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I hope my dear readers did not forget me... your dear author 😆 and this story... And that you were patiently waiting for me to update ❤️

I had mentioned that I will be busy for a few weeks, but I finally managed to update! Thank you for sticking around with me and this story... It really means a lot ❤️

I won't keep you waiting any longer...

So... Happy reading!!

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Karna grabbed Arjun's neck and lifted him slightly, forcing their eyes to meet. His voice was full of rage and authority. "How dare you use the Brahmastra!!! Do you even understand its purpose? Its power? Just to win a fight - "

BUT SUDDENLY, KARNA STOPPED MID-SENTENCE.

A familiar pull... a force stronger than his will... a vision threatening to take over... and then -

HIS GRIP ON ARJUN LOOSENED, AND HIS BODY SWAYED. BEFORE ANYONE COULD REACT, HE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND, UNCONSCIOUS.

The impact was heavy. The sound of his body hitting the ground echoed in the now-silent arena.

For a moment there was complete stillness.

Then - CHAOS ERUPTED.

Gasps filled the air, and panic surged through the crowd. All eyes were now on their Yuvraj, lying motionless on the ground.

Bhagwan Parashurama, Bhishma, and Ashwa were the first to rush to Karna's side.

Among the people of Hastinapur, whispers spread like wildfire, clearly worried for their Yuvraj Aditya. The scene had shaken everyone to their core. No one had expected such a sudden turn of events. They were also angry at Arjun because, according to what they witnessed, Arjun was the reason their Yuvraj was unconscious.

"What happened to Yuvraj Aditya?" someone whispered.

"Is it because of the Brahmastra?" another questioned.

Their confused and angry eyes turned from Arjun to the fallen Karna.

"How could Rajkumar Arjun be so reckless... and now look... our Yuvraj is unconcious because of him!" another said in frustration.

"Rajkumar Arjun is so arrogant... He was so eager to show off." another muttered.

"Is this how our Yuvraj returns to us, after all these years? In such a way?" someone lamented.

The murmurs continued as they watched the royal family and the elders rush to Karna's side, their faces filled with worry.

KUNTI had already fainted in shock when she saw the Brahmastra heading toward Karna. Madri and Subala caught her just in time, steadying her as she murmured weakly, "Karna... Putra..."

Sushala, Subhadra, Ananya and Vanya - rushed to tend to Kunti.

Karna lay still, eyes closed. HIS KAVACH SHINING BRIGHTLY with an almost divine light.

Ashwa knelt beside Karna, holding his hand with worry. He thought, "Mitra Karna... another vision?" His grip tightened around Karna's hand, as if willing his friend to wake up.

Bhagawan Parashurama's expression was unreadable as he scanned Karna's form, understanding dawning on him.

Both Parashurama and Ashwa understood that Karna was having another vision, but chose not to share this with others.

The royals gathered around Karna, their concern clear.

GANDHARI, though blindfolded, reached Karna faster than anyone else. Her trembling hands found her eldest son's unconscious form as she knelt beside him. Her heart pounded in her chest, her voice broke with motherly concern.

"Aditya... Putra!"

Even though Karna was uncouncious, his mind elsewhere, his body responded to his mother's presence and touch. As her fingers touched Karna, the Kavach's glow dimmed slightly but did not fade completely - a silent reminder of the divine protection surrounding him.

DRITHARASTRA reached out blindly, grasping Karna's arm with worry in his voice. "Aditya! What has happened to my son?"

Tears soaked Gandhari's blindfold as she cried out. "Arya... Why is my son not waking up? Something is wrong... His Kavach..." Her trembling hands refused to leave Karna, her love and fear laid bare before all.

SHAKUNI began looking around to see if Aditya was in danger. His gaze finally landed on Karna's glowing Kavach, and a thought struck him.

"The Kavach... Why does it still glow? Aditya's Kavach appeared during Dhritharastra's coronation and Suyodhana's birth when he was angry, and now... I saw his anger when he rushed to Arjun... Is it because of his emotions? But... Why does the Kavach, which protects him from immediate danger, seem to manifest during his emotional outbursts? Unless... It reacts because of something else... Something's off..."

(A/N - Will Shakuni be the first one to figure out the real reason behind the Kavach's appearance? What do you think?)

Shakuni knelt beside Gandhari, and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Gandhari... sister, calm yourself. As long as Aditya's Kavach is on his body, no harm can touch him. Trust in that, sister."

Gandhari's tears continued to flow, soaking her blindfold. Her trembling hands remained on Karna as if her heart refused to let go of him even for a second.

Ashwa gently took Gandhari's trembling hand. "Gandhari Maa... nothing has happened to Mitra Karna. Trust me... Maa. He will wake up on his own."

Gandhari nodded.

The younger generation, standing a few feet away, exchanged confused glances but refrained from speaking.

Suddenly, PANDU'S VOICE RANG OUT. Though his concern for Karna was clear, his anger toward Arjun was undeniable.

"ARJUN! Do you even understand what you have done? Using the Brahmastra in an arena full of innocent people, and that too after the fight was over? Have you lost your senses?"

BHISHMA too looked at Arjun angrily, his voice full of disappointment, joining Pandu's.

"The Brahmastra is not a weapon to be summoned for petty conflicts! Its purpose is far greater than personal victories, Arjun. If not for Aditya's Kavach, your recklessness could have endangered everyone here. Do you even realize the consequences of your actions?"

"I-I didn't mean to... I..." Arjun stammered, his voice trembling slightly. His guilt was visible, but before he could say anything more -

"ENOUGH!" Pandu's voice cut through the air like a blade. His fury was not something to be taken lightly.

Dhritharastra's anger was undeniable, as he spoke next. "ARJUN! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY SON-"

"JYESTH!!" Vidur interrupted, stepping forward to calm everyone, especially Dhritharastra and Pandu. He had never seen his brothers this furious.

"Jyesth, Bhrata Pandu, Tatshree... your anger is justified, but Aditya's well-being must be our priority right now. Arjun's actions can be addressed later."

Vidur's words momentarily calmed everyone, shifting their focus back to Karna.

Pandu placed a hand on Dhritharastra's shoulder, his voice softer now. "Jyesth... Vidur is right. For now, Aditya is our priority..."

Dhritharastra reluctantly nodded, his anger overshadowed by his concern for Karna.

"PUTRA... MY SON... ADITYA..." The words registered in the minds of the younger generation, but they barely reacted. They had no words. They stood frozen in confusion and shock, still trying to process what was happening before them.

Arjun stood silently, his head lowered in shame, unable to meet anyone's eyes. His breath caught in his throat, and fear gripped his heart as he looked at Karna's unconscious form.

"Is he...?... No..." The horrifying thought made his hands tremble slightly.

Arjun looked at his hands, remembering how the Brahmastra formed at his fingertips. Guilt pierced his heart like an arrow. "What have I done? Why couldn't I control my anger? Why did I use the Brahmastra? He is unconscious because of me..."

SUYODHANA remained silent, his eyes fixed on Karna. His heart beat faster as he silently tried to piece everything he knew together. "Why does everyone care so much for you? Pitashree.. Mata... they called you their son... Are you... my... elder brother? But why... why has no one ever told me about you...?"

Rishi Bharadwaja suggested that Karna should be taken inside.

Ashwa carefully lifted Karna, carrying him away from the arena.

Bhagwan Parashurama watched Karna with deep concern. His gaze then shifted to Arjun. He opened his mouth, as if to say something...

Just then, Pandu turned to Rishi Bharadwaja and Bhagwan Parashurama.

"Rishivar, Bhagwan Parashurama, I feel something is not right... Aditya's Kavach glowing like this is not normal. If anyone can understand what happened to him, it is you both. Let us not waste any time and head inside."

Parashurama's eyes lingered on Arjun for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. His lips parted, but then he simply nodded, following Karna inside.

The royal family, Parashurama and Rishi Bharadwaja followed silently.

Radha and Adhirath stood silently to one side all this time. Radha's eyes were filled with tears and concern for her Vasusen as she clutched Adhirath's arm. "Arya, what happened to Vasusen...? What if-?"

Adhirath placed a hand over hers. "Do not come to conclusions, Radhe. Let us go and see first."

And they followed.

EKALAVYA AND SHON STAYED BACK.

Bhishma turned to Kripacharya.

Kripacharya, who was silent since the beginning of Kala Pradarshan, finally spoke with a small nod. "Mahamahim Bhishma, tend to RAJKUMAR Aditya first. I will take care of everything here."

Bhishma nodded, following the others, his worry for Karna evident in his hurried steps.

The moment Kripacharya addressed Karna as 'Rajkumar Aditya,' Bhima's eyes widened in shock. Earlier, he had insulted Karna as a Suta Putra. Now hearing him addressed as Rajkumar left him stunned.

As Ashwa carried Karna away, Kripacharya addressed the gathered kings and dignitaries. "The royal family has urgent matters to attend to. Please proceed to your chambers."

