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chaethewriter · 1 year

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got a sweet asian chick

Jack Champion x South(east)Asian!reader

In which you and Jack have been dating for a while, and the two of you mutually agree to take the next step: meeting the family.

Word count: 4k

Warning: not proofread, english isn't my first language, rushed, lots of mistakes?

tagged: @viivvriv @genesis4545 @norrisgf @darkcrusadestrawberry @drxwstxrkxy

A/N: here you go Riah!! Enjoy reading everyone.🫶

"I think I'm sweating through my pants." Jack Champion was a confident man, usually able to mask his feelings with his goofy and silly behavior, but right for this instance, that silly demeanor was thrown out of the window as he stood in front of his home's mirror with shaking legs. He wore a black suit, the blazer a wrap plaid one as he topped it off with a black tie and dress shoes. "Baby, are you sure I shouldn't wear.. uhm.. your traditional clothing?" His lips were pursed as he forgot what it was called when he watched himself in the mirror. He was a white american, an entire different race than you and your family. Of course, that shouldn't matter at all, but he felt incredibly nervous. He was raised by his mother with respect and turned into a true gentleman, but he was afraid. Afraid he would fuck this up and make a fool out of himself. This was his first time meeting your relatives, after all. He felt nervous meeting your parents too, but they were quick to like him. Well, your mom. Your father was still protective when it came to you and boys, but that's how fathers will always be. Currently, the two of you were getting ready for your cousin's wedding. The loser of a cousin finally proposed to his now-fiancee, and you couldn't be happier for them. He was like a brother to you. This led to you asking Jack to be your date for the wedding, since he is your boyfriend and all. You understood that if he had declined, you had a huge family after all. You didn't even know 75% of the people, and you probably knew at least a hundred relatives. But to your surprise, Jack had agreed to accompany you, seeing it as the next step in your relationship. You saw your future in his eyes, after all. To say you were beyond excited was an understatement, finally sharing your culture with your boyfriend in the way it should be shown. Jack did know the basic stuff from visiting your home and eating with your parents, but they always tended to tone it down. This time, he could get the real experience. You were getting ready in his guestroom, as you had a ton of stuff to prepare for and needed all the space you could possibly use. From the other room, you replied to his question as you fixed your saree, "Jaanu (beloved), I'm sure of it. I would rather you introduce yourself as you, Jack Champion, my silly boyfriend. And that suit definitely screams your name." You looked at yourself in the mirror with the proudest look on your face as a few strands of your hair framed your face. The brown-beige colored shameen draped saree hugged your body as the jewelry on your wrists and neck were the cherry on top. Your earrings completed the outfit as a whole as they matched your makeup look. You bit your lip in satisfaction. You felt so beautiful in your own skin. But would Jack feel the same way?

"Wow," Jack stood in the dooropening, staring right into your reflection in the mirror as his jaw practically dropped to the floor. He was so used to you wearing acubi fashion: cargo pants, crop tops with half-zipped hoodies, that this side of you was such a shocker to him. Not a negative one, though. He walked up to you, still mesmerized by your beauty. His eyes checked you out from head to toe as he stood behind you, checking every curve and decoration on you. He slowly moved his hands to your waist, gripping your skin as he pushed you against him. The back of your head hit his chest as a blush covered your cheeks. You watched his expression through the mirror and his eyes held nothing but adoration and love, "You're so pretty. You're always so pretty and breathtaking, priya (beloved)." He had a funny American accent when he whispered the last part, but you couldn't help but blush. He took his time learning about your culture and your ways. Even though he was a busy man with his acting job, he always made time for you. Jack Champion was the man of everyone's dreams. And he was yours.

Your parents had picked you up from Jack's house, his mom begging him to take a lot of videos and pictures for her to relive the moment before the two of you had left. She couldn't help but make the two of you pose in front of the house, taking a ton of pictures of her son holding your waist as your hand were resting against his chest. Like the gentleman Jack was, he opened the cardoor for you to get seated. While in the car, you seated next to Jack in the backseat, your mother spoke up, "My dāmāda (son-in-law), how are you feeling? About the wedding?" A blush crept up on your cheeks at that nickname. Your mother took a liking to your boyfriend, and you couldn't be happier about how accepting she was. You had a feeling it happened after he told her about his job at such a young age, but the more he was around, the more she grew to like him for who he was. Your father thought different about it, though, as a grumble left his lips at the way your mother called your boyfriend. He did earn a smack from your mother in return. Jack brought his right hand to your thigh to caress it as his other hand moved to hold onto yours, his thumb rubbing your skin, "I can't lie. I'm pretty nervous, but also excited to get the real cultural experience with my girlfriend by my side." He was so cheesy, but you couldn't help but smile at his words.

From the rear mirror, your father watched how lovey dovey the two of you were being. Even though you tried your best to be as discreet as possible, your father would rather not have Jack in his car at all. Let alone him being so acceptable of the touches you shared. "Please keep your hands away from my d- ow priya (beloved)!" Your mother had slapped your father before he was able to finish his sentence. You shook your head as you gave Jack a reassuring smile, taking both his hands and holding them in your lap. He gave you a smile in return as he played with your fingers, something he did whenever he needed to calm down. You leaned closer to him as you pulled one of your hands away from his grip to stroke the strands of hair out of his eyesight. The two of you were acting like a cheesy, newly wedded couple, but you didn't care. As long as he was by your side, everything would be okay.

Being the gentleman Jack was, he had gotten out of the car the moment your father had parked to go ahead and open your door for you. You had blushed yet again at this action. You were easily swooned when it came to him. You grabbed onto his exchanged hand as you grabbed your sari with the other to lift the fabric off the floor as you stepped out of the car. A blush had covered Jack’s pale skin as he watched your every move. You looked, no, you were someone out of a fairy tale. You were beyond beautiful, breaking the scale as you were above it. “well thank you, my prince Naveen.” The both of you knew that ‘prince charming’ would have been the usual phrase, but you didn’t like that. Prince charming didn’t have any personality and Jack was the complete opposite of that, so you had decided to settle on Naveen, who was also your favorite Disney prince. Very ironic, considering your ethnicity. “Y/N!!” You were almost knocked on your butt at the sudden force running into, if that weren’t for Jack holding you by the small of your back. “My sweet boni (wild berry)!” You engulfed her in your arms as you held her against your hip, “for sure has been a while, hasn’t it?” You got a nod in response as she wrapped your arms around you, “missed you!” She had exclaimed, before she made direct eye contact with Jack, who had put on the brightest smile as he waved at her. She shyly waved in return, thinking the older boy in front of her was quite handsome.

“I knew she would be here. Assalamu Alaikum, bhanjee (sister’s daughter).” One of your hundred aunts came up to you, putting her hand on your arm as she leaned to press her cheek against yours. You smiled as you greeted her in return, “Wa’alaikum Salaam, auntie.” You felt Jack shift as his grip on the small of your back tightened. You put your cousin down, before putting your hand on Jack’s chest, the other hugging his arm close to you. “Auntie, this is my boyfriend, Jackson.” Your aunt had looked at the boy from head to toe, making him shake in his shoes. He put his hand on his chest as he nodded his head to greet her, “It’s nice to meet you, miss. And just Jack is alright with me.” You had looked at your aunt for approval, as she still analyzed his figure. “Aren’t you a tall handsome boy! What do your parents do, hm? Please call me auntie!”

