Karn :- I'm cursed.

Chirping of crickets could be heard for a few moments as Radha tried to read her son's facial expressions and found nothing but pain.

Radha :- (sighs) Tell me everything from starting.

Karn was still hesistating, his hands shaky, face numb and knees going weak. He looked at his mother for confirmation and she noded assuring.

Karn :- I left home with full confidence to definitely find a teacher and be a warrior, the greatest archer. But, it seemed like destiny had something else in store for me, two years passed travelling across aryavarth and I got nothing but taunts. No matter what I did, no place left I didn't go, no ashram's door remained I didn't knocked, no feets went back before being washed by my tears but it was all of no use. I begged, cried, shouted but for them I was nothing more than a worthless low born insect whose meaning of life was to only serve the feets of brahmins and kshtriyas.

He wiped the tears formed at corner of his eyes and looked at his mother.

Karn :- One day a brahmin told me that I should drown myself in a river for thinking about learning art of warfare, all my hopes shattered, I was left with nothing but dejection, at that time I really felt like an insect, a useless creature crawling on land. I gathered up some leftover of my courage and jumped in a flowing river....

Radha :- What ?

Karn :- (smiling sadly) But fate didn't even let me die peacefully, when I opened my eyes, I was near a shore, a kind man saved and gave me some clothes. I was too depressed that I even scolded him for saving me, he asked the reason and said that if it'll be a valid one, he himself will throw me in the river again. So I told him about my journey, he laughed and adviced me to lie about being a brahmin.

Radha :- What did you said ?

Karn :- I said it was wrong, lying with your teacher is a sin but he calmly asked that were they doing the right thing denying education to you. Even though senseless, his words had a point and I made up my mind that I had to be a warrior no matter what, whatever the consequences maybe but now I just had to do what I felt right. So I changed my getup and managed to get admission in a brahmin ashram and learned all ved shastras for a year, after completing it, I straight away went to bhagwan Parsuram's ashram.

Radha sighed, her son had done a grave sin but she knew that current situation was delicate and being angry would only make it worse.

Radha :- So you lied being a brahmin, putra, a sin done in any condition is a sin and has its consequences.

Karn :- I know, and I realised it later on but didn't had courage to say the truth.

Radha :- Tell me further, how did he find out.

Karn :- It happened one day when...

Then he narrated about that unfortunate day and curse.

Radha :- We can't say that it was completely your fault neither we can say that you were blameless. Whatever happened cannot be changed but where is this girl you were talking about.

Karn :- I... don't know how to tell, will you be able to handle it.

Radha :- I will get to know only if you tell me.

Karn :- Once gurudev sent me to...

He told her about the story of Banasur, Suchitra and their marriage.

Radha :- What ? She is your wife ?

Karn noded looking down.

Radha :- Don't hide anything now, tell me putra.

Karn :- Everything was so good, she was so kind and loving, it felt like we had known each other for ages, even though we were newly wed, we knew most things about each other, those days were like a dream.

Radha :- Then what is the reason you want to forget her.

Karn took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

'Don't utter a single word, I never expected this from you arya, how could you do this. Seeing you anyone can say that he is talking to a noble man, but no one knows what's behind that innocent face of yours'

'Just leave, and if you have any self respect left within then don't tell anyone you had a wife'

'JUST LEAVE'.

Karn :- (sadly) I don't know what entered her mind or, what she thought but on that very day....

He explained about that quarrel, her getting angry and telling him to leave.

Radha :- This all dosen't make much sense to me, you lied and you got your punishment for it but what about her, if she really loved you so much why would she leave you for only not telling it.

Karn :- That's exactly what I am trying to figure out, but I think I already felt something weird since a day before, she was not in her usual mood and seemed sad about something....

Suddenly a thought striked his mind, he looked at his mother.

Karn :- Couldn't it be that she already knew what was to happen, like she knew that her husband would be the one to kill her father, maybe she did it on purpose.

Radha :- It could be, because her telling you to just leave dosen't sits well with my conscience. But you too my son have your own fault, you don't listen to anyone in front of your anger. You should have waited for sometime to let her cool off and then approached but you just packed up your stuff and walked away.

Karn felt his stomach squeeze, he wanted to slap himself hard, bang his forehead again an iron pole.

Karn :- (sighs) Now you know everything, what should I do ?

Radha :- First of all, you should lay down on your bed and have a sleep, I will tell you further during breakfast.

Karn :- You go, I'm not feeling sleepy.

Radha :- First you lay down.

