Mahabharat - The Changed Fate

Chapter 27 : The Love Birds

The night felt infinite. Time itself seemed to slow down as Karna and Avika stood together under the endless expanse of stars. The warmth of their confessions still hung in the air, but now, in the quiet that followed, there was a sense of peace—of a future that they could now truly imagine together.

Karna's arms were still wrapped around Avika's waist as they stood in the garden, the soft fragrance of night-blooming jasmine surrounding them. His chin rested lightly on the top of her head, and her cheek was nestled against his chest. She could hear the steady beat of his heart, a rhythm that somehow felt in sync with her own.

Avika closed her eyes, letting the moment sink in. For the first time in a long while, she felt at ease—safe, cherished, and above all, loved. She could feel Karna's steady breathing, his strong arms holding her close, and the tenderness of his presence filled her with a sense of belonging she had never experienced before.

Karna, too, was savoring the moment. After days of hiding his feelings, of masking his emotions behind his playful exterior, he had finally opened his heart to Avika. And now that she was in his arms, everything felt right. He pressed a kiss to her hair, smiling softly to himself.

"Avika," he whispered, his voice gentle as he spoke her name. She lifted her gaze, her doe-like eyes meeting his. There was something in his expression—a quiet intensity that made her heartbeat quicken.

"Hm?" she responded softly, her hands still resting on his chest.

"I want to ask you something," he said, his tone more serious now. "Now that we've both said what we feel, I want to know... what do you want, Avika? I mean, with us."

Avika blinked in surprise. The sincerity in his question caught her off guard, and for a moment, she wasn't sure how to respond. What did she want? She had never allowed herself to think about it before. For so long, she had buried her feelings, convinced that a love like theirs could never truly exist.

But now that it was real, now that they were standing here together, she could finally let herself dream.

"I..." She hesitated, biting her lower lip as she searched for the right words. "I don't know, Karna. I've never thought about it before. I mean, of course, I've imagined being with you, but... I guess I just want to be with you. To build something with you. I want us to have a future together, to make memories like this."

Karna's eyes softened at her words, and he smiled. "You really mean that?"

She nodded, her cheeks warming with a soft blush. "Yes. I want to be with you, Karna. I don't care about anything else. Just you."

His heart swelled with affection, and he tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her even closer. "Then that's all I need to hear, Avika. As long as we're together, we can figure out everything else."

Avika's smile widened as she leaned into his embrace, resting her head against his chest again. She could feel the weight of his words settling in her heart, grounding her in the reality of their new relationship. The future was still uncertain, but she didn't feel afraid. Not with Karna by her side.

For a while, they simply stood there, enjoying the silence and the warmth of each other's presence. The night air was cool, but it was nothing compared to the heat radiating between them. Avika could feel Karna's fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on her lower back, and she smiled to herself, realizing how much she loved even the smallest gestures from him.

After a few minutes, Karna broke the silence, his voice low and teasing again. "So... does this mean I get to flirt with you as much as I want now?"

Avika blushed instantly, feeling her face grow warm at his words. She pulled back slightly to look up at him, her eyes wide. "Karna!" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of surprise and embarrassment.