It was late night suddenly a chariot came in front of Adhirath's house and someone knocked on the door.

Adhirath, 'Who came at this hour?'

Radha, 'Don't open the door, maybe it's a thief or decoit.'

Shon, 'Maa, no one will dare to come to Maharathi Karna's house with bad intention. Maybe someone needs our help.'

Adhirath opened the door and was stunned to see Krishna and Kunti in front of them

Adhirath, 'Dwarkadhish, Rajmata Kunti....you...at this hour...What happened? Please come inside.'

Krishna, 'Shreeman Adhirath, we need your help. Where is Karna?'

Karna, 'Keshav, Rajmata What happened? You at this hour? Is everything okay in Dwarka?'

Krishna, 'Karna there is a huge problem in Indraprastha.' Then he explained everything to Karna.

Kunti, 'Karna , please I know you can use the Sanjivani mantra. Please protect my sons.'

Karna (in mind), 'Today you need my help so you came running at this hour. Of course...it is about your legitimate son's life. But what about me?'

Karna, 'Rajmata, I cannot use it without my Guru's consent and Guru Shukracharya is busy in penance in Himalaya. I cannot ask him now.'

Kunti crying, 'Karna please, I know whenever someone asks for your help, you never let them go empty-handed. You always help others. So please help this helpless mother.'

Karna, 'Rajmata, I cannot go against my Guru's wishes. If I use it without his permission the mantra will never work and I will die.'

Radha sadly, 'Rajmata, I understand your pain but Karna cannot do anything today. And you are Kshtiryas, you should not ask for help from Sutas like us.'

Radha was still angry at Pandavas for their insults at Karna.

Krishna. 'But Karna I know Guru Shukracharya came here before his journey to Himalaya. Did he give you any specific permission?'

Karna understood what Krishna was trying to do. He said, 'Gurudev told me to use it only on my blood relative or direct family, I mean my adopted family. So I am sorry Rajmata, I cannot save your sons.'

Kunti shouted, 'But Karna, they are your family too.'

Krishna smiled sadly, 'Bua, I think you are very stressed and I am sorry for everything. But he is not your family.'

Karna in mind, 'Let's see mother if you can speak the truth today or not. Let's see how much you love your legitimate sons?'

Kunti, 'Please Karna, they are your family. I AM YOUR BIRTH MOTHER. I AM THE ONE WHO BEARS YOU IN MY WOMB.'

As if the lightning struck the house. 

Shon, 'What..what did you say?'

Roopmati, 'But father and mother found him in the bank of the river.'

Kunti sobbing. 'Karna I am the helpless mother who left you in the river. Please Karna, I am speaking the truth. But don't waste time now. save your brothers.'

Karna did not say anything. He just entered into his room to get a shawl and wrapped around his upper body and then asked Vasudeb to take him to Indraprastha.

Karna, 'Radhama, Pitashri, Don't worry. I will return tomorrow.'

Before they could say anything Karna left with Krishna and Kunti.

Indraprastha

Karna came to the room where all the princes were laid. They fainted due to the effect of the poison. Karna asked all the other persons to leave. Then he stood near their bed and chanted the mantra. Slowly the effect of the poison was diminished. Then he came out and informed Krishna, 'Keshav, they are out of danger now. But they will need rest for few more days. Take care of them.' Saying that he was leaving but Krishna stopped him, 'Karna, Don't you want to meet your brothers or sister in-laws?'

Karna, 'No Keshav, I don't have the courage to face them.'

Krishna, 'At least meet your mata.'

Karna, 'Keshav it's almost dawn, all I want to do my Suryapuja and leave to Hasinapur as soon as possible. Please I am too tired to meet anyone now.' Saying that he went to the river.

Karna finished his puja with a heavy heart, After finishing his puja he turned to see Kunti stood behind him.

Kunti sobbing, 'My son, please forgive me. I know what I did was a grave sin. I gave you a life of darkness, you have to face so many challenges for being a Suta. By son I was helpless'

Karna, 'No...being a Suta is my pride, not something I am ashamed of. Today I proved entire Aryavart that a man should be known for his actions, not for his birth. And I know why you did that? After all your father's and your's reputations are more important than your son's life.'

Kunti, 'Please son, don't judge me so harshly. You know how the society treated an unmarried single mother.'

Karna, 'I am not angry that you left me. But you are the princess, you can send me to an orphanage or gave me to someone. But what you did? You threw me in Ganga. I know Rajmata, people wash their sins in Ganga and I was nothing but a sin to you. So you washed your sin. But why are you crying now? Your legitimate sons are safe. You should go to them. Why are you wasting time on a Suta here?'

Kunti, Please my son....forgive this poor Mata. I was scared then, I have no idea what to do. But since then there is not a single day when I do not repent for my sins.'

Karna, 'If you truly repent then you would stop your sons from insulting me. You knew who I am. I am not asking you to accept me in front of everyone. I also don't want my mother's reputation to be tarnished. I also don't want to ruin my brother's future. But at least you can come to me and talked to me. Your sons insulted me, taunted me, humiliated me in front of everyone, but you...you were always silent.Why rajmata, Why?

