Sun shone brightly, spreading warmth everywhere.

Balram and Revati touched Kunti's feet and she blessed them. They were last among the guests to leave, rest had already left a day before. Krishna, Rukmini, Subhadra, Jhanvi and Kunti were staying for some more days.

Rukmini :- Take care jiji.

Revati :- You too, return soon.

Jhanvi :- Have a safe journey Jeysth.

Balram noded and moved to Krishna, who stood smiling as usual.

Balram :- I know, if you're staying, there must some reason, just want you to be safe.

Krishna :- Can something happen to me Dau, when you are there.



Revati hugged Draupadi.

Revati :- It was so nice meeting everyone, and now I'll be waiting to welcome all in Dwarika.

Draupadi :- We'll surely visit there, very soon.

Balram climbed his chariot, then helped Revati, others waved their hands as horses pulled the chariot out through the gates.

One by one, all went for their respective works, Karn glanced at Jhanvi, who just went with Subhadra.

He shook his head and walked away. Krishna chuckled leaning on a nearby pillar.

Krishna :- Seems like something needs to be done here. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hastinapur,

It was mid noon, everyone had their lunch and retired to their chambers for a little rest.

Bhanu sat in front of her dressing mirror, removing some heavy jewelry.



Gates opened slowly and Duryodhan entered the chamber, she got up and turned but the sound of a falling vase made her alarmed.

Duryodhan moved towards bed and threw the mattres away, a potrait wrapped in yellow orange angvastra was kept. Bhanu gulped in fear as he glared at her, then picked it up.

Duryodhan :- (showing her the potrait) What is this ?

Bhanu :- Arya....

Duryodhan :- I just asked what is my biggest enemy's potrait doing in my chamber, under my bed.

She stepped back slowly.

Duryodhan :- Only two people, only two people in whole aryavarth wear this yellow orange angvastra, one is Vasudev Krishna, other is that stupid bastard Karn.



He crushed it under his feet and kicked it away. He held her by throat and pinned her against a nearby wall, she tried her best to free herself but to no avail.

Duryodhan :- How dare you ? How dare you do this to me, to DURYODHAN! (moving closer) Listen, you are mine, only mine, I won't let anyone cast his eyes on you.

She began coughing.

Duryodhan :- You haven't known me yet, my dear wife, I am a thousand times worse than you can ever imagine, so don't compel me to do something I don't want.

Before he could say further, she passed out, he picked her up in his arms and took her to raj vaidhya.

Within minutes, all gathered there to check on her, inquiring about what happened. Duryodhan remained silent, to which Shakuni began wondering.

After sometime raj vaidhya came out with a smile on his face.

Gandhari :- Vaidhya ji, how is she, is everything okay.

Vaidhya :- Yes Maharani, she all fine, and now it time for you to celebrate.

Dhritrashtr :- What ?

Vaidhya :- Maharaj, yuvrani is pregnant, she is going to be mother of twins.

Gandhari smiled happily.

Shakuni :- You mean my bhanja Duryodhan is going to be father.

Vaidhya :- Yes Gandhar Raj, now you all can meet her, please this way.

Everyone began congratulating the couple, and blessed them for a happy fruitful life, unknown that this was just a beginning. Duryodhan clenched his fist behind his back, not able to look in the eyes of elders, raising Shakuni's suspicion. Bhisma and Vidur glanced at each other, guessing something was not right.

Soon everyone was gone, leaving some privacy for the couple. Bhanu looked at him, fearing another outburst, she wanted to clear everything but before she could say, Duryodhan held her shoulders.

Duryodhan :- I hate saying this, but I haven't stopped loving you yet. If I come to know that these unwanted members are not my blood, that day will be your last.

Saying so, he walked out, Bhanu kept a hand on her woumb, fighting back the tears. ----------------------------------------------------------- Amrit laid down on a bench, under a tree in courtyard. Radha came there with a plate of food.

Radha :- Putr, why are you lying here, and you didn't eat your lunch either.

Amrit :- I'm not hungry, don't wanna eat.

He got up and was about to go but she stopped him.

Radha :- Where are you going putr, sit here for a moment.

Amrit :- I told you I...

Radha :- Amrit when I said sit here that means sit here.

He made an irritated face and sat back. She handed him the plate and gestured to eat.

Radha :- Now tell me, what's wrong.

Amrit :- What ?

Radha :- Then why didn't you came to Indraprasth with us.

Amrit :- Nothing, I just didn't wanted to.

Radha :- Why ?

