-"Now I don't think that anyone has a problem with my Mitra having a Dwanda with Kumar Arjun." Duryodhan announced.

-"You don't know what you are doing, Duryodhan." Drona looked at Duryodhan angrily.

-"Guru dev you said yourself that Arjun is the best archer in the entire Aryavarta, then I don't think he will have any problem defeating my Mitra. What do you say, Arjun?"

-"I accept the challenge", Arjun announced.

Drona looked at Arjun bewildered. Arjun smiled at Guru Drona, "Don't worry Guru Dev your student will never let you down, I will teach this Suta Putra a lesson that he needs to learn."

Everyone saw a man walking into the arena, his hands folded together head bowed towards Mahamahim Bhishma and Maharaj Dhritarastra.

-"I am so sorry for my son's audacity, Mahamahim." he kept his head down

Karna went straight to the man and touched his feet. Everyone recognised Adhiratha. Before Bhishma could say anything Bheemsena mockingly said, "You are right, and we forgive you for your son's behaviour, because we have a big heart. Take your son back with you. Or else you will have to take his corpse with you today when my brother slays him."

Adhiratha just kept his head down. Karna was fuming with anger, he could take his insult and humiliation but someone mocking his father is just unacceptable. Duryodhan too was furious.

Karna was about to say something but a familiar sweet voice came from right above, "You do not know what he is capable of Kumar Bheem, and I think it is foolish to underestimate your opponent, given that you are unaware of their powers. And it is not very prince-like to say such words to someone who is nearly your father's age."

All heads turned upwards where the voice came from. There stood a beautiful woman calm and confident but the fire in her eyes can never be missed by anyone.

Duryodhan smirked, he liked her already.

Shakuni frowned, what is it that the fallen princess is supporting a Suta Putra.

Vidur and Dhritarastra looked at her shocked.

Nakul, Sahadev and Arjun looked annoyed, while Bheem was livid.

Drona and Kripa had mixed feelings towards her, appreciation and annoyance, apparition because she in a place full of men decided to raise her voice and was annoyed by her support towards the Suta Putra.

Adhiratha gazed at the girl his son discovered on the riverbank, who was unconscious and brought home a few days ago. Now, she was standing majestically among the royal women of Hastinapur, even advocating for him and his son.

Bhishma looked proud. He was getting more and more confident every day by her actions that she would make an amazing queen of Hastinapur. He would talk to Kunti as soon as possible.

Gandhari and Kunti were bewildered while Dushala and Subhadra were scared as their Didi raised her voice in front of everyone.

As Yudhishthira and Ashwatthama glance upward, they are struck by the beauty of the woman before them, both feeling captivated by her appearance. An immediate and intense urge to possess her arises within them, causing them to continue staring.

And Karna, he saw the woman who had taken away his sleep at night standing there. Looking like a goddess in a simple yellow attire and minimal jewellery. Her presence brought an instant calmness to him as well.

For the past few days, he couldn't sleep properly worrying about her well-being. But something strange was happening he was more focused on his practice when he thought about her. The memory of her sweet smile brought peace to him.

His heart was blowing up with emotions seeing her in front of his eyes again. He just wanted to run to her take her in his arms and ask if she was okay. He wanted to tell her that he missed her. Yes, he missed her, two days was enough to make him completely smitten with her. He realised he had fallen for her in just those two days. And the week of not seeing her made him realise that. He wants her, he needs her. He wants nothing else in this life. Even if he dies now he will die in peace because he will die looking at her eyes.

Duryodhan's voice and a pat on his shoulder brought him back to reality.

-"I think Kumari is right, Bharata Bheem. let's see it instead of talking."

Drona sighed and the arena went silent in anticipation. Bhishma called Adhiratha and he stood beside him.

Both the archers stood in front of each other. Karna bowed to everyone and then looked at Tiasha who was standing looking at him with a beautiful smile on her face. Karna smiled at her. She stood up for his father, she stood up for him. He needed to prove himself to her.