If you could crumble through the ground, it would have happened right there and then. “Oh thank you, auntie! Uhm my mom studied bio-“

“Oh doctor!! When are the two of you getting married!”

A heavy blush had covered Jack’s cheeks as you basically pulled Jack with you towards the venue, “Auntie we are going to greet the others, please excuse us!” As you speed walked off with your boyfriend trailing behind you.

“I am so sorry for her,” you bit your lip as you looked down in shame. The two of you were still so young and for your auntie to start talking about marriage, “I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable with that question.” You saw your future in him, even though the two of you were still so young, and you didn’t know if Jack felt the same way. Instead of an awkward response, a laugh had erupted from him, “It’s okay darling. After all, you having my last name doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?”

You had smacked his chest, “We aren’t even twenty, Jack!”

The two of you had walked around greeting other relatives, some you knew and most you didn’t. It was the usual ‘I held you when you were just a baby!’ and ‘I remember when you just learned how to walk’ moment, where you awkwardly smiled in response. The moment they saw Jack, they had all interviewed him like true interviewers whenever he was on press tours. He didn’t mind though, as he would try his hardest for you. Their defensive behavior disappeared the moment he had told them he was an actor, your relatives linking this to being rich. Word spread about you bringing in your white famous boyfriend, other people coming up to the two of you to ask you questions about your relationship. You already felt your social battery draining and the ceremony hadn’t even started yet, so you pulled Jack to the side as another storm of relatives flooded in, late as always cause everyone could never be on time. Luckily for them, the soon-to-be-married couple already counted on this. Once Asian, always Asian. “I have never seen a family this big before.” He had leaned down to whisper that in your ear, his lips pressed against your ear as his hot breath fanned against your skin. His hand was holding your waist as he pulled you closer, “did I already tell you that you look incredible tonight, babe.”

Your hands traveled to his chest, gripping onto his blazer as you looked around, “isn’t this kind of inappropriate of you to do at the wedding of your new family, sir Champion?”

His eyes sparkled as he pulled his face away to flash you a grin, “I can’t help it, mrs. Champion. I like the physical contact.” You chuckled in response, pressing a quick kiss against his plump lips before pulling yourself away from him, the only physical contact being your arm hooking into his. So far, you had mostly met aunties, uncles and distant cousins. Jack didn’t know what was about to come. The scariest part of meeting an Asian family: the older cousins. They were probably running late as always.

“Before you can call me mrs. Champion, you still have some obstacles to win, Jackson Champion.” You weren’t going to lie, you were incredibly worried about him meeting your grandparents and older cousins. You were one of the youngest, so they were extra protective when it came to you. “Which is?”

Before you could answer your dear boyfriend, one of your relatives had gotten on stage with a microphone in her hand, “Namaste, family, friends. We have come here together,” She did her introduction speech, before telling everyone to sit at one of the hundreds of round tables in the huge venue. You smiled at your boyfriend and pulled him along, looking for any familiar faces you could sit with. “(Y/N), here!” You heard your name being called as you looked around. Among the crowded tables, you spotted a few heads peeking out from the crowd. Your older cousins. All sitting together. Holding one chair free for you. You didn’t tell them about Jack coming. You gulped as you headed their way. This was it, the true judging of your boyfriend.

“well good day, rats.” You smirked as they all stood up to engulf you in a hug, or a handshake. Jack stood there awkwardly, waiting for you to introduce him. “Now who is this?” one of your cousins spoke up, walking over to one of the only white people in the room, being sweet Jack.

“guys, this is m-“

“how couldn’t you tell us?! You have been seeing someone all along?!”

“If you could shut up and let me speak, thank you.” You took a step towards Jack, hugging his arm in your chest as you smiled sweetly, “This is obviously my sweet and handsome boyfriend, Jack.” Your older cousins gaped at one another. Even though they had figured it out on their own the moment you walked in with a white boy, they still couldn’t believe it that their little cousin would grow up so early. “Your type differs so much from us, that’s not in a bad way of course! Nice to meet you Jack, I’m ….” Your only first female cousin had spoken up, making the decision to walk up to him with her hand extracted. Jack felt much more at ease, a bright smile on his face as they shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

You gave your other cousins a look, telling them to be nice to your boyfriend. They all groaned, but agreed. They didn’t want you unhappy, after all. All your cousins had greeted Jack, who felt delighted as he felt them opening up to him. You all took a seat, as you secretly stole a chair from the table next to you for Jack to sit down next to you. He put his hand on your thigh as your touch made him feel at ease. You smiled and put your hand on his. The table was decorated with flowers and a beautiful woven cloth, on top all kinds of snacks to eat from. Your relative prepared for her next speech, waiting for everyone to settle down in their seats, as you pulled a few bowls closer to the two of you. You faced Jack, who looked down at the three snacks. “What are these?” he had asked out of genuine curiosity, excited to try it. “So this is aloo tikki, it’s like a fried potato patty. This is banana chips, it’s basically fried overripen bananas. This last one is samosas, it’s my all time favorite. I’m sure you had this before, it’s the potato filled pastry.” You explained as you pointed to all the dishes, given them their easiest description for him. Jack took notice how it was all fried, in oil. He was sure he needed to go to the gym tomorrow, because of all the delicious food he will eat. He first went for the safe option, the one he already knew, the samosas. “warning baby, these are much spicier than the ones I made for you.” You got up from your seat, “let me go get you something to drink, alright? I’ll be back soon.”

“So Jack, what do you do?” one of your cousins had asked him once you went off to the other side of the venue.

“I’m an actor. I have been doing it since I was a child, and now I made my passion my career.” Jack explained, turning to your cousin as he used his hands while talking.

Your other cousin chimed in, “In what movies do you play? Like genre?”

“So far, horror and science fiction. My most recent role was one in scream s-“

Before Jack could finish his sentence, your female cousin chimed in, “OH MY GOD! YOU’RE THE HUMAN KID FROM AVATAR!” She almost fell off her chair as she did so, standing up from her seat and pointing at him, “You’re the bug! The one with the bug name!” her accent clear as she spoke out of pure excitement. In the meantime, your other cousins just stay quiet as they watch their cousin scream like a true Asian mom on the phone. God, this was embarrassing.

Jack tried his best to hold his laughter, “Yes, I play spider yes.”

“Do you plan on playing in romance movies?” the vibe suddenly got dark, as all your cousins stared right into his eyes. It made him nervous, but he knew he couldn’t do more than tell them the truth. “It would be interesting to be in one, as it’s different from what I usually do, but if (Y/N) feels uncomfortable with that thought, then I won’t. I don’t want my relationship to be in danger. There are a lot of other genres with good movie plots.”

Once you had returned with your drinks, it looked like your cousins had opened up just a tad. You didn’t know what they had talked about, but it must be good. You brought him a glass of water to neutralize his tastebuds as you brought a cola for yourself. He didn’t expect the spice to hit him this hard, his mouth on fire as he teared up. Your cousins had laughed at him as he sipped his water, holding onto your hand as he did so. You gently rubbed his cheeks as you grinned, “Now where is my Champion?”

