Next morning was not ordinary, everyone was told to be present in the sabha before time. All the members hurried with training and breakfast to reach sabha.

Karn stood near the entrance as one by one courtiers passed by, some greeting him which he returned. His eyes searching for a particular person, suddenly Jhanvi came there along with Pallavi. Karn greeted her.

Jhanvi :- She is my sakhi, Pallavi.



Karn :- Princess of Koshal, Pranipat.

Pallavi :- Pranipat.

Jhanvi :- (narrowing her eyes) You both know eachother.

Karn :- We met at the temple yesterday.

Jhanvi :- (to Pallavi) What were you doing at temple ?

Pallavi :- I was just doing my everyday chores....

While they were talking, he noticed Madanjay entering the hall, ignoring him.

Karn :- Madanjay.

Madanjay clenched his fist and slowly turned around as Karn walked upto him.

Karn :- Pranipat.

Madanjay noded his head.

Karn :- I wanted to apologise for what happened yesterday, I acted out of anger. I know that I shouldn't have gone that foreward and I sincerely apologise for my behavior. I will talk to pitamah and suggest him to assign you the post of senapati of Hastinapur army. I will try my best so that it... doesn't happen again.



Saying so, he went towards his seat, Madanjay kept looking at him wide eyed. A smile appeared on Jhanvi's face as she heard his words, she too went towards her seat.

After everyone took their places, dwarpal came to do the announcement.

Dwarpal :- Son of Maharishi Bharadwaj and student of Lord Parsuram, Mahaguru Dronacharya seeks permission to enter rajya sabha along with his son Ashwatthama.

Dhritrashtra :- Send him in with due respect.

Dwarpal noded and went out, guru Dron entered with his son and everyone greeted him.



Bhisma :- What's the reason of your sudden arrival acharya ?

Dron :- Mahamahim, I am here to ask for my guru dakshina.

Dhritrashtra :- Please ask what you want acharya.

Dron :- I want revenge.

Everyone looked at him shocked.

Vidur :- Revenge ?

Dron :- Yes mahamantri, I want revenge from king of Panchal, Drupad. Years ago I was insulted in his rajya sabha, he not only insulted me but questioned my knowledge, so I want him at my feets. If I wanted to defeat him, I would have done it at that very instant but he had insulted my knowledge, so I vowed to train a warrior from that very knowledge and make him worthy enough to defeat him. I want my students to fight him and prove themselves.

Dhritrashtra :- But acharya, Drupad is an experienced warrior and moreover Panchal has more than two akshayani millitary force. Please ask something else.



Dron :- This is guru dakshina, there is no other option Maharaj, if they aren't capable enough to give me what I asked, I will search another warrior and train him to defeat Drupad. Give me permission to leave.

He turned to go when Karn stopped him.

Karn :- Wait acharya.

Dron turned around and looked at eldest prince. Karn turned to Dhritrashtra.

Karn :- Tatshree, this is true that Panchal is a powerful kingdom, but war is not always won by number of soldiers or power of warriors, sometimes it only takes a good strategy to gain an easy victory.

Dron :- Do you think of Drupad as a weak opponent ?

Karn :- I never said that, Maharaj Drupad is an excellent stragiest and an expert vyuh maker, he is known for creating Chakravyuh.

Bhisma :- How do you know it putra ?

Karn :- Gurudev told me about him while teaching me Chakravyuh.

Dhritrashtra :- What did you meant by earlier statement ?

Karn :- Tatshree, I only meant that your nephews and sons are not naive, they can handle the responsibility well.

Shakuni, who was standing quietly, listening to the conversation, smirked cruelly as a plan striked his mind.

Shakuni :- Don't worry acharya, Kauravs will surely bring Drupad at your feets.

Arjun :- Mamashree, not only them but we will also take part in guru dakshina.



Bheem :- Yes Arjun, I am with you.

Bhisma :- Putra Karn, you should also go with them, it's their first war afterall, they will surely need some help.

Dron :- Why Mahamahim ? prince Karn is not my student, so he will not participate.

