Darsh sat in his chambers, looking at the beaded bracelet Ishani had gifted him. He sighed as he realised how much she must be going through, and he couldn't even be there to help her.

It was her destiny, and he was simply powerless. She was always meant for greater things, and he well aware, but he still missed those days when they were there for each other.

He shook his head, shifting his mind to work. There was so much to be done, otherwise his guru wouldn't stop his tantrums.

Meanwhile,

"So last night was a bonfire?" Sahadev asked, and Ishani hummed in response, peeling the fruit with her nails.

"Here, take this." Sahadev protested, but her stern gaze made him plop the fruit into his mouth. "Did the others partake their fill? Or they haven't returned yet?" 

Judging from his expressions, the Princes didn't seem to have arrived, but it wasn't anything to be worried about.
Hunting did take time, but Ishani was relieved. Seeing his face would bring back the accidental kiss they willingly shared.  

In the modern world, it wouldn't have been such a big matter, but this was a conservative era, where men and women weren't allowed to be in the same room alone. 

She gulped as she remembered the way his lips brushed on hers. His strong hold and his gaze that she could never get used to, making her cheeks red. So tenderly he held her face, allowing her to grab his wavy hair...

Gods. She gritted her teeth at the realization. She was a mature woman, not a teenager in puppy love.

Sahadev raised an eyebrow at her red cheeks. What was she dreaming of? 

"Devi.. " He started when she sighed. 

"Nothing. Just feeling a bit light-headed. I'll feel better after breakfast." She tried to assure him, and Sahadev nodded.

"ISHANI!" She winced as a roar was heard. It was the unmistakable voice of Karna, but why?

She looked at Sahadev, who blinked and rushed out of the tent. She followed him along, clutching her odhani in trepidation. 

Karna stood at the entrance, his eyes dark red in color. Duryodhana and the others stood like they had just managed to avoid a blood bath, their faces pale and full of instant relief.

"What's the matter, Karna? Don't yell and scare all of us.." Ishani huffed as she realized that nothing had happened. Karna's eyes shifted, but he chose to remain calm.

"Actually Devi, " One of the Kauravas started when Karna raised a hand up, silencing him. 

"Ishani, I need to talk to you. Alone." His demeanor showed seriousness, so Ishani nodded awkwardly, while the others dispersed, whispering about the hunt. 

She pulled the curtain close, seating herself on the makeshift bed. 

"What is it?" She murmured, seeing him stand like a rock. He swallowed, walking towards her. She gasped in shock as he knelt, yet towering over her seated figure.

"Karna.." She pressed her lips together, wondering why he looked at her like that. It was the kind of the look she had often seen in his eyes.

Worry and obsession.

"I want to touch you. Am I allowed to do that?' Her eyes widened at his outright question. What had happened, and what was he thinking?

"What do you mean by.. Hey!" She felt him lunge at her, hugging her like he was afraid she'd slip from his arms. She shivered as his warmth began to make her skin tingle. His heated breath on her neck wasn't helping. His lips brushed against her sweet spot, his arms tightening around her curvy waist. This was not what she envisioned.

This couldn't be happening, not after a passionate and embarrassing kiss.

"That man was a shame. A shame to all the good men in the world." Her arms trembled at his words. What was he saying?

"Who?" Karna bit his lips at the question. How should he tell her that he saw that bastard of a man hurt her? The man she selflessly loved.. only to get back misery in return.

"I saw a vision. You wore a weird cloth up to your waist and a long cloth till your legs. He - he ... HOW COULD HE?" Ishani froze, chills down her spine. 

How did he get a vision of Arjun and her? Why? 

No. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not after she made frantic efforts to move on, from her traumatic past. Why did the past have to bite her in the back now?

"Stop it." She hissed, trying to get away. 

"No, please. You need to tell me." He murmured, his calloused hands rubbing her aching back like the pain would somehow heal. 

"Enough !" Ishani yelled, pushing him away a bit forcefully. She never wanted to do this to Karna, but she couldn't face it now. She had enough of this.

Karna staggered back, his red irises glinting darkly. She should have know it was his alter persona. A normal Karna would have never even approached her like this.

