#abhimanyu x uttara

[stxrrynxghts]

Music tastes

Arjun

Loves ghazals

Is also trained in how to play veena

Has a thing for sad songs

Nakul

The biggest drama queen around

Has the weirdest playlist

"Alexa, play Tip Tip Barsa Pani"

Krishna

Playlist, what playlist?

Why need songs when you have him

Bursts into random songs at random times

Accepts requests for songs

Balaram

Bathroom singer

Is depriving the world of his immense talent

Was caught singing Ami Je Tomar all alone once

Draupadi

Loves songs from old bollywood films

Likes Michael Jackson A LOT *jealous Bhima noises*

Acts like she is listening to songs, even if she isn't

Subhadra

Has THE Supreme musical taste

Spends hours arranging her playlists

Refuses to buy spotify premium at any costs

Duryodhan

Is the biggest romance smip, won't tell others

"Music? I hate music!" *nervous laugh*

Scared to show interest what if Bhima finds and shames him the way he shamed Arjun

Pradyumna

A genuine music lover

Always sings for his 8 mothers uwu

Was the one who found Balaram singing rumor is that he is still in trauma

Samba

Deletes others playlists for fun

Uses Bhima's spotify premium sneakily

Has recordings of Balaram saved for blackmail

Abhimanyu

Has a workout playlist

Hates Justin Bieber with a burning passion

Takes inspiration from Pradyumna for music because why not

Cries after listening to emotional songs

Uttara

Has classical songs saved (For practice ofc)

Has a mysterious music taste which remains unrevealed *annoying Abhimanyu noises in a corner*

Loves romantic songs but won't tell

[theramblergal]

I've started a new work, guys. It's on Abhimanyu and Uttaraa, set during the year before the war.

I've been having a lot of fun writing it but I was too lazy to wait to finish the whole thing, so I figured publishing it would at least motivate me to write quicker.

If any of y'all are interested, here's the Wattpad link: Prayana.

Here it is on AO3: we were just children in love (until it was too late). HTML is annoying. But so worth it.

[stxrrynxghts]

OK, lemme do this, but for Uttara. Nah, she isn't an oc, but still-

She is the kind and caring one, the friend who is mostly ignored, until someone is in trouble and she is the 1st to step up.

Abhimanyu gifted her a pair of anklets which she absolutely cannot part with.

Her most painful memory...there are too many. She doesn't know which is the most painful one.

She feels the most comfortable indoors and away from crowds, but it is ok if someone she is close with is nearby.

Personality wise she resembles her father, they say that she is a lot like her late grandmother, in looks and otherwise.

She wants her husband to be kind, caring and most importantly, loyal.

Uttara had her 1st kiss with Abhimanyu who else can it be

She likes softer scents, but likes rose too. There is another specific scent that she loves, but refuses to tell it is musk, btw

She loves all forms of physical affection, be it hugging, cuddling or kissing. Also, verbal affection is another thing which Uttara is a simp for.

Uttara cannot forgive someone who hurts (or participates in the murder) of someone from her family who is dear to her.

Some people feel that she is arrogant and stuck up, which she isnt.

Uttara is very sentimental, there isn't any specific thing, she can get emotional over any thing.

She is most likely to commit homicide, tbh, in extreme cases. Usually she won't commit a crime.

Her bedroom, or somewhere private, tho she can zone out anywhere at anytime.

She definitely does believe in luck a lot, but doesn't have a charm for it.

Uttara is rather specific about food, and if there is something in the food which she dislikes, then she gets irritated. Plus, if hair has fallen into food, then she starts puking for real.

Yes, she has many anecdotes, depends on who is being asked. For the funniest ones, contact Sudeshna, Uttar or Arjun for further info.

Her comfort ritual generally is doing something which she likes, reading, cuddling with Abhimanyu or just sleeping.

Her favorite book is probably the Harry Potter series, and she has various favs in music. Favorite platform will definitely be Pinterest/Tumblr.

She just chats, cuddles , eats and sleeps on repeat.

Uttara hates trolling, tbh. She doesn't understand the point of it.

Her guilty pleasure is nothing as stated above, it is liking musk

Odd OC ASKS

🍇: What sort of friend are they? Where are they in the group dynamic?

🍉: Does your OC have a particular piece of jewellery that they always wear or refuse to part with?

🍋: What is your OC's most painful memory?

🍍: Where does your OC feel most comfortable?

🍎: Do they share any features or traits with any family members?

🍑: What sort of traits does your OC look for in a Significant Other?

🍒: Has Your OC had their first kiss yet? If so, with who?

🍓: Does your OC have any particular scents they like? Or hate?