He tried to resist but Radha made him lay on bed, she herself sat down and patted his head while humming a song as night kept going by.



Karn opened his eyes slowly, he blinked twice before realising, he was again in complete darkness that surrounded him like a thick dense fog.

'Finally, you're up, I thought you would spend all the time just sleeping', a voice told him, he turned his head to see his wife sitting beside with a smile on her lips.



Karn :- (getting up) Suchitra ?

Suchitra :- (narrowing her eyes) Don't you remember your wife.

Karn :- Are..... you.... here.... for real ?

Suchitra :- No, I'm just your dream, but I came here to have a talk, thought you might be needing one.

He still looked around confused.

Suchitra :- I told you it's just a dream, so ask whatever you want, before time runs out.

He kept looking at her for a moment before speaking.

Karn :- Why did you leave me Suchitra ? What had I done ? Was it because of that truth ? Or something else ?

Suchitra :- (taking a deep breath) You still didn't understood, the path meant for both of us to walk on is not the same, you have your own motivation, your own meaning of life and your own destiny. You don't need me for now...

Karn :- (standing up) How can you say this ? Who are you to decide that I don't need you ? You too think that I didn't love you.

Suchitra :- I know arya, I know you love me, but companion for your journey will be someone else, I will be there when you would need me but for now you will have to go alone.

Karn :- How will I go alone ? I'm just another emotional fool, who gets crazy every now and then.

Suchitra :- You're not all alone, you have your brothers, mother, grandfather and very soon you will have a friend to guide you.

She kept a hand on her womb.

Suchitra :- Meanwhile, our son will be safe with me, I'll make sure he grows up to be a warrior like his father, he will come back to help you out in this journey. Talking about your emotional fool personality, it's you who has to figure it out.

Karn :- I know but I can't just make it go away, and I can't understand from where this energy came within me and that too so much.

Suchitra :- You are Suryadev's son, along with his armour and earrings you also have a part of his enormous energy stored inside you.



Karn wondered whether he knows himself or not.

Suchitra :- (smiling) All clear now, I think it's time to go.

She turned to leave but he held her wrist and pulled her in a hug.

Karn :- (kissing her forehead) Take care Suchitra, I'll miss you.

She too hugged him softly.

Suchitra :- I'll miss you too arya, but wait, I have something for you.

She raised her palm and forewarded a necklace.

Karn :- What's this ?

Suchitra :- It's sun pendant, it'll help you stop your energy from destroying everything untill you figure out how to control it.



He took the necklace and caressed it with a smile. She hugged him for one last time before turning and walking away in darkness. He just stood there watching her vanish, she turned and smiled at him, he waved his hand saying good bye and she dissapeared. ----------------------------------------------------------- Today, sun rose slowly with unusual calmness, like it's a festival. Well it is, today is the day of Karn's yuvraj abshek. People of Hastinapur were delighted to have Karn as yuvraj, they had witnessed his valour and boldness, those who didn't, were showered with tales of his bravery.

Instead of all those praising, dancing and celebrating, there was peace everywhere, atmosphere was calm and silence engulfed the surrounding except the heart of our protagonist.

Faint sunlight fell on his sleeping figure as he yawned before stretching and opening his eyes. Scratching his head he breathed the cool air, he felt something in his palm, raising his hand he saw the sun pendant twinkling as sunlight fell on it. 'Was it really a dream' he thought and ran to tell his mother.

Radha sat in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, Shivangi came there along with washed vegetables.

Radha :- Putri, go and wake up your brother or he will sleep whole day and then get angry for no reason.

Shivangi :- I don't know what he has with others but he'd never been angry on me.

Radha :- Because you're the only one to give him ideas about different mischiefs....

'Radha maa, Radha maa....'

He entered running.

Karn :- I talked to her Radha maa.

Shivangi :- (confused) You talked to whom Jeystha ?

Karn :- Nothing, can you go and work somewhere else for some moments while I talk to maa.

Shivangi :- Okay okay.

She left, after making sure no one was eavesdropping, he sat down beside his mother.

Karn :- Mata, I really talked to her.

Radha :- (still engrossed in work) When ?

Karn :- Yesterday, in my dream and she told a lot of things....

He narrated the conversation and showed her the pendant.

Radha sighed and looked at her son, for a moment she thought something might have entered his brain but seeing his relief filled face, she brushed it off.

Radha :- So, you got all your answers.

Karn :- Not all, but I think I'm good for now.

