"A-angraj", Avantika managed to whisper.

Karna rushed to her side and kneeled down beside her. "P-please save me", she cried. "D-do it", she said.

Karna widened his eyes. "I can't use you. I am sorry. I can't", Karna said. "I-I g-gave perm...ission", she stammered.

"For saving your life. You don't want it from your heart", Karna said.

"B-brother d-doesnt care. I-I want i-it. D-do...", she said.

"She's right, Angraj", The King's voice came. "Jaydrath was already planning to use her to get greater alliances. He doesn't care at all. And...he lied to you. We called him as well but he was too of a coward. So, he sent you alone. And...once she's saved, she can take stand for you, so just do it", the king said.

Karna hesitated.

It wasn't so easy as he was literally being commanded to force himself on a girl, even if it was to save her life.

"Maybe, because of the sudden turn of events, you forgot. I told you. Jaydrath beats Dusshala", the tribal leader said and Karna's eyes darkened. "She hides it. You can confirm it after going back. You have a good opportunity to take revenge. Use his sister to the fullest", the tribal leader said making Karna scrunch his face in disgust.

"I remember that. My mind might have went blank but I do remember this. However, I am not a coward like you who will play with another woman's dignity to take revenge for my sister. I certainly won't insult another woman to give justice to one", Karna shouted back.

"Then see her die", boomed the leader's voice in anger.

Karna knew that anyways, the leader was right. The Princess was dying and he had to do it. He felt frustrated. She was Dusshala's family. How could he...?

Karna sighed in helplessness. "I am sorry for this. But, I need to save you", Karna said.

He picked Avantika in his arms and hugged her close to his heart.

Hastinapura

"Duryodhan, trust him. He will come back soon", Vrushali assured.

They were in his chamber. Bhanumati was sitting on bed looking worriedly at him as he paced to and fro.

Karn's wives were there with Digvija, Vasudha and Vrishali watching him go insane with worry for his best friend as the sun was setting.

"But...when?" Duryodhan asked in worry.

"He will come soon. Don't worry. You know no one can stop him", Vrushali said.

"But...I am worried for my friend", Duryodhan said.

Cave

Karna was instructed by the king to keep doing it till Avantika's breathing turns even.

He stopped when he felt her getting fine. He made her wear her clothes as he wore his. "Are you alright, now?" He asked.

Avantika managed to nod.

"I am scared, Angraj", she sobbed and hugged him. Karna lifted her up in his arms and she hid her face in his torso. He glared at the stone blockage in front.

"We have done the deed. Let us go, now", Karna demanded. 

"Sure...", the king mused. "However, one more condition needs to be fulfilled", he added. Karna gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on Avantika.

"I won't let you make me hurt the Princess anymore", Karna yelled.

"Y-you didn't h-hurt me, A-angraj", Avantika said. "Y-you saved m-me", she said. Karna felt heart shattering hearing her weak voice and kissed her forehead. "I promise, this will end. I will find a way out", he said.

Avantika cried and looked at him hopefully that he will save her.

Karna assured her by his eyes.

"Well...don't worry. The condition is very easy for you to fulfil", the tribal leader said. 

"You need to marry my daughter", the leader said.

Avantika and Karna widened their eyes and exchanged shocked looks with each other. What the heck was he trying to do? What revenge was he taking?

(Vallabhi- Tribal leader's Daughter)

"What on Earth are you even saying? Are you in your senses? Why would I marry your daughter?" Karna asked.

Avantika was crying in his arms, feeling scared from those tribals and firming her hold on him. He cooed at her. "Everything is alright. I will take you. Please don't cry", he said and she managed to nod.

"Until and unless you marry her, we won't let you leave", the leader said.

Karna noticed Avantika shivering. "Why don't I see her alright, even now?" Karna asked in panick and anger at the leader. "These are side effects of the medicine. She needs to feel warm. You are delaying it and putting her life at risk", the leader said.

Karna kept her down. He took out his Angavastra and wrapped it around her. Being Suryaputra, his body was always comfortably warm. So, his Angavastra felt like a blanket and Avantika started getting warmth. Karna picked her up again as she closed her eyes to relax, after hours of torture because of that drug.

"O-ok", Karna said in a defeated voice. "I will marry your daughter and you will...you will let us leave", Karna said.

Avantika was too tired to open her eyes. She cuddled up with Karn, now wrapping her arms around her neck and having a relieved smile on her face.

Karna was permitted to come out. He was made to sit in the mandap where he got married to Vallabhi. He saw her looking at him apologetically and dried tears marks on her cheeks with bite marks on her neck. She looked really lifeless.

He will kill Jaydrath.

On Avantika's confirmed nod, he married her as well, to keep her dignity intact. He was feeling terrible thinking of how the situation would turn out.

"Now you are ready to leave", the king said.

Karna stood up with Vallabhi beside him and Avantika in his arms.

"Kill them"

He looked at Vallabhi shocked. What was she even saying? Kill her own father?

"They made you do such a disgusting crime. They wanted to just use me. They don't feel any sadness. They are just criminals in name of support for Pandavas. They wanted wealth so taking opportunity of me being...", she paused as her eyes closed and more tears fell from her eyes.

"They called you. They wanted to just get wealth and for that they can make their daughters go to Kings to get raped and then take revenge in these ways", Vallabhi said.

She looked at him, dead in the eyes.

"I am right, Angraj. They sent me to Jaydrath and forced me to get used by him. They saw it but did nothing to save me. They don't care about me at all. They need luxury", she said.

She took out his sword and killed all women in front of his eyes. Karna had red eyes of anger.

How could someone do this with their own daughter?

He kept Avantika on the ground and killed the men. He slit the throat of the tribal leader very slowly. "I told you", Karna had whispered in his ear as he held him in choke hold, just before slicing his throat. "Your headless body will get tormented and life will be drained very slowly".

Karna picked Avantika again as Vallabhi stood beside him.

They watched calmly as the tribal leader's headless body shook with pain and fell down. Very slowly, all his movements stopped.

Vallabhi broke down in tears.

The horror of killing her own family, the pain of being used and her family using her afterwards for their greed, the reason of letting other girl go through same thing and being helpless, getting married to a man who won't love her as he was practically forced in this.

Her life was so cruel.

"Vallabhi", Karna whispered, able to understand what was going in her mind. He pulled her closer. "You have no fault in this. I don't hate you. I will always love you", he said.

Vallabhi hugged him crying as Avantika hugged him as well.

Karna would never forget this day. He realised this day, just how cruel the world had become and how horrific the upcoming Kali era would be.