14.
(For Arjuna x Devasena moments play song 'Inn Lamont ke Daaman mein'.)
(Sorry but the ship is necessary for the plot)
Morning in Dwarka arrived loudly.
Temple conches echoed from the sea-facing shrines before sunrise had properly touched the palace walls, their deep sounds rolling across the cliffs alongside crashing waves below.
Somewhere beyond the lower courtyards merchants were already shouting over fresh catches near the harbors, seabirds circled endlessly above the ocean winds, and musicians in distant temple streets had apparently decided sleep was an insult to devotion.
Dwarka did not wake gently.
It burst into life.
Devasena had been awake long before the city.
The balcony doors of her chambers stood wide open to the salted breeze while pale dawn light slowly spilled across the marble floors. Near the carved railing beside her, the sacred diya burned steadily within its crystal enclosure, untouched by the restless winds curling through the room.
Steady.
Always steady.
Devasena rested her chin lightly against one hand while watching the horizon melt gold where the sea met the sky.
Different.
Everything here felt different.
Vanga wrapped around people softly like rain.
Dwarka crashed into them like sunlight.
Behind her, palace maids moved quietly around the chambers arranging silks and jewelry for the day ahead.
One younger girl kept sneaking nervous glances toward the eternal flame before immediately pretending she had not.
Poor thing.
She looked moments away from praying to it accidentally.
"You may leave the pearls," Devasena said suddenly while fastening one of the bangles around her wrist.
The younger maid blinked.
"The pearls, Rajkumari?"
"The sea winds will destroy them within the hour." Relief crossed the girl's face instantly.
"Yes, Rajkumari."
A faint smile almost reached Devasena's mouth.
Almost.
Then—
laughter echoed loudly from somewhere beyond the corridor.
Devasena closed her eyes briefly.
Subhadra.
A moment later the doors flew open without warning.
"Deva—"
Subhadra stopped dramatically in the doorway before narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"You are already awake."
Behind her, Dushala entered looking equally offended.
"We specifically planned to disturb your sleep."
Devasena finally turned from the balcony slowly.
"I deeply apologize for surviving your conspiracy."
Dushala collapsed onto the cushioned seat nearby with theatrical disappointment.
"She becomes sharper every day."
"She was always sharp," Subhadra corrected immediately while stealing one of the sweet fruits arranged nearby. "You simply suffered alone before."
The sea breeze swept through the chambers again, lifting strands of Devasena's dark hair across one shoulder while the golden flame beside her flickered softly against the dawn light.
Subhadra's gaze drifted toward the diya almost instinctively.
Every single time.
"It truly never weakens," she murmured quietly.
Devasena's eyes shifted toward the flame too.
For a moment something softer crossed her expression.
"No," she answered gently.
The room quieted briefly afterward.
Not awkwardly.
Warmly.
The kind of silence that settles naturally between people growing comfortable around one another.
Then Subhadra abruptly straightened.
"No. Enough."
Dushala looked immediately interested.
"Enough of what?"
"This." Subhadra gestured dramatically toward Devasena. "Sitting beside balconies looking tragic and beautiful while the rest of us behave normally."
"I am sitting peacefully."
"You are staring into the distance like a woman waiting for destiny."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It sounds lyric," Dushala corrected.
"It sounds like something bards would ruin publicly," Devasena muttered while finally rising from beside the balcony.
Subhadra immediately linked arms with her.
"Good. You are coming outside before you start philosophizing at the ocean again."
"I was not philosophizing."
"You looked in a daze."
Devasena blinked once.
"That statement felt strangely personal."
Dushala physically bent forward laughing while Subhadra looked deeply pleased with herself.
—
By the time they reached the lower palace courtyards, Dwarka had fully awakened.
Sunlight spilled brilliantly across white marble pathways while silk banners snapped sharply in the sea winds overhead.
Noblewomen crossed the palace gardens surrounded by attendants carrying flower baskets and temple offerings while musicians played near the fountain courtyards loud enough to overpower half the birds.
And everywhere—
people stared.
Devasena noticed without reacting.
Women whispered quietly behind jeweled veils.
Young guards straightened too quickly.
Servants forgot entirely where they were walking.
One poor attendant carrying folded fabrics nearly walked directly into a pillar.
Subhadra caught sight of it immediately.
Then grabbed Dushala's arm hard enough to make the other princess stumble.
"Oh this is becoming entertaining."
"You enjoy this too much," Devasena murmured.
"I enjoy watching Dwarka lose its dignity."
"You have concerning hobbies."
"They improve daily."
Dushala laughed beside them before leaning closer toward Devasena conspiratorially.
"I think one guard forgot how breathing works.
"
"I noticed."
"You noticed and said nothing?
"
"What exactly would you prefer I say?
" Devasena asked calmly. "'Please continue inhaling, brave soldier'?
"
Dushala nearly collapsed laughing.
Unfortunately for them—
that was the exact moment Arjuna entered the courtyard. He had clearly been heading somewhere with purpose.
Then he saw them.
Or more specifically—
he saw Devasena.
And stopped walking.
Not dramatically.
Not for long.
Just enough.
But the pause existed.
The sea winds swept sharply through the open courtyard at that exact moment, lifting the pale blue silk draped around Devasena while sunlight spilled across the jewels resting along her throat and wrists.
And suddenly Arjuna understood why poets became unbearable around beautiful women.
Because for one deeply unfortunate second—
his mind went entirely blank.
Beside Devasena, Subhadra saw it happen instantly.
Her eyes widened slowly.
Oh this was getting worse.
Meanwhile Dushala lowered her face immediately to hide the smile threatening to expose her.
Devasena adjusted the slipping silk near her shoulder before finally noticing the silence ahead.
Then her gaze lifted toward Arjuna.
He was still staring.
Very unfortunate.
A flicker of realization crossed her face.
Followed almost immediately by amusement.
"You stopped walking," she observed softly.
Arjuna recovered quickly enough to preserve some dignity.
Mostly.
"I was thinking."
Subhadra folded her arms immediately.
"You absolutely were not."
"I was."
"You looked spiritually displaced."
Dushala made a choking sound beside her.
Arjuna pointed accusingly toward Subhadra.
"You become crueler around her."
"I become funnier around her."
"That is debatable."
Devasena tilted her head thoughtfully before speaking.
"No," she said calmly. "She is definitely funnier around me."
Subhadra gasped dramatically before clutching Devasena's arm.
"You see? This is why she is my favorite."
"You met her yesterday," Arjuna muttered.
"And yet I would defend her with my life."
"That seems suspicious , Did you enchant her now Deva?"
"That," Dushala interrupted sweetly, "is rich coming from you."
Arjuna narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Before Dushala could answer, another voice drifted toward them from the palace steps above.
"What crime has Parth committed this early in the morning?
"
Dyumsena descended toward the courtyard while adjusting the embroidered cuffs around his wrists, visible amusement already resting across his face.
Subhadra immediately pointed toward Arjuna.
"He forgot how to walk."
"I paused briefly.
"
"Like a confused pilgrim," Subhadra replied.
Dyumsena looked toward Arjuna thoughtfully.
"That is unfortunate."
"I hate all of you. "
"No," Devasena corrected softly while faint laughter lingered in her voice, "you merely suffer around us regularly."
And unfortunately for Arjuna—
the sound of her laughing while saying it nearly ruined him completely.
High above them along the upper palace balconies, Balram leaned casually against a carved pillar while watching the entire scene unfold below.
Slowly—
a grin spread across his face.
Very interesting indeed.