Karna along with everyone else was confused and surprised by Arjun, Yudhisthir and Rajmata Kunti's presence. Kunti came to him hurriedly looking scared. Subhadra also came to stand beside him.

"Putra, are you okay?" Kunti asked Karna holding him from his shoulders and checked for any possible injuries. Karna nodded to assure her he was okay. He also blinked at Subhadra in assurance.

Yudhisthir came behind Kunti too looking worried. Arjun on the other hand went to Duryodhan and stood face to face.

"Aaj yeh dussahas kar liya. Parantu dubara mat kijiyega. (You dared to do this today. But don't make this mistake again.)" Arjun said with evident anger in face and voice. Duryodhan stared at him angrily for a while and then started laughing again.

"Mamashree, look who has come to save this Soota. The Gandhivdhari Arjun! Really? You've bonded with this Arjun so much that he stands before me to protect you?" Duryodhan said looking at Karna.
"The two archers who were behind each others head, is protecting each other against me? What lies have you fed him to make him your servant Soota?" Duryodhan asked him again. Karna only looked at him not replying.
"So? You, Arjun want to protect him? Why? What favour has he done to you that you're repaying?" Duryodhan asked Arjun in mocking.

"Sarbapratham, jinke bisay mein aap baat kar rahe he, unhe kisiki sangrakshan ka prayojan nehi. Yoh swayam apni raksha karne ka samarth rakhte hai. Aur dusri baat, yedhi prayojon huya, toh kebal mai nehi, hum pacho Pandav inke sangrakshan hetu inka kavach banke khare ho jayenge.
(First of all, the one you're talking about, doesn't need anyone's protection. He himself is very much capable of doing so. And if need be, then not only me, but you will find all five Pandavs standing as his armour.)" Arjun replied ferociously confusing everyone around. Gandharraj Shakuni had closed his one eye watching Arjun's protective side coming out for his enemy. That was not sitting well with him.

"Kya baat hai Arjun? Akasmat hi tum pacho bhaiyo ko iss Sootputra per itni daya kyu aa rahi hai?
(What happened Arjun? Why suddenly you five brothers are feeling so much mercy towards this Sootputra?)" Duryodhan asked again smiling scornfully

"Yeh daya nehi, bhaiyo ka apne sabse jyesth bhrata ke liye prem aur samarpan hai, putra Duryodhan.
(This is not mercy, but love and devotion towards their eldest brother, son Duryodhan.)" This time it was Kunti who answered him in a firm voice. Duryodhan looked at her in confusion, mirroring others.

"What do you mean Rajmata?" Shakuni asked.

"Yahi, ki Karna - (That Karna is -)

mera putra hai. (My son.)

Arjun aur mere annya putro ka bhai hai. (He is Arjun and my other sons brother.)

Mera Jyesth Putra hai Karna. (Karna is my son.)"

Kunti said in a firm and unyielding voice. Her emotions made her eyes watered, but she stood still revealing the truth that she buried years ago.

In Indraprasth :

Drisana sighed as she sat with Devika and Draupadi silently. Devika was sewing a shawl where Draupadi and Drisana were making flower garlands for evening prayer.

"How the environment changed so suddenly!" Draupadi said breaking the silence.

"Yes. Everyone was so happy. But now, we can't see anyones faces." Devika said sighing.

"Yes. Bhrata Bheem remains on the arena to get out his anger and frustration only. Sahdev drowned himself in royal matters trying to ignore everything. And Nakul - " Devika didn't complete as her eyes fell on Drisana. But Drisana knew already. Nakul had been spending most of his times in the stables when he wasn't working with Sahdev and helping Bheem in managing his anger, shutting down his own emotions. Arjun could help him but he wasn't here and the other person who could help wasn't allowed to do so.

"You don't worry Drisana. Everything will be sorted out as they return with Jyesth Karna. Then we will welcome him grandly and also complete the post marital rituals of yours and bhrata Nakul's." Draupadi said to assure Drisana smiling at her as she saw Drisana's pale face. Drisana forced a smile on face nodding.

Flashback

They were in the middle of their journey towards Indraprasth when to rest for the night, tents were made.

The tents were ready. Drisana was tensed as Devika led her to theirs. The women were going to live in the same tent. After changing and freshening up, Drisana sat beside Kunti who was chanting while counting Rudraksh. Devika and Draupadi had gone to look over at the foods arrangement. As Kunti was elder and Drisana was the new bride, both were supposed to rest only.

"Mata?" Drisana called her tentatively.

"Yes, Putri?" Kunti responded opening her eyes and looking at Drisana with a smile.

"I wanted to talk about something important." Drisana said carefully. Kunti nodded encouraging her.

"Mata, do you remember when I went to Hastinapur you promised me you'll give me anything I ask for after Jyesth Yudhisthir's reannouncing ceremony was declared by Maharaj Dhritrastra?" Drisana reminded her.

