The Fateful Evening part 2

Part 125

Kunti could not control her tears.The inevitable that she feared very much happened finally. Her Eldest son was killed by her youngest son. The son whom she abandoned left the world without  his identity known to the world. Her inability to tell that truth to Kuru Elders resulted in her one son killing another one in the battlefield.
Pragati looked at her surprised." Dadi Mata. We should celebrate Pitasri's victory. Why are you shedding tears?"
Vidur who just entered supported Pragati." Bhabhisri, Finally the war will come to an end.I hope Duryothan realises his foolishness atleast now and go to Dharmaraj. He will definitely forgive him.Atlest one son will remain alive for Bhrata Dhritarashtr and Gandhari Bhabhi."
Kunti stared into the empty space.She then turned to Vidur and said." Arrange for a chariot.I want to go to Kurukshetra"
Vidur was shocked." At this time of night? No Bhabhi. Tomorrow morning you can got here."
Kunti nodded her head." No Vidur. I want to go now. I will take Pragati. You need not come. You stay with Eldest .Just one escort is enough. I will come back by morning."
Vidur looked worried." Why should you come back? You can be with Panchali,Subhadra and Uttara . Are you not going to your sons?
Kunti did not answer. She asked him straightly." How did Karna die Vidur? I want to know elaborately.
Vidur beamed with joy." Bhabhi. No one witnessed such battle ever fought.But Arjun is Arjun . He vanquished him totally and killed him."
Kunti silently heard the way the battle happened. She stood up and took Pragati's hand.Vidur called the guards and arranged everything. He offered to come with her but Kunti did not agree." Eldest will need you anytime." She said.
Pragati  thought she must be dreaming.Her grandmother obliged to go to her son's? So suddenly. She looked at her tearful face and wondered."Why is she so sad on hearing Karna's fall?"
The battle field looked horrible that night. There is no path left for the chariot to go.The bodies with and without limbs,elephants and horses lie scattered on the field causing horror and fear. Pragati closed her eyes with fear. Kunti placed her hand round her shoulders.
The driver asked Kunti." Rajmata where shall we go?"
Kunti is in confusion. She doesn't know where the war happened between her two sons.
She can not find the way without help.She should ask the guards who were there protecting the bodies of reputed warriors.
She got down from her chariot with Pragati and about to call one guard who is just away.
" Maharani Kunti where do you want to go? We are here to take you there."She heard the familiar husky voice and next moment she saw Arjun stand before her taking her arm.
Kunti's tears obstructed her vision but she could feel the other four standing behind Arjun.
A little away from them stood her Kanha and then she saw her eldest Bahu,the queen of Indraprasth,fragile ,yet ravishing even after that many years of sufferings and trials.
Pragati who turned back saw Arjun and in one jump she clasped him with such force that the mighty warrior has to balance himself from falling back. Arjun hugged both Kunti and Pragati together with tears.He stammered in his broken voice." Mata is it fair that you  won't inform us while coming over?And Princess,why did you allow Dadi Mata to come at such an odd hour?"
Bheem,Nakul and Sahadev came forward and hugged them while Yudhishtir touched Kunti's feet.
Krishna took Panchali 's hand and lead her towards Pragati.
Pragati looked at her mother curiously.she is still in her father's arms. Panchali stopped a bit away and tears rolled down her cheeks." What will her daughter feel? That her mother left her to be with her father? " Krishna called Arjun." Parth. Let your princess meet her mother now."
Arjun gave Pragati to Krishna and next moment the mother and daughter faced each other.The thirteen year old Pragati looked at her mother with admiration.
Krishna pushed Panchali towards Pragati and the much awaited moment happened finally. Panchali wept taking her princess closer.
Arjun,Kanha I want to go to the place where Karna lied. Eldest lead the way." Kunti's stern voice made her son's dazed,but Krishna had a Devine expression on his face.
He said precisely." Sahadev arrange the chariots. Parth let us take Bua there.
Arjun looked at him confused.
Panchali gathered Pragati in her arms and followed them feeling ecastic but she could not guess why her mother in law insisted on going there to see Karna.
Arjun held his mother in the chariot and found her sob continuously.He looked at Krishna who pressed his hand assuringly.
When Vidur sent a man on horse back informing Kunti's arrival Arjun felt immensely satisfied. But he never expected her to be that disturbed and  bent upon seeing Karna's body.
But Arjun has reason to rejoice. His princess got back to him.