Bhisma :- Acharya, perhaps not as a warrior but as a supervisor, atleast he can help them strategize.

Dron looked at Karn, thought for a moment and then spoke.

Dron :- Ok but I need a promise that you will not raise your weapons to help your brothers, you can only give them advises.

Karn looked at him then at Bhisma who noded a little dissapointed and sighed.

Karn :- Ok acharya, I will not raise my weapons untill and unless all my 106 brothers have been defeated.

Shakuni :- Karn, I think acharya asked you to not raise your weapons in war...

Karn :- (sternly) What will I do when all of them will be defeated, will I just stand there and wait for pitamah to come.

Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.

Karn :- Do you doubt your nephews mamashree ?

Shakuni :- No, not at all.

Karn :- Then according to my promise, there won't be any need to raise weapons, are you convinced ?

Bhisma, Vidur, Kunti and Pandavs were stiffing their laughter while courtiers were amused, Shakuni noded while gritting his teeth.

Bhisma :- Ok, all of you start preparations for the war, you will leave when your guru tells you so. Go putron, defeat him and remind him the valour of kuru vansh.

All the brothers :- Yes pitamah.

Dron :- One more thing Mahamahim, no army general or commander will go, only army can go with them.

Dhritrashtra :- Why acharya ?

Dron :- Maharaj this is their test, so they will have to handle everything by themselves.



Dhritrashtra :- As you say acharya.

Shakuni :- Maharaj I have an idea to make this war, a thriller.

Dhritrashtra :- What is it ?

Shakuni :- Maharaj, earlier we had a problem about yuvraj selection....

Kunti :- What is there to discuss Gandhar Raj, Karn is the eldest and he should be crowned as per your own rule.

Karn looked at her wide eyed.

Bhisma :- And Gandhar Raj, he was born way before Duryodhan, so there is no doubt for him being the eldest.

Shakuni was burning with anger but he couldn't just let the topic go.

Shakuni :- Mahamahim, you only said that the throne should be given to most worthy heir.



Dhritrashtra :- What do you want to say Shakuni ?

Shakuni :- Since all the princes are participating, we can find the eligible yuvraj easily. If Pandavs won then Karn will be the yuvraj or if Kauravs won then Duryodhan will be crowned the yuvraj.

Bhisma :- This is not the right way to choose the yuvraj.

Dhritrashtra :- What is wrong in this tatshree, idea is amazing. Whoever wins among Pandavs and Kauravs, eldest among them will be crowned the yuvraj. Sabha dismiss.

Shakuni and Duryodhan smirked while elders sighed in defeat, Dhritrashtra was adamant. Everyone went back to their respective works.

After lunch, Karn was sitting on a bench underneath a tree in the garden, he tried to close his eyes and relax but his mind was clouded with several doubts. Kunti, who was roaming around searching for him, reached there and saw her son tensed. She went to him and patted his head, he opened his eyes and found his mother looking at him concerned.

He just laid his head on her lap while she ran her fingers through his hair, massaging his forehead a bit. She could see the worry lines forming on his face.

Kunti :- What happened putra ? You look so tensed.

Karn :- Can I say something mata.

Kunti :- Of course putra.

Karn :- Mata, I don't feel I am worthy enough to be the yuvraj.

Her brows furrowed but when she saw his confused face, she smiled.

Kunti :- And why do you think so ?

Karn :- You see, Yudhisthir is way more knowledgeable than me, he had been raised up in the atmosphere of responsibility and he follows dharm more than anyone else. I on the other hand, am a free minded person, I am not a supporter of rules of society, in fact I hate them. What if I did something that is against the codes of a king.

She caressed his face lovingly.



Kunti :- That is the real quality of a king, he should be open minded, his thoughts shouldn't get crushed under the load of unwanted rules. A good king is the one who tries to make the life of his subjects better, rather than blindly following the old worn out beliefs.

Karn thought for a while but again spoke.

Karn :- Mata, do you think I will be able to handle such a responsible post.

Kunti :- I am extremely sure, but you are not alone putra, I, your brothers, your kakashree and pitamah, all are with you.

