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The moment Karna was placed on his bed, a heavy silence filled the air.

Outside, the sun had already set, and the sky was painted in deep shades of indigo, with only a few scattered stars piercing through the darkness. The dim glow of oil lamps flickered across the chamber casting long shadows on the walls.

Worry clung to the air like a thick mist as they took in Karna's still form. His breathing was steady, but both his palms were smeared with blood.

Rishi Bharadwaja stepped forward, his brows drawn together in concern. His keen eyes studied Karna's motionless body before he spoke. "Brahmastra did not harm him... Then what happened to Karna?"

Parashurama and Ashwatthama spoke at the same time.

"There's nothing to worry about-" "Mitra Karna is just unconscious-"

Both stopped mid-sentence, their words overlapping. A brief silence stretched between them before Parashurama turned his gaze to Ashwatthama. His eyes held a quiet question. "You know?"

Ashwa, understanding the unspoken question, just nodded.

Parashurama studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod in return. He looked around and reassured everyone, "There is no reason to worry. Karna is only unconscious. He will wake up on his own."

Despite Parashurama's words, the tension in the room barely eased. The sight of Karna... so still, so vulnerable... was a stark contrast to the warrior they all saw today.

Ashwa gently took Karna's injured hand in his own. His fingers brushed against something dry... blood. It was only then he noticed the injury on Karna's hand. "His hands..."

Bhishma immediately summoned a guard. "Bring Nakul and Sahadev. At once."

As the guard left, Shakuni finally spoke. His tone was casual, yet the weight of his words was anything but. "Now that Aditya has returned, I believe his brothers should know the truth."

He paused for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against his arm. His gaze wasn't on anyone in particular, but it was clear whom he meant.

The Kauravas. Suyodhana.

Vidur immediately countered. "Let Aditya wake up first. He deserves to hear it along with them."

Pandu shook his head. "No, Vidur. I agree with Gandhar Raj. It's better if they know first."

With Pandu's final word, the matter was settled. And another guard was sent to bring all the Pandavas and Kauravas together.

As they waited, Shakuni's gaze drifted to Karna's face... still hidden beneath the cloth. A thoughtful glint appeared in his eyes.

"We should at least see his face." he murmured, reaching out to remove the fabric covering Karna.

Before he could touch it, a firm grip caught his wrist.

Shakuni blinked in surprise and turned his head.

Ashwatthama.

His grip was strong... not forceful, but firm. His eyes, steady and unwavering, met Shakuni's.

"Mitra Karna must have a reason to cover his face. Don't remove the cloth." Ashwa said quietly. He didn't need to explain himself, nor did he hesitate. He just knew.

Shakuni studied him for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. Withdrawing his hand, he mused, "Of course... there must be a reason."

But Parashurama's gaze remained on Ashwa, observing him closely.

Earlier, Ashwa had known about the visions... something no one else did. And now, without hesitation, he stopped Shakuni, understanding Karna's wish without needing an explanation, without words.

Parashurama saw it clearly now... this was no ordinary friendship. It was something deeper. An unspoken understanding... A bond beyond words.

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AND THAT WAS HOW THEY ALL ENDED UP STANDING OUTSIDE KARNA'S ROOM...

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.

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

INSIDE KARNA'S ROOM...

As soon as the Pandavas and Kauravas entered, before anyone could say a word, Bhagwan Parashurama's gaze fell on Arjun.

He had seen everything... the reckless summoning of the Brahmastra, the lack of control, the arrogance.

NOW, THERE WAS A PRICE TO PAY.

Parashurama took a step forward, his voice like thunder.

"ARJUN!!"

Arjun froze mid-step. Dread crawled up his spine. He could feel it even before it happened... the inevitable.

Hearing Parashurama's voice, Bhishma tensed. He looked from Arjun to Parashurama. He had seen this wrath before. His instincts screamed that something terrible was about to happen.

Stepping forward, he said cautiously, "Gurudev, Arjun is young. He-"

But Parashurama did not let him finish. His gaze stayed locked on Arjun.

"I, JAMADAGNI PUTRA, CURSE YOU...!"

Arjun's eyes widened. The next words hit him like a physical blow.

"When you stand on the battlefield, when victory is within reach, your hands will falter, your mind will go blank, and you will forget the knowledge and ability to wield any divine astra when you need it most! Your arrogance will lead you to a moment of helplessness, where your skills will fail you!"

Silence.

A heavy, crushing silence.

The elders stood still, their thoughts running too fast for words.

Bhishma exhaled slowly. He understood that fate had spoken. A warrior had misused his power, and a warrior had been punished.

Vidur saw this as Arjun facing the consequences of his own actions.

Kripacharya's gaze flickered between Parashurama and Arjun. He knew there was no escape from this. Even the greatest could fall when arrogance clouded their wisdom.

The Pandavas were frozen. They felt their blood run cold. Their beloved Arjun... cursed by Bhagwan Parashurama?

Yudhishthir felt unease settle in his heart. A curse from Bhagwan Parashurama... this was not an ordinary punishment. He believed in dharma, in justice. If Arjun had done wrong, then this was justice. But he was also a brother... and he did not want to see his sibling suffer.

Bhima couldn't even process it. Arjun... cursed? It made no sense. His first instinct was shock.

But then... anger. Then blame. His mind latched onto something, someone...

He looked at... Karna.

His brother was cursed because of that man. If Karna had not interfered, if he had not stood in that arena, if he had not hidden his identity, none of this would have happened. Arjun would not have acted out of anger!

Bhima's hand clenched into fists. He knew, deep down, that this was not Karna's doing. Arjun had called upon the Brahmastra. Arjun had lost control.

So why did he feels the urge to blame Karna? Because it was easier. It was easier to hate Karna than to accept that his own brother had made a mistake.

Nakul and Sahadev looked at each other, confused. They had entered this room thinking this was about Karna. And now, suddenly, Arjun...? Fate had twisted in a way they did not understand. Sahadev, the more perceptive of the two, felt this was not just a punishment. It was a lesson.

The Kauravas, Sushala, and Yuyutsu remained silent. Though their was rivalry between them and the Pandavas, though they never considered the Pandavas as their brothers, none of them had wished for something like this to happen. A curse was a terrible thing.

For a moment, their rivalry did not matter. They could not celebrate this. None of them wished to see their kin suffer a fate like this.

Shon and Ekalavya looked at Arjun, knowing what he was feeling now. They had both experienced injustice before, and while this wasn't the same, they knew the weight of it. And now, they felt no joy. Only understanding.

Shon also remembered his own curse from Bhudevi. He knew what it was like to be at the receiving end of fate's cruel hand. He then glanced at Karna, who was still unconscious. He knew that if his Bhrata Vasu was awake right now, he would never rejoice in this moment.

Dhritarashtra was silent, but his mind was restless. He should feel sympathy, but all he could think was the danger his son, his Aditya was in. If it had not been Aditya standing in front of Brahmastra, they would have died. All because of Arjun's recklessness. A part of him thought perhaps this is justice. But another part reminded him that fate is unpredictable.

Gandhari held Aditya's hand. Her son could have died, but he was safe. One moment Arjun stood proud, the next he was cursed. FATE HAD CHANGED IN AN INSTANT. She silently prayed in her heart that none of her children should ever face such a punishment.

Shakuni, standing at a distance, smirked. This was a moment to remember.

Pandu felt the ground disappear beneath him. His son... cursed? He knew what it meant to bear a curse, because of a single mistake. His own life had been shattered by one.

But, in this moment he also knew that Arjun's actions was not just recklessness, it was arrogance. His heart clenched as he thought, "I left my sons when they were just children. I spent years in penance, only to return when they had already become men. I was never there to guide them, to teach them the weight of their actions." He looked at Arjun, searching for something in his son's eyes. But Arjun only looked lost, and Pandu's heart ached. "DID I FAIL AS A FATHER?"

Ashwa's eyes widened. The curse... He remembered it from the vision Mahadev had shown him. It was meant for Karna. But now, it was Arjun who had been cursed?

Ashwa knew Karna would blame himself. And that thought filled him with dread. His gaze darted toward Karna's unconscious form. "Mitra, when you wake up... when you learn the truth about your visions, about Arjun's curse... about everything. What will you do? How will you bear it?"

AND THEN, FINALLY... ARJUN.

Arjun's breath hitched, his mind struggling to grasp the weight of Bhagwan Parashurama's words. His hands trembled as he took a step back, his heartbeat hammering in his ears.

"No..." The word escaped his lips, barely above a whisper.

His eyes darted to his Pitamah Bhishma, searching for something... for denial, reassurance, anything. But Bhishma's face remained unreadable, his silence heavier than words.

Then his eyes shifted to Pandu. His father stood still, his expression filled with something unspoken. Not anger, not disappointment, but something Arjun couldn't bear to name.

Next, His eyes fell on his brothers... Yudhishthir, Bhima, Nakul and Sahadev. He looked at them, hoping, praying that someone would tell him this wasn't real. That this wasn't happening. But all he saw were grim faces, unshaken by protest.

His throat felt tight. He turned desperately to his Guru, Dronacharya.

"Gurudev, I- I did not mean-" His voice cracked.

DRONACHARYA'S FACE WAS UNREADABLE. THERE WAS NO ANGER, NO IMMEDIATE WORDS OF COMFORT. JUST SILENCE. LOST IN THOUGHT.

Arjun felt the world closing in. His knees buckled beneath him, and before he realized it, he fell to the ground, kneeling before Bhagwan Parashurama.

He bent forward, pressing his forehead to the floor, his breath uneven.

"Bhagwan Parashurama... please... forgive me..." his voice wavered, raw with desperation.

"I-I did not summon the Brahmastra to cause harm! I only wanted to-"

"You only wanted to prove yourself..." Parashurama interrupted, his voice filled with undeniable fury. "You called upon the Brahmastra not for dharma, but for ego. You sought victory, not justice!"

Arjun flinched. "No, Bhagwan, that's not-I did-not mean-" His words faltered.

Parshurama's gaze bore into him. "Then tell me, Panduputra, why did you call upon the Brahmastra against a warrior after the fight was over!"

Arjun's mouth opened... but no words came.

Parashurama stepped forward, his presence overpowering. "You, who pride yourself on your skill, your discipline, your righteousness, where was your wisdom when you acted out of arrogance?"

The truth in Parshurama's words was a weight Arjun could not longer ignore. His anger, his pride, his need to prove himself... that was what had driven him. Not righteousness.