Kunti was speechless. She knew that all the accusations were true. Kunti, 'Please forgive me, my son. Actually, I was scared that maybe my sons will hate me.'

Karna smiled, 'Rajmata, your sons are so devoted to you that they all married to a single woman just to keep your word. So being scared of your sons is not a good excuse. If you don't want to reveal my actual identity in front of them then I can understand. But at least you can order them not to insult me. Why didn't you do that?'

Kunti had no words to explain her actions. He was right, if Kunti gave her sons an order not to insult Karna, then maybe they did not behave with him so harshly. But now everything was gone. 

Karna, 'Rajmata, don't worry I don't want your recognition. I have a family who loves me more than anything. In fact, I am happy that you threw me to Ganga. Just because of that I have my Radhama and Adhirath baba. I want to request you another thing. Please don't inform about this to anyone. I don't want to reveal this power in front of everyone. At least I can expect this favor from you.'

Kunti, 'But my sons and Draupadi should know who saved them? Then they will respect you.'

Karna, 'I don't want anything from you and your prejudiced sons and daughter-in-law. Now I want to take your leave. Pranipat.'

Mahadev, 'Kunti, one cannot hide their wrongdoing for long. If you truly repent today, then you will tell your sons about him without hesitation. But one day you yourself will tell everyone about Karna. '

Krishna smiled sadly.

Krishna came to Karna, 'Come on Mitra, let me take you to Hastinapura.'

Karna, 'Prabhu I can manage, you stay with the Pandavas. they need you.'

Krishna, 'Karna, they have their family and royal doctors, but today my best friend and devotee needs me more.

Karna did not argue as he was tired both physically and mentally. They sat on the chariot and started their journey. After some time Krishna asked, 'What are you thinking my friend? Don't you want to share with your friend and brother?'

Karna sadly, 'Prabu you know what I am thinking.'

Krishna smiled, 'Yes, but I want to hear from you.'

Karna, 'Pravu I don't know what to feel? My mother, I know she loves me but still, she always discriminates between me and my legitimate brothers. If she wants she can stop my humiliation without revealing my truth but she didn't even try. Why Prabhu?And my brothers, I always respect them but still they hate me without any apparent reason. I still don't know the reason behind their anger.'

Krishna, 'Karna human psychology is very complex. Kunti bua can stop the humiliation but she was scared for her sons' future. If she ordered them , then maybe they don't say anything in front of you but it will arise some unwanted questions and she has no answers for it. As for your brothers, they are doing what they were taught since childhood. Their princely ego cannot digest the fact that you are better than them. They are the son of Devas. Since childhood, everyone praises them for their birth. They did not face the hardship that you faced to achieve your goal. Even Duryodhana being the crown prince did not get the love and attention because of them. Karna duty of the parents is not easy. They have to treat their children equally. Otherwise, it will create the same disaster that is present in front of us today.'

Krishna brought Karna to his house. All the family members were very tensed. Radha cried for the whole night thinking that maybe Karna would never return as now he got his royal mother. Seeing her condition Karna said, 'Radhama, so that's the faith you have on me? You think that I will leave you for the queen who threw me into the river to protect her dignity. Who kept quiet even after seeing her son humiliated by the society? Radhama, you are my mother. In fact I am lucky that I am not part of the Royal family where the brothers are ready to murder each other for power.'

Radha crying, 'Karna Sage Ved Vyas told us about your divine parents but not about your actual birth mother. I just can't believe it, how could a woman be so cruel to do something like this with an infant. Now she returned to take you away just to protect her sons.'

Krishan, 'Radhama Kunti bua can never take him away. Noone in Indraprastha knew about Karna's birth secret.'

Radha enraged, 'That woman still thinking about her reputation. Dwarkadhish I respect you but please in the future don't come here asking for any help for that Royalties. They are just using my innocent son. And Karna I forbid you, if you ever go to help Kunti or her family you have to go over my dead body for that.'

Karna shouted, 'Radhama, please don't say that.'

Adhirath, 'Radha what are you saying. They are Karna's family and Queen Kunti is his mother.'

Radhama, ' No Karna is my son and mine only. Karna, those are my last words and I don't want to hear anything from you. Dwarkadhish, you are Avatar and I know that Karna is also Lord Suryadev's son. But to me, he is still my innocent kid and I will not allow any harm or pain to come to him because of those royalties. Let the cousins fight among each other. My Karna will never be a part of this dirty game.'

Krishna, 'Radhama, the power of a mother is greatest of all, even greater than the Tridevs. So I cannot disobey you. Karna will go to help them only when you will allow him. That's my promise to you.' Then he left the house.

Radha hugged Karna and cried bitterly. 

Karna, 'Radhama I will never ever leave you or this family.' All the members hugged them together. Karna said, 'thank you Prabhu Narayan for giving me such a lovely family.'

Later Shon asked, 'Jyasht, did you know that Queen Kunti was your mother?'

Karna smiled, 'Yes after my training father told me that.'

Chitrasena, 'Father?'

Karna looked at the sun and smiled.

 Next- Shakuni's plan