"Kunti?" Vasudeva called his sister in confusion and shock. "How can Karna be your son?"

"Yes, bhrata. This is the truth only. Karna is my son whom I had gotten from Suryadev." Kunti replied controlling herself and relayed the story of Karna's birth to them all. She didn't fear anyone anymore when her sons were with her. Her only fear now was Karna himself. Would he accept her as his mother?

"Kunti, how could you do this? You did a mistake I agree. But how can you flow a little boy into the river? You could have asked help from me or anyone else. What have you done Kunti? Our blood, our son, a Kshatriya was raised in disregard and disrespect. How could you?" Vasudeva asked his sister in anger and disappointment.

"I'm sorry bhrata. But I didn't see any other way. You were in prison that time. I couldn't trust anyone to help me as I was afraid for his life also. I feared my father would kill him to protect his status if he came to know about this. And Suryanarayan promised me that he'll protect my son. I flowed him with this belief that He and Mata Ganga will safeguard him." Kunti said in grief. Vasudeva was also feeling her pain and understood how much afraid and helpless must Kunti had been to flow her own child onto the river.

Everyone present could sense Kunti's distress and vulnerability. What happened wasn't right. But it would be wrong too to blame her. She was a woman and it was easier to point fingers at woman in this social system. They alone bore the burden of uplifting their family's respect, but very few men gave them the respect that they deserved. It was easier to judge her, but difficult to actually imagine ourselves at her position.

"Forgive me Putra. I couldn't be your mother even though you're my son. I had to leave you even though I didn't want to. But I want to be your mother now. I have come defeating all my fears and constraints. Please give me one chance to become your mother." Kunti said to Karna looking at him emotionally.

Karna didn't say one single word till now. Only heard everything. He stared at Kunti for sometime with red bloodshot eyes and then left abruptly. Kunti broke down in tears looking at his retreating back. Yudhisthir held her as her feet refused to uphold her anymore. Arjun was going to go behind Karna but was stopped by Krishna.

"His whole existence has been shaken up. His entire life, his struggles, his pain all is at stake. Let him be alone for sometime Paarth." Krishna said looking gloomy.

Duryodhan and Shakuni who was watching in surprise left the place too. Duryodhan's anger rose as his surprise subsided. No wonder, Karna was siding towards Pandavs and betrayed him. They were brothers after all. Shakuni's mind on the other hand was in a jumble from the overload of surprises. First his plan to get Subhadra and Duryodhan married, failed. Then he got to know he himself had carried the weapon to Dwarka who destroyed his plans. Then he got to know the one he considered as a valuable asset for Duryodhan, was actually Pandavs brother. When would this inauspicious day end?

Here, Subhadra who was halfway to the door, was stopped by her mother, Mata Rohini and dragged from there to her chambers.

In Indraprasth :

Drisana went to the stables. She saw Nakul caressing a horse and feeding him haylage. Coming near them, Drisana stood at the opposite side of the horse facing Nakul. He gave her no mind as he continued feeding the horse. Drisana stood silently watching. After a while, Nakul went away to get another horse out of its stall and headed outside. Probably for a ride. Drisana followed him and stood watching as he left.

Nakul returned almost an hour later to find Drisana at the same place. He still gave no indication of watching or acknowledging her presence. As he came outside after returning the horse to its place, Drisana stopped him from heading inside the palace by holding his wrist. Nakul remained silent as Drisana dragged him to the nearby woodland tangling their fingers and holding his elbow with the other hand. They strolled through the woodland for sometimes.

"Why are you suppressing your emotions inside? If nothing else, then get your anger out on me. But don't keep hurting by suppressing your emotions." Drisana said nonchalantly looking around.

She knew why Nakul wasn't talking to her. He didn't want to say something that would hurt her. Hurt and anger is one dangerous combination. We don't talk when we're angry, only our anger does the talking and regret or sorry can never erase the words. You can forgive the person, but never forget or erase the words spoken. That's why Nakul stayed silent too when Mata Kunti told them the truth.

"I never wanted you to get hurt. I thought about telling you when I told you about me. But I stopped myself. Not because I don't trust you, but because I have no right on this truth. This is about Mata Kunti's reputation and Bhrata Karna's existence. I have no right to question them." Drisana said gently. Nakul stared at her for sometimes and finally looked away taking deep breaths.

"My mother's reputation, my brother's existence and I had no right to know?" Nakul asked sharply.

"Even if I told you this truth crossing my limit, you would never keep something like this from your brothers and in turn you all would have faced something no one was ready for." Drisana replied. Nakul stopped walking.

"Don't you think that should have been decided by us?" He asked looking at her directly.