They reached the place where Karna's body is lying.Duryothan did not do last rites as Karna's parents Radha and Adhiradh has to arrive next morning.
Duryothan 's soldiers are appointed to look after the body and they were surprised to see Pandavas come there along with Rajmata Kunti.
Draupadi stayed back holding Pragati nearer to her.
Kunti rushed off and took Karna's body with head cut off into her lap.
Forgive me Putr" She said in a low voice but Arjun heard it and looked at Krishna with bewilderment.
There was silence all around. Only Kunti's sobs were heard piercing that darkness of the night,
After a while Kunti composed herself and looked at Yudhishtir
" He is your elder brother Yudhishtir.He was born to me before my marriage to your father.
The Five brothers could not believe their ears.
Arjun looked at Krishna with questioning eyes.
Krishna placed his hand on his shoulder and said.
" Yes. It is true. He was Kuntiputr born due to Surya's grace. But Bua abandoned with fear as she was
Unmarried.Before the battle Bua and me revealed the truth to him but he refused to leave Duryothan."
Yudhishtir got annoyed." Mata how could you  hide this much important truth all these years?He would have been alive and who knows the war may not have happened. I am sure if I went to him and requested him he would have obliged." Yudhishtir blamed Kunti.
Bheem said." But still he would never have left Duryothan I feel."
Arjun stared at the beautiful face that stayed unmoved.May be Bhrata Bheem is right." He thought. The seeds of hatred were planted far before at the time of RangBhumi Exhibition of weapons."
He pledged that he won't wash his feet till he killed Arjun.
Arjun sighed with despair. If Madhav knows the truth why did he persuade him to kill his brother"
Yudhishtir still could not reconcile to the bitter truth revealed to him.He looked at Kunti and said." Mata.so much bad happened because you hid the truth. One brother killed his own brother. Now onwards Women should never be able to keep up secrets. This is my curse to women so that no damage will happen by hiding the essential truths."
Kunti wept bitterly and said." I am helpless.Eldest.Try to understand."
Krishna intervened and said." Don't blame your mother. No one can avert destiny  though you try hard.
Don't nourish bitter feelings towards your mother.Eldest  Even if you offered your kingdom by going to him Karna would never have accepted it. His loyalties lied with Duryothan. He would have asked you to offer everything to Duryothan. That is against Dharma.People who insulted a wife,a mother should never be qualified to rule Aryavarth.Without guilty ness  bid farewell to Karna with due formalities."

They reached the place where Karna's body is lying.Duryothan did not do last rites as Karna's parents Radha and Adhiradh has to arrive next morning.
Duryothan 's soldiers are appointed to look after the body and they were surprised to see Pandavas come there along with Rajmata Kunti.
Draupadi stayed back holding Pragati nearer to her.
Kunti rushed off and took Karna's body with head cut off into her lap.
Forgive me Putr" She said in a low voice but Arjun heard it and looked at Krishna with bewilderment.
There was silence all around. Only Kunti's sobs were heard piercing that darkness of the night,
After a while Kunti composed herself and looked at Yudhishtir
" He is your elder brother Yudhishtir.He was born to me before my marriage to your father.
The Five brothers could not believe their ears.
Arjun looked at Krishna with questioning eyes.
Krishna placed his hand on his shoulder and said.
" Yes. It is true. He was Kuntiputr born due to Surya's grace. But Bua abandoned with fear as she was
Unmarried.Before the battle Bua and me revealed the truth to him but he refused to leave Duryothan."
Yudhishtir got annoyed." Mata how could you  hide this much important truth all these years?He would have been alive and who knows the war may not have happened. I am sure if I went to him and requested him he would have obliged." Yudhishtir blamed Kunti.
Bheem said." But still he would never have left Duryothan I feel."
Arjun stared at the beautiful face that stayed unmoved.May be Bhrata Bheem is right." He thought. The seeds of hatred were planted far before at the time of RangBhumi Exhibition of weapons."
He pledged that he won't wash his feet till he killed Arjun.
Arjun sighed with despair. If Madhav knows the truth why did he persuade him to kill his brother"
Yudhishtir still could not reconcile to the bitter truth revealed to him.He looked at Kunti and said." Mata.so much bad happened because you hid the truth. One brother killed his own brother. Now onwards Women should never be able to keep up secrets. This is my curse to women so that no damage will happen by hiding the essential truths."
Kunti wept bitterly and said." I am helpless.Eldest.Try to understand."
Krishna intervened and said." Don't blame your mother. No one can avert destiny  though you try hard.
Don't nourish bitter feelings towards your mother.Eldest  Even if you offered your kingdom by going to him Karna would never have accepted it. His loyalties lied with Duryothan. He would have asked you to offer everything to Duryothan. That is against Dharma.People who insulted a wife,a mother should never be qualified to rule Aryavarth.Without guilty ness  bid farewell to Karna with due formalities."

Note: As per Epic the truth of Karna was revealed only at the end of the war.