Murmurs spread through the kings, their curiosity about Karna growing. Some could not help but question:

"Who is he?"

"What happened to him?"

"Is he really a prince of Hastinapur?"

Kripacharya gave a calm, polite reply. "Rest assured, all will be revealed in time. The royal family will make their announcement when necessary." His tone left little room for further questions, and he gestured for everyone to disperse.

DRUPAD couldn't resist the temptation to taunt Dronacharya. He stepped forward, a cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he spoke, his voice filled with sarcasm. "Dronacharya!!! What a grand spectacle you have entertained us with today."

Naturally, Dronacharya was angry with Drupad's taunts. He could snap back, defending himself, but he remained silent.

Drupad laughed loudly at Drona's silence, and mocked him further, not knowing that he was setting the stage for his own downfall. "I must say, I came here expecting to see what you planned against me, but this?" He gestured toward the now-empty arena. "This little display was all for nothing. Rajkumar Arjun's defeat only proves my point."

Dronacharya's hands curled into fists. The insult, however, did not go unnoticed by those who knew him well - Arjun.

Drupad continued, "How amusing! You have nothing to say, Drona? Perhaps this is just another time you've been rendered speechless!"

The insult stung, but Dronacharya didn't want to engage further in a useless banter with Drupad, because he had bigger plans. His revenge would soon be served when he will ask for his Guru-dakshina.

Drupad misinterpreted Drona's silence and chuckled as he turned toward Kripacharya. "I have no interest in the two-week-long celebrations, Yuvraj Abhishek, and certainly not in the 'family drama' of the Kuruvansh. I am tired of the power struggles and petty disputes, especially when they involve someone like Dronacharya and Kuru's. Give my regards to Maharaj Dhritharastra. I will take my leave now."

With that said, Drupad started walking towards his chariot but stopped beside Arjun. "I expected more from you, Rajkumar Arjun. I thought you were the weapon Dronacharya forged to defeat me. But I guess... I was wrong."

Those words struck Arjun like a blade. His hands clenched into fists, knuckles turning white. His pride crumbled under Drupad's mockery.

Doubt crept in Arjun's mind - Was he really weak? Was his skills being questioned? Had he failed his Guru? He wanted to speak - to say something, to prove something - but the words never came. A storm of emotions raged within him - anger at Drupad for his arrogance, humiliation at his own silence, frustration at his inability to prove him wrong. Today... it felt like he had failed.

Drupad finally left.

Kripacharya turned to Dronacharya. "Come with me, Drona. Let us go and see Rajkumar Aditya."

Meanwhile, Sushasana suddenly moved forward, stopping Shakuni before he could follow the others inside.

"Mamashree, wait!!"

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At the same time...

WITH KRISHNA, BALARAMA, AARADHYA, AND BHANUMATI...

Krishna's expression was unreadable. His gaze was fixed on Arjun, deep in thought.

Balarama, noticing Krishna's silence, raised an eyebrow. "Kanha, what is it? What are you thinking about?"

Krishna turned to Balarama, his smile tinged with a sadness that only Balarama could detect. "Dau... I warned Arjun not to act out of anger. And now... Arjun will pay for his actions through Bhagwan Parashurama's curse."

Balarama was shocked. "What? Curse? But Kanha, he is your Parth. Will you simply stand by, watch him get cursed, and not do anything?" His voice grew heavier as he continued, "Of course, you cannot do anything... you told Karna till he asks... you cannot interfere. But... maybe, if you try, you can stop -"

Krishna interrupted gently. "No, Dau. I cannot stop Arjun from receiving the curse. I can only... delay it..."

Balarama frowned. "Delay it...?"

Krishna's smile held a hint of something deeper, something unfathomable. "Dau, even if I tried to intervene, there is someone else... someone whose judgement no one can escape. Someone who will make sure Arjun pays for his actions. And even I... cannot escape his gaze... nor can I stop him."

Balarama's confusion deepened. "Who are you talking about, Kanha?"

Krishna only smiled. "You will understand soon enough, Dau."

They then turned to Aaradhya and Bhanumati, who were busy talking to each other.

Aaradhya's fingers tightened around her dupatta, still worried about Karna, she murmured, "I hope he's okay."

Bhanumati, however, was more perplexed by the events that had transpired. "I cannot believe what happened! Is Bhrata Rudra okay? Why didn't the Brahmastra harm him? And... He is the prince of Hastinapur?"

She turned to Aaradhya with impatient curiosity. "Aaru!! Answer my questions!!"

Aaradhya looked confused. "What? How am I supposed to know? I was with you the whole time... And I already told you everything I know about him... That is - his name."

Bhanumati huffed in frustration. She grabbed Aaradhya's hand. "Aaru, let's go and see if Bhrata Rudra is okay or not!"

Aaradhya nodded, her worry growing.

Balarama took the lead. "Let's go..."

Krishna whispered, "It's time we make our presence known."

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BACK WITH PANDAVAS AND KAURAVAS...

Meanwhile, Sushasana suddenly moved forward, stopping Shakuni before he could follow the others inside.

"Mamashree, wait!!"

Shakuni, clearly worried about Karna, paused.

Sushasana asked, "Mamashree... Who is he?"

Yuyutsu, equally confused, asked, "Why is everyone so concerned... for this stranger?"

Vikarna asked, "We have never seen Mata cry like this or Pitashree angry like this... for a stranger..."

The Pandavas were not close to Shakuni, so they remained silent, while the Kauravas were asking the questions that each of them had in mind.

Shakuni smiled at Vikarna's question. "He is not a stranger, Putra. He is -"

Before Shakuni could finish, SUYO spoke. His voice was barely above a whisper. But those words cut through the air like lightning.

"I think... He is... our elder brother..."

A stunned silence followed Suyodhana's words, stretching for what felt like an eternity.

And then...

"W-What!!"

The exclamation erupted from multiple voices at once, overlapping in sheer disbelief.

The Kauravas, looked at their Jyesth Suyodhana, their mouths falling open, unable to form words. The moment felt frozen in time, hearts pounding, minds racing. The only thought common in everyone's mind was, "How could this be true?"

For Bhima, when Kripacharya called Karna as Rajkumar Aditya, his earlier insult about calling Karna a Suta Putra now seemed foolish. And the way everyone had reacted... his father Pandu, his Pitamah Bhishma, his Tatshree Dhritharastra, his Gandhari Maa... told him this was no lie.

But Bhima, who always spoke before thinking, couldn't hold back. "What nonsense is this? How can that -"

Before he could finish, without a word, Yudhishthir placed a firm hand on Bhima's shoulder, a silent plea.

Bhima looked at his Jyesth, who just shook his head, silently telling him to stop. That silent gesture was enough... Bhima said no more.

Arjun, who had been staring at the ground after Drupad's words, snapped his head up at Suyo, blinking rapidly, struggling to process what he had just heard.

Nakul and Sahadev exchanged confused glances. They had never even considered the possibility that the Kauravas had an elder brother. If this was true... why had they never known?

Sushasana's expression is a mixture of shock and disbelief. "What are you saying, Jyesth? That's not possible! That stranger is not -"

And then...

Shakuni looked at Suyo, and confirmed the impossible.

"You are right, Putra. He is your eldest brother... Aditya."

The words landed like a hammer, crushing the air from the Kaurava's lungs.

"WHAT!!"

This time, it wasn't just an exclamation... it was a roar of disbelief.

The Kauravas felt like their entire world had been ripped apart.

Yudhishthir, always composed, now looked visibly shaken. His lips parted, but no words came out. He remembered the moment when the servants had said that the eldest son of Maharaj Dritharastra and Maharani Gandhari was the Yuvraj.

And now, Yudhishthir's thoughts raced, trying to piece everything together. "If Vrisha... no, Aditya, was our cousin, the first-born son of Tatshree Dritharastra and Gandhari Maa... then he is the true eldest prince of Hastinapur." The very idea was unbelievable. He could hardly grasp the reality of what he was realizing. "If Aditya was the eldest, then everything I had believed about myself... about being the eldest, the Yuvraj, the future king... was wrong?"

BUT FOR THE KAURAVAS...

THE REVELATION WAS EARTH-SHATTERING.

Sushasana grabbed Shakuni's arm, staring at him for a moment to confirm if his mamashree had lost his mind. His voice was frantic. "Mamashree, tell me this is a lie! Tell me we are misunderstanding something!"

Vikarna, always the most rational, finally managed to speak, though his voice wavered. "You mean to say... We had an elder brother all this time... and no one told us?"

"Yes, Putra. If you want answers, you must come inside now." With that, Shakuni hurried inside.

But the younger generation just stood there, rooted to their spots.

They couldn't move.

They were still reeling.

Still struggling.

Still staring at Karna...? at Aditya...? at Vrisha...? being taken inside.

An elder brother?

Their elder brother?

The Kauravas hands curled into fists, unwilling to accept what they had just heard.

Sushasana took a step back, shaking his head. His expression twisted with shock and denial. "No, no, no... This... this can't be true! We have never had another elder brother..."

