'BOOM!' a very loud crashing sound echoed everywhere.

Dust spread all around, clouding the vision. Karn frantically ran here and there searching for Jhanvi. He shouted her name but saw nothing except dust. Cracking sounds below his feet told him that boulder had crushed almost everything that came in its way, which was further increasing his heartbeats, he looked at his right hand to notice the glowing veins, indicating that his energy would start to burst out anytime soon.

Suddenly his eyes noticed something glinting admist the dust, walking foreward he could see a silhouette in bluish white lehnga lay on ground. He ran and immediately took her in his arms, nothing had happened to her but the shock of nearly being crushed, made her pass out.

Keeping her head on his lap, he patted her cheeks while calling her, then touched her forehead and checked her pulse, luckily everything was fine. He saw the sun pendant glowing in her left hand, the energy accumulated inside it might have saved her life. He caressed her head as a breathe of relief calmed him down.

Kids opened their eyes, coughing as dust began to settle, they saw Karn rubbing Jhanvi's palm as she lay unconscious on ground. They ran upto them and stood around in a circle. Little girl sat next to him and touched Jhanvi's cheek.

Girl :- Will she be fine ?

Karn :- Don't worry, she is ok, she fainted in shock.

He looked around to see the cracks starting to appear on walls.

Karn :- This place won't be able to hold for long, we need to get out as fast as possible. Do you have any more friends who must be trapped here ?

Boy :- No, rest of our friends come here in the morning, our's is the night shift, they would be at their homes.

Karn :- Then let's just get out, we don't have much time.

Girl :- (pointing towards Jhanvi) What about her ?

Karn :- We'll figure something out, first let's go.

He picked Jhanvi up in his arms and they left the place leaving goons inside to get trapped until soldiers come to arrest them. Coming out of woods, they hurriedly walked back to Sudhir's stall. He laid her down on a couch, then sprinkled some water on her face.

Her eyes got closed tightly as she began to regain her consciousness, vision of large boulder rolling towards her flashed in front of her eyes and she sat up in a jerk, breathing heavily. Surrounding seemed different, she noticed Karn sitting beside her and hugged him tightly. He felt extremely embarrassed in front of everyone but didn't move seeing her face filled with fear.

Jhanvi :- K... Karn.... I.... you.... we all...

She tried to speak but her voice was breaking.

Karn :- Relax Jhanvi, you are fine, we escaped from that place, all are back.

Slowly regaining her senses, she left him and looked around, they were back at the shop, kids stood in a circle around them, Sudhir had went inside, probably to get something. Her breathing became normal after a few moments, now Karn tried to talk.

Karn :- Jhanvi, do you remember anything, I mean how did you save yourself.

Jhanvi :- I heard you calling my name and saw that boulder rolling towards me, I was frightened, next moment I tried to run but my lehnga was stuck with the railing. When I was moments before being crushed, (pointing at pendant around his neck) it began to glow and formed a sheild around me but then I fainted.



She tried to sound calm but her voice was still very weak, he understood she needed some rest to get out of this trauma.

Karn :- Jhanvi, it's late enough, we should head back and get some sleep.

She noded and tried to get up, but the shock seemed too much for her, as her knees felt weak, her body was slightly trembling. Karn took out his angvastra and wrapped it around her, he then helped her walk to the chariot. She looked at his face and a soft smile came on her lips at his gesture. He helped her get up and was going to climb on driver's seat when little girl came there and game him a rose.

Girl :- Thank you so much for saving us and beating those bad people.

He patted her head.

Karn :- Friends should help each other in the times of need, now bye.

He climbed the chariot and looked at kids, who were waving their hands saying thank you and good bye. Once again he jerks the whips of horses and they start moving. Jhanvi felt dizzy and dozed off.

When they reached, Karn told her to get down, getting no response he turned to see her peacefully asleep. He sighed and picked her up in his arms again, then carried her back, although she felt like a feather, it wasen't easy to fool the guards and sneak in. As he moved towards her chamber, she snuggled close to him making him shudder, 'This is going too far' he thought and walked faster.

Finally he entered the chamber and was shocked to see Subhadra sleeping on bed. He was lucky that she didn't get up as gates opened with a thud, he took out his shoes and slowly moved towards other side of bed. Carefully, he laid her down, not wanting to disturb her sleep. When tried to get up, he noticed that she was clutching to the pendant around his neck. Using his slender fingers, he removed her grip and stood up, then covered her sleeping figure with a blanket. Suddenly he saw something shining below her pillow, reaching his hand beneath it, he pulled out his necklace which was with her since a few days. A smile played on his lips as he shook his head, keeping it back he hurriedly left, but forgot to take back his angvastra and the rose that fell near her head. ----------------------------------------------------------- Sky was dark but still it couldn't hide the twinkling of numerous stars that adorned it.

One of them seemed to have came on earth, the palace of Kaling, which was lighted beautifully in the preparation of swayamvar of their princess.

In a room, sat a bunch of females, laughing and talking. Between them, sat a lady in pink dress and minimal jewelry but anyone could easily decipher that she was a princess.



