Story Unfolds:
At a secluded dark small room of Anga Palace: At the same time:
One man was standing tall calmly. He was looking lifelessly at an idol. Of a warrior. With golden armor. With gold adorned Bow and arrow in his hands. The statue's slight bending to backward proved that he was alert. The statue looked like it was prepared to throw it's arrow in the air. At any moment. The back and wavy smooth hair of it was flying in the air. It's eyes were big and doe shaped. The apple of it's eyes were hazel. The cheekbone strong and determined. The gaze of it was piercing. The aura magnetic. The standing style was of a warrior. It was amazing craft that proved the mastery of it's creator.
He caressed the statue with his right palm and thought of something. For a second.
Imagine the statue like that
See Real Karna here
He sighed softly and backed away in an instance. Then he tilted his head to the right where a lavish mirror was put. He lifted his eyes and saw two brown orbs. Imprinted on it. They did not look piercing and strong like that of the statue. Instead soft and gentle.
He looked into the depths of those eyes and lost in thoughts. His mind was racing fast. He heard the voice of an angry wife in his eardrum -
"Jab ek stri Mata bannewali hoti hain toh uske pati ko kisi dusre sundar stri ki abasykta kyun hoti hain? Kyunki sambhabta woh tab usko saririk rup se tript nahin kar sakti is karan!!! (When a wife is going to be a mother then why her husband needs another beautiful and young girl? Perhaps the reason behind it is that she can't be able to quench his physical urges anymore.)"
The words made a hole in his heart. His God knew that he never thought in this way. He never tried to deceive her. He was never lustful to anyone. Yes he participated in the Swayambar of both Prayag and Panchal Kumaris. But his intention was to show his own archery excellence. Over Arjuna. His arch enemy. That was all. He did not want to marry more that once. He did not want to tie his nuptial Bond with anyone else than Padmavati. She was his childhood friend. His Balya Sakhi. His first love of life. His single crush of teenager days. Yet that kind of the invalid accusation broke his heart!!! He was always loyal to his wife and to his Devi yet how could she told it for him?!! He was furious!!! He vowed not to go to her in this life. Ever.
But then what he heard yesterday!!! That changed everything!!! In a single moment!!! The same River like sweet gentlest girlish voice heard stern and determined while asking this -
"Agar ap hampe itni hi santusht hain toh hamari prathna swikar kar lijiye ki ki ham suhagan hi mar sake. Ham bidhwa nahin hona chahte. (If you are so much satisfied with my devotion then kindly bless me that I can die as a married girl. I don't want to be a widow.)"
Devi Supriya (2nd Karna wife)
He ran out of the scene. For the first time in his life. He, Anga Raj Karna, had been defeated by many war yet he did not ran away. None could ever blame him as a "Bhagowra" or the escapist. He fought in every Batlle bravely and accepted the result of it. But yesterday!!! He did not know why he cried for?!!! Was his eyes welled up with some dirt or something?!! Was he really got defeated?!!! By his own wife!! He did not know the answer. A little bit!!!
He even did not stay there till long. He heard just her prayer. Not the blessing of Lord Krishna. He did not know how and why she was declared as "Maha-Sati" by him!!! He just know only a little thing. That he could not cope up with the pain. He just could not bear to imagine!!! To loose her!!! His Devi!! His wife!!! His Supriya!!!
He did not know how he caught his breath that time!!! He thought that his heart would burst out into his chest!!! The time had stopped passing by!!! So also his judgment!!! What was she in reality?!!! What was her real side?!! The first one as an angry wife or the second one that he saw yesterday!!! In his very own eyes!!! He did not know that a bit!!! If she hated him so much why the hell she wanted to die along with him?!! Why?!! God damn why?!! She remained as a mystery to him!!! Till now!!!
He recalled two sweet voices in his brain one by one
"Apne mere Supriya ko jana hi nahin."
(Of his first wife Padma.)
"Apne toh hamari Jiji ko samjha hi nahin." (Of his young wife Uruvi.)
