Brothers

The End of Mahaveer Karna

Karna POV

Karna gazed at the chariot wheel in the mud. He snapped back into reality when he heard Madraraj Shalya tell him to get the wheel out. "Angaraj? Are you deaf? You need to get the wheel out!" Shalya spat. Is it my job or yours? You're the charioteer after all! But fine, I'll make sure to give you the satisfaction of my death! Karna thought bitterly. He decided to voice his thoughts. "Shouldn't you do it? It's the job of charioteers after all." Karna challenged. Shalya laughed. "Me? I am a 'Kshatriya' you are a 'Suta' pulling chariot wheels doesn't suit my caste! Go get the wheel out, sutaputra!" Shalya mocked. Karna gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Reluctantly, Karna walked down the steps of his chariot. Karna eyed the wheel suspiciously. He turned to face Arjun. "Arjun! Please follow the rules of the war and wait. Once I get my wheel unstuck we can continue battling." Karna called to him. Arjun nodded. Karna was unsure his younger brother would listen to him, but he faced the chariot wheel anyways and tried to pull it out. It's harder than usual. Karna was confused. Chariot wheels were toys to him.

Karna grunted. He heard Krishna yell at Parth. "Parth! What are you waiting for?! Kill Angaraj Karna!" Karna heard Arjun yell back to Krishna, "He is defenseless. I can't kill an unarmed warrior." Karna saw that Krishna looked very mad. "Parth! Remember how he insulted Draupadi, remember how he killed Abhimanyu." Krishna roared at Arjun. Arjun's eyes turned cold. You don't even know why I killed Abhimanyu, and why I insulted Draupadi. It's not like you were under Takshak's influence. Karna thought. Karna remembered that night as clear as day. 

He was walking in the forest. Vasusena suddenly heard a hiss. He looked around trying to find the source of the sound. There was nothing but darkness. Vasusena kept walking but was completely alert. "Angaraj!" he heard a voice hiss. He turned around and there was Nagaraj Takshak. Before Vasusena could even comprehend what was happening, Takshak bit him. Vasusena felt as if someone was drowning him under cold water. Before passing out he could hear a voice, "I will now be in control of your body, partially, but still in control. Sleep well, Radheya." That was the last voice he heard before his vision went black. 

Karna was jolted back into the present when Arjun drew back an arrow. Karna merely smiled. "I won't give up till the end," he whispered to himself. Karna knew that his competence will never be acknowledged by anyone. Oh, Radheya! We have to resort to deceit to kill you. Isn't that evidence of your competence? Karna smiled. Thank you, Bhagwan Vishnu! He silently thanked Krishna. Karna looked up from the chariot wheel. He heard Arjun start to draw his arrow.

The side of his lips twitched. Gradually, his lips formed into a loving smile. He remembered when he smiled at Arjun when he was in his Brahmin disguise. He never regretted it. He knew it was his time to die. Secretly, Karna wanted to use Brahmastra. He tried and tried yet he forgot it. It was Gurudev's curse. He turned to Arjun and showed his smile.

Tears welled up in his eyes. Arjun yelled and released the arrow. Karna gasped. He felt a big pain on the side of his neck. He collapsed backward. "Mitra Karna!" he heard Duryodhan's voice yell. Karna's heart was filled with sorrow. First, his younger brother kills him, then his Mitra witnesses it in front of his eyes. He recalled his children and wife. How distraught would Vrushali, Vrishasena and Vrishaketu be? He asked himself. A lone tear strayed out of his eyes, as he closed his eyes.