Mysterious Time Traveler in Dwapara Yuga

Chapter 21: Ira's Unexpected Encounter with Suryaputra Karna

Everyone was happy to see the results of Ira's hard work, but no one was happier than Ira herself. It wasn't just because she had successfully controlled the spread of Cholera-a disease that, if not treated properly, could be fatal. The real reason for her joy was something else entirely. Yes, she was proud of her achievement in combating Cholera, but what truly filled her heart was seeing a living, breathing legend from the Great Mahabharata War: Suryaputra Karna, the eldest of the Pandavas and the spiritual son of Surya Dev.

Living in the Dwapara Yug, meeting such figures was not unheard of, but it still sent shockwaves through her heart. She had always thought that if she were to meet anyone from the war, it would be Krishna, whom she had known for a long time. The old saying "expect the unexpected" suddenly made perfect sense to her.

Her encounter with Karna was nothing short of extraordinary. Ira had ventured to the outskirts of the Kuntala kingdom to check if others were affected by Cholera. Unfortunately, she ran into bandits. Normally, in her true form, she could have easily defeated them. But now, trapped in a child's body, her stamina was limited despite her agility and skills. She was cornered by the bandits when, like a hero from a drama, Karna appeared just in time to save her. When one of the bandits hurled a weapon at him, his Divine Kavach (armour) appeared, revealing his identity to Ira.

Angry and frustrated, Ira couldn't control her outburst. "Did you really wait for the right moment to appear?" she snapped. Karna smiled and replied, "Even though you're small, you know how to take advantage of it. You fought well and your observation skills are impressive." Irritated, Ira retorted, "And I think your observation skills are weak!" Before Karna could respond, she moved closer, took his hand, and bit it hard enough to draw blood. Overwhelmed by emotions, fatigue, and the stress of the Cholera outbreak, Ira burst into tears.

Karna was perplexed. Why would the child bite him after he had helped her? And why was she crying as if he had hurt her? Trying to console her, Karna said, "Everything is alright now. There is nothing to fear. I'm sorry I didn't help immediately. If you want, you can bite me again."

Hearing this, Ira glared at him through her tears and said, "Do you think I'm a dog?" Her crying intensified, leaving both of them confused. Karna tried to understand why she was acting like that. Meanwhile, Ira felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement but couldn't stop her tears.

She decided to get information from him, seeing that he was not in a Brahmin disguise. Hoping he hadn't already finished his training with Guru Parashuram, she lifted her little hand, indicating that she wanted to be carried. Surprised by his own instinctive reaction, Karna lifted her. He felt an unexpected peace, a feeling he hadn't experienced for a long time due to constant rejection from Gurus who refused to teach him because of his caste.

As they walked, Ira asked, "What is your name? What are you doing here? Don't you know that the Kuntala kingdom is affected by Cholera and its borders are closed?"

"I am Radheya Karna," he replied. "I am looking for a Guru to teach me Dhanurvidya. I know the gates are closed, so I am staying in the forest and collecting fruits. Now, what is your name? And why are you in the forest if you know the disease is dangerous?"

They soon reached the temporary camp where Ira and her people were helping those affected by Cholera. When Ira's maid Meera, who was now ten years old, saw her, she ran towards them, exclaiming, "Princess, from now on, I am not leaving your side!"

Meera, like an older sister to Ira, always called her "Princess" despite Ira insisting on being called by her name. Now Karna understood who the child in his arms was and why she was there.

Ira smiled and said, "I am safe and fine, Meera. This is Karna. He helped me when bandits tried to kidnap me." She instructed her people to arrange a place for Karna to stay and prepare food for them.

Inside the tent, Ira pointed Karna to a chair, saying, "This is an emergency camp, so please adjust with it."

Feeling apprehensive, Karna suddenly blurted out, "I am a Suta!" The sudden outburst startled Ira, causing her to spill a little water on the table. She angrily replied, "So what if I get scolded for spilling water? It's your fault!"

Karna was dumbfounded. Why was she more concerned about spilled water than his caste? He asked, "Doesn't it matter to you what I said?"

To which Ira calmly replied, "To me, you're a human like me, nothing more, nothing less. You said you're searching for a Guru is it because of your caste. Shouldn't learning be based on a person's ability rather than their caste?"

"So, Bhrata Aditya, tell me, do you have anyone in mind who could teach you?" Ira asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Aditya? Who is Aditya? Are you talking to me?" Karna was puzzled.

"Did you see anyone else here? Of course, I am talking to you," Ira replied with a playful smirk.

"But my name is Karna, not Aditya," Karna clarified.

Ira looked at Karna for a good few minutes before she spoke again, her gaze unwavering. "Bhrata Aditya is a name I have given you. What you are doing will be like the dawn for those in darkness, just like how the sun dispels darkness with its brightness. For some reason, you remind me of the sun when you came to protect me."

Karna felt warmth in his heart at her words. "So, now tell me, do you have any guru in mind to teach you?" Ira pressed on.

"Yes, I have someone in mind-Lord Parashuram," Karna responded.

"Good choice, Bhrata. He will teach you irrespective of caste, but only if you show full dedication to learning, no matter what the obstacles are. Are you ready for that?"

"Are you saying that Lord Parashuram will teach me even after knowing my caste? Are you telling the truth?" Karna asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"Of course, Bhrata Aditya. I call you Bhrata not just for fun; my words always have meaning. Yes, Guru Parashuram will teach you. He is against the caste system. But I must tell you, never lie to him, no matter what. He will see it as betrayal, and we all think the same. Never lie to him, and I promise you, Bhrata Aditya, he will look for dedication and ability alone. If he refuses to teach you, you can come to me and ask why I lied to you. You know where I live, right? The reason I insist on honesty is that he has a hot temper. If you lie, he will curse you instead of understanding your reasons, and any knowledge gained through deceit will be useless when truly needed."

Just then, Meera entered the tent and announced that dinner was ready. Ira invited Karna to join her. What Karna saw next shocked him to the core. Princess Ira was sitting on the ground with other workers. They didn't seem to react, suggesting that she did this all the time. In his heart, Karna felt the true warmth of family, similar to the feeling he got when Radha Ma fed him. He decided to give it a try without lying to Lord Parashuram, even if he failed. After all, he had found one sister who accepted him fully, knowing who he was and asking for nothing in return. After so many days, his stomach and heart felt full, and he had a very peaceful sleep.

The next day, Karna told Ira that he would be leaving for Mahendragiri to meet Lord Parashuram. Hearing this, Ira said, "Bhrata Aditya, you will succeed in what you want to do. When you become a great warrior, always come to protect me and never hesitate, no matter what or whom you face. Your weapon should always be by my side."

"Don't worry, I will always stand on the side of Dharma, and I vow to you that I will never let my Bhrata be on the side of Adharma. Will you make this vow for me?" Ira asked, her voice filled with sincerity.

Karna smiled and replied, "This Aditya will always be on the side of his sister, no matter what. I will not hesitate to raise my weapon, even against God, to protect my sister and her happiness."

Hearing this, Ira hugged him tightly and told him to write letters to her and that they would meet soon. With this promise, they said goodbye to each other. That day, even the sun glowed warmly, and the climate itself felt good, as if to show that something wonderful had happened. Suryadev was happier than ever, knowing that his son's fate had changed on this very day because of his son's promise. He decided to bless Ira with a boon someday.

Author's Note:

There will be no updates for the next two days as Diwali is approaching. Have a wonderful and safe Diwali with your family! Once again, Happy Diwali!