ARYAVARTA

chapter 15

Karn 15(age)
Ashwathama 15
Yudhishtir 13
Duryodhan 13
Bheem 12
Dushassan 11
Arjun 10
Vikarn 9
Nakul and sahadev 8
Dussala 6

After yudhishtir kunti give birth to 2 more children bheem and Arjun. Madri give birth to twins nakul and sahadev.  Gandhari give birth to 2 more son's dushassan and vikarn and a daughter dushala

Karn

Ashwathama and I along with my brothers were watching the soldiers training. Ashwathama and me are trained by guru kripachariya . We both love archery while duryodhan loved training with mace . For a boy of 13 he has a lot of energy and strength to wield such a weapon .he may have inherited those from our father Maharaj dhitrarashtra. Though he may be blind we have seen his skills during training .He is a master in close combat it always amaze us how he sense and predict the opponents next move. Dushassan is not interested in learning anything all he likes to do is prank others and atlast there was vikarn who is always trying to do what his brothers are doing. He is trying hard to hit the target but none had find its target.
Ashwathama has hit an another target and yet he is gloomy like always

" You should be happy vikarn is trying hard to hit a target while you are here being gloomy" said Karn

" It's not enough it's not a perfect
shot " said ashwathama

" You had hit the target "

" No, I missed it by a point . I has to hit it perfectly if not he will be disappointed"

"You don't know that, you are just speculating. He will be proud of you. "

" You know when I asked my mother to describe him the word she used was perfection. I have to be perfect Karn"

" Well, there is still time, now please help me in teaching vikarn"

Ashwathama smiled at his friend and walked to vikarn. They could see a laughing dushassan and a duryodhan who is trying to teach vikarn but to others it may look like a scolding

" Vikarn , jyesht and ashwathama hit the targets at this distance accurately at this age, even dushassan did it . You have to hit it next time . you are grandson of great bhishm , remember that" said duryodhan

" Let me help you vikarn " said Karn

Vikarn smiled at his eldest brother unlike duryodhan who always shouted at him rather than teaching, Karn always corrected him . It's because of him he decided to study  archery. There was no children who could hit target like Karn . He had even heard pitamah praising jyesht privately to grandmother Amba

" Let us professionals handle this duryodhan.you are just scaring him " said ashwathama

Karn chuckled hearing his friend.
Duryodhan stepped away to watch  his jyesht helping vikarn

" Hold the bow tight. Concrete on target , feel the direction of wind and then release " said Karn

Vikarn released the arrow, though he hadn't hit the target accurately the arrow at least hit the board. Kripachariya looked at Karn and smiled at him. Karn heard a clapping sound and saw their mother cheering vikarn along with aunt kripi

" Try a little you will be able to hit it accurately. " encouraged ashwathama

Karn looked at gandhari and smiled at her. She tilted her head towards him and return his smile. It always amazed how she could sense her children. She could say whether we are smiling or crying . He still remember her dark beautiful eyes. And it hurts him that it is for him she blinded herself , to protect an adoptive son, a bastard left to die.

5 years before the truth was revealed to Karn that he is not his mother's son. It helped him to understand the indifference shown to him by the elders. He is not a kuruvanshi to them he is a danger that may become a threat to throne. Never in his heart he desired the throne all he desire is affection from bhishm, satyavati , vidhur. A venue to prove that he is not a burden but he can be more. Yet sometimes , when he is alone his heart fills with questions of who he really is, what is his purpose and why his real parents abaonded him.