Arjun's pov
"My student Arjun is a supremely talented archer! The best in the world! Why wont he be !? He is my Student! The student of the great Guru Dronacharya!" Gurudev declared before the entire arena.
I looked at him wanting to stop him but everyone knew his arrogance. Dronacharya had always been a very arrogant and proud man. He could do anything for his accomplishment even wanting a child's thumb as gurudakshina. I knew he was right in his place and it was his duty to educate the kuru princes and make them better than the rest of the world but did that give him the authority to destroy Eklavya's entire life?! When I had confronted him regarding this he blamed me for his sin saying it was his promise to me of making me the best archer in the world that made him commit such a grave sin. I never told him to promise me anything! However he was my guru...whatever I knew today was all his teaching.
"Thus Arjun is undoubtedly the best archer taught by the greatest guru Dronacharya!" Ashwathhama said proudly.
This was too much...I was not the best archer. I would've considered myself best in Hastinapur had I not met Radheye few days earlier. He was an extremely superior archer with grand skills and if not better atleast equal to me.
"Stop!" A very familiar voice surrounded the entire arena. The whole crowd stopped cheering and my proud Guru turned around ready to face the man who dared to challenge his shikshya.
We all turned around as a young man jumped from the top of the arena his entire body glistening with the sunshine and his eyes shining with talent . Radheye!
"Pranam Guru Dronacharya! I have to agree that your Arjun no doubt is a great archer and even if I consider him as the best archer I cant consider you the greatest guru of all for that would be an insult to my gurudev!" Radheye said as he bowed his head in respect as he noticed me. I nodded back showing my respect to the great archer.
"What do you mean!? Am I not the best guru if my shishya is the best archer in the entire Aryavrat!? " Drona asked his face glushing with the anger he would soon vent upon this talented individual.
"Firstly I agree Arjun is a great Archer and I can accept him as the best though I personally feel I might be as capable as him. Yet I can accept him as the best for he is uttam! He doesnt have the arrogance you possess and a man surrounded by pride and ahankara can never be a guru! He surely is a teacher and you are the best teacher in the entire Aryavrat but you are not a guru Mahrishi" Radheye said confidently.
Everyone were shocked beyond wits. I couldn't speak either for whatever he had said was completely true yet no one had the courage to offend the son of Great sage Bharadwaj!
"And who do you think you are!?" Guru Dron asked .
"I am Karna! I am a mere commoner of Hastinapur. " he said.
"How can you a commoner interfere in the middle of a competition where princes are participating!" Kripacharya shouted with fury.
"Wait...are you...are you the same lad who came to me years ago? I remember you my son...you are indeed a great archer there's no doubt!" Dronacharya said as he recalled vis first meeting with Karna.
It seemed he was pitying Karn a little. But why pity him? As if to answer my question Kripacharya shouted " What is your caste you impolite boy?!"
Karn looked at me his eyes filling with agony. He was a suta...I coildnt control my heart from breaking as I witnessed his condition. Why was caste so important for these people?
"I am a suta...the son of Mahamahim Bheesm 's Charioteer Adhirath " he answered with the same level of confidence showing he was not ashamed of his father or his caste.
"Suta...you're a suta! How dare you even touch weapons!" Kripa shouted.
Drona was a little sorrowful as he knew how great of a talent Karn truly was.
I was going to stand up for my friend when jyesth Bhrata yudhisthir forestalled me.
"Pray listen Karn. You maybe have learnt archery outside of Hastinapur but In Hastinapur it is strictly prohibited for a suta to use weapons! Thus I request you to not commit any adharma and leave the arena" my brother politely insulted the archer.
He looked at me expecting me to say something. I wanted to but my jyesth Bhrata had clearly showered his opinions and we brothers had to stick by it and obey his dharma as ours. That was our only dharma. Thus I cant stand up for Karna even if I want to.
"Backaway suta putra. A suta doesnt have the capability or the talent to stand up against us" bhrata Bheem said following his dharma and also going out of the way to insult Karn.
