Kuruvanshi

Celebrations

MAHENDRA GIRI
- 12 years later -

The white clouds wandered in the light blue sky giving a heavenly sight to the viewer. The pink cherry blossom trees swayed in the direction of cool spring breeze leaving their sweet scent everywhere. The birds seemed to accompany them by singing melodious tunes.

At a distance, a young mascular man stood bare without any upper-garment over a stiff rock located at the edge of a silent waterfall with a bow in his hand. He aimed at the pool of the waterfall situated deep below and released his arrow. It went straight through a fish swimming in the fresh water. The man smiled and turned back.

"Putra Karn," Bhagwaan Parashuram called from behind standing at the alongside of the waterfall.

Karn quickly reached his place and greeted humbly with his palms joined, "Pranipaat gurudev."

"Kalyaan ho Karn. What were you doing here?" his teacher asked.

"I was just testing my archery skills, gurudev," Karn replied with a smile.

"You don't need to test your skills, putra," Parashuram smiled proudly, "You are the greatest archer in this world for sure!"

"No gurudev.. I'm not the only one. There's another greatest archer in this world," he corrected.

"Who is that, putra??" Parashuram asked him confusedly.

"That great archer is my brother, Arjun!... gurudev," Karn answered proudly.

Parashuram smiled, "Your parents are blessed to have sons like you putra. May you all remain together forever."

"With your blessings, we will surely remain together gurudev."

Parashuram was leaning against a orange tree. Karn was pressing his feet, when spoke his heart out, "Gurudev, I have completed my education under your supreme guidance. Now I would like to go back to Guru Dron's gurukul to reunite with my brothers."

"Sure putra. I am blessed to have taught a student like you. Dron would be glad to have you back,
" Parashuram responded.

"Then with your permission, I'll would like to leave right now itself, gurudev." he put his words out.

Parashuram looked at him with a slight pain as he was sad that his favourite student was going back after 12 years, but understood his keen excitement for meeting his brothers.

Finally he spoke with a light smile, "May Mahadev bless you with happiness, wisdom and strength Karn. I wish you all good luck for a happy and bright future. May the kuru kingdom flourish under the leadership of a able ruler like you."

Karn thanked him and then went inside his cottage to pack everything for his journey back to gurukul.

..........

GURUKUL

"Nakul! Give me back my mace!" Bheem shouted at Nakul who was running with his mace.

"Bhrata Bheem, this mace looks better than the one you used to have when we were young. That poor little thing was like a toy in the arms of a giant like you!" Nakul laughed loudly throwing the mace to Sahadev.

"Yes Bhrata, how did you manage with that tiny mace?" Sahadev giggled catching his mace.

Bheem came towards them and held them tight in his mighty arms," You both are still toys for me!" he laughed out loud.

The twins laughed at his joke though they felt it wasn't funny at all. They knew that if they don't do so, he would crush them harder.

Bheem saw Arjun standing near the gurukul gate waiting for someone.