Arjun clenched his fists. He wanted to argue, to defend himself, but the truth weighed too heavily on his tongue.

Parashurama did not need an answer. Silence was enough.

"You have received what you deserved." Parashurama declared.

"This curse is not just a punishment, Arjun. It is a lesson and you will learn it's meaning when the time comes."

Arjun's breath hitched. He wanted to plead, to promise he would never let his arrogance control him again, but deep down, he knew... Parashurama's judgment was final. He swallowed hard, shame and disbelief warring within him. His arrogance had led him here... his anger had pushed him too far...

And now... He turned his gaze to Karna, still unconscious, the very person he had tried to strike down. The realization hit him like a physical blow... Karna had survived, untouched by the Brahmastra, while he himself had been cursed.

For the first time, fear settled deep in Arjun's heart.

The silence thickened.

No one could argue. No one could undo what had been done.

BUT THEN...

DRONACHARYA stepped forward,

"Gurudev, how can you curse my student?" he demanded, his voice full of disbelief. His gaze flickered to Karna, before turning back to Parashurama. "You said that nothing has happened to him! Then why did you curse my -"

Parashurama raised his hand. That silent command was enough to make Drona throat close, silencing him instantly.

"I do not need to explain my actions." Parashurama said, his voice was calm but carried the weight of unquestionable authority. "But I will, so no one falsely believes that I cursed Arjun because of Vrisha."

A cold unease crept into Drona's chest.

Parashurama's gaze locked onto Drona. "I cursed Arjun because he used the Brahmastra recklessly! A divine astra is not an ordinary arrow to be fired in anger! Had it struck anyone else, this very land beneath us would have turned to ashes! It was Vrisha, so nothing happened. But if it had been someone else in his place, what then?"

The words felt like a slap.

But... No. Drona would not accept this. He clenched his fists, trying to hold onto the last shreds of control. His Gururdev is twisting the truth! Arjun had done nothing wrong... he had only defended himself.

Drona wanted to refute Parashurama's words. He wanted to say that it wasn't Arjun's fault, that Arjun had been provoked, that Karna had no right to interfere.

Before he could form a coherent response, the frustration inside him erupted. "Then tell me, Gurudev, why did Vrisha provoke Arjun?" The words came out sharper than he intended. "It was his fault for jumping into the arena! His fault for hiding his identity! If he had just told everyone who he was, none of this would have happened."

It was true, wasn't it? Yes, that was it. Karna had come here uninvited. If he had not stepped forward to challenge Arjun, there would have been no confrontation, he had pushed Arjun into fighting. If he had been honest about his lineage from the start, none of this would have happened. He had forced this entire situation into chaos. Yet no one was reprimanding him. Instead, they all turned against Arjun... as if he were at fault!

Drona's gaze flickered toward Karna and hardened. His voice grew harsher. "Gurudev, have you not seen how Vrisha spoke to me? From the start, I have been watching, how you and Pitashree (Rishi Bharadwaja) have supported him, even when he was disrespecting me!"

From the moment Karna had stepped into the arena, Drona had felt it... the undercurrent of challenge, of defiance, of silent mockery. Karna had been insulting him since the very beginning, and he despised it.

His thoughts were abruptly shattered by a voice.

A deep, commanding voice.

"DRONA!!"

It was Rishi Bharadwaja.

Drona flinched. His father rarely raised his voice. His heart pounded as Rishi Bharadwaja's gaze bore into him. He thought, "Why? Why does it feel like my own father stood against me?" There was something in Rishi Bharadwaja's gaze... something Drona couldn't name.

Rishi Bharadwaja's words struck like a whip as he scolded his son. His disappointment was evident.

"DO NOT BLAME VRISHA FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!!

None of this would have happened if you had not declared Arjun the greatest archer! You were the one who claimed that no one could surpass him, and Vrisha only accepted your challenge.

How can you forget that anyone who dedicates themselves to practice can become a skilled archer? IT WAS YOUR PRIDE AND YOUR STUDENT'S ARROGANCE THAT LED TO THIS MOMENT, NOT VRISHA!"

Drona's breath hitched. No. That wasn't true. That couldn't be true.

His hands clenched at his sides as his father's words echoed in his mind, crashing against everything he believed, everything he had built over years, through struggle, through sacrifice.

Was it pride that led to this? "NO!"

He told himself that this was not his fault. It couldn't be.

He had only done what any teacher would. Hadn't he done everything for Arjun? Trained him, molded him, shaped him into the finest warrior? Hadn't he fulfilled his duty as a teacher?

A TEACHER SHOULD UPLIFT HIS STUDENT ABOVE ALL OTHERS. THAT WAS HIS DUTY!

Then why... why was he being questioned? Why was his own father standing against him?

And why was it that, for the first time, his father's disappointment cut deeper than any insult Karna had thrown at him?

Drona forced himself to breathe, to push aside the uneasy stirrings of doubt that threatened to take root. He refused to believe it. He wouldn't believe it.

His pride flared again, stronger now, an instinctive shield against the doubt creeping in. He straightened, his voice defensive. "Pitashree, is it wrong for a teacher to uplift his student? To want his student to be the best? To protect him from being overshadowed?"

Rishi Bharadwaja's expression softened for a second but it was gone in an instant. "Drona... as your father, I failed to instill the right values in you. But as a teacher, you failed even greater. A TEACHER UPLIFTS ALL WHO SEEKS KNOWLEDGE DRONA... NOT JUST ONE!!!"

The words struck deep, but Drona couldn't... and... wouldn't... let them settle.

His voice wavered slightly, but he forced steel into it. "I had my reasons-"

"And what were they?!" Rishi Bharadwaja asked mercilessly. "You said a teacher's duty is to uplift his student, then why did you deny knowledge to those who were equally deserving? Tell me, why did you reject Shon? Why did you refuse to teach Ekalavya? You denied them knowledge because of their birth, yet you call yourself a guru?"

Drona had expected defense from his father. Not... this. "I only did what I thought was right!!"

His father's next words shattered something inside him.

"AND WHAT WAS RIGHT? DRONA! You maimed Ekalavya because you wanted Arjun to be the best! Tell me, did you even consider Ekalavya as your student before demanding his thumb as Guru-dakshina?"

Drona's heart pounded. He forced himself to hold his father's gaze. "I had done what was necessary. I had to..." He told himself that. Repeated it like a mantra.

If he had let Ekalavya keep his skill, then what? Arjun would have lost his title. Everything he had built would have crumbled.

But was that justification enough?

A part of him screamed that he had done what was right. That he had done what was necessary. Another part of him wanted to deny, to lash out, to claim that his father was wrong. But the words refused to leave his lips.

Then, Parashurama spoke. "And now, Dronacharya... now you defend Arjun blindly, refusing to see the truth even when it stands before you."

Dronacharya looked at his Gurudev, then back at his father. He had trained Arjun himself, sculpted him into the greatest archer the world had seen. He knew Arjun's skills better than anyone.

His voice turned defensive as he spoke to Parashurama. "Gurudev! What wrong have I done? I have taught my student everything I know! I arranged this kala pradarshan to show the world what my student is capable of!! Am I wrong to declare my best student as the greatest archer? The fault lies with Vrisha, not Arjun or me-"

"DRONACHARYA!!! NOT ANOTHER WORD AGAINST MY STUDENT!!!"

The sheer force of Parashurama's voice made Drona's entire body stiffen. An old instinct from his years of training under his Gurudev made him lower his gaze... just for a second.

Parashurama took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. His eyes burned into Drona's.

"Tell me, what wrong did Vrisha do? I was the one who told him to watch the kala pradarshan! I wanted to see if your student could match my student's level or not. DO YOU DARE TO QUESTION MY DECISION?"

Drona swallowed. No, he didn't dare.

Parashurama took another step toward Dronacharya.

"HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHO I AM? Even I have taught Vrisha everything I know! Even I have vowed to make him the greatest archer after my own guru! Even I have held a kala pradarshan for my student!"

Silence.

"Tell me, Dronacharya, who witnessed your student's skills? Mere kings and princes?" Then came the words that shattered Drona's pride. "In my kala pradarshan, every Devata, every Devi, and the Trimurti themselves were present to witness my student's valor! Do you understand what that means? His skill, his strength, and his dharma were judged not by mortals, but by the gods themselves!"

Drona's mind raced. "The Trimurti...?

Gasps echoed across the hall.

Parashurama did not stop. He took another step forward. "And do you know who has tested my Vrisha?"

A deadly silence filled the room.

Everyone held their breath, sensing that something profound was about to be revealed.

Drona could hear his own heartbeat.

Then, the final blow.

"MY GURUDEV - MAHADEV HIMSELF HAS TESTED VRISHA."

Drona's breath stopped. Of course, he didn't die...

The full meaning of Parashurama's words struck like a tidal wave.

The reaction was instant.

Gasps. Shock. Disbelief. Awe... all reflected in the eyes of those present.

The younger generation... the Kauravas, Pandavas, Yuyutsu, and Sushala... were frozen, still struggling to process this revelation. They looked at Karna, and only one thought ran through their minds.

"He fought with Mahadev?!"

The elders, though they had been troubled by the earlier curse, felt something shift within them. Their Aditya had been tested by the Lord of Kailash himself. Their hearts swelled with pride at the realization.

For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke.

Suyo's lips unknowingly curled into a smile, pride swelling in his heart. "My Jyesth... the greatest archer after Mahadev himself?" The thought came naturally, so effortlessly, that he didn't even question it.

But then...

A frown creased his forehead. "Wait... My... Jyesth? Hey Narayana! Why do I keep calling him that? Why do I feel this unknown connection to him? Not just as a brother... but something deeper..."

Arjun's throat went dry. A strange feeling, an unfamiliar emotion, stirred in his chest... something he never expected.

Happiness and relief.

For a brief moment, a part of him was glad that Karna was the greatest archer.

Why? He didn't know...

But then... the curse. The curse of Bhagwan Parashurama.

Reality hit him like a storm. Doubt crept in. His thoughts whirled, trying to grasp onto any logic that could deny this truth. He suddenly remembered his Gurudev's declaration,

"No... this can't be! Gururdev said I'm..." But he couldn't... no, more precisely... he didn't want to finish the thought.

Then, his emotions surged in a violent storm, drowning out that unknown feeling. It sank, buried beneath the weight of his turmoil, changing into something else.

Conflict.

For a fleeting moment, a thought whispered in his mind. "If even Mahadev acknowledged him... then was I ever truly the greatest?"

