Destiny or Accident?

Episode: 21 || Sneak

"Babu Moshai, 
Zindagi badi honi chahiye,
lambi nahi"

Advika was thoroughly frustrated, and at the end of her rope.

From the start, she had always been impatient—wanting things to happen her way and fast. It was a trait that defined her, both in life and in her missions. Back in her days as a spy, her impulsiveness sometimes led her to sabotage her own plans, only for them to miraculously work out. Luck had been her silent ally for years. But now, pacing in the vast, unfamiliar halls of Hastinapur, nothing seemed to be going her way.

The source of her frustration? Karna.

Two long, excruciating days had passed, and every attempt she made to talk to him had been thwarted. Every time she tried to corner him, to catch him in a moment where they could speak privately, he slipped away with precision, almost as if he knew she was coming for him. The more she tried, the more distant he became, and the more determined she grew to close that distance.

She had tried everything. She scouted secluded places where the guards were minimal, meticulously timed her approach, and had even gone so far as to drag him—quite literally—to these hidden corners. But Karna was no longer the man she could pull along with ease. Back then, when he had been without crown or armor, he had followed her lead, letting her guide him, even if neither of them would admit it. Now, however, he was practically untouchable. Always by Duryodhana's side, cloaked in the mantle of royalty, and when not with the prince, Dushasan was always buzzing around him like an ever-present shadow.

And to make matters worse, Chandu and Dushasan had become fast friends. Chandu, with his charm and youthful energy, had wormed his way into the hearts of the Kauravas. Gandhari doted on him like a son, and the brothers—Duryodhana included, though he didn't show it much—pampered him as if he were royalty. Advika's frustration burned whenever she saw Chandu laughing with Dushasan, the two of them whispering conspiratorially. Everyone was getting along, except for her.

Every time she thought she had Karna cornered, he slipped away, leaving her standing there with clenched fists and a glare that could burn through stone. And the worst part? She knew he was doing it on purpose. He knew exactly how frustrated she was, and it only made him keep his distance more.

On the surface, her irritation bubbled over in harsh glares and muttered curses, but deep inside, something far more dangerous stirred—a quiet ache, a vulnerability she refused to acknowledge. She was hurt, though she would never admit it, not to herself or anyone else. It stung that Karna wouldn't even look her way, wouldn't give her the chance to speak. But in this world, weakness was preyed upon, and she wasn't about to show hers.

Enough was enough.

Advika decided to stop playing fair. If Karna wasn't going to meet her on her terms, she would force the situation. She wasn't going to sit around and wait for him to stop avoiding her. The reasonable approach had failed, and now it was time for something more direct.

With cold determination, she began calculating her next move. She memorized the guard shifts, mapped out the layout of the back garden surrounding Karna's guest chambers, and planned everything down to the second. If she couldn't find a moment where they could speak privately, she'd create one. No more games.

Whether he liked it or not, Karna was going to listen to her.

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Climbing down from her own balcony wasn't easy. The sandstone edges were slippery, and she could feel her skirt catching on every corner of decorative edges on wall. Advika crouched low, gripping the ledge with her fingers as her legs dangled precariously in the air. "One slip, and it's over," she thought, but the thrill of seeing him drowned out any hesitation.