Radha :- Then you should hurry up putra, you're late today, get ready, have you breakfast and leave. Rajmata must be waiting for you there.

He hugged his mother happily before rushing out, she looked towards the door and wondered if whatever her son saw in his dream was true.

Time passed very rapidly, Karn had his breakfast, returned to palace where Kunti made him take a bath, get dressed as a royal and complete some rituals. Auspicious moment of his yuvraj abshek was finally nearing.

Karn was in his chamber, staring blankly at Pandu's bow. He took slow, deep breaths, as if to calm his anxiety, probably due to some of his unsolved insecurities, trying to figure out what would be life ahead. Next moment, Yudhisthir entered the chamber, to take him where coronation has to be performed. Karn was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't noticed his younger brother walking upto him. Yudhisthir kept a hand on his shoulder, Karn's trance was broken and he looked aside to see his brother standing.

Karn :- Oh anuj Yudhisthir.

Yudhisthir touched his feet, Karn embraced him in a hug.

Yudhisthir :- Jeystha, where were you lost ?

Karn :- Just wondering, how would it be like to have him as father. I don't want to offend my froster parents, I love them a lot, but I was thinking, if I could ever get a chance to meet him.

Yudhisthir :- He was calm, knowledgeable and caring. You know Jeystha, after he died and choti maa too left us, mata took all our responsibility, she kept us united. She was breaking from inside but didn't show it on her face, when I used to stare at the sky filled with stars, she used to tell me that he is watching us from heaven and that his blessings is always with us.



Karn :- You think I will be able to handle such a responsible post ?

Yudhisthir :- I believe you, not only I but our brothers, mother, kakashree, pitamah, tatshree, badi maa all believe you. If they didn't, why would they be doing your yuvraj abshek.

Karn :- Okay, lets go.

Both of them left towards rajya sabha, were all the preparations for coronation were done. When Karn entered his eyes widened. Whole sabha was crowded with people. Priests, courtiers, family members and public all were present there. Hall was decorated like it was a mandap.

All the eyes went upto him as he walked with Yudhisthir, praises of his name echoed in the hall, he joined his hands, people bowed their heads as he passed by. He proceeded to take blessings of elders and then sat before hawan kund, priests started chanting mantras and soon rituals began. He was bathed with various herbs mixed liquids, milk and finally with rose water. He was then made to wear, golden angvastra with blood red dhoti, and some jewels. Gandhari did his tilak and Bhisma put the crown on his head. He then turned towards the public, who was continuously praising his name.

Karn :- I, yuvraj of Hastinapur, Kunti putra Karn, will try my best to abide by all the responsibilities in each and every condition. From now on, serving and taking care of people will be my duty.



'Yuvraj Karn ki jai' was the voice which was heard all around.

Duryodhan left immediately, he couldn't tolerate all this, why did his mother had to all such things. He couldn't see his dreams being shattered in front of his own very eyes.

Shakuni had a wicked smiled on his face, a master plan is going on, soon he will wipe out all his enemies at once, like they never even existed.

Dhritrashtra was sad, he wanted to see his son at the post Karn was today.

After ceremony was completed, a seperate throne was placed for him aside Bhisma, this gave him a seperate recognision as yuvraj. ----------------------------------------------------------- In Kampilya, Drupad was burning in fire of revenge, he just wanted to take revenge from Dron at any costs, also he was purely impressed by Karn. He was standing at the balcony, looking out when Srikhandini came there.

Srikhandini :- Pitashree.



Drupad was snapped out of his thoughts.

Srikhandini :- I know pitashree, the reason of your gloominess. (sighs) I failed you at the very crucial moment.

Drupad :- At least you fought and kept them engaged but how can an immature student defeat me.

Srikhandini :- Even if you would have defeated him, Karn was still in the line.

Drupad :- Ya, I wonder from where did he get this strength. Whatever, we are not capable enough to get our revenge. I want a son, who can behead Dron and place it on my feet.



Srikhandini :- But how will you get a son ?

Drupad :- Lets find out, there are still many sages left in Kampilya, someone might be knowing any way.

Srikhandini :- Okay pitashree.

Both left immediately to meet rishis. ----------------------------------------------------------- Did you like the chapter ?

With this, first phase of our story has been completed.

I hope you all enjoyed the story till now, upcoming chapters will bring you more drama.

How was the conversation between Karn and Suchitra ?

Can you please suggest a name for Suchitra's son ?

What do you think next chapter will bring ?

Target :- 38 votes.

Do comment if you have any suggestions.