Mahabharat: Cruel Fate

Chapter 7

In Parashuram's Ashram,

Karn's POV:

The sun beat down on my exposed skin, a relentless drumbeat against my resolve. Guru dev Parashuram slept soundly with his head resting on my lap. I dared not move, the slightest movement from my part could risk his slumber. The scorpion now drawn by the warmth of my exposed skin, had found its mark.

The pain was excruciating, a fiery lance piercing my flesh. My brows started sweating and after a while my vision was starting to get blurred at the edges. I clenched my teeth, my nails digging into the ground beneath me. Neither I could cry out nor could I move an inch. Not with Gurudev so close.

My mind raced, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Fear, for the pain was unbearable and was starting to take over my senses. Guilt, for I had deceived him by hiding my true identity as a sut putra. And then, a strange sense of pride overcame my mind – I was enduring this pain for the sake of my training, for the respect I held for this man.

Gurudev's breathing was slow and steady, a rhythmic counterpoint to the chaos rising within my body. Each breath was torture, a reminder of the trap of deception I put for Gurudev to train me. But if I realised one thing, it was that I couldn't risk waking him. Not now.

Time seemed to stretch on and on into an eternity. The pain began to dull, replaced by a numbing sensation. My vision was fading, the world narrowing down to a single point of excruciating agony.

Then, as suddenly as my pain was taking over, it was the end. Gurudev Parashuram stirred, his eyes fluttered open. His gaze fell upon me, confusion etched upon his face. I saw his eyes widen as they landed on the blood seeping through my clothes and the scorpion still biting my thigh.

A cold dread washed over me. It was over. He knew.

Meanwhile, in the forest outskirts,

Author's POV:

The morning sun cast long, dancing shadows through the trees as Esha and Ekalavya made their way towards the nearby village. Esha, her mind still preoccupied with the mysterious Karn, walked with a distracted air. Ekalavya, sensing her unease, tried to lighten the mood with playful banter.

"Remember that time we tried to catch a fish with our bare hands?" Ekalavya chuckled, the memory bringing a smile to Esha's face.

"How could I forget? You almost got eaten by a giant catfish," she teased back.

Their laughter faded as they approached the village, a mixture of mud-and-thatch houses placed haphazardly amidst the greenery. They continue walking and found a bustling bazaar, filled with people bargaining over prices and vendors showcasing their stuffs. The noisy and vibrant atmosphere of the bazaar was a stark contrast to the solitude of the forest.

"Let's start with the village elder," Esha suggested, pointing towards a particularly large crowd sitting under a huge banyan tree nearby the bazaar and an old man sitting in a stool." That's probably the village chief, he'll know who we are looking for. "

Ekalavya nodded, his gaze scanning the crowd. "Seems like a good plan," he agreed.

They made their way through the busy bazaar, the disharmony of voices and the mouthwatering aroma of spices filling their senses. Esha's eyes scanned the faces of the villagers present in the crowd, hoping to spot someone old enough to recognize the name Karn.

Finally, they reached near the village chief. The wizened old man had a long flowing beard and he sat on the stool smoking hookah and listening to the crowd for their daily problems. They approached him respectfully, Esha taking the lead.