The younger Kauravas looked at each other in a mix of confusion and distress.

Jalasandha, his voice filled with betrayal, spoke next. "He is our Jyesth....? If this is true... Why were we never told?"

Chitrasen's voice was barely a whisper, but his words carried, shock, betrayal, confusion... all at once. "Does that mean... Jyesth Suyodhana... was never the eldest...?"

A stunned silence fell over the Kauravas.

One by one, they looked at Suyodhana for answers.

But Suyo stood there like a statue.

Unreadable. Unmoving.

At least... from the outside.

Inside...

Inside, the world he had always known was falling apart.

Sushasana grabbed Suyo's hands in his. "JYESTH!"

Suyo looked at his younger brother, seeing the desperation in his eyes. "This is not true! Mamashree... he must have lost his mind. How can he say that... that stranger is our... No... No... We have only ever had you, our Jyesth Suyodhana!"

Looking at Sushasana, Suyo thought. "My brothers only ever had me? Hadn't they?"

Vikarna shook his head, his mind refusing to accept the truth. "Sushasana is right! You are our Jyesth... That stranger... he is not... This must be a mistake..."

Suyo turned his eyes to Vikarna now, and thought. "I am your Jyesth... right?"

One by one, the Kauravas began agreeing with Sushasana and Vikarna.

They had grown up believing Suyodhana was their eldest, the leader they followed without question. How could they suddenly accept that someone else... a stranger to them... had always held that place? Accepting this truth meant undoing everything they had ever known.

For the first time, Suyo had no answers.

He just stood there, frozen.

He did not move.

His fingers curled into his palms, nails digging into his skin.

His face... as always unreadable in moments like this.

But his mind...

His mind reeling with thoughts.

"Aditya...?"

"My elder brother...?"

He had spent his whole life as the eldest Kaurava... as the eldest son of Dhritharastra and Gandhari... as the eldest prince of the King and Queen... as the one his brothers relied on... as the one who had always protected his younger brothers...

"I am their Jyesth, their eldest brother..."

"But now... I am not...?"

His entire existence, the role he had played for so long, had just been rewritten.

His breath quickened...

His heartbeat roaring in his ears...

"This is not real..."

His mind refused to accept it...

It shouldn't matter...

"I had always been Jyesth to my brothers..."

It shouldn't matter...

Yet...

There was Karna...? Aditya...? Vrisha...? being carried inside...

And everyone knew...

"They had all known..."

"Pitashree was angry at Arjun..."

"Mata Gandhari... her face held an anguish I had never seen before..."

"Radha ma was crying..."

"They had all known..."

"And I hadn't...?"

"Why?"

"Why had no one ever told me...?"

"Why did they let me live a lie...?"

"Why... why did it feel like everything had been stolen from me in a single moment...?"

Something inside him cracked.

"What was I supposed to do now?"

"What should I tell my brothers?"

"Am I supposed to step aside?"

"Am I supposed to accept that I was never truly the eldest?"

"Am I supposed to accept... a stranger... as my elder brother?"

He didn't even know how to react.

Anger? Pain? Resentment? Relief?

He felt everything. And nothing. All at once.

Yuyutsu's hesitant voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. "Suyodhana Bhaiya..."

All eyes were on him...

Waiting for him to speak...

Waiting for him to react...

Waiting for their Jyesth to tell them this was a lie.

But he had no words...

His world had just collapsed with a truth hidden from them for years...

Yudhishthir took a step forward, his eyes meeting Suyodhana's. Gently, he placed a reassuring hand on Suyo's shoulder. "Suyodhana... I know this is overwhelming, but we need to hear the full truth. Let's go inside first."

For the first time, Yudhishthir's calm voice served as a steady anchor amidst the turmoil, reminding Suyo and the others that no matter how shaken they were, there was still much to uncover.

Suyo remained still for a moment before finally nodding. Without another word, he took a step forward, his mind still spinning with the truth they had just learned. And deep down, he knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

BEFORE HE COULD TAKE ANOTHER STEP, A HAND CAUGHT HIS ARM.

"SUYO, WAIT!"

Shon's voice was urgent, almost desperate. "Before you go, know that Bhrata Vasu... I mean, Bhrata Aditya... he also doesn't know that you don't know-"

Suyo jerked his arm free.

He stared at Shon in disbelief.

"Y-you... you... also knew... about him?"

"Yes. I know. But, listen to me first." Shon pleaded.

Suyo's hand curled into fists, his chest tightening with something he couldn't even name. Betrayal? Pain? Fury? "I considered you as my friend. My brothers see you as one of us... a brother. And you also hid the truth? Mitra Ashwa... he also knew that stranger... you both knew and-"

Shon took a step forward, grasping both of Suyo's shoulders, trying to make him understand, as if that could somehow undo the storm raging inside him. "Suyo, listen to me first and try to understand! After you were born, everything happened so quickly! The attack, Bhrata Vasu left for his training, Maharaj Dhritharastra had announced that no one should talk-"

SUYO SHOVED SHON AWAY FROM HIM BEFORE HE COULD SAY ANOTHER WORD.

Shon stumbled back, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.

Ekalavya, who was with Shon, rushed to his side.

"Sushala! Look -" Ananya whispered as she and her friends arrived just in time to witness the scene.

"Bhrata Shon!" Sushala gasped, rushing to his side.

She bent down, helping him up as she turned to Suyo. "Jyesth! Why did you push Bhrata Shon like this?"

Suyo's heart pounded, his breath coming in uneven gasps, his anger flaring like a wildfire. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked with the strain. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, his mind consumed by the burning question his sister asked him. "WHY?"

He shouted, "Do not call him brother! He is a traitor! He knew everything... but he never told us!"

Shon flinched at the word - traitor. He had never thought of himself that way. He had always been loyal to his Bhrata Vasu, taking care of Suyodhana and his brothers. But now, seeing Suyo's fury, it felt like every moment of silence, every time he had chosen to hold his tongue, was being counted as a betrayal.

Sushala's brows furrowed in confusion. "Tell us what, Jyesth?"

Before anyone else could speak, Sushasana stepped forward, his voice unsteady, "Sushala..." he started, trying to make sense of it himself. "Mamashree has said... that stranger... on whom Arjun used Brahmastra... is our eldest brother..." He pointed to Shon, his hands trembling. "And he knew all along and never told us!"

The moment Sushasana repeated the truth aloud, it became undeniable.

Sushala's fingers slipped from Shon's arm, even without her realizing it. She turned to stare at Shon, her face a mix of confusion and disbelief at what she just heard.

Sushasana's loyalty to Suyo had never wavered. The moment his Jyesth declared Shon a traitor, Sushasana had immediately followed.

Before Sushala could say anything, Sushasana grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him and Suyo.

A heavy silence fell over them all again.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Shon took a step forward, to again try to make Suyo understand. But his heart sank as he saw the 100 kauravas step away from him, one by one.

Sushala saw the pain his Shon's eyes. She instinctively took a small step toward him, but before she could act on the impluse, Sushasana's grip tightened on her hand. There were no words, only the pressure of his hand that silently reminded her where her loyalty lay now.

Shon saw the moment it happened. The distance. The hesitation. That hadn't been there before.

Sushala and the Kauravas had always stood beside him. But now, for the first time, they had taken a step back.

He could have called out. He could have tried again. But as he looked at them, he knew... he had already lost their trust...

The reason Shon stopped Suyo was to tell him that Karna also didn't know that his identity was hidden. Karna didn't know that his own brothers were kept in the dark about him.

Seeing Suyo silent after finding out that he had an elder brother, Shon could see the pain Suyo felt upon learning that Karna was his elder brother. He didn't want the meeting between Suyo and Karna to be poisoned with misunderstandings. He didn't want his Bhrata Vasu (Karna) to find out the truth when Suyo himself didn't know the complete truth.

This was the only reason why Shon stopped Suyo and tried to tell him, but things didn't happen as he wished.

Suyodhana's breaths came uneven as he looked at Shon. His mind was a storm of emotions.

"Am I angry at Shon?"

Or

"Am I just hurt...? Hurt that someone I trusted didn't trust me enough to tell the truth?"

He didn't know...

"Mitra Shon... and Mitra Ashwa..."

The names echoed in his mind.

"They knew..."

"They always knew..."

His fists clenched.

"Then why?"

"Why did the ones I called... friends... never told me?"

"Did they not trust me?"

"Or was it that they simply chose to stay silent... because they decided that I didn't deserve to know the truth?"

That thought stung so deeply that it almost felt physical.

"Why am I so angry... was it because I had already accepted the truth?"

The very idea made his vision blur with tears.

The truth that had been hidden for so long... that the one who was nothing but a stranger a few moments ago... was his elder brother. And no one told him. It shattered him.

Suyo's emotions were a tangled mess, each one fighting for dominance... betrayal, anger, hurt, confusion... all crashing together like a storm. He couldn't tell if his anger was because of the truth or because he felt like he was deceived by those he trusted.

