The Princesses stopped as Duryodhana said that.

"I would like to say, my mitr may have won them. But, he's already married. Just like Pitahmah Bhishma, he's taking the Princesses for my three younger brothers", Duryodhan said.

Everybody were more shocked hearing it.

The three princesses had been horror-struck. No way!

Abhilasha stared at Karna with tears in her eyes and Kalyani was already having a pale face. Esha was looking at him in disbelieve.

Karna felt his heart clench. Why did he get in these type of situations, every time?

Shikandini quickly pulled them back towards the swing where Draupadi was standing.

"No", Drupad said furiously. "My daughters are not toys to  be passed around. Angraj has won them and Angraj will only marry them", Drupad said sternly.

"Otherwise my daughters won't go from here. They aren't burden on me", he added.

Duryodhan opened his mouth to argue but then stopped, as Karna spoke first.

"Ok. I will marry them but will you be comfortable knowing I have four beloved wives at home?" Karna asked.

Drupad nodded in agreement. "I am comfortable. I just want my daughters to be with you", Drupad said.

"You are sure, right?" Duryodhan asked.

"If you are not angry", Karna sighed. "I am not. I was just knowing your promise to bhabhis and thought this to be a better option but as long as you are ok, I am too. And the skills you have, you only deserve these princesses", Duryodhan said.

Karna smiled.

"Esha, what happened?" Draupadi asked her. Esha stood silent.

"Esha. Already you almost ruined Pitashree's goal. And, these aren't our manners. We are fire born. We shouldn't be stuck in caste system", Abhilasha scolded her.

"What has happened to you?" Kalyani asked.

Draupadi then started to realise. She indicated Kalyani and Abhilasha to stop and took Esha aside. "Are you upset about Varnavrat?" She asked.

Esha looked down hearing it confirming to Draupadi that she was correct.

"Esha", Draupadi sighed and turned her around. She cupped her face. "I was hurt, I agree. But, that doesn't mean you will ruin your future. You know once a princess is won, no one else accepts her. On top of that, Karna is your destiny. And, most important, Arjun is alive, what else we need?" Draupadi said.

Esha nodded slowly.

Everyone kept staring as Draupadi whispered and talked with Esha. The love between the sisters visible.

Karna and Duryodhan stared at them silently.

Finally...

The Princesses came forward to garland him.

"Mitr?" Duryodhan said as Esha came forward. He didn't like her after she insulted his friend.

Karna calmed his down by his eyes.

"Princess are you really ready to marry me?" Karna asked.

"Yes", Esha said firmly.

"Can I ask one question?" Karna asked.

Esha nodded at him slowly.

"Is caste a valid reason to reject someone?" Karna questioned her.

"No. It's not", Esha said. "And, I apologise for stating it in front of everyone. I...", she paused. She couldn't tell him the reason behind it in front of everyone.

"Then, can you give me a valid reason for it?" Karna asked her.

Esha glanced at Duryodhan and nodded.

"You were not here to marry. You already have four wives. You were here just for your friend and to give us to his brothers. Your win is your friend's win. You are not your own person. You didn't even once question your friend and say that if you win, you will marry us", she said.

"Don't say that, because you are married, you agreed. You know very well, even if you were unmarried, you would have not said a single word", Esha said.

"Swayamvar is for testing warriors and their skills so that the brides choose the most worthy among all. You win, that means you are powerful and we should marry you. We have no guarantee of our future with your friend's brothers", she added.

"I didn't want to marry someone who has his morals, personality, skills and talent under the rule of someone else. One who is the puppet in someone's hand can not ensure his safety and dharma, let alone his wives", she explained in a soft voice, hoping he wouldn't take it in a wrong way.

"My friendship is not slavery, Princess. It's pure bond of trust and love", Karna said, quietly as he stared at her with his gentle gaze and a hopeful look that she will understand.

"But...it's debt. Debt of being recognised as an archer when everyone questioned your lineage", she said.

"And respect for skills is the thing that matters the most to a warrior", Karna said.

Esha stood silent hearing it.

"Someone completed the task, is powerful, doesn't mean that he's worthy. It's only the physical strength, the brides have no knowledge of mentality of that person. In this case, even I am not worthy of you because you only know what others say. I don't know anything about you and you don't know anything about me", Karna said.

"You marry me or Kaurava Prince, journey would start from the same point", he said.

Esha sighed hearing it.

"And for this wise words of yours, I am willing to marry you", she ended. "But, I can't say you are a free bird. You are caged in this debt", she said.

"Please don't misunderstand our friendship. He has given me that recognition which has made me worthy enough in eyes of world to hold weapons rather than chariot. And, I can give my life for him", Karna said.

Everyone admired this bond as Duryodhan smiled at Karna.

Esha controlled herself and nodded. She was still having that stern look which made Karna doubt on her willingness to marry him but he didn't push her further, by asking her again.

Princesses made him wear garlands. Abhilasha and he shared an eye lock, Kalyani looked quite nervous but he gave her a smile, bringing her at ease. Esha was looking troubled, he was sure, because she didn't want to marry a low caste person and that made him upset.

"But...what about my putri, Draupadi?" Drupad asked.

