The western boundary, the path by its side and the surroundings were all cloaked in darkness when Arjun arrived. The beach must have been just on the other side for the sound of the waves filled his ears. Just as he was wondering whether to go up or down the path, Subhadra appeared from further up the path, carrying a lantern. She had tied her hair into a severe bun much to his disappointment, probably because of the blustery wind. All her accessories of the evening were gone but the warmth of her kohl lined eyes and the sunny smile on her lips seemed to be all that she needed.
"I was almost sure you did not get my hint." She said, "Did you just get here?"
He nodded. "Look," She gestured to her right. "Do you see that archway down in the distance?"
"Yes."
"That leads to the beach. A stroll by the sea would be nice, except there would be eyes looking out for us. Tonight there shall be eyes all over the place. So let us stay here in the dark, to be on the safe side."
"That is quite a bit of trust they have on me, I see." He said, and she laughed. "Don't blame yourself, this is not about you at all."
She hung the lantern on a tree branch and turned around. "How are you, Rajkumar? Is everything good so far?"
"Come closer into the light, will you, so I can see your face."
She acquiesced, coloring a little when he didn't step back. In the golden light, he saw her lips a tad too red against her fair skin and her wide set eyes, cool and clear and dark with a tinge of gray, and always a light dancing in them, gracious and charming and merry and soothing, sometimes knowing, sometimes ingenuous but always welcoming and making him feel at home.
And so when she said, playing with a stray lock of her hair, "Something is on your mind. What is it? Tell me."
He was only too ready to unburden himself.
"I wish to clarify that I have no desire to...repeat what happened in Manipur. During my wedding with Chitra, when I agreed to give our future son as bride price, it was only for that one time. If I had known what it would cost me, I would not have agreed to it. I cannot marry yet again and leave my wife behind. I am not one who moves from woman to woman like that!"
"Are you saying," She said after a pause. "That when your exile is over, you want me to accompany you to Indraprastha?"
"Yes! You are not my companion just for the last two years of my exile, you are my wife."
Not yet, she isn't, a small voice piped up in his head.
"Well," Subhadra said. "I don't know what to say. This changes everything, truly. I did not expect that you would want me to spend my life with you once we were married. And, you know, make a new home and a new family with you. Who would have thought? This is very surprising. I am completely taken aback."
The lantern dangled in the wind, its rays danced in her face and in her eyes, bright and teasing and beckoning and infectious. The weight in the middle of his chest lifted. He felt light, joyful.
"Then I must convince you." He stepped towards her, and swiftly grabbed both her hands in his, taking her by surprise at the same time the wind sent the lantern hurtling into his head.
"Rajkumar! Are you alright?"
"Arjuna." He rubbed his forehead. "Call me Arjuna."
"Alright. Everything shall be as you wish."
The lantern had fallen on the ground, its flame flickered for a moment and then petered out, plunging them in darkness.
"Do you mean-"
"Yes. Shhh." He felt her stiffen, then she shepherded him behind the tree.
Within minutes, two figures appeared in the dark, guards on their beat. "We do not have much time." She said after they were gone. "Some brother of mine sent them, no doubt. Whoever it was shall come along here next. Is it here?" She touched his forehead and gently rubbed circles over it. "Is it better?"
Could she hear his heart fluttering embarrassingly, all too eager to bridge the distance between them? But the rap from the wind god had awakened his chivalrous instincts. She had called him here at this hour for the first time and she mustn't think that he would leverage that as an opportunity.
"Is it better?" She repeated, drawing her hand away.
"Don't go yet."
"Arjuna-"
"You and your brother - you are so similar. It was on a night like this that I first met him."
"Tell me more." She said after a pause.
"I lost my talisman that day, my father's. Madhav gave me another. As though - he knew."
"How did you lose your father's?"
"On our way home after the ceremony."
"The Panchal princess swayamvar?"
"Yes. It was total chaos. I didn't immediately realize it was gone. The wind was wild that night too. Just like tonight."
"And you had a new bride."
"Yes. But the roles were reversed. That night, she was the one who hurt herself. I tried to help her, but she was nervous."
He paused abruptly, his face hot. "Subhadra," He began when she placed her hand over his chest. He could see her eyes even in the dark, cool and clear though he couldn't quite gauge the expression in them.
"Are you nervous?" She touched his cheek. "Why? Don't be, it is just me." She caressed his face, very light, very soft. "Just me." She repeated, and was gone.