Instead of seeking the truth or understanding the reasons behind the decisions made, he was reacting purely from the hurt and betrayal he felt at the moment. He couldn't separate his feelings of betrayal from the confusion consuming him.

Suyo didn't know what to feel, what to think, or what to do... All he knew was that his heart and mind were too clouded, lost in the chaos of it all. There was no space to reason or reflect... he was too consumed by emotions to process the truth or even understand why he felt the way he did.

The ground beneath his feet felt unsteady, like the very foundation of his reality was crumbling.

"Why do I feel like this?"

He didn't know...

As Suyo stood there, drowning in the whirlwind of his thoughts and emotions, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Suyodhana..." Yudhishthir's voice broke through the strom.

Suyo turned and, in that moment, he couldn't stop himself. His fury overwhelmed him. With a sharp motion, he shoved Yudhishthir away... Just like he did with Shon.

Yudhishthir staggered back, surprised, but his composure remained. He didn't say a word.

Bhima's anger flared as he rushed forward, his fist clenched. "How dare you push my Jyesth?"

But before Bhima could take another step, Yudhishthir held Bhima's arm, stopping him. "Enough, Bhima!"

Suyo stood there, breathing heavily, torn between the storm in his chest and the silence that had descended around him. His eyes flickered between his brothers, his sister, the Pandavas, but it was Shon he couldn't look at, his heart heavy with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid.

It was too much. Too much to process, too much to bear.

His thoughts were a mess, and...

He wanted someone who could make him understand... someone he could trust... someone who he knew would not hide anything from him.

And the one name that came to his mind was - Krishna.

Just as he thought of Krishna, a gentle hand was placed on his shoulder.

Suyo turned, his vision blurred with unshed tears, and saw Krishna. He failed to notice three more figures - Balarama, Aaradhya and Bhanumati, standing a few feet away from Krishna.

Without hesitation, without even thinking, Suyo wrapped his arms tightly around Krishna, clutching onto him as if holding onto something steady in this whirlwind of betrayal and confusion.

Krishna didn't hesitate either. He returned the embrace. One hand rested on Suyo's back, the other gently patting in slow, calming motions. He didn't say anything immediately... he simply let Suyodhana hold on.

And then, after a moment, his voice came... soft, knowing.

"Suyodhana... your heart is heavy, burdened by what you feel as betrayal. But in your pain, you are seeing only deception, not truth."

Suyo remained silent, his grip tightening.

"You found out something today, and instead of understanding it, you are letting your emotions decide for you." Krishna continued, his voice neither reprimanding nor forceful, just soothing and understanding. "Instead of seeking to know why... why things happened this way, why the truth was hidden... you are drowning in anger. But anger, Mitra, does not give clarity. It blinds."

Suyo's breath hitched, but he still didn't speak nor let go of Krishna.

"You stand at a crossroad. You can let this anger rule you, make you push everyone away before even knowing the full truth, or you can take a step back, calm yourself, meet your parents, and understand why this happened as they did. Your pain is real Suyodhana... but acting on pain alone will not give you answers."

Krishna didn't pull away. He kept holding Suyo, allowing him to process the words. For a moment, it seemed as though Suyo was listening, trying to understand, his emotions were beginning to settle.

But before he could respond, a voice cut through the air.

"Bhratashree?"

Suyo slowly pulled away from Krishna, his teary eyes blinking as he turned toward the speaker.

It was Subhadra.

Krishna made a small, subtle gesture with his hand to Subhadra as if to say, "Not now..."

But it was too late.

Suyo looked at Subhadra and asked, "You... know Krishna?"

Subhadra nodded. "Bhratashree Krishna and Balarama are my brothers."

At her words, Suyo's eyes flickered back to Krishna, then to the Pandavas, who had remained silent all this time.

A feeling of unease coiled in his chest.

Just when Krishna's words began to settle in, another revelation hit Suyo, reigniting the sense of betrayal. His doubts spiraled as the weight of the truth dawned upon him.

Suyo looked back at Krishna, his voice betraying a quiet tremor of hurt. "You are... their cousin?" he asked, pointing to the Pandavas.

Krishna's voice was gentle but firm, "Does it matter? What I am to them... will that change... what I am to you?"

The words struck something deep in Suyodhana.

His first instinct was to say no.

His heart screamed that it didn't matter... shouldn't matter. Krishna was his friend. The bond they shared was still the same.

But the fresh wound of betrayal from those he considered as friends... Shon and Ashwa... was still bleeding.

And now... even Krishna?

"Even Krishna... the one I considered a friend... the one I trusted..."

"Krishna wouldn't... he couldn't have deceived me too. Right?"

"But... he... was on their side all along?"

The shift in emotions was natural.

The sharp sting of realizing Krishna was the Pandavas cousin was like a fresh wound.

"How many more truths are left hidden from me?"

Suyo felt as though every relationship in his life had been built on half-truths... on secrets... that had now come to light.

Krishna took a step closer, and asked. "Answer me, Mitra."

Suyo blinked, pulled out of his thoughts hearing Krishna's voice. His eyes met Krishna's.

Krishna repeated, softer this time, "Does it matter?"

Suyo's heart ached as the words, barely above a whisper, left his mouth. "Yes. It matters."

Krishna's eyes softened, his tone still gentle as he asked, "Is that your heart speaking, or your mind?"

Suyo didn't reply immediately. The words stuck in his throat. His fingers curled into fists as he spoke, more to himself than anyone else. "It doesn't matter..."

Then, Suyo took a small step back.

Not as a push like with Shon. But a step away, as if physically distancing himself would somehow ease the turmoil inside.

It didn't.

If anything, it only deepened the ache in his heart.

For the first time in his life, Suyodhana felt completely alone. He took another step away from Krishna. He wanted to leave... to be away from Krishna, from Shon, from everyone. He couldn't think clearly, couldn't breathe properly with the weight of everything pressing down on him.

Before anyone could stop him, he turned on his heels, to go toward the one place that still felt like home... his parents.

But Krishna...

Krishna would not let him leave just like that...

Just as Suyo took a few steps, Krishna, without even looking at him, moved past him, crossing him entirely, his attention shifting elsewhere.

Suyo stopped.

Krishna walked toward Subhadra, a warm smile on his face, as if nothing had just happened, as if Suyo's world hadn't just shattered.

Balarama followed his little brother.

The Pandavas, who had remained silent until now, exchanged greetings with Krishna and Balarama.

Krishna looked at Suyo with a brief but knowing smile, subtly showed that Suyo's anger wouldn't dictate his actions.

Suyo clenched his fists looking back at Krishna.

"Krishna... ignored me?" He pushed down the thought, reminding himself it didn't matter.

Nothing mattered anymore.

Aaradhya, who had been standing silently with Bhanumati, suddenly felt a presence beside her. She turned and found herself facing two familiar girls. Her sisters. Ananya and Vanya.

The two hugged Aaradhya. "Aaru jiji !!! We missed you so much!"

The conversation between them continued.

SUYO'S GAZE FINALLY LANDED ON HER.

BHANUMATI.

She stood beside Aaradhya, watching everything unfold, her eyes holding unreadable emotions.

It wasn't the first time she had seen him like this... vulnerable. Their first meeting, too, had been when he was lost, breaking. And now, once again, she saw him at his weakest.

The moment he noticed her, Suyo quickly turned away, his hand instinctively wiping away the traces of tears from his face.

He straightened, lifted his chin, and faced his brothers.

"Let's go." His voice was firm, as if nothing had happened.

And just like that, the Kauravas turned, ready to leave.

But then...

Krishna's voice rang out.

"IF YOU'RE LEAVING, SUYODHANA, TAKE THE BOW WITH YOU."

Suyo looked at Krishna, whose gaze was not on him.

Krishna was looking at the bow, lying on the ground, forgotten.

Krishna looked at Suyo, his tone casual, almost amused. "I remember seeing it in the hands of your... Jyesth."

Suyo's expression changed at the mention of "Jyesth" But as he processed the words, his posture shifted slightly. He quickly replied, his voice filled with annoyance, "He was and is a stranger to me and my brothers... He is NOT my Jyesth."

But in that brief moment, his mind lingered on the word "Jyesth" realizing the weight of his own denial. He clenched his fists and turned away, trying to dismiss the discomfort he felt at his own words.

With that, Suyo started walking again, Kauravas following him...

Krishna simply hummed. "Alright then!"

Turning to the Pandavas, he asked the eldest Pandava. "Bhrata Yudhishthir? Why don't you take the bow inside?"

The eldest Pandava gave a small nod. He stepped forward, reaching for the bow.

Before his fingers could touch the bow...

"NO! DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Everyone turned at the sudden outburst.

IT WAS EKALAVYA. He looked almost panicked as he stepped forward.

"Why?" Yudhishthir asked, pausing.

Ekalavya hesitated before answering, "Bhrata Karna said... it's nearly impossible for anyone to touch the bow and wield it. If you are not worthy... It will shock you."

A thoughtful look crossed Yudhishthir's face, and he withdrew his hand taking the warning.

