"The people the world love"

"Easier said than done, Arshia." Krishna sipped on his drink,his eyes refusing to leave the moon that illuminated the palace.

She shrugged,not having a proper answer to his statement.

Both of them stood, leaning on the opposite pillars of the entrance,with a non-alcoholic drink in their hands. The sun had set long ago and the Pandavas,along with Abhimanyu and Vrishaketu went to Hastinapur way before dawn,to invite Karna to the wedding.

Arshia held very little hope to see her dear husband in the Virat kingdom. She stared at the entrance,her eyes heavy. She couldn't remember for how long she was standing at the entrance,she had long before lost track of time.

"I will take my leave, Vasudev. I wish you a peaceful night." Arshia stood straight, turning away. "Waited for 7 hours, can't wait a little longer?"

Arshia's eyes darted towards Krishna,who swirl-ed his drink in his hands and looked at the bright moon.

"No,I would like to retire to my chambers." Arshia blankly replied, placing her cup on the tray held by the maid and proceeded to walk away.

Krishna looked back at her disappearing figure,sipping the last bit of her drink and keeping his glass away. A small smirk played on his lips,as he shook his head and stared at the entrance.

...

Arshia laid flat on her back, replaying the events of the day. It wasn't as pleasing as she wished it to be. Her jewellery remained untouched,her heavy clothes weighed her down, unwilling to give her the comfort of warmth. Her body resisted the urge to stand up and get warmer and get comfortable.

The fire-pit in her room seemed to provide her only cool breeze and the diyas in her room failed to light up the darkness that lingered around.

Before she could think further,a loud knock interrupted her. She looked at the door, suddenly feeling the urge to ignore it. She grabbed the pillow,laid to the side and covered her ears.

"Mata,already asleep?" A voice,close to her heart,called out. Motherly instincts taking over,she sat up straight in her bed,grabbed a shawl to try and remove the lingering cold as she walked to the mirror to appear presentable.

She opened the door and looked at Vrishaketu and Abhimanyu's widened smile in front of her. With a quick scan, Vrishaketu frowned, "You clearly weren't asleep,why did you take so long?" He complained, walking over and fixing her chudamani.

"Was resting. Tell me,was the ride comfortable?" She caressed his hair and cheek,a small smile playing on her lips. "All that later,now come on!" Abhimanyu let out a child-like giggle, covering her eyes as Vrishaketu walked behind her.

"Boys!" Arshia let out a scream, feeling her trip on her heavy and long dress. "Mother,you are fine,I got you." Vrishaketu grabbed her hands and made sure she walked comfortably.

"Okay okay,done." Abhimanyu laughed,as he counted down to remove his hands from her view. Arshia took a few seconds to get her clear view back,but once she did,the view almost seemed frictional to her.

There stood Karna,hugged by Abhimanyu on one side and Vrishaketu stood beside him,the resemblance being a bit too striking.

Her eyes darted towards Krishna,who stood behind Karna with a playful yet evil grin on his face. His expressions,for the first time, expressed clear emotions. He looked victorious.

Her eyes darkened.

Of course,she can never win against him,not even in her wildest dreams.

Her eyes laid on Karna,a smile covering her face. The smile that could fool the entire world but him.

"Pranipat Arya. Welcome."

Karna, deciding that the place was too public for him to confront his wife of her dissatisfaction on seeing him,smiled back with affection.

"Thank you Priye."

Vrishaketu victoriously smiled as Abhimanyu pulled away from Karna. Vrishaketu made Karna and Arshia stand together as he backed away and, seemingly, observed his parents. He couldn't remember the last time he saw his parents together,side by side,the last time he spent time with the two of them.

He went on one knee and seeked their blessings,as his parents laid their hands on his head. He stood up and smiled at the two of them.

"Pitashree, Matashree,I always had one wish to fulfill when Matashree would come back from the Vanvas. Can we please fulfill it now?" Vrishaketu looked at the two of them with hope.

"Yes Vrishaketu,tell us your wish." Karna smiled.

"We spend time together,like a normal family would. Under the circumstances of the current time,it would be impossible for us to spend time in public together. Can we roam around the town,on feet and spend time together, please?"

Arshia knew it took everything in him to say that. He knew it would make him appear vulnerable,make him look weak but his younger self always dreamt of a moment like this.

Dreamt of a normal and loving family.

"Vrishaketu,some other day? Your parents seem tired." Arjun stated.

"It's fine,brother. Yes Vrishaketu, let's go."

..

Time passed rather quickly. They had just reached back to the palace and Karna was getting ready for his Surya Puja.