🍆: Does your OC have any favourite form of affection, physical or otherwise?

🌽: How does this OC feel about acts of affection? What's their favourite act of affection, physical or emotional?

🍰: What's something your OC counts as unforgivable?

🎂: Has your OC have any contradictory interests or traits to the first preception people have of the? How do they surprise people?

🍪: What is something that's sentimental to you OC?

🍩: What's a crime your OC is most likely to commit? What's a crime they're most likely to get arrested for?

🍫: Where does your OC go to think?

🍾: Does your OC believe in luck? If so, do they have any charm or ritual they do before a stressful event?

🍷: What's one of your OC's pet peeves concerning food?

🍹: Does your OC have any funny anecdotes told about them?

🍻: What's your OC's favourite comfort ritual? How do they calm themselves down after a rough day?

🥃: If your OC was in this universe, what would be their favourite show/book/band/social media platform?

🍕: How does an OC spend a lazy day?

🍔: Are there any recent trends you think your OC would hate? Or love?

🍟: What does your OC admit to be their guilty pleasure? What actually is their guilty pleasure?

[demonkidpliz]

Sorry about the lazy title. Tumblr is obsessed with Abhimanyu and Uttara so naturally I had to write about them.

[chaanv]

What are your favorite Mahabharata couples?

Hi anon. My absolute favorite couple (my #OTP) is Draupadi-Arjun; the pair is far from perfect, but they both grow so much, and... *rerouting*

I also love Draupadi-Bheem (they own me), Rukmini-Krishna, Satyabhama-Krishna, lots of Krishna-related couples in general, and Uttara-Abhimanyu (they were just kids, END mE). Even though I’m not all that invested in Karna as a character, his relationship with Duryodhan fascinates me, too.

If you want to know more about my thoughts on all of the Draupadi-Pandava relationships, please see (x) and (x).

Thank you for the question. I had fun answering it!

[avani008]

Tumblr-Exclusive Fic Index

Baahubali

Hitopadesa, 6 years later

Hitopadesa, 1 year later

Snippets from the future of “Amukha” and “Nidhana”

Amarendra and Devasena watching a teenage Mahendra flirt (badly)

Nidhana! Mahendra’s first steps

Four years before and eighteen years after Nidhana

A reformed Bhalla reflects in the future of a Nidhana AU

Sivagami POV, after the end of Chapter 2 of Nidhana

Two more things that never happened to Amarendra Baahubali

Dhivara, one year later

Nidhana-verse, four years before Chapter 1

Nidhana-verse, Bhalla, two years before Chapter 1

Nimaya, one year later

Kathaavali, Chapter 14, the darkest future

Kathaavali, Chapter 14, the brightest future

Vilomita, Amarendra/Devasena courtship x 2

Vilomita, Amarendra/Devasena happily ever after x 4

Bidaai, one month later

Amarendra/Devasena in Marsa

Five Times Amarendra Tried to Kiss Devasena in the Nidhana Verse

Five Things Amarendra Never Told His Mother

Five Things Avantika Wished She Could Be

Five Times Nidhana-verse Mahendra Sneaks Away

Five Decision Sivagami Regrets

Five Things We Never Learned About Bhallaladeva

Fic and Graphic, Grandmama Baahu backstory

Sumitra, Poetry Fic Meme

Devasena, Poetry Fic Meme

Amarendra, Poetry Fic Meme

Kumar Varma, Poetry Fic Meme

Bhallaladeva, Poetry Fic Meme

Sivagami, Poetry Fic Meme

Sivagami and Baahu Canon Divergence AU

Sivagami & (Grand)mama Baahu Drabble x 2

Amarendra/Devasena, Mamihlapinatapei

Devasena & Sivagami, Strikhedonia

Sivagami & Mama Baahu, Capernoited

Five Things About Varuni (Nidhana-verse)

Shakti & Mahendra, Vanmost, (Asi-Verse)

Bhalla, Storms

Mama and Papa Deva, Latibule

Devasena & Jayasena, reunion in the rebel camp

Devasena, Five Kisses That Never Were

Sivvu, Five Things She Learned

Five Things Kattappa Left Out of His Story

Amarendra/Devasena, Happiness

Sivagami & Bhalla, Gamble

Gopu & Mahendra, post-Nidhana

Bhalla, Nimaya-verse drabbles x 4

Three Promises Devasena Broke and One She Did Not

Three Ornaments Mama Deva Valued, And One Weapon She Had

Three Ways Sumitra Did Not Die, and One Life She Never Lived

Three Lives Sivagami Saved, and One She Destroyed

Three Letters Grandmama Baahu Sent, and One She Never Did

Three Names Mama Baahu Considered Giving Her Children, and One She DId

Three Ornaments Devasena Valued, and One Weapon She Mastered

Three Ways Sivagami Did Not Die, and One Life She Never Lived

Three Ways Avantika Did Not Die, and One Life She Never Lived

Three Promises Sivagami Broke, and One She Kept

Three Secrets Sivagami Kept, and One She Revealed

Three Conversations Sivagami and Devasena Should Have Had, and Once They Should Have Stayed Silent