The ceremony had started soon after. Your cousin looked so beautiful in her attire, almost making you tear up as your hand clasped over your mouth. Jack scooted closer to you, wrapping his arm around your shoulders to bring you closer, his other hand rubbing your hand. It might be wishful thinking, but that could be Jack and you in a decade. Oh, how you couldn’t wait to see what the future had in stock for the two of you. Thank god that you wore waterproof mascara, because you bawled your eyes out the moment they had exchanged rings. “baby, it’s okay I’m here.” He had whispered as you sniffed, trying to get it together.

After the ceremony, the dancing began. First it started out as performance dancing, with professional dancers in cultural attires as they put on a show. Jack had taken his phone out to film the happening, so fascinated by the different approach of a wedding. Soon, couples gathered on the dance floor as the professional dancers left the floor. Thee newly wedded couple danced in the middle as the other pairs danced around them. You had gotten up, taking his hand in yours as you pulled him off your chair, “now come on!”

“babe, I don’t know the dance moves-“

“But you know how to dance! Come on!”

You pulled him on the dancefloor, for the sake of your social anxiety and him being in the presence of your huge family, you had decided to stay at the side. “Come on, lets just have fun. Doesn’t matter what we dance, you take the lead Champ.” He grinned at you as he took you in his arms. At first he was a little stiff, twirling you around and moving you from side to side. But as time passed, he grew more comfortable: more himself. The dances got more ‘Jack’ when he did his iconic dance, making you laugh as you threw your head back. The two of you forgot everyone around you as you were only focused on one another, enjoying the moment with the brightest smiles on your face. A sight captured by many.

Eventually, the two of you left the dancefloor, as food would be served soon. You went to the restroom to fix yourself up, Jack following you like a lost puppy as he held onto your hand. You were inside the restroom, touching your makeup and hair up as Jack stood outside, your hands linked together through the door crack. Then you proceeded to return to your table, food already ready and served. It was a plate filled with fresh roti: masala potatoes and chicken, eggs and green beans filling your nostrils. A side of madame jeanette to go with it. Jack had pulled your chair out for you to sit on, before taking a seat himself, “what’s this?” He had asked as he analyzed the plate in front of his nose.

“So this is my favorite dish actually, it’s roti with a bunch of side dishes you eat this with.” You explained as you opened the little wipe packet they gave you to go with, since it’s a dish you’re supposed to eat with your hands. You gave it to Jack as you opened your own wipe, “this is a dish you eat with your hands, so that’s what the wipes are for.” He copied your ways, wiping his fingers down with the wipe as well.

“Okay, so you rip some of the flatbread and you hold it like you’re going to scoop something, then you grab a little bit of everything and put it in your mouth.” You explained as you followed your own instructions, adding some of the madame jeanette to it as well. He had seen you done that, “What is the yellow sauce?” He asked as his eyes focused on his plate. He wasn’t used to eating at all. Of course he ate pizza and chicken wings with his hands, but this still felt different. This felt more cultural. You watched him struggle to split the potatoes in half without letting it fly through the sky. It was kind of cute?

Your gaze returned on his expression as you answered his question from earlier, “It’s spicy, I am not sure if you can handle it. Do you still want to try?”

He nodded, eager to do anything that has to do with your culture. Eager to learn.

“Say ah?”

“huh?”

“I said ‘ahh’ silly.”

“ahh?” Jack had opened his mouth in confusion, not knowing what you meant by it. You then fed him your portion, making him blush a dark shade of red as you pushed the food inside his mouth with your thumb. You pulled your hand away, looking at his expression with a bright grin. As he chewed, his eyes widened when the spice hit his tongue. It felt like his tastebuds were burning off. He had swallowed though, since the taste was exquisite. If only he could taste it better without the distracting spice. You quickly brought the glass of water to his lips, your hand under his chin as he eagerly gulped his drink done, his hand on yours to keep the cup steady.

This sure was an experience to tell at home.

#jack champion headcannons #jack champion imagine #jack champion x reader #jack champion is taking my brain over #jack champion #ethan landry headcanons #ethan landry #ethan landry x reader #chaethewriter

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thirst4light · 10 months

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In Memoriam

This is my first try at Vanmozhi Fanfiction. Inspired from the PS 2 movie scene. Planning to do a two part follow-up of this prologue. Let me know what you think!

Prologue

'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.’ (In Memoriam A. H. H., 27.13-17)

The sky of Thanjavur was strangely grey on a Vaikasi afternoon as the people waited for their beloved crown prince, Aditha Karikalan, to come home.

Only this time, there was no line of excited girls, wearing their best sarees, chattering away with their aarti thali on the steps of majestic Thanjavur fort, waiting to catch a glimpse of their handsome prince.

Instead, a grief-stricken royal family waited patiently. Chakrvarthi and the young prince, Ponniyin Selvan were waiting at the front, while the women of the royal family waited behind.

Slightly behind the royal family, Kodombalur Ilavarasi Vanathi was also waiting along with other royal women, looking over the sea of the people that gathered at the outer court of the fort. Since last night, as the news of the prince’s death spread, people kept coming from all corners of the Cholanadu.

While Vanathi waited, she thought of everything and nothing.

Such a contrast, Vanathi reflected, looking at the grey sky briefly before her gaze settled on the royal family who were clad in pristine white, a decorum when someone in the family passes away.

As if even the sky was mourning along with this family.

Vanathi’s thoughts got interrupted as people’s clamour suddenly increased, making her focus at the entry gate of the fort.

Finally, Aditha Karikalan had arrived in Thanjavur.

In the city where he grew up. In the city where he belongs.

A long procession of regiment came by foot, closely followed by the prince's beloved horse regiment, waving the chola flag.

From where she was standing, Vanathi could see the chariot carrying the prince’s body from a distance, closely flanked by his trusted fighting companions, Manamalyan, Parthibendran and Vanthiyadevan; not leaving their beloved prince’s side, even in death.

As the chariot slowly moved across the crowd, Vanathi could hear muffled cries while some people started to shower flower petals at the chariot, a sign of their last respect to their Ilavarase. A section of the crowd even started to tussle with the guards to touch the chariot and pray.

It took a long time for the guards to clear the way for the chariot to cross the short distance of the entry gate to the steps of the fort.

When the chariot carrying the prince's body finally stopped in front of the fort stairs, there was a momentary pause among the royal family members.

As if they could not believe what they were seeing.

The ailing Chakravarty was the first to break down as he could not support his weight anymore. Ponniyin Selvan gripped his father tightly, making sure his father could come down the stairs to meet his beloved elder son.

Raṇi varataṭcaṇai Sembiyan Mahadevi, Rani Vanavan Mahadevi, Iliya Piratti slowly started to walk behind the Chakravarty to meet their nephew, son and brother, Aditha Karikalan, one last time. Vanathi followed them as well, her steps heavy with grief.

As everyone in the family huddled at the front of the chariot and tried to caress the beloved prince’s face, the cries of the Chakravarti and Rani were the most heart-breaking. Vanathi, who was standing at the end of the chariot, could not take it anymore. She bowed her head, closed her eyes to drown out the sound of cries and desperately put her hands together in prayer.

Ishvara, may the Ilavarase join you in heaven. And…And give my beloved royal family and the people of Cholanadu the strength to overcome this difficult time.

Vanathi stayed still for a few minutes, hoping the cries had subdued. As she opened her eyes, she knew that her attempt at focusing on praying was futile.

But she had to try.

In desperation, her eyes searched for the only face that could give her strength at this moment.