Parashurama's gaze swept over everyone before resting back on Dronacharya. And then, his next declaration. An undeniable truth.

"AND MAHADEV HIMSELF SAID... VRISHA IS THE GREATEST ARCHER AFTER HIM."

Parashurama's voice dropped slightly, but his intensity did not waver.

"I, too, have stood before Mahadev's judgment. I know what it means to earn his acknowledgment. And I tell you, Dronacharya... Vrisha has earned it!"

A tremor passed through Drona. His mind struggled to process it, to fight against the reality being laid before him.

Parashurama's gaze did not waver. "And do you know how Mahadev tests a warrior?"

Drona could not answer.

Parashurama's words rang like a divine decree. "Not just by skill, but by endurance, by dharma, by the purity of their intent. Vrisha did not just impress Mahadev... he earned his acknowledgment. Not just because of his skill, but because he wields his weapons with a pure heart!"

Parashurama's voice dropped, slow and deliberate, each word carrying an impact that sent chills through every soul in the room.

"Neither I nor my student has ever boasted about it. If Vrisha wanted, he could also claim he is the greatest archer, but he never did, not even once! What you saw today? That wasn't even an ounce of his skill! SO DO NOT DARE TO BLAME MY STUDENT FOR YOUR STUDENT'S ACTIONS!"

Drona flinched.

Not even an ounce?

The words sent a chill down his spine. If Parashurama himself was saying this... then how vast was Karna's true strength? Had he really underestimated Karna this much?

He shook his head, pushing away the uncertainty creeping in. No. This was just an exaggeration. He grasped onto the last remnants of his resistance, his desperation clawing for something to hold onto. "Mahadev may have tested him, Gurudev... but that does not mean-"

"ENOUGH!" Parashurama's fury erupted.

Drona flinched, he took a step back unknowingly.

Parashurama's words left no room for argument. "Do you hear yourself, Dronacharya? You dare to question the verdict of Mahadev!! Do you think your judgment surpasses that of the lord of Kailash Himself?"

Dronacharya remained silent. But he felt something inside him crack. His pride, his beliefs, his declarations. What were they before Mahadev's words?

But Bhagwan Parashurama was not done yet.

"Tell me, Dronacharya, can Arjun defeat even one of my students present in this room... in a fair fight?"

Parashurama pointed first to Ekalavya, then to Bhishma, Karna and finally at Dronacharya himself.

"Tell me, do you have trust in your student Arjun? Can he defeat his guru, which is you?"

Parashurama's voice remained unwavering. each word striking with the weight of undeniable truth. He did not need a battle to break Dronacharya, his words alone shattered the illusion Drona had clung to for so long. "But let me tell you this, I have complete trust in Vrisha, that he can defeat all my students in a fair fight."

Dronacharya lowered his gaze.

Not because he didn't have trust in Arjun.

Not because he lacked faith in Arjun.

But because Parashurama was not one to make empty claims. If his Gurudev had spoken such words, then the reality was undeniable.

Drona looked at Parashurama, opened his mouth, but no words came.

He swallowed hard as he questioned himself. "Could Arjun defeat me?" He had never even considered that question before. His pride wanted to say yes, but the reality settled over him like an unbearable weight.

He knew the truth. Arjuna was skilled, but in a fair fight... Could he defeat me? No. Could he match Bhishma? No. Could he defeat Ekalavya, the archer who had mastered archery without a thumb? No. Could he stand against Karna, whom even Parashurama trusted beyond doubt? No.

For the first time in years, doubt gnawed at his conscience.

For the first time, he saw his own mistakes clearly.

Arjun... had always been the centerpiece of his life. He had always believed that Arjun was the greatest... but now... His gaze flickered to Arjun, then unconsciously to Ashwa. The bitter truth settled over him. He had even ignored his own son... Ashwatthama.

He clenched his fists. Had he been blind all this time? Had he let his own favoritism cloud his judgment? Had his belief in Arjun had overlooked the capabilities of others?

The cracks in his ego widened, and for the first time, he saw his own mistakes clearly.

Parashurama took a step back, his piercing gaze sweeping across the room.

"You trained Arjun well, Dronacharya. His talent is unquestionable. But your pride in him blinded you to the greatness of others. True greatness is forged in the fires of adversity, in the trials of dharma, in the purity of one's will..."

His voice deepened, carrying the weight of something far greater than mere praise as he continued.

"And this time... fate has chosen differently. This time... another stands at the peak. And that is... SURYAPUTRA KARNA! This is just the beginning. Aryavarta has yet to see what Karna is capable of. You do not understand the full extent of Karna's fate. He is tied to the turning of time itself. His path will be one of fire, but in that fire, he will forge himself into the greatest warrior. And when the time comes... he will stand at the pinnacle of all warriors, unshaken, unmatched, watched in silent awe even by the gods."

In that moment, it felt as though destiny itself had woven a prophecy through Bhagwan Parashurama.

A heavy silence followed, the weight of his words settling over the chamber.

Finally, Rishi Bharadwaja broke the quiet. His voice was softer now, but no less firm. "Drona... A teacher's duty is not to declare someone as greatest, but to ensure that every student receives the chance to reach their full potential. You did not fail because you uplifted Arjun. You failed because you denied others their chance."

Drona could not argue. Because he knew, at last, that his father and his Gurudev were right. He understood the depth of his mistake.

He bowed his head, he swallowed hard, his pride warring with the truth he could no longer deny. "Forgive me, Gurudev. I shouldn't have questioned you... Forgive me, Pitashree. I... understand. I see it now... the pride I have clung to has clouded my judgment and actions."

For a long moment, Parashurama said nothing. His piercing gaze pinned Drona in place, assessing him, measuring the weight of his apology.

Then, with a slow exhale, he gave a sharp nod, an acknowledgment, but not full acceptance as he gave his final warning.

"Realizing a mistake is the first step, but redemption is not given, it is earned. You were once my student, Drona. Show me that you have not forgotten what it truly means to be one. Let your actions prove the weight of your words..."

Drona had taken the first step toward realizing the truth, but he still had a long way to go.

The words spoken had yet to settle, silence loomed heavy in the room, broken only by the measured breaths of those present.

Bhishma was the first to speak. His voice, always steady, now carried something rare, an emotion few had ever heard from him. Awe.

"Gurudev... you said Mahadev tested Karna? That Mahadev himself declared Karna the greatest archer?"

Parashurama's gaze remained firm, unwavering. "Yes. Karna fought one-on-one with Mahadev. With all weapons. Your mother, Devi Ganga, was also present to witness Karna's valor."

The weight of those words settled over them like rolling thunderclouds.

Bhishma's lips parted, but no words came. He remembered now, his mother had mentioned of meeting Karna, yet never had he imagined this. His lips curled into a subtle yet unmistakable smile. The pride that settled in his heart was unlike anything he had felt before.

Before he could ask further, another voice cut through.

"Bhagwan Parashurama... was Aditya with you all these years?"

It was Pandu.

Parashurama turned toward him. "No. After I taught him everything I knew, he left to learn under someone else."

That answer sent a stir through the room. The hush was different this time. Anticipation. Yearning.

"Who else did Aditya learn from?" "Who is his Guru other than you?"

The voices overlapped, Shakuni and Dhritarashtra, both speaking at once. But this was no mere curiosity. This was family wanting to know everything about their beloved son and nephew.

Parashurama turned toward them, his gaze settled first on Shakuni, then on Dhritharastra.

For a moment, it seemed he would answer.

But then, his voice carried a quiet finality. "I am sure Karna would love to answer all your questions when he wakes up."

And then, Parashurama turned toward Dhritarashtra and Gandhari.

For the first time, something changed in him. His features, often carved from stone, softened. Those who had only known him as a fearsome warrior-sage were startled.

"Putra Dhritarashtra, Putri Gandhari... you both are lucky to have Karna as your son."

A blind king. A blindfolded queen.

They could not see the reaction of those around them, but they could feel the weight of those words.

Dhritarashtra placed a gentle hand over Gandhari's. His fingers tightening ever so slightly, the unspoken emotions rushing through him. A silent... Gratitude. A quiet... Pride.

And Gandhari's smile. One that needed no vision to be understood.

Parashurama's voice, for the first time, held a warmth none had ever heard before. "Putri Gandhari, there is not a single day that Karna does not speak of you. He loves you very much."

Gandhari's smile widened. A gentle knowing smile. A mother's smile.

"Bhagwan Parashurama... even though I cannot see you, I can feel the bond you share with my son. Aditya is lucky to have you as his Guru. Thank you for taking care of him all these years."

A chuckle.

And then-

Parashurama laughed.

A deep, full, hearty laugh.

A laugh no one had ever expected to hear.

Bhishma and Drona turned toward each other. Their eyes locked. Wide. Questioning.

Was this real? Was this really the same Bhagwan Parashurama... they had known? Their strict, unyielding, fearsome Guru... laughing?

Parashurama shook his head, and sighed. "Putri Gandhari, your son has made my life hell. From the moment he stepped into my ashram, I have known no peace." And then, his voice softened. "And yet... I would not trade those days for anything."

No one dared to speak.

Not Bhishma, Not Drona, who had never seen their Gurudev like this. Their lips parted, but for once, they had no words.

Parashurama turned his gaze back to Karna, his disciple... his son in all but blood. He moved closer, sitting beside the unconscious warrior. His voice, softer now, carried the weight of mountains.

"Vrisha..."

The name was spoken with such deep affection that the entire room felt it.

"You are not just my student. If I had a son, I would want him to be like you... undaunted and unwavering."

His fingers brushed Karna's forehead, a gesture of both blessing and unspoken emotion. "Your path is not an easy one, but I have no doubt, you will carve your name into the very heart of destiny. No matter how time turns, no matter what stands in your way, you will rise, as the Sun must rise."

A pause.

And then, barely above a whisper, yet carrying the weight of eternity.

"And I... I will always be proud that I had the honor of teaching you."

A moment of silence followed. But in that silence, they all saw it.

BHAGWAN PARASHURAMA HAD NOT JUST TRAINED KARNA. HE HAD LOVED HIM LIKE A SON. AND THAT LOVE... WOULD LAST FOREVER.

Parashurama's gaze flickered to Karna's injured hand.

Bhishma saw it. Understood it.

Stepping forward, he addressed Parashurama. "Gurudev... let Nakul and Sahadev check Aditya's hand."

The twins, still in shock from everything that had just happened, hesitated. Just as they took their first steps...