Three Times Baahu and Bhalla Laughed Together and Once They Wept

Baahubali/Devasena, missing scene discussing the three-arrow trick

Multiple 3+1 fills, Devasena

Multiple 3+1 fills, Mama Baahu

Multiple 3+1 fills, Mama Deva

Mama Deva, Fairy Tale Fusion

Mama Baahu, Fairy Tale Fusion

Devasena, Fairy Tale Fusion

Fic and Graphic: Amarendra/Devasena, Remington Steele fusion 

Fic and Graphic, Devasena, modern AU/Abhinav prequel

One Sentence Fic Index Post - various fics, often AU, for most of the main characters (Now expanded to include non-BB fics/characters, too!)

Headcanon Meme - Not an official fic, but collections of head canons each on various characters, mostly in the Baahubali Universe.

* Also check out the Pongal Prompt-a-thon Index Post, which lists even more of my Tumblr-only fic, as well as the amazing things my friends wrote which should not be missed!

Brooklyn 99

Ensemble, 10 sentence fic meme

Jodhaa Akbar

Bakshi Banu Begum, 10 sentence fic meme

5 Times Jalal and Adham were Brothers, and One Times They Were Not

Graphic: Movie Star AU: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Five Things That Never Happened to Ataga Khan

Bakshi & Jalal & Adham, childhood

Five People Bakshi Banu Begum Never Loved

10 Sentences, Jalal, Jodhaa, and Sujamal

Jaidev/Jalal  x2   x3   x4   x5  x6   x7  x8   x9  

Bakshi & Sujamal, Hogwarts AU

Sujamal & Bharmal, Oneirataxia 

Salima & Neelakshi, Psithurism

Bakshi/Sujamal, Post-Canon AU

Five Gifts Jalal Gave Jodhaa

Three Promises Hamida Broke and One She Did Not

Five People Who Taught Bakshi Banu Begum Something

Three Places Rani Padmavati Wanted To Visit, and One She Did

Jalal and Jodhaa, the swordfight scene

Salima, backstory

Jodhaa, just pre-Azeem-O-Shaan-Shahenshah

Fic and Graphic, History AU, Akbar and Elizabeth Tudor Form an Alliance

Mahabharata

Arjuna, Poetry Fic Meme

Subhadra & Draupadi

Kunti & Others

Brihannala & Uttara

Five Scars on Draupadi’s Body

The Mythology Alphabet Fic Challenge Index Post

Bhanumati, Amorevolous

Devaki/Vasudev, Tenderness

Uttar & Uttara, pre-Kurukshetra

Five Things We Never Learned About Sudheshna

Savitri: Five Sentences

Lakshmanaa: Five Sentences

Devaki/Vasudev, Trembling Hands

Rukmini & Draupadi, Friendship

Balarama and Krishna, Good Cop/Bad Cop

Five Things the Pandavas Took With Them Into Exile

Sudeshna & Her Children, Happiness

Bhishmuka & Krishna

Rukmini & Her Mother

Five People Who Visited Bhishma

Five Kisses That Never Were- Karna/ His Wife

Krishna/ Rukmini

Krishna/Rukmini, Celeberrimous

Krishna & Balarama

Five Times Draupadi Trusted Yudhisthira

Flower Meme, Multiple Couples

Three Things Draupadi Learned From Her Mother, and One She Taught Her Children

Three Secrets Kunti Kept, and One She Revealed

Five Times Arjuna Surprised Subhadra

Parikshit’s Favorite Family Member

Three Lives Kunti Destroyed, and One She Created

Three Gifts Radha Gave, and One She Received

Three Letters Rukmini Never Wrote, and One She Did

Three Names Draupadi Wanted to Give Her Children and One She Did

Three Ways Draupadi Did Not Die and One Life She Never Lived

Three Promises Bhanumati Broke and One She Kept

Three Conversations Krishna and Arjuna Should Have Had, and Once They Should Have Stayed Silent

Three Ways Karna and Arjuna Never Met and One Way They Parted

Three Times Arjuna and Draupadi Dreamed of Each Other, and Wish They Made

Three Conversations Draupadi and Krishna Should Have Had, and Once They Should Have Remained Silent

