Maya In Mahabharat :A New End To The Old Tale

The new found courage

Karna had noticed the subtle shifts in Maya's demeanor every time Vrushali came around. Her usual composure faltered, and while she tried to hide it, he could see the flicker of sadness in her eyes. Today, he decided to test the waters-to see if Maya felt something for him, the way he always felt about her

As they walked through the fair earlier, Karna had deliberately acted more familiar with Vrushali, engaging with her in a way he never had before. It wasn't something he wanted to do, but he needed to know. If Maya truly had feelings for him, he would be able to sense it. And sure enough, as the day progressed, Maya's mood darkened.

Now, as evening fell, Karna found her sitting alone, her shoulders slumped in a way that wasn't like her. He approached cautiously, unsure of how to break the silence without betraying his own intentions. He sat beside her, not too close, and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"You've been quiet today," he remarked, keeping his tone light, though his heart raced with anticipation.

Maya didn't respond immediately, her eyes still fixed on the horizon. She knew something had shifted today-Karna's sudden closeness to Vrushali had caught her off guard, and no matter how much she tried to brush it off, the feeling of jealousy gnawed at her. But what could she say? She wasn't in a position to admit anything. They had never spoken about their feelings, and maybe they never would.

"Just a lot on my mind," she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karna studied her profile, his expression unreadable. He wanted to push, to ask her outright, but something held him back. If she felt anything for him, she wasn't going to confess it easily-just like he wouldn't. They both seemed trapped in a dance of unspoken words, circling each other but never truly connecting.

"You seemed... distant," he said, testing the waters, watching her reaction carefully.

Maya's heart tightened at his words, but she couldn't bring herself to be honest. Not yet. "I'm fine," she lied, offering a small, tight smile. "Just tired."

Karna looked away, suppressing the frustration building inside him. He had seen her reaction when Vrushali appeared; he knew Maya wasn't as unaffected as she pretended to be. But still, she wouldn't give him any hint, any sign of what was truly going on in her heart.

After a long pause, he spoke again, this time choosing his words carefully. "Vrushali... she's been around for a while. We share a history, but I don't know if it's the same anymore."

Maya stiffened slightly, though she tried to mask her reaction. His mention of Vrushali only deepened the unease she'd felt all day. "You seemed close," she said quietly, her voice betraying the faintest hint of bitterness, even though she didn't intend for it to.

Karna heard it-the tone he'd been waiting for. She was affected. His gamble had paid off, but now that it had, he didn't feel the satisfaction he thought he would. Instead, there was only a sense of guilt.

"We've known each other for a long time," Karna continued, almost as if explaining himself, but still holding back. "But that doesn't mean everything is as it appears."

Maya didn't respond, her mind swirling with confusion and frustration. She wanted to ask him directly-wanted to know if Vrushali meant more to him than she did, but the words stuck in her throat. What right did she have to ask?

Silence settled between them again, heavy and uncomfortable. Both of them sat there, side by side, unable to speak the truth that hung in the air between them. Neither willing to break the barrier, yet both painfully aware of it.

As the evening deepened and the fair began to wind down, Karna sighed softly, standing up. "I guess we'll never really know if we don't talk about it," he said, more to himself than to her. Then, without waiting for a response, he added, "I'll see you tomorrow, Maya."

Maya watched him leave, the weight of the unsaid words pressing down on her chest. She wanted to call out to him, to stop him and ask-ask if she meant anything to him beyond friendship, beyond whatever Vrushali represented. But she couldn't. Not now.

As Karna turned to walk away, Maya's chest tightened, the thought of him leaving with this misunderstanding between them unbearable. Her heart raced, and before she could stop herself, she called out to him.

"Angraj, wait."

Karna paused mid-step, turning back to her, his expression unreadable. He had hoped for this, but now that the moment was here, his own heart beat faster.