Life takes unexpected twists and turns every moment but when the said twists and turns become your life everything becomes a mess . It's easy to advise others what to do and what not to , but following the same in your own takes a heavy toll on the inner peace . Same was the case with me when I was in the modern era , the life anyone would love to forget but for the loving companions who always provided solace back then . That's what family is all about , backing you at your every failure and standing by you when everyone's against . Nothing has changed even here in my current timeline as the man who was abandoned at birth was fortunate to have the gift of a loving family and friends . Only addition here are the wives and sons of the man in whose body am currently present . And this makes it even more wonderful . Idiots are those who fight over territories inviting plight to their near and dear ones . And perhaps this man was supposed to be one of those had I not intervened .
But what should I do now ? How shall I proceed ? What should be my motto ? These are some of the questions which hover around my brain ever since I arrived . Every morning I wake up I am greeted by the sight of all the wives of Karna sleeping in various positions while serving me wholeheartedly . I don't know whether I should speak my heart out and explain myself or not . How would they feel if they come to know that I am not their husband or the fact that I am someone who has replaced his soul ? Perhaps it would be disastrous and they would think that I have gone crazy after the traumatic experience . My body too feels somewhat in a recovery mode after the idiot peeled out the part of the adherent skin . Speaking of the incident , the details as I have come to know was that my dear citizens of Anga almost manhandled the mighty King of Gods who seemed to have escaped due to his divinity . But has he been able to reach his abode as I don't feel he has given me that so called dart that he was supposed to . Or am I even able to retrieve the knowledge which the body of Karna possessed ?
I close my eyes stabilizing myself to focus on what do I know of . The first memory belongs to my past life which arrives almost instantly . As I delve deeper my memories drift into that of the donation and I feel pain once again enough to wake up startling the ladies . Perhaps they were quite concerned about me and now this makes me question myself all over again . I can't share my feelings with them as perhaps they won't get it easily . So I needed some space for myself . Hence I requested all of them to have some rest and then freshen up while I would myself rest again in a motive to stay peacefully alone . The ladies were scared enough to leave me alone . Perhaps they haven't left my bedside ever since the day Karna's body was brought in . But I need some lone time and therefore request them once again . However they complied this time as probably I looked better than before yet they instructed the guards and the maids to have an eye on me till they returned .
Now I try to recollect the incidents once again . The mind is the most powerful of all entities and perhaps has the key to epitome of excellence . Hence the events encountered by the body of this man can only be retrieved with intense focus . My efforts bear fruit as I unlock the memories of recent past including those of the discourse with Indra . This made me conclude that Indra had his dues to pay back and perhaps wouldn't have left . As though reading my mind the king of Gods reappeared in front of me when he saw everyone leaving me alone . Of all the men of Kaliyuga , I am the fortunate one to have been blessed with the divine presence of the king of Gods at my home . Does he know about it ? Perhaps not or else he would have left without waiting for another discourse.
" You are the greatest of all philanthropists in the era , son . Perhaps no one has matched your chivalry yet . I bless you with eternal glory . " was the praise of the lord of Heavens.
" It's my great fortune to have served you , hopefully satisfactorily , dear uncle " was my reply almost shocking him by the addressal . His eyes widened for a moment before coming back to terms .
" So , you know about your parentage and our relation . Did Suryadeva disclose it to you beforehand ? " was his query
" Just guessed it , uncle Indra . But perhaps you confirmed it , isn't it ? " was my swift counter scaring the son of Aditi as if he had committed a crime by the slip of his tongue .
" Now that you know it , I am ashamed for my actions , son . Forgive this uncle of yours . " apologized a visibly distressed Indra .
" So do you want to say that if I wasn't your nephew than you wouldn't have been ashamed , o king of Gods ? " was my master stroke rendering him speechless . I was enjoying playing with a God for the first time perhaps as all sorts of mischievous thoughts were running through my mind
" Your exhibition of immense valour was was worthy of praise even if we weren't related . " managed the helpless God .
" So the Lord of Heavens has simply reappeared to appreciate a mere mortal or is there something else behind this ?"
This is getting really interesting now as I interrogate the king of Gods .