The three tried to come to her but Draupadi indicated them by her eyes, "You are supposed to stand beside your husband".

They nodded and stood beside Karna.

"If Kshatriya can't do it. Brahmin should try their hands", Krishna said and Panchal princesses smiled hearing it.

"Can I try?" Arjun said suddenly, disguised as a brahmin.

"Of course!" Krishna smiled.

Karna frowned seeing him. He looked kinda...familiar?
He was overthinking, Karna thought and stayed silent.

"If a great archer like Karna can fail for the first time, what can this brahmin do?"

"We failed then this brahmin is worthless"

Whispers were heard.

Arjun simply ignored them and proceeded to do his task.

He had to marry Draupadi anyhow.

Arjun came there and Krishna did magic with his eyes, bringing the bow back to the same place before Karna did the task. It's string back to its plate and the bow back on the table.

Arjun had to complete the same task now.

He folded his hands and prayed. He looked at the bow with sparkling eyes and lifted it up in a second. He took the string, got a good grip, with firm hands, successfully stringed the bow. He took one arrow, looked with burning and passionate gaze at the reflection of the moving fish. His gaze stuck at the left eye. And, he shot the arrow.

It hit the left eye!

Everybody gasped.

The fish came falling on the ground, such was his strength. He smiled and looked at Draupadi to see she was crying with a smile on her face.

Without wasting a second, she ran towards him and put the garland around his neck.

Arjun smiled softly.

"She looks so happy", Karna muttered. "Like we are after marrying you, Arya", Abhilasha said and Karna smiled. Though, he was not sure about Esha who was gazing at the couple in front with a smile.

The Kings were shocked seeing him doing the task with such an ease in the first attempt only.

"This is wrong", one king rose up. "How can a princess marry a brahmin when we kshatriya couldn't? She should rather burn herself", the king said.

"Yes. She can't marry a non-kshatriya", another king said and soon all royal men rose up.

"Clearly you failed", one brahmin said annoyed. "So this brahmin participated and won. It's your ego that is hurt", he added.

This enraged the royal men more and they took their weapons.

Four other brahmins surrounded Draupadi and her husband.

Karna hanged his bow on his shoulder seeing Duryodhan take his weapon and held Abhilasha and Kalyani's hand in one. He held Esha's hand in other as she gasped.

He didn't react at that moment and took them out. He made them sit on the chariot as even those brahmins came out with royal men chasing them.

"We will kill you", one king shouted.

While the four fought with the royal men, Arjun in disguise, tried to take Draupadi but Karna immediately shot arrows blocking his path.

The four sisters were clearly scared.

Their husbands were fighting each other.

Arjun remembered their incomplete duel and attacked as well. The duel was really intense with none of them accepting defeat.

It went on till minutes and minutes.

Anga

The four Queens of Karna were sitting in front of Lord Shiv's idol and constantly praying.

They were really scared for their husband.

Since the fire lit off, they were having negative thoughts and it was getting hard to concentrate on anything else or stay positive.

Panchal

Karna was attacking again and Arjun was countering it. When Arjun attacked, Karna countered it.

No clear conclusion could be seen.

"Arya, please leave it. The brahmin has won Draupadi just the way you won us. And, she's happy with it. Also, you shouldn't commit the sin of hurting a brahmin, please", Abhilasha pleaded.

Karna stopped.

"I can't even injure him, Kumari. Being a brahmin, he has such a might", Karna said surprised. He took out another arrow. "Are you really a brahmin?" He asked suspiciously.

That made the brahmin stop but then he smiled again.

"In battlefield, only weapons should talk, Angraj. And, for now, I am only interested in this duel with you", he said.

Karna chuckled and took his arrow back.

"I respect your strength. Being a brahmin, you possess such skills. I can't fight you. I am sorry", Karna said.

Arjun wanted this duel but he was glad that Karna respected his skills. Not because, he wanted him to, but because, it was good quality of a warrior to respect skills of others.

"Someday we will complete this, for sure", Arjun said playfully but he meant it.

And even though, Karna was unaware it was Arjun, deep down even he knew, that this Arjun in disguise of brahmin, meant his words in real.

The five brahmins went with Draupadi.

"Arya", he heard and saw Kalyani approaching him. "Just remember, you withdrew and respected his skills. That's the thing that makes you talented. And, withdraw doesn't mean defeat. You didn't reach the conclusion and weren't defeated. You respected his skills and hence, backed off", Kalyani explained.

"But, won't it be like I feared him?" Karna asked.

"No. If you feared him, you wouldn't have fought with him. And, you are aware of his skills by his ability to complete this task. You still went to fight so you are not scared. You just respected his skills as a warrior and backed off. Stepping back in respect for the other person is never defeat, if he would have injured you or almost killed you, taking Draupadi in front of you, then it would have been defeat. You both continued fighting till you praised the brahmin and decided to step back so you can't say you got scared or he defeated you. If you see the other Kings, they are running away in fear and accepting defeat. You accepted his might and respected him. So, don't worry", Kalyani said.

Karna nodded, smiling softly.

Afterwards, the wedding was formally done in the mandap and Karna was ready to take his three wives.