Subhadra stood by her window, her hands resting lightly on the cool stone as she gazed at the full moon. The soft night breeze caressed her face, carrying with it the distant sounds of music and laughter from the still-awake city. But her heart, much like the quiet waves lapping against Dwarka’s shores, was restless.

With a deep sigh, she tilted her head slightly, a small, teasing smile forming on her lips.

"Chandradev," she murmured, "I think you enjoy watching me worry, don’t you?"

The moon, as always, remained silent, but the silver light shimmered around her as if amused by her words.

"You hear everything, don’t you?" she continued, crossing her arms. "You heard them talking about my swayamvar tonight. Dau is already thinking of warriors, Pitashri is worried, and bhrata Krishna—" she shook her head, chuckling, "—he was just smiling like he already knows something the rest of us don’t."

She sighed again, her laughter fading as uncertainty crept into her voice.

"It’s not that I’m unhappy, besides I am agreed to held the swayamvar" she admitted.

"I knew this day would come. Every rajkumari must choose a husband, and I want my swayamvar to be grand. I want to see the finest warriors of Aryavarta, to know that I will be marrying someone truly worthy."

Her fingers traced the edge of the stone sill as she lowered her gaze.

"Then why do I feel… strange?"

She lifted her eyes to the moon again, searching its glowing face as if it held the answer.

"You know why, don’t you?" she whispered.

The dream. That persistent, vivid dream of a man she had never met. His presence was always so real, his voice lingering even after she woke, like a melody she couldn't forget. She didn’t even know his name, yet he haunted her more than any living man ever had.

Her brows furrowed.

"Who is he, Chandradev?" she asked, frustration creeping into her tone. "Is he real? Will he come to my swayamvar?"

She let out a groan and leaned against the window frame, rubbing her temples.

"What if he isn’t real?" she muttered. "What if he’s just a foolish dream I keep clinging to? You should have stopped showing him to me long ago!"

Her voice dropped to a softer murmur, almost as if she were pouting.

"You should have warned me sooner. Now, I have to meet dozens of men and pretend I haven’t been dreaming about someone else all this time."

The wind stirred through her chamber, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the gardens below. Subhadra sighed, hugging herself.

"If he is nothing but an illusion, then I beg you, Chandradev—stop letting him appear in my dreams." She closed her eyes. "I must prepare myself for my swayamvar. I must be ready to meet my future husband. I cannot let a shadow hold me back."

Silence.

Then, as if in answer, a sudden gust of wind swept through the open window, causing the flame of a nearby diya to flicker wildly before settling again.

Subhadra's eyes snapped open, and she scowled.

"Was that an answer?" she demanded, pointing a finger at the moon. "Or are you just playing with me?"

The moon glowed, impassive and unbothered.

She sighed dramatically, shaking her head. "Hopeless," she muttered. "Even you refuse to help me."

With one last glance at the glowing sky, she turned away, letting the sheer curtains fall back into place. But as she stepped toward her bed, the light of the moon glowed just a little brighter, as though it held a secret she was not yet ready to understand.

While on the other side of the palace, in his private chamber, Krishna stood by his open balcony, gazing up at the luminous full moon.

The soft glow bathed his face in silver light, and a quiet chuckle escaped his lips.

"Ruchi," he murmured, his voice tinged with both amusement and affection. "That man will not come to your dreams anymore... but not because he isn't real."

His dark eyes twinkled with knowing mischief.

"No, my dear sister," he continued, "it is because he will soon come here. And you will meet him—sooner than you think."

Just then, a gentle rustling of silk behind him made him turn.

Rukmini stood at the threshold of his chamber, draped in a soft blue saree that shimmered under the moonlight. A knowing smile graced her lips as she observed her husband.

"The moon must be truly beautiful tonight," she remarked, stepping closer. "You can’t seem to take your eyes off it."

Krishna turned fully toward her, a teasing glint in his gaze.

"Rukmini," he said smoothly, "me staring at the moon is nothing compared to how I stare at you."

Rukmini raised an eyebrow, but before she could speak, he stepped closer, his tone growing more playful.

"You are more beautiful than the moon," he continued. "More beautiful than anything in this world."

A soft laugh bubbled from her lips, and she shook her head, a hint of shyness in her expression.

"Flatterer," she teased. Then, tilting her head curiously, she asked, "why are you staring at the moon so intently then?"

Krishna smiled, the kind of smile that hinted at both playfulness and a deeper meaning.

"I'm jealous of it," he admitted.

"Jealous?" Rukmini repeated, surprised. "Of the moon?, You?, The one to whom the entire cosmos bows?, But why?"

His gaze flickered back toward the sky before settling on her once more.

"Because apparently my sister," he said, voice softer now, "shares her deepest thoughts with the moon but not with me."

Rukmini studied him for a moment before chuckling. "But you already know about it anyway," she pointed out.

Krishna sighed dramatically. "That is not the point."

Rukmini laughed again, shaking her head at his antics. She stepped closer and took his hand, squeezing it gently.

"Perhaps the moon listens without teasing her," she mused playfully.

Krishna gasped in mock offense. "Are you saying I would tease my dear sister?"

Rukmini gave him a knowing look. "Swami, you always, always tease your dear sister."

Krishna let out a sigh, placing a dramatic hand on his forehead. "How cruel, how unjust! I am but a simple brother, cast aside for a celestial body that cannot even smile at her!"

