Mahabharat: Cruel Fate

Chapter 8

"Karn!" Parashuram roared, his voice echoing through the quietness of the forest. With a swift movement, he flung the venomous creature away. Karn, his body drenched in cold sweat, bowed his head in apology. "Forgive me, Gurudev. I disturbed your slumber over such a trivial matter," he pleaded. Parashuram's gaze, sharp as an eagle's, pierced through Karn. "Who are you, boy?" His voice was a low growl, laced with suspicion and pure rage. Karn hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. "Please do not be angry, Gurudev," he stammered, "I endured the pain to avoid waking you. I did not wish to disturb your peace." "Who are you?" Parashuram thundered again, his voice a sharp clap of thunder in the still air. The question hung heavy, laden with accusation. Karn trembled, his body reacting to the raw fury in his Guru's voice. "I am your student, Gurudev, your servant, Karn," he replied, his voice barely an octave higher than a whisper. Parashuram's anger was the tempest, his eyes were twin cyclones of fury. "What is your caste?" he demanded, his voice a guttural growl. Fear gripped Karn, but he responded, his voice breaking, "I am a Brahmin, my lord." Parashuram's rage escalated, a monstrous wave threatening to engulf them both. "I warn you, Karn, " his voice was a thunderclap, "If you lie again, I will disown you as my student. I will forget I ever taught you the art of archery." Karn's heart pounded in his chest, a drumbeat of fear and despair. The weight of his deception was crushing, and he knew the consequences would be dire. Parashuram's rage escalated, a monstrous wave threatening to engulf them both. "A Brahmin boy has very soft skin," he stated, his voice laced with disbelief. "They do not have the ability or strength to endure this kind of pain. If a scorpion ever bit them, they would never last this long, they would have fainted by now." His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, bore into Karn. "What happened? Tell me your true caste," he demanded, his voice a cold command. Karn felt the noose tightening around his neck. The truth, a bitter pill, was inevitable. He closed his eyes, preparing himself for the storm that was about to break. Karn filled with shame replied," I am a Sutputra. My father's name is Adhirath and my mother's name is "Radha".  Karn's confession hung heavy in the air, a dark cloud threatening to unleash a storm. Parashuram's eyes, once filled with anger, now held a complex mix of shock and disappointment. "A Sutputra?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. The revelation was a dagger to Karn's heart. He had hoped to conceal his true identity forever. But now, the truth was out in the open, and he braced himself for the consequences. Parashuram's silence stretched into an eternity. Karn could feel the wheels turning in the sage's mind, processing the shocking revelation. Finally, Parashuram spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, "You have deceived me, Karn. You have betrayed the trust I placed in you." "How dare you?" Parashuram roared, his voice a thunderclap in the quietude. "How dare you lie to me and tell me you are a Brahmin when you are a Sutputra?" His rage was a tempest, threatening to engulf them both. Karn, his heart pounding, responded, "I know, I understand the gravity of my deception, Gurudev. But years of insults, deprivation, and harassment drove me to this desperate act." Parashuram's anger, while still potent, seemed to waver slightly. "A man of true character rises above adversity," he countered, his voice stern yet laced with a hint of contemplation. "He doesn't stoop to deception." Karn felt a surge of defiance. "And yet, I survived," he retorted, his voice rising. "I learned, I grew, despite the odds. Is that not a testament to the human spirit?" A long silence stretched between them, the tension palpable. Parashuram's eyes, filled with a storm of emotions, finally softened. "You have shown courage and resilience, Karn," he admitted grudgingly. "But your path has been clouded by deceit."

"A ideal man eradicates the roots of scorn by demonstrating exceptional ability," Parashuram declared, his voice laced with both anger and wisdom.

