Atkheliyaan - A Krishna-Bhama and Draupadi SS(Update Pg 12) - Page 9

CHAPTER 4

Krishna and Satyabhama smirked at each other. Rukmini looked at both of them and shook her head. She looked to find Revathi also having an exasperated look, which was directed at Dau.

"Mamashri!"

A little kid came running to Krishna.

"Abhimanyu!", said Krishna, catching His nephew and lifting Him up.

"Abhi!", said Satyabhama.

"Satya Ma!"

Abhimanyu jumped out of Krishna's arms, and rushed into Satyabhama's waiting arms.

Satyabhama kissed the top of his head, and asked him, "Are you here all alone? What? You decided to become like both your Mamashris?"

"Nahi nahi Satya Ma. I came with Pitashree", said Abhimanyu.

"And you left your Pitashree alone?", asked Dau.

"Bade Mamashri!", said Abhimanyu, rushing into Dau's arms.

Dau lifts the almost one year old and cradled him in His strong arms.

"Did you toddle off alone, you little Natkhat?", asked Dau.

"Bade Mamashri!", said Abhimanyu, pouting adorably. "Pitashree was searching for Badi Ma. I came because I missed you"

"Arjuna is here?", asked Dau, looking at a smirking Krishna and Satyabhama. "You go to your Satya Ma! Kanha and I will go and recieve Arjun"

"Okay Bade Mamashri!", said Abhimanyu, rushing to Satyabhama again.

Satyabhama caught Krishna's twinkling eyes, and smirked at Him. Their plan was working!

"Bhama, what are you and Arya upto?", asked Rukmini, as she kneeled to hug Abhimanyu.

"Nothing Didi. Don't worry", said Satyabhama.

"With identical smirks on yours and Arya's faces, how can I not worry?", said Rukmini.

"We are being our normal selves Didi", said Satyabhama.

"Meaning Dwaraka is in for prank day", sighed Rukmini.

"That's the normal Didi", said Satyabhama.

"Abhi! Abhi!"

Panchali came into the clearing looking for Abhimanyu.

"Badi Ma!", said Abhimanyu, rushing into Panchali's waiting arms. Panchali hugged Abhimanyu close to her.

The Ashtabharya smiled at thee loving bond between mother and son.

"Come Panchi. Let's go get little Abhi something to eat", said Satyabhama.

"Can I have butter?", asked little Abhimanyu, staring up at Draupadi with wide eyes.

"Why butter?", asked Draupadi.

"It's tasty", said Abhimanyu. "Badi Ma, Ma doesn't let me have butter. Please?"

Satyabhama almost melted seeing Abhimanyu's little pout. Shaking herself out, she went forward and asked, "Why butter, you natkhat? Taking your Mamashri's route?"

"Satya Ma, butter is so tasty", said Abhimanyu. "At least a little?"

"If you have all the rest of the food we make you eat, then you can have butter", said Satyabhama.

"Satya!", said Panchali.

"Panchi?", asked Satyabhama, smirking.

"You are crazy", said the Empress. Shaking her head, she said, "Let me go see if Arya also needs food"

"He will have his with Arya and Dau", said Satyabhama.

"But..", said Draupadi.

"Don't worry Panchi. You will only serve the food for Phalguni. You can make sure he ate properly then. Come", said Satyabhama, holding Abhimanyu's hand.

Draupadi gave her sakhi a look saying 'I know you are upto something'. Satyabhama gave her an innocent look, and walked off with an excited Abhimanyu.

Draupadi looked at the exasperated look on Rukmini's face, and felt a little worried. She followed her friend to the Bhavan.

At the dining hall...

Arjuna kept glancing at the door, waiting impatiently for Drapuadi to come.

"Parth, who are you searching for?", asked Krishna, innocently.

"Pan-I am hungry for food, Madhav", said Arjuna.

"Pan-you?", asked Dau, confused.

"I. Sorry Dau", said Arjuna, desperate to have a glimpse of Panchali.

"There you two are. We are hungry. Bhama, Parth is extremely hungry", said Krishna, grinning at His wife.

"He is. Phalguni, I will serve you", said Satyabhama.

"You will do no such thing", said Rukmini. "You will wait when we serve. Bhama, you are pregnant"

"She is. Madhav, you are in for mood swing time only", said Arjuna, smirking at his sakhi.

"He definitely is", said Satyabhama.

"Do you have to do that to me Satya? Why is it that every time I expect one type of reply from you, I get something else?", asked Arjuna.

"Do not underestimate women, Phalguni", said Satyabhama.

