For @ambitiousandcunning, who had asked me to write this, and @pratigyakrishnaki, who’d inspired me to finish this.
Three things about Arjun and Kunti’s relationship for the platonic relationship meme.
Disclaimer: This is strictly my headcanon. Here goes:
1. The divine voices echo around them, prophesying of grand things her son will do. Kunti has a slight smile on her face as she focuses on something the asiriri said, not about her child’s future achievements, but “Even as Vishnu, her youngest, is the delight of Aditi’s heart, so shall this child be the delight of his mother’s.” Kunti smiled wider, feeling a fierce rush of pride and possessiveness at her son, who was looking up at her, his eyes wide open, guileless, innocent. Finally, she had a child who was all hers. Someone who will delight her. Someone who was hers.
2. Even though Arjun seemingly diverged from her as he grew, the bond between them remained strong. It was Kunti he came running to at every little triumph, every small milestone. Pandu doted on him, but Arjun, quiet, bashful, looked up at Kunti before he did anything.
After Pandu’s demise, for all that Sahadev clung to her, needing her as much as the others did, perhaps more, it was Arjun who was concerned for her, who saw to her comfort as quietly as he did everything. It was he who held her hand when it trembled.
Without either of them realizing, this was a pattern formed for a lifetime. Sahadev was the child who was mollycoddled and cosseted, who received a lot of her love, who needed her the most, while Arjun was her strength, calm and quiet, always there for her when she needed him.
3. For all that her Arjun was calm most of the time, there were moments when his feelings came roaring to the surface. Kunti was his confidante then. Most of his questions even she couldn’t answer, questions she knew were raised from Yudhisthir’s stern adherence to Dharma. “Mata, but why is this Dharma?” was the question he asked the most, the question to which she had no answer.
Whether or not she managed to answer his queries, the frown on his face would turn into a smile, just because she listened.
She remembered the last question he had asked too well. “Mata, must you go? Have we erred somewhere? I promise, we’ll make it better, but must you go?” Kunti spent nearly an hour explaining to him that yes, she must. Finally, he held her hand tight as he said, “If you have to.” His eyes were forlorn as he let go of her hand, but he forced a smile on his face all the same. For her sake, she knew. Still being strong for her.
I guess that you might have different views, but I hope you like this anyway!
