Kunti's mind eased a bit after talking to her sons.

She was going towards the royal garden where a feast was arranged to welcome the hundred and five Rajkumars.

She saw someone standing near the foundation. His back was turned towards her but she recognised the frame. The same man whose sudden appearance made her lose consciousness in the arena earlier today.

There he stood. His common attire has changed. Now he is wearing an orange and yellow dhoti and jewels like a royal. He is not wearing his crown yet, as his coronation will take place in two days.

Kunti lost her cool. She approached the figure.

Karna was blankly staring at the flowing water of the fountain.

After the Dwanda, Mitra Duryodhan took him into the Hastinapur palace and forced him to wear royal attire.

Karna asked if he could go back to see his mother, Duryodhan happily agreed and invited him to the feast arranged in the following evening.

Karna was happy, he was now a king, and nobody could disrespect him or his parents. He has his Mitra Duryodhan by his side.

Her. The thought of her brought a smile to his face. He had a lot of questions but that didn't bother him much as he happily went home to meet his parents and tell them to get ready for a journey to Anga.

But first was his coronation that will occur in two days. He couldn't wait to see his mother's smiling face and she would be there. Will she smile at him, like she did today? He hopes she does. Is she happy for him?

He entered his house and saw his Radha maa sitting in front of the house with a blank expression on her face.

He went, sat near her feet, and laid his head on her head.

Radha was startled at first. Then she looked at her smiling and happy son. This brought a sad smile to her face.

-"You seem very happy Putra."

-"Are you not Mata?" Karna asked looking up at Radha's face.

Karna didn't notice when Adhiratha came and stood beside them, "We don't know whether we should be happy or sad Putra."

-"Why Pitashree?", Karna stood up.

-"Why did you do it, why did you enter the arena meant for the kuru Rajkumars? Why did you challenge Rajkumar Arjun?"

-"I sat back till the time guru Drona announced Arjun to be the best Archer in the entire world, that is an insult to my Vidya and my guru Pitashree, how could I let that happen?"

-"Then what is all this?" Adhiratha pointed towards Karna's royal attire.

-"Pitashree you saw what happened, Kumar Duryodhan stood up for me, if not for him I would have never been able to prove my worth. Now it is my dharma to keep my wards to him and take the responsibility he has given me."

-"So becoming a king was your goal?"

-"What are you saying Pitashree, I just wanted to become a warrior and prove myself."

-"Seems like the hunger to prove yourself has made you blind that you have forgotten to discriminate between dharma and adharma, good and bad."

-"Please Swami, don't say it like that, Putra you are too innocent to understand the foul intention of Kumar Duryodhan, please Putra, return him his land and come back to us." Radha said tears filling her eyes.

His parents' wards struck him like lightning, "What are you saying Mata, I vowed to become his Mitra forever, I can not leave his side. He stood up for me when everyone laughed at me. I can't mother, it's my duty."

-"Then you go fulfil your duty Angaraj." Adhiratha said in an emotionless tone.

Another wave of shock struck him, "You are not coming with me? Mata? My coronation is in two days, won't you be there?"

-"No, if the weight of your crown ever bothers you, and you need a safe heaven, you come here as our Putra Radheya, and we will be here waiting. We won't even let the shadow of Adharma fall on this place."

Karna looked at the faces of his parents and touched their feet.

-"I promise I will make you proud." They patted his head.

With that, he walked out, as he heard the faint sound of her mother's sobs.

The scene that happened a few hours ago replayed in Karan's mind. Then his mind went to her. Tiasha. What was she doing here, Mata said she left with Vasudev Krishna. So what is she doing in Hastinapur palace?

His parents were not happy, with him becoming a king, what about her? Does she think the same?

Does she even remember him?

His mind was a complete mess when he heard soft footsteps behind him.

He turned and saw an extremely beautiful woman approaching him. The same woman he had seen years ago when she came back to Hastinapur with her five sons. The same woman he had felt a strong connection with when he looked into her eyes. A warm comforting feeling envelops him when he looks at her, just the same as when he looks at his Radha maa. He recognised her as Rani Kunti.

She stood before him and without realising he bent down to touch her feet.

A smile made its way to Kunti's face, "Ayushman Bhava." She blesses him.

She was about to cup his face in her palms when she heard her other sons from behind.

-"What are you doing Mata? You are blessing our enemy." Bheem said.

Kunti turned to her sons who were glaring at Karna.

-"How dare you touch her feet, Suta?" Bheem snarled.

-"Our Mata is too kind to bless you even after knowing who you are." Arjun mocked.

-"Bheem, Arjun, behave yourself, you are talking to your..."

Pandavas frowned, this is the second time today their mother haven't finished her sentence. Karna just stood there in loss of wards.

"...you are talking to someone who is like an elder brother to you, show some respect, is this what I have taught you?"

Sensing the intensity of the situation Yudhishthira intervened, "Mata I think everyone is waiting for us, we should get going."

Kunti nodded.

Kunti gave one last smile to Karna before she led her other five sons into the garden. Karna smiled back as he folded his hands.

Duryodhan saw his Mitra standing looking at the retreating figures of Kunti and the five Pandavas.

He came near him and put a hand on his shoulder.

Karna startled, looked back at Duryodhan and smiled, "Ohh! it's you."

-"Who did you think it was? Some fair maiden who has stolen your heart?"

Karna blushed at his words.

-"Oh so there is a fair maiden who has stolen your heart huh? I wonder who this Mayavini is? Who has stolen the heart of my great valorous Mitra?"

-"No Mitra it's nothing like that."

-"Oh really?" Duryodhana smirked, but before Karna could say something he said, "Come, we are already late for the feast."

With that Duryodhana led Karna into the royal garden.

-XX-

I know, I know you all are eagerly waiting for Karna and Tiasha's interaction. That would be the next chapter.

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