Story Unfolds :
At a dark secluded balcony of Anga: 2 hours later: At midnight:
One man was standing tall lifelessly while looking back at his own life. He was recalling his past. He was trying to reminisce his life history. What he had wanted and what had happened to him?!! He wanted the power just in two reasons. To prove himself worthy and to break the social srigma against the low class people. It was the first reason. The second one was that he wanted to search for his biological mother who had abandoned him at his birth. He had neither Lust for the throne nor for anything. But due to his introvert nature he could not tell it to anyone. Even his Padma could not be able to understand him often.
He lifted his eyes to the star studded sky and searched something in vain. He did not know what he was trying to find out there. A soft sigh escaped his mouth. He recalled his own happy childhood days. His two Sakhis whom he loved to play with. One Baishali and another Padma. But Baishali due to her jealousy never let Padma come to him. He smiled a bit by recalling how very possessive was Baishali!!! How much petrified she was!!! Of loosing him!! Yet she had to go before all!!! That foolish girl donated her own young life to save himself!!! Even if she knew that no sharp object could pierce his heart she took the blow on herself!!! How broken he was that day to look at her dead body!!! Then with time he forgot her and started his life with Padma. How much happy they both were with each other!!! Then all of a sudden a girl named Supriya had to enter into his life and everything had changed!!! Her devotion won his soft heart. Then another accident!!! He met with a lookalike of Baishali who claimed to be his young wife. That girl was half of his ages yet she wanted the place in his heart!!! He did not want to give it to her but that secluded meeting at Har-Gauri temple made his determination weak!!! He was moved by her love and affection towards Supriya!!! He was drawn to her!!! And now she had made a place in his heart too!! A permanent one!!!
Another sigh escaped his throat. He was not a man to ditch his wife for the sake of other young girls. He loved his wife Padma tenderly. But his fate was always against him. It played tricks on him. Without any intention he had to accept defeat in front of it. His recent marriage with Uruvi was a perfect example of it!!! He was satisfied with his wife (Padma) and his Devi (Su or Supriya) when Uruvi entered into his life and demanded her place as his lawfully wedded youngest wife. And everything changed drastically.
His face became grim. He was not a man to be jealous yet the scenario was going against his nature. He was not a vocal person yet he saw something that he hated tremendously. He could not forgot the rage of Bheem at the Swayambar of Draupadi. The scream of his Sudama for the last time. The breaking down of the pillar on the head of the young boy. Crushing his skull. Before his very eyes. The proud look in the eyes of Bheem. Anger and Indifference in Arjuna. Fake sympathy and politeness of Yuddhisthir. Smile and Laughter of twin Pandavas. He was not only angry on those fool five brothers, he hated them since then. Yet the relationship of Uruvi with all of them made him hurt. She was so sorry to declare her relationship with him yet not with Pandava. People was thinking him as a jealous husband who wanted to captivate the heart of his youngest wife Uruvi at any cost yet he was not like that. What he had to do?!! Whenever he saw the faces of those Pandava, he saw the blood soaked lifeless body of his Sudama!!!!
His last cry for help!!! His last trial to uplift his body to put his head on his father's lap!!! His last trial to touch the face of his father!!! His worship of his father as his hero!!! His goodbye smile!!! Everything!!!!
He tiled his face to the left to control his tears. It was his signature style. He was doing so through ages. It did not matter what Uruvi thought of him!!! It did not matter what his other wives and masses thought of him!!! What was most necessary was his feelings!!! For his now forgoten first Boy!!! For his Sudama!!!
He clutched the wooden bow in his right hand tightly. It was Sudama's!!! That boy loved to play with it!! He did not share his bow and arrows with Amy of his sons!!! They were Princes!! They had gold adorned bow and likely arrows!!! This wooden bow must be only his Sudama's!!! He loved the boy tenderly!!! He could not forgive his negligence to save his Sudama!! Nor Uruvi to forgive those Pandava!!!
His eyes glowed with tears. He was crying again. For his Sudama!!! Alone in secret!! All forgot him including even Padma!!! But he did not!!! He could not!!!
He looked at the Dhrub Tara (The Star that guides people due to it's sparkling brightness) and murmured softly
"Tere Baba tujhe vachan deta hain ki tujhe kadapi nahin bhulega, Sudama. Aur nahi won Pandava ko kshama karega. (Your father promises not to forget you, my son Sudama. Nor to forgive those Pandava siblings. In his entire life.)"