The absence of one night's sleep didn't seem to affect the family,the tiredness wavering away. Arshia sat behind a sitted Vrishaketu,draped in a soft silk saree as she combes his hair and got him ready for the Surya Puja.

Soon the father and son exited the room for their puja. Arshia walked to the balcony,as she joined her hands, paying her gratitude to the sun lord. She backed away, sitting on her bed and watching the warm rays of the sun cover the chamber as he brought her legs to her chest and rested her face on her knees,not realising when she had drifted off to sleep.

...

Karna looked around the palace being decorated for Abhimanyu's wedding. Flowers everywhere and the palace seemed busier.

"Pitashree, please excuse me. I will be present in my mother's chamber after I am ready for the day." Karna nodded, allowing him to leave. He entered Arshia's chamber(and his temporary resting place) to see Arshia deep in sleep. The sun's rays enlighten her dusky beauty,but she seemed to get disturbed by it.

Karna closed the curtains andade her lay more comfortably.

"So many questions,where do I get my answers Arshe?" He whispered, playing with the loose strand and heavily sighing. "I will be back."

After getting ready for the day,he noticed Arshia was deep asleep and didn't have the heart to wake her up. He walked out of the room, ensuring that she wouldn't wake up for the next couple of hours.

.

"Pranipat Pitashree Karna!!" Abhimanyu exclaimed, touching his feet and grinning at him. Karna blessed him and pulled him into a short hug.

"The wedding preparations are almost done." Abhimanyu said,with nervousness in his tone. "It will be fine son,it might as well be the best moment of your life. "

"Well, pitashree Karna,tell me about your and Matashree Arshia's wedding! I would be more than honoured and pleased to hear it!" Abhimanyu insisted as Karna shook his head.

"As I said,the best day of your life,purely because I have experienced it and it was the best day for me. If I explain it,it will never end,so I wouldn't want to start."

"You love Matashree so much,Pitashree! Is that the reason why you haven't remarried?" Curiosity lingered in his tone.

"Maybe it is. I cannot think of feeling what I feel for Arshia with any other woman. Yes, remarriages are necessary for political issues,but I couldn't bring myself to remarry. I can't make Arshia feel the pain of sharing me and my love for her with any other woman-" Karna stopped when he saw the hesitation on Abhimanyu's face.

"Why the expression on your face?" Karna asked.

"I am afraid I don't feel such things for Princess Uttara."

"You will eventually. Love blooms,before,while or after marriage.

And I would love to give you this Gyan,but then your father would accuse me of giving you wrong romances and,anyways,it doesn't suit warriors like me and you to talk about romance and love rather than blood and swords"

Karna joked as he saw Arjun walking towards them.

"Hope I am not interrupting anything?" Arjun asked as Karna shook his head.

The awkwardness was there. The feeling of proving them superior,by defeating each other or possibly killing each other,still lingered,but both of them tried to push it down,at least for their kids.

"I have to get him ready,I hope to take him?" Arjun questioned as Karna nodded and stepped aside. "Will see you at the wedding Putra,excuse me-"

"Father, accompany me." Abhimanyu pleaded.

"I unfortunately can't,I have to talk to Arshia." Abhimanyu's pleading turned into light and respectable teases as he nodded.

Karna shook his head,provided Arjun a curt-nod and walked to Arshia's bedroom, hoping she was awake.

...

"Morning Arshia." Karna wished, taking off his crown and keeping it on the table. He turned to his wife's greeting and stood mesmerized at her beauty. She was sitting in front of her mirror,her eyes still carrying sleep,as she combed her long hair.

He walked over to her,placed her comb aside and put all her hair back, clearing her face of any traces of her hair. She looked up annoyed, trying to take the comb. He was quicker,he grabbed the comb and shook his head.

He took a chair and sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to such an extent that she was sitting on his lap(basically).

"Hello." He greeted near her ear.

"Hi." She sighed, annoyance a bit too clear in her voice. Karna stared at her funnily as he shook his head and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Annoyed much? Didn't expect that reaction." Karna sighed,not feeling a response from her. "Is there a problem,Arshia?" She turned her head,confused as she shook her head.

"No,not really. Just really tired. Like really really tired." She rested herself against him. "Well,you have to get ready. It's Abhi's marriage. Come on."

He shook her shoulders, making her sit up straight. She softly nodded, standing up and walking away,when he asked

"Is everything really okay?"

She paused,not turning around,as the question repeated in her mind.

"Was everything really okay?"

. . . .

Filler chapter.