Devaki and Ugrasena, after their release from prison

Vaivasvati (Savitri & her siblings, gen)

Miscellaneous Movies

Om Shanti Om: Shanti, Five Sentences

K3G: Pooja, Five Sentences

Sholay, Radha, Pillar

Sholay, Basanti, Unclaimed

Padmaavat

Untitled and unfinished Padmavati & Mehrunissa fic

Padmavati &/ Mehrunissa, cultural differences

Untitled Padmavati &/ Mehrunissa & Nagmati follow-up 

Untitled Nagmati & Padmavati &/ Mehrunissa follow-up

Another Padmavati & / Mehrunissa followup, after the Compass Rose entry (see link below)

Canon-verse, Soulmark AU

Mehrunissa and Malik Kafur

Five Names Mehrunissa’s mother could have had

Five People who Noticed Padmavati/Mehrunissa Before They Did

Padmavati/Mehrunissa, Hunger Games AU

Padmavati/Mehrunissa, Mahabharata fusion

Pride and Prejudice

The Bennet girls turn into their parents as they age—but not as they expect

Ramayana

Five Sentences: Urmila

Sita and Her Sisters, Nightfall (Now with beautiful art by @allegoriesinmediasres)

Rama and His Brothers, Accost

Sita & Rambha

Five Scars Sita Has

Five People Who Taught Lakshmana Something

Kala & Indrajit

Indrajit & Sita

Lakshmana & Angad

Angad & Ruma

Three Ornaments Sita Valued, and One Weapon She Mastered

Kaushalya & Dasharata & Kaikeyi & Sumitra, Soulmark AU

Kaikeyi and Sita’s exile

Star Wars

Han/Leia, epistolary 

Five Times Rey Felt Lonely

Rose & Rey, TLJ AU

Multiple Fandoms

Five Headcanons About an AU Index

Platonic Relationship Headcanons Meme Index

An Alphabet of Legendary Ladies

Four Seasons Meme Index

Compass Rose Index

Mythological Character Headcanon Meme Index

3+1 Fics Index 

Trading Places Meme Index

Six Squared Meme Index

Another, Multi-Fandom Headcanon Meme

Baahubali/Jodhaa Akbar Crack Crossover

Baahubali/Hogwarts Crossover, McGonagall and Sivagami  x2

Photosets

Fake Movie Meme Index Post

Shakespeare, South Indian Style: x1  x2

Racebent Arthuriana: x1  x2     x3

Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer

Women of the Ramayan x1  x2   x3

Baahubali Photosets   x1     x2    x3  

Fancasting Meme: Mary Rose Tudor Bala and Ambika Baahubali

Star Wars: The (Racebent) Skywalker Family

Female! Krishna AU

Ramayana Cafe AU

bhaginī       x2

Vaidharbi    Kaushalya     Kashi-yatra

The House of Panchal, daemon AU

Kishkindha Royal Family, Harry Potter AU

Sita, Urmila, Ruma, Mandodari, daemon AU

Lanka Royal Family, Harry Potter AU

Harry Potter AU:      Abhimanyu & Pradhyumna     Arjuna        Subhadra 

                                 Mohini            Krishna              Rukmini      Panchal Siblings

                                 Apsaras

Draupadi (& Arjuna), after the war

Rukmini/Krishna, the shadow of her beloved

Rukmini/Krishna, Bollywood AU

Devaki/Vasudev, half sick of shadows

Sarama, Katiya Karun

Yudhisthira/Draupadi, the rubble or our sins?

Ram/Sita

Shakuntala & Pramadvara

Female! Pandavas

Urmila & Nidra Devi, Soulmark AU

Jodhaa Akbar, Daemon AU

Bhanumati, Soulmark AU

Subhadra, Soulmark AU

Satyabhama, Soulmark AU

Golden Girls AU, Soulmark AU

Jodhaa Akbar,  Jodhaa & Jalal Soulmark AU      

The Mothers of “Jodhaa Akbar”, Soulmark AU

Savitri, Daemon AU

Rama/Sita, Space AU

[stxrrynxghts]

NOOO-

let me use this headcanon for my story-

My heart-

*sobbing in the distance*

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. Red and gold and orange, he often said they looked more like sunset than fire that poets called them.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. They grew in Dwarka by bunches. Against the green and brown of trees, they looked like waterfalls of the furnace, he said.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. He had planted his first plant of palash in the palace of Dwarka, he had watered it everyday after his sword practice.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. He fought ferociously against his grandfather, Vasudev, when he wanted to tear down his palash tree for the renovation of the palace.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. He hid in the branches of his palash tree when he ran from his mother. He stepped on his uncle, Krishna, and reached those heights with loud laughs. He watched his mother run around the tree as he hid.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. He wrapped them in leaves and took them to his father every time he was allowed to visit him. Arjun wore them in his hair proudly, said the flowers matched his ascetic clothes.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. When he was married, everyone who had seen him grow threw palash flowers on his head. He laughed when his aunt Revati claimed she specially ordered the flowers from Vidharbh for him, he knew she could possibly do it just for the ostentatious idea.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. Uttara wore the same colour as them the next day of their marriage. His aunt Rukmini and Elder mother Draupadi teased him red for it.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers. His uncle Balram gave him a new bow for the upcoming war. It had palash flowers carved at all seven joints.

