"Vasudha", Karna whispered.

She fidgetted with her fingers and bit her lips in anticipation.

"The winner is definitely Vasudha", Karna smiled as a grin spread on her face.

She won the competition!

"How dare you?" Someone yelled. A man came and held her hand in a harsh grip as she cried in pain.

"Brat! You know right, dancing is vulgar? It's a crime for the people in our village then how dare you dance?" Asked the man.

She cried in misery as his grip started leaving bruises.

Karna got enraged and targeted an arrow.

"Don't", Karna looked as Yudhister stopped Arjun. "It's Angraj's hosted fest so he has to stop this adharma from happening. Don't do anything, Arjun", Yudhister commanded.

Karna looked back and shot the arrow as it pierced a bit of skin of the man's hand and went forward.

The man screamed in agony and left the girl.

Karna jumped down from the high stage itself, into the ground and shot another arrow that became a rope and tied the man.

He rushed towards that girl and looked at her arm with an examining gaze.

"Prakirti", he called and she came forward. She reached the girl and her husband. "Come dear", she said to the girl who was sobbing and took her aside.

She applied medicine on her bruise.

"What on world was that?" Karna yelled at the man.

"She's dancing, Maharaj. And, only unchaste women dance as moving your body awakens sexual desires in men", he barked.

"What nonsense!" Karna scoffed.

"Whatever you said doesn't even make sense to me", Karna gritted his teeth. "And it's of the eye sight of men not of a girl who wants to dance", he added. "Even gods dance. Lord Shiva does Tandav when angry. So, dance can be anything but vulgar", Karna said.

"Now before I kill you, get out of here and leave this girl alone. You are no one to dictate her life and don't even mention, caste or rules in front of me. I simply despise these things", he said.

The men went away scared as he was untied.

Karna turned towards Vasudha. His eyes softened seeing her tears. "Are you alright?" He asked.

She nodded meekly.

"Continue with the fest", Karna announced as they stepped back towards the stage.

An extra seat was brought and Vasudha sat on it. She was feeling very intimidated among royals.

"Maharaj", she whispered softly and Karna glanced at her. "Can I please go to stand down only? I am fine now", she said.

He smiled. "You don't need to feel scared. Even I am a Suta by birth. So, we aren't different", he said.

Vasudha nodded, hesitantly.

Many contests like wrestling and archery (for commoners only) were held and Karna had done it totally caste free. No one could stop him as he was the host and it was just for the fest, but the arrogant royals could been seen dissappointed.

Hastinapura royals, however, were completely fine with it. Bhishma and Dronacharya both were not proper khastriyas and Pandavas had no problem with it, also.

Finally, the time for veneration arrived.

Everybody stepped towards that area and Karna sat down along with his wives. "You have also helped a lot, so join in", Karna said to Urvi and Digvija. They sat down and folded their hands.

Everyone were really taken aback by the big heart he had.

Karn's parents, Radha and Adhirath sat down too and the veneration went forward.

Everybody closed their eyes in praying.

Urvi kept glancing at Karn in between. She was smiling giddily at him.

Her mother saw it and got angry. She wasn't supposed to eye a low born, this way. Urvi was the Princess and had to marry a royal only.

Karna had to be shown his place, she decided in her mind.

Here, Karna was feeling his heart heavy as he did the Puja. He didn't forgot that this was the reason, his younger brother was brutally killed for.

How could he even forgot that?

The veneration got completed and the prasad was given to royal people and common people. After joining their hands for one more time, they stepped down.

Karn and his wives took blessings of Radha and Adhirath, Kunti, Gandhari and Dhritrashtra along with Dronacharya and Bhishma.

They took blessings of Karna's in laws.

Kirti's parents were here as well but this time, they appeared genuinely happy.

Supriya's parents were scared about her condition as she was kidnapped, but seeing her so happy, they couldn't have asked for more.

"You are looking so pretty", Kunti said to Anga Queens who smiled at her.

She always felt so happy at being able to talk to them.

Little did she know, how will it turn out, once truth of Karn's birth comes out.

"Thank you, bhrata shree", Dusshala whispered as she hugged Karna. Karna got it that she heard their conversation. He just smiled and hugged her back.

"I would like to show you something", Karna said.

They went in an area where so many Rangoli were designed for the Rangoli competition. They were looking so beautiful.

Another area had many paintings and one had many sculptures.

It was truly a very well planned fest in a very short time.

Karna smiled, "I and proud to say that all credit is for my wives, Urvi and Digvija who managed everything from safety, veneration to fests and food", he said.

"I guess you all should eat food and rest for a while as the play is going to take some time", Karna said.

Everyone proceeded to the dining hall where the Queens, Urvi and Digvija (Vasudha also as she insisted) served food to everyone along with the servants.

It was an appreciative fact that the Anga royal palace felt a lot different where the Queens and king got mixed with people rather than handling their royal aura.

"I have eaten, maa", Karna complained.

"No. Putr, you never eat enough. You should take care of yourself", Radha said.

"Focus on your husband too, sometimes", Adhirath remarked.

"You are big enough. My son needs my attention", Radha explained as everyone burst into laughter.

Kunti felt her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at Radha and Karn's bond, at how he was complaining but she smartly ignored it and kept feeding him.

"Come, you all. You should also eat", Radha said sternly to her daughter in laws and the other three girls who smiled and nodded.

Radha fed them too with loads of pampering.

Everybody went awe at the scene in front.

For a moment, Kunti thought, if she should tell the truth to her sons but then instantly, her thoughts criticised her.

She couldn't tell the truth. Honestly, how can she?

Karna loves her right now, but would he, after he knows the truth?

Would her five sons love and respect her?

Would her in laws take it lightly that she hid such a huge thing from them?

What would society call her?

Her one mistake could tarnish reputation of the whole kingdom, just like it could, years back.

These thoughts tormented her and she kept quite.

Little did she know, what a grave mistake she was committing.