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Hastinapur Streets

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As the sun was setting behind the horizon all the young princes and friends started their return journey to karna's house. All were walking like they have been toiling for years without food and water. Stumbling upon themselves and catching each other for support.

And suddenly Nakul and Sahdev dropped on the ground with fatigue.

Everyone : Kul...Devaa...

And everyone dropped on the ground surrounding them in middle of the street dramatically. Startling couple of people in the process.

Duryodhana: Are they alive? Zinda hai ya katliye?

Bheem: Suyo!

And that shut him up. Karna dramatically checked their pulse. And then breathed deeply.

Karna: Narayan ki krupa hai. They are still alive.

Ashwasthama: Unfortunately and barely.

And every one snickered. Arjun was next in line to drop unconscious. He was leaning dangerously on karna. Today he danced from hell and back. Yudhisthir sighed and looked at bheem. Bheem grunted and stood up. He picked both of them and put nakul on right and sahdev on left shoulder.

And startled at that some people asked

Man : Shreeman are they...?

Bheem: No Shreeman. They are just unconscious.

People nodded and walked away. On half way Karna picked Arjun on his shoulder. Duryodhana picked Yuyutsu on his. Yudhisthir and Ashwasthama were walking with each others support.

When they entered Sutnivas people snickered at them good naturely. Krishna was skipping happily ahead of everyone as if he has not done anything in whole day and greeting each and every person on the way chirpily. The weird circus was a sight to see...

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Kunti's Chambers

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At evening kunti was sitting in her Chambers lost in her thoughts. She was thinking about her first born. Karna. As of now she knew his name. Calm, Composed and mature.

She was thinking how Yudhisthir looked so much lighter these days. As if a huge responsibility of his was lifted. He smiled more. Any doubts and he would run straight to brain strom with karna. Not like before where he would sat in his thought thinking like a statue for hours.

Her Bheem would now run and hide behind karna when ever he would prank on any of his brothers. He felt secured in his presence.

Her Arjun who always complained that no one is interested in Art and Archery would now talk endlessly with his mitra Vasusen.

Her Nakul who always wanted to talk and share about beauty, fashion and fencing would run to karna and blabber for hours.

Her Sahdev who has a new topic to debate every few hours after reading mountains of books would complain of no one having much patience to listen and understand him. Now he would put his head on Karna's lap and ask questions and discuss from silly to intense topics for hours.

Duryodhana the kid she love no less then son was now in good company. Karna was bringing out good in him every moment. Fights between kauravas and pandavas decreased drastically. Now if bit of silly argument arises karna dissolves it in a moment.

Now you will see Duryodhana and pandavas tailing karna every moment of the day. Gandhari has literally got one more son who was much more capable. Yuyutsu, the outcast prince was now part of the Kurubhai.

And her Karna. He would guide Yudhisthir and Duryodhana in right direction. He would protect bheem and feed him every few hours. He would listen to all talks of Nakul,Sahdev and Yuyutsu paitently and teach them good morals. He would play with them, He would scold them, He would care and love for them not like a friend or a son. But like a Father.

He would help Dhritrashtra in day to day activities, Vidur in his paper work, Bhishma in politics and Gandhari and her in management of palace and family. He was like eldest son of the family. Which he was....And then she never knew when she drifted in deep sleep.......

Sixteen years old Pritha. The adoptive daughter of Maharaj Kuntibhoj was sitting on the bank of river Gange crying with new born baby in her hands. With her blue royal saree wrapped around the small new born baby attached to her chest.Beside her there was a basket with soft blankets and flowers where she kept her newborn in it. And then with heavy heart she spoke " Forgive your sinner mother my putra. I am not capable of keeping you. This Pritha is first a daughter then a mother. I can't let my father's reputation be tainted because of me."

And this scene was seen by the present Kunti in her dreams who was standing on the opposite end of the river. Her eyes dripped tears even now when she saw herself in the past memory about to flow her first born child.

But suddenly she saw the reflection of herself from the past about to flow her son in river gange in waters. And she was terrified. She trembled by seeing what she saw was somewhat a scene from future.

She was sitting in middle of battle field painted red in blood. Her white saree was red and in her lap was karana. But he has an arrow strucked on his neck. Karna was clutching her hand tightly and smiling at her. And in his last moments he spoke "Mata. I forgive you. I feel honored that I am in your lap in my last moments mata. I will die a death of satisfaction. I also fulfilled my vow that at the end of this gruesome war between pandavas and kauravas, your five sons will be alive. And your pandavas are alive mata. I forgive you."

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Daata o ka Daata
Dar pe jo bhi aata
Lota voh paa kar daan hai...

Dukhiyon ka dukh lena
Khushiyaan aur sukh dena
Daani ki toh yahi pehchaan hai....

Mahabharat....Mahabharat....
Mahabharat.....Mahabharat....

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And the kunti who was watching both the scenes from past and future trembled badly. She was terrified looking at the outcome of her one secret. Her one sin.Which made brothers kill their elder brother.

Her karnaa...Kaunteya Karna.....

"KARNA!!!!"

She woke up with startled scream. Hey Narayan! This was the sign. She has to reveal the truth of karna as her son soon. This was the sign. If she delayed it now...then the result will be gruesome. I will do my karma. She though firmly. I will reveal the truth soon.