For a second his eyes fell on the same warrior statue and he looked at it too intently. How immaturely he became jealous of his own statue once?!!! He smiled at his own immaturity!!! He thought she loved this statue more than him!!! How foolish!!! How very naive!!! He thought she was in love with his statue instead of himself. A preposterous idea!!! Yet how very pure!!! He loved her so much that it hurt often!!! Her refusal drove him towards Uruvi!!! Unless he would not admit her in his whole life!!!
All of a sudden the Royal doctor came to him and bowed curtly. He had to give some news. To his King.
He sharply turned back and faced the old man. In complete silence. He did not want to talk with someone now. At this very moment.
The old doctor said calmly "Badhai ho apko, Maharajah. Ap Pitah banne wale Ho. Choti Ranima yahani Devi Uruvi garvabati hain. (Hail to you. It is a good news. You are going to be a father soon. Your youngest queen aka Devi Uruvi is pregnant.)"
He stopped dead in his track for a few second. Then he burst into a hearty roar of laughter.
The Royal doctor narrowed his eyes in shock. What happened?!! Did he gave him any funny news or something?!! He failed to comprehend the reason is his King's odd behavior!!! He thought that he made a mistake!!!
He folded his palms to the King and told him nervously "Kshama kar do. Agar hamse Koi bhul go gayi!!! (Please forgive me. If I make a mistake!!)"
Devi Padmavati (1st Karna wife)
Padma ran to the scene and stopped at once. She failed to comprehend why he was laughing aloud!!! It was her plan to inform Karna about the pregnancy of Uruvi. She thought he would be happy. But it seemed as if he took it as joke or something!!!
Karna, on the contrary, was not a bit laughing on the doctor. Or Padma. Or Uruvi and her pregnant condition. He was indeed very happy to know that he was going to become father again. But what amused him was the certain thought in his mind. Of the prayer of Supriya!!! She prayed to Lord Krishna to die with himself while he was now going to become father!!! She had seen to predict of his demise while he had to enjoy the upcoming of his new baby!!! Death and life worked hands on hands in his life all the time!!! He had done the same once more!!! He had laughed aloud when Uruvi for the first cursed him and left him alone!!! That time Supriya was pregnant with Vrishi!!! And he was dying to meet with her at any cost!!! His own destiny again had made him stand on the same row of life and death!!! Once again!!! That was the reason of his laughter!!!!!
Padma instructed the Royal doctor tp go away. He took the signal and then nodded his head. He folded his hands to both and went away.
Padma came near him and touched his shoulder while calling for him gently "Basusen!!!" She was now truly taken aback!!!
He lifted his eyes to her face. She then gaped in shock. He was smiling yet his eyes were glowing in tears. She saw him like this once. After the demise of Sudama!! He laughed meaninglessly!!! He mocked himself and his inability to save his son!!! She had to hug him tightly!!! To console him!!! That man!! He put on a brave face before all yet only Padma knew his sufferings and pains!!! None else!!!
She stretched her both hands to him. Eben today. Without thinking. She knew that he needed her. And she was there. For him. Always.
He took her in his arms and put his face on her left shoulder. Then he had closed his eyes too tightly. Tears were now rolling down his cheeks. He was in reality crying his heart out!!!
"Basusen!!!" She called for him again. In a whisper mode.
He told her calmly "Mere Bhagya ki khel dekho Padma, ki aj mujhe khushi bhi mili to kitne dukh ke sath. Devi ab hamse rusht hain. Par jiban hame nay dishape bula rahe hain. Kahan Jaun? Hame marg dikhao. Ham bhatak gaye hain!!! (Padma, look at the play of my fate that it gives me pleasure along with pain. My Goddess is offended to me. Yet life is calling me in opposite directions. Where to go?!! I lost my sense of direction!!!)"
She knew what he meant by it. He was in love with Uruvi now yet he loved his Devi, his Supriya more. His this love was hurting his morality. He was not a disloyal husband. To any of his three wives. He loved them all. Yet his ego was not permitting to go near Uru in front of Su-Padma!!! That was the reason of his dichotomy!!! Alas!!! She did not know that he was talking of her Supriya's recent blessing too!!!
"Basusen kya bat hain?!! Itne bichalit kyun ho?!! (What happened?!! Why so restless?!!)" Padma asked him in the surprised fashion.