As her eyes landed on Ponniyin Selvan’s face, Vanathi realized, despite being such a pillar of strength to his father, the young prince could not hold himself together anymore.

His face contorted with unspeakable grief; tears were streaming down his eyes continuously.

Vanathi had endured loss in various forms from a very young age. Her mother’s death, even though she had never met her, had left a deep wound in her childhood. Then her father’s death at Ilankai war, leaving her as an orphan in this cruel world. Then bidding farewell to her only father like figure uncle Periya Velar before every war, not knowing whether he would return alive from them was always tantamount to loss for her….Yet, no pain of these losses compared to the pain of seeing her beloved Ponniyin Selvan grieving at this moment.

Until this point, Vanathi did not realize that she had been crying along with everyone else. But seeing her Ponniyin Selvan break down like this, fresh tears blocked her vision completely. Her heart felt so heavy that for a moment she felt like she could not breathe anymore.

Wiping her tears with pallu, Vanathi took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

As the guards started to move to take the chariot away for cremation, on a whim, Vanathi decided to come at the front of the chariot and touch Ilavarase Aditha Karikalan’s feet, seeking blessings.

An opportunity she never had before.

While she looked at the crown prince’s resting face one last time, Vanathi realized, in death, Aditha Karikalan had finally found his peace.

The peace that he had been searching for a long time.

Tagging my enablers who I have on my profile: @harinishivaa @nspwriteups @balladedutempsjadis @celestesinsight @thelekhikawrites @reeeereeeereeereee @whippersnappersbookworm @sambaridli

Feel free to tag others/reblog if you like :)

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saltyluminaryvoid · 1 year

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“Cold was the steel of my axe to grind.”

A story of a daughter’s newfound quest for her family.

In which the daughter of Elijah Mikaelson and Princess Samira Parvati Agrawal is betrayed by her own and imprisoned for several centuries. When the hollow sacrifices Elijah it triggers unforeseen consequences onto humanity and the supernatural world. The escape of the dhampyre releases nearly a thousand years of blood thirst and unbridled rage onto vampire kind and anyone who stands in her way for revenge.

CHAPTER ONE

In the cool air of the August night, a woman moved gracefully through Agrawal Palace, tiny bells upon her ankles announcing her every step as she carefully balanced two trays one ladled with cold lemonade and the other with fresh bread and cheese.

Parvati! a voice calls in the distance, ‘you could have called for me and I would have come to assist you.’ Sister, Parvati calls softly nothing will fall and be ruined, the golden-skinned beauty teases as she removes her hold upon the trays only to leave them hovering mid-air, ‘that’s the beauty of magic’ she softly demonstrates. Her baby sister a fiery red-headed Indian woman tsked her, ‘Well at least it would have given me something to do, while our sister occupies herself with her warrior training.’ Orrrr, Parvati begins to tease you can practise your English and allow your elder sisters some much-needed peace. Aarushi only pouts as she descends the stairway, the length of her silken saree flowing with the gentle breeze, Parvati follows into the large courtyard trays trailing mid-air alongside as she joins Aarushi under the large Willow happy with the reprieve the nights brought from the hot Indian summers. Her younger sister Lokirina dutifully practices her sword fighting, clothed in nothing but dragon hide armour, no doubt kept cool from the many magical runes inscribed onto her armour.

Parvati sips her lemonade, half-mindedly listening to her sister prattle on about how pretty the Patel twins are. She recalls the many nights Lokrinia and father stalked and hunted the dragon which terrorised neighbouring lands. In her foolish bravery she remembers almost being killed for her hubris, her father’s broken cries as he cradled her sister’s burnt body. She’ll never forget the way fear and panic racked her body when the healers announced Lokirina now fully healed from her burns many never awaken as her mind had retreated too far for magic to heal.

Parvati had never felt so useless, as the eldest child of the greatest coven to exist in the Vijayanagar Empire Parvati was the problem solver. The one her siblings turned to when they were far out of their depths, the one her father groomed to take up the mantle of Thakurani, the ruler who fell under the great Maharaj of the Empire. In her passing hopelessness, Parvati had assembled the greatest witches and warlocks of the empire and together they slayed the dragon and affirmed her position as the most beloved Kumari in history. Her sister’s dragon hide armour was carefully cut and within its skins, all manner of protective and tracking runes were sown.

She recalls her once loving father who made it his priority to be involved in the education and rearing of his girls despite still mourning his beloved wife and heading his kingdom. She knew he once truly loved her in the way he’d patiently explain complicated theoretical magic, in the way he lovingly feed her bites of food when she was too caught up with her newest magical project or the way he hid the pain his face whenever she looked far too much like her mother or even the way he never resented her as she was the admissible evidence her mother’s heart would always lie with Elijah.

Bitterly she thought, he didn’t love me anymore why else would he have plotted with the spirit Esther to seal her away?

Why else would he turn the coven against her once he discovered the truth of what her father really was?

Why else would he punish her sisters alongside her when they refuse to turn against her?

Why else would he have thought of such a brutal prison to seal her away so she could never fully transition?

Because of him they were forever trapped within a prison world, doomed to repeat this one day until the end of time, she was doomed to live in an unending loop of fiery torment clawing at her throat. A torment which could only be sated by the dhampyre natural prey, a vampire.

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goosemixtapes · 5 months

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max's november 2023 reads

so many online articles this month. which is maybe why i feel like i'm making 0 progress on my hard copy books. in december i'll need to reprioritize, it seems. i also wrote next to nothing this month, which probably explains why i read so many online articles.

fiction

Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene, books 5-6

the latter half of Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin (again)

Shakespeare's Richard III (again, + i started Linda Charnes' Notorious Identity)

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins (review)

Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins (review)

Vergil's Georgics, book 3

i continue to chug away at asoiaf #3 but god knows it is neverending

nonfiction

Getting Involved and Staying Regulated by Devon Price (↳ on finding your place in the fight for palestinian liberation)

The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin (↳ on the patriarchal domination of the war narrative, and our other options)

The Cool Kid's Philosopher by Nathan J. Robinson (↳ on Ben Shapiro)

Propaganda 101: How To Defend A Massacre by Nathan J. Robinson (↳ on biased reporting, using the I/P conflict as an example, though this is from 2018 rather than recent)

A Guide For High School Students On How To Avoid Propaganda by Nathan J. Robinson (↳ what the title says; i found it useful despite not being in high school anymore)

the latter half of Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price (review)

What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men? by Clare Dederer (↳ found this one rather disappointing. i like the start, but the gender takes feel lukewarm and imo there's not enough emphasis on the structural vs. individual. this is a nice counterpoint)

Physical Destruction in Whole or in Part by Saree Makdisi (↳ "What we’re witnessing in Gaza, in other words, is not self-defense; it is an opportunistic offensive. It is not a “war,” the word used mendaciously and misleadingly by most of the mainstream Western press; it is a campaign of genocidal violence.")

the first chapter of Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano

the first two chapters of The Great White Bard: How To Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race by Farah Karim-Cooper

a close read of my MFA statement of purpose by Brandon Taylor (↳ on goals, responsibilities, and fictions)

On Mental Hospitals by Ozy Brennan (↳ this is pretty short but very worth it)

How An Algorithm Feels From Inside by Eliezer Yudkowsky (↳ on the psychology of the tree-falls-in-a-forest question)

Scrupulosity Sequence #3: Load-Bearing Things by Ozy Brennan (↳ posts i am clinging to with my fingernails)

Why Are AMAB Trans People Denied The Closet? by Julia Serano (↳ on "gendered socialization" and closeted transfemininity)

Trans Masc Misogyny and the Red Six of Spades by Jude Ellison S. Doyle (↳ "No-one is ever actually a man. Everyone is always in the act of proving they’re a man, first by dominating women and children, then by dominating other men, establishing higher and higher rungs of man-ness until at the end, presumably, the one Real Man in existence gets to be in charge of everyone and everything else.")

