Hey Guys!!!!

The Twenty- Fourth chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

Happy Reading!!

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Third POV

Part of the royal family was going to Avanti for Karn's coronation. The seven princes (The four Pandeva's, Duryodhana, Dushassan), Guru Dronacharya, Ashwatthama, Maharani Gandhari, Rani Kunti, Dushala and Maha Mahim were going there for the crowning ceremony.

Previously this week, Guru Drona had asked for his guru Dakshin and the Kuru princes had gone on a war to Panchal and made Ashwatthama the king of half Panchal. What was surprising a little, was that the princes refused to take this as a competition, they went to fight as a unit that was as Kuru Princes and effectively defeated Dhrupad.
The Yuvraj of Hastinapur had yet to be decided, it had been rescheduled.

They entered the decorated palace in amazement, it was beautiful. Absolute breath taking. The people were moving all around, working at their job.

"Maha Mahim." A voice calls. They find a man walking towards them.

"Pranipatra." He greets.

"Awasthi Ji!" The eight princes say in sync, they were surprised.

The man- Awasthi ji- smiles, "Glad you all could join us."

"But.... But ...... you ..." Duryodhana splutters.

"You did saw, the two of them there." Awasthi Ji says. "If you could follow me, I would like to guide you to your chambers."

The visitors followed the Awasthi Ji. As he took him to what felt like the secluded part of the palace. He took them where there was a series of room, seven of them artistically arranged, all the rooms had twin beds. There was a big balcony connected through the main room, that overlooked the stunning city. Just outside the rooms were pieces of parchment that had names written, for who could share with whom.

-- Time Skip –

It was time for the ceremony so the Kuru family, or the piece of Kuru family that was here, got ready and head towards the throne room. They were joined by Krishna, Balram, Arjun and Subhadra.

Subhadra was dressed in beautiful yellow lengha that large green border with green blouse. Along with it came a greenish- blue dupatta, that was translucent. She had a necklace, few bangles and her hair open, curled at one of her side.
Dushala was wearing a yellow lengha just like her friend but hers had flowers all over and a shorter border. Just like Subhadra her blouse was also green. Just the difference was of the duptta that was orange for Dushala. She was wearing large ear- rings and a Maang- tikka.

(Subhadra)

(Dushala)

Both the princess looked regal, while the others were in normal outfits, nothing fancy about it. Just the same.

"So, Balram, how does it feel to have an older sister, when you have bossed people around?" Maha Mahim asks.

"It's' nice." Balram admitted. "Plus, Ananya Bon, is completely scary."

"No jokes, in that." Subhadra agreed. "She made Bhrata Krishna do sit ups. Imagine!"

"Dau was also there." Kanha whines. As everybody else laughs.

"She is as royal as a queen." Dushala comments.

"Maha Mahim. Vasudev. Balram. And the rest of you, please follow me." Awasthi ji says, "Maharani Gandhari. Rani Kunti. Princesses. Your seat is just in front of them, please settle down."

"Avanti's Yuvraj, Yuvraj Devrat Karn, is arriving in the court." The announcement was made and everyone in the court stood in respect.
"Along with him is, Devi Ananya Yadav, his to- be second- in- command."

The people stood barred breathed as Karn and Ananya walked into the room.
They walked in arms- in- arms, slowly. All the people were observing the two with great curiosity.
Karn was wearing a fairly simple outfit. He was wearing a white dhoti and a white Angvastram was wrapped around his shoulder.

Ananya beside him was wearing a light pink dress that had white flowers all over it. The sweetheart neckline of the dress was complemented using off shoulder staps of dress. It was a backless dress that reached below her ankles.
Her hair was made in a bun, leaving few hair pieces out while flowers were embedded in the hair. She lacked jewelry, but that didn't mean she didn't look at par, she looked much more intimidating and fearless. The only thing was the strange bracelet like thing she had on her right arm.

Once, they had stepped into the room, they separated as Karn walked to the center of room Ananya walked to the side. Her long trail, well it was trailing behind her and the people were amazed to see how confidently she walked even with that large trail. The trail was so long that it must have been very hard to walk with the heavy weight but Ananya walked like the royal queen she is. And left everyone consternated with her perfect and articulated steps.

One glance at her back and people were surprised at what was imprinted there. There was a large drawing on her back that had a Trisula first, three eyes like Devi Kali and the three lined tikka similar to Mahadev. And below this tikka and eyes was a word written, 'Ma', it was written such that it looked like the extend part of Trisula, thus completing it.

There were two other on both of her upper arm but they were hidden under the strap of the dress and couldn't be easily made out.
People were weird out to see such a thing there. They started to whisper and talk amongst themselves.

Now, that Karn was standing in the middle of the court room, beside the Pandit Ji and Ananya was on his right side but out of the circle where the ceremony was to be held.
The Pandit whisper asked something to Karn, who looked at Ananya had an eye conversation, and Shaked his head looking back at the Pandit.

"Bhagwan Parshuram is entering the court!" the announcer declared and everyone in the court stood up a little straighter.
It's not every that such a reverted sage comes to the court, does he?

Lord Parshuram came in with a gust of wind. His face impassive and he looked to be deep in thought but a look at the center of the room and his face broke into a smile.

"Pranipatra Gurudeva!" Karn greeted enthusiastically as he strode over to him.

"Ayushman Bhava Putra." Parshuram blesses his student.

"Pranipatra Gurudeva!" Ananya greets, surprising the people all around her.

"Chiranjeevi Bhava Putri!" Parshuram smiles wider than before.

"Glad you could join us, Gurudeva." Ananya smiled.

"I had to fulfil my part of promise, didn't I?" the sage smiles and asks.

"Of course, Gurudeva." Karna beamed.

Everyone settled on their own seats. "Pranipatra! I am glad that you all here to give your respect and love to the Yuvraj of Avanti. And here to take part in his crowning ceremony. From the side of Yuvraj and the kingdom of Avanti, we welcome you and thank you." Ananya declared.
"The ceremony begins now."

"In presence of respected Bhagwan like Parshuram, I can't conduct this crowning ceremony. I would like him to do the needful, as I may assist him, if he allows." The pandit folds his hand and bows respectfully in front of Bhagwan Parshuram.

The said sage, smiles and nods walking to the middle of the room to conduct the ceremony for Karn.

The moment Karn removed his Angvastram, with his back towards the majority of people, gasps were heard. 

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Say Say? How is it? 

How did Ananya get that 'painting' on her back?

What did Parshuram mean by his part of promise?

What do you think is on Karn's back? Marks? Cuts? or something else?

Do Vote and comment.

Thanks for reading!

(1450 words.)

--Sxxxxx