After the swayamvar Karna returned to Hastinapur with the Kauravas. Duryodhana felt sad for Karna but Karna said that he already forgot everything.  

Duryodhana, 'I don't know how could you forgive that arrogant princess. She insulted you and you still respected her. Are you really a human? Don't you want revenge?'

Karna smiled, 'I don't waste my time on revenge Mitra.' Saying that Karna took his leave for few days from Duryodhana as his sister was coming with her baby and Karna needed to help his parents with the rice eating ceremony for his nephew. Duryodhana sighed thinking about Karna, sometimes he really did not understand this man.  How could be someone so selfless and calm? 

On the other hand, Shakuni was suspicious about the brahmin who won the swayamvar, so he stationed some spies on Kalimpya. They informed him about Pandavas and their marriage with Draupadi. The spies also informed him that Vasudev gave them protection and now the Pandavas were coming back as they had the support of both Panchal and Dwarka. Duryodhana was enraged as he was sure that he would be declared as Yuvraj, but Shakuni had a different idea. 

Shakuni, 'Bacche they can never have the throne. They all married to a single woman, this kind of relationship is considered a sin in Kuruvansh. So if they claimed the throne we will protest saying that Pandavas committed a sin. Even Pitamaha cannot even go against the law. But you also need to make a new marriage alliance.'

Pandavas reached Hastinapur but as per the plan the Kauravas created a raucous saying that Pandavas committed a sin. Even the citizens of Hastinapur also felt it very weird. How could five brothers share a single woman? However, Vasudev managed everything saying that if the king did not give Pandavas their rights then it would be a problem for Hastinapur as now Pandavas had support from Dwarka and Panchal. Seeing this Vidur proposed that they should divide the kingdom. Duryodhana was angry at first, then he thought that he should handle the situation with intelligence, for that he needed Karna. So he asked one of the soldiers to inform Karna to come to the palace as soon as possible. 

Karna was busy in his house. Many guests came to their house for the rice eating ceremony and Karna, Shon and their two siblings were taking care of the guests. Radha also invited Mrinalini and her mother so that Karna could meet her. She asked Karna to help Mrinalini to decorate the house. Mrinalini from the beginning tried to woo him but Karna politely talked to her without showing any love interest. Mrinalini (thought), 'Why is he not falling for my charms?' Little did she know that even Urvashi could not be able to seduce Karna. 

Karna though busy in his work but was tensed as he knew that Pandavas were coming and he knew there would be a huge dispute regarding the kingdom. 

'Hey Narayan, I think fighting with the Asuras will be easier than this politics. Both the parties were stubborn. How am I supposed to unite these brothers?' thought Karna. 'Hello, did you listen to what I say?' Asked Mrinalini angrily. 'Sorry Deviji, I was a little unmindful. Can you please repeat?' said Karna. 'I a saying that as you see I have such beautiful hair. I use special oil from Vidisha Nagari only. I also prefer dresses from Ujjwain ....' continued Mrinalini.

Karna (in mind),'Oh, God! I don't need Bhyankarasur. My stupid 105 brothers and this single lady will be sufficient to kill me.' He asked, 'Deviji are you done painting the holy symbols on that door?' Then looking at the painting, Karna almost fainted. Mrinalini made a holy symbol with colors but that almost looked like some weird symbols, almost like a human skull. Karna somehow stopped his laugh and said, 'Deviji, I think you are very tired. Why don't you take some rest? Otherwise, you will have dark circles under your eyes.'

Mrinalini, 'Oh no, you are right. I need to take my beauty sleep. So sweet of you. You are very caring.'

Karna sighed, 'Thank God she left. Now I can finish the work in peace.' 

'Do you need help?' He heard a melodious voice and he turned. When he saw her, he felt like time was stopped. There stood a girl. She did not wear fancy dresses or jewelry but to Karna, she looked like the most beautiful woman in the world. Karna always respected women and he knew that ogling a girl is bad but today he could not control himself. He felt like to look at her till eternity.

The girl smiled at him and said again, 'You are working alone, do you need my help in making the holy symbols and decorations at the door?'

Karna, 'It will be my pleasure. But may I ask, are you new here Deviji?'

The girl, 'Yes...we are new in Hastinapur.'

Karna's trance was broken when a soldier came called and called him. 'Shreeman Karna, please come with me, Rajkumar Duryodhana called you right now. He said it's an emergency.'

Karna, 'Oh God, there must be something very big. otherwise, Mitra will not call me at this time.'

Then he looked at the girl and said,' Deviji, can you please do the decorations. I will be right back.'

'Sure.' said Avantika.

Karna almost ran to the palace. There he saw that his fear was true. Pandavas were returning and Vidur demanded a division in the state.

Karna, 'Mitra then why are you angry? You wanted the throne of Hastinapur. Now you will get it.'

Duryodhana, 'I am not angry for the division. You were right I shall not waste my time on those Pandavas and shall take care of my subjects. Let them be happy with their parts. But I am angry as Pitamaha and Dronacharya asked for all the fertile lands for them. Then what will we do? How are we going to feed our subjects? When I raised the point both of them started blaming me saying that I am becoming greedy. Only Mahamantri Vidur supported me saying that there shall be an equal division.'

