'That bloody Shudrani and that Sutputra, he made my life a living hell,' Dusshashan took a vase and threw it to the mirror. He still could not believe it, he was defeated by a Shudra woman. Women were nothing but toys. Their only purpose was to serve men. But how dare that girl humiliated him?

Shakuni saw his nephew's condition and knew what was going on. Shakuni, 'Bhanje, please calm down. It was you who challenged her. And don't think to do anything bad to her. My gut feeling says that she was not an ordinary woman. Otherwise, Sage Viswamitra did not give her weapon training.'

Dusshashan understood. He was wicked but had no brain. Whatever he did, he needed someones' guidance. Shakuni took advantage of that and used him to do many evil things. Duryodhana also used to follow him and obeyed his every word but now Karna was influencing him. If it was someone else Shakuni would definitely remove him from his path but it was not easy against Karna. Shakuni knew that he needed Duryodhana to sat on the throne as the allied kingdom would only follow s person from the Kuru dynasty. His first plan was to start a war between the cousins so that Duryodhana would kill his cousins. He would brainwash Duryadhana to be his puppet and he would rule from behind. But his greed eventually increased. He wanted the entire Aryavrat. But Bheesm and Drona were supporters of Pandavas and neither interested nor could defeat all the kings in Digvijaya. On the day of the Tournament when he met Karna and saw him getting the blessing to be a Digvijayee from Guru Parshuram, he got a tool to achieve his dream. He tried many times to take Karna in his confidence, but Karna was loyal to Duryodhana. In fact he brought many changes to Duryodhana's behavior. Now Duryodhana had much more control over his anger, he did not even want to fight with the Pandavas unnecessarily. He also took interest in administrative matters and now both Bheesm and Vidur were impressed with him.

Shakuni knew Karna would never want to start a war unnecessarily, so he needed something which would make Duryodhana again jealous of the Pandavas and force Karna to start Digvijaya.

Few weeks were passed. Karna was bonded really well with Avantika. It seemed like Avni made him complete. He practiced with Avni, he also taught her Archery, though Avni was not very good at it. They also started giving basic weapon training to the young men and women of the lower caste community. Some upper-class people first complained but did not do much as Duryodhana the crown prince supported them and nobody wanted to go against the favorite student of Parshuram.

Whenever Avni was not with Karna felt a void in his heart. He himself did not know what was happening.

Karna, 'Why am I always thinking about her? I tried to meditate but in my mind, I always see her face. Prabhu Narayan, please help your devotee? How am I supposed to concentrate on my mission? I don't want to bind myself in any more shackles.'

Krishna, 'Hello Mitra, why are you so tensed.'

Karna was sitting on the bank of river Ganga. He heard his Prabhu's voice and turned, 'Prabhu, you are here? What a surprise? When did you come?'

Krishna, 'Karna my devotee calls me so I have to come. But Karna why do you think Avni is binding you?'

Karna, 'Prabhu I cannot stay without her but I have to concentrate on my mission, not to attach myself to emotions.'

Krishna, 'Mitra, true love is not bondage, it's the greatest freedom one can experience. A person is incomplete without a soulmate. You are lucky that you found your companion in your journey. As for emotions, they are our strength. They gave us purpose to live and fight. So don't worry, just go with the flow and don't hesitate to express your love in front of your lover. In a healthy relationship, communication is necessary.'

Karna, 'Thank you Prabhu. But why are you in Hastinapur?'

Krishna, 'I came here as a representative to King Yudhishtir to invite everyone for the Rajsuyu Yagna. Ydhishtir got support from 100 kingdoms so he was performing that yagna.'

Karna, 'That's great news Prabhu, but I hope Gandharraj will not do anything bad there that will start a fight between the cousins again.'

Krishna, 'He will definitely do something, I am sure about that. that's why I am personally inviting you, Karna, You are the only one that can thwart his plans as Duryodhana still was not completely freed from his influence.'

Karna, 'Yes Prabhu...but I have a question, why Devi Draupadi is so cruel to me? I mean I never did anything to disrespect her. Then why?

Krishna, 'Karna a woman's heart is a strange place. Sometimes they themselves don't understand their emotions. There is a very thin difference between love and hatred. Sometimes humans get confused about the true feelings and due to their frustrations, their behavior changes. But yes..she has no right to be rude to you.'

Karna, 'Prabhu, love and hatred? I mean Devi Draupadi hates me that I can understand, but Love..from where love is coming. She is the queen, she has five remarkable husbands and all the wealths and comforts. So why such complications there?

Krishna (smiled), 'Karna you are a genius about politics, economy, warfare but when it comes to understanding a woman's heart you are very naive. Don't worry you will understand eventually. Your soulmate will help you. Okay, I need to leave, Pranipat.'