"Yes, Putri. I do remember and you can ask for anything still. I will fulfill your wish as promised." Kunti replied smiling warmly at her.

"Then I want to ask for something today." Drisana took a deep breath before saying, "I want you to tell your five sons the reality of Bhrata Karna's birth tonight."

Kunti stared at Drisana with wide eyes. She became very still and got lost in thoughts.

"Mata?" Drisana called her after sometimes getting no response.

"You - How - how do you know?" She asked stammering as her eyes filled with fear and guilt.

"Jaab aap Dravida mein aapne putra ka vagya sunischit karne ka prayas kar rahi thi, taab waha mein bhi thi. (When you were trying to change your son's fate, I was on that place too.)" Drisana replied not really answering but saying the truth only. Kunti understood what she meant.

"I have already decided to tell them after reaching Indraprasth." Kunti said sighing after a while.

"No mata. That will be too late. You'll have to tell them tonight only. You promised me." Drisana said blankly. Kunti stared at her contemplating why Drisana was in such a hurry. But nodded after sometimes. She was bound by her promise. What did it matter why she was hurrying? It had already been too late. The sooner the truth came out, the better.

And thus, Kunti told the truth to her sons that night at dinnertime only. Pandavs were astonished that their mother kept this hidden from everyone and hurt thinking about all the insults Karna had been handed over by society and them too.

"You knew it." Nakul stated throwing a penetrating gaze at Drisana who avoided his gaze.

"That's why you took his blessings at your wedding." Sahdev realised along with Arjun. The rest looked at Drisana too for answers.

"This is not Drisana's fault. She got to know before her wedding only. I was going to tell you after reaching Indraprasth. But she only forced me to tell you tonight." Kunti answered instead.

"But would you have really told us Mata?" Yudhisthir asked in a pained voice with tear filled eyes. "In the past several years, you had numerous opportunity to tell us. Why didn't you?"

"Putra, I wanted to. But I could never gather the courage. Please forgive me." Kunti said crying miserably as Devika held her.

"You didn't do right Mata. You didn't." Yudhisthir whispered and left.

"How many times have I insulted him! How many times I humiliated him even when you tried to stop me? Since the day we met, I started talking to him with disrespect only. I humiliated my own brother and ridiculed him for his caste. Why didn't you tell me that he is my elder brother only with a slap Mata? Why didn't you?" Bheem screamed as tears were pouring from his eyes.

"Putra -" Kunti said in a broken voice, but Bheem left unable to bear this burden of guilt. Sahdev followed him. Bheem shouldn't be left alone in this state and he also needed some air to breath as his lungs were refusing to work properly in grief.
Kunti was also unable to bear this burden as she sat down crying hard. Devika, Draupadi and Drisana surrounded her, trying to handle her.

"Mata, you love your sons so much. Then how could you do this injustice with your first child? I understand you were helpless at the time of his birth. But later? When he came in front of you that day in Rangbhumi (stadium)? Why didn't you tell the truth? Why didn't you stop me from raising my weapon against my own elder brother? Why?" Arjun asked solemnly as tears rolled down from his eyes. Kunti only continued crying.

"This was wrong Mata, very wrong." Arjun left whispering.

Kunti stood up and came in front of Nakul who stood with downcast eyes.

"Putra, I know I did wrong. Please at least you forgive me." Kunti said folding her hands. Nakul stopped her immediately shaking his head and embraced her. Kunti cried her heart out and got tired after sometimes.

"Bhabhishree?" Nakul signed Devika to take Kunti to her tent and left to find Arjun. Before leaving he only glanced once at Drisana. Drisana could read his accusing eyes which held anger and hurt.

She could fool others but not Nakul. He knew Drisana must had known the truth even before meeting them. That's why she wanted to end their enemity with Karna. Nakul helped her in that without questioning. But she kept the truth from him. Even when she told him about her coming from kaliyug, she deliberately left it out. All those years, she hided the truth. He trusted her with all he had and what she had done? Didn't she trust him enough to tell the truth? Why did she betray him like this?

The next day, they didn't resumed their journey as planned and stayed in the camp. Everyone's mind and heart was clogged with anguish and anger. In a day the whole troupe that had been celebrating, turned gloomy. No one outside of family knew the reason, but silence prevailed as the family's anger and pain was evident. Then, Yudhisthir decided to take matters into hand like always.

"Jyesth Karna had suffered enough. It's high time, he get the respect and rights, he deserves." Yudhisthir said to his brothers.

"We need to ask forgiveness from him. But will he forgive us?" Arjun wondered helplessly.

"We won't stop asking until he does." Nakul said.

"But where will we find him? He must have left Dravida by now." Sahdev asked frowning.

"Maybe in Hastinapur?" Bheem suggested.

"Drisana must know." Sahdev said again looking at all.