A divine glow filled the chamber.

The very air shimmered with celestial energy, a golden light so brilliant that it momentarily blinded all who beheld it.

As the glow settled, their forms became clear.

SURYADEV... YAMA... THE ASHWINI TWINS...

Everyone instinctively joined their hands in namaskar, while Rishi Bharadwaja and Parashurama bowed their heads acknowledging the celestial presence.

Before anyone could could speak, Suryadev stepped forward, his gaze resting upon Karna.

Then, Suryadev looked at Nakul and Sahadev. His expression softened. "My sons..." He gestured toward the twins, "The Ashwini Kumaras will heal their younger brother."

At his words, the Ashwini Twins eagerly stepped forward.

Nakul and Sahadev instinctively exchanged glances before stepping back.

Suryadev's eyes then shifted toward Gandhari. His voice was gentle, yet carried an unspoken weight. "Putri Gandhari... do you remember the day you first held Karna in your arms?"

Gandhari nodded. How could she not? That day had changed everything. Her fingers tightened on Karna slightly, as if recalling the warmth of the infant she had once held.

Suryadev smiled as he continued, "Do you remember my words to you?"

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Gandhari's face.

She did remember.

[Suryadev's gaze, filled with a divine understanding, locked onto Gandhari. His words flowed from him with a sense of destiny and love, "Gandhari, one day, my son Karna will remove the blindfold from your eyes, filling your life with light again."

Suryadev's voice held an air of certainty as he responded, "Gandhari, these words came to my mouth when I witnessed you embracing my son. I do not know how, why, or when my son will remove your blindfold, and I do not know the circumstances, whether forced or willingly. But since these words have been spoken, it is destined to happen. My son will bring light into your life, removing the darkness you have chosen to share."]

Suryadev continued. "WHOEVER YOUR FIRST GAZE FALLS UPON, THEIR UPPER BODY WILL BECOME AS STRONG AS VAJRA."

A murmur passed through the chamber.

But Suryadev wasn't finished. His eyes remained on Gandhari, "Putri, your devotion once altered your destiny, it will continue to do so."

As Suryadev spoke, a completely separate conversation had already begun, one that no mortal could hear.

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

Conversation in mind... start.

The Ashwini twins were already restless. Their expressions remained neutral, but their eyes flickered with mischief.

"Jyesth, tell them to leave already!" Nasatya's voice echoed in Yama's mind, laced with impatience.

Dasra's mental tone was even more exasperated. "We finally got here, and we're just standing around!"

Yama, standing motionless beside them, inhaled slowly. "Patience. Let Pitashree finish speaking."

Dasra's fingers stilled. "We haven't seen Karna in so long, and..."

Nasatya's glanced at his twin before finishing smugly. "...we're not going to waste this visit just standing here!"

Yama's fingers twitched behind his back, the only indication of his growing frustration. "You two are here to heal him, not-"

"Oh, come on, Jyesth!" Dasra rolled his shoulders, his head tilting slightly as if stretching, though the movement was entirely for show. "Do you even know how much effort we put into this? We had to convince Mata Saranyu and Mata Chhaya that Karna was seriously hurt just so they'd ask Pitashree to send us here!"

Nasatya's mental voice carried a dramatic flair. "And they didn't just ask. They ordered. Pitashree had no choice but to listen."

Yama's gaze remained impassive, but his mind was already bracing for whatever nonsense they were about to pull.

Dasra's lips barely twitched upward. "And Jyesth... you tagged along because Pitashree didn't trust us not to cause divine-level chaos."

Yama exhaled slowly through his mouth. "I am here to make sure you two troublemakers don't forget why you were sent in the first place."

Dasra's fingers resumed their tapping. "Which, to be fair, is completely useless..."

Nasatya grinned, leaning ever so slightly toward Yama. "...because you always agree with whatever we ask..."

Dasra hummed. "So just make them leave, Jyesth! ORDER THEM OUT!"

Yama ignored them and remained still, his posture perfectly composed.

But the twins did not stop.

Dasra's smile widened. "Jyesth, you're our big brother, right?"

Yama's eyes narrowed slightly. "Obviously."

Nasatya's voice almost sing-song in Yama's mind. "And Karna is your youngest brother."

Yama exhaled, already sensing where this was going. "Yes..."

Nasatya tilted his head. "Then shouldn't you be the most concerned about his well-being?"

Dasra's gaze was unrelenting. "He's hurt, Jyesth."

Nasatya's expression softened, almost too sincere. "And we are his healers."

Dasra's expression was pure persuasion. "So if we can't do our job because of all these people lingering around..."

Nasatya sighed dramatically. "Then wouldn't that make you responsible for delaying Karna's recovery?"

Dasra winced playfully. "That would be terrible, wouldn't it? Imagine, Lord of Dharma causing a delay in his own brother's healing."

Yama resisted the urge to rub his temples. He muttered to himself. "This is what happens when you let tricksters into your mindspace."

Dasra gave a long, suffering sigh before glancing at his twin.

Nasatya tilted his head, considering something. Then, his eyes gleamed with something dangerous.

Dasra caught on immediately. "Ooohh. That's evil. I love it."

Nasatya grinned. "You know he'll break soon. He always does."

Dasra nodded, barely suppressing a chuckle. "One last push, then."

They both turned to Yama, their expressions shifting into perfected innocence.

"Tell them to leave."

"Tell them to leave."

"Tell them to leave."

"Tell them to leave."

Their words echoed in his mind, two voices speaking as one, over and over and over.

Yama inhaled deeply, his fingers curling slightly before relaxing. He knew this game. He had played it too many times before. If he ignored them, they would only get louder. If he argued, they would twist his words against him. If he resisted, they would escalate.

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

"ENOUGH!"

The twins immediately sensed his patience snapping like a frayed thread. Their grins widened ever so slightly.

Before Yama could stop himself, his head turned, his gaze meeting Suryadev's. "Pitashree. Tell everyone to step outside."

Suryadev turned to him, eyebrows slightly raised. He knew that look.

A knowing smirk flickered across Suryadev's lips. His response came in a grumble. "They can wait..."

The twins, barely restraining their excitement, immediately shouted in unison into Yama's mind.

"WE CAN'T WAIT!!!"

Yama, utterly done with his younger brothers, gave Suryadev a look. One that clearly said,

"JUST TELL EVERYONE TO LEAVE, PITASHREE... BEFORE I TAKE THEM ALL TO MY ABODE MYSELF."

Conversation in mind... end.

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

Suryadev exhaled softly. Then, in a clear, authoritative voice, he spoke. "Step outside, please. Let my sons tend to their younger brother."

There was no room for argument.

Bhishma requested Parashurama and Rishi Bharadwaja to take rest. Vidur and Kripacharya escorted them out, along with Dronacharya.

Before leaving, Parashurama cast one last look at Karna. Then, he turned to Ekalavya, giving him a slight nod... an unspoken permission to stay.

Ekalavya nodded, understanding his Gurudev's silent words.

Shon looked toward Rishi Bharadwaja, who gave him a brief nod of approval before following the others out.

Soon, only a handful remained.

The elders.... Bhishma, Pandu, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Shakuni.

The younger ones... The Pandavas. The Kauravas. Yuyutsu. Sushala. Shon. Ekalavya. and Ashwatthama.

As the doors closed, two separate moments began to unfold.

One outside the chamber.

And the other within.

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

INSIDE THE CHAMBER, WITH SURYADEV, YAMA AND ASHWINI TWINS...

Despite being the responsible eldest, Yama inevitably fell for the twins antics... whether it was their mischievous tricks, relentless teasing, or overly dramatic performances. No matter how hard he tried to remain above it all, the twins always managed to drag him right back into their chaos.

And now, here he was again... trapped.

Because... the silence lasted only a heartbeat.

Then...

Dasra turned to Yama, his smirk barely hidden. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it, Jyesth?"

Nasatya grinned. "You finally listened to us for once!"

Yama groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I did not listen to you. I was just-"

"Breaking under our pressure?" Dasra finished.

Nasatya smirked. "You totally broke under our pressure."

Yama sighed, muttering under his breath. "Why do I even bother arguing with these two?"

And he was right... because it was useless. The twins were not letting this go.

Dasra asked. "Jyesth, be honest... Was it the constant talking? Or was it when we started yelling in your head?"

Nasatya chuckled. "I think it was when we both started repeating 'tell them to leave' at the exact same time!"

Dasra grinned. "Oh, that must have been unbearable!"

Nasatya sighed dramatically. "It's not our fault you have the patience of a mountain."

Dasra nodded. "We just decided to be the storm."

Suryadev, having had enough, finally intervened. His voice was tired. "Are you two finished?"

Of course not.

Now their attention shifted to their father.

Dasra turned, his voice turning mischievous. "Nasatya, did you see Pitashree's face when he was talking to Mata about letting us come here? He looked-"

"Terrified!" Nasatya finished gleefully.

Dasra laughed. "Right!! I have never seen Pitashree agree so fast!"

Nasatya smirked. "Pitashree, you were scared of Mata, weren't you?"

Suryadev muttered under his breath. "I was NOT scared! I just-"

"-knew better than to argue!" Dasra supplied helpfully.

"Exactly!" Nasatya grinned. "Pitashree, do you EVER win against Mata Chhaya and Mata Saranyu in an argument?"

"That is NOT the point!" Suryadev snapped.

"But it kinda is... we all know the truth." Dasra teased.

Yama sighed, already used to their antics. "Pitashree, you do realize you're the father here, right? Why are you even letting them drag you into their nonsense?"

Suryadev blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, he just stared at Yama, thinking, "Did I just get scolded by my son?"

Then, clearing his throat and regaining his composure, he turned to the twins. "Enough! You two! I brought you here to heal Karna, not chatter like children!"

Dasra leaned toward Nasatya and whispered, but just loud enough for their father to hear, "Did... Did Pitashree just get scolded by Jyesth?"

Nasatya nodded, equally dramatic. "He did, Dasra. I almost feel bad for our father... almost."

Dasra gasped dramatically. "The eldest son put the father in his place! And poor Pitashree... he couldn't even argue back!"

Nasatya shook his head in exaggerated pity. "And Karna is unconscious. He missed it. Should we tell him when he wakes up?"

Dasra grinned. "We should!! He deserves to know!"

Suryadev groaned, already regretting every decision that led to this moment. "I HEARD THAT! And don't you dare!"

Nasatya turned to his father and grinned. "Pitashree, how do you feel? This must be a first. Being scolded by your eldest son in front of your youngest sons!"