Karna thought, 'Thank God. at least Mahamantri understood my point and supported Duryodhana.' He said, 'Okay mitra let us have a meeting with Mahamantri Vidur and the agriculture specialists of our state. Then  we will decide.'

Shakuni, 'I don't understand why are you agreeing with the plan of division. You shall give nothing to them.''

Karna, 'Gandharraj, if my mitra opposed the division, Pitamaha and other elders will definitely go against him and Maharaj himself cannot go against the elders. Then they will definitely create an issue with this and deprive my friend of his right.'

Shakuni, 'No we will wage a war against them. Are you afraid of war? You are the best student of Parshuram.'

Karna (smiled), 'I am a warrior, not a warmonger. Even if we started war from where will we get soldiers. you cannot expect me to fight with the entire army. BTW there is a solution. Why don't you make Duryodhana the king of Gandhar? Then he can have an army for himself.'

Shakuni, 'Ga...Gandhar. But that belongs to my sons.'

Karna, 'Come on it's not permanently. Just for few years. Then Prince will conquer some more kingdoms and then it will be easy for him to get Hastinapur's throne. No one will question his ability then.'

Dusshashan, 'It's a great idea mamashri.'

Shakuni, 'No..no why does my nephew need Gandhar. We will agree with the division and then Duryodhana will be the king and then we will start Digvijaye Yatra. after all Gandhar is a small country. You will not gain much army from there.'

 Shakuni (thinking), 'That boy is not only good in weapons, his words are also no less than a sword. He understands politics like me. I have to be careful.'

So Karna held a meeting with Vidur and then looked at the map of Hastinapur and both of them along with some other ministers prepared rough estimations of fertile land proportions, royal treasuries, animal husbandry etc. Though Karna was not an accountant but his knowledge impressed Vidur. With Karna, his works were easier. Then Karna took his leave and returned home. He asked Vidur to arrange a meeting a few days later as he had a festival at home. Vidur agreed as he knew no one could convince Duryodhana and Shakuni other than Karna.

While returning home Karna was only thinking about the girl. 'What a beautiful girl. I hope I can meet her again. I will ask mata about her....No it is not right. What if she is someone's wife or fiancee, it is a sin to think about an unknown girl. But why cannot I stop thinking about her?'

Karna returned home and was stunned to see the decorations. He thought, 'What a lovely decoration? That lady is very talented. I must thank her. I told her I will be back soon but due to all these fiasco, I was late. I need to apologize to her as well.'

Karna asked his mother about the decorations. Radha, 'Mrinalini told me that you went to the palace so she finished it by herself.'

Karna, 'What? She finished it? Radhama what a blatant lier she is.' Then he told her the entire thing that happened and how an unknown girl came and offered her help. Radha was surprised and assured Karna that she would find the girl to say thank you. 

The next day started with the hustle and everyone was busy. Karna was busy hiding from Mrinalini.In his mind, he was just wanted to see the unknown girl again. Little did he knew that the mystery girl was also thinking about him.

Avantika

Avantika reached Hastinapur with her parents just a week before. Renuka was the sister of Mrinalini's mother Sumedha. But Sumedha was arrogant and she did not like her sister Renuka and her family as they were poor. Now both Sumedha and Mrinalini were jealous of Avantika as even in such a short period of time, Avantika won everybody's heart with her sweet nature. Even Roopmati also started liking her and she invited her into their home. There she met Karna and till then she could not forget him. 

Avantika, 'Who was he? Why am I feeling a connection with him....no no it's not to think about an unknown man. Avni stop yourself.'

On the day of the festival, she went to Karna's house as Roopmati insisted her to come early. Roopmati started liking her more than Mrinalini as Avantika is hard-working, sweet and respectful to others, not arrogant like Mrinalini. Avantika herself made a beautiful dress for Laksmi's son and she gave it to her. Everyone was praising Avantika's handwork but Mrinalini was jealous. She taunted her, 'Hey sister, why did you bring this simple thing as a gift. Ups...I am sorry, as your father has no money to give a proper gift. By the way, why did you wear such an old dress? At least you can ask me...I can donate some of my old dresses to you.'

Avantika was very sad. It was true that her father had not much money as they just came to Hastinapur and it would take some time to settle. But she hid her sorrow and said, 'No sister...I am good with whatever I have. I don't need anyone's charity.' Then she left. 

Both Lakshmi and Roopmati were also very sad. Roopmati scolded Mrinalini, 'Sister you should not say something like this. You should apologize to her.' 

While Avantika ran out of the room. She wanted to go back to her house but suddenly she collided with someone. Then two strong hands held her and she heard a deep manly voice, 'Are you okay my lady?'

Because of her tears, she could not see the face of the man. She just mumbled 'Sorry' and ran away. But she did not know that it was Karna with whom she collided. Karna looked at her tear-filled eyes and then she left quickly. Karna felt as if his heart was breaking. As if he could realize her pain in his own heart.

'Putra Karna, Please come. We need to start the rituals,' called his father. Karna went to the Puja but in his heart, he was feeling the agony of the unknown beauty.