"You would have decided to leave everything for him and indirectly made yourselves servants of unrighteousness." Drisana stated sadly.

"Relations shouldn't be affected by political matters." Nakul said ferociously.

"Yes. They shouldn't. But they do get affected by them." Drisana said calmly.

"We don't desire luxuries or Kingdom." Nakul countered.

"But the Kingdom demands you." Drisana replied swiftly.

Nakul punched the nearby tree in frustration a few times. Drisana watched in distress but didn't stop him. After he stopped and rested his forehead on the tree silently shedding tears, Drisana wiped her own tears and went near him. Turning him towards her, she gently cleaned his face and took his bruised hand into both of hers.

"He suffered so much. Struggled for the things we got without asking. I remember when he came to Guru Drone asking to take him as his disciple and Gurudev rejected saying he doesn't teach Sootas. I remember when he was insulted and stopped from participating in the competition. I remember when I insulted him later calling him Sootputra." Nakul whispered in dejection.

"Then do remember, it was Guru Drone whose differentiation was wrong, not a Soota's thirst for learning. Then remember competitions shouldn't have such rules that paves the way for the privileged and smash the underprivileged. You insulted him, but remember he was also supporting your insult." Drisana said in a gentle but firm voice. "Mistakes have been done from both sides. What matters is the effort to rectify them." Drisana added softly placing her lips on his hand.

In Dwarka :

Karna stared at the unsettled waves of the sea. Similar waves of emotions were hitting him hard too.

Subhadra came to stand beside him. Mata Rohini had expressed her displeasure and disappointment at her actions. But what was done couldn't be changed. Mata Devaki was the one to take her side even though she was also disappointed that Subhadra hadn't talked to them about anything. Dau wasn't talking to her saying she had grown up enough that she didn't need anyone and could take her decisions alone. Bhrata Krishna assured caressing her head that he'd understand soon.
Her Pitashree didn't say anything at all and wanted to remain alone. He was disturbed by both Subhadra and Kunti's actions.

"This is not true. I'm Radha maa's son. That's the truth only." Karna said to Subhadra or probably to himself.

"No matter what the truth is, you are and you will always be Radha maa's son." Subhadra said gently looking at him. Karna turned his face towards her then.

"I'm sure, there's some mistake. This can't be true. Mata Kunti must be mistaken. Maybe her son is someone else." Karna said hopefully but his eyes said he didn't really believe that. He was trying to deny the truth.

Subhadra had never seen him in such a vulnerable state. He had always stood strong in every situation. But this truth had completely broken him. His parents weren't his? In all his struggles, ups and downs, his parents were the only constant he had. Whenever he used to fall, his father would give him the courage to get up. He found peace in his mother's lap whenever the whole world rejected and ridiculed him. There had been days when there wasn't a single grain to feed themselves. But Karna hadn't let his hunger show on his face. Rather he had wiped his mother's tears and slept happily, because his Radha maa sang to him caressing his head.
All his life he had struggled to get rights based on ability where society refused him saying it was to be given only by birth status. So, he set out to change that. Now, after all his struggles, sufferings and sacrifices, he got to know the rights were his all along, by the society's so called standards also.

"It doesn't matter who Buashree Kunti's son is. You are Radheya. No one can snatch that truth from you." Subhadra said holding his face in her hands. Karna stared at Subhadra's eyes for some moments and then fell on his knees crying. Subhadra kept her hands on his shoulder and said,
"Whatever your past has been, can never be changed.
But what your future will be, is in your hands.
And at every step ahead, you'll find me beside you at constant."

Karna then cried loudly holding her as his Sthira grounded him.

Duryodhan had prepared to leave Dwarka right then. There was no reason for him to stay there anymore. Even Dwarka's serene environment was being suffocating for him. He was too angry and hurt. He felt like he had lost everything. First Karna betrayed him by not telling him about Subhadra and humiliated him in front of the Yadavas. And then he got to know his inseparable friend whom he was trying to separate from the Pandavs, was actually their brother.

"Mamashree! Where have you been? I sent you message about our departure long ago." Duryodhan inquired stiffly. He had been waiting for him since a long time.

"I was playing Causar (gamble) to organise my chaotic thoughts." Gandharraj Shakuni replied calmly.

"With whom?" Duryodhan asked frowning. At such a situation, who in Dwarka would entertain him with a game?

"Swayam ke saath. Jaab khel neye sire se aarambh karna ho, toh ek daao swayam ke saath khel lena cahiye mere bacche.
(With myself. When you have to start a new game, it's best to play against yourself first my son.)" Shakuni said smiling wickedly.

"What do you mean?" Duryodhan asked irritated and confused.

