"Never repeat the same mistakes"

-someone wise

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Dwapara yuga
Tritheya, Dharmasthali
Next day

A new warm day sprouting out of the dark coldness of the night is the first sight that gives us the intuition to have hope .

Karna was walking towards the temple after his morning prayers ; he met few familiar faces on his way as he extended his humble greetings .
They returned the gesture with equal appreciation. They found Karna a bit sceptical at first as none knew about his origin or parentage. But eventually became fond of him due to his personality and nobility. The kid was so kind even at a young age , helping anyone who seeked help irrespective of anything.

Tritheya's society follows Varna vyavasta, but a very few treat it like a  birth privilege. Mostly the people were broad minded and appreciated people for their work, rather than taking it for granted. And no professions were treated lowly. Paraha the kulguru has made it sure , that his motherland wouldn't turn out to be like other nations in this particular matter.

The saint has witnessed the downfall of a once efficient Varna vyavastha, that now turned into something more of a shackle termed as Jathi vyavastha . Tritheya was different, nobody was forced to choose a particular profession because their father happened to choose that in the past. This kind of liberal approach in the system has received both negetive criticism as well as positive insights from other kings and officials upon their visit .

So Paraha has advised Karna to always go around the market as well as settlement areas, whenever he got time to spare ,to mingle with various people . Karna has taken that advice seriously. As he strolled leisurely through alleys and streets, he met new personalities every other day. He noticed that each group had a different set of priorities and thus had different perspectives on life according to their occupation that influenced their daily routines. And a casual conversation with any adult could tell you a lot about the mindset of him/her and people similar to them with the same occupation in the same locality.

But no matter what , the one major similarity Karna noticed among all these people irrespective of their cast , creed , race ,or  occupation was their opinionated selves and driven spirits. Which he found quite inspiring . They need a well oriented and open minded leader , or else these people and their future generations would be robbed to a pathetic extent. Karna slowly started getting an idea about this humongous world and about the magnanimous Society and systems that drives them.
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Dwapar yuga
Dharmasthali, Gurukul
Same day,

First hour in the third prahar of the day was moving with the pace of a snail. Karna was hit by a heavy boredom and nothing intresting caught his sight. Rama softly sat beside his friend to not startle him and stared at a zoned out Karna with a thoughtful look.

The walls are indeed the most interesting topic that's going on here, Karna.
Rama teased his friend with a serious tone.
Karna slowly turned around to address the presence of his now annoying friend.

What else could be so interesting for him ?! He can't even speak a damn thing.. mute . Haha
Another classmate of their's interrupted their conversation making fun of Karna. Rama frowned deeply staring intensely at the boy and his fellows who laughed at the thorn like statement.
Karna stood up from his place.Rama followed his friend's action.
One among the boys walked upto Karna and wrapped an arm around his shoulder . Karna never liked anyone being in his close proximity, it flared his anger and they knew it well. Karna pushed him away , his face turning a little red.

Oh!.. no! .. the mute is getting angry! Stay away.
The boy mocked again, as he and his friends laughed hysterically.
Haha haaha..

Sudarshan, drop your act and mind your business. Or else..
Rama warned the boy.

Or else ?! Else what?! Is he gonna complain to his parents?!
Oohh I am sorry I forgot the mute is an Orphan.
Sudarshan continued with an arrogant smirk , and the other boys laughed. Karna's eyes welled up involuntarily.
Hahaa.. ha
The boys laughed at him.
Carried away with his mockery he walked upto Karna and caught his face in one hand puffing his cheeks.

Are you crying mute?! Aww.. he is such a cry baby..
Hhahhaa..
What followed next was so quick, that Rama couldn't intervene before it happened.
Sudarshan was pushed against the wall and was being punched in the face . His nose was red and Karna's knuckles and face were turning red in anger.
Rama caught his friend , and tried dragging him away from Sudarshan , so did the other boys. But karna was like a mountain which felt impossible to even shake at the time; let alone move.