Abhimanyu loved palash flowers.

His pyre burnt the same colour as them.

[stxrrynxghts]

Abhimanyu had ruined things.

Again.

Just like every single day.

WHY WAS HE LIKE THIS?

This was a question which he and many people around him asked frequently. This time, his victim was a beautiful angavastra, which was very dear to Balarama Mama for some unknown reasons. Abhimanyu was practicing archery, as usual. And his target had been the angavastra, unfortunately.

Now, Balarama was screeching at the top of his lungs. Like a brave boy, Abhimanyu ran to hide in some secluded corner of the palace. Perhaps there was still some time left for him to run away. Maybe he could join his father in his exile-

"This is extremely delicious." A very familiar voice speaks from behind him. "Honestly, this reminds me of the time I was a young boy."

And as Abhimanyu had expected, Krishna Mama is miraculously sitting right next to him, his hand stuffed inside a pot of maakhan, with some of it smeared on his face.

"Mama!" He cries out in relief. "You are the only one who can save me now!"

"Oh?" Krishna says, in surprise. "Is that so?"

Abhimanyu resists the strong urge to scoff. As if he doesn't know what has happened. At that exact moment, Balaram roars in anger upstairs.

"I ruined his clothes." Abhimanyu decides to explain. "Please save me just this once."

"Ah, my dear nephew." Krishna slaps his maakhan coated palm on Abhimanyu's back. "I will always save you, except for that one time- Ahem. So, where were we?"

"You were saying something about saving me from the mess I have created." Abhimanyu says, even if Krishna hasn't voiced it out yet. He doesn't need to, Abhimanyu understands it without him even saying it.

"Now, Dau has always been like this since we were children. It is normal." Krishna explains. "Open your mouth."

Abhimanyu does so, only to find Krishna feeding him maakhan. Krishna is notorious for not sharing his maakhan with anyone. It makes him feel very special, indeed.

"Run ahead, I know how to convince him!" Krishna urges, and Abhimanyu runs to the women's palace.

Just like always, Krishna Mama has saved him. And he will continue to do it, right?

...

As his bow was chopped into pieces, his charioteer and horses were killed, as his sword fell from his hands and the chariot wheel was destroyed, as Abhimanyu picked up the mace and fell down, in a faint, as his skull was smashed, he realized that this time, just this once, Krishna Mama wouldn't come to save him.

[stxrrynxghts]

Abhimanyu Headcanons

He was born on the last day of Magha, even when his predicted birthdate was in the month of Phalgun. *sad Arjun noises*

He was a quiet baby, and wouldn't cry much.

Abhimanyu resembled Subhadra very much, except he had Arjun's eye shape and height.

He had a lisp as a toddler.

Abhimanyu hated sitting down to study, and he would always escape classes, hiding either in the gardens or the kitchen.

He loved baths, and refused to get out of the water.

His favorite game as a toddler was being thrown into the air.

Abhimanyu would always end up sleeping on Arjun's chest whenever he fell asleep.

He loved playing with wooden animals.

He developed sleeping problems after he shifted to Dvaraka. As a result, he is a light sleeper.

Abhimanyu has claustrophobia.

Initially, he loved swordfighting more, but eventually, he began to focus more on archery.

Abhimanyu loves animals. He is also a very curious person.

He doesn't know who is his favorite uncle. Krishna claims that it is him. Balarama is very hurt by that insinuation.

He shares almost everything with Subhadra.

Abhimanyu was taught by Pradyumna, mainly. He is his closest cousin.

Once, Samba and Abhimanyu fell from a mango tree, while stealing mangoes, and Abhimanyu broke his arm.

His favorite colors are yellow, pink and blue.

Abhimanyu loves travelling a lot. He spends most of his time going from Dvaraka to either Panchal or Chedi.

He is a diligent and hardworking student, even when he does not enjoy studying.

His hobbies include horse-riding, reading and writing poetry, and chilling around.

Abhimanyu has the bad habit of zoning out a lot.

