Clashed destinies

Karn , the saviour

Meghna sighed relief as she saw Karn entering the court without any fear . His eyes were filled with disgust and anger. The king looked at him as a sense of fear crept into his heart. He had never seen Karn so angry earlier.
He stepped a little away from Meghma who looked at Karn emotionally. She was never pleased go see someone ever in her life earlier.
"Shalya! You have broken the rule of sending your people to our kingdom! In the last meeting ot was called a truce as you swore that none of your men will  be seen in Angdesh. But today not only did they enter the sabha but also kidnapped one of my family members! And if seems they have done it on your order!" Karn said coldly trying his best to stay calm.
"Family member huh? I suppose she is the new girl born from the fire! Then how is she your family? Is she your wife?" Shalya asked trying to reason with Karn.
Karn was more than angry.
"Its none of your business! You dont need to know this girl's relationship with me! You are too cheap and unimportant for me to waste my time on you!" Karn argued sharply.
Shalya looked at Karn furiously.
"Now let this girl go! Before I forget my promise of calling a truce with you and start murdering your men. Realise your mistake before Angdesh wages a war on Kashi! Stop this before I kill you with my bare hands!" Karn shouted .

Shalya was sure if a war took place Kashi would've no match with Angdesh  the sole reason was Karn. He single handedly defeat his entire army and kill him without any hesitation but he couldn't let go of his ego either. If he let Meghna go today his people would lose their respect for him.
"I am not afraid of you Karn! And this girl! Well I have abducted her and according to the rules of the Aryavrat a possession brought into my kingdom belongs to me! Even Mahamahim Bheesm had abducted the Kashi princesses years ago and they were married to the princes of Hastinapur! While the oldest princess gave up her life! So I know the rules very well Angraj! Meghna belongs to Kashi now and I am the king of Kashi so practically she belongs to me!" Shalya said at the top of his voice.
Meghna was so pissed up! If this man would've been in kaliyug he would be under the bars by now and here in dwapar yug the rules were so messed up. She couldnt blame dwapar yug though. Still in Kaliyug many rape victims are married to the ones who have raped them while their families support it. She felt so disgusted by the men standing in front of her.
Shalya looked at Meghna smirking and leaned closer to her and touched her soft cheeks . There was something so unsafe about his touch. It was a bad touch. Meghna turned her face away and hurled se abuses in English. Shalya was amused and tried touching her again  and again. He then pulled her hair with his impure hands and Meghna cried out in pain when Karn couldnt take it any longer. He was too angry to act sanely. He wouldn't forgive this man!

"A woman is not a possession Shalya and as for your example I demand the  change of this rule right now! But before that I will complete some unfinished business!" Karn shouted angrily and shot quick arrows towards Shalya. Within seconds Shalya dropped down dead on the court. Everyone gasped with fear including Meghna  who looked at Karn immediately. He seemed too angry.
"You have tried to insult a member of my family! And I couldn't forgive you for that!" Karn shouted.  He then shot an arrow towards Meghna which broke the iron chain into pieces. Meghma was freed. He then reached Meghna and without uttering a single word clasped Meghna's hand and both of them left the court. Meghna felt secure when he held her hand  . He had protected her honour today. He was her saviour. He had been there for her when she needed him the most. She instantly forgave Karn for all his past actions. This man deserved a second chance.

Karn and Meghna were seated in their chariot. Karn was still too angry to speak anything while Meghna was in a shock. This was the second time  someone had played with her honour like this. The memories of that dreadful night combined with today's incident in the sabha and she couldnt control her tears any longer. She started crying loudly.  She was too scared.  She had no wish of kicking in this cruel world where women were treated like objects no matter what yug it was.

Karn who was extremely disturbed by what he saw in the sabha was taken aback seeing Meghna cry. He regretted not speaking up before Dhalya had touched her. It affected her so much and her condition was killing him. Karn since his childhood respected women and today seeing a woman crying for her honour was impossible for him to witness. He placed his hand on Meghna's shoulder and tried to console her. She immediately leaned on head on Karn's chest. She needed a shoulder to cry amd Karn happily offered. Meghna started crying . Karn hugged her tightly in his strong arms and caressed her head with his warrior hands. He spoke kind words to her amd rubbes her back trying to make her stop. It was a very emotional scene and Karn too couldn't stop his tears any longer. Sulentbtears rolled down his eyes as he saw Meghna suffer. Meghna cried her heart out in Karn's arms and both of them were entrapped in an emotional moment.  Meghna also felt safe as Karn embraced her . She felt a sense of security and protectiveness in Karn's arms.
Both of them hugged each other and cried together . Meghna cried for what had happened with her and Karn cried as he had witnessed that horrible incident.