5th month

Arshia stared at the mirror, particularly at her hair partition which was filled with sindoor. A hand rested on her bump,which was very visible at the moment. She sighed and rested her free hand on her lap.

News had come in that Draupadi's marriage was still a major issue in Hastinapur and repeated discussions were taking place in the court. Duryodhana would have wished Karna to come to Hastinapur and support his story and arguments but he knew Karna couldn't come to Hastinapur due to Arshia's pregnancy.

"Priye,what happened?You look so tense" Karna asked,worried. He knelt beside her and put his hands on her cheek. Arshia turned her head and looked at him, shaking her head.

"Nothing happened,Karna. Just waiting for our child to come out. It's been 5 months" She whined. Karna laughed in response and shook his head. He stood up causing Arshia to do the same. He made her move aside and sat infront of the mirror. Arshia pouted with a frown on her face. Karna made her sit on his lap and sniffed in her sweet vanilla scent.

"Karna!What are you doing?I must have gained weight!" Arshia tried trying to stand up. Karna stabilized her and put his hands gently on her stomach.

"Calm down dear. The weight you complaining about is the weight of my dear child,love. So,it doesn't matter" Karna assured. Arshia smiled greatfully and leaned back, resting on him.

"Arya, don't you have work?" Arshia opened her eyes and slightly turned her face towards Karna. His closed eyes opened and a small pout formed on his lips. Arshia laughed and cupped his face, placing a kiss on his pouted lips. She stood up and fixed her hair, saying

"You are Anga's King before my husband,Arya. You should proceed to the court. I am in the garden,call me if you need me" She smiled and walked away.

.

Sitting on the swing, swinging on it slowly she closed her eyes and recalled some of her mother's words.

"Arshia,when you get older you have to get married soon!I would like to see my grandchild before I die!"

Tears rolled down her cheeks but with a sweet smile on her face. The soft yet radiant rays of sun adorned her as she swinged a bit harder. She closed her eyes and let herself sink into the warm atmosphere.

"Rudra bhai!!!She made movement!" A high girly tone screamed.

A tall and handsome man with the most sharp features on his face turned around. He was in an uniform,a white uniform with INDIA written broadly against his chest. He hurriedly put a bag, probably his kit,on the chair and rushed to his younger sister.

He bent down and slightly tapped my cheeks,as if he was trying to wake me up and all I could do,in response,was move my fingers. A delicate yet huge smile spread across his face as his hands tightly gripped mine.

"It's been 4 years and this is the first time you showed signs,Ari! That means you are alive!" Rudra bhai said out of excitement. Amiya hit his head and shook her own.

"Obviously bhaiya!The meter shows it!" Amiya slapped her forehead. Rudra bhai laughed and carresed my hair.

"I am waiting Arshia. Wake up soon"

"Angrani!!" A maid stopped the swing from swinging faster. Arshia grabbed the sides and stabilized herself. Her head was spinning and the words of the servents were slowly fading away. Before she knew it,she fell unconscious.

.

Arshia gasped and sat up straight, regretting to sit up so fast. The area under her baby bump hurt like hell as tears escaped her eyes.

"Arshia careful!" Radha screamed holding her shoulders. Arshia shaked her head and shut her lips tight, making sure not a shout of pain escapes her lips.

"I am okay" a breathy sigh left her lips.

"The maids told me you fell unconscious while you were swinging. Is everything okay?" Radha asked worried.

Arshia nodded, assuring her. The chamber doors burst open, revealing the king of Anga,SuryaPutra Karna. He was slightly panting as he entered the room and sat beside her.

"Are you okay?" Karna asked, scanning her.

She,once again,assured the two.

6th month

The baby bump showed clearly at the moment and Arshia was acting very harsh and radical. Her mood was either always off or angry and she had started distancing herself from the people that surrounded her.

Now,she was sitting under the moonlight,in her chambers knitting a sweater,a new habit that she had grown during her time in pregnancy. She completed and held it up high,a smile adorning her calm and pretty face. She kept it aside and sighed seeing a pile form with 4-5 sweaters.

She heard the door open as she lifted her gaze to see Karna. She simply turned her head and stared at the pretty moon. Hearing a sigh,she turned to him with question in her eyes.

"Yes?"

Karna looked at her and smiled tiredly, indicating that it was nothing. Arshia shrugged and looked back at the moon.

She snapped out of her thoughts when a flute appeared in front of her eyes. She looked up and raised her eyebrow at Karna.

"Play it, please. I am dying to hear the tune again"

The first time he had heard it was during their time in Hastinapur while her pregnancy. The whole castle was stunned to find out it was Arshia who was playing it. They were equally worried and confused. They had thought it was Vasudev Krishna who had appeared out of nowhere to play the flute in their garden.

Arshia showed a small smile and nodded at him, taking the flute and correctly placing her fingers on it. She put it near her lips and closed her eyes and started to play it.

Karna sat infront of her and sunk into the beautiful sound of music. He closed his eyes,slowly falling into a deep slumber.

7th month

Arshia pouted and Karna burst into laughter. He had finally found out something Arshia wasn't good at, cooking. She burned all the vegetables when she was trying to cook.

