It was a long journey back through the jungle...and it was dark already... Srivalli search for a place to sleep when she came across a small hut by the side of the River at the outskirts of Village in Hastinapur...She hungry as her stock for four days was completed but knew it wasn't a great time to search for food and need to wait until morning to ask for some work in order to gain food in return...With that thought she drank some water from the River and went to sleep hungry
At Dawn Karna came for his Surya Pooja... Srivalli woke up early and came out of the house and saw a man performing Pooja....His body gleamed like gold when he was in water diligently praying to Surya dev
So she returned back inside and proceeds to practice with her sword and then to do meditation for the time being not trusting the unknown man she decided to stay quiet and aloof in order to not draw attention towards herself....After sometime she walked out but saw the same man...With Muscular Build and tall Stature...He seemed to be a warrior...but What drew her attention was his Graceful Warm Smile and radiance of his face...He was standing there giving help and granting favours to everyone who came upto him.. Srivalli realised she could ask him to help her find work today
"Greetings Mahoday! I would also like to ask you for a favour...I hope you would help me out!" Srivalli stood there humbly bowing to him as Karna too greeted her with a smile and told her to ask him whatever she wanted
"Mahoday...I want you to help me gain a work today..so that I can gain food in exchange for my work...I can Do cooking ,cleaning, sewing and embroidery, And I am also good at gardening!" She explained
"Devi I can surely help you... please come with me!" Karna said as Srivalli followed his lead and reached to his home where his mother Radha greeted her...To Srivalli the woman in front of her seemed slightly confused but the smile remained constant
"Greetings Mata...I am here to ask for a job...If you have any job here please give me work I would do it diligently and in exchange please grant me some fruits...I can do cooking ,cleaning, sewing and embroidery, And I am also good at gardening!" Srivalli introduced herself Radha was slightly surprised and so was Karna
"No Devi ji! I can provide you food...you don't have to work for it..!" Karna said
"Mahoday I cannot accept such kindness...and The only favour I ask of you is that you help me find a job today.!" Srivalli insisted as Karna although impressed by her self-reliance but he wanted to help her with food without giving her much labour as he had already observed working so diligently in the other houses.... Seeing the girl's determination Radha gestured Karna to comply with her request so karna helplessly agreed
"Dear child would you clean the Horse stable for us? In return I promise to provide you with food!" Radha said as Srivalli eagerly agreed to do the same...and Radha led her to the stable and explained what she had to do as Srivalli began cleaning the place diligently Karna watched from a distance..when his eyes fell on the top left corner where some tools for chariot repairs were kept...one of those heavy metallic tools rolled off the shelf
"Devi ji! Carefu-" and before he could run to her it startled her as she fell backwards stumbling on a stack of fodder and twisted her ankle...the tool fell just inches away from her feet..but she was safe
"Devi ji! Are you okay? I am really sorry about what happened!" He apologized helping her to get up
"It's okay Mahoday you alerted me on time otherwise it could've ended worse...I am clumsy I stumbled when I jumped awa- aaah!" She yelped not being able to stand on her feet and balanced as Karna quickly held her hand and should firmly to steady her...she closed her eyes taking long breaths and at the time Radha came there
"Son I believe she's injured severely... Please lift her in your arms and take her inside our house!" She said
"No Mata I am fine!" Srivalli tried to protest
"Not a word child! You need treatment...karna take her to our house I'll call the vaidya ji!" Radha said as Karna being the ever obedient son of his mother lifted her up swiftly as she gasped holding on to his Shoulder for support and he walked slowly to their house reassuring her that it is going to be alright making her blush because of their close proximity and gently placed her on the cot they had.
He went to his room to bring her some pillow for her injured ankle...He brought her a glass of water and quietly examined the Silver 'OM' Symbol on her wrist which was fastened with a red thread
"What happened?" Srivalli asked as she noticed him staring at her intently
"By any chance do you remember me?" Karna asked as she only looked confused
"Oh my god did you just forget me? Don't you remember karna?" He asked," Brahman-who-eats-meat...you helped me catch the deer??" Karna reiterated..as realisation dawned on her...a wide smile came to her face
"It's really you Brahman-who-eats-meat! You've become so different!!" She exclaimed...whereas Radha stood there confused by their words
"Maa this is the girl who helped me get accepted by Guru Parshuram!" Karna introduced and began telling the story of how they met which led to good old laughing session
"But what are you doing here..? You're asking for odd jobs and barely getting by? Is everything fine back at home? You were there in that jungle, I searched for you as soon as I finished my training!" Karna asked with concern
"Well my mother has permanently shifted to Kalinga...I didn't like the idea at first so I asked for sometime...and now I am going to Kalinga to stay with her...And along the way I am enjoying doing this off jobs and supporting myself!" Srivalli said completely cutting out the part about her royal origins thinking her long lost friend might not take it very well to the news of her being the illegitimate Princess of Kalinga
"Okay it's good to know everything is well with you!" Karna said with a smile that never left his face as the vaidya arrived and checked on her foot saying it was a minor sprain and everything will be fine with rest
Radha brought her food as Karna too enthusiastically served her food on plate taking her opinion in what she likes or dislikes...which made Radha smile Mischievously at her son who seems to have a liking for his long lost friend, she definitely liked this hardworking girl....and decided to ask her son when they're alone
A day has passed and Srivalli can stand up but walking is still a challenge for her
"Can I help you walk?" Karna asked knowing she looked bored by sitting in one place all day long
"Sure!" She agreed and held his hand and they walked around their yard...it was considerable size with a horse stable
"So what have you learned from your gurudev in all these years?" Srivalli asked as Karna looked a little surprised and smiled at her
"You're the first to ask me this question! Come let me show off my skills!but for that we have to go to the forest... practicing here can be dangerous" Karna said
"But Radha ma told me to rest at home!" She expressed her sadness
"If you don't mind I can carry to the forest, there you can sit back and watch me practice!" Karna suggested blushing a little...Even though she hesitated, she never once felt uncomfortable in his presence so she allowed him to carry her there...He bent down and lifted her up like she weighed nothing....then she insisted to carry his bow and arrows in her arms....just like last time Karna was gentle and carefully walked into the forest, in some distance they came to a clearing where he had already set up many targets on the trees nearby
He carefully made her sit on a tree log
"Wait! This is not the target...You get me that fruit please!" And as requested Karna plucked the fruit and gave it to her...She told him to aim and threw the fruit upwards as he pierced it in half with his Arrow....she requested two more fruits and three them both as he meticulously pierced both fruits in halves and caught them before they fell to the ground
"Come sit here...let's eat!" She cheerfully said
"That's a fancy way of asking me to cut fruits for you!" Karna chuckled enjoying the sweet fruit with her... Both of them chatting away in the woods and discussing Karna's training at Guru Parshuram's Aashram
YOU ARE READING
CHARULEKHA: The Warrior Against Destiny
General FictionCHARULEKHA A Sweet and Kind Doctor who has her own clinic which operates for the welfare of the under privileged, won the hearts of all of people in nearby small villages by her compassion and generosity, won the Rewards and honour from many esteem...
