Hey Guys!!!!

Here is the forty- first chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

A relative long chapter, guys! 

Happy Reading!!

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Karn POV

She said she liked coming here, and that was the only thing I needing to feel all content of the world. Ananya was happy that I bought her to that place. A place that I went to when I couldn't find inner peace.
I had never told anybody else about that place but I told her in no time, forget telling her I took her there. Now, I am surprised out of it.

"Hum bazaar ja saktein Hain?" (Can we go to the market?) Her voice brings me back.

"Bazaar?" (Market?) I ask confused. What does she want?

"Hmm, hum Bua ke liye kuch kharidna chatein Hain." (Hmm, I want to buy something for my aunt's.) She answers.

Oh! Nice. But why?

"Kya?" (What?) I ask intrigued.

"Jo bazaar Mein mil Gaye." (Whatever I will find in the market.) She gives her, as always, uneven answer.

"Tum kabhi purn Uttar deti ho?" (Do you ever give complete answers?) I ask annoyed a little. Not exactly annoyed, just a little frustrated, I guess.

"Jab Uttar pata hi nahi ho, toh Kya dun?" (When I don't know the answer, what should I tell you?) she back questions.
Now, I have no answer.

I steer the horse towards the market. At the entry she stops me.

"Kya Hua?" (What happened?) I question.

"Yahan se main paydal chali jaungi." (I will walk on foot from here.)

"Paydal Kyun jana hai?" (Why on foot?) I enquire.

"Tabhi toh longon Mein ghul mil paungi." (Then only will I able to mix with the people) She answers.

"In kapdon Mein?" (In these clothes?) I chuckle.

"Itne upar rehne se toh behter hai." (It is better than being so high up.) She mocks before jumping of the horse.

Sighing, I also jump off and call a solider standing nearby.
"Is ghode ka khayal rakhna, hum abhi atein Hain." (Keep this horse safe, I am coming back in few.) I tell him, he nods in understanding.

I turn towards the direction in which Ananya went, she hasn't gone far, I can see her distinct clothes. I wonder what they are called, I never actually asked. I hastily walk past people to reach her.

"Ananya. Yeh Dwapar yuga hai, Kaliyuga nahi." (Ananya, this Dwapar Yuga, not Kaliyuga)
I scold her. "Tum yahan kuch nahi janti" (You don't know anything)

"Isiliye toh aapko layin Hun." (That is why, I have brought you.) She says cheekily.

"Tum nahi sudharogi na?" (You won't change, will you?) I shake my head.

She does not answer, she is busy looking at the products around her. It has been a lot of time since I have roamed around the market like this.

"Yeh kaisa hai?" (How is this?) She asks. She holds a necklace with a heart shaped pendent, the pendent had six stones.

"Adhbut" (Divine) I answer truthfully.

"Iska Kya daam hai, Devi?" (What does this cost, lady?) she asks the lady.

"Aap toh raj gharane se Hain, aapka hi hai ye sab." (You are from the royal family; all this belongs to you only.)

"Yeh kisne kaha ki main raj gharane se Hun?" (Who said that I am from the royal family.)
Is she so obvious? She is with me.

The lady simply gestures to me. Ananya sighs.

"Yeh srif hamare suraksha ke liyein Hain." (He is only for my protection) She tells her. Seriously? I am hurt.

"Yeh bataiye kitna Hua?" (You tell me how much this is off?)

"Devi-" (Lady-)

"Main nahi sunungi." (I won't listen.) Ananya warns, but her eyes are un- focused. "Woh Rudhraksha mala dekhaiye ga?" (Can you show me that Rudhraksha beaded necklace?)

"Ji" (Of course) the lady says bringing out the mala.
She removes a blue necklace first and then places the Rudhraksha mala in front of her. But now Ananya is admiring the blue necklace.

She has a serious problem of paying attention. I swallow back my chuckle.

"Tino cheej dena hoga, Devi." (You need to give all the three things, lady) Ananya tells the shop keeper.

"Awashya Devi." (Of course, lady.)

"Aur paisa yeh denge." (The money will be given by him.) She points at me. I walk to the owner and take the product, placing the money, I am dam sure she didn't take the full required amount.
Ananya roams around a little, I follow few steps behind. Carrying the packet of the three necklace in my hand.

