"What has that boy done now?" Gangadutta growled warily

Whatever he was expecting when he enquired about Karna, it certainly isn't this. Just by saying Vasusena's name to Bhisma Pitamah, it looked like he's contemplating strangling someone with his bare hands, most likely the man in question. He looked so vexed that Arjuna wondered what Karna did in this life to earn his ire.

"He's impersonating as the Head Charioteer, Pitamah Bhisma. I warned him that impersonating a member of the Army invites a death sentence but he said that he got promoted to his father's position as his father is unable to continue his duties due to his illness."

Instead of getting angry, Pitamah Bhisma sagged in relief. "Vasusena is the Head Charioteer of a division, Arjuna," Bheesma told his favourite grandson.

"Truly Pitamah?"

"Yes, my child."

"B-but he's so y-young." He stuttered out. "And don't Shudras usually start their training at the age of six and ten?"

"Usually yes... But Vasusena was a bit of an unusual case." The Protector of Hastinapur stated softly. "Out of pity, we took him in when he was one and ten years old. Within nine months he completed his basic army training."

"Within nine months?" Arjuna repeated shocked at the number.

"Yes, he completed his training within nine months. His fellow trainees called him a rakshasa. Any weapon we put in his hands he mastered the basics in less than two months. Khadgavidya, Dhanurvidya, Bhaala Yudh, Rath Daud, Gadh Yudh and Mala Yudh all mastered in under nine months. None of the others were able to match him."

"Can I ask why he was admitted to the training at such a young age?"

"Adhiratha, Vasusena's father, begged us to take his son into the army," Bhisma replied softly. "Vasusena's brother, Shon, was brutally killed in front of his eyes. He became withdrawn and blamed himself for his death. He starved himself, didn't talk much with others and carried on with his days weeping for his brother. The final straw for Adhiratha was when Vasusena flayed himself. When his friend Padmavati found him a few hours later, he had been literally drowned in his own blood. If he had been found even an hour later, no amount of treatment could have prevented his death.."

Arjuna went numb on hearing the plight of his once-hated enemy. But there's a niggling voice at the back of his head telling him that there's something wrong with this picture.

"He told me that he served in the army for a year and a half. If he completed his basic training at eleven... What has he done in the last four and half years when he's not serving in the army?" Arjuna asked in a confused manner.

"Well as you know even though Kripa was a good teacher, he doesn't know the way to teach children how to handle astras. So after his training was completed, he made the journey to Parashurama Kshetram. Despite being a Suta he wanted to wield astras it seems."

"Aren't the astras taught only to those of Brahmin and Kshatriya caste? Did Vasusena learn astras from Guru Parshuram by lying to him about his caste?"

Arjuna can understand Pitamah Bheesma's wrath. Guru Parshuram was his teacher and knowing that the man he looked up to was cheated would arouse the anger of his kind grandfather. So Vasusena is nearly as powerful as he was in his previous life. And knowing Guru Parshuram he might have an identical curse.

"He learned nothing under Guru Parshuram, Arjuna." His thought processes were derailed by those few words.

"I don't understand Pitamah." He said in confusion.

"Parshurama Kshetram, from Hastinapur, is two years travel on foot Arjuna. The boy travelled back and forth without receiving any education from Guru Parshuram. He said that he didn't know the stipulations that Guru Parshuram has for his students and said that he didn't want to lie about who he is. "

"So he travelled from Hastinapur to Parshurama Kshetram and back in futility? A quarter of his life was wasted just like that with nothing to show for it."

"He didn't learn under Guru Parshuram because of his hatred. His hatred turned him into a cold-hearted child who hated Brahmins with all that he is." Bheesma said softly. "Oddly Guru Parshuram said that no one matching Vasusena's description came to learn under him."

So in this life, Karna didn't lie about his caste to Guru Parshuram. So why is his sweet grandfather angry with that suta? "Pitamah... You seemed to dislike this Vasusena very much. May I know what he has done to earn your ire?"

"Guru Parshuram himself came to Hastinapur to meet Radheya one and half years ago. He told us that he wanted to see the child who came to him and left without learning anything under him." Gangadutta said softly. "No one knew what had happened during his meeting with Vasusena and no other soul knew what they both spoke about but..."