Henry Kissinger, War Criminal Beloved By America's Ruling Class, Finally Dies by Spenser Ackerman (↳ clicked for the title, stayed for the comprehensive and vicious takedown of kissinger's crimes)

#max.txt #readings #i also read some fanfiction but that's between me and god.#if you're wondering how i have the time for this i don't. i should be writing. i also don't talk to anyone

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fangirlshrewt97 · 2 years

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Tale As Old As Time... (Part 1)

Can I just say. I love this fandom. I love writing fics for it. I love writing fics for Rambheem. And now, Dhruya too. But @burningsheepcrown, though she pretends to be an angel is actually a demon sent specifically to distract me from my work? And deny you the fics you actually followed me for?

This isn’t a fic-fic. Or not intended to be. It was NOT supposed to be a story. It wasn’t supposed to be anything. But it turned into a monstrosity I will need to split and share in multiple parts. Look at what I have been reduced to. And does @burningsheepcrown grant me any mercy or compassion? No. She just adds petrol to the raging fire. She’s terrible. Terrible!!!

Anyways, here is a story that started off from her sending me this photo of Jai in Magadheera’s world. So, here is to another Charak Crossover ship, Jai x Kala Bhairava, or Jairava (first proposed by @tuloblurbs) . I hope it is interesting. For all the big rant above, I did enjoy figuring out the puzzle of this story.

Here we go.

Full work Ao3 Link.

(Next Chapter)

///

Let me try to tell you a story. A story of love. A story of betrayal. But most of all, a story of coming to learn and accept a love you don’t believe yourself to be worthy of.

We have a Kala Bhairava at the top of his game, the beloved warrior and protector of the kingdom of Udaigarh. We have the princess, Mithravinda Devi, falling for this man. This beautiful, kind, brave and strong soldier who’s sworn to protect her. We have a king who wishes he could give his daughter her happiness, but a battle lies ahead of them, and he will not see his crown jewel, his most precious treasure, reduced to white sarees and unending grief. We have an enemy, the fierce Sher Khan, at the gate of the kingdom. And we have a story that does not end well for either the soldier or the princess.

Let’s change the story.

Let’s say that the enemy backs down when he sees Kala Bhairava’s bravery in battle, and the honesty in his heart. Who is impressed by the humility and respect he shows him. Let us have the mighty warrior king reconsider, say that he is willing to consider an alternative route other than conquest.

Let us have a petty and rejected princeling seething with jealousy as his rival wins the hearts of all whom he meets, and will now likely marry the princess. Let us have him hatching another plot, go knocking at the door of the tyrant king known for his cruelty and carelessness. The king who cares more for power and wealth than human life.

Let us have Jai as King Raavan, harsh and merciless where his namesake was kind and just. Let us have a man present him with an opportunity to disrupt a meeting that could leave two kingdoms exposed for his taking on a silver platter.

And because life is messy, let us have the compromise Sher Khan and King Vikram include a marriage between Khan’s nephew and Princess Mithravinda. Kala Bhairava is heart broken that even after everything he will not be able to be with his love. But he has sworn an oath on his life and he will not throw away his word. No matter how much Mithravinda begs and pleads and hurts him with her delicate fists. He gets her to see reason, and breaks their hearts in the process. It is necessary, even if it hurts so much.

Let us have Kala Bhairava leading the procession as Mithravinda is escorted to Sher Khan’s palace where the wedding will take place. And let us have Bhairava indulging in a rare drink because he is about to watch his love marry another, lose her forever. Let him be woken up by cries that the princess has been kidnapped. Let news come through that her intended has also been declared missing.

The two kingdoms are up in arms, convinced there is subterfuge and an attempt at trickery by the other to not go through with the treaty. There is foul play where the royal heirs are the pawns.

Let them receive a taunt from the tyrant king, and have both the Royals feel cold sweat run down their spine. If the prince and princess are with the tyrant king… King Vikram cries, sure that his daughter is dead, or lost forever. Sher Khan fumes that another was able to steal his heir from under his own nose, and starts to investigate how this could have happened.

Let us have a Bhairava who refuses to accept that the princess is lost forever. Let us have him volunteers to go retrieve her. King Vikram does not want to see this kind soul die, but he knows in this matter Bhairava will defy him if he is denied. He lets him go.

Let us have Bhairava infiltrate the kingdom of the tyrant king…and he is confused. All he has heard is how this is a place of misery, where babies cries go unattended, and there are more orphans than parents. A place where hope is minimal and temporary, and kindness has no place because everyone is fighting just to survive.

The kingdom, in reality, is just like his own. There is fear in people’s eyes when guards pass by them, but people are living. Children play and babies are laughing, and an old woman gives him one of the two bananas she holds in her hands because she heard his stomach growl.

Bhairava doesn’t understand. He goes to the palace. It is looming, and large, and dark. Painted black and brown, with mosaic glasses that fraction the light entering through them. It feels cold and he feels a shiver run down his back, like he is being watched. He manages to smuggle himself into the dungeons, but doesn’t find his princess. He grows worried.

He heads back out, and bumps into someone, feels a warm hand grasp his elbow in a punishing grip. He bites back the gasp of pain, and when he meets the eyes of his captor, gasps at the way the gaze seems to penetrate to his very core. His brain is screaming at him that he is in danger, that he is facing down a python, a viper, that he will die if he lets it bite. He feels his heart race and his breath stutter. But before either can speak, a crash in the distance provides just enough time for Bhairava to slip away.

His dreams that night are haunted by dark brown eyes. Not the soft ones that look like gold in the sunlight as the Princess’s. The eyes are the black of an abyss, the kind that you cannot escape if you fall into.

Let us have Bhairava eventually finding the princess is being held in the royal quarters, in one of the guest rooms. At night, he climbs the palace facade till he gets the right room and he meets her. Mithravinda throws herself at him, and Bhairava holds her tight. His heart still twists at the sight of her, but even in his head she has reverted back to being his Princess. His duty. Is his heart so fickle?

Before they can escape though, guards enter her room and capture them both. Or, they escape and the alarms are raised. Either way, Bhairava is not fast enough to take her out of the city walls where his most trusted men were awaiting them.

Bhairava and Mithravinda are dragged to the throne room. It is a massive, cavernous space filled with intimidating shadows, where the ministers are hidden inside their niches. Where the fire illuminates a clear path down the aisle to a massive throne. A swing hangs in place of a throne where a lone figure sits in a black kurti and snow white dhoti, with simple golden anklets around his feet, and two chains around his neck. A lone ring glints from his left upper ear. He doesn’t wear a crown. But what fool would not recognize him for what he is?

Bhairava’s heart pounds as his eyes meet the black abyss eyes of the tyrant king. The same ones of the stranger who nearly caught him on his first attempt. The same ones that have been haunting his nights since. The guards lead them till they are at the foot of the stairs from the dais, and make them kneel.