Glancing at the sun, I realize it is getting late ma and Gandhari Kaki will be worried. I walk faster to come in steps with Ananya.

"Chalein? Ma aur Kaki chinta karenge." (Should be go? Mom and Aunt will worry.) I ask.

She glances at the sun, realizing the time that has passed, she nods.
I hand her the packet before climbing the horse and promptly pulling her on.

The people stare as we gallop away towards the Rajya Mahal. Of course, it is, not every day you see two people dashing away, on one horse. On girl and one boy, with one of them dressed strange and the other being a King.

As soon as I enter the mahal I realize there is something is happening. The maids and servants all are running in different directions, plates and things in their hands.

I look at Ananya, who also look at me with a raised eyebrow. A silent conversation occurs between us. Some news came, a happy one.

"Panchal?" she asks.

"Ho sakta hai." (It can be) I shrug.

"Wahi hoga." (That must be it) She says confidently.

"Itna vishvas?" (So much confidence?) I ask.

"Aapko nahi hai?" (And you do not, have it?) she smirks and I grudgingly nod. Her smirk widens.

As soon as we reach the gates of the Mahal, both of us race to Kaki Gandhari's chambers. Where most probably the two ladies are, they are always there when in time of planning something.

"Ha!" I pant. "Main jeet Gaya." (I won.) I tell her as she opens the door and I race past her.

"Dhokhebaja." (Cheater) she curses and I chuckle.

"Sare hare hue log yahi kehtein hai." (Every loser says that only) I smirk.
"Waise bhi tumne nahi kaha tha ki chal nahi kar sakte." (You didn't say that I cannot cheat.)

"Yeh Kya ho raha hai?" (What is happening here?) A very angry voice of my ma reaches me.

Oh- Ho!

"Pranam Bua." (Greeting's aunt) Ananya smiles.

"Kyun bhag Rahe the tum dono?" (Why were the two of you running around?) she asks, again her voice sharp. 

Oh! Mahadev! Save me from my Ma.

"Woh chodiye Bua, yeh lijie." (Leave that, take this.) Ananya says handing her the necklace and pendent she had brought.

"Yeh kisliye?" (What is this?)

"Dhyan se dekhiye, Bua." (Look at it carefully, aunt.) She smiles.
"Usme chhe patthar hai hai." (It has six stones) She winks at ma before walking to Kaki. 

"Yeh lijiye Bua." (Here you go, aunt) She hands her the blue necklace before flopping down on the bed.

"Yeh Kyun, Putri?" (What is this, daughter?) Bua asks.

"Isme 101 moti hai Bua, aur yeh ek bada moti." (It has 101 beads, aunt, and one big stone) She tells her as she makes Bua feel it. 

"Iski Kya zarrorat thi?" (What was the need of this?) Ma asks. I wonder the same thing, ma.

"Toh ab ek beti aapne Bua ko tohfa bhi nahi de sakti, Hun?" (So, a daughter now can't gift anything to her aunt's?) she pouts.

"Aisa kis ne kaha?" (Who said that?) Kaki asks. "Ab pehena de Mujhe yeh." (Now, help me wear this.)

"Mujhe bhi." (Me too.) Ma says and walks to them.

"Kaisa lag raha hai, Putra Karn?" (How does it look, son Karn?) kaki Gandhari asks.

"Bahut bhadiya, Kaki." (Very beautiful, aunt) I reply.

"Aur mera?" (And mine?) Ma asks.

"Aapka bhi ma" (Yours too, mom) I answer, walking up to them.

Mom smiles at me, before walking to Ananya and kissing her head. "Mujhe bahut achcha laga." (I loved it a lot.)

"Haan, Putri" (Yes, daughter.) Kaki agrees pulling her in a hug.

"Mujhe achcha laga, ki aap dono ko achcha laga." (I liked it that you both liked it.) She smiles widely at the two of them.

"Are, main us se le kar Gaya tha. Mujhe Dhanyavad bolo." (Are, I took her. Thank me.) I pout and they laugh. 

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What do you think?

She brought gifts...... that he payed for.

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(1540 words.)

--Sxxxxx