That's enough , KARNA!!
Pandit Bhaskara's voice echoed inside the temple walls, and Karna's fist stopped in mid air. Silence followed. Karna's anger turned into heavy realisation upon seeing Sudarshan's bloody nose. He turned to face his Guru, and immediately regretted what he did. He traced his gaze down, without meeting his teacher's.

Rest of the students stay here , Karna ! Sudarshana! Follow me .
Pandit Bhaskara ordered. And the kids followed him.
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I am so disappointed in you Karna.
This is such an immatured behaviour.
Paraha scolded.

And Sudarshana , if I heard that you  attempted such petty acts ever again , you will face even worse consequences. This is not what we teach here . So learn to behave with others , or find a place to learn elsewhere.
Paraha addressed the other boy.
Now leave and get medications for your injury.
The sage concluded.
The boy , Sudarshana left and Paraha turned his attention to Karna.

Who told you that you had permission to raise hand on him without enough reasons?
Paraha questioned Karna and the boy just held his head low without answering.
I am talking to you Karna. Answer me!
Paraha raised his voice for the first time on Karna. He felt so bad doing it , but it was necessary.
He held both his ears , in the gesture of apologising , tears streamed out of his eyes.

This is not about apologising or forgiving karna , it's about your impulsive behaviours. This cannot be ignored and thus there is consequence for your action.
Paraha said and he looked at the entrance in search of someone.

Achyutha ! Come here.
Paraha called one of his students for assistance, who stood at the door.
Achythan one of the efficient warriors of Tritheya who was still under the tutelage of Paraha walked into the dim lighted room. He was well build and of average height. But his posture and trained eyes talked volumes about his experience. He walked upto his teacher , and bowed in reverence.
Paraha nodded in return,

Take Karna to the practicing ground , let him try and get the sand bag to the ground.
Paraha said , and immediately Achyutha's eyes widened in realisation.

Are you sure Gurudeva ? he is a child and I am afraid he might not be capable of doing that yet.
Achyuthan suggested.

I am not asking him to do it in one day, Achyutha! And it's a punishment.
Paraha assured his Student, who still felt pity for the kid.

Karna! Achythan is my student . He will take you to one of the practice grounds. you have to finish the task in the given time. Or else the alternative  will be twice harder.
You have time from dawn to dusk of the following ten days, to get the sack of sand down to the ground. Achyuthan will explain other rules of this method of training, at the practice area.
Paraha concluded and walked past Karna after slightly brushing his hand over Karna's head.

And yes , one more thing . Only return home once you finish the task.
Saying so Paraha left.
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Achyuthan walked ahead and Karna silently tailed him . They walked out of the Gurukul which was the space for scriptural studies, which also  provided facilities for the stay of the students and the teachers. And Achyuthan led them to the area of the temple complex where martial arts were practiced along with where knowledge of warfare were imparted ; which was a short walk of 10 to 12 yards.

Then Achyuthan led Karna to the south exit of the arena , which led to a comparatively marshy area. It looked like it was purposefully morphed as such for the sake of practice. But karna couldn't figure out what is the 'punishment' in pulling a sack of sand to the ground.

Finally Achyuthan stopped when they both walked upto a pit . It wasn't a small 'pit' , but was broad and wide enough to hold 6 or 7 full grown people or more precisely warriors in it.  The ground was muddy and swampy  from the look of it. As Karna looked upwards , he saw a sack of sand hanging directly above the swamp, suspended on a strong rod that was extended horizontally across the swamp , supported by two trees that stood tall on both corners of the arena.

The rod and sack was already so high from the arena , so if someone got down in the sticky ,pulling swamp , it seemed impossible to even reach anywhere near the sack of sand that suspended above; unless and until you were as capable as a monkey in the matter of jumping.

'I am dead!'  Karna sighed mentally.

Don't be intimidated , you have 10 days. You have to get down in this swamp and try and jump to reach the sack hanging above . You are not allowed to climb out of this swamp till dusk once you enter it. You can jump to reach it , and only jumping is allowed. If you touched it , that itself is a great deal , if you managed to pull that thing down , I might announce you as inhuman.
Achyuthan joked at the end to lighten up the mood.
Karna just nervously smiled at him.

