Petrichor - Time Travel To Mahabharat Era

61

There was a huge celebration going on, as Vasudev Krishna had arrived in their kingdom, and will leave the very next morning to Dwaraka, leaving Vaishnavi. Draupadi asked Vaishnavi to stay with her for few days, to which she agreed. Gandhari and Kunti made arrangements for the celebration as they want Krishna to enjoy his time in Hastinapur, and asked Vaishnavi to prepare a song for him with her musical troop.

While she was teaching them music, her mind was filled with the thoughts of her husband, and his wound. She took her dupatta and saw the torn part, and sighed. "Vaishu? What happened? Why are you sad?", someone asked her, entering the area. She looked up and said, "Oh Karn! How are you?", she asked him half-heartedly. He noticed this behaviour of hers and asked, "I'm fine, Vaishu! But, you are not! Why are you being indifferent towards us?", he asked sitting beside her.

She looked up at him and said, "Yeah? Really? You expect me to behave normally with you? I expected you guys to atleast apologize to those poor Pandavas, for trying to kill them. But, you guys- You were mocking them?". He looked at her shocked at how she possesses the information. She continued to clean her flute and said, "I know! Don't have to get surprised!". He composed himself and said, "Well, my friend Dur-", she immediately looked at him with an impossible expression and said, "Oh stop it, man! Always your friend your friend! Get out of that maze and try to see the reality, Karn! He is not as good as you portray him to be!".

He stood up and said, "Vaishu! You scold me how much ever you want to! But not my friend! He was there with me when no one was!". She stood up as well, "Am i not your friend, then?". He looked at her and said, "No! Not like that! You don't understand what I'm trying to say!". She smirked and turned around to rectify a mucisian's mistake, "Karn! standing by friendship is not wrong! But you are standing by wrong! I'm telling you to realise that, that's it!". He tried to explain her, "No, Vaishu! You are as important as Duryodhan to me! That's why I listen to whatever you sa-", she cut him off by laughing, "Oh! Wow! Really, Angraj? You didn't win the Swayamvar that day, deliberately! Because that fox of a king of Gandhar brainwashed you! You really are easy to get brainwashed you know?".

He didn't know what to say, because whatever she was uttering was true. He didn't believe her back then. She turned around and said softly, "Karn! There's still time! Choose your side wisely! Please, please don't get blinded by your friendship! There is a harsh truth that you don't know! And i- I am compromised not to say that!". He was not ready to listen against his friend, yet again.

He shook his head and left the place, while Kunti saw all this happening and came towards her. "Putri! He didn't listen, did he?", Kunti asked. A frustrated Vaishnavi turned around and said, "Mata! Why did you leave him that day? Or you could have told everyone that he indeed is your son! Only if you spoke out, only if! Now this trait of yours has passed down to your sons as well, you don't know! And moreover, you made me promise that I won't tell anyone about his identity! Mann! I should really stop giving promises to everyone! Look now! He is totally against his own Brothers! How are you able to digest this!", she burst out, all her emotions at once, and went out of the room. She stopped and turned her head a little, "And also, I'm not angry at you for doing my sister's life like this! Everything happens for a reason! And this burst out of mine is not because of that, Mata! I forgive you!", and left the room, making Kunti feel more guilty for what she had done to Draupadi.

The biggest punishment one could ever give to anyone is forgiveness.

Kunti sat there and started to cry, as whatever the future girl uttered was true. Draupadi, who was passing by, saw this and went towards her immediately. "Mata! Mata, what happened? Why are you crying?". Kunti hugged her tightly and said, "Draupadi, Putri! I'm sorry! I've made your life hell by dragging you into this marriage! Your- your sister made me realise my mistake today! Until now, i thought all this happened because this is fate! But no, this was all because of me! If you can, please- please forgive me! Putri!".