"Ability, my caste was the main barrier between me and my dreams and ability. Tell me, Gurudev, would you have taken me as your student if you knew I am a Sutputra?" Karn's voice was laced with bitterness, a stark contrast to his usual respectful tone. "Would you not have treated me like an animal?". After hearing this Parashuram again yelled" Wrong wrong wrong you are going about it all wrong. I took an oath that I would never teach anyone other than students who are from the brahmin caste but that doesn't mean that I hate or mistreat people from other caste." Parashuram continued "If you told me truth I wouldn't have accepted and that's not because you are Sutputra that we would have been because you weren't Brahmin, Parashuram doesn't believe in caste division".  But that is how I've been treated my entire life, Gurudev," Karn replied, his voice trembling, tears welling up in his eyes. "Insulted, deprived, and harassed at every turn." Parashuram's heart ached. "And you assumed I would be the same?" he asked, his voice filled with disappointment. "You could have told me the truth, Karn. I would not have turned you away." "I know, Gurudev," Karn responded, his voice choked with emotion. "I am so sorry. I forgot the fundamental difference between a human and a divine being: a god never abandons their own." Tears streamed down Karn's face. "This is my fault, Gurudev. All of it," he sobbed, his voice filled with remorse. "Please forgive me." A heavy silence descended upon them, the only sound the soft sobs of Karn. Parashuram reached out, his hand hovering over Karn's head, his heart heavy with sorrow.  "Because you lied to me, your education will remain incomplete," Parashuram declared, his voice laced with both disappointment and anger. "Gurudev," Karn began, his voice trembling, "I understand your anger. But I was desperate. I yearned for knowledge, for the ability to protect myself and those I care about." Parashuram's expression softened slightly. "True knowledge comes from honesty, Karn. Not deception." Karn bowed his head, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders. "I know, Gurudev. I am truly sorry." Parashuram sighed. "The divine astras I've taught you, the secrets of archery I've imparted – they are a gift, but also a responsibility. And like any gift, it can be taken away." Fear gripped Karn. "No, Gurudev, please," he pleaded. "When you need them most, when your life hangs in the balance, you may find yourself unable to recall the knowledge you've acquired," Parashuram warned. "It is a consequence of your deceit." Karn's heart sank. The thought of losing his hard-earned skills was unbearable. Yet, he knew he had brought this upon himself. "I accept the consequences, Gurudev," Karn replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "The skills you've imparted are a part of me now. I will cherish them forever. " I will take this curse as a blessing. The things you have taught me are out of my imagination, but the pain I have inflicted on you is also unimaginable" "you will not understand. You will never understand. This is first time I am feeling this sad after cursing someone" Parashuram cried and Karn replied"The curse was an appropriate punishment for me but to hear this pain and see these tears in your eyes is my life's greatest achievement because it means you care for me even after everything I have done."  Parashuram looked at his disciple, his heart torn. He knew Karn was not inherently evil, but the deception had left a deep wound. "Leave," he said finally, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "Your journey continues, but not here." With a heavy heart, Karn turned to leave. The ashram, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. He walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet morning, carrying with him the weight of his actions and the uncertainty of the future.

 Karn found himself at the edge of a small village. The familiar scent of wood smoke and cooking food filled the air, a comforting invitation. He entered the village, his steps echoing on the packed earth road. The villagers, a mix of farmers and artisans, went about their evening chores, their faces etched with a mix of weariness and contentment. Children chased each other, their laughter a cheerful counterpoint to the day's toil. Karn found a small inn at the heart of the village. The innkeeper, a stout man with a warm smile, welcomed him with open arms. A crackling fire warmed the common room, and the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air. After a hearty meal of lentil soup and bread, Karn retired to a small room upstairs. As he lay on the rough bed, his mind raced with thoughts of his journey, his past, and the uncertain future that lay ahead. The events of the day had shaken him to his core, but amidst the turmoil, a sense of purpose was beginning to emerge.

________________________________________________________________________________

In the forest,

The night was quiet, the only sounds were the soft crackle of the campfire and the distant hoot of an owl. Esha lay asleep, her breathing slow and steady. But beneath the calm exterior, a storm raged within her mind.

Esha's POV:

I was back in the Red Room, the cold, sterile environment was a stark contrast to the warmth of the forest. My wrists burned as metal dug into my skin, the weight of a handcuff tying my left hand with the bed post was a constant reminder of my captivity. The air was contaminated with the sickly scent of disinfectant and fear.

Suddenly, a sister came and opened the handcuffs of all the girls. Not one of them woke up due to the sleeping pill mixed with their daily drinking water. I realised it one day when I forgot to drink water before bed. But why were they opening the handcuffs, it was barely 1 am according to the clock in the room. Then, she came close to me to open my handcuff, I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. She came close and started to open my handcuff and then moved on to the next girl being none the wiser. After opening all the handcuffs, she left the room abruptly. My mind started racing about why she came and freed our hands. Time flew by it was nearing 4 am now, and a sharp whistle pierced the silence, and the room erupted into chaos. Girls, no older than me, moved with practised brutality, their bodies honed into weapons. I found myself thrown into the fray, my instincts took over. Blows rained down on me just like I was blowing lands on others, each strike a testament to the brutal efficiency of my training.

I fought back, my movements a blur of desperation and rage. But I was outnumbered, outmatched. A particularly vicious opponent pinned me to the ground, her face inches from mine, a glint of triumph in her eyes.

My throat closed, and my breath coming in ragged gasps. Fear, cold and suffocating, enveloped me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move. The world was closing in.

A sharp pain jolted me awake. I gasped for air, my heart pounding in my chest. Sweat drenched my body, and I couldn't breathe. The nightmare had faded, but the terror lingered.

I glanced at Ekalavya, sleeping peacefully beside me. I didn't want to disturb him, but the fear was overwhelming. I curled up, trying to calm my racing heart. The memory of the Red Room was a constant companion, a dark shadow that never seemed to fade.

As the first rays of dawn touched the forest, I finally began to relax. The nightmare was over, for now. But the scars it left would take longer to heal.

WORD COUNT: 2004 words

That was a long chapter this was me making up for missing an update due to my exams and uploading this weeks one late. I have attached the video I referenced the scenes from.

please vote after reading