Radha controlled her laugh and Adhiratha simply smiled. Karna went on laughing,even Arshia's deadly glare couldn't stop him.

Mood swings were a real thing,Karna realised it over the months. She was so rude and harsh in her 6th month and now she is like a baby. Even Arshia felt it but she was too lazy to even give a damn about it.

Arshia clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. Standing up,she put her hands on her bump and walked out of the room. Adhiratha glared at the laughing Karna and went near him, twisting his ear. The laughter died down and only soft pain of screams could be heard from Karna's mouth. He held Adhiratha's hand which was twisting his ear but not making an attempt to tear off the hand from his ear.

"Don't tease her so much that she gets so upset. Got it?" Karna hurriedly nodded as he rubbed his,now red,ears.

Adhiratha rolled his eyes and went out in search of Arshia.

"Does he love my wife more than me?" Karna asked,no one in particular,in an unbelievable tone. "No dear,he loves both of you equally. Arshia is in a crucial stage of her pregnancy and it's easy to get her upset that's why" Radha counciled.

"Mata,I was joking.

Arshia deserves a lot more love anyways"

8th month

This month was a bit rough for Arshia. She was always under supervision and people made sure that she was comfortable in every moment. She was informed that tiredness was a common symptom during 8th month of pregnancy so she didn't worry much. Almost all the time,she laid on bed with her hands on her bump and stared at the celling.

She had to eat all the food she didn't eat on a daily basis. Extremely healthy food which included oranges. Organges and her went way back, having a bad and horrible history. Back in Kaliyug,she was 4 when she first ate an orange and Rudra had thought it was funny to put the orange juice in her eyes. From that day,she didn't even touch an orange.

Sure,the reason was childish but only her 4 year old mind knows why she took such a drastic decision to not eat oranges.

Also,Shree Krishna had decided to visit his sakhi at the starting of her 8th month and, unfortunately,had to leave in the mid of 8th month because Dwarka was threatened with war. Balaram assured that he would handle it but Krishna went to Dwarka to calm the citizens down and assure them that nothing would happen to them,after all Mahabali Balram was fighting for them.

Krishna always kept her occupied and Arshia absolutely loved his company. He cracked jokes and drifted her mind from the unbearable pain she was facing at times. Anga also enjoyed homing such a sweet and divine personality.

The 8th month was nor blissful nor joyless. She didn't know how to describe it but she was happy that it passes quickly because the next month

The heir of the Anga thone would be born.

9th month

The most awaited month for the whole of Aryavart.

Back in Hastinapur,it was decided that they would split the kingdom and the Pandavas would gain a barren land,Kandavpratha. Arshia knew what they would turn the land into so worry was never felt for them.

Duryodhana had travelled to Anga with his wife and children. They were ecstatic to welcome the new member.

"Chachi,when is he or she going to be born?" Lakshmana pouted. Arshia laughed and told her that she had no idea when but soon she was going to be introduced to her/him.

"Chachi,how did you marry chachu Karna?" Laksman asked, sitting down beside her as she started narrating her swamyvar.

.

It was 2:00 in the night and Arshia had gone into labour. Blood-cotting screams could be heard from inside the chamber as Karan grew restless. The twins were sleeping and somehow were not awake because of the scream.

"Karna,Bhanumati is with her. She won't let anything happen to Bhabhishree" Karna nodded but the restless feeling still grew. His steps were heavy and his lips lacked moisture.

The screams died down. Karna looked at the chamber doors, waiting for someone to come and inform him. Bhanumati came out with a gentle smile on her beautiful face.

"Bharta Karna,you are blessed with a divine putra. Congratulations! Arshia and the boy are healthy,Karna." Bhanumati said softly. A huge smile made up his face.

"Mitr Karna,go and meet your son,the future king of Anga!" Duryodhana patted his shoulder. Karna nodded at his best friend and entered the chamber.

The room gave off a comfortable and soft vibe. It had rose petals scattered on the floor and candles lit just recently, seeing the dasis lit off the dias.

Karna dismissed the servants and went to his crying son. He placed a small peck on Arshia's forehead and gave a small squeeze on her shoulder, assuring her that the pain was over now and she was alright.

Arshia tiredly nodded and hugged her child. Karna sat on the bed and carresed both his wife and child.

"What do want to name our son,priye?" Karna asked softly. With her tired eyes,she looked at her son and muttered

Vrishaketu.

"Vrishaketu"

Karna repeated and nodded excitedly at Arshia, liking the name. Arshia stared at her son, Vrishaketu and thought

"Vrishaketu, Karna's only son to survive the Kurukshetra war. Yes,he wasn't allowed to participate in the war because he was too young but he was the youngest. But it was different now. He doesn't have 8 elder brothers and if by chance,me and Karna have another child,he would be termed as the elderest. I messed with destiny big time, didn't I?"

Arshia smiled at Karna and fell into deep slumber.

. . . .

Thank you! Enjoy reading! Vote.

(And please comment!All your comments are so inspiring and fun to read!)