He is usually described as an amiable, charming lad. Pradyumna claims that it is all nonsense, because Abhimanyu (and Samba) is responsible for his hypertension.

Abhimanyu does not have any memories of his father after growing up. Shrutakarma does remember Arjun, but he never speaks about him.

He tries, but is unable to think of the legendary, great warrior Arjun as his father.

He loves going out on the beach. His room has a window which has a view of the beach of Dvaraka in the distance.

Abhimanyu would join Subhadra in her painting sessions, even when he sucked at it.

He is afraid of not being able to live upto Arjun's nonexistant standards.

Abhimanyu disliked Uttaraa a lot when he met her initially. He thought that she was bratty and boring.

He enjoys meeting new people, and he bonded well with Arjun after meeting after 13 years.

Abhimanyu's favorite flower is palash. However, his favorite incense is rose.

He loves holding Uttaraa's hand, and does so whenever he can.

He is a bit of a romantic person.

Abhimanyu loves going to the markets with Uttaraa. He always buys multiple gifts for her.

He loves hugs.

Abhimanyu always wanted a family, but he never told his wishes to anyone.

He is scared of having a baby, but he is happy as well.

He purchased a pair of tiny anklets for his unborn child.

He was in denial when Iravan died. He always felt as if he was right there, round the corner, even when he was gone.

Abhimanyu's bow was a gift from Balarama when he turned 18.

Abhimanyu died after his skull was crushed by Dushasana's son.

[stxrrynxghts]

Ever since he was a child, Abhimanyu has seen the way his uncle looks at his wives. And he has never understood that look. Ever.

Krishna looks at his wives as if they are his entire world. As if they are the light in his eyes, the blood flowing in his veins, the air he was breathing.

As if their existence kept him alive.

Once, he does ask Mama Krishna about it. Abhimanyu remembers Krishna staring down at him, a smile spreading across his features, as he ruffles his hair.

"Why, Abhi, you will understand when you get older." Is the cheeky answer he gets in return.

Now, Abhimanyu has turned nineteen, almost a man, yet he doesn't understand. He doesn't understand how someone can treat their wife as if she is their goddess, the source of their being. Honestly, it is beyond his comprehension.

And the women are no less either. They treat their husbands with affection and love that is beyond Abhimanyu's comprehension. He hasn't understood any of this ever, and he doesn't think he will.

He meets Uttara, and finally, Krishna Mama's words uttered a decade ago finally start making sense.

[stxrrynxghts]

So sweet and lovely!

For anon, who asked “Abhimanyu, toys” for the three sentence ficathon.

~

Pregnancy renders Uttara excited and flushed with joy, but put out at her ankles swelling and her gait stumbling. To distract her from her irritation at no longer being able to dance, Abhimanyu often sits and talks with her about their plans for the upcoming child. These quiet times do him good as well, when anxiety burbles in the pit of his stomach at how he will be a father when he knows so little of his own, for his wife can tell him much.

[stxrrynxghts]

Abhimanyu: Uttaraa and I are no longer friends. Uttaraa: THAT IS THE WORST WAY TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE'RE MARRIED NOW!

[stxrrynxghts]

THE most underrated MB characters

1. Dhrishtadyumna: this dude is fcking underrated. No one likes him well enough to actually write a story on him, or give him the recognition he deserves.

He was the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Pandava army, and he did fight exceptionally in the War, and the reason he survived was definitely NOT pure luck.

Also, he gave Ashwatthama a strong fight when he tried to kill him sneakily.

2. Satyaki: again, gr8 warrior, amazing person, but recognition =0. No one bothers including him these days (yep, MB 2013, I blame you for this.)

Satyaki was the only one apart from the Pandava bros who lived despite being an active participant of the war.

He was also the VP of the Arjun fanclub, and he learnt stuff from Arjun so idk why he gets excluded despite being closely associated with the Pandavas.

3. Uttara: now don't get me started on this one. This girl is just your normal princess with expensive tastes (she did want the clothes of warriors for her dolls) and she is married to one of the best warriors of that time.

Flash forward, girly loses everything in the span of 18 FUCKING DAYS, while she is pregnant. And she ends up raising her kid (who will be the next Emperor) in a perfectly decent way.

Idk why she is underrated, or reduced to the always crying female, when you can do so much more with her character.

4. Kunti: now, Kunti IS well known but....for what? Abandoning Karna? Or apparently "planning" to make Draupadi marry her five sons.

This is one of the most strong women of the Mahabharata. She has stood like a pillar and withstood every wrong thrown in her direction. She has so many interesting relationships, like that with her bio family, or her kids, but we only care about Karna.

