Hey Guys!!!!
The ninth chapter.
I don't own Mahabharat.
Happy Reading!!
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Third POV
It had been 19 years, since the day Karn went away. Various changes have happened in the royal family of Hastinapur.
Just a few days after he had left, Pandu, Dhritarashtra, Vidor returned. Not a month had passed and Dhritarashtra had married Gandhar's Raj- Kumari Gandhari.
There was a little ruckus created, with Gandhari tying a red cloth around her eyes and that annoyed Dhritarashtra, he wanted someone who would guide him but she did the opposite thing. She herself made herself blind. Somehow that mess resolved and the couple really became a couple.
Next came the day of coronation, a headache. Vidor, was easily made the Maha Mantri. When Dhritarashtra was about to be crowned the King, the question was raised on, how will a blind person be a king?
Due to various such reasons, Pandu was crowned the king, in place of Dhritarashtra.
This created a drift between the brothers. Maha Mahim Bishma was very well known of this fact but he couldn't do anything about it. There was just a rift created between them.
Few time went after this, and Pandu got married to the princess of Kunti- Bhoj, Raj- Kumari Kunti. A very good- natured girl, and a perfect lady for queen.
Bishma was happy with this development.
All the day, Bishma never got time, to worry about Karn and how he would have be paring in the outer world. All alone, a mere boy of six.
But at night, in the darkness and under the light of the stars. He used to miss his little boy, his life and his heart.
He could see, that even Mata Satyavati was missing him. She used to stare far away and zone out from time to time. She wasn't smiling like she had started to do, since Karn had arrived.
Nobody was mentioning him but the whole royal palace had its happiness, its life had been lost. Bishma didn't know whether the three brothers knew about Karn or not. Whether, Bishma had an adopted son, the three brothers had another cousin.
But neither he or Raj Mata Satyavati had bothered to tell them. This Bishma was aware of.
But he did not think much into it, because after all Karn was only his son, no way part of the politics in Hastinapur. And it would be best if they were kept un- aware of the fact.
Pandu had married again, not that Kings didn't, but this broke Kunti. They had not even had their first night together. Kunti had steeled her heart and welcomed Madri, her husband's new wife.
It had broken everyone in the royal family to see their new daughter- in- law but what could they do? They had nothing in their hands.
As if the problems had not been enough, Pandu got cursed. So, Pandu took the decision of giving up his throne and leaving to live in the forest. Leaving his throne to his elder brother.
Again, the calmness of the royal palace was ruptured. Bishma was again lost in his works, his duties to help Dhritarashtra in handling the court. However, much they tried they had to go through a lot.
Seven years passed, and Mata Satyavati was drowned in guilt of Pandu and his wives living in the forest. With their five kids.
Yes, they knew about the kids. After all, Pandu used to write letters.
So, they went only to learn that Pandu had died, and Madri committed Sati, so that Kunti could look after the five kids. And thus, they bought Kunti and his five brothers- Yudhishthira, Bheema, Arjun, Nakul, Sehdev.
Disappointment and guilt of Pandu's death, couldn't let Ambala and Amblaika, so they gave up their royal life and went to live in the forest.
Raj Mata Satyavati was thinking of leaving too but the promise she had made to her grandson- Aditya held her. She could not leave, and her daughter- in- laws and Bishma understood it perfectly. They even convinced her to stay.
When she was still not perfectly convinced, Devi Ganga came in picture and explained to Raj- Mata Satyavati that she had to live here and full fill her promise to her grandson and there was no other way to par with the guilt in herself. This helped Raj Mata a lot.
Even the King and Queen had had, kids. Gandhari had the boon of giving birth to 100 sons and she did, though it was a little tough, after many days, 100 boys and a girl was born to the couple.
Not even a month had passed with the previous queen and her kids coming to Hastinapur, that a Guru was being searched for them. And at last, Guru Drona was selected. And thus, the hundred and five brothers were shipped off to Guru Drona's Gurukul.
A decision taken by Raj Mata Satyavati and Bishma. Even though Maharaj Dhritarashtra was reluctant to send his kids away.
All these years had passed seven, Karn must be fourteen then. But he didn't return. Bishma would lie if he said that he and his mother didn't gaze at the door of the palace, waiting for his son to jump in the palace and hug them.
All these while Gandhar Raj Shakuni, brother of Gandhari used to limp all around the palace filling the ear's of his nephews with poison and evil.
Raj Mata Satyavati and Maha Mahim tried various ways to get rid of him. But he still was stuck with them like an irritating house fly. And however much the two tried he never went away from Hastinapur, irking the two to no ends.
Today the whole city was very happy, they were in a mood of celebration. After all, their hundred and five princes were returning today. Whole of the palace was ready for the return of princes. To welcome them back. To prepare for their arrival.
Rooms had been settled, dishes had been made, a party in the palace was being prepared for. Their likes and dislikes were being thought for, exchanged among all of them. So, that they got the best result at the end, and don't disappoint or sadden their princes.
But right now, all of the people have assembled in the big fighting area, from where they could get the first look of their princes. See, the first time after eleven years. Everyone was overjoyed.
The first person to enter the grounds, was Guru Drona. After all, he was the teacher. And loudly, he declared that all the princes are going to showcase their talent and power, in the Kala Pradarshan, that was being specially conducted for this purpose.
And Guru Drona's son Ashwatthama was going to mediate the Kala Pradarshan.
As soon as the declaration occurred, a young man wearing a dhoti and angvastram for hermits stepped ahead. He had Rudra Raksh ornaments. His eyes were sharp and he had the great three- line tikka on his forehead. In middle of the tikka was a blue emerald stone in his forehead.
In his hands were bow and arrows. In front of him a wheel that had the names of the hundred and five brothers.
The wheel was being rotated by the soldiers as Ashwatthama took his father's blessing and turned to the wheel.
As he is turning, he and Shakuni, Gandhar Raj and brother of Gandhari, share an eye contact. Shakuni was the one who had manipulated Maharaj into keeping this competition. As he wanted to show that his nephew could easily plumule his Pandeva cousins. By the methods of un- fair fights and cheating.
Smiling he pulls his bow and fires the first arrow. Hitting the target, he had wanted.
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How is it?
Raj Mata did not leave.
Shakuni is an annoying Makhi.
Kala Pradarshan is happening, huh?
Will the things be same as before?
What will be Karn's reaction towards his father and grand- mother, sorry, sweetheart. 🤪
(1420 words.)
--Sxxxxx