He had decided at the pyre of Sudama now only either Karna would remain or Pandava. But never both.
Karna at the Pyre of Sudama
All of a sudden he heard a sweet river like very familiar voice from behind.
With a jolt he sharply turned back and saw a beautiful girl. Standing behind. At the dark. She said this -
"Ap uspe britha krodhit ho rahe hain, Maharajah. Meri Uru nirdosh hain. (You are angry on her for no reason. She is innocent.)"
God!!! Why she uttered the small line like her jiji Padma
"Meri Su nirdosh hain!! (My Supriya is truly innocent.)"
Even if her face was hidden but he had no difficulty to identify her. He knew her footsteps. Her breathing. Her heart beat. Everything. She was his Devi. His Supriya.
He turned around. He did not want to see her face. He promised her. As a Dan Beer he could not break his vow!! Even not as her husband!!!
He heard the sweet tune of anklets. It seemed so sweet and melodic in his eardrum. He controlled the fluttering of his heart. "Stop it!! She condemn you to go even near herself!!!" He had warned it violently yet his heart beat was not listening to his warning. By the way this brain warned him that he had to prepare himself. She must have some reason to come back!!! She was not a girl who did it puroselessly anymore!!!
He understood that had now the girl came near him and stood nervously. She was hesitant to talk to him!!! It was she who refuted him and yet it was she who seek his help today!! She stood lifelessly. Behind him for some time. He did not answer her too. As if they had nothing to reciprocate!!!!God!!! Once they had tons to tell each other!!! And now they left nothing!!! Except void!!! A sweetest barrier had come in between them. Uruvi!!!!
Karna ((above) & Supriya (below)
She cleared her throat nervously. She wanted to break the silence. He stood tall. Without uttering a single word. As if he lost his tongue.
"Ap Mere Uru ko leke ayiye. Yeah is abhagin Supriya ka antim binti hain apni Dev se. (Kindly bring back my sister Uruvi. This is the last request of this Supriya.)" She told him meekly. Her voice showed nervousness. She did not have any authority on him now. She had once. She gave up in her own hands. To her Uruvi.
A sound came out of his mouth. He was smiling!!! He was again smiling on himself!!! On his fate!!! After one long year gap when a wife had meet with her husband what she was seen to demand?!! Clothes?!! Jewelary?!!! Love?!! Togetherness?!! No!! Just the happiness of her sister!!!! She did not ask him how he lived without her!! She did not complain how could he fall on love with Uruvi!!! She did not even enquire anything!!! Straight a demand!! To bring back Uruvi!!! Not anything else!!! Funny indeed!!!
She mistook the signal. She thought he was mocking her. In reality that man never mocked anyone in his life. He had mocked only one. Himself.
She lifted her eyes and told firmly "Ap ki rajya pe hamla hone ki ashanka hain. Hastinapur ki pass sambad aya hain ki.. (Your state is inndanger. Two powerful states are declaring war against you. Spies of Hastinapur had informed this.)" She stopped abruptly while considering something.
"Ki?!! (What?!!)" He commanded her to fill up the gap. With authority.
She sharply lifted her head to him. He was still standing backing her. So she could not watch his reactions. Yet his voice told her that he was not a bit interested in talking to her.
"Pukeya Raj Basav apni Putri ki tyag ka pratishod lena chahte hain. (The King of Pukeya, King Basav, wants to take revenge. Of insult of Uruvi.)" She told him truthfully.
He faced her calmly. Face to face. He looked at her eyes. Too calmly. As if he was prepared for this. In reality he was not a fool himself. His spies had already informed him about it. But what seemed interesting to him was her eagerness. She hated him. Right? Then why she looked so pale?!! For him?!! Fool!! Karna!!! She loved you tremendously!!! That was the reason of her worriness!!!
She lifted her eyes to his face again. For a second she stopped dead. She did not saw any emotion in his stony poker face. She searched the same tenderness in his eyes that she was one accustomed to!!! A soft sigh had escaped her lips. She broke his heart herself!!! How could he be soft over her now?!!
She came near him and stood on his left. Then she continued -
"Agar yuddha huwa toh Anga Rajya ke suraksha ke liye Hastinapur ki atirikt aur koi bari sakti nahin.
Pukeya dakshin bharat ki sarbadhik saktishali smarajya hain. Uski sath baki log bhi yogdan karenge. Bidrav aur Saurashtra toh pehle uski sath the. Unke sakti hamse adhik hogi.