"Why, darling? Why do you push me away?  You need to know what he did wasn't okay, and move on. How dare he lay a hand on you? How dare he beat you up like a ruthless animal? HOW DARE HE?" Karna's words weren't toxic, but why did it feel like her heart was being stabbed all over again?

Her eyes blurred as her mind replayed those memories.

"Arjun, I swear it wasn't me! Please, you have to believe me!" She whispered, crouching under the dining table. 

He would believe her, wouldn't he? She shivered as his shadow loomed over her chubby figure, her lips trembling in fear.

"Ishu.. Get up" He drawled quietly and she gasped, nodding. Maybe he'd just let her off with a warning. She flinched as he gripped the backside of her neck, forcing her to get up.

"Arjun.." He flung her to the ground, covering her mouth to muffle her quiet screams. 

"You ugly bitch! I told you not to tell anyone about us ! Why did you make my Samara cry!"

Ishani would have laughed at the irony. Samara was her best friend, who was a pretentious snake. They cheated on her for a year, but she never saw it coming.

"But I didn't tell her .."  

His face morphed into a sickly smile.

"What did I tell you about disobedience, darling?" He yanked out his leather belt, bending to her level.

Ishani moved backwards, begging him to leave her. He ripped her shirt, twisting her backwards.

Like a merciless man he flung the rough belt on her skin, laughing as she went limp. His taut fingers lingered on the fresh blood, smiling as the cold liquid drenched his fingers.

"ISHANI!" Karna yelled, squeezing her hands as he laid her on the bed. She screamed a please all over again, thrashing for mercy. His red irises faded to black as his sanity took over.

"Ishani, it's Karna. He'd never do anything to hurt you." He whispered, hugging her to his chest, wincing as she squeezed his shoulders.

"Don't touch me! Krishna, make it stop! You ... I prayed to you.. Why is this happening?" Karna gulped his agonized feelings. Her screams were so painful to hear, and it actually broke him to see such a good woman like her suffer like this. 

"Calm down, my love. Nothing will happen to you." He murmured, kissing her forehead. He clung onto her fiercely, kissing every corner of her face as he murmured the sweetest of words.

"Breathe. Yes, you are safe." Those words floated in her head, as her breaths quietened down. Her eyes shut on their own accord, lulling her to a blank state.

"I will remove those memories." Devajit whispered in the confines of his mind, but Karna strictly denied. 

"Against her will, nothing shall happen. Do not resort to such stratagems. Do you think she is so naive to not realise what you have done?" Devajit shrugged, smiling wickedly. However, Karna knew it was just a facade to hide his wrathful self. Both wanted to hunt that man and feed his carcass to monsters. But Ishani came first.

He needed to keep her safe from those royal scumbags.

"Anyways the bond isn't complete. It wouldn't work." Dev stated, and Karna raised an eyebrow.

"How is the bond completed?"

"Love making." Dev smugly replied, making Karna cough.

"Shut up, you moron! Always thinking about that !" Dev guffawed at the bundle of awkwardness and innocence this guy was.

"We need to hurry up. Her star approaches soon, in about 2 years. Before that, if the bond isn't complete, she'll become a victim of both the worlds. There'll be chaos and destruction, and it'll lead to her ruin." Dev was all serious again, and it scared Karna.

He didn't know what to do. His parents were imprisoned by Shakuni, and he had to pretend everything was fine, otherwise the others would panic and resort to half-hearted plans.

On the other hand, there was Ishani, whom he was clearly besotted with. He clearly wanted to start his married life with her, but she wasn't comfortable yet.

She had to discover her true identity, and put an end to the shady stuff in Pataal. There were too many people behind her.

'Will she accept me? Once she knows my true self?' Dev sighed, making Karna frown.

'What do you mean by your true self? You are an alternate personality, because of my incessant bloodlust.'

Hearing no response from Dev, Karna grew solemn.

'Devajit, what is it? What are you hiding from me?' Karna didn't make an effort to talk sweet, knowing Dev tended to hide serious things from him.

'I can't say it now. You'll only hate me.' Dev whispered brokenly, and Karna sighed.

'How can I hate myself more than this? It's better you tell me. Otherwise, we'll be the ones who'll suffer.'

'Do you remember how we defeated those rascals who almost killed her?' Karna clenched his fists at its very mention. 