Amrit :- I didn't wanted to create any scene there.

Radha :- But what was the need to create a scene.

Amrit :- (taking a deep breath) Okay, I didn't wanted to see him.

Radha :- (sighs) Why do you hate him so much putr ?

Amrit :- Why do everyone think that he is the best archer, why do they say that he is superior. I too am no less than him, I too am a maharathi, if he is Parsuram deciple, I am student of Shukracharya.

Radha :- Hmmm.... So everyone thinks that he is better.

Amrit noded eating a bigger bite in anger.

Radha :- So you want to show yourself superior, what will they say then.

Amrit :- They will see me as superior warrior.

Radha :- What will they say if you fail to do so.

Amrit :- I'll be a looser.

Radha :- So they will keep saying something or the other.

He looked at his mother.

Radha :- Have they known you ? Have they seen you grow up ? Have they taught you to walk on your own ? Have they taught you how to eat, speak, write, learn ? No, then who are they to judge my son and say that he is a looser.

Amrit fell in thoughts.

Radha :- Putr, this society will only think what they see or hear, whether it's true or not, they don't care. I and your father used to fear this society a lot, what would they say if Vasu becomes a warrior, a sut's son picks up weapons. But you know what he used to say, that today they will oppose me but when I'll be a warrior, they will be the ones to bow in front of me. This makes him stand out from others, he focuses on himself, how to make himself better whereas others waste their time in silly things.

Amrit :- But still...

Radha :- You won't get anything fighting with your elder brother, fight with your ego, make yourself better, defeat your own weakness, not of others. Only then you'll be seen as better and superior.

Amrit :- Everything's okay but he's not my brother.

Radha :- Whether you like it or not, but I raised both of you in this very house, he is my eldest son and your elder brother.

Amrit didn't say anything but walked away, leaving an empty plate behind. Radha shook her head and took it back. ----------------------------------------------------------- In evening,

Karn sat on a bench, watching the sun slowly move towards horizon, giving way for the night to arrive.

But today, this scene didn't make him feel better as after his mother's lap, it was the only thing that calms his flooding emotions. Jhanvi's words kept ringing in his mind.

'Then what was that happened at the swayamvar, you married the princess, did you even for once think of me, did you forget all that happened between us, did you forget all those moments we spent together'

He sighed and shook his head, when felt someone's presence, looking aside, he found his mother sitting there.

Kunti :- Putr, why are you sitting here, don't you have meetings to attend.

Karn :- Yudhisthir and Sahdev are there to handle, moreover I don't have any work, just have to sit and wait for time to pass.

Kunti :- Hmmmm... And what was that you were debating about ?

Karn :- Debating ?

Kunti :- I already told you, whatever's inside your head is inherited from me, you can hide your emotions from everyone but not your mother. My son here is sitting lonely, fighting a war with himself, trying his best to console himself and I cannot even know.

Karn smiled at her, then laid down, his head on her lap as she caressed his forehead.

Karn :- You know, Radha maa used to tell me the same thing, she too knows everything without me telling her.

Kunti :- It's because if you care for a person, when you love him or her from the bottom of your heart, you don't need words to communicate. You can feel each other's emotions through their behaviour, their tone, their gestures etc.

He thought for a moment, gaze wandering from his mother's caring face to the clear sky and setting sun.

Karn :- Mata.

Kunti :- Hmmm.

Karn :- Sometimes.... life seems to be like this sunset, forgotten, lost, hopeless, left only for others to watch and enjoy. Which will eventually be consumed by darkness.

Kunti :- Why do you think that putr ?



Karn :- I feel myself lost, within my own self. I don't know what I want, I don't know whom I truly love, I don't know what I should feel right now, happy, sad, cheerful, miserable. I..... don't know anything.

Kunti :- You might be thinking about more than one thing which made you confused. Or something must've bottled up inside and splashed out when something hit it. Putr, hiding your emotions is characteristic of a mature person, that he or she thinks before acting. But everytime hiding your emotions is not good, it can cause unexpected outbursts, can lead to stress, frustration....

She heard him chuckling and looked down.

Karn :- Now you too began lecturing me like Sahdev.

She slapped his forehead lightly.

Kunti :- Here I am talking to my son and there he is, laughing for no reason. And who told you this sunset resembles hopelessness, it brings a new hope that a new sun will rise, a new day will bring new challenges to face and some more happy moments for life.

Karn :- (taking a deep breath) Mata, I.... want to tell you a secret.

Kunti :- I'm listening.

Karn :- No, it's kinda serious.