Around her sat all her maids, two were in front, showing the portraits of suitors who would be participating in her swayamvar.

A maid :- Princess, he is Sindhu Raj Jayadrath, son of Maharaj Vridhakshatra, excellent mace fighter.

Bhanu made I am not interested kinda look on her face and maids sighed.

Another maid :- Princess, will you choose anyone or not, we are showing you potraits since 3 hrs, I don't know how will your husband handle you, if we could find one.

Bhanu :- What can I do if none of them seem interesting, I want a husband, not a warrior, he maybe good with any weapon but I won't be fighting with him, I have to spend my whole life with that guy, you just show me another one.

Potrait was changed, now was Karn's turn.

Maid :- Princess, he is yuvraj of Hastinapur, prince Karn. Eldest son of late Maharaj Pandu and Rajmata Kunti. Parsuram deciple and weilder of Pinak dhanush.



Bhanu eyed the potrait with a thoughtful look on her face, as if recalling something. When maids noticed this, they giggled, one of them shook her lightly to break the trance. She looked at her maids who were smirking at her.

Bhanu :- What ?

Maid :- I think now we got the winner of swayamvar.

Bhanu made a confused face.

Another maid :- Our princess likes yuvraj of Hastinapur, nice choice, you both will look cute together.

Bhanu looked at her with disbelief.

Bhanu :- What rubbish are you all talking about, I literally don't know this guy....

Maid :- Wait, is he the same person who arrived at Kala Pradarshan, the eldest prince, Suryaputra.

Bhanu :- Just stop okay, don't think that I don't know what you all are trying to do. Ya, I did see him performing at Kala Pradarshan. But, I didn't get any opportunity to talk to him. He seems to be an angry young man, whom you won't be wanting to mess around with, overall he is just fine, a caring brother, childish son, strict but kind leader. Although everyone sees him as a warrior, he is quiet good with words, it's a good show to watch when he begins to argue. No one dares to speak up when he's angry, most of the time he seems to be lost in his own world, more like daydreaming. You know, he even defeated Jarasandh....

She was too engrossed in her description that she didn't notice all her maids, who were looking at her with wide eyes.

Maid :- Princess, even we didn't knew about him this much.

Another maid :- And still you say that you don't know him.

Bhanu felt like slapping her forehead at this, her cheeks turned slight pink in embarrassment.

Bhanu :- I.... mean.... we never talked with each other, how can I....

Maid :- Princess, you've never talked to any of the other participants either. Think of any other excuse....

"Don't tease my putri you all" a voice boomed in the chamber. Next moment all the maids stood up as Maharani Chandrabagha entered the chamber and smiled seeing her daughter. She patted her head and sat beside her.

Chandrabagha :- Putri, did you select anyone till now, or we should delay the swayamvar to invite more eligible suitors.

Maid :- Maharani, princess already likes someone, and I can say that he is best choice for her.

Chandrabagha smiled happily and looked at her daughter who was glaring at the maid but her cheeks were tainted pink, she understood everything.

Chandrabagha :- Who is he putri ?

Bhanu :- It's nothing like that maa, they are just, speaking anything.

Chandrabagha :- Then why is your face so red ?

Bhanu looked at her with raised eyebrows, maids gigled while she caressed her daughter's cheek.

Chandrabagha :- Putri, I am your mother, I can very well understand your feelings, now tell me, who is he ?

Bhanu made an irritated face and sighed.

Bhanu :- Maa, first of all there is nothing like that. Now I need to rest so you can tell everyone to leave.

Chandrabagha :- If you won't tell me, how will I know who is going to be my future son in law, (sighs) okay one of you tell me.

Maid :- (showing her the potrait) Maharani, yuvraj of Hastinapur, prince Karn.

Chandrabagha :- (smiling) Excellent choice putri, your father and Maharaj Pandu were childhood friends. Your father would be glad to know that his daughter is going to be future queen of Hastinapur. Now you all may leave, take your rest putri.

Kissing her forehead, she left the chamber followed by maids. Bhanu kept looking at them exhaperated. 'Oh god, please give them some sense' she thought and groaned. Her eyes fell on the potrait kept beside her bed and picked it up. She scanned it with preicing eyes.

Bhanu :- Why is everyone praising only you, what's that you have which attracts everyone ? But remember Mr, to be my husband, only looks is not enough, so beware.

Saying so, she chuckled and kept it back, then blew the lamps out and covered herself with a blanket. ----------------------------------------------------------- A man was standing in his chamber, looking at the starry sky as a couple tears rolled down his eyes.

Man :- I'm sorry sakhi, but the curse has to be fulfilled. No one can change destiny, until the curse is over, suffering is inevitable. ----------------------------------------------------------- Did you like the chapter ?

I know it's a short one, but next chapter will surely be long enough.

How was Bhanumati's introduction ?

Who is this man and of what curse is he talking about ?

Bhanu's story of previous birth will be revealed in the latter part of epic, after this unknown curse will be over.

Can anyone guess what's next.

Target :- 39 votes.

Do comment if you have any suggestions.