"But Bhrata Karn is a really capable archer. He doesn't deserve these taunts." I Said looking at Karn begging him to forgive me for my lack of support. However he seemed grateful as he smiled at me. No one had ever stood up for him and even a single sentence from me was well recieved by him.
"Ravan was a brahmin and an asura! How could he then fight against Rama?!" Duryodhan shouted.
"Because Ravana was a king!" Kripacharya replied.
"If so then right here and now I declare this boy as the King of Anga!" Duryodhan declared.
Everyone were completely taken aback. Bhrata Bheem was cursing Duryodhan while Bhrata Yudhisthir feared Kafn would be his new ally with whom he would try and defeat us. Yet I felt oddly satisfied. For the first time Karn had recieved something that he deserved and I was happy for him. For the first time I repsected Bhrata Duryodhan's decision. Even if he in the future had planned to use Karn against us I was happy for Karn's present.
Karn's pov
I couldn't believe my ears when the prince declared me the king of Anga. No one had ever stood up for me except Arjun. I was so glad when he stood up against his brothers and defended me and then suddenly this unknown prince who barely knew me gifted me a kingdom. I couldnt accept it. I had no right over this kingdom. I would surely return this for Gurudev had said that never accept something you cant warn with you capability. And I am a suta...learning weaponry can be a luxurious right for me but being a king was certainly not. It was beyond my capacity.
"I thank you immensely prince for showering me with so much respect but I cannot accept this" I replied.
"I am not gifting this to you because I want to but because you deserve this Mitr! You are a true talent and it will be an insult to your gurudev if you cant fight after attaining such shikshya. For your Gurudev's sake you will accept Anga my Mitr. You are a truly deserving king" Duryodhan said.
I was still unsure though the mention of my gurudev had melted me somewhat. I looked at Arjun who nodded furiously indicating me to accept the kingdom. Arjun's silent answer kinda motivates me as I reluctantly agreed and was declared the king of Anga before the entire Aryavrat by my newly formed friend. He and Arjun were the only kuru princes I really liked. I liked Arjun because I commected to him and he supported me and Duryodhan because of his open views about caste and his biggest gift to me I had ever recieved in my entire life.
Nandini's pov
"Why are we going to Hastinapur again?" I asked Subhadra teasing her crazily.
It had been two days I was living in Dqarka with my sister and Sri Krishna. Everyone here loved me like their daughter. Balaram was extremely protective of me since Krishna mentioned how mu brother had forced me to marry Shishupal. Subhadra was my best friend. We were like sisters. And Krishna was my sakha...my favourite sakha. We played so many pranks on dao who would forgive me at once but punish his Kanha. Rukmini jiji was so lucky to be the daughter in law of such a great family. Devaki mata and kakasree Vasudev were extremely sweet to us and I was their family member as soon As Krishna introduced me to them.
When Krishna said that we would be visiting Hastinapur I noticed a glow in Subhadra's facemafter lots of attempts she finally confessed how she was in love with the third pandava.
"Arjuna!? He is a very nice guy! " I said smiling.
She blushed heavily and since then.I have been teasing her. Bhrata Krishna couldnt accompany us as he had some.matters to look after but he said how he would soon join us in our visit.
"I am so excited but I am not sure if Arjjn would accept me..." subhadra was speaking when suddenly our chariot stopped .
We were taken aback.
"Rajkumari...some robbers have attacked us. We need to protect you both" the charioteer said as the handmaidens nodded.
They didnt know I was a warrior. I had attained my education from the great sage maharishi Vashisht.
I strictly explained Subhadra to stay inside the chariot as I stepped outside and looked at the robbers. They had already underestimated me and were laughing. I quickly took out my bow and my arrow and shot them towards the robbers. Seconds later all the robbers were lying lifeless on the floor.
"Where did you learn such amazing archery sakhi?" Subhadra asked.
"My brother wont allow me but my jiji silently supported me and while staying in kanyavas I would sneak out and take lessons from guru Vashisth whose ashram was nearby.
Subhadra smiled joyously. Suddenly I felt a strong gaze upon me. It felt someone as looking at me. Who was there ? I looked around hut couldnt see anyone. Maybe I am thinking too much.