But Arjun, being the proud archer he was, scoffed, looking at the ordinary-looking bow.

"It's just a bow! It looks like what children would play with..." he muttered, bending down to pick it up.

The moment his hand made contact...

"AAHH!"

A sharp jolt of energy shot through his hand, forcing him to release the bow immediately.

Sahadev was at his side in an instant, checking his hand.

Nakul, however, frowned and went to the bow. He stared at the ordinary-looking bow.

"Bhrata Arjun... you're joking, aren't you?" he asked with a smirk, not expecting anything unusual.

Arjun shook his head, flexing his fingers. "Try it yourself."

Convinced that his brother was simply playing a trick, Nakul reached out.

But the moment his hand touched the bow...

"AAHH!"

He too met with the same fate.

The shock was enough for Nakul to let go of the bow instantly, shaking his hand.

By this time, the Kauravas had already stopped in their tracks. Their attention was completely diverted at the sight of Arjun and Nakul yelping in pain.

Curiosity overtook everything else.

Forgetting what had just happened, forgetting even the bitterness that lingered between them, their eyes were now fixed on the scene before them.

"What kind of bow is this?" The Kauravas wondered.

Bhima laughed. "Are you both that weak?"

Arjun and Nakul shot him a glare. They exchanged a look, silently communicating, and smirked at each other.

Nakul smirked. "Bhrata Bhima, I'm sure you cannot even lift it."

Arjun added, "Yes. But Nakul, he has to touch it first, right?"

Nakul nodded. "Yes. Bhrata Arjun. I'm sure Bhrata Bhima cannot even touch it..."

Bhima's grin widened, his chest puffing up with bravado.

"Is that a challenge?" Bhima asked, walking forward confidently.

"Watch and learn... I can lift it with a single finger!" he said, showing his pinky finger to his brothers.

Just as Bhima was about to touch the bow, Nakul teased him. "Bhrata Bhima, I dare you to use both hands!"

Bhima scoffed, but... deciding to show off... he used both hands to lift the bow.

Only to be met with the same fate.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The shock was so strong it made him stagger backward, hands shaking from the electric jolt. The bow slipped from his grasp, and he stood there, shaking his hands from the unexpected pain.

At this, the Kauravas burst into laughter. They laughed at Bhima's dramatic reaction, and miserable failure.

Even Suyo, who had been fuming moments again, couldn't hold back himself. He smirked, shaking his head.

Sahadev, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "Bhrata Bhima, I didn't know you could be defeated by this seemingly ordinary bow."

His casual remark was met with a stunned silence...

In that moment, everything else... the revelations, the bitterness, the unspoken tension... was momentarily forgotten.

Then, suddenly, laughter erupted from both sides... the Kauravas and Pandavas.

Even Yudhishthir chuckled, shaking his head.

Suyo, who had been observing carefully, decided to comment, "A shocking truth... right, Sahadev?"

And then the words slipped out before he could stop himself.

"The bow belongs to my Jyesth. It looks like only he can -"

Suyo stopped mid-sentence as he processed what just happened.

The words "My Jyesth!" just left his mouth. His eyes widened as he realized what he just said. He quickly turned away, thinking, "My Jyesth? Seriously? 😑 What did I just say? And why did I say?"

Krishna, who had been watching, let out a laugh. His amusement was clear, knowing full well what had just transpired.

Suyo looked at Krishna, whose laughter rang out with amusement and full of knowing, and it only made Suyo's discomfort grow as he realised the truth behind his slip.

"Ugh!! Why did Krishna have to say... your... Jyesth! Because of that... I said it!" Suyodhana groaned Inwardly.

He turned away quickly, trying to shake off the feeling, but it was no use. The words had already slipped out and the weight of it all pressed on him.

With a final, frustrated glance at Krishna, he started to walk away.

And then... Seeing Suyo leave...

Bhima yelled. "Duryodhana! Why don't you try? Let's see if you have the strength."

Suyo turned and smirked, crossing his arms. "I have the strength, but most importantly, I also have a brain. And after watching you fail so miserably, neither me nor my brothers here are fools enough to try -"

"AAAAAHHHHH!!"

Suyo turned to see which idiot brother of his had tried, only to see - It was Sushasana. He had tried to lift the bow and had gotten shocked.

Laughter erupted from the three Pandavas.

Suyo rushed to his brother's side and grasped Sushasana's hand to check for any injuries. His face filled with concern. He scolded. "You idiot! Fool! Don't you have a brain? Why did you even try to touch it? Does it hurt?"

Sushasana just looked at Suyo with a smile, his eyes filled with affection as he called his eldest brother. "Jyesth..."

Suyo froze.

Tears welled in his eyes. He tried to suppress them, shaking his head. "I... I am not your Jyesth anymore-"

But before he could finish, Sushasana hugged him tightly and whispered. "No! You are our Jyesth! Whenever we got hurt, it was you who always checked on us. Not the one we found out about today..."

Vikarna stepped forward, embracing him as well. "Whenever we needed anything, it was you who was there for us..."

And one by one, the Kauravas stepped forward.

Until a hundred of them were hugging Suyo.

Until Suyo felt whole again.

When they finally pulled away, Sushala wiped her tears, then hugged him last.

The Pandavas, Yuyutsu, Krishna, Balarama, Shon, Ekalavya, Aaradhya, Subhadra, Ananya and Vanya... all of them observed the emotional scene with a smile.

Bhanumati wiped her tears watching them with a smile.

Krishna turned to Ekalavya and asked, as if he didn't already know. "Why can no one lift this bow?"

Ekalavya replied, "Bhrata Karna said that if one is not worthy, the bow will reject them. Even Gururdev refused to touch it."

Krishna hummed thoughtfully. "Interesting."

And then, without hesitation, Krishna reached down to pick up the bow.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The bow was still in his hands.

Arjun wasn't thinking, but his body was already moving. Without a second thought, his hands reaching for the bow, intending to take it from Krishna. But then, just as his hand hovered above the bow, he stopped. There, standing beside him, was Suyodhana.

Arjun felt a deep connection to Krishna, like a thread pulling him forward, urging him to act. But when he saw Suyo, he stopped, because Suyo was Krishna's friend. His hand would have grasped the bow without hesitation, instead he stepped back.

Suyo tried to take the bow from Krishna's hand, only to be shocked in the attempt. "AAHHH!" Suyodhana gasped as he felt the jolt of energy surge through his hand the moment he touched the bow.

Suyo tried again, "Aaahh! Krishna! What are you doing!! Leave the bow!!!" he demanded, ignoring the pain his hands.

Arjun's fingers curled into a fist as he saw Suyo trying to take the bow. The realization settled in... had Suyo not been there, had he not seen Suyo, he would have taken the bow himself and suffer the shock.

Krishna only smiled, releasing the bow, letting it fall to the ground. "As you wish, Mitra."

Suyo immediately grabbed Krishna's hand, worried, checking for injuries, but Krishna chuckled. "Just moments ago, you said it didn't matter. So why does it matter if I'm hurt... Mitra?"

Suyo froze and quickly pulled away, avoiding Krishna's gaze, but his concern was palpable.

Krishna's smile widened, and he casually picked up the bow again, and this time, they noticed a faint glow emanating from it... which they had failed to see before.

Krishna looked at the others and said, almost playfully. "Oh? Did you all think I was shocked? No, no..." He then looked at Suyo before continuing, "I was just testing something. See? I can lift the bow perfectly fine."

Ekalavya looked at Krishna in shock and asked in disbelief, "How can you lift the bow?"

Krishna looked at him with a teasing smile. "Maybe... I am worthy?"

Ekalavya just nodded understanding, while Arjun stared at Krishna in surprise, unable to understand how he had lifted the bow so effortlessly.

Suyo stood still, staring at Krishna in disbelief, understanding that Krishna had done more than just test the bow.

Before he could dismiss it again...

Before he could say that it didn't matter, or give an excuse that he was just checking and definitely not because he cared or something...

Krishna spoke again, his voice was calm, steady, and knowing, but this time his words were different.

"Mitra Suyodhana... I see your heart fighting with itself. You feel anger, pain, confusion... each emotion louder than the last, drowning out the one thing you need most right now: clarity."

Suyo's lips parted slightly, but he didn't say anything.

"You have always stood unshaken, never letting the world see your fear, never allowing yourself to be weak. But today... today, you are afraid."

Suyo stiffened. "I am not afraid."

Krishna smiled knowingly. "Aren't you? You're afraid that if you listen, you might understand. And if you understand, you might no longer have a reason to be angry. You're holding on to this pain because it's easier than facing the truth. But if you let go of it, you'll have to accept reality as it is, not as a wound, but as the truth. And that truth, Mitra, is much harder to face than anger."

Suyo clenched his jaw, his thoughts clashing like a storm within him.

"But if you keep walking this path blinded by hurt, what will you find at the end of it?" Krishna asked.