" You deserve the appreciation , Karna . Moreover you deserve a boon for your sacrifice . Tell me what you desire . " was the offer from him
" Is the boon complementary with the sacrifice or some trade in exchange ? " Perhaps I was born to question the almighty .
" You may think anything you like but being a God , I can't return back with dignity without offering you anything in return of your donation . " A visibly irritated Indra remarked .
" So you want another donation to salvage your pride among the Gods , isn't it dear uncle ? . " deduced myself as the frustrated God felt helpless infront of me .
" Please understand my situation , son . I am bound by me duty for the betterment of all . " urged the wielder of Vajra .
" Yeah , obviously for the betterment . But the betterment of whom ? Your son and his allies , right uncle . " said myself with a smirk growing wider in my face .
" They have been deceived by your friend and his uncle . Righteousness stands with them and for it to prevail this was necessary. " justified the father of Arjuna.
" How were they deceived when nothing was their's in the first place ? Now I was also donated a kingdom by Hastinapur and I didn't go against them and performed Rajasuya like them . They should have too stayed loyal to their parent kingdom instead of revolting in the manner which shows their personal ambitions . " I explained coolly .
" Even you know that Yudhisthira is the eldest and hence deserved the throne . They received Khandavprastha as their right and not any donation . They created a city out of scratch . " defended the leader of Gods .
" Eldest of whom ? Mmmhh... Let me recollect My elder brother , right uncle ? How does that make him earn the bloodline ? And out of scratch , is it really ? Or someone from the heaven was really kind to them for being demigods ? If that is so then what are your thoughts about Anga ? " I questioned him again .
" All Pandavas were born in presence of King Pandu who accepted them as his own . I helped them but not before fighting my own son . You have done well too my son but you are standing with unrighteousness . " reasoned the husband of Sachi .
" Hence that makes them sons of the queens adopted by king . So they have right only if no bloodline heir was available which isn't the case here . The brother of sonless Pandu has his own sons and that too hundred and one in number . As far as your fight is concerned , who gained from it isn't unknown to anyone . Which fool would believe that a father fought with his son not just to gift him thereafter in a pre-planned staged drama and that too the same man who is here again for his son's wellbeing ? And righteousness look who says it , the one who tried to defile a woman himself ? " was my reply .
" The society accepts the one adopted too even if the father is dead before adoption as in case of the sons of Vichitravirya . Moreover only merit should govern the choice of kingship and not bloodline . " pressed upon the irritated Indra .
" That was because the only one eligible denied the throne . Here Duryodhana and his brothers haven't planning to do the same ever neither in past nor in the future . You are right about merit though which brings up the topics of Vidura and Ekalavya . Just forget about me for the time being . What about the other four sons of Kunti ? Aren't they eligible enough ? Why only their so called eldest then be the one to be considered if bloodline isn't important ? " was my checkmate .
" King of Anga , you are impossible . Do you even realize whom you are messing with ? " roared a furious Devaraja.
" Who else ? My uncle of course . The younger brother of my father . A son of my grandparents . Husband of one of my aunts . Father of my baby brother . Isn't it enough ? " I shrugged casually .
" Wait a minute !!! You know about your mother Kunti too !! Still you want to fight against them . Are you kidding me ? " enquired a surprised Indra
" Just another guess . And it is you who confirms it once again . And why shouldn't I be supporting something which I feel is right ? Your inability to refute my allegations is enough to prove my point . " another arrow bang on target as a dumbfounded Indra looked at me as if I had grown horns over my head .
" Only Krishna can tackle you in wordplay . Just get it that whatever we have been doing was necessary and even Krishna , the supreme one supports the cause of the Pandavas. There's no way you can challenge him ." Concluded the confused God .
" So , it's Krishna who asked you to play your part in the disguise of a sage , isn't it dearest uncle ? " one more bang on making him visibly uncomfortable .
" We both ...(sighs) ... had a discussion regarding the issue and came to the conclusion of its necessity . Now let's get back to the point . What do you want in return . Let me now so that I can go back . " spoke out the son of sage Kashyapa while massaging his forehead , perhaps I have given him a good headache to remember.