Let’s switch perspectives.

Let’s have Jai looks at these outsiders. One, the princess who is either foolishly brave, or bravely foolish. Who was so adamant that her protector would come and would see Jai’s head roll. Who even now, with a sword scant inches from her throat glares at him, refusing to bow her head. He would almost smile at her viciousness if not for her … companion.

Even surrounded by the enemy, caught trying to kidnap a hostage, knowing he will likely not live to see the sunrise, the man does not looked scared at all. If anything, he looks stunned. At being caught? He had hardly been cautious. Jai himself had let him slip that day by the dungeons. He didn’t quite understand why.

But no, the man does not shift his gaze from Jai even once. Not even to quiet the princess who starts to spew her vitriol.

No matter. A side eye is enough to shut her up. He rises, and he sees his guards stiffen as he descends the dais. Kaaka makes a noise behind him, but his advisor knows better than to confront him so publicly. He stops in front of the soldier, grasping his jaw roughly and forcing him to stretch as Jai yanks him up.

“And what is your name?”

The solider remains silent. Jai raises an eyebrow, squeezing his face. The solider winces. “Bhairava. Kala Bhairava.”

Ahh, the rival that snivelling rat had been trying to get rid of. Well that made sense, no one would choose that coward over this specimen here. Jai looked Bhairava in the eye. Bhairava did not flinch or blink or squirm. He let himself be suspended uncomfortable, neck muscles stretched where Jai held his jaw.

But it was not a passive lamb Jai was holding. No, those eyes burned with a fire Jai could feel in his bones, a need to do the honorable thing, and an innocence he wanted to sink his flesh into and tear apart.

“What were you doing in the princess’s room, Kala Bhairava?”

“Returning her home.”

“Oh?” Jai asked, amused. “You thought you could escape my pa-pa-palace so easily?”

The soldier stayed silent.

He glanced at the princess who had drawn herself up as much as she could in her knees, eyes burning with hatred as she saw how he held the soldier. Interesting.

“Would you die for her, Kala Bhairava?” Jai mused.

“Yes.” came the immediate reply.

Jai smiled, a terrifying smile that had too many teeth. He whipped out his axe from its hiding place within the folds of his clothes, bringing the blade to rest against Bhairava’s throat.

“No!” the princess screamed, a screeching thing that made Jai’s lips curl in disgust.

“Silence! Or I will have you ga-ga-gagged.”

He turned back to the soldier, pressing the blade just a millimeter into the soft skin. Bhairava hissed, but didn’t avert his gaze or close his eyes. Interesting indeed.

The serpent that coiled around Jai’s heart slithered in his chest, a curious spark being lit. Jai wanted to see this man break. See him cry and plead and beg. Beg for Jai. Beg for mercy. Beg for … more. Jai wanted him. It almost surprised him. He couldn’t recall the last person that had captivated him so.

He ran a finger down the other man’s cheekbone, pupils dilating when Bhairava shivered under his touch. He wanted to bite at that plump lip, bruise it. Mark his claim into that lovely neck, cover him in his declaration.

He stepped back, turning his back on the prisoners as he climbed back to sit on his swing.

“Rise, Kala Bhairava.”

The soldier did not stumble or hesitate, rising with the fluidity of a dancer.

Jai wanted to see him in silk clothes. See him decked in golden jewelery that set his dark skin aglow. Weave gemstones and pearls into his hair, clasp anklets with bells that chimed whenever he walked. He wanted to see him bow his head to him, to kneel on his own at Jai’s feet. He wanted to see those lips curve into a smile just for him. And see his back arch as he screamed Jai’s name. God help him, Jai wanted to hear the soldier scream.

“The princess can go.” Jai declared, sending a shock through the room. He saw Kaaka do a double take and try to say something but he raised his hand to quieten the noise. “You are to take her place. Do this, and she is free to go. Try to fi-fi-fight, or esssss-cape, and I will have my men cut you down where you st-stand. And then I will kill her. And then see your kingdom burn.”

“What?!” The princess screeched again and Jai regretted not gagging her. “Bhairava, don’t listen to him. He can’t be trusted.”

The soldier was clearly stunned, mouth dropped open in the most alluring way. Jai’s eyes were glued to him.

An eternity of a minute passed before the solider nodded clunkily. Something dark crowed victoriously in his chest, as Jai smiled his wolfish smile again. “Am I to be your prisoner?”

Jai shrugged, a careless gesture as he lecherously ran his eyes over Bhairava’s figure. ��Prisoner, slave, bedwarmer, concubine. You would be mine to do with as I saw fit.”

“How dare you!” The princess spit out. “You will not get away with this.”

Jai’s smirk turned cruel, sending the temperature of the room plummeting. Even the princess stumbled back a step as she was the predator surface for a minute. “What am I doing wrong Princess? I proposed a deal, and he accepted it of his own free will.”

“Bhairava!” The princess pleaded, turning to the soldier.

The soldier paused, glancing at the princess before looking back at him. It was the first time he had looked away from Jai since they had been brought before him. It made Jai’s fist curl at his side. He never wanted those eyes to look away. “What of Sher Khan’s nephew?”

Jai glanced lazily at Kaaka, “Tell the men to drop him off outside the city gates.”

Kaaka’s jaw clenched, the look in his eyes promising an argument. But for now, Kaaka nodded woodenly and walked away.

“How can I know you will keep your word?” The soldier piped up. Jai raised his eyebrow at him. “How do I know you will let them live and you won’t start a war anyways?”

Jai laughed. Or rather, he cackled. “You don’t.”

Let’s switch back.

Bhairava is being presented with too easy a choice. His life, just his life, in exchange for the princess’s safe return? For preventing a war between the kingdoms that would result in so much unnecessary death? So what if he was stripped of his dignity? What if he was subjected to a life of hard labor? For all the man was menacing, nothing he had seen thus far led Bhairava to believe he would actually go back on his word. For some ineffable reason…Bhairava trusted him.

There was nothing to think about, even as Mithravinda was crying to his side.

“I accept your deal.”

That smile again. Bhairava felt his brain screaming again. He felt the skin of his throat still burning, and his jaw aching where that large hand had gripped it. He felt his knees still shaking, but mostly he saw his vision narrowing till the world disappeared except for those dark eyes. He felt hunted. He wanted to run. He was trapped by that gaze.

He was trapped, and he could not regret that decision.

///

TBC…

Also, yeah the song is from Beauty and the Beast, but believe me those lyrics are giving me the exact vibe I want for their relationship.

Did this style work? I feel like I dropped it half way through... 😅 😅 😅

Feedback is appreciated.