"Do you really believe that the elder brother you just discovered wanted his own brothers to never know about him? That your parents, the ones who raised you, who loved you, kept this truth from you because they wished to deceive you?"

Suyo remained silent, but the anger in his eyes softened.

Krishna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Think about it, Mitra. Do not let your emotions cloud the truth. The answers you seek are not hidden... they are waiting for you to see them. But to understand, you must be willing to listen, not just hear."

Suyo inhaled sharply. This time, he didn't argue. He didn't resist.

Instead, he let Krishna's words settle, let himself think.

Just then, a guard arrived. He turned to the Pandavas. "Mahamahim Bhishma has asked for Rajkumar Nakul and Rajkumar Sahadev immediately."

Bhima frowned. "Why only Nakul and Sahadev?"

The guard was about to say 'Yuvraj' Aditya's hand is hurt, but Krishna stepped in before he could say a word. "Is it related to 'Rajkumar' Aditya?"

The guard nodded. "Yes. Rajkumar Aditya's hand is hurt."

Yudhishthir insisted that all the Pandavas will go together, as they won't leave their younger brothers alone.

Suyo was listening everything, after a moment, he exhaled. Then, he looked at his brothers, then at Krishna, and without hesitation, he turned to his brothers.

"Let's meet our parents and the others... and find out why we were not told about our own elder brother."

"Yes, Jyesth." The Kauravas nodded, ready to follow Suyodhana.

For Kauravas, Suyo was always the Jyesth, the eldest, and it wouldn't change because someone suddenly claimed to have been born before him, and is the eldest son of Dritharastra and Gandhari.

Suyo opened his mouth, as though about to correct them for calling him as Jyesth, but stopped himself and closed his mouth again. He didn't correct them. He simply nodded. He wasn't ready to confront the truth yet, but the hesitation, the unwillingness to correct his brothers was telling.

Even though Suyo didn't want to admit it aloud, deep down he had already accepted the truth that he has an elder brother, someone he can call as Jyesth.

But...

Whether Suyo wanted to embrace the truth or reject it... whether the 99 Kauravas would accept Karna as the Jyesth... that was something only time would tell.

---------------------------------------------------------

At the same time....

WITH VRITRASURA AND SAANVI...

Vritrasura was watching everything with dark amusement. Saanvi stood beside him, her face calm, but he could sense the turmoil beneath her calm exterior.

He turned slightly, his gaze settling on her, his voice breaking the silence. "It's intresting, isn't it? How everything hidden eventually comes to the surface. Secrets... Lies... the things mortals think they can keep locked away. But secrets and lies have a way of revealing themselves, don't they?"

Saanvi kept her expression neutral. "Secrets or lies come out only when people are careless..."

Vritrasura chuckled. "Careless? Hmm... Intresting..."

His gaze lingered on her a moment longer, and the atmosphere around them seemed to shift, a chill settling in.

Vritrasura's eyes, sharp and calculating, didn't just watch her... they studied her. The way her fingers curled slightly, as if resisting the urge to react. The brief tension in her jaw before she spoke. Even the way she controlled her breathing, deliberately even, as though refusing to give anything away.

"You know, I've been thinking about Jarasandha..." His words were casual, but there was something about them that made Saanvi's heart skip. "So loyal, yet so foolish. Always thinking he has control, but he's blind to the bigger picture."

He turned back to Saanvi, his gaze searching. "Do you know what I mean, Saanvi? Do you think loyalty is enough to protect yourself or those you care about?"

Saanvi blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. She replied, "Loyalty has its limits... we need to know when it's no longer serving us."

"Indeed..." Vritrasura's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if considering her answer.

"You're right. Loyalty has limits... It's like a bridge that connects you to those you care about. But if that bridge is built without understanding the dangers on the other side, you might think you're safe... But it will eventually start to crack and collapse when under pressure..."

Saanvi's expression remained neutral, but a part of her was intrigued by his words. She couldn't resist asking, "But doesn't that mean loyalty itself is wrong? What is the use of being loyal if there's no guarantee that we are safe?"

"You misunderstand. It's not loyalty itself that is wrong..." Vritrasura's smile deepened, and his eyes glinted with something darker. "Saanvi... do you know... how much loyalty is too much?"

He leaned in slightly, looking in her eyes, his voice turning colder. "When loyalty becomes... blind loyalty, when you have pushed too far, it can turn into a prison... It's the blind loyalty that make you vulnerable and unsafe."

His voice dropped, laced with a cryptic edge. "Those who are bound by blind loyalty can't see the bars until they are already inside the prison... A prison that limits their freedom and forces them to bear a heavy cost for their loyalty."

He paused again, letting the words sink in before continuing, "When you swear your loyalty without questioning, without understanding the consequences, you may think you are protecting what you care about. But in reality, you are putting yourself in chains. These chains might not show at first, but when the pressure becomes too much, you will start to feel them tightening. You will realize too late that they are there... and by then, you will have no choice but to bear the weight."

He eyes never left hers. "Just think, Saanvi... when the chains tighten, when loyalty demands a price so high, who do you think will be the first to break? Who do you think will falter under the weight of their own choices?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with its implication.

His gaze intensified, pulling her deeper into the web of his words. "You say loyalty has limits... but it's not about knowing when it no longer serves you. It's about recognizing when it starts to consume you. When you allow loyalty to define your actions without question, you become a prisoner of your own making."

For the first time, Saanvi felt a chill run down her spine. She had played the game well so far, thinking she had control, but now she realized just how closely Vritrasura had been watching her - controlling not just her actions, but the subtle nuances of her thoughts, hesitations, and decisions.

He had been testing her all along, gauging her responses, and she could no longer deny that she has been caught in his web. His careful scrutiny, his ability to read her so clearly, made her realize that she wasn't as in control as she had believed.

Vritrasura had been the one pulling the strings, and she was just a pawn, unknowingly participating in his game.

Both Vritrasura and Saanvi were testing each other, keeping each other at arm's length, but also drawing each other closer. Neither fully trusted the other, yet both felt a dangerous pull toward one another, like two forces drawn together by a force neither could yet understand.

Just as she thought the conversation was over, Vritrasura took a step closer, watching for even a smallest flicker of reaction, as though searching for something.

His next words were slow, calculated.

"Tell me, Saanvi... Who would you rather see in pain? Your sister Aaradhya or... Suryaputra?"

Saanvi's heart pounded, but she masked it well. "This was a test." She thought. She could feel it in the way he watched her.

Vritrasura's voice turned almost thoughtful, his words were laced with a hidden meaning as he continued. "If given the choice, who would you rather see broken and hurt? Your sister, Aaradhya, or the one you know is a true thorn to me... Suryaputra?"

Saanvi's mind raced. "If I choose Suryaputra, he might think I'm trying to protect Aaru jiji... But If I choose Aaru jiji... he might finally trust me completely."

But a thought sent a shudder through her. "But will this choice be enough to earn his trust completely?"

She had spent enough time with Vritrasura to understand what he really wanted to hear from her. She kept her expression neutral and replied, "Both."

Vritrasura smiled at her reply but remained silent. His satisfaction was evident in the way he watched her. She could feel his approval.

Yet, despite his approval, there was something in his eyes that kept her on edge. There was a faint doubt lingering behind his gaze, an inkling of suspicion that she had not fooled him completely.

He wasn't a fool, after all.

Saanvi locked her gaze with his, forcing herself to remain cold. "Both stand in your way - but not in the same way. Suryaputra is a threat to you... But Aaradhya... she is more than that. She is not just a pawn in your game. She is your chance to strike at Lord Vishnu himself, to make him feel loss of family the way you did. Breaking her would not just be victory... it would be vengeance."

Saanvi let the weight of her words settle in. Then, as if delivering the final blow, she added.

"So if you are asking me... who I want to see broken..."

Even though every part of her screamed not to say it, her fingers curled slightly. She hesitated just long enough, a barely noticeable reaction, before she forced the words out,

"It is ...Aaradhya."

Vritrasura's lips curled into a slow, satisfied smirk. But his eyes saw the faintest hesitation in her calm demeanor. He was watching her closely, almost too closely. For a fraction of a second, his smirk faltered, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes before he smiled. A smile that didn't reach his eyes.

A pause stretched between them - just long enough for Saanvi to wonder if she had made a mistake. "Did he believe me? or did I just confirm his doubts?"

Vritrasura's constant probing, from discussing blind loyalty to asking her who she would choose between her sister and Suryaputra, showed that he wasn't entirely sure of her true intentions. He wanted to test her, to see if she would slip up, to see whether her loyalty was genuine or merely a mask.

He might have been somewhat satisfied with her response, but he wasn't convinced. She hadn't won his trust yet... she had merely passed one of many tests.

"Good." Vritrasura murmured, his voice was soft, almost approving.

"But I think only you should have the pleasure of hurting your sister and breaking her. So let us not waste an opportunity to send a message another way."

Saanvi froze for a split second. "Only I should have the pleasure of hurting my sister?" A new, unsettling thought crept into her mind. "What does he mean by that? Does he expect me to actually hurt Aaru jiji? Will he make me do it?"