Kunti's life is a roller coaster, and it is extremely interesting. From being the kid who was sent away, to the mother whose kids were away from her and ultimately being cursed by her own son, she has come a long, long way.

I deliberately included those characters who have a direct impact on the story in some way.

[stxrrynxghts]

Headcannons on the dynamic between Arjuna and Uttaraa post-war? (This is canon compliant)

Thanks for the ask!!! This isn't too much, but I tried, TvT

The war snatches everything from Uttaraa in the span of fifteen days. Her brothers, her husband, her father...all gone. And on the eighteenth, her baby too, almost. It's a pain she will never recover from. Never.

Arjuna blames himself for Abhimanyu's death in particular, yes. His company does not provide her any solace, even if they had been quite close before all of this happened.

Uttaraa can't look at Arjuna properly, not after the 15th day of the war. Whenever she does, she sees her father staring back at her, blood running down his face, a portion of his skull crushed from the blow that had killed him.

Uttaraa spends most of her pregnancy at home, in Matsya, with the family she has left. The first time the two of them interact properly after...everything, is when Subhadra drags him to visit her.

Arjuna can't bear to look at his grandson right after he is born, but thankfully, Parikshit is born with his mother's face. It dulls and increases the ache in his heart in equal amounts.

When he starts crying, Parikshit is very restless. Arjuna is forced to dance to make the newborn cry. It works.

Even when they act as if the pain of the war has dulled, both Arjuna and Uttaraa never talk about Abhimanyu.

Both of them have lost so much in the war. Arjuna has been turned into a walking corpse, and Uttaraa will never be that happy-go-lucky, optimistic, bubbly girl again.

Just like the first time they met, they find comfort in another activity. The first time it was dance, now it is stargazing.

Uttaraa knows all the constellations by name. Arjuna always confuses Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Bhadrapada with each other. Uttaraa teases him a lot about it.

Sometimes they take Parikshit stargazing with them. He always falls asleep, though.

Arjuna teaches his grandson himself, and Parikshit is a good warrior, but he is also far more interested in studies than archery. Arjuna guiltily feels somewhat relieved. At least the boy won't go insist to be included in any future wars that might happen. Unlike his father.

Arjuna is very busy in the years post the war, moving from here to there, spending his time in conquests and training. He still manages to make time for the girls he had taught back in that incognito year, and Uttaraa takes great delight in hosting them all, once a year.

The war has somewhat destroyed their relationship too. They just don't know what to say anymore. It takes time to heal, but well, they try...they try, and lessen the pain...somewhat.

They also start visiting the library together, reading quietly. Uttaraa sometimes reads out stories and poems to him.

Uttaraa had hugged him tightly when he had arrived back from Manipura, sobbing tearfully. And Arjuna had hugged her back, crying silently as he did so.

She begs him not to leave, when the time comes. It is the one gift he refuses to give her.

Before leaving, Arjuna gifts her a set of dolls, just like the first gift he had given her. And he leaves, with a ghost of a smile on his face.

Years after he is dead, when Uttaraa cradles the corpse of her son, she wonders if Parikshit would have died if his grandfather was still around. It's a question whose answer she can never find out.

[stxrrynxghts]

Abhimanyu: why do we love him so much?

OK, perhaps not everyone loves him a lot as we do. I have seen people comment how Lakshman Kumar defeated him, how Abhimanyu died in a fair fight, how he was powerful because of a boon, how he was part of group attacks, how he is nothing special and is just highlighted because he is Janmeyjaya's grandfather etc.

Abhimanyu's life is very great and very tragic. When he was born, the Yadava-Pandava relation was flourishing. His mother Subhadra wasn't just the dear of her Yadava family, but her co-wife and the Empress, Draupadi, adored her extremely as well. Abhimanyu became his father and uncles' favorite since birth.

He was raised in Dwarka, where Subhadra was respected and cherished, and so was he. Balaram, Krishna and Pradyumna themselves educated him. Abhimanyu seems like someone who works very hard, and strives to be better at each moment, the type of student who ever teacher likes.

Then, later, he was the first of his brothers (except Ghatotkacha) to marry. Abhimanyu already had the Yadavas backing him up, and then, he becomes the son-in-law of the kingdom who is about to aid them in the War.

Abhimanyu is described as having a moon-like face, and broad shoulders. He was very handsome, over all, and must have been seen as charming.

Abhimanyu's marriage to Uttara is an extremely grand wedding, if you see the details about the wedding gifts given and received from both sides, and the number of guests that arrived. Almost ALL the important people of Aryavart had attended that wedding.

