WHEN EYES MEET

Arjuna's heart was in turmoil that day. The family was visiting Dwarka to see his maternal uncle, Krishna. Mata Kunti and the five brothers made the trip, but Arjuna felt a heavy weight in his chest, his heart beating loudly as if sensing that something-or someone-was about to capture his heart in Dwarka.

Meanwhile, in Dwarka, Subhadra was on a mission to tease her beloved brothers. The sound of her anklets, the flowing length of her hair, and her eyes, which mirrored Krishna's lotus-like eyes, added to her charm. Her radiant smile alone had the power to ease worries and bring a sense of relaxation to anyone around her.

Arjuna was nothing short of breathtaking. He was exceptionally handsome, with a gaze capable of captivating anyone. His eyes, filled with love and warmth, had the power to make others forget their worries and be entirely enchanted by him.

As Arjuna stepped out of the chariot, the moment his feet touched the ground, the breeze brushed against Subhadra's long hair, leaving her momentarily frozen. She felt her heart begin to race, unfamiliar with the sensation that was overtaking her. Her expression shifted to one of concern, as she struggled to understand what she was feeling. "Bhaiya... what's happening to me? I feel so strange," she said, her voice soft and sweet.

Arjuna's heart was pounding as he stepped out of the chariot, the sound of the waterfall adding to the excitement. Sahadeva, the youngest and always full of mischief, couldn't resist a bit of teasing. He quickly moved to Arjuna's side and whispered in his ear, "What is wrong with your heart, Bhrata Jyesth? It looks like you have fallen in love with Dwarka!"Arjuna's face broke into a smile as he replied, "I feel... I feel some sort of connection. I'm not sure what's happening, Sahadeva," Yudhishthira, smiling warmly, reached over and pulled Sahadeva to his side. "Oh, youngest, you've been quite the troublemaker today. Stop teasing your brother." he said with a chuckle.The brothers shared a laugh, enjoying the light-hearted moment together.

Mata Kunti gave a mock scowl and said, "Why are you brothers still standing here? You should go inside and greet your Jyesth Krishna, Jyesth Balarama, and their sister, Subhadra."As soon as the name Subhadra left Mata Kunti's lips, Arjuna's mind wandered. He thought to himself, "That name sounds so beautiful. I can only imagine how lovely the person with that name must be."

"Oh? Arjun? Are you with us?" Sahadeva teased, noticing his brother's distracted state. "I don't think Arjun is with us anymore. He's been acting all strange since we arrived here."Meanwhile, Krishna was telling Subhadra about their visitors. "Subhadra, our Bua has come to visit us, along with her five sons-Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna..."As soon as Subhadra heard Arjuna's name, she immediately interrupted, "Arjun?"

"Yes, Arjuna. Why do you ask, Subhadra?" Krishna inquired, already sensing the growing interest in his sister's heart.Subhadra turned her face away and shook her head. "Nothing, Bhaiya. I was just..." She had no excuse for her reaction and couldn't explain why she was acting this way.

"Hmmm~" her Bhaiya teased with a knowing smile. Subhadra blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. Quickly, she darted towards the entrance, eager to meet her Buamaa. Curiosity bubbled inside her as she couldn't wait to see Arjuna.

The sound of Subhadra's anklets reached Arjuna, bringing him a sense of calm. No one else seemed to hear it, but Arjuna smiled and murmured, "She's coming."Sahadeva rolled his eyes, intrigued. "Bhrata, do you have a fever? What are you whispering about? Who's coming-"Before he could finish, Subhadra appeared in front of her Buamaa, throwing her arms around her in a tight hug. "Bua maaaaa!"

Devi Kunti smiled warmly upon seeing Subhadra. Arjuna's smile faded as he saw Subhadra for the first time. He was mesmerized by her, his gaze locked on the details of her face, her flowing hair, and her captivating eyes. Everything else around him seemed to fade away, and he was lost in the moment, unable to hear or process anything else.As Subhadra greeted her Buamaa, her eyes eventually found Arjuna. Instinctively, she knew which one was Arjuna. It felt almost magical as their eyes met, and without a word, they both wished to speak, yet no words came out.Arjuna was jolted back to reality when Bhima playfully nudged him, causing Subhadra to realize her own reaction. Blushing deeply, she widened her eyes in embarrassment and quickly turned away, running off with rosy cheeks and a flustered expression.

As she ran, she accidentally bumped into her elder brother, Balarama. He was ready to scold her, but when he saw his aunt and her sons, he quickly stepped aside. She touched Devi's feet respectfully, and the Pandavas greeted Balarama warmly, touching his feet as well.

Krishna glanced at Subhadra with a teasing smile. He greeted his aunt, and her sons responded warmly. Subhadra pouted playfully, glancing at Arjun, hoping he hadn't noticed. But she was mistaken-Arjun was already looking at her. Their eyes met once more, making Subhadra blush and look away, smiling to herself.

Arjun smiled as he saw the blush on Subhadra's face. He kept his gaze on her, savoring the way she turned away, her cheeks flushed.

"Alright, Devi Kunti, you must rest. You must be tired from traveling so much. Subhadra, could you show Bua Maa and her sons to their rooms?" Krishna asked, well aware of the unspoken tension between Arjun and Subhadra.Subhadra nodded and began guiding everyone to their rooms. When it was Arjun's turn, she stopped in front of his room and said softly, "So, Arjun, this is your room." Arjun's heart raced as he stood close behind Subhadra, savoring the feeling of her hair brushing against his face.

"Thank you, Subhadra," Arjun said. Hearing her name from him made her heart race. She turned around, not realizing that Arjun was standing right behind her. Their eyes met once more, and Subhadra, feeling shy, quickly looked away. She tried to leave, and so did Arjun, but they both ended up going the same way. Subhadra turned left, while Arjun went right, causing them to bump into each other once again.

As Subhadra was about to leave, she turned and said, "If you need anything, Arjun, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always here to help."

Arjun smiled at Subhadra's sweet offer. To him, she felt like a magnet, drawing him in.

Their eyes locked one last time before Subhadra, feeling shy, quickly ran away to her room. The feeling was new and amusing, something she couldn’t fully accept or explain to anyone. Throwing herself onto her bed, she hugged her pillow tightly, a soft smile spreading across her face. All she could think about was Arjuna.

This feeling was something neither Arjuna nor Subhadra had experienced before—a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a warmth that made their hearts race. It was the beginning of love, though neither of them could put it into words. They felt a deep connection, something magical and beyond understanding, yet it filled them with joy and left them wanting to see each other again. It was the spark of a bond that would soon grow stronger.

Sooooooooo, I know my writing leans more towards a narrative style, with fewer dialogues in this chapter. I’ll definitely work on adding more conversations in the upcoming ones to bring out the characters more. Thanks so much for the support! I’ll be updating again soon.❤️

Oh, and by the way, I’ve been adding the titles of the chapters in Sanskrit because I thought it would be a nice touch! I’m not sure if it’s the best idea, but it feels right for now. If anyone has suggestions on how I can improve or make the story better, feel free to share them with me. I’m always open to feedback!❤️