Karna was feeling relaxed. He now understood his true feelings for Avni but did she also feel the same for him?

Karna's home

Chitrasena, 'Mata, I think we should think about Jyasht's marriage soon?'

Vrikarratha, 'Why are you so tensed about Jyasht's marriage? Want to clear your way?'

Radhama, 'Stop it, both of you. Chitrasen, why are you saying that?'

Roopmati, 'Mata, all the girls in the village are swooning over Jyasht. You know every morning how many girls are going to the bank of river to ogle Jyasht. They are responsible for informing Mrinalini that Jyasht was talking to Avni. Those girls are like vultures looming over my brother.'

Adhirath, 'Radha, I think we need to hurry about his marriage. I don't want a catfight in front of our house.'

Hastinapur Palace

Karna went to the palace but he seemed to be lost in his thought. Actually, for the last couple of days, all those who were close to Karna could feel something was different about him. Duryodhana, Bhanumati, Dusshala, Kunti, Gandhari, even Bheesm also understood his condition. He was helplessly in love with Avantika. After the duel, Duryodhana appointed Avantika as Bhanumati's bodyguard. But soon they turned into friends. Bhanumati also realized that Avantika was fell in love with Karna. But both of them were not completely aware of their feelings. Now Bhanumati and Dusshala were planning to play the role of cupid in their love story.

Karna entered Duryodhana's office room to get some scrolls, then Bhanumati came there.

Bhanumati, 'Bhrata, did you hear the good news?'

Karna, What good news, Yuvrani?'

Bhanumati (hiding her smile), 'Avni's parents were looking for a suitable groom for her. I think soon she will get married.'

Karna, 'What...Why?'

Bhanumati, 'Come on Bhrata, all girls need a husband.'

Karna,'But why so early?'

Bhanumati, 'So what do you expect? She will wait for you? If you don't have the courage to propose to her, that's not her fault.'

Karna blushed violently. He did not understand what to say. The Dusshala came and said, 'Bhrata Karn, please say something to her, otherwise she will get married, have kids and you have to take care of her kids becoming their Mama.'

Karna, 'No ...I will not let that happen, but how am I supposed to say, and most importantly what am I going to say?'

Then both Bhanumati and Dusshala started to give him training.

They took Karna to a chamber and started teaching him what to say or how to behave.

Dusshshan was passing from there and he heard voices from the chamber. He eavesdropped to hear that Bhanumati was saying, 'I love you, I love you more than anything.' Then he Karna saying, 'Oh my god that's interesting.'

Dusshshan as brainless did not hear further and thought, 'Now I will show Bhrata what his servant is up to. He will surely punish him.Ha ha now I will show that Karna his true place.'

He ran to Duryodhana's room and told him that Karna was flirting with Bhanumati. Bheesm was also there. Duryodhana, 'Are you mad or drunk? Do you have any idea what are you saying?'

Dusshshan, 'You don't believe me, okay come with me, Pitamaha you too. I will show you his true color.'

Duryodhana, 'I have full faith in my friend and my wife. But okay let's go, today I will show you how wrong you are.'

Bhessm was also shocked. He started liking Karna. And he was sure Karna would never do anything like that.

All of them went near the chamber. In the route, they met Gandhari and Kunti. Hearing Dusshashan's accusation they were also shocked. So all of them came near the chamber. They heard Karna's voice, 'I like you.....Mmmm.... you are very beautiful....you are the love of my life.'

Everyone was stunned and Dusshashan smirked at everyone. Then they heard Bhanumati's laughter, 'Bhrata are you lecturing the students in the class? Come on add some emotions. If you say these lines like this Avni will surely run away from you.'

Karna, 'Emotions....how?

Dusshala, 'Bhrata she is a girl, you have to show her your love. So try again, just close your eyes and think that she is in front of you.'

Karna, 'Sisters that is the main problem, whenever she came in front of me, I forgot everything.'

Outside the door, everybody realized what's actually going on. The sisters were training their brother to woo a girl.

Bhanumati, 'Bhrata Karn, think about her future husband and kids. All of your fear will leave you then.'

Karna in a sacred tone, 'But sisters what will happen if she gets angry with me. I don't want to lose my friend.'

Bhanumati (laughing), 'Oh Bhrata, she loves you a lot, I saw that in her eyes. But she is a girl. How could you expect her to say anything to you? Now please practice the lines properly.'

Dusshala, 'And do what I say. Take her to the village fair today, buy her some gifts, take her to food stalls and offer her sweets, then buy some flowers, take her to the bank of the river and say the lines we taught you.'

Karna, 'Okay, I will try....okay Karna you can do it...Take her to the fair, buy her gifts...foods...

Saying Karna opened the door. He was stunned to see all of them standing outside. Dusshashan was scared, Duryodhana was laughing, Bheesm looked amused while both Kunti and Gandhari tried hard to hide their smile.