He did not reciprocated his thoughts clearly. He was never a vocal person. Then how could he tell her all about the bet with Lord Krishna and his test of Supriya!!! He hugged her more and stopped talking!!!
She seemed to sense his discomfort and did not say anything. Instead had hugged him tightly. She was like his shadow who never tried to leave his side. Ever. Till the bloody epic war of Mahabharata.
Both of them was so engrossed in that they failed to notice that a girl was now looking at them. From far. With a smile on her beautiful face. She was so happy. For her Padma Jiji!!!
.........................
At the Royal room of King: At the big palace of Anga:
Karna was absentmindedly looking at the map. Of Anga and it's border. He had to make necessary arrangements of army accross the border. To give safely to his state. So that the army of Pukeya and his allies did not enter in it. He did not know that a small army of Suarashtra was already inside his state!!! Under the disguise of traders and merchants!!! Under the head of Bhag Dutta!!!
All of a sudden he sensed a soft rose fragrance. He sniffed for a second. He then lifted his head and saw a pretty girl was smiling at him.
"Uruvi!!! Ap (You)!!!" He asked her in gentle voice. His voice trembled a little.
She had pressed her lips together and smiled brightly. She got the style from her father. Then she sat down at his feet. By pulling her both hands in his lap.
Devi Uruvi (3rd Karna wife)
"Ap aye kyun nahin hamse milne?!! Ham itne der se murchit the. Ham toh apse rusht hain. Jiji ne bola... (Why didn't you come to meet me?!! I was senseless for so long. I am so angry in you. Elder sister told me....)" She then pulled out her tongue and bit it. She promised to Supriya not to mention he name. Before him. So she could not complete the sentence that she was forced by Supriya to come to meet to him.
He understood everything. It was a plan of Supriya!!! To send her to him. And behind her this plan must be the encouragement of Padma!!! So that he could spent the night with her!! Those girls!! Always planning to make him happy!!!!
He got up and bolted towards the big mahogany gate of his room.
With a loud thud sound it opened and two beautiful girls were seen to stand there.
He looked at them bewilderedly. His assumption was again correct!!! They were none but his two elder wives. Padma and Supriya. Padma stood on the left clutching the door handle and Supriya at the right.
"Hame gyat hain ki tum yahan se bhi bhagne ki prayatna karoge. Is karan bash Ham dono tum dono ko kayed kar rahe hain. Kyun Su?!!! (We know that you will try to get out of the room. So we are enclosing you both. Into the same room. Okay Su?!!)" His first wife Padma asked happily to her baby sister Supriya who nodded her head in unison.
Karna narrowed his eyes on the face of Padma. That cold stare could make anyone nervous. But not Padma. She pulled out her tongue and mocked him. In pleasure. Like her teenager days. She even looked like a naughty and mischievous baby girl!!!
His eyes then fell on the face of his Devi who was seen smiling at him. Their eyes met. An electric current ran down her vein. She lowered her head to the floor. She knew that he was there when Lord Krishna was testing her!!! She sensed his own soft breathing!!! Behind a pillar of the far western corner!!! That girl knew his everything!!! His footsteps, heart beat, breathing, touch. Everything. Every devotee knew it of her Aradhya. She did not want to come face to face to him since then. God knew what he was thinking of herself!!!!
His eyes fell on her face and had stood there. He was looking intently at her and watching her every reaction. He was thinking deep about something. His brain was still clouded with the same question. What was the real side of Supriya?!! He wanted to unravel the mystery!!!
"Bade bhaiya, Supriya toh ek rahasya hain. Pad Apne Karna ke liye kadapi nahin. (Elder brother, Supriya is in reality a mystery. But not for her Karna.)"
He heard the calm voice of Madhava in his eardrum. He recalled his own warning "Bhabi Supriya ki apaman na ho kabhi. Woh apki bhakti hain. Jyse Padmavati apki nishta aur Uruvi apki birta. (Don't dishonor sister-in-law Supriya anytime. She is your nothing but your loyalty and devotion. Just like Padma is your benevolence and honesty. And Uruvi your courage.)"
"Su dwar Band kar. (Supriya, close the door.)" Padma instructed her and she obliged happily.