Or you can ask Gurudev to reduce the intensity of the punishment after apologising to the boy that you got in trouble with.
Achyuthan adviced.

Karna was anything but a coward. He wasn't afraid of this task , and nor is he gonna apologize to that brat. He will try with all he have until he make it . And nothing can stop the bull he is , especially when he is stubborn.
'I have to finish this as soon as possible' karna resolved in his mind.
All the nervousness evaporating in the heat of his determination.

Then the five year old again looked at Achyuthan and  smiled radiantly clearing all the clouds of doubt.
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What did he even do , for receiving this kind of  punishment?!
Vrishali asked to Rama as they sat at the bay of the pit , both of their feets dangling down the edge of the platform. The swamp is spread below; where Karna stood panting after a handful of attempts to get near the sack of sand for the whole day , which now felt like it was hung up in the sky.

He got a little 'handy' with one of our classmates.
Rama replied blankly , munching on a berry that they plucked on the way for Karna, which he refused to eat.

Oo... Does he hit people often?!
Vrishali questioned again , this time a bit unimpressed.

No! never! , he is one of the calmest people I know. The boy he hit , is a brat , he mocked Karna of being an orphan and mute . And when Sudarshan became really intolerable , Karna gave him few punches in the face.
Rama explained, getting defensive of his friend.

What's wrong in that , Karna is indeed mute and is indeed Orphan. where is the lie in that.
Vrishali stated like a matter of fact.

But.. that's..
Rama started ,but was interrupted by a clap. He turned his attention towards the swamp below, to see Karna , and Karna gestured Rama to stop.

'she is right , I was being impulsive.'
Karna gestured to his friend.
Rama looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded at his friend.
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The dusk arrived .Rama left, as his father came looking for him.  And Vrishali was still seated at the edge of the platform that looked over to the swamp below.
As it was dusk , Achyuthan told Karna to climb out of the swamp and that they will continue it in the next dawn.

Karna's feet were swollen . And he limped to reach Vrishali ti sit next to her. Vrishali helped him to take a seat near her. He was panting slightly and sweat was pouring down his body, mud and dirt dripped off of him.
Karna held both his ears , in the gesture of an apology.

S...sorry??
Vrishali tried to guess his gesture.
Karna nodded , a small smile finding its way back to his face.
Vrishali smiled in return.

Why though?
She asked.

'for being rude yesterday '
He gestured.

For.. yesterday?!
She tried guessing again.
He nodded pressingly.
And smiled again.

It's okay  , it was a lot of misunderstandings I guess. Leave that.
Vrishali said , a pleasant smile adorning her features. Karna felt his heart flutter again like yesterday.
He averted his gaze to the ground.

Shreeman Achyuthan has left already , are you gonna go back alone?!
Vrishali asked , indicating his swollen feet and abused calves .
Karna shook his head in a No.

' I am not allowed to go back till I complete this punishment'
He gestured.

What?!
You can't go home yet?
Vrishali tried her best guessing another time.
Karna smiled at her adorable lisp and nodded yes.

Oo..
Vrishali was in a dilemma , she can't just leave her friend here. Especially when he was not in his best form.

Karna rose from his seat with difficulty, his calves begging him to sit back . His feet almost bleeding.
He grunted softly; a subtle vibration rather than a sound, Vrishali amusedly noticed.

Let me help you .
Vrishali said , as she caught his hand and walked along with him.
Karna never liked someone breaching his personal space , but he felt like Vrishali was another exception like Rama and his Guru Paraha.
He walked along with her without complaining. Her proximity felt like a normalcy to him. Like it was usual.

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Dedicated to ishvrya_
A dear friend of mine 💖 and another member of our little family

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Word count: 2347

My 9th and 10th chapters are posted in wrong order , and I tried to fix them , but it's just the same I guess.
Sorry for the inconvenience 😔

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HAR HAR MAHADEV