"But?"

"However, after his talk with that boy, Guru Parshuram has his head bowed down in shame. He was a kind yet prideful man and I never saw him cry in my life. We always know Vasusena was a caustic, bitter and abrasive child but that's no reason for him to be cruel towards my master. He was not the Brahmin who killed Radheya's brother." Bheesma's nostrils flared in an irritated manner. "And yet he made my master cry for no reason other than his hatred."

"Why haven't you chopped his head then?" Arjuna raged when he saw his kind grandfather brought to tears.

"I did try to do so," Devavrata replied grimly. "There was a lot that happened in between but the final result was that he made me apologize to him in front of the whole army."

"WHAT?"



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

Guru Parashuram was not just a revered teacher, but also his father figure who had instilled in Bhisma a profound sense of duty, honour, and respect. Bound by an unbreakable code of conduct, Bhisma's dedication to his teacher was unwavering. However, when a soldier under his command dared to insult his master due to his hatred, everything changed.

The crying face of his master cut deep into Bhisma's soul like a searing arrow. His blood boiled with anger and indignation at the audacity displayed towards his beloved mentor. The warrior within him thirsted for retribution. His anger for the first time in his life overruled his patience and he picked up his sword and walked towards the home of Radheya.

Anyone with a shred of survival instinct would run in the other direction on seeing his face. Anyone with a sense of self-reproach will at least bow down his head in shame. Vasusena did neither. Instead, he ushered all his family members inside his home and turned towards him with mockery on his lips. He then folded his hands and bowed down. The utter gall boiled Bhisma's blood further.

Not even giving a chance for the boy to greet him, Devavrata swung his sword at his exposed neck only for the boy to sidestep in a blink of an eye missing him completely. Radheya sighed in irritation and then proceeded to dodge incoming swings without even bothering to fight back. One of the swings managed to cut him from shoulder to him but even though it drew blood it was not a deep or serious injury.

"I really should have expected this," Radheya muttered to himself irritated.

The commotion attracted the guards and a few minutes later several soldiers surrounded them both. Guru Parashuram accompanied them looking harried.

"Devavrata! Cease this foolishness at once. Vasusena stand down." he ordered.

As if choosing to pour oil into fire Radheya mocked. "I was just minding my own business. Why are you lumping me with him?"

This pissed off Bhisma into something fierce. "Soldiers arrest him and throw him to dungeons."

"What did my son do?" Radha, Vasusena's mother, wailed. "At least tell us what crime my son committed."

"Amma..." Radheya spoke calmly with a kind smile on his face. "Please go inside. Don't worry too much I'll be back by sunset. I promise."

"But..." "Amma please..." He said softly but in a firm tone. "I promised didn't I?" On seeing her nod he continued "I intend to keep my promise. Please don't worry about me. I'll be back by sunset so make me something delicious."

Unable to say anything in the face of her son's courage, Radha walked away. "Alright then... As an accused, I have a choice of choosing someone to represent me. I will speak on my own behalf then. But for the judge, I want someone who is impartial and a person who cares only about dharma. So please suggest a judge, Guru Parashuram. Because I was nearly killed in your name and Commander Bhisma has a lot of sway in the courts. Please do me this one favour and select an impartial judge."

"You dare to question our integrity..." One of the soldiers growled as the soldiers surrounding him had their swords and lancets drawn to pierce them through the entrails of the man who had dared to spit at their pious, invincible general.

Vasusena looked dully at him and gestured towards all the people who were glaring at him as if his point had been proven. "No one knew what we talked about. No one knew the history between us, Guru Parashuram. Your student nearly killed me..." he stated, pointing at the wound on his body"...yet people have already condemned me as a wrong-doer. That's the clout Commander Bhisma commands. He was the one who nearly killed me without even questioning me and I'm the wrong-doer here. I didn't even fight back. Tell me who is wrong here? Me or Commander Bhisma?"

When the crowd remained silent he scoffed. "And yet a fool has the gall to pretend that he is impartial. Anyway if I came back here alive by evening, I'm innocent. But if I'm in dungeons or beheaded I'm guilty."