Karn :- Why is everyone so adamant on making me the yuvraj ?

Kunti :- Because this was one of your father's last wishes. He wanted to meet you, to see you grow up, to see you become an archer, to crown you the king. Unfortunately, he is no more so atleast you can fulfill his wish by ascending the throne.

Karn looked at her face which had a little saddened expression, he immediately hugged her tight.

Karn :- Mata, I will try my best to become what you all wanted me to, I will become the greatest maharathi on earth. He will be proud on me when he will see his eldest son from heaven. (Looking towards the sky) Miss you a lot pitashree, hope to meet you someday, will you not give me blessings to start my journey.

Kunti just shook her head smiling and he chuckled. Next moment other five brothers arrived there.

Bheem :- Jeystha, mata, we were searching for you both and you are here in the garden.

Nakul :- Jeystha, can you help us to start the preparations for war.

Karn :- Ya sure lets go.

He looked at Kunti who noded smiling and went with them. She kept looking at their retreating figures, after that she too went to meet Gandhari.

In the evening, Bhisma called Karn to his chamber. He was standing near the window looking out when he heard a knock on the door, he turned around to see Karn standing there. He gestured to have a seat on sofa kept near the wall. Karn noticed his pitamah worried about something.

Karn :- What happened pitamah ?

Bhisma :- Putra, I called you here to warn you that a clever plan has been laid.

Karn :- Clever plan ?

Bhisma :- Putra, when you will not use your weapons, people might think that you are not capable enough and that you need your brothers to fight wars for you. Do you know what misconception it can create ?

Karn :- I guess so, but what can be done now ?

Bhisma sighs and shook his head.



Karn :- Mamashree is indeed very intelligent.

Bhisma :- He is thousand times of what you think of him to be.

Now Karn sighed.

Bhisma :- This has become a serious issue putra, and if not sorted soon enough, results could be adverse.

Karn :- Don't worry much pitamah, if not in this war then some other day, but I too will get a chance to show my valour on battlefield. All I need to do is to wait for that opportunity.

Bhisma :- I hope so putra.

Karn :- Can I go now.

Bhisma :- Yes.

He took his pitamah's blessing and left. Soon the sky was engulfed with darkness and all the members retired to rest except two. One was Jhanvi, who sat on her bed watching the night sky from the window nearby, beside her was Subhadra, sleeping.

'What would he be doing today ?' she thought and sneaked out of the chamber. She searched the garden but no one was there, she thought he would be asleep today and started walking back to her chamber. While she was walking in the corridor, she heard the sound of bow string coming from terrace, she smiled and went towards its source.

There, she found him on the terrace. He was practicing blindfold archery, he held a large bow and a quiver filled with arrows was on his back. His ears were hyper sensitive, his posture straight, his hand holding the bow stiffened as he heard a sound, other hand took out an arrow and pulled the string. He swiftly released the arrow towards its target.



She couldn't stop herself from checking him out. His shining body was sweating due to practice, his muscles bulging out, while his face had a glow. 'Woah, he looks so handsome' she thought.

Next moment Karn heard her breathing and shot an arrow that struck in front of her feet, she was awed seeing such archery. He removed his blindfold and noticed Jhanvi smiling at him.

Karn :- Oh, you again, not feeling sleepy ?

He kept the bow down and wore his angvastra, then he picked up a vessel and washed his face.

Jhanvi :- So you have a habbit of practicing late night.

Karn :- Just like you have the habbit of watching me.

She looked here and there embarrassed.

Karn :- It's okay, I won't eat you.

Jhanvi :- What's your target by the way ?

Karn pointed towards the trees in the garden, some bags were hanging which had gingling thing in them.

Jhanvi :- Hmm... training for the upcoming war.

Karn :- Well, nothing much for me to worry, I won't be fighting.

Jhanvi :- So sure ?

Karn :- Yup.

She was admiring the garden when her eyes noticed glowing flowers near the fountain, they looked so beautiful, her eyes twinkled seeing them. Karn followed her gaze and smirked. He picked up his bow and summoned a magic arrow.



