Clashed destinies

Karn meets Meghna

SIX MONTH LATER IN HASTINAPUR
"How is Karna doing?" Asked a sympathetic Drupad. He had once attacked Hastinapur in fury. He used to loath the charioteer's son but with time things began to change. As people viewed Karn's condition they couldn't feel anything but pity for the eldest kaunteya. He was alive just for namesake. Six months earlier after Meghna's tragic death Karn couldn't get a hold of himself. He couldn't accept the death of his beloved wife.
"He is not doing well. None of us are...Meghna was too important in our life. I can't imagine my life without my best friend. "Draupadi said as she looked at the tiny baby curled in her lap. She was sleeping.
"Have you thought about her name?" Drupad asked as a smile emerged in his lips. His granddaughter was the only source of happiness in his daughter's life.
"I have thought of a name but I don't know if I should name her that. It can really hurt bhrata Karn." Draupadi said as she continued looking blankly at her baby girl.
"What name have you thought of" asked a confused Drupad.
"Meghna...I had thought of naming her Meghna but..." Draupadi paused not knowing what to say.
"It's a beautiful name." A weak voice was heard. Draupadi was startled.
"Bhrata Karn...I was..."Draupadi whispered guiltily.
"You heard me Panchali. I think it's a beautiful name and for your kind information I have decided something!" Karn said this time a little excitement visible in his voice. It was the first time in the last six months that Karn had spoken for so long. He had been acting like a corpse in these six months.
"What did you decide bhrata?" Draupadi asked hoping her brother in law was planning to move on with time.
"I have planned to fulfil Meghna's wish. She wanted me to avenge her death and Dushasan and Shalya deserve death after the horrible sin they have committed." Karn said a very strong and powerful determination visible in his face. After Meghna's death everyone were too engrossed in their pain to even think about the revenge. Meanwhile Dushasan was leading a really happy life. He had imprisoned his mother who had tried to speak sense into him. His father was in no place to even fight against his son.
No one had thought of attacking Hastinapur as they were too busy grieving for the loss of Meghna. No one had imagined that Karn would be the one to initiate the thought of revenge.
"But bhrata..." Duryodhan interrupted. He was too shaken by his sakhi's death and was still unable to process the tragic death of his friend.
"It's time we take a step. I have nothing else to live for in this life of mine. Except my mission to fulfil Meghna's last wish. Moreover have you all seen the condition of people in Hastinapur? Meghna, even after getting insulted so much cared about the people of Hastinapur. I have to fulfil my dead wife's last wish." Karn said with a different kind of strength.
"Bhrata is right! We are with you bhrata! For Bhabhisree!" Arjun cried supporting Karn. Slowly everyone found themselves agreeing to Karn's proposal. Their hearts burned with rage as they recalled Meghna's death. They couldn't ever forgive Dushasan!
"For that we should start by gathering army against Hastinapur. Since you are not a king anymore we need other kings supporting us to wage a war against Dushasan!" Krishna said surprising everyone with his sudden entry.
"Lets start with Aurangabad them" Karn said.
"I was thinking of starting with Matsyadesh. Maybe there is something waiting for us there"  Krishna added smiling secretively.
All agreed reluctantly. No one could ever decipher what Govind meant or implied.

MEANWHILE IN MATSYADESH
"Putri Jahnavi! Where are you my darling?" Asked a worried Kishen.
He was a poor fisherman in Matsyadesh and lived with his wife. They were childless but only six months ago were they blessed with a daughter. She was a young maiden born from the river water. Kishen was rowing alone in the night time when suddenly the lightning roared above his head and an akaashvani surprised him to wits. It was Narayan himself who told him how he would soon be blessed with a daughter  and he had to take care of her. Then suddenly a storm could be felt approaching. The river waters were violently trying to engulf his boat when suddenly the river was parted into three divisions and a sleeping girl was found floating on the waters. Kishen quickly saved the girl and brought her home. She was a young woman in her early twenties. He told his wife about the akaashvani .
"Hey prabhu! You idiot man! We have been gifted with a child. My baby daughter like Yagyaseni Draupadi she is born from the water. We will name her Jahnavi for she was found in the lap of Ganga ma herself. My darling daughter Jahnavi!" Rashi,Kishen's wife cried and thus Jahnavi was adopted by kishen and Rashi. Hardly had they known how their daughter was the reincarnate of Meghna herself,the former dead queen of Hastinapur.
"Jahnavi! My darling where are you?" Kishen shouted scared .
"I am right here pitashree" Meghna aka Jahnavi cried as she stood in the roaring waves with ease. She had performed such impossible tasks earlier. Everyone knew how she was the daughter of Ganga ma and she would never ever drown her. Meghna remembered absolutely nothing. She just knew she was born when she was twenty seven years old and her father was Kishen and her mother Rashi. She didn't remember anything about her last life in in dwaparyug or kaliyug. She was absolutely clueless exactly like Draupadi was when she first stepped out of the fire. She however often felt a strange emptiness in her heart as if she missed a certain someone but she couldn't recall who.

As Karn along with the Pandavas and Duryodhan reached Matsyadesh he felt a very strange feeling. A strange connection with the city. As he reached the kingdom he was really impressed by Virata's hospitality. He served them with delicious delicacies of the kingdom. The fish was the best of the lot. Never had they tasted such dish in their entire life.
"This fish is the best fish I have ever tasted." Arjun cried while Bheem was too busy finishing the extra pieces of fish served to him.
"Yes this is a very rare fish found in the depth of an ocean. It's impossible to seek out this fish" Virata cried.
"I didn't know you had such great knowledge about fishes." Karn said licking his fingers. It indeed was the best fish he had ever tasted.
"I had no idea unless This new fisherwoman enlightened me. She is the one who catches hold of this fish from the deep waters. All the fishermen cannot succed before her. They say she is the daughter of Ganga ma herself thus she can travel in any portion of the river without Ganga ma harming her. I never believe in such things unless I saw her walking on the water and performing impossible tricks in the wavy waters of Ganga which welcomed her feet lovingly." Maharaj Virata said.
"Interesting" Duryodhan exclaimed really impressed to know about such a wonderous lady .
"Very interesting" Parth agreed.
"I would love to show you all the tricks performed by the girl. It's really a treat to watch." Virata said.
The brothers nodded in unison.

Later in the afternoon Karn was treading alone in the banks of river Ganga. His brothers wanted to accompany him but he loved spending time alone in the silent shore of Ganga. He recalled his past...his happy days when he was merley a sutaputra...his happy days with Meghna...how Meghna and he used to loath each other...how they were married accidentally and how eventually with time they realised how they were desperately in love with each other.
"The river is going to get dangerous babu sahib. It's waves are indicating a storm and you don't know how dangerous Ganga is during the storm" a woman said to Karn.
"I am used to such storms amma. You don't worry " Karn answered.
"Can't you hear...she is pretty serious. The river can be dangerous" a girl cried. This voice alarmed Karn. His head shot up as he recognised the voice. As he turned around he was shocked beyond his wits.
"Meghna?!"he could barely speak.