TRUTH

YEARN

- Should not you be tending your own wounds prior going to tend your wife's?

Karn casts a surprised look at the lone dark figure standing at the door to his kaksh. Prince Arjun stands casually with his hand folded to his chest , shoulder supported at hinges of the door and legs folded one in front of other just like his dearest mitr. His kohl lined eyes are trained on Angraaj with intensity belonging to an uncharted territory.

Sensing the incredulity on his face, Arjuna replies while strolling into the room

- Oh , please, I might not be a good one. But still a husband, you know.

Karn's eyes gesture to allow his arch-enemy into his room. With a gentle smile , he answers while preparing medicines

- My Guru used to say one can not be absolutely good at something until they have become the absolute worst in it.

Arjun returns a sad smile.

His eyes fall on Karn's exposed upper-half. At this distance,he could clearly view the damages done which is much more than he has imagined. He dips his fingers into the analgesic paste Angraj has just prepared and is about to press them against a bruise on Karn's upper arm when Angraj exclaims

- Juna, don't.

Karn's armor glints against his skin to intercept the touch and Arjun's fingers feel the sharp edges of the impenetrable armor beneath it. Karn's unblemished skin appear with the withdrawal of the touch.

- It just healed?

Arjun gapes.

- Camouflage, Wound is still underneath though. The armor sometimes appear visibly or sometimes my skin becomes hardened like one.

Arjun with amazement draws one finger along his arm totally forgetting where and who he is with! Yes, there is a certain amount of rigidity and resistance he could feel in the texture of the skin. The question comes out of his mouth even before his mind can put a restrain to it

- B...but you were bleeding! Your skin has been exposed to devi Vrushali!! How ! It is not so for others ..........why?

Having observed the innocent curiosity visible in Arjun's face, Karn closes his eyes in exasperation. When he opens them , his upper half once again becomes bare to his enemy............ bruised and bleeding. Karn replies

- I can willfully retract and conjure it. But most of the time it appears subconsciously sensing my need to protect myself from imminent danger.

Arjun nods and then narrows his eyes

- You have been in a fight. Sometimes on the verge of unconsciousness. How could you keep retracting it willfully ?! Why?

- Because I have not been retracting it by will. It does not appear to her. Just like it used to be for Radha ma in my childhood.As for why....................................

This time Karna allows a little smirk to pull into his lips and mischief begins to dance in his eyes. Karn's hands take a gentle hold onto Arjun's dainty fingers roughened with callouses from stringing the bow. While applying the medicated paste over his fingers bled at the sharp edges of his armor, Karna answers casting a glance on Arjun's face

- Your best friend often tells me you are the most passionate lover in entire Aryavaart. How about you deduce it?

- Oh.....

-OHHH !

Arjun's complexion, if possible, turns even darker.

Karn answers this time with a boyish grin