Duryodhan tried to take the glass of Sura away from Karna's hand. Karna let out an annoyed huff and pulled it to his lips. He poured the entire content down his throat and slammed the glass on the table.

Ashwatthama shared a worried glance with Duryodhan when Karna filled the glass again.

-"Mitra, I think that's enough for today." This time Ashwatthama tried to stop him from drinking anymore by putting his hand on Karna's arm. Karna shoved away his hand and drank the entire glass in one breath. The burn of the alcohol running down his system felt like nothing in front of the inferno in his heart.

--

After escorting Tiasha to her chamber that evening Ashwatthama bumped into a very anxious Duryodhan heading towards his chamber.

-"I don't know what happened, but a Dasi has just informed me that Mitra Karna has locked himself in his chamber with a pitcher of Sura. He refused to come out or let anybody in."

Ashwatthama's brows furrowed. A composed and level-headed man like Karna would never drown himself in alcohol if something were not very seriously wrong with him. 

-"Let's go" The two friends made their way to their third friend's chamber.

The guards in the doorway hesitated to let the two men enter at first but that was not enough of an obstacle for Duryodhan who bribed his way in. They saw Karna standing at the window looking at the night sky with a glass of sura in his hand. 

After that, he sat down with them and kept drinking nonstop. Slowly his eyes turned red, and his speech became a little slurred under the influence of alcohol, though he was not speaking much. He refused to open up and just continued to look into the void.

--

Ashwatthama wondered, if he was alone in his chamber would he have not done the same thing as Karna? Drown himself into drinking to forget the pain of rejection. 

He felt a little irritated. Karna is the one she was in love with. Karna is the reason she rejected him. He couldn't stop the rising bubbles of jealousy in his head. Why was the lucky bastard even drinking?

Ashwatthama cleared his throat. He tapped Duryodhan's hand who was trying to make Karna open up, to get his attention. 

-"Mitra Duryodhan, go get your Sakhi, she is the only one who can stop him now." Ashwatthama said. 

-"But, Ashwa, is it ok to call her at this hour and..." He looked at Karna who was pouring another glass of sura and then back at Ashwatthama. 

-"Go get her. I am sure she wouldn't mind and we are..." His eyes quickly went towards Karna, "We will be here so don't worry about it."

Duryodhan nodded and rose from his seat. As soon as he left a sardonic smile appeared on Karna's face. Ashwatthama passed him an annoyed glance and snatched the glass away from his hand. He finished the entire glass in one breath and kept it on the table.

-"There's no need to call her here." Karna said, irritation clear in his voice. 

-"What's gotten into you? Why are you drinking like you just got rejected by the love of your life?" He asked in a bitter tone. 

Karna started laughing, a very acidic laughter. "You know I would not want to hurt her even in my wildest dream, you know that, Right?" Karna asked.

-"Don't you try to change the subject. Just answer my question."

-"I didn't know you were this thick. Your acceptance means my rejection. Doesn't it?" 

Ashwatthama's eyes widened. Karna continued, "You wouldn't want your future wife to be in the presence of your drunk friend, would you Ashwa? I saw you and her together on the riverbank this evening. You two look great together." 

Earlier that day he told his two friends that he was going to confess his love to Tiasha soon. He didn't miss the slight discomfort in Karna's mannerisms but Karna is a master of hiding his true emotions. Now Ashwatthama understood the whole situation. Karna had seen him a Tiasha together and misinterpreted the whole interaction. A sigh rose from Ashwatthama's broken heart. If only Karna knew the truth.

"I don't want to feel jealous of you. Her happiness is everything to me. But I cannot help it. I am... Don't call her here. I don't want her to see me like this." The sarcasm in Karna's voice turned into sorrow within a matter of seconds. The heartache started to come out in the form of silent sobs and drops of tears slipped from the Amber eyes of Radheya Vasusena.

Ashwatthama set his hand on Karna's shoulder. "Mitra, I just want you to know..." Ashwatthama couldn't finish his sentence as a very perturbed Tiasha came storming inside with Duryodhan following her. 

She looked questioningly at Ashwatthama and then at Karna who had his eyes closed and head resting on the table. Words were exchanged silently between Tiasha and Ashwatthama.

