Destiny or Accident?

Episode: 16 || Solution(s)

"The books we call 
the immoral ones 
are those that
show the world in its real shame."

The sun was setting, scattering vibrant hues across the sky—a breathtaking blend of gold, pink, and violet stretching into eternity. It was the kind of sunset that poets wrote about, the kind that brought peace. But inside, Advika felt nothing close to peace. In fact, she was the exact opposite of the serene sky outside her window. She was a storm—raging, seething, and desperate for release.

Since the moment Mata Kunti—the lady in white, as Advika had come to call her—had announced to the world that she and Chandu were the prince and princess of Mahishmati, Advika had barely been able to contain her fury. The sheer absurdity of it was enough to make her want to hurl a spear at someone, anyone. Instead, she stood stiffly by the window, glaring at the calm sky as if it were mocking her.

Behind her, Chandu was lounging comfortably, still dressed in the ornate sherwani he wore to Gauri's wedding, as he stuffed his face with sweets and snacks. Mata Kunti and Maharani Gandhari—the blindfolded one—were doting on him, treating him as if he were some lost royal heir. And Chandu, being the eternal child, was lapping it up, grinning and thanking them like the sweet, obedient boy he never truly was.

Advika wanted to scream. Her mind raced with thoughts she couldn't control, bouncing from one wild theory to another. How could anyone concoct such a colossal lie? What were these royals playing at? Why had they trapped her and Chandu in this bizarre, ancient drama? They'd only been here a few hours, yet everything had spiraled so far out of control that she wasn't sure where reality ended and fiction began.

And Karna... Her heart clenched involuntarily at the thought of him. She cursed herself for feeling anything for him at all. It was one thing when they were in the future, their connection something fleeting, almost unreal. But here, in his time, everything was different. Everything was real. Too real. And now, he was gone too, whisked away by his friend Duryodhana, who would spill blood to keep Karna safe.

She bit her lip in frustration. She had to talk to Karna, to explain—no, to apologize for the punch. They were already disrupting the timeline simply by existing here. It wasn't just about them anymore; the consequences could be catastrophic. But her feelings for him, the ones she was desperately trying to suppress, only made it more complicated. And she hated complications.

A sudden, sharp pain pulsed through her head, as if her thoughts had finally overwhelmed her. Rubbing her temple, she tore her gaze away from the sky. She couldn't stand the sight of Chandu being pampered any longer. She had to get him out of there before she exploded.

Advika marched across the room, forcing a smile as she approached Mata Kunti and Gandhari. "Pranaam, Maharani. Mata," she greeted them, the forced pleasantries grating on her nerves. "Humne aapko bahut tang kar diya hai. Ab hume chalna chahiye. Chale, Chandu?" Her tone left no room for argument, and she shot a subtle glare at Chandu in case he even thought about refusing.

Chandu, caught mid-bite, swallowed nervously and quickly nodded. "Ji, didi," he mumbled, wiping his hands on his sherwani and standing up, folding his hands respectfully.

"Arre, aap dono jaa rahe hain itni jaldi? Surya ast ho chuka hai," Gandhari said, her voice full of concern. "Aaj ke liye ruk jaate."

"Ji, hume deri ho jaayegi. Aagya dein?" Advika replied, her fake smile still plastered on her face as she turned to leave. But before she could take a step, Kunti's voice halted her.