Mysterious Time Traveler in Dwapara Yuga

Chapter 25: A Grand Welcome for Karna in Kuntala

As the days flew by, the much-anticipated arrival of Karna in Kuntala Kingdom approached. The Palace of Kuntala was decorated beautifully, akin to a bride, and an array of exquisite dishes was prepared. The palace attendants were unsure of who was coming, but it was evident that the visitor was of great importance. Rumors spread throughout Kuntala, indicating that the person was significant to Princess Ira, who personally selected the menu and the color of the curtains.

Hearing that someone special to their beloved Princess was coming, the people of Kuntala adorned their homes and streets to show their love and respect. When Karna arrived at the border of Kuntala Kingdom early in the morning, he decided to perform his morning prayers to Surya Dev at Paschima Samudra (Arabian Sea). After completing his prayers, he was astonished to see the decorated streets and houses, as if a festival was about to be celebrated.

Puzzled, Karna pondered which festival might fall in that month but couldn't recall any. Deciding to inquire, he approached an old lady returning from her morning puja (prayer).

As Karna approached the old lady, he joined his hands and greeted her with "Parnam," to which she replied with a smile and said "Pranam." Karna, looking around in confusion, asked, "Is there a festival or celebration happening?"

The old lady smiled kindly and replied, "No, beta. Someone important to our Princess Ira Beti is coming. To show their importance, Beti herself took charge of the decorations and cooking. Seeing her enthusiasm, we understood that this person must be very special. And if they are important to our Beti, they are important to our kingdom. So, we all decorated our houses to show our love and hospitality."

Hearing this, Karna felt immense pride knowing that his sister was so loved by everyone. It was also a relief to know that she seemed to be doing well without any trauma from the kidnapping, which had worried him deeply. Afterwards, he proceeded to ask, "If the person is so important, is it okay for me to go, or should I visit later?" To decide, he asked the old lady, "Do you know who is coming?"

The old lady shook her head, saying, "No, beta."

Karna didn't know how to react. He was both shocked and amused. Shocked because even the people of Kuntala didn't know who was coming, yet they went out of their way to show hospitality just because that person was important to Ira. This showed how much they adored her and the high regard they held for her. He was also amused because it reflected Ira's significant position in their hearts. This showed how much they adored her, not just as a princess but as a beloved member of their community. He was amused by the old lady's simplicity and honesty.

Karna then asked, "Do you know which kingdom this important person is coming from?"

Once again, the old lady shook her head and said, "No, beta." Finally, the old lady, noticing Karna's numerous questions, asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Did you come to visit someone? If so, tell me the person's name, and I will show you the way in case you are lost."

Karna replied, "My name is Karna, and I came here to visit my sister. I know the way; I just asked because if it is very important, I can visit later. I did not want to impose on anyone."

Hearing this, the old lady said, "If you're her brother, don't you think your sister would feel hurt hearing you lower yourself for others? She must be waiting for you, who knows how long. If you don't visit her, she will feel bad thinking she made you feel this way. No matter their age, all sisters think their brothers are most important, and our Princess will feel hurt too, thinking she caused a delay in your reunion. We decorated to show how much we cherish our Princess, not to burden anyone. So, don't think you are imposing on your sister. Now, go see her."

The old lady added, "I have other things to do, so I am leaving now beta. If you need anything, come to my house."

Hearing what the old lady said, Karna thought, "She is right. I shouldn't feel this way." If what the old lady said was true about Ira taking responsibility, then I would help them finish everything needed before his/her arrival. With that in mind, he proceeded to walk towards the Kuntala Palace.

Karna was shocked to see the palace decorated like a bride. He could feel Ira's anticipation in the meticulous decorations. No wonder the people also decorated their homes; anyone passing by would think a grand wedding was about to take place. Lost in his thoughts, Karna marveled at the beauty of the palace.

Meanwhile, Karthi and Aryan were inspecting the final decorations as instructed by Ira. As they walked, they felt a golden glare on their eyes, as if someone were shining a golden plate against the sun, making them blink repeatedly. Intrigued and slightly annoyed, they decided to find the source of the glare.

To their shock, they discovered the glare was coming from the earrings worn by a person walking towards the palace. Even in his simple clothes, the aura around him was no less than that of any Rajkumar in Aryavat. He looked divine. Realization dawned on them, and they quickly asked the nearby das and dasis to inform the royal family about the arrival of the guest.

With that, they sprinted towards Karna, who was still lost in his own world, mesmerized by the beauty in front of him.

The das and dasis quickly completed their task of informing everyone about the arrival of the guest, ensuring that the Royal family was ready. The Maharaja, Maharani, Rani, Yuvaraj, other Rajkumars, and Princess Ira all gathered at the front gate of the palace. To their bewilderment, they saw Karthi and Aryan clinging to Karna's arms on both sides. However, no one was more bewildered than Karna himself.