Supriya came to his senses and then dragged her side of the door. With a sound the door closed behind. Karna stood motionless. He thought once more the door had closed. In between him and his Devi. Forever.
..............................
2 hours ago: In the chamber of Queen:
"Hame hi toh kuch karna hoga. Barna Basusen kebal yudhha ka chinta hi karta rahega!!! (We both have to do something. Unless Basusen will keep himself busy in the thoughts of war.)" Padma told to Supriya.
Supriya was sitting happily. She had donated her gold bracelet to the royal doctor. She heard of the good news. She could not believe that her baby sister Uruvi was going to become a mother herself!!! It seemed so much unbealivable!!! Uruvi!!! A mother!!! She who ran even today behind her tiny toddlers happier mode!!! She was so happy today!!! You can see yourself that she loved her baby sister tenderly so she is happy for her!!!
"Hame un dono ko kaksha main phir se band karna hoga. (We have to again captivate them both. In the room.)" With a sigh Padma answered her baby sister who was thinking deep.
"Su!!!" All of a sudden Padma looked back and saw Supriya smiling in her mind. She shook the shoulders of her baby sister.
"Huh!!!" She broke up from her day dreams and wided her beautiful eyes on the face of her sister.
Padma asked her in silence what she was thinking. Supriya bit her lips and nodded her head violently. She was thinking to play with the child of Uruvi. She was mentally prepared to welcome Uruvi's baby!!!!
Padma made a satisfied face. She was not a fool herself. She knew what was her Supriya thinking!!! The same thing that she had thought of whole night yesterday!!! How to nurture the upcoming baby of Uruvi!!! How to play with him or her!! How to sing a lullaby to him or her!!! Etc etc!!!
She sat down beside her Supriya and took her in her arms and asked her gently "Putra hoga yeah Putri?!! (What do you think?!! Uruvi will have a son or a daughter!!)"
Supriya smiled brightly and replied timidly "Putri. (Daughter.)" She loved to have a daughter of her own. But she unfortunately had eight sons!!!
"Hmm!!" Padma rubbed her chin thoughtfully and nodded her head. In agreement. She too loved to have a baby girl. Of her own!! At least she was more experienced that her both baby sisters!! She had two sisters to look after!! Then she could surely look after a baby girl too!! Alas!! They did not know for which girl they were waiting patiently would come down to earth after the departure of Karna, Supriya and Uruvi!!!
Then they planned to capture Karna and Uruvi. In his royal chamber. At successfully executed their plan.
......................
2 hours later: At the same chamber of King of Anga:
Uruvi got up and tried to sleep on the couch. At the balcony. Adjust with his bedroom. He stopped her. He was not inconsiderate person nor indifferent of her!! He did not want her to sleep in a couch!!! Whole night!!! Once he was bound to admit Supriya!!! As it was ordered by Padma!!! He accepted Uruvi as it was ordered by his Devi!!
She looked at his face intently. She was not sure that he was happy with her. He lifted his eyes to her. She then blushed hard. And lowered her face. A flustered one.
He liked her response. He knew that she was his long lost financee Baishali who had taken birth as Uruvi just to marry him. He was impressed by her love and affection!! Just like he was impressed by the sacrifice of Padma!!! And loyalty of Supriya!!!
He stretched his hands to her. She came near him and hugged him too tightly. He put his hand on her hair and tugged her locks behind her ears. He recalled the happy yet bashful face of another girl. She was looking just like her jiji Supriya today!!!
Smiling Supriya & Uruvi
He sighed softly and murmured in his mind "Jysi apki iccha Devi. Hamne ap ki ichha ka man rakh liya. Apke Choti ko bibahit Jiban ki sukh de diya. (As you wish, my Goddess. I give honor to your wish. I respect it and give your baby sister the honor of my wife.)"
Behind the door front One beautiful girl smiled divinely. She was so very happy for her Uruvi today that she could die happily!!! She knew that her God, her Aradhya, her husband, could not be partial!!! Ever!!
In this way from then a sweet barrier came in between Karna and Supriya. Uruvi. That they never tried to break down. Till their unfortunate demises.
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What will the war bring with it? Will Uruvi give birth to her daughter Padmaja safely? What will her dear Jiji Supriya do to save them? Stay tuned for more updates.
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