Tagging (Please please work, Tumblr I beg you): @rambheem-is-real @budugu @bromance-minus-the-b @junebugyeahhh @hissterical-nyaan @obsessedtoafault @hufhkbgg @yehsahihai @rorapostsbl @bluesolace1 @fadedscarlets @alikokinav @chaotic-moonlight @rambheemisgoated @rambheemlove @jaganmaya @burningsheepcrown @lovingperfectionwonderland @rosayounan @iam-siriuslysher-lokid @thewinchestergirl1208 @dumdaradumdaradum @ronaldofandom @jjwolfesworld @jrntrtitties @kashpaymentsonly @jeonmahi1864 @zackcrazyvalentine @stanleykubricks @m3gs1mps4a @tulodiscord @teddybat24 @sally-for-sally @ssabriel @jadebomani @stuckyandlarrystuff @veteran-fanperson @ohfuckoffpls

#rrr #jairava #jai lava kusa #jai x bhairava #kala bhairava #bhairava #magadheera #my fic #my writing #TAOAT

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ramayantika · 1 year

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Fic Masterlist

Ch-3: The beloved's wedding bells

Aarnika's exile made her feel grateful about the ample amount of freedom she had with herself. Only her mother cared about her whereabouts, and she never minded where her daughter went or who she was meeting. The queen trusted her daughter to behave responsibly, so apart from her motherly concern about her daughter's well-being, she was okay with whatever Aarnika did in the Kanakgarh palace. She had no problems with Aarnika going to Dwarka to attend Krishna's wedding, and had only asked her to be careful so that nobody from Mahishaka could know about her presence in Dwarka.

The palace originally belonged to the king's sister who died an untimely death after the birth of her firstborn. Since then, the palace was taken care of by some servants and caretakers until Aarnika arrived.

The Kanakgarh palace was splendid. Constructed out of sandstone, its walls and pillars well decorated with beautiful designs and sculptures that enthralled guests and other visitors. Aarnika's arrival had caused some buzz in the small city and after some time the locals had befriended the princess and would often send some of their handmade crafts or fruits from their own lands to her. As she lived alone, after managing the city affairs regarding trade and security, she would be found strolling in the city lanes talking to her people or would play with the kids. Sometimes, she also helped to solve minute disputes which made people like her even more.

The women liked to call Aarnika as Rani Aarnika, but she would politely ask them not to call her as their queen, but they never listened and in the end, she had to agree to let them call her their queen. Somewhere inside her heart it made her feel happy and proud that these people had accepted her so easily and loved her so much.

"How much distance do we still have to cover?" Aarnika asked one of the palanquin bearers.

"Half a prahar, my princess. I suggest you to to sleep inside and we will wake you up when we reach the entrance."

Shaking her head, she replied, "How can I sleep when all of you are tirelessly walking? I had told you that I would use the horse and then board the palanquin when we enter the city. Nobody listens to me."

The palanquin bearer, a strong burly man smiled and answered, "Our princess must have the finest entrance. Besides, the sun would be too harsh on your skin. We will let you use the horse in an hour after the afternoon sun redues its glaze."

She could address her broken heart in private after coming back from the wedding. Without wasting any time, Aarnika had packed some of her possessions to visit Dwarka and attend Krishna's wedding while also harbouring a secret desire to meet his bride, Rukmini too see what kind of lady she was.

Aarnika was absentmindedly tracing over the scroll. She had carried it with her and had already read it a hundred times, with each count, her heart felt heavy with the pain of losing out on a loved one. What was worse was that she could never tell him about her affections. Perhaps, her heart would have felt a little more lighter if she could tell her feelings about him instead of sulking in her one sided love story.

But do we always get the things we desire for?

After getting bored with her musings about the future and about the wedding, she decided to clear her head and heart by looking out at the view outside her palanquin. Nimble fingers well groomed and adorned with alta and jewelled rings parted the shiny curtains of the palanquin. Aarnika's eyes were greeted with a majestic view of a green landscape of hills, forests, fields and small lakes.

The afternoon sun had reduced its glare and was peacefully resting by a hilltop. The green hills lead their shadows to fall on the road. She could see some men walking near the hill, carrying wood and axes. Some women dressed in sarees upto their knees were carrying wood on their heads with one hand and the other hand held their children tightly.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment after admiring the scenery around her. It felt peaceful. The pleasant sight had also calmed her heart. Being a princess, she had understood from a very young age that this lifestyle would entail meeting other royals and eminent dignitaries. As a young teen, she was always chaperoned with her mother when meeting officials or other important guests.

A small smile graced her lips as her mind drifted to the time when she had begun living alone in the Kanakgarh palace. An eminent scholar was to visit the princess and she was freaking out as the days neared to his arrival. Luckily, she had received him well and had also learnt a lot from him along with the heavy discussion and debate they had over various topics. From then on, her confidence had increased to talk and handle people on her own, but it still did not drive away her jitters whenever she had to meet someone new.

And for someone, she had romantic feelings for, coupled with meeting the person at their wedding after so long, the jitters had increased.

She closed her eyes and mumbled, "Devi Parvati, please let me not do or say anything stupid there."

With her eyes closed in prayer and the gentle winds that were now blowing, it took no time for the princess to fall asleep. Her mind began showing Krishna in her dreams and all her fantasies she had about the charming young man, but in the end, just like all beautiful dreams have to end abruptly with someone waking you up, the princess was not spared either.

"We have reached, rajkumari ji."

She hurriedly opened her eyes and rubbed her face. Peering slightly outside her palanquin, to see Dwaraka, all her drowsiness vanished in a jiffy as the golden city stood in front of her in all its glory.

It was said that the city was far more beautiful than Indra's swarga. Large golden palaces, its walls and pillars decorated with coloured stones to light up at night. The archways were decorated with precious stones, making them gleam all day and night. With the wedding preparations, the city appeared to have decked up like a new bride. The markets, the city squares, homes, each place was buzzing with activity.

People of Dwaraka were quite fashionable it seemed. Aarnika observed how so many wore the most expensive of fabrics, even the children. Men and women equally wore a lot of jewellery. Camps were placed in the entire city to allow arrangements for musicians and performers for the soon to be wed couple.

"Rajkumari, I think it would be better that you use the palanquin. Look at how grand everything is! Your arrival too must be memorable," Sukanya said, as her eyes twinkled at all the grandeur of Dwaraka.

Aarnika smiled and asked the palanquin to be put down. Motioning for her horse, she said, "Which is why, I believe I must ride a horse. I don't think any lady would choose a horse to enter with all these heavy sarees and jewels. Besides, I also want to see the palace closely." Maybe also see Krishna once?

The servants relented and let her use the horse. The path to the entrance too was beautiful decorated with colourful flags and banners. On the side of the road, stalls were installed to serve refreshments for guests who were coming from far away palaces.

The horse trotted to the entrance gate and Aarnika who otherwise was completely taken by the decor and beauty of the city had suddenly began to feel nervous once again. So many people were going to be there. Princessee, princes, kings, queens and other high ranking officials. She was here alone with neither friend nor family.

I should have used the palanquin…

She saw a young girl dressed in a shimmery golden blouse and skirt, a loosely draped purple dupatta over the shoulder, standing at the gate with some servants who were scurrying around with flowers and seals. Krishna had sent a seal to Aarnika too which would function as some sort of identification for the important guests.

Aarnika fetched the seal from Sukanya and rode to the gate. The girl dressed in gold smiled at her and asked one of the soldiers to examine the sea. "You have come alone, princess, it seems."

Shrugging, Aarnika replied, "Oh yes, I couldn't get my family to come with me. Also, I am glad to have some alone time here. My parents won't go looking around for suitable matches, so I can breathe."

The girl laughed, her dupatta stealthily slid down her shoulder which she hastily picked up. "I feel you. I am quite young, but I too have some older ladies pestering me to look at some princes of my age who have come here to make an alliance. Nice to meet you, princess, I am Subhadra."

The princess gasped. "Krishna's youngest sister, aren't you? I am so sorry, I couldn't recognize you earlier though I did think that you must be someone from the Dwarakan royal family – my god, I should have known you."