Vritrasura turned towards the man he had been controlling... his eyes vacant, his body rigid like a puppet on strings.

"GO!" Vritrasura ordered, his voice cold and commanding, as if the man were nothing more than a puppet fulfilling his wishes. "Tell the royals of Hastinapur that I, Vritrasura, know about the Suryaputra. The truth can never be hidden forever."

"Then... attack..." He stopped.

An amused smirk again crossed Vritrasura's face as his sharp eyes settled on the distant figure of the Pandavas and Kauravas. But his attention, however, shifted swiftly, narrowing onto four girls who were with the princes.

He leaned closer to the man, his voice lowering to a whisper, so that only the man could hear as he said the name.

Vritrasura's cunning mind knew better than to waste time ordering a mere commoner to attack the Suryaputra. Such a task would be pointless. He wasn't foolish. Instead, he would use the man for something far more achievable... something that would create more choas and vulnerability.

Saanvi felt a chill in the air as Vritrasura said loud enough for her to hear, "Go after the sisters... and hurt them."

The man nodded without expression, almost lifeless, before leaving.

Saanvi inhaled slowly, her mind racing. "He believed me. Or did he? Did I really fool him, or did I just fall into his trap?"

SHE COULDN'T TELL ANYMORE...

But what was more troubling was the ambiguity in his words. "Why was he telling the man to hurt "the sisters"?

Who was "the sisters"?

Was it Aaru jiji's sisters... or someone else?

What did he mean?"

SHE COULDN'T TELL ANYMORE...

And yet, one more thought refused to leave her mind, "If he didn't intend to hurt either Aaradhya or Suryaputra right now, then why ask me to choose? What was the need for this test at all?"

SHE COULDN'T TELL ANYMORE...

Breaking her thoughts, Vritrasura extended his hand toward her. His tone was gentle, "Let's go!"

Saanvi hesitated, unsure of what to trust anymore, her mind still at war with itself. She had played her part, but at what cost? Could she endure this path?

And yet, before Saanvi could contemplate any longer, she found herself reaching out, placing her hand in his...

(A/N - Vritrasura's words about blind loyalty might remind you of someone who has walked a similar path. Who, too, has given everything for someone else without hesitation and without questioning the consequences? Do you think you can guess who I am refering to?

And... when Saanvi's loyalty is tested to its limits, will it become too much to bear for her? Is she truly in control, or is she slowly getting pulled into Vritrasura's world? The biggest question now is: Will Saanvi break before she breaks Aaradhya? And when she finally reaches the point of no return, will she still be herself? What do you think?)

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Back with the Kauravas, Pandavas, Krishna...

Krishna turned to his sister, Subhadra, and spoke gently, "Take Aaradhya and Bhanumati with you. Let them settle."

Subhadra nodded, understanding the unspoken request in his words.

Aaradhya, Bhanumati, Ananya and Vanya, followed Subhadra.

Now, only the Pandavas, Kauravas, Sushala, Shon, and Ekalavya stood there.

Balarama turned to Krishna, raising an eyebrow. In a low voice, he asked, "Kanha... Why did you do it? The bow... stopping Suyodhana?"

Krishna's gaze was fixed on Suyodhana, a smile playing on his lips. "He is lost, Dau. He is angry not just with his friends and family... but also with himself. Angry for not knowing the truth. Angry for not being told what he deserved to know. Angry for being kept in the dark by those he trusted most. I didn't stop him because of the bow or to keep him from leaving. I stopped him... to keep him from making a rash decision in the heat of his emotions that could further isolate him from those who care for him, and those he care for. What he needs now is not distance... but understanding. What he needs is the clarity to face the truth."

Balarama's eyes softened in understanding. "You think this will help him? To accept Karna?"

Krishna's smile never left his face as he replied, "For now, yes. Sometimes, the heart needs a jolt, a moment of clarity, to see what it truly needs."

Balarama shook his head, almost admiring Krishna's foresight. "As always, you know the path even before it is walked."

Now, Krishna turned his attention to the Pandavas and Kauravas leaving. But his eyes were fixed on Arjun, and his voice was soft, filled with a deeper meaning, "But Dau... Even if I know the path before it is walked... there are things I cannot stop..."

Balarama followed Krishna's gaze to see him looking at Arjun. He immediately understood what Krishna was talking about. THE CURSE.

Balarama looked back at Krishna, his voice was urgent. "Kanha, let's go and try to stop this. Arjun doesn't deserve a curse."

Krishna sighed. "Leave it be, Dau. I told you before... I cannot stop it. I can only delay it."

Balarama persisted. "Then delay it, Kanha! Maybe you're wrong about not being able to stop it? Maybe things will change. Maybe Karna will wake up and do something? After all, everything that happened so far... all the changes after the Kala Chakra turning... It's all because of Karna. Maybe he has the power to stop this, and maybe... all we need to do is just delay the moment?"

Krishna sighed again, his voice barely a whisper as if speaking to himself. "Dau... If only you knew... Karna had already bent fate in ways even he had not foreseen. But some things... even Karna cannot change."

Without waiting for Krishna's reply, Balarama grabbed Krishna's arm and started pulling him toward the Pandavas and Kauravas, who were walking ahead. "Let's go, Kanha! And you just do your thing, which you always do... mess up everything, and then make it right again."

Krishna, though being pulled along, didn't resist. His face was unreadable, as if lost in some other world, contemplating the inevitable.

Krishna glanced at Balarama, his voice calm but distant. "You know, Dau... sometimes even the gods are bound by fate."

Balarama, still pulling Krishna. "Fate? Maybe... But who else can bend it if not you?"

Krishna smiled, his eyes still far away. "Some things, Dau... are beyond even my reach."

Balarama frowned, his grip tightening as he slowed his pace. "Beyond your reach? What are you talking about? Earlier, you said the same... that you couldn't stop it. Who will make sure that Arjun pays for his actions?"

Krishna's expression was unreadable as he answered. "Someone... who does not bend to anyone's will, not even mine. Someone... who does not show partiality, and decides what is just... and what is inevitable. What's done is done... Arjun's actions will find their way back to him."

Before Balarama could respond, Krishna looked at his brother, "See for yourself... Dau."

Krishna then spoke casually but loud enough for the Pandavas to hear. "By the way, Dau!!! Is Kunti Bua alright? I saw something happened to her..."

This caught the attention of the Pandavas and Kauravas, all of them stopping in their steps.

Balarama looked confused because he had not noticed Kunti, his whole attention was on Karna at that time.

Sushala immediately stepped forward, "Bhrata Yudhishthir... I came with my Sakhi's to inform you. Choti Ma Kunti... she fainted after seeing Bhrata Arjun use the Brahmastra. I came to tell you, but..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked down, feeling guilty for not relaying the news sooner.

Yudhishthir's expression softened, and he reassured her, "It's alright, Sushala. We all know what happened that time. No need to apologize."

He turned to his brothers when Sahadev spoke up. "Jyesth, Nakul and I can go with Bhrata Suyodhana and others."

Sahadev referred to Suyo as brother without hesitation, a subtle reminder that he had always considered the Kauravas as brothers too. Sahadev had never felt the same animosity toward the Kauravas, Bhima had, and he always felt uneasy whenever the Kauravas and Pandavas fought.

Bhima rolled his eyes hearing Sahadev address Suyo as brother. But, to everyone's surprise, he neither corrected nor said anything to the youngest Pandava. Instead, he looked at Suyo and, for a moment, he remembered when Suyo had asked if he was okay.

Bhima had always taunted Suyodhana before, throwing insults, but after seeing the Kauravas hug Suyo and witnessing Suyo's reaction to the truth about Karna... he felt a twinge of something unfamiliar.

Maybe, empathy.

And for the first time, Bhima held his tongue.

Guilt flickered in Arjun's eyes at the mention of Brahmastra. Unconsciously, he remembered Karna's unconscious form.

Krishna watching the exchange and nodded in agreement. "Sahadev is right. Bhrata Yudhishthir, Bhrata Bhima and Arjun should go to Kunti Bua. Nakul and Sahadev will go with Suyodhana."

The Pandavas agreed, and just as they were about to split up..

A voice broke the quiet air. "No one can escape the consequences of their own actions, nor can fate be avoided by mere diversion..."

Everyone turned to see a figure, leaning against the wall, looking down.

Neither the Pandavas nor the Kauravas recognized him. They exchanged confused glances, unsure of who this man was.

Krishna, however, wasn't surprised.

Krishna countered the man's statement. "Yet, even fate allows a man to learn, to choose his own path before he meets his destined consequence. The lesson need not be only in suffering, but in understanding."

The man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with an enigmatic certainty as he looked at Arjun. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable weight. "Then let us see... If this one will learn through wisdom... or through suffering."