Karna (suspiciously), 'Pranipat everyone, how long are you here?

Hearing that Duryodhana started laughing hysterically, 'Sooo my Mitra is going to propose Devi Avantika? Well well...how sweet.'

Karna's face turned red almost like a tomato. He just said 'Pranipat' and ran away from there.

Then Duryodhana turned serious and looked towards Dusshashan with a murderous glare. Bheesm also looked coldly to him. Bhanumati and Dusshala also came out and when they heard everything Bhanumati started crying. Gandhari consoled her and said, 'Dusshshan shame on you, how could you think like that about your Bhabishree?'

Dusshala, 'Bhrata you should think before talk.'

Bheesm, 'I am very disappointed.'

Duryodhana caught his throat, 'Anuj today I am sparing you as you are my brother. But don't you dare to say anything against my friend and my wife again. Otherwise, I will not think twice before ripping off your tongue .'

Kunti looked at Duryodhana. Everyone thought that he was an evil heartless person but his love for his wife and trust for his friend showed what a great person he was. Duryodhana in spite of the crown prince still respected and loved Karna for his talent. On the other hand, her own sons only respected the upper-class people. For them, lower caste people were just servants nothing else. Kunti blessed Duryodhana in mind and she was very happy for her eldest as well.

Shakuni saw everything and thought, 'It is almost impossible to say anything against Karna to Duryodhana. I need to find some way to convince Duryodhana for Digvijaya.'

As per the plan, Karna asked Avantika to take her to the village fair. It was Shivratri and they first went to the temple. There they met an old man and his wife who asked them 'Putra are you here for puja with your wife?'

Karna, 'No kakaji, she is not my wife.'

The old woman, 'So we are old and it's difficult to climb the stairs without help. Can you please take us to the temple? We want to do puja as in this Shivratri those couples do puja here will stay together till eternity.'

Karna and Avantika helped them to reach the temple. Then while doing the aarti the old couple asked Karna and Avantika to hold the aarti together with them Karna and Avantika also did the aarti and both of them prayed to fulfill their love for each other to Lord Shiva. They heard 'Tathashthu,' and when they opened their eyes they did not find the old couple there.

In Kailash

Lord Mahadev, 'Devi, today we blessed them. Now their bond is unbreakable.'

Devi Parvati, 'Yes Swami, but I am scared. In the future, they have to face many hurdles. Both have to bear the pain of separation.'

Lord Mahadev, 'Devi, that pain will strengthen their bond together. It will bring them closer.'

Following his sister's idea, Karna bought a pair of beautiful payel for Avantika .



They ate some sweets and then Karna bought some flowers and took her near the bank of the river. Then he somehow gathered his courage and said, 'Avantika, I want to ask you something....I never told this to anyone. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. You are the one who makes me feel complete. I cannot my life without you. Will you marry me?'

Avantika smiled, 'Karna, I also cannot live without you. From the day I saw you I always thought about you. Infact before coming to Hastinapur I saw you in my dreams. I don't know how but I feel a connection between us. Yes..Arya I will be yours. I want to live the rest of my life with you only.'

Karna was in cloud nine. For the first time in his life, someone showed this kind of trust and love to him. At every stage of his life, he never got everything easily. He had to prove his worth to others to gain their love. His foster family loved him after he saved them from the evil spirit, his blood relatives still hated him, only Avantika did not ask for anything from him. His best friend also started his friendship with him with some ulterior motive. Though with time Duryodhana changed, still Avantika was the first person who loved him wholeheartedly. Karna sat on his knees in front of her and then he put the payel on her feet.



Avantika could not believe her luck. She now had her prince charming in front of her. She knew that their families also had no problems as both Radhama and her mother were thinking about their marriage. She was just waiting for Karna's answer. Now she had that.

Little did they know that soon a huge storm was coming that would shake their life.

Lord Suryadev and Devi Sangya and Chaya and Karna's other siblings were ecstatic. Their son/brother at last found his soulmate. But they were also scared about the upcoming danger.

Devi Chaya, 'Putra Shani, soon they are going to face some huge problems. You are the Karmphaldata, you control people's fate. Both Karna and Avantika were innocent. Them why do they need to face those problems?

Shanidev, 'Mata, this is the cycle of life. You cannot have eternal happiness and success or defeat and pain. Even Lord Narayan in his mortal Avatar form has to face this cycle. Soon this cycle of sade Sati will come in Karna and Avantika's life but that time will be an important lesson not only for them but for others as well.'

Suryadev, 'Just pray to Tridevs and Trideviyas to give them strength to endure that pain.'

Tridev and Trideviyan, 'Tathasthu.'

next-ShishuPal Vadh.