"Yehi, ki aabsar sabko milta hai, parantu safal wahi hote hai joh ush aabsar ka lavh utha pate hai. Aur yeh aabsar hamare liye ek aisa sunehra mouka lekar aaya hai, joh Hastinapur k saath saath Indraprasth bhi tumhare carno mein samarpit kar dega.
(That everyone gets opportunity, but only those who uses the opportunity correctly gets success. And this opportunity has brought a golden chance for you to get Indraprasth along with Hastinapur.)" Shakuni replied shaking his paase (dices).

In Indraprasth :

Drisana was in the study room when Sahdev arrived.

"What are you doing?" Sahdev asked frowning in confusion.

"Playing chess." Drisana replied with a smile. This was Drisana's favourite game. She used to play it at free times in kaliyug too.

"With yourself?" Sahdev asked arching his eyebrows.

"Swayam se khelne ka aanadh hi aalag hai. Kuyki iss khel mein pratidwndi konsi cal calega yeh mujhe purb se hi gyat hota hai. Isliye khud ke hi daao ko bifal kar ke koyi aisa cal calna parta hai, jiski soch swayam meine bhi na rakhi ho.
(There's a different pleasure in playing with oneself. Because, in this game I know beforehand what's going to be the opponents next move. So, I have to fail my own move and make a move that even I can't imagine.)" Drisana said moving a pawn.

"Arthat ki apne aap se khel ke khud ki hi shakti aur durbalta ke bisay mein jaan lena, aur apne durbaltao ka pratikar dhund lena? (Meaning to know your strengths and weaknesses by playing with yourself and then find solutions for your weaknesses?)" Sahdev concluded with amusement. Drisana smiled at him. He reminded her of Bhrata Dhritimat.

"Ek khel mere saath bhi ho jaye? (One game with me?)" Sahdev stated questioningly sitting on the opposite side of the large board as he signed the servant to rearrange the board.

"Kyu nehi? Itna buddhiman pratidwndi roj roj thori na milega mujhe. (Why not? I won't get such an intelligent opponent everyday.)" Drisana smirked. "By the way where is your brother?"

"Bhrata Bheem se koyi bhi saynik dwand karne ko ecchuk nehi, isliye pitne gaya hai Nakul. (No soldier is ready to compete with bhrata Bheem. So Nakul has gone to get beaten.)" Sahdev said nonchalantly making Drisana frown at him.
"Why are you looking at me like this? Mein kaal pitke aaya hu, aaj bari uski hai. (I've got beaten yesterday. Today is his turn.)"

Drisana sighed shaking her head. Bheem's anger and frustration management system was terrible.

"Waise adhiktar logo ko causer pasand hai, tumhe satranj mein itni ruchi kyu? (Maximum people loves gambling, why do you like chess?)" Sahdev asked in between the game. People in this era rarely played chess. It was very boring in comparison to gamble.

"Adhiktar logo ko causer iss liye pasand hai, kyuki usme samaj ke saath saath vagya ka bhi aabasakta parti hai. Jeet gaye to samajhdari ka faal, har gaye to durvagya. Parantu satranj mein kebal buddhi calti hai. Har bhi uski, aur jeet bhi.
(Maximum people likes gambling as it is a mix of perception and fate. If you win then it was your perception, if you lose it was fate. But chess is a game of intellectual. Win or lose, both depends on intelligence only.)" Drisana replied not taking her eyes off the board.

"Raja khatre mein hai. (The King is in danger.)" Sahdev said blankly. Drisana glanced at him once before concentrating on the board again.

"Log aksar rani ko aandekha kar dete hai. Jabki raja ko bacane yeah dubane ki sabse adhik samta usi mein hoti hai. (People often neglects the Queen. When it is her, who has the most capability to either save or drown the King.)" Drisana muttered carefully watching the pieces.

"Kya woh apni samta ka shatik prayog kar payengi? (Will she be able to use her powers correctly?)" Sahdev asked slightly narrowing his eyes in thought.

"Woh toh usi par nirvhar karta hai jo in satranj ke mohro ko calata hai. (That depends on the one who moves the pawns on the board.)" Drisana replied nonchalantly.

"Parantu khatre mein toh pura shetr bhi hai. (But the entire area is in danger too.)" Sahdev remarked watching the pieces carefully.

"Jaab bipaksh ka raja hi bacab karne lage, toh humain parajay ka vay nehi hona cahiye. (When the opponent king is in our defence, then we shouldn't be afraid of loss.)" Drisana replied smirking.

👀👀👀

I know...I know.....

But in Drisana's language,

"Sabr ka faal kabhi kabhar mitha bhi hota hai. (The fruit of patience is sweet sometimes.)" 😆😆😆

And.....dear SILENT readers,

BLESS YOU!!!