Hey Guys!

Here is the hundred and fifty fourth chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

Happy Reading!!

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Third POV

20 days after marriage

In Kalinga

Karn looked at Ananya working without any break. 
Wasn't she getting tired? Why is she working so much? What is the need? 

Karn's hands itched to pull her close to himself & wrap her in his arms to stop her from working like this. But he could guess that there was something worrying her & she could only find her calm after working a while like this. 

Karn was so thankful for Bhanumati, she had been a great help of Ananya, yes, she struggled with the works around here but that did not mean that she left the work upon Ananya. She would do it as best as possible from her angle, often succeeding in the same also. 

Karn wondered if it was time to return to Hastinapur, his gut said no. 
But still he wondered, would it be helpful to them more than being a bad step? 
How were his brothers faring? And his Ma Kunti? Were they surviving good? Or were they stuck in problems? 
Would all these be solved if the all returned to Hastinapur? 

Karn sighed, perhaps it was high time, he needed to talk to Ananya about this all too. They had stalled this for long. But how long were things supposed to go on like this, huh? 
Yes, they had walked away after that day in Lakshaya- grah, but now? Were they still supposed to stay away? Would it really benefit them more than harming them? Harming their subjects? 

Karn agreed that at the time of Lakshay- grih it was important of them to walk up but now?  When so much time had passed? Weren't they supposed to go surprise that Shakku Mama of theirs & walk away with the throne as theirs? 

Karn wondered if Ananya was waiting for some canon event to occur before she decided that it was perfect time for them to return to Hastinapur? Afterall she never talked anything about them living in the forest before they saw fire in the lakshay grih house. It was all so surreal to even think of it. 
Karn shuddered thinking what might happen if Ananya wasn't there with them. 

Karn watched silently as Bhanumati came back from wherever the new couple were roaming, and snatch the broom for the elder. 
"Nahi Bhabhi Ma, main aa gayi Hun kar dungi. Aap Vishram kijiye." (No, sister- in- law, I came back na, I will do it. You go take rest.) 

"Par tum toh-" (But you just-) 

"Ahhh-" Bhanumati suddenly shrieked. 

"Are!? Kya Hua?" (Are!? What happened?) 

"Kabhi meri Kyun nahi sunti aap?" (Why don't you ever listen to me?) Bhanumati frowns.
"Aap meri nahi sunengi toh yun hi chilate rahungi." (If you won't listen to me, I will keep screaming like this.) 

Karn watches in awe as Ananya simply shakes her head sighing and lets go of the broom.  Bhanumati takes it smiling in victory. 

"Chauk Gaye na?" 

Karn's head snaps to his right, were Duryodhana sat smirking at the older. 
"Tum kab aaye?" (When did you return?) 

"Bhanumati ke saath hi aaya tha." (Along with Bhanumati only.) Suyo replies. 
"Aapki nazar Bhabhi Ma se hatte toh aur chijoan ka hosh Ho na." (You're your eyes divert their attention away from Bhabhi Ma, then only you will be aware about your surroundings na.) 

Karn silently raised an eyebrow at the younger. He is trying to be smarter for his own good, someone tell him he will get slapped due to this attitude of his. 
But the younger had no qualms, he was watching his own wife. 

Karn shook his head, there was no way he could back that up, he was after all burning holes in his wife. Well, pardon him, he is a young man in love. 

Karn suddenly stood up, he was going to have a talk with Ananya, it was rather needed. And she seemed to have sat down to drink water, no better time he would get than this. 

"Main teri Bhabhi Ma se baat karke aata Hun." (I will go talk to your Bhabhi Ma.) Karn tells Duryodhana, a subtle warning in his voice to keep away. 

"Awashya Jeystha." (Of course, Elder brother.) Duryodhana nods. 

On the way to his Ananya, Karn stops by Bhanumati, "Dhanyavad." (Thank you!)

Bhanumati nods in understanding, smiling brightly. 
God bless her kind & pure soul! 

"Ananya." Karn says nearing her. The lady looks up at her husband, slowly. 

"Haan?" (Yes?) She says, lazily. 

"Aaj kal toh kaafi vyasth Ho gayi Hain." (These days that you have become very busy.) Karn says sitting beside her, "Humare liye bhi samay nahi Hai ab toh aapke pass." (You do not even have time for me anymore.) 

Ananya playfully hits Karn, "Kuch bhi bolte rehte Hain aap." (You keep saying anything these days.) 

"Acha?" (Really?) Karn raises an eyebrow, in disbelief, "Kab last ache se baith ke baat ki Hai aapne humse, huh?" (When was the last time you sat by me & talked to me nicely, huh?) 

"Kya baat karni Hai aapko?" (What do you want to talk about?) 

"Oh, toh ab sab mere upar hi Hai?" (Oh, so now everything is on me.) Karn scoffs. "Jao karlo kam, kuch na kuch toh bacha hi hoga, mujhse baat karna zarrori thodi Hai." (Go do your thing, there must be some job left for you to do, talking me is not at all important anyways.) 

Ananya giggles at Karn's clearly visible irritation. 
This only makes Karn more irritated, and he turns away from her, getting up in a swift motion and walking in to their small room in the hut. 
Still laughing Ananya follows her man inside. 

