#arjun <3

[arjunaradhini]

Krishnaa was loved, that she knew.

Krishnaa was loved, that she knew.

It was the deep laugh of her father, his affectionate pats on her head. It was her mother’s teary eyes that fell on her, the longing in the queen’s eyes to see her as an infant.

It was her siblings’ unspoken acts, somehow always ensuring she had everything she needed.

Love was what she felt most deeply.

It was her husbands’ lovelorn looks. The archer’s copper eyes forever enchanted, it was the way she was respected as the queen- and the goddess of their house.

A goddess and a mother, so full of love.

It was her children, the subjects of her queendom, it was every person-old and young-who never slept hungry in her watch.

Krishnaa was loved, that she knew.

But, then why were her cries for help unanswered?

“Protect dharma and it shall protect you,” that she did but wasn’t she loved? Wasn’t she loved? Why did no one stand up? Why did no one-?

And now she doesn’t believe that.

But you’re Krishnaa, the fire of the preserver incarnate. You’re fire’s daughter, aren’t you? So burn your culprits, burn the dice hall— why do you stay gentle even in a crisis like this? Agnijaa, PavakaPutri, so many epithets circling back to fire who sired you. Who are you? The dusky empress remains silent. Who are you? Shachi, the queen of heaven.

“Protect dharma and it shall protect you.”

“What is dharma?”

“Krishna.”

“Krishnaa?”

“Krishna.”

Love is what that grounds people. Love is what she has always felt so deeply.

So when she bled in that court, her heart heavy with rage and sorrow-

“Have mercy on them, Kalyani.”

She loved them. She loved her family, the people of her queendom. And she loved her husbands, deeply.

“Give them a chance to repent.”

That she did.

Maybe that is why she was loved by Shri and Hari both.

—————

This needs to be edited so heavily. So at first I wanted to do something else (you can notice by how the format suddenly changed) and it turned into something else entirely.

For someone who had both Shri and Hari as her close confidants, she had to be so full of love and mercy. Something rarely discussed as an aspect of her persona, I believe.

@illegibleramblings had seen the first draft and it turned out so different from what I had sent her for the moodboard inspo lmao. And a very huge thank you to her for making such a wonderful aesthetic for Draupadi. <3

[arjunaradhini]

Querencia: to love.

Theme- Krishna x OC

OC: Vaishnavi. She is also known as Padma.

~•~•~

Padma had known Krishna since her childhood, in the stories carried by the travellers, of his heroic pursuits since childhood. She had known him to be the heir of Mathura, and then as the de-facto sovereign of Dvarika. She had known him more than she had known herself, and that had been the end of it.

Growing up as the daughter of Bhishma’s trusted minister, she had known comfort and the dark politics that swirled inside the palace of the kingdom she had grown up in. Her father had been a friend of Pandu, and so when the kingdom was split in half, he led his wife and children to Khandavprasth, which later went on to be famous as Indraprastha. King Yudhisthira had taken her father, Sumant, to be his chief minister in the court. Queen Draupadi had taken Padma under her wing, and the two lotus-eyed ladies had become sisters, close confidants of each other.

It was when the dusky queen had invited her to partake in the welcoming ceremony of their esteemed guests that Padma caught a glimpse of Vaasudev Krishna, the dusky god.

He was bewitching, and that word was not enough at all to describe his opulent visage.

If not for the nudge on her arms by Draupadi, Padma was sure that she would’ve ended up gaping at him awestruck.

“I know that he has a charming face, but darling we have to welcome them too.” The queen’s mischievous voice made her flutter her eyes down in shame before handing the ceremonial platter to the former.

Krishna was exchanging greetings with the king and his brothers, before the lord’s arms wrapped around Arjuna who seemed equally pleased at the sight of his friend after so long.

It seemed they did not need words to convey their thoughts, for they seemed to laugh suddenly before Arjuna let Krishna go and greet his other friend who seemed to be getting miffed.

“All the favouritism shows, Sakha.” Draupadi cleared her throat as Krishna smiled at her indulgently.

“What can I possibly do, Kalyani? I talk to him and you get miffed. I’m talking to you and I can already see Arjuna counting time to see if my conversation with you exceeds his with me.”

Padma could not stop the laugh that escaped her mouth, but oh was she glad that she could stop it in time before she attracted everyone’s attention.

“You always have a way with words.” Draupadi venerated him before bending down to touch his feet for blessings only to be stopped by him.

“I thought sisters were meant to only demand, and not request or pray?” Krishna teased making everyone laugh at their interaction.

Draupadi shrugged her shoulders smiling. She also noticed how her friend’s eyes were constantly going towards the lotus-eyed lady she considered to be her sister.

“Who is this beautiful lady, Kalyani?” He whispered to her, a flush climbing up his cheeks.

Draupadi grinned, “Why not ask her yourself?”

Padma had been busy giving away the ceremonial plates to the maids, when she was approached by Krishna.

“What might your name be?” His voice came. But the thought remained silent, We meet again Shri.