She caressed his hair.

Kunti :- Don't think much, just speak up.

Karn :- I.... I.... have a wife.

She laughed listening to his words.

Kunti :- Is this your so called serious rated secret. I already know that putr, my eldest son is married and very soon other sons will also get married.

Karn :- No.... I.... wanted to say.... A wife and a son.

Her smile vanished as she looked his tensed face, he sat up.

Karn :- Yes, I have another wife apart from Draupadi.

Kunti :- How ? And when did this happen ?

Karn :- I told you about that asur named Banasur.

She noded.

Karn :- Actually, it wasen't the whole thing. When I killed him, gurudev told me to marry his daughter, Suchitra.

Kunti :- You didn't told this to anyone, and why is she not with you, where is she then.

Karn :- I wanted to, very badly, but everytime she came in my dreams and said that path of our destinies is not the same, that companion for my journey will be someone else, I think she must be talking about Draupadi. I still can't figure out what she means by this, but one thing is clear, she is hiding something. Where she is now, I don't have any idea.

Kunti :- And your son ?

Karn :- Shatrunjay. I myself have only seen him once, when he was born. Now would've began walking on his own, he's now 10 months old.

Kunti :- How did you see him, when you don't know where she is.

Karn :- It was another usual night, I was asleep in my tent, when my eyes opened, I found myself infront of a hut, where many ladies had gathered, there I heard her voice and my son's, when he was born. Next day, I was back to my tent when waking up.

Kunti :- Why are you both not together ?

Karn :- Its another story....

He again narrated the story of last day at ashram.

Kunti :- (gasps) What! You're cursed putr.

He noded slowly, she embraced him tightly, fighting back the tears ready to escape, he too held her.

Kunti :- Why didn't you told me this before putr ? (caressing his face) my son.

Karn :- (wiping her tears) I don't regret anything, I did wrong and got the punishment, but at that time, this is only thing that came in my mind as right way.

He again laid down, keeping his head safely on her lap.

Karn :- I don't know whom I truly love, I love Suchitra no doubt, but I also love Jhanvi, but then I couldn't see Draupadi in pain either, what is that I feel for her ?

Kunti :- You can love as many people you want, like you love your brothers, your mother, your uncle, your grandfather etc. There can be many lovers, but soulmate can only be one.

Karn :- How to know who is my soulmate ?



Kunti :- Close your eyes and tell me what do you see ?

He closed his eyes diving into endless sea of memories.

There, he saw a lady in while lehnga walking out from a broken chamber. Her rosy red lips forming a small frown though her eyes reflected curiousness. He just stood rooted at a spot, mesmerized by her beauty, her eyes met his as she eyed him top to bottom.

He opened his eyes breathing heavily and sat up, then turned to his mother who sat expecting an answer.

Karn :- Suchitra..... She's.... She's my soulmate, my first love.

He hugged his mother happily and she patted his head, feeling relieved to see a genuine smile on his gloomy face.

'Arya....'

They heard a voice from behind, breaking the hug, they turned to see Draupadi standing there. Her eyes were moist due to tears accumulating, as she looked at him trying to say something but couldn't speak up and ran away.

Karn glanced at Kunti with an exhaperated look and they went behind.... ----------------------------------------------------------- Character update :-

1. Maharaj Vaadkshemi.



2. Maharani Chandrakala.



3. Yuvraj Chitrayu.



4. Princess Pallavi.



5. Princess Nandita.



6. Makrasur.



7. Gajasur.



8. Dantvatra.



----------------------------------------------------------- Did you like the chapter ?

Hmmm... So drama won't be gone so easily.

Be ready, Karn and Krishna will face an asur very soon.

Amrit's story will now being slowly.

I need some help guys, I've recently shifted to a new place for a few days. Internet connection is not so good here, as you can see, notification for a new update only goes to a few readers.

I request you to please share it with your friends so they can also know about the update. It will be a huge help.

IMP note :-

You all would've already guessed that some new characters are going to be introduced. Yes, Koshal plot will begin from next chapter but before that, I wanted to ask something.

I think majority of my readers are either in class 10th or 12th and from now boards are going to be held in two stages, and the first stage is in Nov - Dec.

Should I hold the story for now as only about a month and half remained and return back during holidays or should I continue.

I don't have any problem writing further as I'm 12th pass out, but the question is, are my readers free to read my book.

I just wanted to ask, should I stop for now or continue (updates will be slower due to work).

Target :- 77 votes.

See you in the next chapter.

Do comment if you have any suggestions.