sound, knowing exactly how to find her.

She stopped at a dead-end, a beautiful garden surrounding her. Subhadra knew Arjun was right behind her, hiding and watching to catch a glimpse of her reaction. But what he did next left her speechless.

Arjun silently drew his bow and shot an arrow into the sky. A moment later, it rained down in the form of yellow flower petals, gently surrounding Subhadra. The yellow symbolized friendship, a quiet promise of the bond that was about to begin between them at that very moment.

The falling petals made Subhadra’s heart flutter as she began to twirl, enjoying every moment of the flower rain. Arjun, watching this beautiful scene unfold, could only stand there, admiring her with a warm smile.

Subhadra stopped twirling and turned to face him, her eyes shining with delight. "I love this!" she exclaimed, gazing into his eyes with a sparkle that made her feelings clear. "I'm impressed, Prince Arjun. This is priceless."

"Why were you upset?" Arjun suddenly asked, causing Subhadra to pout and turn away.

"Why should I tell you? What are you to me that I should share my feelings with you?" she replied, her voice teasing yet guarded.

Arjun stepped in front of her, smiling warmly as he extended his hand. "Friends?"

Subhadra smiled and immediately took his hand. "Yes, friends."

Arjun’s smile widened. "So, now that I’m your friend, why don’t you tell me why you were upset?"

Subhadra took a deep breath and explained, "Even though there are so many people in Dwarka, I often feel lonely. I know I shouldn’t expect all the attention to be on me, but I really need a friend to help with my loneliness," she said with a sad expression.

Arjun's heart ached upon hearing his new friend’s concerns. He gave her a concerned look. "I can understand you," he said. "Despite having four brothers, I sometimes feel lonely too." He smiled gently. "But don’t worry. We’ve found each other, and I’ll do my best to keep you happy while I’m here in Dwarka."

Subhadra nodded eagerly. "I really needed a friend like you, Prince Arjun. You complete me, and I hope I complete you too."

Arjun smiled at the way Subhadra's face lit up. "So, why don't you tell me what you usually do?" she asked.

"Well," Arjun began, "I’m almost always at the training ground, practicing Vidha. My training ground is quite large, you know..."

They continued talking, engrossed in each other’s company, until they lost track of time. Before they knew it, evening had turned into night, and night had faded into morning. They had fallen asleep in the garden without realizing it. Subhadra was seated on the edge of the fountain, her head resting on one of the statues. Arjun lay opposite her, sprawled out on the grass, sleeping soundly.

Krishna was walking through the garden and saw Subhadra and Arjun asleep. He smiled and snapped his fingers, making the fountain spray water on them.

The water hit Subhadra’s face, making her wake up suddenly. She thought it was a bug and started running around the garden in a panic. Arjun woke up from the commotion and quickly ran to her. When he realized what was happening, he started laughing at the sight of Subhadra’s surprised reaction.

Seeing Arjun laughing wholeheartedly, Subhadra couldn’t help but join in. She started laughing too, her earlier panic melting away as she enjoyed the moment.

Soooooooo~ How’s the chapter so far? I’d really love your feedback and encouragement. Feel free to give any suggestions or ideas. I’m always looking for ways to improve.❤️