He then placed the arrow, pulled the string and shot. Arrow arched in the air and went along a curved path, plucking the flower and came back to him, he handed it to her. She just caressed the flower delicately.

Karn :- It matches you.

She raised her eyebrows at him. He took the flower and tucked it over her ear.

Karn :- See, now it looks perfect.

She touched the flower over her ear and a smile appeared on her face.

Karn :- You know what, if you're getting bored, I have a plan.

He picked up a bag kept at the corner.

Karn :- I was going to visit the market, wanna join ?

Jhanvi :- Market, at midnight ?

Karn :- Ya, it's been a few days since last visit, might as well do some shopping. I used to go there everyday during my childhood.

Jhanvi :- Lets see which market opens up at midnight.

Karn :- Follow me.

She walked behind him, both of them sneaked through the corridor and reached at an end of palace wall.

Jhanvi :- What now ?

Karn :- We need to climb to the other side.

Jhanvi :- How will you climb this wall, I mean do you have a rope or something ?

Karn :- Being an archer, I know how to use my arrows well.

He raised his bow and started shooting arrows, soon created stairs till the top.

Jhanvi :- Seems like all those trainings are finally bearing the fruit, but will it be able to handle my load.

Karn :- (chuckles) It can handle the load of even whole Hastinapur army.

Jhanvi :- How can you be so sure ?

Karn :- If I'll not be sure of my arrows, I don't have any right to enter the battlefield.

Jhanvi was impressed by his words. Both of them climbed to the top and then slid to the other side, escaping from eyes of guards.

Jhanvi :- So, where are we gonna go now ?

Karn :- (little irritated) Oh, how much questions do you ask, can't you just shut your mouth for a moment.

Jhanvi :- (bites her tongue) Sorry.

They walked for about ten minutes but after that, what she saw made her eyes widen.

In front of them stood a market, glowing under the night sky with the light of various mashals and lamps. As it was the night time, not much of a crowd was present. The scene in front looked so pleasant that none of them could suppress their smiles. Jhanvi was most happy of the two, she had seen markets in Dwarika but none of them were open during nights.

Jhanvi :- Wow, this place, the market looks so beautiful at night. But I am kinda surprised, how is this open at this time of the night.

Karn :- This market is open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Jahnvi :- Why so ?

Karn :- Well, that's the speciality of this market, shall we.

He gestured to walk.

Jhanvi :- Oh, ya sure.

Now they walked between the rows of shops, seeing the beauty of glowing market. Several different items adorned, some hanging, some placed on stalls, some just thrown aside. Various fragrances mixed in the air, spices, chillis, sweets, perfumes, hand made silk sarees. They were walking beside each other, enjoying the scenario in front of them, Jhanvi glanced at him with the corner of her eye and found him staring at a particular stall.

Jhanvi :- What happened ?

Karn :- So, where to first ?

She looked at his face which was filled with mischief. She raised her eyebrows and he pointed towards a stall. After that both of them roamed from stall to stall, tasting different dishes and talking about themselves, getting to know eachother.

Then they checked bangle shops where she tried many bangles, a set of golden bangles was finalized and he purchased it.

They also went to see earrings, she tried many of them but none was upto her expectation, suddenly a pair of silvery glinting earrings caught her eye. She wanted to try them so she just took them and stood in front of a mirror but couldn't fix it as the design was complicated. Suddenly slim long fingers grabbed the earrings from her, she turned to see Karn standing beside her with earrings in his hand. He raised his eyebrows asking for permission, she noded subtly, he came close and made her wear the earrings. She felt shy and looked down blushing as he came near her, his touch made shivers run down her spine.

Karn :- There, all done.

She looked herself in the mirror, those earrings complemented her face. She glanced at him and shook her face asking him how it looked to which he noded smiling. Then he reached his hand inside his purse to pay for it when something surprised him. She noticed his confused face.

Jhanvi :- What ?

Karn :- (showing her the empty purse) Err... sorry I didn't carry enough money.

Jhanvi :- Ohh.