Drona blew the conch shell to announce the beginning of the Dwanda. Karna bowed to Arjun and then paid his respect towards his bow.

Arjun hesitantly bowed and then immediately shot an arrow towards Karna.

Spectators closed their eyes as they thought Arjun's first arrow itself was going to take the life of the Suta warrior. But they met with the sound of metal clashing instead of someone's scream in pain.

Everyone saw a golden armour appearing on Karna's body and preventing the arrow. A wave of gasp and shock passed throughout the arena. How can a mere son of a suta possess divine armour?

All eyes were set on Karna, while Tiasha smirked hearing a thud sound from the back where Rani Kunti was sitting.

Subhadra and Dushala rushed towards their aunt Kunti who had fallen unconscious all of a sudden. Immediately all the attention was shifted from the fight to Rani Kunti.

Tiasha turned and told Dasi to bring some water. She went towards her and took her head on her lap.

-"What happened?" Gandhari asked worried.

-"Nothing Mata looks like Mata Kunti has fallen unconscious from the heat of the sun." Tiasha assured Gandhari knowing full well that heat was not the reason Rani Kunti had fallen unconscious.

Dasi came back with cool water and Tiasha instructed her to fan Rani Kunti as she called her name putting water trying to wake her up.

After some time Kunti woke up. Tiasha assured them she would be okay and told them to continue the Dwanda which was stopped due to the commotion. Tiasha sat Kunti up and gave her some water to drink.

Kunti drank the water as the fight between the two archers continued.

The arena buzzed with palpable tension as the two warriors faced off, their reputations and destinies colliding in a singular moment.

As the battle commenced, it was a dance of unparalleled skill and strategy. Arjun's arrows flew like a tempest, each finding its mark with uncanny precision. Karna, unyielding, nimbly sidestepped and countered with a fierce barrage of his own. The air reverberated with the hiss of arrows and the clash of weapons, an orchestration of war that left the spectators in breathless amazement.

Their movements, both fluid and fierce, created a spectacle of extraordinary acrobatics. Karna's powerful thrusts with his spear met Arjun's evasive grace, illustrating the contrasting yet harmonious styles of these formidable opponents.

The battle intensified with each passing moment, and the arena seemed to shrink under the weight of their confrontation. The very earth quaked as the duel unfolded, and the sky witnessed their celestial prowess.

In a pivotal moment, Arjun unleashed a celestial arrow imbued with divine energy, aiming for the heart of Karna's defence. Karna, resolute and indomitable, responded with a surge of his mystical power, a force that created a cataclysmic clash, shaking the very foundations of the arena.

As the dust settled, their gazes locked, an unspoken acknowledgement passing between them. The audience erupted in thunderous applause. One side applauded for their great prince. the other side for the common man who dared to challenge and now slightly overpowers the other. Arjun now struggling a little, started using all his celestial weapons one by one. Karna replied with just normal arrows in return.

Tiasha was describing the happenings of the Dwanda to Maharani Gandhari.

Shakuni smirked at Duryodhan who was smiling wide watching the fight unfold. Ashwatthama also smiled at Duryodhan.

Bhishma, Kripa, Vidur and Drona exchanged a look and kept watching. while the Pandavas were slightly uncomfortable watching their brother being overpowered by the Suta warrior.

Kunti kept praying to Surya and Indra, for her sons' well-being.

-"Hey Surya dev, protect your son, it's a mother's request, please, I cannot watch them fighting against each other, please put an end to this."

Surya dev responded to Kunti's pleas and set behind the horizon.

Drona blew the conch cell putting an end to the Dwanda and declared that it was a tie between the two warriors.

Arjun went towards his brothers who were glaring at Duryodhan who now had an arm around Karna's shoulder as they walked out of the arena. Other Kauravas brothers, Shakuni and Ashwatthama follow behind them.

-XX-

Hi there guys, this is your chapter 10. 

Hope you liked it, I am eagerly waiting for all of your amazing comments. It inspires me to write more and publish. Thank you all so much 

Love you all, my lovely readers.