Abhimanyu's relationship with his wife is not detailed, but she grieved for him a lot, and the Stree Parva shows Gandhari explicitly mentioning their love life in....more than one aspect. It seems that he was a genuinely loving husband, who cared for his wife's happiness and needs, and in return, his wife too, loved and cherished him a lot, albeit returning his affection a bit shyly.

The crux of Abhimanyu's character is the tragedy that is in him, growing up without his father, a love story left incomplete due to him dying a premature death, his child growing up fatherless, and such potential being wasted away.

Abhimanyu is also fiercely talented. He was the 2nd highest ranking warrior in the Pandava army, and he defeated all of the major Kaurava warriors (except Bhishma) in one-to-one combat. Group attacks were common in the War, but Abhimanyu's case is different.

Abhimanyu enters the chakravyuha formation alone. The rest of the army is held at gate 1. He fights, not only against the numerous Kaurava warriors, but their common soldiers too, at the same time, for 12 hours continuously.

He defeats them, and then continues to fight back despite being attacked in groups. He loses his weapons, and fights with literally anything that he can, and is heavily injured. He is stabbed from behind by warriors far more experienced by him.

Abhimanyu's last duel is with Dushasana's son Durmasena, where the two of them faint after simultaneously knocking each other out from their mace fight. Durmasena is the one to wake up first as he is less injured. He bashes Abhimanyu's skull while he is just getting consciousness, killing him. This, is what certain people love to call, a "fair" fight.

Abhimanyu's death has severe consequences. The text provides detailed descriptions of his parents and wife's mourning. Arjun is devastated, and blames Jayadratha for this whole incident. (I wonder how and why he still respected Drona, Ashwatthama, Kripa etc after this incident?)

Arjun kills 7 battalions of the Kaurava army on his own the next day. (Abhimanyu had killed 1 battalion on his own the previous day.)

The war ends, and Abhimanyu's blood rules the throne. Abhimanyu is a person who strives to be better despite numerous personal tragedies marring his life. He is perhaps one of the only such detailed characters from the Mahabharata who is faultless, and yet gets the cruelest fate of them all.

Abhimanyu is someone who would have been one of the heir apparent candidates if he had survived. He is someone who had loved and cherished his relationships a lot. Abhimanyu is someone who should be loved and remembered for who he was, and what he did.

[stxrrynxghts]

Some months back, if anyone had told Abhimanyu that he would be getting married soon, he wouldn't believe them.

Him and marriage? Pfft.

Abhimanyu scoffs in the face of marriage.

Samba would love to add how Abhi is married to his sword. Abhimanyu strongly disagrees. He just likes sword fighting, okay? That does not mean that he keeps his sword strapped to himself at all times, and beneath his pillow when he is sleeping. That was simply not true.

The marriage won't take place right away, of course. The arrangements for a marriage took time. Besides, his bride was the daughter of the King of a very rich kingdom. Of course the wedding would be grand.

Matsya is a beautiful kingdom, albeit different from Dvaraka. Dvaraka is Abhi's favorite place, his home. The scent of the sea is ingrained in his skin, and if someone asked him where he would like to spend his last days, then he would select Dvaraka. It was home, and no other place in the world could hold a candle to it in his eyes.

Matsya is slightly dryer in comparison to Dvaraka. The buildings are lavish and well constructed, cities are made in the form of forts. Here, in Matsya, they worship Vishnu, the preserver. Dvaraka has always worshipped Mahadeva more, but Abhimanyu cannot see the difference, honestly. He loved the set of royal temples in Virata Nagara, the capital. His bride would come to these temples each day without fail.

His bride-

Her name is Uttara, Abhi reminds himself. He has to address her by her name, not by some formal title.

If he were to be honest, then she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Uttara has long, wavy, dark hair. How does Abhi know? He saw her once, with her hair open, strands framing her face, curls cascading down the expanse of her back.

Uttara is someone who knows his father better than he does. And Abhimanyu's father adores her as well. Abhi can see why he does so.

She is a kind girl, and is always happy. Abhimanyu is rarely sulky, but he feels that in her presence he can be more optimistic. Krishna Mama says that they are a good pair. It made him feel very happy.

Abhimanyu doesn't want to freak out Uttara, or else he would have tried to be a bit more close to her than he is at the moment. It has been over a month since they got to know each other, and the wedding is still a long way ahead of them.

Many people have anxiously asked his opinions about his upcoming wedding. Abhimanyu finds himself to be very lucky, that he gets to spend his life with such a lovely person.

Sometimes he wonders whether he is good enough.

Whether he is a good son , and whether he will be a good husband.

Soon enough, reality crashes upon him on the bloody soil of Kurukshetra, as his life comes to an end.

The last thing he sees is the two of them on the beach of Dvaraka.

Him, and his wife who is more beautiful than the stars.