Karn looked from afar as Pandavas had surrounded their mother, Kunti, who was sitting on bed. Draupadi was sitting beside her.

"Putr. I trust your abilities. It will not be hard. Believe me. I will wait till you call me to visit your palace", she said.

"H-how can...that be our p-palace? That is our home. Your and our's home", Arjun said and broke down crying. He laid his head on Kunti's lap and Kunti caressed his hair.

Karn remembered how his nine year old little self laid his head the same way on her lap and she sang a lullaby to him.

"How can we stay away from you?" Arjun cried.

"A mother is never away from her children, Arjun. I will be with you always", Kunti smiled.

"Taatshree is doing unfairness with us, mata", Nakul protested. "We shouldn't be send away from our mother. After mata and Pitashree's Death, we have only you with us and he's telling you to stay here", Nakul cried.

Kunti closed her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. She opened her eyes again.

"You can fight with everything except the societal norms. A girl is supposed to stay at her husband's house. The people won't accept me going anywhere else. Bhrata shree is correct here, either I can go to forest or stay here", Kunti said.

"This is wrong", Bheem said. "That means, as sons we have no right on you that you can't go with us", Bheem said.

"No, Bheem. Please don't say like this, son", Kunti said.

"I felt that something bad might happen in future, but, it is worse. Staying away from our mother? Is never something that I imagined", Sahdev said.

"First time, in my life, I don't want to follow my dharma, maa", Yudhister said.

"Why is this society so patriarchal, mata? Why are we nothing except our husband's possessions? Why are we ruled by everyone else except ourselves? Why do we need to bear every pain for the sake of society? Why are we known by our father's, husband's and son's name?" Draupadi asked.

"I wish I could answer your questions, but I can't", Kunti said solemnly.

Karna sighed sadly. He was feeling really tensed himself, at the change of events.

He couldn't understand the purpose of this conspiracy. Why not a duel again and then respect the results?

This dirty conspiracies were not his cup of tea.

"Draupadi", Kunti said desperately.

Draupadi looked at Kunti.

"I have always kept my sons above everything. Yudhister becomes strict in terms of morals, but he cares for everyone. Bheem gets angry easily but food is the thing that helps him calm down. Arjun might be too focused on archery that it may annoy you but he won't compromise his duty towards you in any case. He might struggle in conveying his feelings as he's too introverted to mention  his likes and Dislikes but he will eventually cone to you", Kunti said.

"Nakul and Sahdev might be Madri's sons but they are nurtured by me and I have never given them any less love than the three others. Nakul is mostly silent but he doesn't have secrets and will share things with you. Sahdev is comfortable in talking but he often gets worried due to feeling tensed about something or the other. You will need a lot of patience in calming him down", Kunti chuckled.

"However, the five will love you a lot and keep you on top of the world. I am trusting you with them. You won't let them break down in my absence, would you?" Kunti asked.

Draupadi cried and nodded in agreement. "I won't", she said. They both hugged each other as Pandavas cried silently and looked down.

"You are only caring about them, what about you? Will you be able to live without your sons?" Draupadi asked.

Kunti's eyes went to Karna who was silently listening to everything.

She smiled in tears.

"I have my son here", Kunti said.

Karna looked up as Kunti quickly looked away to not let him think, she was talking about him.

"Son?" Draupadi asked as Pandavas looked at her, confused.

"I mean sons", Kunti corrected. "My sons won't be away from me", she said.

The five along with Draupadi hugged Kunti again.

Karna sighed and went.

He smiled as his wives brought some flowers on his request. He couldn't go as Duryodhan told him to stay there till Pandavas went.

"Thank you, darlings", he said. His wives smiled at him.

Moments later, Kunti came along with her sons and daughter in law.

They again touched her feet and after much turning back and looking at Kunti, pleasingly, to follow them, they climbed on the chariot and it took off.

Karna stared at Kunti sadly as she looked at her sons going away to Khandavprastha.

"Mata", Karna said as he approached her.

Kunti turned towards him. She saw that he had a tray full of flowers.

"It's time for your veneration so I brought flowers", he said to her.

"Karn", Kunti said tearfully.

Karna smiled. "I cannot take the pain of your sons being away from you. But, I can surely fulfill your requirements in the veneration so here I am", he said.

Kunti took the tray from him.

Karna's wives arrived there along with Urvi.

"I am very stressed, Karn", she said, feeling relieved at sharing her thoughts with her eldest. "How will they manage to live on that barren land?" She asked.

"They are not ordinary. They are sons of Devas. They have Krishna with them. They have survived Lakshagriha, they can live through this too. I feel the main thing that would hurt here is the distance from their mother, are the rest of the things even worth being concerned for? In front of the Void of their mother being absent during their journey, for the first time ever?" Karna asked.

"Oh Radhey! I am left option less in this case. Instead of accompanying my sons, I am left to fulfill the duty of being the daughter in law of this mighty empire and live in this palace which feels like a prison to my heart, a mother who is away from her children and left to worry for them", Kunti said in despair.

"Don't worry, oh Queen Mother! As long as your blessing is with them, everything will be alright", Karna assured. 

Kunti nodded slowly as she wiped her tears.

"I suggest you should go and complete your veneration. That's an important task for you, isn't it?" Karna asked.

"Yes. Thank you so much putr", Kunti smiled. "I am your rival's mother still you give me so much of respect, oh king with a golden heart", Kunti praised.

Karn's smile fell hearing it.

"Long ago said by me, your and mine relation is old to you becoming mother of Pandavas. You have been the mother of my nine years old version before them and gave me love. I don't think anyone is powerful enough to change that, oh! Queen Mother. Please don't doubt my love and adoration for you like this", Karna said.

"And...you said", Karna said hesitantly. "You do have your son here", he said.

Kunti froze.