The sword glinted as he walked towards the bushes from where the arrows had attacked him.

"I have to be careful. There is a woman with the attacker" he thought, the bushes shook again "Foolish."

He reached towards it tentatively and the scuffle that followed still remained unclear to him but the results shocked him tremendously.

His hands were pulling out long black hair entangled with little golden pins and pearls. His attacker was certainly not what he had expected.

"Who are you Devi?" he asked his voice dripping in surprise.

"Let me go!" she exclaimed struggling under his grip. He stared at her bewildered. She was beautiful. Her slender form was draped in expensive silks while several ornaments adorned her body. What didn't fit right was the anger and desperation her pretty face exuded.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for a woman" he continued "And judging by your attire you appear to be a royal woman. Tell me what your name is?"

"My name does not matter" she hissed angrily "Whom you are seeing before you is a woman whom you made an orphan today. She is a woman seeking retribution for her father and brother whom you killed some time back."

"What! You mean you are the princess of Pirajshya. You are Princess Sonakshi!"

"If it makes any difference."

"But you are supposed to be in the women's palace not out here. This place is not safe for you."

"No place in this world is safe for me anymore. And you are responsible! I have nothing left to do except strive for revenge."

A pang of guilt passed through him but he quickly suppressed the feeling. This was a fair battle and he was a warrior.

"Listen to me Rajkumari Sonakshi, what happened to your family is unfortunate but it was a fair fight. The warriors on both sides were following their Ksatriya dharma. Now allow me to escort you back to the palace."

"Never. Remove your hands off me unless your intentions are that of a fair fight like a warrior!"

"Warriors don't raise their weapons on women, Rajkumari."

"When will society understand that the inequalities it perpetrates as gender, caste, etc are all self- disabling."

She was facing the direction where her kingdom lay as she mumbled those words. Had she not, she would have noticed the glint of amazement in Karna's eyes.

"But Rajkumari there is no way you can win against me."

"I am aware of that and I would much prefer an honourable death than living the life of a helpless, petty royal."

This time he couldn't hide his fascination. Whether it was youthful impulse or a dictate of destiny- he could never comprehend the reasons behind his next acts.

"Well then Rajkumari please step into my chariot."

"I said before I am not going back to the palace."

"I am not taking you there."

He had already begun leading or rather pulling her towards the chariot by her hand.

"What are you doing? Let me go. Stop-"

She must have wondered if he was made of stone for no amount of punching or kicking or any other form of restrain seemed to affect him. She was already on the chariot when she stopped wriggling suddenly.

The object in his hand was the reason.