He noticed her little dissapointed face when she took out those earrings and handed them back to shopkeeper.

Karn :- You know what, we can borrow them, I just need to leave something here so that I can pay him back later.

Saying so he started searching for any item to keep when he felt hand on his shoulder.

Jhanvi :- It's okay, it's just a pair of earrings, I can have many others, for now lets go.

Karn :- If you say.

Both of them walked towards the gate from where they entered, but his eyes twinkled again.

Karn :- Hey wait.

She stopped and looked at him.

Karn :- We came to a market and didn't visited the cloth stall, what an injustice.

She looked at him with narrowed eyes while he was confused.

Jhanvi :- Only a few minutes earlier, you told me that you don't have any money left, then what will be the use of going there.

Karn :- Well, they won't be charging us for trying.

She sighed and noded, now they went towards clothe stalls. First he tried some angvastras, she laughed when he picked up a dupatta by mistake Then she began to try some dresses, one by one she tried many but he rejected them, at last his eyes found a pink lehanga, he immediately took it and handed it to her. She looked at him questioningly.

Karn :- Try this out, it will really look good on you.

Jhanvi :- But I have already tried many and it's getting late.

Karn :- Just this one, only for me.

She shook her head and went inside the dressing room again. After few minutes she came out wearing the pink lehanga, he just couldn't take his eyes off her, she looked so beautiful in this dress. He wanted to go and hug her immediately but somehow controlled his temptations. She stood in front of a huge mirror, adjusting the dress when she noticed him staring at her, she turned around and waved her hand but he seemed to be lost in his own world. She shook him only to loose her own balance, her eyes got closed in a reflex as she waited for pain to consume her body but it didn't happen. Instead, he snaked his hand around her waist, preventing her from falling. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring at the most handsome guy she had ever met.

Their faces were just inches apart, Karn was mesmerized. Moonlight fell on her face making it glow, her lotus eyes made him forget all about the surroundings, he wondered how her rosy lips would taste, his heart skipped a beat. Her skin felt so soft.

Karn :- Beautiful!

He spoke without his own knowledge, lost in his own world. She blushed and looked down.



When he didn't move, she cleared her throat to break his stance. He was immediately bought back to the real world, as he noticed her reddened cheeks and a shy smile.

Karn :- Sorry.

He said as he let her get up. Jhanvi shyly looked at him, who was smiling softly, she got mesmerized by the heavenly smile on his face.

Jhanvi :- Shall I ?

She pointed towards her previous dress.

Karn :- Oh, ya, you change, it's.... already late, we should head back.

She went inside the dressing room for the final time and came out wearing her own dress. Now they hurriedly came back, climbed the wall and moved towards her chamber. When they stood in front of her door, she turned to face him.

Jhanvi :- Thanks.

Karn :- For what ?

Jhanvi :- For making my evening, a special one.

Karn :- It was just another common evening, but your presence made it special.

She blushed, smiling.

Karn :- By the way, when will I get my necklace back.

Her head immediately shot up, she looked as if caught red handed.

Jhanvi :- (stammering) Your necklace ?

Karn :- I know it's with you.

Jhanvi :- How can you say so ?

He leaned near her ear.

Karn :- (wishpering) You can't escape from an archer's eye.

Butterflies came in her stomach as she felt his warm breath near her neck, her cheeks turned deep pink. But he withdrew himself and went towards his chamber, not before giving her a smile. She just kept watching his retreating figure, and then went in.



Laying down on bed, she reached her hand beneath her pillow and pulled out a necklace. She caressed it with a soft smile.

Jhanvi :- See you again tomorrow, goodnight.

Saying so she closed her eyes and travelled to the world of dreams. ----------------------------------------------------------- Did you like the chapter ?

Wow guys, our story has crossed 500 votes, when publishing the first chapter I didn't expected it to be this soon. Thank you so much for your love and support, I hope you will continue to support me in the upcoming story.

Panchal war coming up in the next chapter, along with lots of drama.

What do you think, will Jhanvi return his necklace or not ?

Target :- 36 votes.

Do comment if you have any suggestions.