"Mata?" Pandavs came inside the tent to see her. Kunti looked at them emotionally.

"Mata. We understand your helplessness. We don't hold any grudge against you." Yudhisthir said gently. "But it's true that you've made a mistake and it's time we rectify that. At least we can try."

"Yes, Putra. I'll do anything to rectify this. I can't live with this burden anymore. And thank you all for understanding me." Kunti said as another tear slipped her eye. Arjun came close to her and wiping the tear away hugged her.

"You don't need to thank us Mata. Your sons will never leave you alone." Arjun said with a voice heavy with emotions. Bheem also joined the hug followed by others. Devika, Draupadi and Drisana saw them with watery eyes and smiles.

"But now we need to bring back Jyesth. We need to give him his equivalent rights." Yudhisthir said breaking the hug to Kunti who nodded with determination.

"Drisana? You forced Mata to tell us about this here only. Why didn't you wait for us to reach Indraprasth?" Yudhisthir asked her. Pandavs had figured out she must know something more that they didn't.

"Bhrata Balaram has promised Yuvraj Duryodhan that he will give Subhadra's hand to him." Drisana replied calmly making everyone frown. "Bhrata Dhikshit was there when he promised that."

"Subhadra? Madhav's sister? But what does that have anything to do with Jyesth Karna?" Arjun asked in confusion.

"Bhrata Karna has married Subhadra covertly in Dravida." Drisana replied shocking everyone. Thankfully Drisana had ordered one of her maids to keep a close eye on Subhadra when she got suspicious of her behaviour.
"No one knows about this. I don't know why they did that. But when Yuvraj Duryodhan goes to Dwarka to marry Subhadra, Bhrata Karna will be left with two choices. Either to kidnap Subhadra or to tell the Yadavas the truth. And in both cases -"

"He'll face the anger of both the Yadus and Duryodhan." Arjun completed getting the full picture along with everyone else.

"Yes. And even if he manages to handle Yadavas, he will never raise his weapon against Duryodhan. Bhrata Krishna's hands will be tied too as Bhrata Balaram will be angry on him." Drisana explained and gave them a moment to digest it.

"At this time, you need to go to Dwarka with Mata Kunti as soon as possible, so Mata Kunti can handle the Yadavas and you can answer Yuvraj Duryodhan's weapons." Drisana said finally.

After that, Kunti, Yudhisthir and Arjun left for Dwarka from there only and sent Bheem, Nakul and Sahdev back to Indraprasth with the women.

Nakul hadn't talked to Drisana since then except for telling her to leave him alone. He had full right to get angry on her also. Drisana wouldn't have forced Kunti if it wasn't necessary. She didn't want to in fact. But at her wedding Krishna confirmed her suspicion too by mentioning the journey. The distance between Indraprasth and Dwarka was more than twice the distance between Dravida to Dwarka. So, Pandavs needed to know before reaching Indraprasth to reach there on time.

In Dwarka :

"What are you saying Mata Kunti?" Karna asked in confusion and shock.

"I'm telling the truth only son." Kunti said staring at him emotionally. Karna was unable to fathom the meaning of her words, so was everyone else.

"Aapne mujhe apna Putra kaha, yeh mere liye bohot samman ki baat hai. Parantu mera paricay yehi hai ki mein sarthi Adhirath aur Radha maa ka putra hu. (You called me your son, this is a matter of great respect for me. But I'm charioteer Adhirath and Radha maa's son, that is my identity only.)" Karna said folding his hands respectfully in front of Kunti. There was cloud of an unknown fear gathering in his heart.

"Nehi Putra. Tum aapni bastabikta se anavhiggya ho. Tum Adhirath mahoday aur behen Radha ka Putra nehi ho. Unhone to upkar kiya hai mujh par, tumhe gale se laga kar, tumhara lalan-palan karke. (No son. You're unaware of your reality. You're not Adhirath and Radha's son. They did a favour to me by embracing and raising you.)" Kunti said holding his folded hands. Karna only stared at her.

"Tumhara samarth bhagwan Suryanarayan ka prasad hai Putra. (Your ability is the offering of God Surya son.)

Tum swayam bhagwan Suryanarayan ke mantra prasad ho. (You, yourself is the gift of God Surya.)

Tum mere Putra ho. (You're my son.)" Kunti said as tears rolled down her face. She was crying miserably holding his hands. Karna only watched being unable to comprehend what he just heard. Arjun and Yudhisthir's eyes were also clouded with emotions as they stood silently. Duryodhan and Gandharraj was seeing everything in surprise along with everyone else.

Welcome guys!!!

How was my swagat???😉

I know welcoming is done in the first chapter. But all the three chapters combined was supposed to be my first chapter...😅😅😅 [Well, that's the reason I'm writing a second book too.]

If you're wondering about Drisana, Kunti talk that what Drisana said and how Kunti understood what......well you'll get to know that soon too.

Any other confusions???