-"Sakha, you two go, I will take care of him." Tiasha said, making her way towards Karna. Ashwatthama nodded in response and started leaving the room. Duryodhan tried to argue, "But Sakhi..."

-"Mitra, I think she can handle this, we should leave them alone." Ashwatthama pulled Duryodhan out with him. Tiasha heard Duryodhan and Ashwatthama's voices fading away. 

Karna felt a soft touch on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked up to see the woman of his dreams standing in front of him. 

-"Come on, get up, you need rest." She held his shoulder and urged him to get up from his seat.

-"This is a dream, isn't it?" Karna asked. 

-"Come on, let's get you to bed." Tiasha ignored his question. Karna stood up, but the alcohol in his system made it hard for him to keep his balance. Tiasha caught him immediately and escorted him to bed. 

-"You are not her, you are a dream. You are her shadow that comes in front of me every time I close my eyes. She is Panchal Naresh Ashwatthama's future wife. She wouldn't come here for me..." Karna slurred. Tiasha looked at him in utter confusion.

Karna dropped down on the bed holding his head. Tiasha sat on the floor near his feet with her hands set on his knees. After hesitating for a few minutes she held his hand into hers. Karna looked deep into her eyes.

-"You know I don't want to be jealous of Ashwatthama. I know if Tiasha gets married to him she will be happy. He is a good guy, he can provide for her, he loves her very much...But I can't...I feel so jealous of him. I love her..." 

-"Do you, really?" Tiasha asked, her heart drumming against her chest. 

-"She is my everything. I...I...lost my entire existence in those eyes the moment...I...I looked into them for the first time. She is the light in my darkness, she is my Asha. My Asha (hope) of my life. A man can live for a week without food, four days without water, a few minutes without air, but not a moment without hope. Tell...tell me how will I live without my hope?"

Tiasha's eyes filled with tears. She cupped his face with her hands. 

-"What if I tell you, she too can't live without you? She too feels as much as you feel for her." 

-"But she doesn't. She is..." She interrupted Karna.

-"She loves you too. Tiasha loves you too, Priyatama (My Beloved). Just like you cannot live without your Asha, your Asha can't live without you too." She stood up. 

-"If only this was not a dream." Karna said slowly as Tiasha rested her forehead against his. Her tears dropped on his chest. 

-"Please don't stop coming in my dreams, ever." Karna looked once at her eyes and then at her full soft rose petal-like lips. 

-"I wish I could kiss those beautiful lips once..." Karna sighed. Tiasha pulled her face away from him for a moment. Karna held her chin softly with his fingers, his thumb barely touching the perimeter of her bottom lip. Tiasha's breathing became heavy. Her ears and cheeks felt like they were on fire. 

Tiasha bit the inside of her lips and swallowed. 

One moment Karna was lost in those dark eyes the next moment he felt a pair of soft lips against his own. He closed his eyes, he felt like he was experiencing heaven.

A few seconds as he felt the lack of warmth he opened his eyes to look into the teary ones of his beloved.

He was in a trance when she laid him down. She sat beside him and kissed his forehead softly.

-"Now sleep." She said kissing his forehead one more time.

Almost immediately sleep started to spread over Karna's scenes. Tiasha was about to get up from his bed when Karna held her arm. His lips moved and a buzz of words ringed on Tiasha's ears. She lowered her head to listen to what he was saying. Half conscious Karna muttered, "I wish this dream never ends."

-"If only you were sober." Tiasha whispered. She slowly removed his fingers from her hand and made her way towards the door.

She was lost in her own world of thought. She was startled when she saw a figure leaning against the pillar in front of Karna's chamber.

-"That was quite a cinema happening in there."

-"Oh my God you almost gave me a heart attack, Jayantha." Tiasha took in a deep breath and her right hand rested on her chest.

Krishna smirked. Tiasha ignored his comment and started walking towards her chamber. Krishna strode beside her.

-XX-

Thank God I was alone in my room while writing this. The way I was blushing and smiling like a complete idiot everyone would have thought that I have either gone crazy or I am in love. Well, it's kinda true though. I am crazy and I am absolutely in love with this story.

I realised I have just finished a slightly spicy chapter. This is shorter than usual but it's kinda special. I know I love it. Do you? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you all so much for reading. See you all soon with another dramatic chapter.

Take care, Adiós, my lovelies ❤️.