Arjun felt an unsettling shiver at the man's words. The way the man looked at him was unnerving. He straightened his shoulders and took a step forward, his warrior's pride refusing to be shaken. He asked, "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

The man did not answer directly. Instead his lips curled into a smile. "Who I am...? That is of little importance. Names are but labels and I have many. You will find out about me soon... But as for what I am doing here...? I came to meet my little brother... but somehow, I seem to have lost my way in this grand palace. It's a mere coincidence that I happened to cross paths with you all at this moment..."

Krishna chuckled.

The man looked at Krishna and added, "Or... perhaps, this is not a coincidence at all?"

Yuyutsu asked, "Who is your brother you are talking about?"

Before the man could say something, a guard arrived, announcing, "Rajkumar Suyodhana, Rajkumar Yudhishthir, Mahamahim Bhishma has summoned all the Pandavas and Kauravas together."

Yudhishthir nodded. "Let us all go to Pitamah first, we will meet Mata Kunti later..."

The man stepped aside, letting them pass, his smile hinting that he knew this would happen.

As the Pandavas and Kauravas walked ahead, Krishna, Balarama, and the man started walking together a few steps behind.

Krishna looked at the man and asked casually but knowingly, "It is rare to see you interfere directly like this. Why now?"

The man only smiled. "We both sought to delay what must happen. The only difference is... you wished to delay Arjun's arrival before Bhagwan Parashurama, while I wished to delay his departure from here, so he does not escape his due consequences."

Krishna chuckled, "Then it seems we are not so different after all."

The man replied, "We both work in alignment with Dharma, but you provide the chance for understanding first, while I ensure the lesson is learned through experience."

Krishna's eyes glimmered with understanding. Then, with a soft chuckle, he said, "Indeed... Just as the wind does not ask whether it should blow, nor the stars if they should shine, I do not ask whether I should guide. Some paths must be shown before they are walked... just as some lessons must be lived to be understood."

The man's gaze was steady, unwavering, as he replied, "Just as the sun does not question why it must rise, nor the river why it must flow, I do not question why I must ensure balance. Just as some lessons must be lived to be understood... some burdens must be carried before they are lifted..."

Krishna smiled knowingly and added, "I offer the path before the storm, but the choice to walk it is theirs."

The man returned the smiled, his voice carrying an inevitable weight. "And when the path is ignored, I ensure they weather the storm they have chosen."

Balarama, who had been listening to their cryptic exchange, frowned. "Enough of this wordplay. You both speak as if you already know what is to come. If fate is already decided, then what is the purpose of all this?"

The man glanced at Balarama, his expression calm. "Fate may be written, but the journey to meet it is shaped by choices. Understanding is offered, but not always accepted. When words fail, only experience remains as the teacher."

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MEANWHILE, Sahadev looked around as they walked, his sharp eyes taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment, he turned to his twin and asked, "Nakul, did you come to this side of the palace before?"

Nakul also started looking around and shook his head. "No, Dev. I did not come to this side. This side of the palace is for them..." He gestured toward the Kauravas ahead.

"But again, I went to the kitchen because Bhrata Bhima dragged me there. I went to garden, again because Bhrata Bhima dragged me there as well. The only place I went willingly is my room and our common room..."

Bhima, hearing his name repeated. He reached out and grabbed Nakul's head from behind, shaking it playfully. "You are saying something about me, Nakul?" he asked, pretending to be stern.

"Bhrata Bhima, leave me!!!" Nakul protested, trying to wriggle free.

Still struggling, Nakul turned to Yudhishthir with pleading eyes, his best puppy-like expression in place.

Yudhishthir sighed melting instantly, he said in a calm voice, "Bhima?"

Bhima huffed but let go of Nakul.

Nakul, feeling victorious, stuck his tongue out at Bhima.

A sudden laugh echoed behind them.

The group turned to see the man chuckling. He looked at Yudhishthir and Nakul with an amused expression, pointed at them, and said, "They just reminded me of my brothers..."

No one said anything. There was something in the way he spoke that made them unsure how to respond.

Silence stretched for a moment before Sahadev looked ahead at Suyodhana and the Kauravas, then asked, "Bhrata Suyo... How long do we have to go?"

Suyodhana turned to glance at Sahadev but hesitated. He didn't have an answer himself. Looking forward, he saw Shon walking with Ekalavya, leading the way.

After a brief pause, Suyo looked around and said, "Umm... I'm not sure... We have to cross a hundred rooms, I guess..."

Sahadev was confused by the vague response. Before he could ask further, Sushasana, irritated by the questions and noticing his Jyesth Suyo's discomfort, snapped, "There is one more room at the end after our rooms... which we thought was an extra..."

Vikarna added, his voice thoughtful but hesitant, "Now we guess it was never an extra room but belongs to..." He stopped mid-sentence, unsure of how to address Karna.

At that moment, Yuyutsu, called out.

"Bhrata Shon!"

Shon, hearing the word 'Bhrata' immediately turned back and asked, "Yes?"

Unlike the Kauravas or the Pandavas, Yuyutsu was not bound by the same hesitations. He asked, "Umm... Bhrata Suyo's room is at the start, and if... you know... he who should not be named... if he is elder than Bhrata Suyo, then why is his room at the end and not the start?"

The moment the words left his mouth, every Kaurava turned to look at him in disbelief. The question was unexpected. Even if it made sense, none of them wanted to discuss it.

Yuyutsu noticed their stares but simply shrugged, saying, "I was just curious..."

Sushasana scoffed. "You do know curiosity killed the cat, right?" He then smirked, leaning slightly toward Yuyutsu and adding in a low, almost casual tone, "And sometimes, the cat doesn't even realize it's in trouble... until it's too late."

Yuyutsu pouted, feeling unfairly scolded.

Suyo smacked the back of Sushasana's head - not hard, but just enough to make him whince. In a firm voice, he said, "And if you so much as think of troubling him, Sushasana, then trust me... you will be the cat."

Sushasana blinked, then quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Jyesth!!! I was just joking! You know me!" he grumbled, but he couldn't help but grin.

Suyo just shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips.

Yuyutsu, seeing Suyodhana stand up for him, gave a smug look at Sushasana before sticking close to Suyo.

Shon chuckled at the exchange, then looking at Yuyutsu, he answered, "Bhrata Vasu..." He paused for a moment looking at Suyo and the Kauravas, before continuing, "As you know, we are in the east wing of the palace... The first rays of Suryadev always enter Bhrata Vasu's room first. That's why..."

Shon started walking again.

Yuyutsu blinked, not expecting that answer.

For a moment, there was silence.

Sahadev, thoughtful as ever, glanced toward the end of the hallway where Karna's room must be and questioned. "But why? It sounds like even the placement of his room reflects some kind of connection or something..."

The others looked at him, confused, so he added, "I mean... It was not just another room in the palace... It was the one place where Suryadev's light would touch first..."

Ekalavya not knowing that the Pandavas and Kauravas didn't know, without looking at them, still walking with Shon, casually said, "Of course, I see a connection... Bhrata Karna is Suryaputra, and there is not a single day he starts without taking the blessings of his father. It makes perfect sense that his room would be the first to receive Suryadev's light."

Ekalavya's words stopped the Pandavas, Kauravas, Sushala, and Yuyutsu in their tracks.

Behind them, Krishna, who had been walking a few steps behind with Balarama, and the man, smiled knowingly.

Before anyone could react further, or ask questions, Krishna spoke, "At this rate, you all will reach the room by the next yuga. Move along."

Without another word, they continued walking forward...

As the Pandavas and Kauravas stood in front of Karna's room, a heavy silence settled over them.

Suyo hesitated. This was it.

He stared at the closed doors, his throat suddenly dry. His fingers twitched at his sides, and before he realized it, he had taken a step back.

Before he could retreat any further, a firm shove from behind sent him stumbling forward.

It was Bhima.

The push was casual, almost impatient, one which meant, just get in already.

But in this moment, it became the very push Suyo needed.

A soft chuckle escaped Krishna's lips.

The man, who had been watching silently, suddenly turned to Krishna and whispered, "I believe you would rather not witness your dear Parth facing the weight of his actions today. Come, walk with me."

Krishna met the man's gaze, understanding the truth in his words.

Without a word, he nodded and stepped away with the man, allowing fate to unfold behind the closed doors.

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To be continued...

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How was the chapter?

Who do you think the man was?

Who were the "sisters" Vritrasura was talking about and want to attack?

I wanted to explore Suyo's thoughts and emotions first because I felt that just because he found out about Karna, he wouldn't immediately accept it. His emotions needed to be acknowledged and processed, and I wanted to show that journey.

Also... let's just say my writer instincts told me to write the chapter this way!! While writing, I kept thinking if everyone would like this chapter or not. Maybe I wrote too much? 🤯 Maybe I dragged it out a little? 😅 There were so many thoughts running through my mind, but in the end, this felt like the right way to tell the story... so here it is!!!

Should I should show Karna's thoughts in the same way as I did with Suyo in the next chapter... Do let me know your thoughts and feedback about this chapter. It would really help me improve my writing and also writing the next chapter...

Don't forget to vote if you haven't for the chapters written so far!!!