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

"He was such a mild-mannered child, that Vasusena," Bhisma said softly. "But when provoked his tongue was more poisonous than any cobra. Guru Parashuram chose Vidura to be the judge on that day. Vasusena was not even phased then and for a very good reason. He annihilated us in the court."

In the court of Vidura, in the face of all the accusations thrown at him, Vasusena patiently listened but remained silent without losing that mockery on his face. He waited till Gangadutta had exhausted himself and requested a chance to defend himself.

"I won't take long as I promised my mother that I'll be back by sunset." He said, grinning like a fox. "So let me ask both a few questions and the answer they are to give is a yes or a no. Nothing more, nothing less. I care not for their reasons so can I go ahead?'"

Vidura nodded. "Did Sage Parashuram tell you to bring my head, Commander Bhisma?"

This question led to outrage in the court. "No need to be that agitated. It's a simple question. Yes or No?"

"No." was gritted out.

"According to Dharma, before punishing any person the accused should be given a chance to defend himself. Did you give me that chance, Commander Bhisma?"

"No."

"You said because I had insulted Sage Parashuram, you wished to kill me. Did you know what we talked about?"

"No."

"Did you ask him the reason for which he cried before coming my way to cut me down?"

"No."

"What you have committed is an abuse of power, Commander Bhisma. Do you agree?"

"Yes." All the soldiers in the court looked at each other uneasily.

"Anyways the crime levied against me is that I insulted a sage. It's not a crime worthy of capital punishment as the sages usually curse those who insult them. But still, let me clear my name for that crime."

"Sage Parashuram..." He started. "I'll list out everything that happened during your visit to my home. Just answer yes if it's true or no if I have lied."

"You sent one of your disciples, I don't know his name as my mother received him, yesterday to announce that you will be coming to our home in five hours."

"Yes, I have sent Manu."

"On your arrival, we received you with respect worthy of your station and gave you a place of honour."

"You and your family did."

"Our entire family served you faithfully and fulfilled all your requests and orders. Did we not?"

"Yes, your family did that."

Vasusena looked over the court condemning them with his eyes alone. "So let's come to the crux of the problem. The reason you have cried."

"You gave me a boon. What's the boon and what's my answer, Sage Parashuram?"

"For you to be my disciple but you refused it."

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

"WHAT?" Arjuna exclaimed.

"Yes. Guru Parashuram wanted to take Vasusena as his disciple." Devavrata said softly. "He threw that on my master's face and made him cry."



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

"I gave reasons for my refusal. Didn't I?"

"Yes."

"Have I given you even a single invalid reason for my refusal?"

"No."

"Commander Bhisma stated that because of my hatred, I insulted you. Have I insulted you in hate, Sage Parashuram?"

"No."

"So what is the reason for your tears then?"

"Your words when you gave me your reasons hurt me, Vasusena." He stated softly.

"Till today have I uttered any lie to you, Sage Parashuram? Remember Sage Parashuram till today have I uttered any lie to you?"

"No."

"I ask your forgiveness if my words hurt you, Sage Parashuram. But now I ask the court, I haven't lied to the Sage till today. I haven't insulted him and yet I was nearly killed for speaking the truth. Prime Minister Vidhura... I asked all the questions I wanted to. So now please pass your judgment."

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

"Vidura has acquitted him of all crimes. And I had to seek forgiveness from a child who hurt my master. The fool has the gall to ask me to stay out of his business as my penance." Devavrata growled. "When I tried to ask my master the reason Vasusena refused his tutelage did you know the reason that imbecile gave to Guru Parashuram?"

"What did he say?"

"He said to Guru Parashuram that taking tutelage under him is akin to a goat trusting a butcher."

Arjuna doesn't know how many shocks he can take anymore.

In his previous life, Karna held Guru Parshuram on a pedestal. Even after receiving a curse from him, he respected him a lot. Whatever happened to the Karna of this time one thing was certain. The world has gone mad. There's no other reasonable explanation for all this madness.

Too used to Bhima's loud snores, no one heard or cared about his screams of frustration that night.

The world made sense again when he saw his cousin, Suyodhana and Karna being friendly towards each other. Well... At least this seems consistent in any world.