Rukmini laughed, shaking her head at his theatrics. "Oh, swami…" she murmured fondly.

Krishna, in response, only grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he reached for her hand.

But deep in his heart, beyond the teasing and laughter, the excitement remained.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, that man would arrive.

*****

The journey had been long, but at last, as the golden hues of the setting sun kissed the horizon, Arjun stepped onto the soil of Dwarka.

A sharp breath left his lips, the salty breeze filling his lungs, bringing with it memories—some distant, some so fresh they might have happened only yesterday.

The city of Krishna.

His best friend. His Madhav.

For a brief moment, he was tempted to go straight to the palace, to walk through those grand halls, to call out to his madhav. But the weight of his disguise held him back.

He was not Arjun here. He was just another wandering ascetic, a seeker of wisdom, blending among the yatis who had gathered in Dwarka.

So instead, he made his way to the temple.

The temple was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of prayers and the rustling of robes as the yatis moved about. The scent of incense mixed with the cool sea air, creating an aura of serenity that Arjun welcomed.

He found a secluded corner near the temple pillars, away from the prying eyes of the other sages. Lowering himself onto the stone floor, he crossed his legs and straightened his back, closing his eyes.

Meditation.

He had done this countless times before, steadying his breath, stilling his mind.

But tonight…

Tonight, his heart betrayed him.

No matter how many times he tried to focus, his thoughts strayed—again and again—to Krishna.

Would Krishna sense his presence? Would he know that Arjun had arrived in Dwarka? Would he come to find him?

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. He was being foolish. Krishna had his own duties, his own life in Dwarka. He could not expect his friend to simply—

A shift in the air.

A pulse of something divine.

Arjun’s fingers twitched as a familiar energy brushed against his senses. His eyes snapped open, but before he could even move—

A voice.

Soft, amused, and entirely too familiar.

"Lost in thought, Parth?"

Arjun stiffened.

He turned his head slowly, his heart already pounding.

And there, standing with the moonlight behind him, his golden ornaments glinting faintly, was Krishna.

Arjun was frozen for a moment.

A part of him wanted to jump to his feet, to greet Krishna with the same unrestrained joy they always shared. But years of discipline, of learning when to hold back, kept him still.

The temple was not empty. The yatis were still around, some deep in prayer, others in meditation.

Krishna seemed to read his thoughts instantly.

A playful smirk tugged at his lips, but his voice, when he spoke, was softer, lower—just for Arjun to hear.

"You need not worry," he said. "No one will pay us any mind. Come."

And just like that, Arjun rose, following Krishna as he led them away from the temple’s open hall, down the steps, toward the dimly lit garden.

The moment they were away from prying eyes, the restraint shattered.

"Madhav! It's been a long time, I really miss your company!"

Arjun grasped his friend’s shoulder, laughing as he did, his earlier tension melting away in an instant. Krishna chuckled, shaking his head.

"It has been far far too long, Parth."

Arjun stepped back slightly, taking in Krishna’s appearance. The same Krishna—unchanged, timeless, his presence as steady as the earth itself.

"You haven't changed," Arjun said, shaking his head.

"And you have," Krishna teased. "You look like a true ascetic now."

Arjun snorted. "And you still look like a someone who has never worried about anything in his life."

Krishna’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Why should I worry, when everything unfolds exactly as it should?"

Arjun sighed, shaking his head. "You and your riddles, keshav."

Krishna only grinned.

As they strolled further into the temple gardens, Arjun finally let himself take in his surroundings. The night air was thick with anticipation. The city beyond the temple walls buzzed with activity, the faint sounds of laughter drifting toward them.

"The city feels different," Arjun noted. "There is a brightness in the air. A sense of… celebration."

Krishna nodded. "The Raivatak festival is upon us."

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Raivatak festival?"

Krishna chuckled. "You’ve been away for too long, Parth. The festival will begin the day after tomorrow, but as you can see, my people are not known for their patience to have fun. The markets, the dancers, the festivities—everything will start tomorrow itself."

Arjun smiled at the thought. "It must be grand, then."

"It is," Krishna said. Then, with a glint in his eye, he added, "And tomorrow, we will see it together."

Arjun frowned slightly. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Krishna said, his tone light but firm. "You did not come all this way to hide in a temple, did you? I will show you every corner of Dwarka—the markets, the palaces, the festival itself. We will enjoy it as we once did, before the weight of the world rested on your shoulders."

For a moment, Arjun hesitated.

His purpose in Dwarka was clear—his disguise, his quiet arrival—it was all meant to keep him unnoticed.

But standing here, with one day—just one—he could allow himself to breathe.

That he need to enjoy the world as it was, without the weight of duty pressing down on him.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Very well, Madhav. Show me your Dwarka."

Krishna’s answering smile was radiant.

"Then it’s decided."

The two stood together beneath the stars, their laughter filling the garden, a moment stolen from the passage of time.

Tomorrow, they would walk through the streets, side by side.

Tomorrow, Arjun would see Dwarka through Krishna’s eyes.

And somewhere in the distance, fate wove its threads ever tighter, preparing for the moment when everything would change.

To Be Continued

Note : I can't wait to post this one. I don't think the pacing is great but it's been already 30 time. I've revised it 30 times damn so I just publish this. And also this supposed to be a grand entry for Arjun but I can't make it like that I'm sorry Arjun. Have fun guys it's Saturday ❤❤