Uttar bharat main do badi rajya Pryag aur Panchal hamare sahayata nahin karnege. Dakshin Panchal kar sakta hain. Woh bhrata Aswathama ka hat main hain.
Kalinga raj, yahani hamara Pitashree apke sahayata nahin karenge. Woh apse rusht hain. Utkal Naresh apni patni ki man rakhne ke liye apke sahayata kar sakte hain.
Baki bade bade Rajya Pandava ke paksh main hain. Woh apke sahayata tabhi karenge jab Pandava apke Yaha sahayata karnege. Toh Yudhha karna nirathak hain, Maharajah."
(If the war takes place then no big state expect Hastinapur can help you. I am telling you why.
Pukeya is the most powerful state of the south India. Most states admit it's mastery over them. And your recent war against them made them your enemy. So most of them will go with it. Bidarva and Surashtra are with it already. Due to the Sunaina episode.
In north India your condition is not very good. Dwarka and Mathura will remain impartial. As they are in the favor of Pandava and will help you only if Pandava agree to help you. It is impossible. To they are not in favor of you. The same goes for Prayag state and North Panchal. They will never help you. South Panchal, under the hands of brother Aswathamma, can help you. Chedi King Sishupal, Sindhu King Jaydrath and powerful Magadh King Jarasandh are dead against you. So forget of their help. Gandhar can help you. But to what extent you can be always doubtful of that. My father King Chitrangad is angry over you. So don't except his aid too. Utkal King Yuvnaswa, For the sake of his wife, as you are her Rakhi brother, can help you. But his army is damn small than the united strength of Pukeya, Bidarv and Surashtra.
So in short this war is deadly serious and my suggestion is to stop it any cost. Save your masses and your own dynasty, my King.)
Her logic seemed irrefutable!!! Her political knowledge was impressive!!!
Her through detailings about warfare was amazing!!
He sharply turned his head and then looked at her direction intently. He never knew her this side!!! Even if he considered the possibility himself beforehand but it bewildered him!!! Padma was trained to be his mentor and amdiministrator!!! It would be not impossible for her to utter this!! But loyal, devoted, meek Supriya!!!! It was unbelievable!!!! He felt so very ashamed of his ignorance!!! He failed to know her till now!! Even after so many years of their marriage!!! He today discovered her in new lights!!!
For the first time in his life he felt so much proud of her political senses!!! She was apt to be a queen of Anga!!! Even the second one!!!
His eyes looked soft for a second and then with great resolve he controlled his nerves. And asked her "Toh apke anusar kya karna chahiye?!! (What is your suggestion then?!!)"
She bit her lips for a second and then answered his query "Uruvi ko grahan karna. (To admit Uruvi.)"
For a second he became soft on her yet her change of adressal to himself did not go unnoticed by him. She did not called him as "Swami (My dearest husband)" rather as "Maharajah (My dear King)". Another smile escaped his lips. He was so proud of her yet to her he was just a King of Anga!!! Not her husband!!! Not anymore!!!
He coldly answered her "Ham bichar karenge. (I will think of that.)" and then with long strides went away. He did not want to listen to her pleading anymore. In the fear that she would detach herself from him more. He could not tolerate that!!! Even if he admitted Uruvi as his youngest wife he loved Supriya most. Till now!!!
She looked at him and watched the change of his emotions. Through his eyes. His eyes were so soft at the very first moment and then it went vacant again. What happened?!! Where did she went wrong?!! This foolish and selfless girl did not understand that he wanted her as his wife, not as his Prime Minister or chief advisor. He had both. Shounak as Prime Minister and Padma as Chief advisor!! She was just his wife!!! His Devi!!!
She had looked at his disappearing shadow and sighed softly. She was so happy today. She knew him. He would definitely call for her Uruvi now. Then she sat down on the floor and took the fallen wooden bow of Sudama. Her eyes got blurred in tears instantly. By reacalling the boy. She clutched the Bow in her chest and whispered softly
"Main tere dhanush tere chote bhai Vrishi ko dunga, Sudama. Ab wohi tere naam Biswa main amar karega. (I will give this wooden bow of yours to your youngest brother Vrishaketu. He will make your name immortal in this world.)" Her Vrishi kept her promise. He made the name of his forefathers proud. By donating his young life for the sake of his uncle Arjuna!!!
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Will Uruvi come in between Karna and Supriya? What will happen then? Stay tuned for more updates. Enjoy.
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