The Sun And The Moon

Yagya

"No, I can't go to Angdesh." Divyanshi said.

"But you have to. You are now a part of our family. You must be present in the pooja." Duryodhan tried to convince her.

"If she doesn't want to then she must not. Let her choose." Karn insisted.

"You are the king, you should know that her presence is important for reasons." Duryodhan signed towards her.

Karn sighed, "Please, come with us." He said to Divyanshi.

"You are taking his side?" She questioned, raising one eyebrow up.

"I-" he hesitated, "Please settle this matter, you two. Don't drag me into this."

"You signed up for this, love." Her voice came out harsh.

"Please don't talk to me like that, dear." He frowned.

"Stop fighting like a married couple!" Duryodhan stopped them, "You have to be present at the yagya and that's final."

"How dare you expect me to act as you say!" Divyanshi raised her voice.

"I think of you as my sister, that is the reason I want you to be present at the yagya. It is a special day for me and mitr Karn." Duryodhan said calmly, she was surprised to see the calmness in his voice. "If not for me, at least for mitr Karn, please come to the yagya." He gave a comforting smile and left them both in confusion.

"Why the hell he acted like that?" She asked herself.

"Maybe, he is changing." Karn suggested.

"He is an avatar of Kali Purush. The only change he has in him is that he is worse than yesterday and he will be worse the day after." Divyanshi said, "He is a barbarian."

"He stood up for me when no one else did." He said

"That is because he-" she didn't let herself finish. "I can't tell you that."

"I get it." He exhaled, "Are you coming to Angdesh with us?"

"I guess I have to now." She replied.

"Good, I will have someone to talk to." He said.

~~~~~~~~~

"What is taking her so long?" Duryodhan asked impatiently.

"Let's wait for her, shall we?" Karn calmed him down.

"I am ready." Divyanshi announced as she walked out of the palace to the chariot.

"You look-" Karn looked at her in awe "beautiful!"

"So sweet of you to say that!" She thanked him.

"If all this is over, shall we go?" Duryodhan taunted.

"Oh! Yes, please." She said.

The trip was quiet and boring for everyone except Divyanshi and Karn. As usual, she sat in his chariot. When they reached Angdesh, all the formalities were done and Divyanshi was exhausted.

"The yagya is tomorrow and you are tired already." Karn said entering her room.

"No one taught you to not enter some 'parai ladki ka' room?" She teased him.

"I guess no one did." He jumped on the bed and lied next to her.

"You want to break the bed already?" She closed the gap between them.

"I can if you want to." He said. He played with her hair, gently brushing it. "I sometimes fear that what we have will get stolen from us."

"God forbid that!" She said seriously, "Don't say such things. This yug takes every single word that comes out from our mouth seriously."

"Don't worry!" He kissed her forehead, "I will protect us."

She hummed in return. She knew what they had was real but she feared Shakuni and Duryodhan might ruin the relationship between her and Karn. She was on the good books of Duryodhan, he thought of her as his sister but Shakuni, him and his evil plans was what Divyanshi was afraid of.

She knew what was to come, she wanted to change it but she wondered if there would be consequences. She rested her head on his chest and slept soundly.

The following morning, she bathed quickly and dressed up. She sat along with the other people in yagya and waited it for it to end. She looked at Karn whose eyes were set on the holy fire. She admired the determination he had in him, whether it was for his duty of being the Angraj, or his loyalty to his friend or his love towards her; he was serious and genuine.

The yagya was long, the pandit ji asked her to bring several items even though he had helpers around. Her body was tired from doing all the work, all she wanted and needed was rest and a tub of mint-choco chip icecream.

"Yagya samaapt!" The pandit ji said and bowed to the holy fire.

Everyone got up from their places and went to rest in their respective rooms. Divyanshi thought to give a hand to the helpers.

"Let's go, dear." Karn placed his hand on her shoulder, requesting her to stop. "You are exhausted."

"Am I though? I could lift a mountain right now." She joked.

"You can leave, Devi. I will manage." A sweet woman said.

"Ok sis." Divyanshi left with Karn.

"You haven't eaten in hours, is this you?" He asked with a soft chuckle.

"I just don't feel like to eat right now. I want to sleep." She said.

"Sleep? It is going to be evening in hour or so." He walked to her, "Are you feeling ok?" He checked her temparature.

She removed his hand, "I am hale and hearty as a horse. It's just that I didn't want to come here."

"I am sorry I couldn't drop you in Khandavprasth." He apologised.

"It's not your fault, it's mine. I should have joined Draupadi when she left." She heavily sighed, "I feel so terrible. She must be missing me right now."

"You are so good, anyone would be missing you right now." He smiled and caressed her cheek.

"Ah! It was cheesy, Karn." She said.

"I really should take flirting lessons from someone." He laughed.

"Yeah, you should." She said. She heard a loud thud. "What was that?"

"It's a bird." Karn went towards the balcony followed by Divyanshi, "A messenger eagle."

"Message for whom?" She asked.

Karn read the note tied to the eagle, "It is for you."

..............................

A message for Divyanshi but from whom?

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