Clashed destinies

Meghna emeges from the fire

Karn was sitting on his marriage ritual. He couldn't believe he was getting married. He had never planned on getting married without falling in love. Honestly he didnt even know if love existed.
His mother gave him a reassuring nod. He smiled. Yes he was getting married. So what if he was doing it only because his mother wanted it. He personally had no wish of getting married so early. He wanted to explore life a little more. He looked at the girl sitting beside her. It was her childhood friend Vrushali. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined getting married o Vrushali. He had always seen her as a friend. But Radhama really liked Vrushali. It's not that Radha had not asked Karn's decision on the marriage and he had all the freedom to say no but he honestly had no reason to refuse to this marriage offer. Vrushali was a sweet country girl. He was a sutaputra. No one cared that he wanted to be a warrior. His caste prevented him from performing any kind of weaponry. Thanks to his only friend Duryodhan who immediately gifted him a kingdom so that he can be a king. It was a secret that he was a student of the great Parshuram. Parshuram had almost cursed him when he came to know that Karn was a not a brahmin but seeing Karn sob like a child the old man was filled with pity and he couldn't curse the boy he had loved since so long. Karn kept thinking about his ill fate. Why did people always judge him based on his caste? He was a humble man. He was not prince . He was the son of the most loving parents in the entire universe- Adhirath and Radha. They loved him dearly. He always felt a connection towards weapons as if he was supposed to be a kshatriya but he was a suta and no one could change it. Guru Dron did not train him , the other princes mocked him and the pandavas insulted him. He never really hated the pandavas but there was a certain amount of dislike between them. He remembered when Arjun had challenged him in the skill showing competition prepared to show their skills. And how the crowd had laughed when they came to know that he was a suta. He felt insulted. Duryodhan was the only person who stood up for him. He without thinking had gifted himself to Duryodhan.

Oh god! What was he thinking! It was his marriage ritual. He had to concentrate. Did he really want this marriage? But it is too late for this question now. As the Pandit was chanting the mantras the marriage pyre's fire suddenly grew wild. It seemed as if the fire coild engulf the entire world. The fire grew wilder and wilder . The pandit was taken aback. He soon realised what was happening.
Karn and Vrushali were too scared. They had moved away from the fire.
"The Gods are blessing us with a gift. It seems someone will emerge from this fire in the similar manner as Yagyaseni Draupadi has emerged from the holy fire. We are blessed to be a spectator of this holy action." The priest preached and started praying.
Karn couldn't believe his eyes. He had heard about Draupadi's birth from the fire and it had always intrigued him . Now when it was happening right in front of him he couldn't believe his eyes. The fire grew wilder and wilder until they noticed a girl's body lying on the pyre and suddenly the fire blew off. The fore had blown off and a girl was lying on the middle of the fire. The fire had not harmed her at all. Her body was free from all scars and burns. The girl was unconscious. She was wearing a wedding attire. Everyone were shocked.

"I can see it! This girl....this girl is special! She will change the future! She is here for a specific reason! She will change the story! She has a name. The gods are telling me a name. Her name is MEGHNA! MEGHNA!" The priest continued shouting Meghna's name.
Everyone were mesmerised by the vision they saw. This was a holy act and this girl sure was no ordinary girl. Many thanked the gods for being able to witness such an auspicious event while many were scared if she was going to be good personality or would she poison everyone's lives with her extraordinary powers. Extraordinary births create extraordinary beings. Draupadi is a good example of it but Duryodhan is a bad example. His birth too is not a normal one. The people viewed her with suspicion. No one touched her for some time. The girl laid there unconcious. Karn felt the urge to see if she was alive. He went close to her and checked her pulse. She was alive. He removed the tresses from her face and he couldn't turn his eyes off her face. She was beautiful. He touched her face when he heard Vrushali's voice.
"Karn? What do we do with her?" Vrushali asked.
"We cant leave her like this. She is unconscious. She needs to rest. Let me take her to the guest chamber." Karn said and lifted the girl in his strong arms.

They were getting married in Ang palace and there were many extra chambers so he tossed the girl in one such chamber. He laid her down in a bed. That was when he noticed something. Her forehead was filled with vermillion. Sindoor! Karn can swear that he had not seen the vermillion when he removed the tresses from her face. Then how come now her forehead had sindoor? He started examining her clothes when he noticed his sleeve which was filled with sindoor. The vermillion might have fallen on his sleeve when he was running away from the wild fire. But when did he apply it on the girl's forehead. He shaked his sleeve and the sindoor started falling down. Now he got it. His sleeve was filled with sindoor . When he lifted her some of the sindoor landed in her forehead.
Wait....what does that mean? He has applied vermillion in her forehead. Does that mean they are married. That cant be! He had a bride waiting for him outside .
What was he supposed to do?!