“Vaishnavi, my lord.” She spoke, and suddenly she found the meaning of her name again, the beloved of Vishnu.

Two pairs of lotus-like eyes stared at each other, the universe found its spark, Narayana found his Narayani, once again.

~•~•~

I promise it would be a lot more better once I edit it. (Hopefully soon, and before my break ends.)

I tried doing a summary sort of thing in the beginning, but now that I have a background sort thing I think I can make it into a novella draft. Mahabharata with an OC becomes very long, and I just wanted to explore the OC’s side of feelings here instead of jumping straight to the deeper stuff. I’m deliberating between leaving it as it is (will edit ofc) or to extend and do it from the beginning properly and make it a concrete thing.

Should I extend this?

@merevasudevmeremadhav @lordsabove @lotusdwells @mayakrish08 and everyone.

[arjunaradhini]

❛Will I ever get to hold your hand?❜ ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧

There is this void in my heart,

it sinks and sinks deeper as I breath,

I think of your eyes and your bewitching smile-

The ache amplifies further,

I will never get to hold your hands,

intertwining my fingers in yours-

The ones which have held a bowstring.

There is this void in my heart,

it sinks and sinks deeper as I breathe.

I think of your curly hair and your dusky skin-

The ache only amplifies further.

Will I ever get to hold your hand?

[arjunaradhini]

God, I could ramble about how close of a friendship is shared by Krishna and Arjun, for days. Like Krishna is God, the supreme one of all existence and when it comes to Arjun, he is like “You are mine and I am yours. All that is mine is yours too.”

He loves his twin so much, it’s so adorable. :3

Now, Arjun worships Krishna, but he is also demanding of his attention, given that Krishna continuously indulges him (can I say pampering? because yes, Krishna does pamper Arjun a lot.)

[can we also talk about the fact that after khandav dahan, when agnidev was bestowing boons to both of them, krishna asks for a boon such that he always remain loving towards arjun.]

I wish the media when making Mahabharata shows portrayed their close platonic relationship like it was in the epic.

[arjunaradhini]

With all the lunar eclipse and stuff,

do you know what it is tonight?

Phalgun purnima.

Yep, Arjun’s birthday. :p

[arjunaradhini]

I just realised how similar Arjun looks like Krishna.

Same curly hair, same dusky skin, same lotus shaped eyes, the bewitching smiles, the gentleness of a lover, ardent devotee of art. One wields a chakra, the other wields a bow.

Arjun feels like the shadow of Shri Rama atp.

But then again, he is Nara, he is of course the soul of Narayana and vice versa.

[arjunaradhini]

Snippet.

Draupadi turned to look at Satyabhama who was nodding at her with a reassuring smile, eyes shining with mirth like a sister watching her twin marry the love of her life. The beloved daughter sired by fire felt crimson climb up her cheeks as her eyes were drawn towards the young ascetic who was looking at her with fond, patient eyes.

“Shall we?” He extended his hands towards her in which she gladly put her scarlet tinted hands.

“The princess is utterly besotted by her groom, isn’t she?” Krishna’s teasing voice snapped her out of the reverie.

Draupadi rubbed her eyes before turning to look at her friend who was grinning.

“Who would have known that you’d be dreaming so much about that moment from your swayamvara even now? You have a grandchild now, Kalyani.” Krishna mocked her like he always did, like friends always did.

She was about to retort when Arjun’s hearty voice kissed her ears next, “My fortune Madhav that my bride still has besotted thoughts about me.”

“Shut up, will you?” Draupadi groaned as the men entered and sat beside her in the couch. The empress looked around before asking, “Where is Satyabhama?”

“She will be coming in a few minutes. Vajra is all fussy about his grandmother.” Krishna replied to which Krishnaa smiled in agreement nodding.

“Here I come!” Just then, Satyabhama entered the chamber. Draupadi grinned at the sight of her best friend as the latter went and sat beside Krishna who pulled her to his lap.

Krishna leaned back on the couch, while Arjun placed his head in his wife’s lap. Draupadi’s hands instinctively went to his curls, fondling with them fondly like she always does.

“These times with you three,” Satyabhama mused, “is most precious to my heart. This chamber has seen it all, has it not? Newly married couples to young parents, then the war and then us here.”

Arjun nodded, a low sigh escaping as he recalled their past times, the golden years of mirth.

A sudden nostalgia suddenly clenched all of their hearts.

“Who knows when will we get to spend time like this again?” Krishna whispered, barely audible but all of them heard it clear as day.

From my drafts. Hope this works itself out because removed 350 words from it to make it a snippet.

Also please don’t get offended by the informal tone used by them for each other. They are friends, close ones, and they have seen each other grow and grow.

[arjunaradhini]

Arjun had once pierced the eye of the bird when no one could. It was a stepping point, he would later go on to be the greatest archer of the era.

Years later, he pierced the eye of the rotating fish by merely looking at its reflection. It gave him the love of his life, his walking heart Draupadi.

Two times he pierced eyes, once of a bird, and second of a fish, but the lotus eyed princess of Panchal seems to have pierced his heart.