After a tiring three-day journey, Hasini arrived in Hastinapura, which was adorned like a bride. "Wow! Maybe they found out that the princess of Dwarka is coming," she chuckled to herself, approaching an old man standing among the crowd.

She asked the old man, looking around, "Kakashree, why is everyone standing here?"

The old man replied, "Putri, today the Kuru Princes are returning from Gurukul after 12 long years."

Hasini made an 'O' shape with her mouth in surprise. Soon, an announcer's voice rang out, "Everyone, bow down to the Kuru Princes."

Everyone except Hasini bowed down. First came the 100 Kauravas. Duryodhana wore an arrogant expression, clearly asserting his superiority. The subjects of Hastinapura looked down in fear. Duryodhana noticed Hasini not bowing to him, which angered him. He was about to descend and teach her a lesson when his brother Vikarna stopped him. As the Kauravas passed, one of the chariots accidentally pushed the old man, causing him to fall.

Seeing this, Hasini hurried to help him up, thus missing the arrival of the 5 Pandavas. Afterward, she left like everyone else.

Unbeknownst to her, someone had noticed her act of kindness and was already impressed. [Guess who?]

Hasini headed towards Karna's house. She saw a group of children, with a girl her age standing beside a sweets shop, enjoying halwa. The sight of halwa reminded her of her Devki Ma's special kheer, which was made only for Hasini. She approached the children and the girl who looked like locals.

Hasini said, "Hey! Can you people help me out?"

The elder girl asked suspiciously, "What kind of help do you need?"

Hasini explained, "I've come here to meet Vasusen."

The girl exclaimed, "Radhey! What do you want from him?"

Hasini replied, "He is my Gurukul friend, and our Gurudev told me to visit him."

The girl seemed surprised, "Friend? He never told me about any friend. Okay, come, I will take you to his house. By the way, I'm Vrushali."

Hasini smiled, "Oh, you're his childhood friend who used to make ladoos for him and whom he used to tease to tears."

(Vrushali thought to herself, "He told her this, which means he remembered me.")

Hasini introduced herself, "By the way, I'm Suhasini."

They reached a hut where Vasusen lived.

Vrushali announced, "Radha Ma, someone has come to see Radhey."

A middle-aged woman came out, wiping her hands on the drape of her saree. Hasini thought, "So, she is Radha Ma," and respectfully bent down to touch her feet.

Radha greeted her warmly, "Ayushmati bhava, putri!"

She then asked Vrushali, "Vrushali, who is she?"

Vrushali explained, "Kakishree, she is Radhey's Gurukul friend, and she is here to see him."

Radha replied kindly, "Oh, putri! I'm sorry, but he has gone to see the Kalapradarshani of the Kuru princes. You stay here until he returns."

Hasini insisted, "No, Radha Ma, I will get bored. I will go there only."

Vrushali agreed, "Yes, kaki, I will take her there."

Radha instructed the children, "Okay kids, be safe and come back for dinner."

Both of them left. Hasini mounted her horse and helped Vrushali up.

Hasini said, "Now, tell me the directions."

Thanks to Vrushali's precise directions, they quickly reached the arena faster than expected. They entered the commoner's gallery in the arena, hoping to find Radhey.

They saw a well-built muscular man with a mace, whom Suhasini recognized as Prince Duryodhana, and another younger man equally well-built but with a bow. They were engaged in combat, though it was evident the archer had the upper hand.

Hasini asked Vrushali, "Who is that archer?"

Vrushali explained, "Oh, that's Madhyam Pandu Putr Arjuna."

Hasini nodded, focusing on the combat. Arjuna immobilized Duryodhana with his arrows and won.

Dronacharya declared, "Now I declare that Arjuna is the best archer in all of Aryavart."

Hasini thought, "How could he! If only they had seen Karna, they would think otherwise."

Suhasini turned to Vrushali to express the same sentiment when she heard a voice behind her.

"Stop, Guruvar," the voice commanded.

Suhasini whispered to Vrushali, "Karn!"

Suhasini turned to see her best friend standing at the entrance of the arena with his bow, Vijaya, gifted to him by Guru Parashuram. She smiled inwardly.

Dronacharya questioned, "Why did you stop me?"

Karna replied firmly, "I am a warrior, Guruvar. If you had announced Kuru Prince Arjuna as the best archer among the Kuru princes, it would have been acceptable. But by declaring him the best archer in the world, you have challenged all archers of Aryavart. So, I have accepted the challenge and want Arjuna to engage in combat with me."

Dronacharya smirked, "But who are you, and what lineage do you belong to?"

Karna responded proudly, "I am Adhirath Putra, Karna, who is Mahamahim Bhishma's charioteer."

Dronacharya sneered, "Do you, as a sutaputra, dare challenge the Kuru prince? How audacious! Sutras are only born to serve us, just like your father. You should follow in his footsteps."

The entire arena erupted in laughter, except for Vrushali and Suhasini, who were deeply offended.

Adhirath approached Karna and urged him to return with him. Bheema added, "Go, Sutaputra. Listen to your father. You people can't compete with Kshatriyas."

The crowd began to cheer for Karna to leave. Karna bowed his head in shame at the insult directed towards him due to his caste. Duryodhana and Shakuni were ready to take advantage of this situation when a voice rang out, "Why can't a Sutaputra compete with Kshatriyas? Is Sutaputra blood white in color?"

Everyone was stunned to see a girl boldly raising her voice in front of the royals. Suhasini walked down to the arena, stunning and delighting her best friend and brother, Karna.

Hasini declared firmly, "We should not make such lame excuses to hide our incompetence, Guruvar. Only cowards do so. And if you still wish to obstruct someone due to their caste, then I will have to consider you a coward afraid to accept the truth."

Dronacharya responded, "A lady competing with such low castes will only bring shame upon us. Besides, I doubt he is skilled enough to fight Rajkumar Arjuna."

Hasini retorted, "Who are you to judge a book by its cover? Give him a chance before passing judgment."

Dronacharya conceded, "Whatever you say, Devi, but I cannot allow him to compete. What proof is there that he is skilled enough and not wasting our time?"

Hasini proposed confidently, "Alright then, let's make a deal. I challenge any swordsman to face me in sword fighting. If I win, Arjuna and Karna get to compete. But if I lose, I will apologize to everyone for wasting their time."

Dronacharya remained hesitant, "I cannot let you participate without knowing your identity."

Hasini revealed proudly, "Then let it be known that I am Suhasini, daughter of the late King Kamsa, granddaughter of Maharaj Ugrasen, and sister to Vasudev Krishna. I am a disciple of Guru Parashuram, along with Vasusen, whom you insulted as a Suta."

Gasps echoed through the arena. She was the daughter of Kamsa, the imperial king defeated by none other than Vasudev Krishna, believed to be the 8th avatar of Vishnu, and his sister.

Hasini challenged boldly, "Is there anyone willing to compete with me, or has fear gripped everyone?"

A voice answered confidently, "I will fight you."

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Words : 1300
Date : 09/06/2024