Dasra hummed. "I think Pitashree is embarrassed."

Nasatya nodded. "Maybe that's why he's trying to stop us."

The twins looked at each and spoke together. "Karna is definitely hearing about this!"

Suryadev let out a long, suffering sigh. "I should have just stayed in Suryalok..."

Yama exhaled sharply. "Can you two focus on Karna for once instead of causing chaos?"

A brief silence.

Then, as if in perfect sync, the twins turned to him.

Nasatya smirked. "Chaos? Us?"

Dasra raised an eyebrow. "That's a rather bold accusation coming from someone who left the moment we finished talking to Chitragupta."

Nasatya added, his voice full of amusement, "Almost like you were running away."

Yama realized... far too late... that he had just dug his own grave.

Dasra's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Jyesth... what is the REAL reason you came with us?"

Yama's expression didn't change, but he shuddered slightly. "W-What do you mean? I am here for you two and Karna. Why would I run away from Chitragupta?"

Nasatya asked. "Should we tell Chitragupta where you are?"

Dasra grinned. "That shouldn't be a problem... right, Jyesth?"

A moment of silence.

Suryadev chuckled, clearly enjoying this. "Putra Yama? What are they talking about? You said as their eldest brother you have a responsibility to make sure they don't chaos but..." His voice turned slightly amused, clearly playing along. "Should I tell Chitragupta you are here?"

Yama shouted almost instantly. "NOOO! PITASHREE!! DON'T TELL HIM!!!"

Dasra asked his twin. "Ohhh, Nasatya, did you hear that?"

Nasatya nodded, mock-serious. "I did! Our Jyesth definitely has something to hide."

Yama sighed, long-suffering. "I DO NOT. I came here because I knew you two would cause chaos, and if Karna was awake, you trio would only make things worse. That is all."

Nasatya grinned. "Sure, Jyesth. Whatever you say."

Dasra snickered. "Then you wouldn't mind if we -"

Yama cut in. "HEAL. KARNA. NOW."

The twins exchanged an innocent glance and nodded to each other.

"WAIT!!" Nasatya suddenly blurted out, eyes widening in horror.

Suryadev tensed, already preparing for some universe-level disaster. "What? What happened?"

Nasatya turned to Dasra, his expression exaggeratedly serious. "Did we bring the right herbs?"

Dasra gasped dramatically. "Oh, no! What if we left them in Suryalok?"

Nasatya whirled toward Yama. "Jyesth!! If we don't have the herbs, we might have to take Karna to Suryalok with us-"

"ENOUGH!!" Yama thundered. He pointed a finger at the twins. "YOU TWO DON'T EVEN NEED HERBS! JUST HEAL HIM ALREADY!"

The twins looked at each other, shrugged, and said together. "At least we tried..."

Suryadev closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Then, he turned to Yama, and in a slow, tired voice, he said, "Putra Yama... I am leaving. Your brothers are your responsibility. Make sure they do not cause trouble..."

Yama muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead. "They already have... Pitashree."

Suryadev heard it, but chose not to say anything. He cast one last glance at Karna, his expression unreadable, before vanishing in a burst of golden light.

And Yama?

Yama just sighed, questioning every life decision that had led to this exact moment.

ONCE SURYADEV LEFT, THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE ROOM CHANGED.

The Ashwini Kumaras stood by Karna's bedside, their earlier mischief nowhere to be found.

Nasatya gently took Karna's hand and unwrapped the cloth which Aaradhya tied, revealing thin red lines where glass shards from bangles had pierced his skin. Though the wounds had dried, faint traces of blood still clung to his palm.

Dasra frowned, his fingers tracing over Karna's right hand. "Did he even think before punching Bhimasen? How can he be so reckless?"

Yama, who rarely showed his emotions, reached out, his fingers hovering over Karna's knuckles where a bruise had formed from the punch to Bhima. "So this is what happens... when our foolish youngest brother doesn't think, doesn't hold back. He never cares about himself when it comes to those he wishes to protect..."

Dasra nodded, brushing his palm over Karna's wrist. A soft golden light pulsed beneath his touch, sealing the cuts and soothing the bruises. "Well, he better wake up soon. I want to scold him properly."

Nasatya smiled slightly. "As if he'd listen. But still, we will scold him."

Yama's voice was calm, though not without a hint of concern. "He won't wake up... not unless the vision ends."

Dasra scoffed. "Not that waking up will make things easier for him, Jyesth. His mind, his heart... he's carrying too much for one soul to bear."

Yama's voice softened, but the weight of his words remained. "The past and the present... he is re-living the past while still living the present. Two realities... one that was, and one that is becoming."

Dasra's voice was quieter now. "And both will bring him suffering."

Nasatya's gaze remained on Karna. "He doesn't even realize it yet, but every choice he makes has consequences. Every small change, no matter how noble, will lead to something new, something unintended... Some are ripples, others... waves that will hit him harder than he can imagine."

Dasra sighed. "He's walking a path no one has before. A path where the past bleeds into the present, where every step reshapes what was meant to be. The suffering he will face... It's not one that can be healed with herbs or eased with time. It is a suffering that comes from knowing."

Nasatya reached into his robes, pulling out a small clay vial. He placed it beside Karna's pillow. "This will help. The visions will divide his sight. His mind will be pulled in two directions... one to the past, one to the present. If he doesn't rest, it will only worsen."

Yama raised an eyebrow. "You really think it will help?"

"It won't stop the visions, Jyesth," Nasatya admitted. "But at least it will let him rest."

Yama nodded but his expression grew somber. "Karna asked for this... He was warned, was told he would suffer, a suffering much greater than he had known. And yet, he still chose to take this path. Without knowing, without understanding what it truly meant... Because that's who he is. He never fears suffering... he just faces it..."

Nasatya's voice was filled with sorrow "That is the problem, Jyesth. He does not fear it, but that does not mean he is prepared for it. So far, things have been good, because he doesn't realize what he's seeing. But soon, he will know everything... And when he does... it won't be like before, will it?"

Yama admitted as he looked at Karna. "Yes. That is when his real suffering begins... It's not just about him changing history. It's about him coming face to face with things that will tear at his very soul. The truth he's about to find out will not be kind. He will see the choices he made... he will suffer, but not just from the weight of his choices, but also the burden of knowledge. Knowing what will happen, yet not knowing the consequences... and worse, the suffering that he's about to face, is unknown even to the gods..."

Nasatya clenched his jaw. "You are right, Jyesth. He's on a path that will lead him straight into more pain, more than he's ever known. And... we can't stop it."

Dasra's voice was heavy with sorrow. "He doesn't realize it, but every decision, every change he's made, is pulling him into a web of suffering that's deeper than he knows. He's already living with the consequences of his actions so far... he just doesn't see it yet."

Yama's gaze flickered between his brothers, and for the first time, his voice held something akin to regret. "Our brother has chosen this. He wanted to change everything. He's willing to suffer for it." He reached out, his fingers barely grazing Karna's forehead, as if to reassure his youngest sibling, that they are there. He muttered, "But this time... we will be there with him. He won't face it alone."

Dasra smiled. "That is why we are here, aren't we, Jyesth? He's our brother. We'll be here for him, every step of the way. He's chosen this path. We cannot change that now. But we can help him walk it."

Nasatya nodded. "Yes... we can't stop the suffering, but we can be there when he needs us. This time, we won't let him face it alone."

Yama walked towards the doors. He reached for the handle but paused. From beyond the wooden frame, the royals were still deep in conversation.

"We should wait..." he said, stepping back.

Nasatya nodded before glancing at Dasra. A thought struck him. "Wait... where is Bhrata Shani?"

Dasra frowned. "That's right. He did not come with us?"

"He did not..." Yama answered simply.

Dasra's eyes narrowed. "That's strange. Jyesth... you know he was the one who gave us the idea how to convince Mata to let us come here. He wouldn't miss meeting Karna. But why is he not here?"

Yama's gaze flickered toward the distance, as though seeing something beyond mortal sight. His voice was calm but knowing. "Shani is where he needs to be. He will be here soon."

Dasra sighed dramatically. "Bhrata Shani takes his work as Karma Phala Dhata way too seriously."

Nasatya chuckled. "I hope he doesn't cause any trouble... What if he places his Vakra Dris-?"

Dasra immediately closed Nasatya's mouth, "Don't even say it... I am not dealing with the consequences."

Yama merely smiled, his gaze never leaving Karna's resting form. "We shall see."

Just then, the air shifted.

A faint but unmistakable hum of a veena filled the room, and came a familiar voice with a soft chuckle.

"Narayana Narayana!!"

It was Narad Muni. "Ahh... I see the brothers have gathered..."

The Ashwini Kumaras turned swiftly, their faces lighting up with recognition. "Rishi Narada?"

Narada stood before them, his veena resting against his shoulder, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Well, well. Yama, Nasatya, Dasra... yet, I see one of your brothers is missing." His gaze swept over them before he clicked his tongue. "Where is Shani Dev?"

Nasatya and Dasra exchanged a look. "That's what we were just saying, Rishi Narada! He didn't come with us."

Narada's brows rose in amusement. "Oh? Now, that is unusual. It's not like him to stay away when his brothers gather, especially for the youngest brother... Karna."

Dasra sighed, rubbing his forehead as if warding off a growing headache. "That's exactly what is concerning."

Nasatya crossed his arms. "Do you think he's caught up in something?"

Narada tapped his chin, his eyes glinting with mischief and curiosity. "Hmm... now that is worth finding out, isn't it?"

Dasra groaned. "Rishi Narada, I beg you, don't fan the flames of our worries!"

Narada chuckled, yet his gaze, flickered toward Karna. His expression softened slightly, losing its usual playfulness. "Whatever Shani Dev is doing, I suppose he has his reasons. But it is unlike him to not even make an appearance."

He turned, absently strumming a note on his veena. But a moment later, he paused, his expression shifted, his fingers pausing over the strings of his veena, as if sensing something.

"Well, well," Narada mused, half to himself, "perhaps I should go see for myself. A missing celestial brother at such a time? Now that is a mystery I must solve, isn't it?"

Yama did not react, but something unreadable passed through his gaze. "If you must..."

Narada grinned. "Of course! After all, what kind of observer would I be if I did not follow where the most interesting mystery leads?"

And with that, Narada Muni left, his veena's melody weaving into the air, his feet as light as a feather, guided not by choice, but by the unseen currents of fate.