'You summoned those spirits.. They came from the underground. I-I..'

'How did you do it? Did you have any deal with them?' Dev stuttered as Karna's defeated voice rung in him.

'I am a result of your bloodlust. But not completely. I am a spirit, of the underworld. I was once a..'

"Karna!" Ishani's weak voice shook him to reality. She raised her hand, and he knelt by her side, allowing her to cup his cheek. She made a frantic effort to smile, trying to pretend it was nothing.

Crap. He should have paid more attention to her. Guilt marred his features when Ishani looked down.

"Forgive me. I- it's just that some memories are hard to forget.. I... "
Karna shushed her gently, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Don't apologize. It's our fault for bringing up the past. I couldn't control myself after I saw your pain and suffering. How... I still can't fathom as to how you still live like nothing happened. How do you carry on with life.. " Ishani sighed.

"My good friend always told me to forget my feelings and remember what I deserve. I deserved a better man, who'd love for who I was and not for my money or looks. But i desperately wanted retribution. I craved to see him begging for mercy, and suffer like how I did. Then I realized that Karma would slap them harder than i would, so i left it. "
Karna's eyes softened at her words. She was right.

"Let's go and eat our meal. I'm extremely sorry for spoiling your day. Or, do you want to eat here? I'll get it for you. " Karna's frantic worry made her want to smile.

"Don't do this. Please." Her soft voice almost broke his heart, and Dev growled. 

Was she uncomfortable? Did she not like it? Was he too clingy?

"It's just that I am not used to this much concern. I may become clingy if you continue this." Karna beamed like a child, and Dev yelled to drag her to his lap and kiss the hell out of her.

"I'd never mind if it were you." He solemnly spoke, not caring if he was too direct. He was a patient man, but it was getting harder for him to act oblivious to his raging feelings.

"Karna.." She gasped at his outright words. It was hard for her to come on terms with her new found feelings. 

It was a simple kiss, but it terrified her to the core. She couldn't help but remember the passion Karna had shown. She knew he was damn serious, but how could she tell him her worst fears?

How could she deny him by saying that she couldn't bear to face the same pain again?

The fact that he was extremely supportive and didn't talk about the kiss was enough proof that he was a good man.

But she wasn't destined for him, and if she got herself involved, she was damn sure she'd only be heartbroken. 

He was supposed to have two or three wives, and Ishani knew she'd never accept that. She'd rather stay lonely and single than heartbroken and married.

"Ishani, I want to be honest. After certain incidents, I have accepted the fact that I see you more than a friend. But I don't want to force my feelings upon you. I am well aware of the fact that you have gone through a lot because of some scumbags, yet I'd like to say that not all men are stupid. As for myself, I'd rather slice my skin than do anything inappropriate. So I hope we'll be on the same terms, right?"

Ishani was touched. This man was a blessing she never deserved. She gently pecked his cheek, hiding her smile at his widened eyes.

"I understand the situation Karna, but I would like it very much if we took things slow. I mean, real slow. I can slip into panic attacks easily if we went a bit fast so.."

"No, not a problem..Can I .. "

"Hey, you lovebirds! I understand your need for privacy, but all of us are really feeling hungry, so quit your romance and come to eat!" Nakul's loud and teasing voice made Ishani walk away hurriedly, and Karna growled at Nakul, who laughed nervously.

Both ignored the subtle glances and flirty smiles the cousins gave them, but Ishani's face was red and too cute.

Yudhishtira coughed, gaining their attention. 

"Yes, Jyesht?"

"We need to move within a prahar. Kakashree sent word to hurry up. Mamashree was quite impatient on his Bachhe's return."

All of them guffawed while Duryodhan grumbled. It was not everyday the stoic Dharmaraj made snarky comments.

Karna and Ishani looked at each other. They had to sneak in and get his parents out before Shakuni knew. No one in the Kingdom knew that they were imprisoned. Adhirath was forced to apply for a 2 week leave, while he was tortured in the prison with his wife.

Ishani whispered in Sahadev's ears, whose eyes sparkled in rage. He quietly nodded at Karna and Ishani, and they were satisfied.

The plan was going to be executed soon, and it was only a matter of time Shakuni would be caught.



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