" So what can the King of Gods offer me in exchange of returning back his lost pride ? " was my enquiry .
" Anything you desire . " another slip of tongue from the exasperated one .
" Allright , I free you from the burden of your guilt . Just go and tell everyone that it was a deal between an uncle and his nephew . And ask them to look out for me if they aren't satisfied with your answer . " I declared casually.
" Your benevolence and indifference makes me feel even more guilty . Ask for anything son , I won't be able to face the world unless I bless you . You have won over me once again . " Indra pleaded this time .
" Anything ? " I confirmed
" Yes , anything . " He assured with a smile only to lose it by looking at the glint in my eyes and the developing cruel smirk on my face once again .
" How about the nectar of life ? " was my first demand .
" No way . It isn't for mortals . " a horrified Indra screamed on top of his voice making me split into laughter .
" Why should the Gods have all the fun ? Why not make a few mortals immortal enough to challenge them ? Or are you afraid of us humans too as you are from the demons ? " my reply almost made him bang his head on the pillar nearby .
" You are absolutely a trickster devil incarnated in form of a man . " accused the harassed God .
" Thanks for the compliment , uncle Indra . But coming back to the issue how about you vacating your post for me ? " my second demand almost made him fall back on his haunches .
" You .... you ... you don't have the qualities necessary to be the king of gods . Indra is not a child's play " barely managed the shocked one .
" But you only said that I have won over you . Perhaps that's the eligibility criteria I suppose . " my statements keep torturing him once again . I was loving the show whatever be yhe outcome .
" For God sake , ask something which I can give and what I want to give and flee . " last part was a faint murmur , though enough for me to hear which made me chuckle .
" How about all of you Gods taking part in war from our side and all your weapons to be only able to be used in our favour in the great war ? " Another missile decimating his mental peace .
" O , son of the sun , your this poor uncle begs before you to kindly spare me from this suffering as well as the wrath of the supreme ones by asking something that won't make us come in the way of the great war of mankind . " begged an almost prostrated Indra .
" Relax , old one . I was just kidding . I know very well how much you love your throne even more than my aunt . And how much you are afraid of anyone who gains immortality as if he would torture you in hell thereafter. Moreover, just imagine Gods fighting from Kauravas side against the Pandavas . Krishna will have to recruit the demon clans who used to be his archnemesis in favor of Pandavas to counter you or better step into the war himself . " I burst out in laughter once again enjoying his despair .
" So have mercy on me now and please stop the nuisance. " Perhaps he had never thought the ever angry and boastful Karna would play with him so casually .
" Just do one thing uncle , hand over the armour and the earings to me . I would just keep it as a memento of our discourse . Since it has been already removed from my body it won't protect me now . This would also salvage your reputation as you can go on saying that you returned it back to me instantly thereby falsifying those who try demeaning you . " My expressions were serious enough this time around to trap him .
" Don't you need anything for yourself ? You could have asked for any boon to increase your strength ." an intrigued Indra retorted back .
" I asked thrice for various things but it only added up to your woes . So let the might of the son of charioteer roar all by himself . " stated myself dreamily .
" You are somewhat unique , my dear nephew . Have your prized possessions back with you , son . Nobody deserved it more , though it won't protect you anymore . Your antics made me forget my guilt for some time . But I want to give you something useful before I return . Ask anything that is in my possession and it would be yours . " A sincere Indra swore .
" Arjuna has divine weapons courtesy his penance and lord Shiva's permissions . You allowed your son to gather weaponry from the heavens too . Would to like to bless me with all those you are master of so that I can use them indefinitely with my discretion ? " I asked hopefully with both my hands in a prayer posture and head bowed in reverence .
" So be it . " the lord of Heavens raised his palm and a divine light entered myself to rejuvenate my energies manifolds as secrets of cosmic weaponry unlocked inside my mind .
I bowed again thanking him for the blessings he showered on me . He was more relieved than happy as he left but not before warning me saying that Arjuna would still stay ahead due to the blessings of the destroyer and the preserver himself accompaning him . However he had no idea of what I had planned before asking for those which I retrieved with ease . The world would now witness the excellence of human brilliance as two forces buckle up to clash in the near future .