Note: I HAVE ADDED NEW PART TO THIS CHAPTER. THOUGH IT IS SMALL, IT IS ESSENTIAL.
DO READ PLEASE !!!  

IT IS ADDED WHEREIN SATYAVATI MEET'S KARN FIRST. 

Hey Guys!!!! 

The fourth chapter. 

I don't own Mahabharat. 

Happy Reading!! 

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Bishma POV 

I smiled down at my son; it feels weird to say that. But at the same time, it feels as if I have conquered the world, I have everything I want from this world. 

Devrat Karn, Bishma's son. And Devi Ganga's grandson. 

People will have to accept him, there is no other way now. Whatever it is I am happy, and now I have done something in my life. I sacrificed everything in my life, so that Pita shree could live with his love, and I don't mind it at all. 
But I will mind now if, Raj- Mata has a predicament towards Karn. Because he is my son, maybe not my blood but surely has a deep place in my heart. I may not accept it aloud but he did since he smiled at me son sweetly. 

"Bishma?" Mata Satyavati's voice breaks my thoughts. 

https://youtu.be/qfpGMFjOcM4

"Raj- Mata Pranipatra." I bow my head, unable to join my hands, Karn was in my hands. 

"Who is this child, Bishma?" She asks. 

"He is my son, Karn. Matey." (mother) I tell her as I looked at the half- covered baby in my hand. His armor had faded away, after I had named him. 
Mata had said that it will appear whenever he has a physical trouble looming over him. 

Mata Satyavati gasps, a hand on her mouth, "But... But..... You said you will never...." 

"He is my adopted son, Mata." I inform her of the truth. 

"But your promise." She asks, she looks perturbed. 

"Mata, I promise to you that this son of mine will neither serve your kingdom after me nor will he ask for the throne of Hastinapur." I assure her. "He will make his own place in Aryavarta." 

"Oh!... He will...?"

"Believe me Raj- Mata, I don't have the throne of Hastinapur, so he doesn't have the right on it. I serve the throne of Hastinapur but he won't, he will find his own job in this world." I tell her remembering what my Mata said. 

"I vow Mata, I won't raise him in any manner that will lead him to even think of having the Throne of Hastinapur." I declare to her. 

"What about your oath of celibate, doesn't this hamper it?" Raj- Mata Satyavati questions, having regained some color.  

"No Mata, I am simply raising a baby, who had been abandoned at the banks of Ganga." I update her. 

"Abandoned?" 

"Ji, Matey. He was abandoned by his parents, and left flowing in the river of Ganges in a wooden basket surrounded by lotus." I remember what I had seen in the basket, before pulling him out of it. 

"Who could be so heartless to do that?" She asks distressed hearing that a mother could abandon a baby like this.  

Such wildness. 

"I don't know, Raj- Mata." I confess. "The only thing I know is that he had a Kshatriya parent." 

"Who could do this?" Mata Satyavati asks, obviously disturbed by thought of leaving their own baby alone. 

I remain silent, I don't know it myself. But what I could not get was how could somebody be so cold- blooded? So emotionless that they could leave their baby like this? 
What condition were they in that they couldn't keep him? They had to desert him in a river?
Shun him away from motherly love, from the graciousness of their lap? 

"Can I have a look at him?" 

"Awashya Raj- Mata. Being my son, he is your grand- son." I smile at her, as I hand the baby in my hand to her. 

She cradled the baby in her arms looking in awe at the baby. He does put people in wonder with his aura and look. He is such a gem. 
Raj- Mata's face morphs in to a smile as he relaxes back in her arms. And her eyes fill with tears as she continues to gaze at the baby in her arms. 

"What is his name?" She looks at me with the tears glittering in her eyes. 

"Devrat Karn." I tell her. 

"Karn" she smiles down at him. "You have turned my harsh son into a soft father, brought tears to my eyes. What else are you going to do?" 

My son opens his eyes and looks through his eye lashes shyly at Raj Mata, before he smiles brightly. His smile was so bright that it could par with the brightness of sun. 

"Such a bright smile." Raj Mata voices my thoughts. "Just like the sun." 

Karn turns his head towards me and again grins. As if saying, 'See, what she said.' I smile in return, un- able to stop myself. 

"Bishma, would you mind if I give a name to him?" 

"Not at all, Matey. He is your grand- son. You have the right."  I smile at them. 

"Well, then the first time I saw you smile, it seemed like the brightness of Sun. So, today I. Raj Mata Satyavati of Hastinapur, name you son of Bishma as Aditya." Raj Mata declares. 
"Satyavati's Aditya." 

"Raj- Mata?" a voice calls, the two of us turn to where the voice came from. Wives of my brother, Ambika, Ambalika were standing there, looking surprised at the situation.  

"Who is he, mother?" 

"My grand- son." Raj- Mata smiles at Karn. "Bishma's son." 

The ladies turn to me surprised. "Your son?" they ask together. 

"Yes. My adopted son." 

"But you had an oath of celibacy, right Maha Mahim?" 

"I did, Rani. And still I do." I tell them. "The oath doesn't stop me from raising a kid, does it?" 

"No." they agree. Looking at their crying mother- in- law. 
"Won't we get to look at him, mother?" They ask. 

"Of course, you do. You are Kaki of the baby." Mata Satyavati smiles at them, beckoning them to her. 

"He is so sweet." 
"So cute." The two ladies coo at my son. I feel proud of calling such a kid mine. 

"What did you name him, Bhrata Shree?" they inquire. 

"Devrat Karn." I tell them, just like I told my Mata Satyavati. 

"Karn." 
"Beautiful." They agree, with the name being fitting for the kid. 

Suddenly, he opens his eyes, looks at the two ladies and starts to cry. The three ladies try to hush Karn, as he starts to cry hysterically. 
As, an instinct I reach ahead for Karn. They look a little surprised but comply me nether- less. 

As soon as he is in my arms, he relaxes back and stop crying. 
I can feel the look of shocks on myself but I ignore it for the time being, lulling Karn back to sleep. He looks so calm and cute sleeping, in my arms. 

"How?" they ask, once I look up. I simply shrug in response. 

"Achcha. Now go, relax and let him sleep peacefully." (Ok.)  Mata Satyavati orders me, nodding I leave walking to my room. 

He is sleeping calmly in my arms. Un- nerved of being in my arms, but was agitated when in the arms of the two queens. He was relatively relaxed in Mata's hand but is much more relaxed in mine. 

I wonder about what Mata said. He melted my stone- heart, Mata cried looking at him, after so many years, the last time she cried was when Vichitravirya died. 

Who is this baby, really? 
What is his destiny? 
Why was he brought here? 

I looked down at him, as I place him on my bed. I don't know why but I know that I need to keep him close to me, near me until he leaves for his Gurukul. 
Mata said that I need to send him to Gurudeva. Why? 

Not that I am against the idea. But still. 

Also, what did Mata mean by he will flourish? 
And so will the Kingdom of Hastinapur? 

Mata said that neither will he be the king of Hastinapur nor a servant of throne like me. So, what will he do, to change the fate of Hastinapur? 

********** 

Mata Satyavati accepted him. 

Did the others really? 

How will Karn react with them all around him? 

(1480 words.) 

--Sxxxxx