Unknown to him, his path would lead him straight into a conversation... one that may or may not have been meant for his ears.

And with that, the celestial siblings waited, watching over their youngest, ensuring that, even in unconsciousness, he was not alone.

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

WITH KRISHNA, BALARAMA, AND THE MAN...

The corridors were quiet, except for the soft sound of their footsteps. The man walked ahead, as if time itself moved at his will. Behind him, Krishna and Balarama followed, their silence stretching like the stillness before a storm.

Finally, Krishna broke the silence. "Shani Dev..."

The man did not react, but his very presence made it undeniable - he was SHANI, the Karma Phala Dhata.

Krishna's voice held neither accusation nor surprise, only an undeniable understanding. "Arjun would have faced the consequences for his actions, even without your intervention. You know that I could only delay it, not prevent it. Yet you came to ensure that delay never happened. Or, as you would put it... was it just a coincidence?"

A faint, knowing smile flickered across Shani's lips. "You know better than anyone, Govind, that I do not deal in coincidences. And neither do you."

Krishna chuckled, he leaned in slightly toward Shani. There was both curiosity and understanding in his voice. "Then tell me, Shani Dev, what is the true reason for your presence here?"

Shani did not stop walking. He did not turn to look at Krishna, but the knowing smile remained. "Even the wielder of the Sudarshana Chakra seeks answers for the presence of the Karma Phala Dhata?"

Krishna chuckled again. "I do not seek answers. I seek to understand your purpose here. Your actions always carry deep meaning than what they seem."

Shani slowed his steps but did not turn. His gaze remained forward, as if looking beyond time itself. "As I already said... I came to meet my little brother."

Krishna's knowing smile did not fade, but his voice carried a subtle challenge. "And yet, you did not step into the room to see the very brother you came for. Instead, you are walking away from him. So tell me... where are you leading me, Shani Dev?"

Shani did not answer immediately. The silence itself held meaning.

Krishna waited. He knew the truth was come in its own time.

The game of words had begun, and Shani was a master. But Krishna... he was no novice. He was the master of leela itself.

After a long pause, Shani spoke, his voice calm and deliberate, as though each word was carefully chosen. "What can be hidden from you, Leeladhara? We are here because of your leela, are we not?"

Krishna's smile deepened, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You speak as if the leela is mine alone to weave. But tell me... does the potter shape the clay, or does the clay shape itself in his hands?"

There was a knowing glint in his gaze, as if he was waiting... inviting Shani to engage, to see how he would respond.

"A potter may guide the clay, give it form," Krishna continued, his voice as smooth as the flowing Yamuna, "but the clay too has its own nature. Some clay is firm, some soft, some takes shape easily, while some resists. In the same way, I may set things in motion, but what follows is not mine alone to decide. Every being, through their choices and nature, shapes destiny."

Shani studied him carefully, unmoved by the gentle challenge hidden within Krishna's words. He had expected no less.

"And yet everything... the war, the suffering, Karna's plea for one chance... happened within your leela. Without it, the child who carries Mahadev's essence would not have been born. Vritrasura would not have been released. The past... everything that happened before the Kala Chakra turned was real. The past had to unfold exactly as it did, or the present would not exist. Tell me, Narayana, was this not your leela?"

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Krishna's face. Not surprise... he had anticipated this. But he allowed the silence to stretch, making it seem as though he was contemplating the question.

Shani continued, his tone even. "I do not question your intent. But you cannot deny that the Kala Chakra turned only because Karna proved himself worthy. You may not have forced his choice, but without your leela, he would never have had the chance to stand before you and ask for it..."

Krishna's lips curved ever so slightly. The test was working.

"I only do what is necessary, Shani Dev," he said, his voice holding the faintest hint of mischief. "A river must flow to the ocean, but it chooses its own path. I do not command it to turn left or right, nor do I stop it from flowing where it must. I only remove obstacles when the time is right."

His expression was unreadable once more, though beneath it, he watched Shani keenly. Would he challenge this? Would he accept it?

"Karna asked for a chance... not because I whispered it into his heart, but because he wished for it. I did not place the desire in him; it was already there. The Kala Chakra turned because Karna proved himself worthy, not because I willed it to move."

There was no pride in his voice, only truth. Or was it? Krishna had not told Karna to ask for a chance... that much was true. But had he truly remained a mere observer?

A quiet understanding passed between them. Krishna's knowing smile played on his lips as he looked at Shani. There was amusement in his voice now, but also a challenge.

"So, Shani Dev... if I am merely removing obstacles, if Karna's own worth shaped his destiny, then tell me... was this my leela? Or was it simply karma revealing itself? If I am the weaver, then what of you? Do you not thread karma into destiny with your very gaze?"

This time, Krishna knew Shani would answer, because there was an answer... and he was merely waiting to see if Shani would reach it.

Shani's expression did not change. He did not fall into the trap of separating leela and karma as two different things.

"KARMA..." He paused, his gaze steady. His voice was calm, yet heavy with meaning. "I will answer your question, Krishna. But first, let me speak of KARMA... not because you do not know, but because this moment calls for it. Now that the Kala Chakra has turned, karma will not unfold as it once did."

Krishna chuckled, shaking his head ever so slightly, as if he had expected nothing less. Shani had sidestepped his question, not with denial, but with redirection... turning the conversation toward something deeper, something unavoidable.

"Very well," Krishna murmured, his voice rich with knowing and understanding. "Let us speak of karma then... for now."

The last two words lingered in the air, a subtle reminder that Krishna had not forgotten the question he had posed. And he would not let it go unanswered...

Shani met his gaze, unflinching. His silence was neither an agreement nor a refusal. The game of words was far from over.

He turned his eyes toward the distance, as if seeing beyond time itself.

"Karma is the unseen thread that binds every being to the fate they have woven. It is neither reward nor punishment, only the inevitable return of what was sent forth. Every thought, every action, every word shapes the path ahead. Just as a seed, once sown, must bear fruit, so too must karma return when the time is right."

His voice remained unwavering, and eternal truth given form. "No king, no beggar, no god can escape their karma. It governs the past, present, and future... until realization, repentance, or divine intervention releases the soul from its weight."

Shani took a slow step forward. The ground beneath him seemed to still, as if even time itself paused to listen.

"There are three types of karma, Krishna. You know them well, but let me speak, because the Kala Chakra has turned, and one must understand how Karma works."

1. Sanchita Karma - The accumulated deeds of all lifetimes, waiting to bear fruit.

2. Prarabdha Karma - The portion of karma already set in motion, which must be endured in this life.

3. Agami Karma - The karma being created now, which will shape the future."

Shani's gaze darkened slightly, his words carrying an unyielding finality.

"Those who died before the Kala Chakra turned have completed their Prarabdha karma. They met their fate, experienced their karma, and with death, their accounts was settled. And... after the Kala Chakra turned, they are granted a fresh start, free of the past Karma..."

But then his voice grew heavier.

"But those who remained alive before the Kala Chakra turned... their karma was left unfinished. The turning of Kala Chakra does not erase what has not been resolved. Their debts, their burdens, their choices... remain. The Kala Chakra had turned, but the past has not vanished. It still waits to be answered."

Then, Shani turned his sharp gaze toward Krishna, as if seeing beyond what mortal eyes could perceive. His next words carried the force of destiny itself.

"And there are two... whose presence alone is enough to shift fate itself. One who was released from his chains... and one who carries the very essence of Mahadev within him."

The air grew heavier, as though the universe itself recognized the weight of these words.

"Karna. Vritrasura. Their choices, their actions... no matter how small or big... are rewriting fate and destiny itself. Even the gods cannot predict where the path will now lead, because it is being reshaped and rewritten with every step they take."

Shani's expression turned cold. His next words carried the inevitability of fate itself. "Even if the Kala Chakra turns, even if the future becomes uncertain... karma does not forget, Krishna. Karma waits. It may take new forms, new paths, but it always returns.."

His words echoed with unshakable certainty.

"And that is why even after the turn of the Kala Chakra, some must face their past karma. They do not escape it. The debts of their past must be paid, and the future shall unfold accordingly."

Shani turned fully to face Krishna, his expression now more intense. The weight of his words settled over them like an unbreakable decree.

"And that is why... I, Karma Phala Dhata, have come... to see the woman who gave birth to my brother... and abandoned him."

Krishna's expression did not change. His gaze, ever knowing, softened... no with surprise, but with understanding.

Shani's voice though steady, carried the force of something immutable. "The time has come for her to face her karma. No soul escapes the consequences of their actions. Not even a mother who turned her back on her son."

Balarama, who had been silent until now, furrowed his brows. His voice, always blunt and direct, cut through the air. "So, this is about Kunti bua? That is why you're here?"

He turned to Krishna, his voice now edged with impatience. "Kanha, will you allow this?"

Krishna remained composed, his voice neither approving nor denying. "Dau... no one is above karma. Not even a mother. Not even a god."

Balarama was not convinced. "And what of mercy? What of compassion? Must every debt be repaid in full, regardless of the circumstances? You know everything, Kanha... yet you will allow this?"

Shani's gaze turned to Balarama, his voice was neither harsh nor gentle, only absolute. "Mercy and compassion do not erase the debt, Baladeva. They can only shape the path by which it is repaid. Karma always find its way."

With that, Shani began walking, his footsteps echoing in the silent corridor.

Seeing Shani leave, Krishna spoke. His voice was quieter this time, yet it cut through the silence like a blade. "Why now, Shani Dev?"

Shani halted mid-step.

The very air shifted, as if the universe itself has paused to listen.

Shani turned slowly to meet Krishna's eyes. "You doubt my judgment, Narayana?"

Krishna took a step forward. "I question your intent, Shani Dev. Are you here as Karma Phala Dhata... or as Karna's brother?"

Shani's voice was steady as the eternal laws he upheld. "I am here as both. But my role as Karma Phala Dhata is neither driven by emotion nor bound by blood. I do not act before the time is right, nor do I delay out of sentiment. I come only when the weight of one's karma has ripened... when it must be faced in full measure."

Krishna studied him. "And what do you seek here? Justice? Or is this your reckoning for Karna?"

A rare smile touched Shani's lips, cold, knowing, yet devoid of malice. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering Krishna's words carefully. His voice, deep and measured, cut through the stillness.

"And if it were?" He let the words settle before continuing, "If I told you that my presence here carries both justice and reckoning, would it change the truth of what must come to pass?"

