Arshia POV

Anger,Ego and Arrogance was what differentiated SuryaPutra Karna and Indraputra Arjun. Karna had his own reasons to have all of the above qualities. Being born to a royal maidan,he was set off in the Ganga because of a small mistake. All his life he begged for a teacher to teach him the art of archery, something that he was divinely gifted in. All his life,he couldn't enjoy the status of royals instead was mocked because of his 'adopted' status. All he wanted was to prove himself.

Arjun was equally qualified and hardworking. But what he had was the status,the proper education and most of all the proper support. Karna lacked each and every one of them. He got his education by lying. The support and status provided was provided by Duryodhana only because of his own selfish motives. Overall,it made Karna indebted to adharm for his entire life.

Yes,he was daanveer and never refused a single soul that came to him with a request but what about that soul?Even he needs assistance, right?

-Me

I rolled up the parchment where I wrote all this and kept it away,in a place where I could be the only one who could access it.

After learning almost everything (Thanks to my extremely fast learning skills),I had nothing to do and Anga was rather at peace with the outside kingdoms,being the Ally of the main state. So, nor did the political work pressurise me. I practiced my weapons but that's it,I have nothing else to do. Oh! would I have been back in my era,I would have never been bored!

I haven't been getting those horrific scenes for a long time. Vasudev said I would stop getting those visions once I invested myself in this era. Have I already left my own era? That doesn't sound right. My heart has already moved on from my siblings?

All of this hurts my brain.

.

I stared out of the window,the darkness slowly taking over. The soft winds hit my face, calming down the discomfort in my mind and heart. My eyes lingered on the entrance, waiting for him. I buried my face into my hands, sighing.

Then I heard the sound of horses and I lifted my head to see him. Although the surroundings were dark,in my eyes,he came in like a shining sun. I came up on my feet and ran out of the chamber,in a hurry to meet him.

.

As I reached the entrance,my smile kept increasing. When my eyes met his,he gave me a small and forced smile. Seeing that,my smile faded away. He came near me and softly placed his palm on my cheek

"How are you?"

I melted into his touch. I gulped and nodded my head, indicating that I was fine.

"How are you?Did the swaymvar go right?"

Even that small forced smile on his face seems to have disappeared after I asked that question.

Probably sensing that I was skeptical,he once again smiled.

"Fine."

"Did anything happen in the swaymvar?You don't look okay"

No one POV

"Did anything happen in the swaymvar? You don't look okay"

Karna drew back his hand and softly shook his head.

"No, everything is fine"

Arshia forced a heavy smile on her face.

"I want to know everything about it"

.

"What do you want to know,Arshia?There is not much to say"

Karna whined.

Arshia had linked her arms with his and was running around the whole castle. The soldiers and servants passing by softly laughed at their childish-ness.

Upon reaching the garden,she and him sat down on the swing. She looked at him eagerly and waited for him to start.

"Why did you take the long way?"

Karna frowned. Arshia shrugged.

"No particular reason. Now,tell me!How did Rajkumari Krishnaa look?I heard she is the most beautiful woman in Aryavart!"

Her excitement was out of bounds and it was not something that anyone could describe. She,in her own era,had heard that Draupadi was the most beautiful woman of Aryavart and her dark complexion was one of the most captivating ones.

Karna turned to her and placed both of his hands on her cheeks.

"How does it matter what she looked like?For me,you are the most beautiful woman to ever exist."

Arshia smiled at his compliment.

"Thank you, Angraj but she is a fire born. Her dark complexion must have shined so much with her beautiful atir—"

"Even in your swamyvar, Vasudev introduced you as the most beautiful woman in the world. You looked like an apsara in your attire in the swaymvar. The difference is that she is the princess of MahaRaja Draupad and has had the limelight since the time of her birth. But you,my dear,came into the spotlight when Vasudev Krishna introduced you as his sakhi. That's the only difference. "

Arshia gulped,being overwhelmed. She let herself melt into his warm touch.

"That doesn't matter, Angraj. You have to tell me everything!"

Karna giggled at her excitement and nodded. He drew his hands back and started

"It was very beautifully decorated. Everything was reflected in the bright sun rays,our thrones shined. There were many spectators who had come to watch their princesses swaymvar. Everything was beautifully decorated and scented with the sweet smell of flowers...."

He kept on talking but Arshia zoned out. Her eyes kept on staring at his face,the way he talked,the way he moved his face muscles,the way his spoke and the way he smiled, everything minor thing in him felt magical to her.

Karna soon realised that whatever he was saying wasn't properly registering in her mind. He stopped talking and saw that Arshia was still looking at him with those eyes. Clicking his fingers in front of her,she snapped out and a deep red blush covered her face. She cleared her throat and said

"Yeah. And after that?"

Karna held back his laughter.

"And then what?I came back to Anga"

Arshia frowned.

"What about Bharta Arjun and his brothers?"

It took her a few moments to realise what she had said. She covered her mouth with her hands, making it a lot more obvious.

"What did you say?"

Karna asked, feeling his breath shorten. How did Arshia know that the Pandavas were present in Draupadi's swaymvar?He didn't even mention it.

Arshia knew she couldn't lie,he would catch her in a matter of seconds. She straightened herself and said "The whole of Aryavart knows that it was an Archery test. You didn't participate in the swaymvar and there is only one other person who was capable enough to win Rajkumari Draupadi. It must have been Bhrata Arjun"

"But they were declared dead. How did you know they are still alive?"

The atmosphere tensed up at that question. Arshia's mind couldn't function properly. What excuse would she tell him now?

"Shree Krishna, Angraj. He wouldn't let them die. A part of him lies in bharta Arjun,he wouldn't let anything happen to him even you know that. "

With a pause,she continued

"Wait, don't tell me you believed that they were dead...did you?"

Karna gulped and slowly nodded.

"Oh..you did. Why though?"

"What do you mean why?They were announced dead and there was no sign that Arjun used his special water weapon!"

Karna grew defensive and the atmosphere between the two became awkward and tense.

Clearing her throat,she said

"Leave it,then."

And silence prevailed over the two.

. . . .

Can you believe it? I took so many days to come up with this part and this is what I write! It will be better next time, I promise.

Thank you! Enjoy reading! Vote.