Subhadra was the most pampered child in the family. The brother duo, Krishna and Balaram doted on their sister and so did the elders. As a child, her chubby cheeks and sweet talk won over every person who met her. The fifteen year old princess looked no less beautiful and Aarnika was sure that once she would reach adulthood, her beauty would be talked about in the entire Aryavarta.

Brown doe eyes looked at Aarnika, an adorable pout on her pink lotus petal like lips. "Earth to you, princess. May I have your name too? I might be around you in the wedding to save myself from the ladies."

"I am Aarnika from Mahi-"

"It's you?! Kanha bhaiya told me about you. Salutations to Shiva, I finally got the opportunity to meet you. Did you know I had to annoy Kanha bhaiya so much just to get to know your name like come on… your brother is writing letters to someone so late at night after such a busy schedule, with a beautiful smile on his lips when anybody else would just want to collapse on the bed. You definitely would want to know who it is.

"And by chance, I found out that he was writing to some princess. I thought he was writing to his lover or something, and believe me, I had even asked him. Do you know what did he say?"

Aarnika's heart was beating too fast. She was sure that no way did Krishna hold any romantic affection for her, but she did want to know what he said about her.

"Pray, tell me, what did he say?"

"Subhadrey, you cannot know everything. You need to let fate take its own course too. Things are going to unfurl themselves on their own." Subhadra kept a finger under her chin and glanced at the sky. "My theory is that Kanha bhaiya can know the future. He always has this knowing smile on his face, as if he knows all the secrets of the Universe."

Aarnika looked down to the ground and smiled at the chattering girl whose attention had suddenly moved towards a figure clad in a red and green garment, their feet walking hurriedly outside.

"Bhratashree, if you are trying to meet your bride, I will let you, but if you are caught, it's not on me."

The person lifted the veil from their face and it was none other than Krishna. Wearing a red blouse and a green skirt, a green dupatta partially covering the head, he turned around and grimaced, saying, "Ever the keen eyes, isn't it Subhadrey? Wait a moment," He turned his eyes towards Aarnika, "You have finally arrived! I am glad you could make it to the wedding."

Aarnika's happiness knew no bounds. She was finally seeing him again after four long years. For her, these four years were akin to four births. She had noticed that the young lord had grown more handsome. Blushing, she replied, "How could I not come, Krishna? Besides, I always try to be with my friends in their good times and bad times while totally ignoring the fact that I have only two dear friends in my circle."

Subhadra feigned a mock gasp and sadly looked at Aarnika. "You don't count me as your third then."

Laughing heartily, Aarnika shook her head. "Okay, dearest princess, you are my third friend. Happy?"

A small smile played on Krishna's lips, his eyes twinkling with the knowledge of a future only known to him as he looked at his sister and Aarnika. The latter felt his eyes on her and shyly gazed at him when he said, "Subhadrey, take care of Aarnika. She is my special guest. Now allow me to leave to meet my bride in secret. Goodbye!"

Aarnika gulped and nodded at him, painfully aware that he would never be able to be hers, the last sentence had pierced her heart once again. Huffing, she asked Subhadra, "Well, where am I supposed to go now?"

"Oh my, I totally forgot about it. Come with me, I don't think anybody else is going to come now for a while and even if they do, the guards and some of the servants will take care of it. I will personally escort you to your chamber."

**** *** **** ***** ***** **** **** *** ***

The bride and bridegroom looked as if Vishnu and Lakshmi themselves had descended on earth to marry each other again. The guests showered praise and admiration at the couple. Some even compared their wedding to that of the Gods while some commented that the grandeur had surpassed the level of the residents of Swarga loka.

Subhadra, apart from running around near the mandapam, tagged along with Aarnika to escape from the royal ladies who were hell bent to secure Dwarka's lovely princess for their sons. Aarnika, being the demure and reserved one, stood at one side, looking at the rituals and smiling at Subhadra. Sometimes, her eyes drifted towards Krishna.

He lovingly looked at his bride, Rajkumari Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha. Rukmini looked resplendent in her bridal attire. Aarnika had no doubt that Krishna would fall in love with her at first sight. Sometimes the couple would sneakily look at each other, and Rukmini would blush when Krishna met her gaze.

"I never told you how these two are getting married right? Rukmini bhabhi asked bhaiya to abduct her. Pretty brave, don't you think?" Aarnika was too lost in her own world of heartbrokenness to hear Subhadra.

"Didi? Are you alright?"

That broke Aarnika out of her gloomy state. "Huh – what? Were you saying something? I am sorry – probably the journey has made me feel tired so early on."

Frowning slightly, Subhadra cautiously looked at her. Aarnika's eyes had reddened at the corners slightly, her fair cheeks too bore some red shade.

"Are you crying? Did I upset you?" Subhadra touched Aarnika's arm gently. Her touch caused Aarnika to shed some more tears that had pooled near the corner of her eyes.

Tear laden blue eyes looked up at the gentle eyes of Subhadra. It had been so long since someone had asked her that question. It had been so long since someone had touched her with so much tenderness. All these years, as a child, Aarnika would go to her mother for comfort after hearing relentless insults or scoldings by her father. Growing up into a woman, she realized that she was on her own. She could not see her mother's pitiful look at her each time her father demeaned her in front of everyone.

Thus, she decided that she would stand upright with an iron back, take every insult, every bitter word against her on her flesh and her heart and bring herself to achieve something great. She would build herself with the strength which her mother wasn't able to provide.

But the quest for greatness has never been an easy path. It's filled with hardships, failures, tears and loneliness. Only, hope makes the heart survive through days of toil and turmoil and sometimes the company of loved ones make days easy to breeze by.

Talking to Krishna fetched great solace to Aarnika's heart. Sometimes she wondered if it was love for him or was it her desperate wish masked in the form of love to have someone in her life who would care for her, someone who looked at her with admiration and saw what she was capable of.

Someday, perhaps, someday soon, the princess too would find her people, but not today. Subhadra was still young and was someone she had just met today to tell her about her life. And one must not be too sad at a wedding.

Smiling through her teary eyes, she replied, "Nothing, princess. Watching your brother's wedding made me teary eyed. If at all I get married, I would need someone to look at me the same way, he is looking at the princess."

"You are lying to me, didi. These are tears of hidden pain you nurse inside your heart. I am not that young to not understand this." Subhadra passed her a comforting smile. "If you need someone to listen, you can always look for me."

Aarnika blinked and shook her head at her, saying, "How are you kids talking like grown ups huh?"

****** *** *** **** **** *** **** *** *** *****

We met Subhadra. Okay we need to move away from sad parts now so I will write some happy chapters soon until the great grief appears in her life again.

I would love to be pen friends with him (Krishna) lol and something tells me that Subhadra and Aarnika are going to have a great bond (story badhane hetu dosti plot)

Aaj ke liye itna hi ab kal phir milte hai (more like agle chapter dusre yug mein par thik hai)

Tagging the sakhis: @jessbeinme15 @ma-douce-souffrance @just-another-godless-god @merapehlapyaarwaapasaagaya @reallythoughtfulwizard @pothosinpots @pokemon-master-elita @riiddhhiii @phoenix666stuff

#samridhi writes #Vivah Bandhan #krishna x oc #mahabharata fics #krishna fics

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