Kuruvanshi

A Drastic Change

SATASRINGA FOREST
- After 9 years -

It was a cloudy, mid-winter day. The far-away mountains were kissed by the light-grey clouds. The river water looked crystal clear. The cold blowing wind swayed the trees and the black curly hair of the brothers.

Arjun and Karn were walking by the icy-chilled river to get some juicy fruits from the nearby forest. They soon reached the desired spot and looked around to find few perfect mangoes.

"Jyesht bhrata!" Arjun exclaimed pointing his finger towards a huge mango tree.

"Those look yummy," he said. Karn turned back to look at them and said, "Yes! They look perfect. Let's get few of them."

Arjun stood at a distance and fixed an arrow on his bow while Karn stood under the tree holding open his shawl to catch the mangoes.

Arjun aimed his target, Karn smiled at his brother looking at the intense focus in his eyes. He released the arrow which skillfully hit the stalk of a bushel of mangoes and made it fall. Karn's smile grew bigger as he caught the mangoes in his shawl. They moved on to the other tree which was comparatively taller than the previous one.

"Jyesht look! Those are so red, let's get them too. If bhrata Bheem finishes all of these mangoes alone, then we will be left with those at least!" Arjun laughed and Karn joined him too.

Karn tied the other bundle of mangoes and placed them on the floor. He untied another shawl from his waist and held it open again standing under the tree. Arjun fixed another arrow and was about to release towards his target when he noticed a tall coconut tree next to the mango tree.

One of the coconut had loosed its grip and was about to fall down. He suddenly looked down at his brother who was standing exactly under it. His anxiety grew when he saw the coconut fall.

He ran towards Karn screaming, "Jyesht bhrata move aside!". In a hurry, he pushed him aside and both of them fell on the ground.

Unfortunately, Karn's forehead hit a rock and he fell unconscious. Arjun looked at the coconut which had split in two after falling from a height. He tried to wake his brother unaware of his unconsciousness. His jaws dropped when he saw blood oozing from his forehead.

---

"I told you to not go there," Kunti said applying medicine on Karn's wound, "You both never listen to me! Now, look what has happened.."

Madri too helped her while the rest of the brothers stood looking worried.

She continued, "What would happen if your father would not have come there to chop firewood?" she asked angrily, "How would you both return?"

"Kunti, cool down it's just a small wound; even the blood flow has stopped. Look at Arjun he has been crying from that time," Pandu said.

"Arya, you too!"

"Mata, I'm fine now, how long will you keep applying medicine?" Karn asked lying on the cot. He suddenly noticed Arjun who was sitting beside him. His eyes were red with tears.

"Arjun! Why are you crying??" he asked.

Arjun wiped his tears yet it didn't stop, "I'm sorry jyesht, I was the one who asked for those mangoes.."

"It's ok Arjun, who knew this would happen? But, why are you still crying for that small thing?" Karn smiled at Arjun, trying to get up.

Arjun helped him to sit and said, "Jyesht bhrata, I can't even see you in tears; then how can you expect me to tolerate seeing your blood??"

Karn's eyes were filled with tears hearing this, he hugged his brother tightly and consoled him by patting his back. Arjun cried his heart out over his shoulders.