"I don't. After all, I..", started Arjuna, only to trail off.

"You what, Sabyasachi?", asked Satyabhama.

"Nothing sakhi", said Parth, giving Satyabhama a look, knowing she was upto mischief.

Satyabhama sighed loudly, and said, "If I can't serve, then, Arya, can I go and sit with Panchali?"

"Of course my love"

Krishna and Satyabhama exchanged smirks, when they saw Arjuna look a little dreamy.

"Bye Phalguni", said Satyabhama. "I will go and spend time with Panchali"

With one last smirk at Arjuna, she left the room.

"Madhav, what is Satya upto?", asked Arjuna.

"Nothing Parth. She just wants to spend all her time with Krishnae. She has forgotten me only", said Krishna.

"Has she Kanha?", asked Dau, eyebrows raised.

"She has?", said Krishna, not all that convincing.

"Swami, she will never forget you", said Rukmini, almost stern to her husband.

"And you will start supporting Bhama, Rukmini", said Krishna, pouting.

"She is my little sister", said Rukmini, as if that one statement explained everything.

"I am your husband", said Krishna.

"I never said you weren't", said Rukmini.

Krishna pouted at Rukmini.

"Grow up, anuj", said Balarama.

"Dau, don't call me anuj", said Krishna.

"Why shouldn't I?", asked Dau, raising an eyebrow.

"Just don't", said Krishna.

"But you are my anuj", said Dau.

"Dauuu!", whined Krishna.

"Don't whine child", said Dau, rolling His eyes at Krishna.

"Bhabhi Ma, Dau is rolling His eyes at me", said Krishna, pouting.

"Arya, grow up", said Satyabhama, walking in with Panchali behind her.

"I am grown up only Priye", said Krishna, His eyes now glinting.

"Is that why you were whining?", asked Satyabhama.

"I was whining at Dau. You know Dau is my exception for everything", said Krishna.

"Fair enough", said Satyabhama. Turning to Rukmini, she said, "Didi, Panchi made the dessert for us. A special type of halwa"

"She did, did she?", asked Krishna, throwing a smirk at Parth, who was gazing at Draupadi. He turned to look at Satyabhama, who was biting her lip lightly, eyes filled with mischief.

"Parth?", said Satyabhama, innocently.

"Satya?", asked a distracted Arjun.

"What are you playing with your foodless plate for, Phalguni? You are making our hospitality seem bad", said Satyabhama, a little pout forming on her lips.

"What?"

Arjuna looked at his plate, and got embarrassed. Oh, what must everyone think of him now? He turned to look at Krishna, who was looking at him sadly, as if asking whether or not he is happy to be in Dwaraka.

Parth felt horrified that he had disappointed his best friend. Just as he was about to say something, Dau said, "Arjuna, ignore Kanha. He is teasing you. We all know what is affecting you so much"

Saying thus, Dau cast a glance at Panchali, who was half hidden behind Satyabhama, blushing.

"So Parth, are you okay with the food, or you don't like it?", asked Rukmini, teasingly.

"Didi", said Satyabhama, giggling.

"No no. I love it", said Parth, unable to take his eyes off Panchali.

"You do, do you?", asked Krishna, smirking at Parth, who blushed hearing Madhav talk.

Satyabhama smirked in delight. Seeing Phalguni blush was rare.

"Panchi" said Satyabhama. "Give the dessert. One of us will serve it"

"Not you darling", said Revathi.

"I know Didi. Like you or Rukmini Didi will let me", said Satyabhama.

"Can I serve it?", asked Draupadi, looking at Dau. "I made it, and you call me a sister also Dau"

"Go on Panchali", said Dau, smiling.

"Thank you Dau", said Panchali, moving to serve the halwa to the men. She reserved Arjuna for the last.

When she sat in front of him to serve, she stared at his feet, as she felt his gaze on her. She turned red, and quickly served the halwa. Flustered, she got up only to meet her sakhi's mischievous eyes. She sighed, knowing that something was going to happen.

A while later...

"The food was fantastic", said Krishna, smiling at Satyabhama and Panchali, who were the only two other than Him and Parth. Panchali was still hidden behind Satyabhama.

"Thank you Swami", said Satyabhama, answering for both of them.

"Bhama, move", said Krishna, smirking.

"Why?", asked Satyabhama, petulant.

"I can't see my sakhi with you blocking her", said Krishna.

"Okay. See your sakhi", said Satyabhama. "I am going"

With tears in her lovely eyes, Satyabhama walked off, making Krishna run behind her to calm her and apologise.

Finally...