KARNA : THE WARRIOR

CHAPTER 33

Duryodhana was chatting with everyone present in the room. He and Ashwatthama were happy as they found their new sister. They all were merily chatting but Karna reminded him to go to Bheeshma to have personal chat because he know though Bheeshma accepted the partion but wasn't completely in agreement. He wanted Duryodhana to go and have talk with Bheeshma and hoped their relationship progress. From last two years he knew they were close but not as they should he according to him. So he wanted Duryodhana to personally go and have a heartedly chat. Bhanumati and Draupadi didn't talk about who has listened to conversation so they assume it was only them. Draupadi wanted to speak but Bhanumati stopped her, she knows how much her husband crave love of his Pitamah and family. She knew this would be excellent opportunity for bith grandfather and grandson to amend their relationship. Karna was also not unaware because of footsteps he heard so he has same intention as Bhanumati, he wanted Duryodhana to strike the hammer when it's hot. Like always Duryodhana agreed what his friend has to say while Ashwatthama sided with everyone. So they all left the room. Bhanumati took Draupadi away with her while Ashwatthama and Karna went to the guest chamber as Duryodhana proceed towards chamber of his Pitamah.

Upon reaching there he asked guards about availability but got answer in negative, he then decided to stay there and ask guard to inform Bheeshma of his arrival and asking for meeting him. He went inside the room and sat on chair available there. After waiting for some time he was bored and though he came to this various time he decided to observe it closely to pass his time. He went to shelf and was looking it when suddenly he heard the door unlocking, he doesn't know what came upto him but like child's futile attempt to hide when he was going to be caught for his mischief, his first response to hide but upon hiding he recalled he was one who ordered soldier to tell his Pitamah he was here so he cursed his stupidity and wanted to come out but voice of his Pitamah tore through, not knowing why he was hurt that even now his Pitamah cared about Pandavas. He was not agry but resigned to his fate but once he heard questions of Yudhishthir in his cold, lifeless voice ground slipped from his foot. He never in his entire life expected this. He couldn't fanthom why such thoughts came across in mind of Yudhishthir. He then heard proclaimation of love his Pitamah has for yudhishthir but along the lines he heard his and his family names in list of his Pitamah's loved one. Tears welled in his eyes, this was enough for him and he wished just once his Pitamah would have said this to him. He also can discern there was something immensely wrong in this situation he wanted to come out but a feeling of whats coming next is extremely important so he decided to hid himself further and come out when atleast yudhishthir will be out, most he would swore secrecy about what he will hear.

The tale of Maharani Kunti and her illustrious deed does nothing but anger him to an unprecedented degree. How could that woman abondoned his friend after just half hour he opened his eyes in this world. The rage took over him but he felt a hand on his shoulder which is absolutely impossible but he could swore he felt it. It was on his shoulder exposed to slight sunlight, he could swore he saw illusion of his friend there but no was there, his rage was gone and thought drifted to his Mitra no Jyeshtha, the Suryaputra. He realised why that illusion came even in his absence his friend is there for him. He never cared about caste or what not only valour and his deeds could he identity of a person, a lesson he learnt early in his life that stuck with him and that resulted him in making best of friends. Even then he always doubted his friend could be Suta because of his capabilities, he chugged it as teaching from bhagwan parshuram but now he knows it wasn't just that his jyeshtha the Suryaputra was born to be king the education he received was just preparation of his fated position. He didn't know whether his friend has known this or not but that never mattered to him why simply because Karna was someone he loved as family and that is enough for him whomsoever blood flowing through him but he was sad and angry what his friend has to go through. He may have not known a lot but he knew of insults his Jyeshtha faced. It made him angry everytime but karna always calmed him down saying it wasn't worth to pay attention. Now that he know everything could be avoided if a Selfish woman spoke but didn't made him enraged. This was woman whom his mother consider sister really it was at this time he think his Mamashree did right planning lakhagrah and Maharani Kunti should be dead feeling all the pain because according to him she deserves nothing less. He also heard what the great mother of Pandavas thinks of her children he never thought he could be more disgusted but lo behold princess of kuntibhoj exceeded his expectations once again. How could be that person becomes someone gods bestowed children upon is beyond his thoughts. He did sympathize with Yudhishthir. As eldest brother of Kauravas, parents being blind and extremely busy while other ignored him and his brother, he can very well understand when Yudhishthir expressed his need for father figure in his life. He was glad too that Jyeshtha has been there for him, he had his right on him as friend but now he can be Anuj to someone that thought thrilled him but a fear of losing him too came to him so he seriously listened if anyone planning to take Karna from him then he won't allow it and for this he will surely wage war forgetting anything or everything about peace. But as he heard the following conversation he became numb hearing what Pitamah suggested. He thought he was planning shipping karna to yudhishthir but after hearing his name mentioned his ear perked up. When he heard Karna told Pitamah him and his brother as boon of Mahadev his happiness knew no bound. He then heard guilt in words of Pitamah for his negligence and deeds of past. Whats more surprising is what Yudhishthir has to say about him. When both party swore they would do anything to become his loved one he didn't know why tear flared in his eyes once again. Was it because he wanted to have such relationships but because of Bheem they couldn't have or due to several misunderstanding the brothers could never become one but now Yudhishthir want to try and he would give him a chance, last chance if this failed then there will be no possibility of co existence ever again.

He then heard his Pitamah telling yudhishthir to tell truth to Duryodhana first then Karna, he didn't know what to think of it but once he heard it was because they know how much Karna matter to him and how genuinely happy he would be to accept him as eldest. He was thinking they made good start in getting his good books and decided to make is presence known coming out in front of them.