"I Knew the first time we met; you would be kinda hard to forget."



The young boy in front of me had an extraordinary aura. Something about him was divine. His gentle smile and calm eyes calmed my panic down. I blinked again, hoping he was not a dream. The warm hand still on top of my head was real though. He had amusement dancing in his charcoal eyes.

He said, after a moment of silence, "Are you okay, Devi? What are you doing in the forest?"

The question seemed to have lifted my stupor. I replied, "Yes, I am okay. I got lost on my way home. Will you help me, please?"

He lifted his hand from my head, and I immediately missed the warmth. He smiled before replying, "I would be glad to help. You are not far from the edge of the forest, near the temple. Come, follow me."

I sighed and followed him. I asked curiously, "What were you doing in the forest? You don't seem much older than me. Were you lost too?"

He looked back at me as he walked in front, replying, "I was not lost. I come here every day. I was practicing."

I nodded. I asked again, "What weapon were you practicing? Do you go to Gurukul? Which Gurukul do you go to? What do you learn there?"

He seemed to have stopped walking, and his posture seemed tense. I blinked at his back, hoping he wouldn't abandon me in the forest. I may have asked the wrong questions. I opened my mouth to apologize when he spoke, "I do not attend a Gurukul. I will not be allowed to go to a Gurukul because I am a Shudra."

He seemed to tense even more, making me wonder how much courage it took to admit that. "Okay. You did not say what weapon you were practicing," I pointed out. I did not like the caste system much, especially its rigidity. Honestly, to me, it's like various professions, the caste system that is prevalent in these times. They make a huge show of something that is not there. My question seemed to have shocked him.

He asked, shocked, "You do not care?" There was a glimpse of hope in his voice.

I smiled and said, "No, I do not care about your caste. You did not answer my question yet."

He smiled, a genuine and heartfelt smile, and said, "I wish to use the bow." I nodded and smiled. We seemed to have reached my house.

My mother came running when she heard my voice. She reached out, pulling me into a hug. She said tearfully, "Where were you? Do you know how worried I was, putri?" I apologized, "Kshama kijiye (Forgive me), Mata. I got lost. He helped me find my way back."

I turned towards the boy. He was still standing outside the gate. He again looked tense, probably wondering about my mother's reaction regarding his social status. Mata smiled at him and went out to greet him. I heard her saying, "Dhanyavad putra...." (Thank you, son...)

"Karna, my name is Karna, Devi," he answered the unasked question about his name. My breath hitched. What!?

'Hai Bhagwan (O my God)', was my only thought. I was stumped again.

They seemed to be speaking again, but my mind was not on hearing their conversation. I was rather focused on the name of the young boy. Karna.

How did I not see that?

He even admitted to being a Shudra and practicing the bow. In my defense, I never thought I would see him. I mean, Hastinapura may not be as busy as a metropolitan city, it was still huge. Wasn't he supposed to be in Lord Parshuram's ashram? What was his age again?

I sighed. Great! Here I was thinking about a relatively boring life, and look what Destiny gave me!

I did not even once think about meeting any important characters from a Holy book. But now? It seems I already met one, though he is still a child, much like myself.

My mother said, "Where are you lost, dear? Come inside, you must be very hungry!"

I looked behind; he was not there. Probably left as soon as possible. Oh well! My mother suddenly stopped in the inner courtyard and yelled, "Aarini! Aarini!"

Aarini bua came running. She looked at me and sighed in relief. She then turned to my mother and stood waiting obediently.

My mother said sternly, "Arya should not know anything about Advika missing. Is this understood? As far as everyone knows, she returned with you in the morning. Yes?"

Aarini bua frantically nodded and said, "Yes, Devi."

I turned to my mother with questioning eyes. She smiled at me sadly and herded me to my room. When we entered my room, my mother closed the door. She told me to sit on the bed as she sat beside me.

"I know you have many questions. You have always been curious. I ask you, putri, to not inform anyone about the boy to your father or your grandfather or anyone for that matter." My mother requested, almost pleading.

I took her hands in my small hands. I asked a question that was echoing through my thoughts.

"Why?" She smiled her sad smile. She replied, "You have always been smart and perceptive, putri. Why don't you tell me why?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Is it because he is a Shudra? Pitashree or Matamahah or Pitamahi won't approve of me making friends from a different caste?"

"Yes," she almost whispered.

"Why? Will you tell me the same?" I asked again. She sighed and replied, "No, putri...I have never put much thought into this system. When I was a child, I also questioned this system. But my father always punished me for entertaining such thoughts. As you know, I am the second child of my parents. You also have a Mamashree, my brother. When my brother was born, my father was so happy! He invited all the Brahmins of our city, even the Rajguru, for a feast at the family temple. My sister and I were almost ignored by our father because he always wanted a son." She trailed off, uncertainly.

I blurted out, "Matamahah told me I was adopted."

My mother looked shocked. She laughed a hollow laugh. She said, "Yes, putri, you are adopted. I am not shocked Pitashree could not keep his mouth shut. Anyway, that does not matter! You are my daughter, and I am your mother. That will never change. This mother of yours will always help you in any way she can."

She cupped my face in her hands and gave a kiss on top of my head. I nodded and embraced her, feeling blessed for such a loving and caring mother.

"Putri, what I am going to tell you should not be told to anyone else. This society is quite cruel to women. Whatever happens, the blame always goes to the women. Until and unless you manage to become strong and powerful, no one will take you seriously or see your worth. So, child, I ask you to be very careful in the future. If your Pitashree finds out that you have spoken to someone who does not belong to either Brahmin or Kshatriya varna, then he will be furious. Do not speak of your meeting to anyone other than me or Aarini, okay? Tell me, did anyone see you?"

"I don't think so, Mata. We came through the forest way," I replied, shaken by what my mother said.

"Good! I am proud of you, putri, that you are breaking barriers of society. But please be very careful. Say, child, do you know who he is?" She asked.

I nodded negatively. How would I know? We met just an hour or two ago?

She smiled and said happily, "I know him. Though I met him almost seven years earlier. He is Adiratha and Radha's son. Radha and I are old friends. But we cannot meet regularly. Whenever we met, it had to be done secretly. She married way before me. I met Karna when he was nothing but a child. He was found by them in a basket filled with flowers near the Ganga ghat. Radha was so happy that day. I could not believe I met him again. Oh, he had grown so much!"

I nearly raised my eyebrows after hearing her gushing about Suryaputra Karna. I stifled my laughter. After getting rescued by him, I get to hear his adopted mother and my adopted mother are the best of friends. My mother was still gushing about him, about how much he has grown and how cute he is!

I tried not to show my mother my shock. I got stuck in a ridiculous situation. Why was I thinking that I would have a normal and boring life? Now, if I don't befriend him, then mother would be very sad and disappointed, not to mention it would be rude. He did help me, and I had not even thanked him.

I nearly groaned out. Great! I messed up, and my mother probably expects me to befriend him. How happy! Please note the sarcasm.

"Putri, are you listening?" She asked, with a twinkle in her eyes. She seemed happy.

"Ahh...Yes, Mata," I almost stammered. She laughed. Her eyes were teasing.

So, embarrassing! She knew I was not listening to her. Well, at least she stopped her Karnapuran. I don't think I could listen to her gushing about a seven-year-old boy, even if it was Karna.

"Go freshen up! I am sending breakfast, but only for today, you will be served in your room," she said, her demeanor still light. I am glad she is laughing, especially after that heavy conversation of societal norms, even though it is at my expense.

I nodded at her and smiled. Now I can calmly think about my choices regarding the given situation.