He stepped forward, his expression unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes... something beyond human comprehension. "You call this a reckoning for Karna? Perhaps. But not in the way you think. If I acted as a brother, I would have intervened long ago, I would have burned kingdoms for Karna's pain. I would have cursed her the day she first cast him away, the day she chose fear over love. And I would have placed my Vakra Drishti on her the moment she chose to stay silent while my brother stood before her and suffered. But I did not. Why? Because her time had not yet come. Because I do not act as a brother... I act as Karma Phala Dhata."

Shani's voice deepened, each word carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "You ask if this is justice? Then I ask you in return... would it be justice if Karna bore the weight of his karma, yet she did not? Would it be justice if only the abandoned son suffered, while the mother who abandoned him walked free of consequence?"

A heavy silence followed his words.

Shani turned slightly, his final words edged with divine certainty. "You see a reckoning for Karna. I see balance restored. And karma... it only sees what is owed."

Krishna pressed further. "And yet, you are here only now. Not before. Not when Karna was abandoned. Not when he suffered injustice after injustice. Only now, after Kala Chakra has turned. Only after Karna grew up as a Suryaputra... as your brother. Tell me, Shani Dev... are you truly acting as the giver of karma's fruits, or is this your way of ensuring that Kunti does not escape the suffering Karna endured or will endure now?"

Shani's gaze burned with a truth as immutable as time itself. "You ask me why now? Then tell me, Narayana... when else?"

His gaze did not waver. His voice was neither cruel nor vengeful, only calm yet unyielding. "Justice is not served by haste or by delay, it is served when the weight of every deed, good and ill, balances itself. That balance is now."

Krishna let out a soft chuckle. "Then let me ask you this... do you believe this moment holds justice, or is it simply karma... a mere inevitability?"

Silence.

Then, slowly, deliberately, Shani spoke.

"Justice and Karma are not separate, Narayana. They are two sides of the same truth. If I had come sooner, it would have been vengeance. If I had come later, it would have been neglect. But now... now, karma itself has choosen its moment, and when that moment arrives... even the gods cannot stop it."

Shani Dev turned and continued walking.

Krishna and Balarama followed, their steps measured, as if each one brought them closer to an inescapable truth.

As they approached the doors to Kunti's chambers, Krishna spoke once more, his voice quieter, yet piercing in its understanding. "Justice and karma... do you truly see them as the same, Shani Dev?"

Without turning, Shani replied, his voice absolute. "Justice is merely karma seen through human eyes, Narayana. The truth does not change."

Then, he stepped forward.

Krishna's gaze darkened with thought as they stood before the doors to Kunti's chamber.

Then he spoke, his voice firm yet urgent. "Wait! Shani Dev."

For the first time, Shani stopped, standing still as a mountain.

Krishna continued. "Shani Dev... Kunti Bua has already suffered, has she not? Before the Kala Chakra turned... she lived with guilt. She wept for the son she could never call her own. And now... she confessed the truth to Maharaj Pandu. She has chosen redemption. She does not deny what she did."

Shani did not turn. His voice was as steady as fate itself. "She has suffered, yes. And yet, Karna has suffered more."

Krishna's voice was gentle but firm. "She chose to remain as Choti Ma for Karna's sake. Was that not a selfless decision? She suffers now, watching Karna from afar, unable to call him 'son.' She cannot claim him, nor ask for his love. Is that not enough?"

Shani remained unmoved. "Her suffering is not her atonement. Her waiting is not enough. Is her pain equal to his? She chose to remain as his Choti Ma, but that selfless decision does not erase her past karma. What about the three times she abandoned him before that? Tell me, Narayana... what suffering has Karna not endured because of her choices?"

Krishna fell silent.

Shani took a step closer. "The moment she let go of that basket, she made her choice. She left her son's fate to the river. That was the first mark of her karma...

"Years later, when Karna stood before her, she had a second chance. She could have spoken. She could have told the truth. But she chose silence. She waited until it was too late... She did not stand by him, but in the end, stood before him not as a mother, but as a queen of Kuru."

Shani's voice did not waver. "And then, the Kala Chakra turned. Time itself gave her another chance. Yet again, she let Karna go. She abandoned him once more."

"You speak of her suffering, but what of Karna's? Has his pain lessened because of her regrets?"

Krishna remained silent.

Shani's voice carried the weight of destiny. "Right now, Karna is unconcious... having a vision. When he wakes up, he will know everything... the full truth, the Kala Chakra. He will see the full picture. And he will suffer alone."

"He will be unable to confront Kunti or Gandhari without feeling torn. He cannot ask Gandhari the truth without hurting her. He cannot ask Kunti for answers without re-living the pain of being abandoned. He will remain in limbo, trapped in his suffering..."

"Kunti might have chosen redemption, but her silence and inaction now will only add to Karna's pain..."

"So tell me, Narayana... does Karna's suffering lessen because of her good intentions?"

Krishna did not answer.

Shani's gaze was cold. "You, of all beings, know this better. Karma is not erased by time. Karma is not erased by regret. Karma is not erased by good intentions.

Karma does not ask whether you regret your actions. Karma does not ask whether you suffer for them. Karma does not ask what your intent was.

Karma does not bring comfort. Karma does not seek punishment. Karma does not demand suffering.

Karma only restores balance.

Karma only asks: What was done? And what must be repaid?"

Balarama exhaled sharply. "And what will this balance be? Would you curse a mother?"

Shani's gaze remained ahead. "I will not speak to her. I will not punish her openly. But I will place my Vakra Drishti upon her... so that she may see the truth of her actions, so that she may finally face the karma she has created."

A pause. The air grew heavier.

"Kunti, who had abandoned her son, will now face the consequences... not through others, but through her own mind.

She will begin to have vivid nightmares. She will see Arjun killing Karna. And then, she will see Karna rejecting her as his mother."

Shani's voice took on a solemn tone. "These are not just dreams but the reality of the what happened before the Kala Chakra turned. They are the fruits of her karma, the manifestation of her fear and guilt. She will live in constant fear, dreading the thought that Karna will never forgive her.

The rejection she fears will become her punishment. She will see it in every corner of her mind.

This is how karma works. It comes in ways one cannot escape. Not as a visible punishment, but as eternal regret that lives in the hearts of those who must face their actions."

With those words, Shani raised his gaze.

The torches flickered, their flames dimming. A stillness spread through the corridor, as if time itself has paused.

The Vakra Drishti had begun.

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

Inside the chamber, Kunti, who had fainted earlier, suddenly woke up with a gasp.

A cold shiver ran down her spine, though there was no wind. A weight pressed against her soul. She sat up abruptly, pressing a trembling hand to her chest.

Her heartbeat quickened. Her breath grew shallow.

She could feel it. Something was wrong.

Memories came rushing back... the last thing she had seen before losing consciousness.

The Brahmastra.

Arjun had used the Brahmastra.

And she had seen it... streaking toward Karna.

The fear of losing him had struck so deeply that her body had given up, and she had fainted.

Now, she looked around, her eyes darting across the dimly lit chamber. And then... Madri.

Madri was sitting beside her, her expression full of relief and concern.

"Jiji... you're awake!" Madri whispered, gripping Kunti's hand. "Do you know how worried we were?"

But Kunti wasn't listening. Her eyes frantically searched the room.

"Karna?" she gasped, her voice unsteady.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, trying to stand, but her body was weak. Madri immediately grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Jiji, Arya and everyone are with Karna. He is fine."

Kunti's breath hitched. "Fine?"

Madri nodded reassuringly. "The Brahmastra did not harm Karna, but right now he is still unconcious-"

Kunti cut her off. "I have to go to him. I have to see him. I have to-"

She stopped.

The words died on her tongue.

I have to tell him...

But what would she tell him? That she was his mother? That she regretted everything?

No.

She had already made her decision. She would remain his Choti Ma.

Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms.

And then... the Vakra Drishti took hold.

Her breath hitched. The room seemed to darken around her. A deep, sinking feeling spread through her chest, an invisible weight pressing against her soul.

Kunti whispered to herself... one that came from her own heart, yet felt as if it echoed from fate itself. "What if Karna never forgives me?"

Shani's decree echoed through time itself.

"From this day forward... you will live your life longing for a son who may never forgive you.

You shall yearn for his love. You shall wait for his acceptance. But you will never know if you will receive it. That is the burden you must bear."

THE WORDS WERE SPOKEN. THE DECREE WAS SEALED. THE JUDGMENT WAS COMPLETE.

Shani finally lowered his gaze. The corridor returned to normal, yet something had changed.

Krishna did not speak. His eyes reflected understanding, but also the awareness that some things even he would not interfere with.

Balarama exhaled. "You truly will not show mercy, will you?"

Shani turned to him, his expression neither cruel nor kind. "This is mercy, Balarama. Had I cursed her in anger, her suffering would have been endless... But karma is neither anger nor forgiveness... it is merely what must be."

Krishna murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "You really are the most just among the Devas, Shani Dev..."

Shani does not reply. He simply turned away.

His work was done.

But before Shani could take another step, Balarama spoke. "The Kala Chakra has turned... but you say karma remains. Then why only Kunti Bua? What of the others... Dhritharastra, the Pandavas? They too were alive... they made choices, mistakes. Will they not face their karma?"

For the first time, Shani Dev laughed. A sound, cold and certain. "As I already said... karma does not vanish, Balarama. It simply finds a new path. And who says their karma isn't already in motion...?"

His voice carried the weight of time itself.

"Gandhari... she raised sons who disrespected a woman. She failed to stop them when they dishonored Draupadi. So now, she too must taste the shame of helplessness. But unlike Draupadi, her suffering will not last beyond that moment.

Did you ever wondered why she was dragged by Jarasandha before the people of Hastinapur? Why do you think that change occured? Karma was always in motion..."

A shiver ran through the air.

"Dhritharastra... he ruled the kingdom in blindness, not only in sight but in mind. He allowed injustice to grow, let his sons stray too far. Now, Karna will heal his blindness... and with open eyes, he will witness his kingdom fall apart."

A silence, heavy with unseen truths, stretched between them.

"And the Pandavas... they were the root cause of everything that happened. They blindly followed dharma, but where did it lead to? Bhima bullied the Kauravas as children... so Duryodhana sought poison to end him. Yudhishthir staked Draupadi in dyut sabha... and Duryodhana, Dushasana, Shakuni, and... Karna took it too far."

His words cut through the night like fate itself.

"The Pandavas started the fire. The rest merely kept it burning. And now? They have become the reason for the divide between brothers. They are the ones who start the fire, and will keep the fire burning.