But her laughter is cut short, the moment she enters the room, as Ananya's back hits the soft wall of the hut, Karn stood in front of her trapping her between the wall & himself. 

"Nikal gayi saari hassi?" (Where's your laughter now, huh?) Karn questions, his voice rough in Ananya's ears, as he holds her hands behind her back. 

Ananya being Ananya, let her body press into her husbands. Karn had left little space between the two, but Ananya pushed herself to fit in him like a puzzle. 
"Aap hassayein aur hum hasse bhi na?" (You made the joke, how could I not laugh at it, huh?) 

"Hum bahut kuch karwa sakte Hain, sab karengi aap?" (I can make a lot of things happen; you'll follow everything?) 

"Yeh toh nirbhar karega na Kya Hai woh uspe." (It will depend on what it is na.) 

"Baat toh kar nahi pa rahin Hain aap," (You cannot even talk to me properly.) Karn taunts her, "Aur hum jo karwayenge woh karengi aap." (And you will do what I make you do?) 

Ananya wraps her arms around the archer who was moving away from her. 
"Maaf kar dijiye na, Kyun gussa Ho Rahe Hain?" (Cannot you excuse me, why are you being so angry, huh?) 

"Mai gussa nahi Ho raha." (I am not getting angry.) Karn says, trying to get her to leave him and let him go. 

"Oh Ho!" Ananya exclaims, holding her husband tighter and now resting her head against his back, unlike before when she rested only her chin. 
This makes Karn stop from struggling in her hold. 

"Maaf nahi kijiyega Hume?" (Won't you forgive me?) 

"Hum gussa the hi nahi." (I was not being angry.) Karn sighs. "Hum bus aapko miss kar Rahe Hain." (I have just been missing you.) 

Ananya pulls away from the hug, letting Karn turn around and face her. 
Karn puts one palm around her cheek and the other hand holds her waist. 

Karn keeps looking deep in Ananya's eyes, as his thumb rub across her smooth cheek. He was silently relishing having Ananya close to himself & himself alone. 
Karn is petty, he wants Ananya all to himself but he cannot have that, & however much dislikes it he is thankful to have the other two around. 

Karn lets his lips brush her vermilion filled partition before he leaves a kiss there and wraps his arms around her, her face fitting in his neck as they silently remained wrapped around one another. 

"Hume yun chinta Ho rahi Hai Kyun ki samay aa Gaya Hai." (I am worried like this because its time now.) Ananya says softly. 

"Samay aa gaya?" (Its time?) Karn pulled away from Ananya looking at the lady in utter surprise. 

Ananya nods sighing a little. 

"Chinta kis baat ki Hai tumko?" (What are you worried about?) Karn questions. 

"Jo hone wala Hai uspe." (On what is about to happen.) Her tone obvious. 

A shaky breath left Karn, before he posed his next set of questions, "Pandeva's aur Mata Kunti ka Kya? Kab prasthan karna Hai Hume? Kaise jana Hai? Kahan jana Hai Hume?" (What about Pandeva's & Mother Kunti? When do we leave? How are we going ahead? Where are we going?) 

"Bhanu aur Suyo ko bhi bula lein?" (Shouldn't we call Bhanu & Suyo?) Ananya questions, not yet answering Karn's questions. 

"Bahar hi chal lete Hain." (Lets' just head out.) 

Perhaps it was the expressions' that warned the other couple, it must just be Karn's own.
Karn rolled his eyes at the thought of how could he even think that Ananya let emotions at times like this to be reflected on her face, so openly, even if it was just their family. 

"Bhabhi Ma? Jyestha? Sab theek?" (Sister- in- law? Elder brother? Is everything fine?) Duryodhana questions. 

Karn silently gestures the other couple to sit. 
The younger two exchange looks but do as instructed. 

"Hume kal tumhare pitashree ke pass chalna chahhiye, Bhanu." (We should go to your father tomorrow, Bhanumati.) Ananya speaks up confusing the younger two even more, than what Karn thought could be possible. 

"Mere Pitashree ke pass Bhabhi Ma, why?" (To my father, sister- in- law, why?) 

"Tumhara sasural jaane ka samay aagaya Hai, Bhanu." (It's time to go to your in laws house, Bhanumati.) 

"Hastinapur lautna ka samay aa Gaya?" (It's time to return to Hastinapur?) Dhuryodhana questions, his voice filled with disbelief and confusion. 

Ananya nodded silently. 

"Par Mama Shree Shakuni ka Kya?" (But what about Uncle Shakuni?) 

"Uske liye hi toh Hume wapas jaana hoga, Suyo." (It's the main reason we need to return, Suyo.) Ananya says softly. 

"Pandeva's ka Kya?" (What about Pandeva's?) Bhanumati asks hesitantly. 

"Woh bhi aa jayenge." (They will also come.) Ananya says. 
Karn supposes that only he was the one to catch her wincing and the twisted emotions passing through her eyes like a small collage.  

What was with her reactions?  

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How was the update?  

We are finally returning! 

I hope the chapter was up to the mark. 

Next update on Wednesday. 

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(1 8 6 0 words.) 

--Sxxxxx