THE DARK FATED KANYA

CHAPTER 6

"What has Bhrata Karn got to do with that?" Sahadev asked, confusion clearly visible on his face.

"Well..." Chandrika stalled, stealing glances towards Arjun, whose face was devoid of expressions. It had been 5 years, but Karn was still a very sensitive topic for the Pandavas, especially Arjun.

"Actually... we all know that Devraj Indra had asked Pitashree to give away his Kavach – Kundal in daan. But the thing is Pitashree already knew that Devraj Indra would be coming to ask for that. And that too, at the time of his Arghyadaan, when he would be bound by his vow to give, whatever was asked."

"What? Bhrata Karn already knew that? How? And if he knew already, then why did he go for his Arghyadaan that day?" Nakul asked, in an exasperated tone.

"That's where the question rose in my mind. Actually, Pitashree had a dream, the previous night. In that dream, Lord Surya Narayan visited him and warned him about Indradev's plan. He also asked Pitashree to refrain himself from coming for Arghyadaan the next morning. But Pitashree flatly refused him and said that it would be an honour to give a daan to the Swargadhipati himself."

Chandrika paused and took a look towards all. There was nothing but utter shock on everyone's face except Arjun. His face bore more than just shock. It had pain. He was there when his father had asked Karn to give that daan. He had seen how badly his body had bled when he had cut the armour and earrings from his body. The scene had really shook him internally.

Chandrika's heart was crying seeing her Kakashree Arjun in that state. She made a mental note to talk to him after this.

"So the question here is that what Pitashree saw, was not a dream. Suryadev had entered his subconcious mind to convey that message to Pitashree. So if a Dev can do that, then is it possible for any other living being to do it?"

Chandrika had framed the question again. Cautiously. She didn't want to invite Sahadev's anger again. Because it was on very rare occasions that Sahadev showed his anger. And only if the matter was way serious. And as his anger had flared here, it meant the matter really seemed serious to him.

Sahadev kept looking at Chandrika for a while. He was trying to gauge whether the explanation that she had given for the arising of that question was true or not. But it was not easy. Finally he thought to answer her question.

"Yes, it is possible," he replied, in a stern and cautious tone. "Not that I have heard of any such instances in my life till now, but it is possible."

"How?" Chandrika asked, eagerness clearly visible in her eyes.

Sahadev was a bit unsettled with that. Why was she so interested? Nonetheless, he answered her.

"It's complicated. One needs a lot of meditation and should be able to access his/her own subconscious mind first. Only then one can think of accessing someone else's subconscious mind. And it takes years to master this technique. And also the person should have a physical contact with the other person whose subconscious mind is to be accessed."

"Oh..." That was the only thing that Sahadev got in reply.

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Chandrika was roaming through the corridors, looking for Arjun. Yudhisthir and Sahadev had left to attend the nyaysabha, while Nakul had dragged Bheem with himself to Vrishketu and Parikshit in search of his favourite mirror. He still hadn't found it. And Arjun had disappeared from the room without anyone's notice. Since then, she had been looking for him.

Suddenly, her eyes fell on a door, which was partially open. Curiosity empowered her as she had been noticing this door since the time she had entered the palace, but it was always locked. She tiptoed to the door, making as little noise of her anklets as possible. She softly pushed the door open, to peep inside. But to her dismay, the kaksh was filled with darkness, with no balcony or window to spread some light. She was looking around, when her eyes fell on the farthest wall and she gasped. Her father's Vijay Dhanush was hanging on the wall, throwing a faint blue light in its surroundings. The silhouette of a man could be seen standing in front of it, starring at the bow. Chandrika, at once, knew it was Arjun. She sighed and entered the room.