A deep silence followed, one that carried the weight of destiny itself.

"The Kala Chakra has turned back to the moment where it all began. Events will repeat as they did before the reset... unless Karna and Vritrasura intervene. Their choices will shape what happens next.

The past may change... the path may shift... but karma will always find a way."

Then, Balarama, asked the question that lingered unspoken. "And Draupadi? Does she also..."

Shani's eyes did not waver. "No. Since SHE DIED BEFORE THE RESET... her karma is complete with her death. A new cycle will start when she is born again."

(A/N- I will show later in flashback what happened, how she died...)

Krishna's voice, quiet yet heavy, filled the silence with a truth beyond mortal understanding. "Draupadi's pain was not karma... it was necessity. Her suffering was necessary for the war to come. For Karna to ask for a chance. For Vritrasura's conditions to be met, the conditions he set for the child and mother before his imprisionment.

Without her suffering, the war would not have come. Karna would not have proved himself worthy. The Kala Chakra would not have turned. Mahadev would not have given Karna his essence...

And Vritrasura... Vritrasura would not be released.

She bore the weight of fate itself. And I-" he paused, his smile fading, "I had to watch."

Silence.

Then, unnoticed by all, a figure arrived quietly near the pillars of the palace. He had just reached the scene.

It was NARADA MUNI.

He had not announced his presence. He had not called out in his usual playful manner. Instead, he stood hidden behind a pillar, listening.

Perhaps... it was fate.

But whatever it was, Narada remained hidden. And he listened.

Shani Dev looked at Krishna, his expression unreadable.

Krishna understood. His lips curved, amused yet knowing. "You wish to ask something, Shani Dev?"

Shani's voice was steady. "You have seen so much suffering. The war, the betrayals, the losses. You knew it all before it happened, yet you let it unfold. And now... you will watch again. Was that not your karma?"

Krishna's smile remained, calm as the infinite. His voice resonated with something beyond time, beyond fate.

"I AM KARMA ITSELF, SHANI DEV. I DO NOT ESCAPE IT, NOR AM I BOUND BY IT. BUT I WALK WITH IT... ALWAYS."

At those words, the faintest smirk touched Shani's lips, a knowing gleam flickered in his dark eyes.

"Earlier... you asked me - 'Is this my leela, or karma revealing itself?'" His tone held a quiet amusement. "And now, Narayana... you have answered yourself."

Krishna tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Have I?"

Shani's gaze did not waver. "Yes... you call yourself karma itself. Then tell me, Narayana... if you are karma, how can your leela be separate from it?"

His voice was steady, unyielding-carrying the weight of one who had watched time itself unfold.

"You are neither the potter nor the clay, Narayana. You are the wheel on which all things turn... without you, neither the potter's hands nor the clay's nature would matter. The potter shapes the clay, but without the wheel, there is no form, no motion.

The river flows to the ocean, yes... but who placed the ocean there? A river carves its own path, but is it truly free, when the land itself bends to make way for it? You say you do not command the river's course, yet it never strays from the ocean you have set at its end."

Krishna's expression remained unreadable, yet there was something in his eyes... a flicker, a quiet recognition.

Shani continued.

"You do not force choices, yet you create the moments where choices must be made. You did not place the Kurukshetra war in destiny, Narayana. But you placed the choices, the whispers of dharma that left no path untouched by it. Can a war be called fate, when every step toward it was guided by your hand?

You are not bound, and yet nothing moves without you. You are free from karma, yet no karma unfolds without touching you. So tell me, Narayana, if karma follows its own path, why does it always walk in your footsteps?"

For the first time, Krishna's expression turned thoughtful. Not because he did not know the answer - but because hearing it from Shani, the one who upheld karma without bias, gave it a weight beyond mere words.

Shani's voice was calm, yet sharp, turning Krishna's own words into a mirror. "You asked me... 'If I am the weaver, do you not thread karma into destiny with your very gaze, Shani Dev?'"

A rare smile, neither mocking nor triumphant, touched Shani's lips as he said, "It is both, Narayana. And neither."

Krishna chuckled softly. "Ah... so that is your answer?"

Shani inclined his head. "It is the only answer. You and I are not opposites, Narayana. Justice, karma, leela... all are the same.

You set things in motion, and I see them through. You give choice, and I give consequence. You walk ahead, and I follow... or it's the other way around. Or perhaps we walk together."

Then, ever so lightly, Krishna chuckled. "Well played, Shani Dev."

Shani's expression did not change. "You gave me the words, Narayana. I only returned them to their source."

A moment of silence passed between them, heavy with understanding.

But then, Shani's expression grew more solemn. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of time itself.

"Yet even you, Narayana, cannot erase all suffering. Not even..."

Krishna's eyes softened. He already knew the name before it was spoken. Yet, hearing it now...

"Not even... Aaradhya's..."

Krishna closed his eyes.

Shani studied him. "Vrushali... Karna's wife. You told her of the suffering Karna has chosen for himself. You warned her of the suffering that awaited her if she stood by Karna. You gave her a choice. And yet... she did not hesitate. She till chose him."

Krishna's fingers curled slightly, the only sign of emotion breaking through his divine calm.

Shani continued. "She chose this path... knowing the pain that awaited her. Just as Draupadi once stood before the fire of destiny, Aaradhya, too, will walk towards her trial."

Shani Dev's voice was unrelenting. "Now, she is reborn. Not as a mere mortal, not as a suta, but as a child of divinity. A daughter of Lakshmi-Naryanana. Yet, even as Aaradhya... even as your daughter, she will suffer. Not because of her karma... but because of love."

Hidden behind the pillar, Narada did not move. His fingers tightened around his veena.

Shani Dev took another step forward. "You promised divine protection to Vrushali... before the Kala Chakra turned. Yet... can you truly protect her now?"

Krishna opened his eyes, his faint smile returned, but it was different this time... it carried something rare. Uncertainty.

His voice was quiet. "I do not know... Shani Dev. Karna and Vritrasura are changing everything. Fate is no longer a river flowing towards a destined end... it is an ocean, shifting with every wave. Now, even I cannot say where this path leads."

Shani's lips curved into a knowing smile. "So, Narayana... even you do not know the future ahead?"

Krishna watched Shani closely. "Even I do not know..."

Then, Shani spoke, his voice colder than night itself. "Then let me tell you what karma has revealed to me."

For just a moment... Krishna's eyes flickered. He looked surprised.

Shani continued, his voice unwavering. "The one who should have perished by your hands...lives still."

Krishna's voice barely a whisper. "Kamsa..."

Balarama standing beside him, spoke next. "Vritrasura... he intervened."

Shani nodded. "Yes... Vritrasura. And because of that, karma shifts. The suffering that should have ended... will now continue."

Silence.

Shani explained further, making his warning clear. "Kamsa was fated to die at your hands, Narayana. His existence was meant to end, his cycle of karma should have been completed. But Karna and Vritrasura have altered fate in ways no one expected. The Kala Chakra has turned, destinies have changed, and now... even fate is unpredictable."

His voice carried the weight of certainty. "AARADHYA WILL SUFFER... AND THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE FALLEN BY YOUR HANDS... WILL BE THE CAUSE."

Shani Dev's gaze lingered on Krishna for a moment.

"No one escapes their karma, Narayana. Not kings. Not queens. Not warriors. Not even gods. IT IS NOT YOUR KARMA... BUT YOU WILL BE THE ONE SUFFERING."

Krishna's eyes are unreadable. He spoke softly, like a whisper carried by the wind.

"Yes... It is not my karma. But I bear witness to all suffering... not just of those bound to me, but of all who walk this world.

I watched Draupadi suffer... knowing I could not spare her pain.

I watched Karna suffer... knowing he was bound to his fate.

And now, I will watch Aaradhya suffer... knowing even my divine protection... may not be enough to stop it."

For the first time, Krishna's voice carried something rarely heard from him. Sorrow.

"I have carried the burden of dharma across many ages, Shani Dev. I do not suffer for my deeds... but I suffer for those who do."

Shani nodded slowly. "And that is the greatest suffering of all."

Krishna's serene expression did not change. "It has always been so. The suffering of those I love is my greatest pain. Not because it is my karma... but because I cannot stop it."

A heavy silence followed, as if even time itself paused to acknowledge the truth in Krishna's words.

Shani does not speak further. He turned and walked away, to meet his brother.

Balarama's frustration was evident. His hands clenched into fists as he turned to Krishna. "Kanha, you should have killed Kamsa when you had the chance."

Krishna, however, remained calm, his voice deliberate. "No, Dau. Vritrasura intervened. So Kamsa was spared. If I had acted against Vritrasura then, the consequences would have been... unnecessary. And now, Kamsa..."

Balarama frowned. "Then what do we do, Kanha? If Kamsa will be the reason for Aaradhya's suffering... what if we cannot stop-" His voice trailed off, the unspoken fear heavy in the air.

KRISHNA, KNOWING NARADA WAS LISTENING, SPOKE SOFTLY, YET EACH WORD WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN.

"If only Kamsa stays away from Aaradhya... then perhaps her suffering could be delayed, or avoided entirely."

Silence.

The weight of Krishna's words lingered in the air.

"Dau... let's go and meet Kunti Bua." With that Krishna and Balarama entered Kunti's chambers.

But Narada... he remained rooted in his place.

To him, Krishna's words were not just a statement.

They were a call to action.

A flicker of realization crossed Narada's face. His fingers curled tightly around his veena, but he did not play. His mind was already forming a plan.

"Even Prabhu Narayana does not know what lies ahead? Even he cannot stop Putri Aaradhya's suffering that is coming?"

He gaze flickered toward the heavens.

He had witnessed the rise and fall of great destinies.

But this... this was different.

"If Krishna cannot protect Aaradhya from her suffering... then I, Narada... will."

His decision was made. His path was clear.

"If Kamsa must stay away from Aaradhya... then perhaps it is time I ensure that he does."

Then, with a knowing smile, he finally spoke aloud, his voice light yet carrying the weight of his resolve.

"Narayana, Narayana."

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To be continued...

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How was the chapter?

The chapter was quite long, so I decided to split it. I just need to make a few changes before posting the next part. So, the next chapter will be updated tomorrow or the day after!!

In this chapter I mostly focused on Kunti because I want to show that Karna will not forgive her anytime soon...

And just wanted to tell you all that the story will move slow from now... So don't expect Panchal war, Lac house, Draupadi's birth anytime soon... I have other new twists planned so it will take time...

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