A dream....A dream that will change the destiny.

But for good or worst? Only narayan knows.....

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Karna's House

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Finally all were home. At first Karan, Ashwasthama, Duryodhana and Yudhisthir. All the elder men among the group with krishna decided to freshn up. And then finally when they were ready they decided to wake up the rest.

Bheem who was tired after washing vessels and carrying the twins he was asleep on the mat in the living room.

Yudhisthir: Bheem. Beta wake up. And freshn up.

Bheem got up after many efforts grumbling things. And duryodhana nudged Yuyutsu. And said

Duryodhana:Wake up yuyu. I will give you my favorite jweleries to wear once we go back to palace.

And in a blink Yuyutsu was up. He went away to freshn up rather slowly. Now Yudhisthir went towards sahdev.

Yudhisthir : If you went to freshn up sahdev then I will give  you a nice book to read.

And sahdev was also up grumbling. Meanwhile krishna was sitting on the table cross-legged eathing his makhan and enjoying the scene.

Yudhisthir: Do you people know mitra Vasusen has installed a new mirror in the house?

And in a second nakul was up.

Nakul : Kaha hai? Kaha hai?

And everyone burst out laughing. After a big hassel he to went to take bath. And karna then started counting.

Karna : Jaate vakt 9 khajuro ko leke gaya tha. Khajur one...khajur two....Khajur eight.....naoma kaha reh gaya reh sasura? Kahi main raaste mai toh ek bacha nahi bhul ke Aya na re baba?

( I took 9 items with me. Item one...Item two...Item eight....where is ninth item? Did I forgot one kid on the road?)

And he started searching the house with others in panick. And after some moments duryodhana said behind the bed in one room

Duryodhana: Yelo...ethe pade hai hamare 'Duniya ke sarvashresth danurdhar '

(Yelo...Here lies our 'World's best archer.')

And all saw Arjun curled up behind the bed. Krishna burst out laughing with others while karna heaved a sigh of relief.

Karna : Hey narayan! Ek shan ke liye toh sach mai laga ki kahi raaste pe isse ghirake aaya mai!

(Oh narayan! For a moment I really thought I dropped him somewhere on the road!)

Krishna laughed further. Then karna picked arjun up and himself escorted half dead prince to the bath area....

After all of them were clean and nakul was enjoying the new mirror Yudhisthir asked

Yudhisthir: How was your first day?

And all the princes looked pale...

Yuyutsu: Pure mahal ka chappa chappa jada hai maine aaj. Aur fir bhi maatae utni prasan nahi dikh rahi thi.

(Every corner of the palace was cleaned by me today. And then also both the mothers were not that impressed.)

Bheem : Uss meethe ne bartan manjhne wala bana ke rakh diya hai.

( That meetha made me utensils washer.)

Yudhisthir: Kakashree ke khat kaha se shuru aur kaha pe khatam pata hi nahi chal raha tha. Aaj ka din toh sirf dekhne mai hi chala gaya.

( Uncle's scrolls are no joke. Where did they started and where did they ended I had no idea. Today's day passed in just viewing.)

Duryodhana: Voh chota hathi! Naam komal hai. Pan saala sandh! Dhobi banake chodenga re baba.

( That baby elephant! He is only named as delicate. But that mad ox! He will leave me making Washerman. )

Nakul and Sahdev: Humse toh pucho hi mat. Chauda ghode aur teen tabele dho kar aa rahe hai re baba.

( Don't even ask us. We are coming after washing 14 horses and 3 stables)

Ashwasthama: In kuposhit bacho ko yudh karna sikhana hai. Ek phook mai jo vaikunth ki sair karke aye. 3km dodaya to adhe adhmare ho gaye. Pata nahi mai inka kya karunga narayan!

(This malnourished kids are to be taught to fight. Who will travel to heaven in just a blow. Only by running 3 kms they were half dead. Don't know what I will do with them narayan!)

Arjun : Yeh hamari behen aur unki sakhiyaan chudaile hai. Pura din nachvaya. Nach Nach ke jaan chali jayengi meri. Pura shareer tut raha hai.

( Our sister and her friends are witches. They made me dance whole day. I will attain death by dancing. My whole body is paining.)

Karna : Kaha mai dhanurdhar. Aur kaha pitamah bhishma ne rath dhone wala banna diya. Pure din gaali khai hai. Aichi Shapath mere baap ne bhi aaj tak ek din mai mujhe itni nahi sunai.

( Where I am archer. And pitamah bhishma made me chariot washer. Whole day I listened to his scolding. I swear my father too never taunted me this much in a day.)

Bheem : I am hungry. And today I am very tired. Mai pehle hi boldeta hoon, mai khaana nahi banayenga!

(I am stating before hand only, I will not cook!)

And all looked at him wide eyed. Before anyone could speak karna asked

Karna : Govind. What did you do today?

And everyone curiosly looked at him. Krishna smirked and as he was about to speak a soft melodious voice cut him

Voice : Radheya karn?

And all of them became alerted. Kanha smirked and said

Krishna (In mind): Lo aa gayi mitra vasu ko apni dhwani pe nachane wali....

( Lo here comes the one who will make mitra Vasu dance on her tunes....)