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Moonlight peeked through the curtains, along with burning mashals illuminating the chambers of Hastinapur.

Karna paced back-and-forth. He felt distured. Pandavas, with Draupadi and Vidur, left for Hastinapur a few days back, perhaps near the same time, when he left to come here as well. They would be in Hastinapur very soon.

How was he going to face them after such a depravity?

Karna felt ashamed. He was lost in thoughts, when a guard entered inside,  "Angraj ki jai!"

"What is it?" Karna asked, looking sideways at the guard, who was facing his back.

"Yuvraj is here to meet you,"

"Duryodhan?! At this hour?" He mumbled. Confused, nevertheless, he told the guard to ask Duryodhan to come in.

"Hope you were not sleeping, friend." Duryodhan smiled, entering the chamber with Dushasan.

"Not at all," Karna replied, "You tell. What brings you here at this hour? Everything is fine?" He asked, concerned, as Duryodhan took a seat.

"Does one come to his friend after seeing the time?" Duryodhan joked.

"Of course not," Karna sneered.

"Well, you tell me— these lines of anger on your forehead. What's wrong, friend?"

"I," Karna clenched his fist, as he sat on the chair opposite to his friend, "I am angry because of Gandhararaj Shakuni."

"Mamashri?" Dushasan asked perplexed, "What has he done?"

Karna looked at him, "Because of him, we can't even look in the eyes of the Pandavas. The world may or may not know, but Pandavas knows for sure that Lakshagrah was indeed a conspiracy."

"They are not fools. They definitely know who must've hatched the Lakshagrah treachery." He added.

The two Kauravas looked at Karna, as the latter stood up. "And the sad part is, even after this, your uncle won't back off from hatching another conspiracy against them."

"And you," Karna taunted at Duryodhan, "Again, you would listen to him and behave like a coward!"

"My friend, you're a warrior, a student of teachers like Dronacharya and Shri Balram." Karna's voice softens, "But you trust your uncle's conspiracy more than your own strength. These kinds of tricks don't suit you."

Duryodhan stood up with the disturbing look on his face as he spoke, "When you say this, it all seems right. But..." He carried on after a small pause, "When Mamashri begins to speak, it feels whatever he says is only right, and I become helpless."

There was complete silence in the chamber. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of wind.

Dushasan looked between Karna and Duryodhan, and said, "We also have to find out how the Pandavas and Choti Ma, Kunti were saved." Karna and Duryodhan looked at him, then at each other.

Karna looked away. He got to know the Pandavas, and their mother were alive, a long back. But stayed quiet. Even he was wondering who must've informed the Pandavas about the trap.

★

The next morning, the city of Hastinapur was rejoicing the return of Kunti, Pandavas, and Kuru bride, Draupadi, who were on their way back to the capital. But inside the royal palace, everyone didn't share the same mood, and most of them were having sleepless nights.

Duryodhan and Shakuni were in the same state of disappointment as their plan was failed. The former was seething in anger, while the latter was planning conspiracy yet again, so that Duryodhan would remain the crown prince.

Dhritarashtra had mixed feelings. Peace was away from him, and he couldn't even tell Gandhari the reason, and she couldn't be at peace because of her husband. Dhritarashtra realized that if Pandavas stayed in Hastinapura, his son’s chance would be diminished as there was a lot of pressure from different quarters to accept Yudhisthira as king.

However, for grandsire Bhishma, the days and nights of awaiting were way heavier, as he was like the beam of balance, which cannot bend in any direction— even if he wishes to.

Madirakshi could sense the strange atmosphere of the palace since she had arrived with her family this morning. After meeting the elders of the Kuru family, she and Suchitra joined Dushala. The three girls were sitting together in the royal garden.

She had noticed Bhishma walking inside Duryodhan's chamber a while ago, when she was making her way towards the garden, along with her sister and the Kuru princess.

"Any news of the Pandavas?" Suchitra asked Dushala.

"They'll arrive by tomorrow, I guess," Dushala replied.

"That means, we're on the right time." Madirakshi chuckled.

"Of course, I can't wait more now." Suchitra leaned back in her seat.

Dushala giggled, "Same here. Also, I'm eager to meet my Bhabhi." She said referring to Draupadi.

"That's right. Even we're excited to meet the fire-born Panchal Princess." Madirakshi smiled.

"How shall we wait till tomorrow?" Suchitra huffed.

"Patience, dear sister!" Madirakshi replied, sarcastically, while Dushala laughed.

"By the way," Dushala spoke quietly, "I was actually wondering, why Choti Ma and my five brothers didn't come back to Hastinapur, even when they were alive."

The princesses of Mayurvan exchanged looks. Dushala was perhaps the most innocent one, when it comes to Dhritarashtra's family. She unlike her elder brothers, Duryodhan and Dushasan.

"Well, about that, nothing could be said certainly, you know." Madirakshi put a hand on the shoulder of Kuru princess.

Dushala sighed as she nodded. When the former saw Karna walking towards the opposite side of the garden. Finding it as a good opportunity to meet him, she excused herself.

★

Making her way to where Karna was standing in deep thoughts, she greeted as she approached him, "Pranam Angraj."

"Rajkumari," Karna said. He was so lost that he didn't even notice her, "Pranam. I apologize, I didn't realise your presence."

"That's fine," Madirakshi gave a soft smile. She orbs moved here and there, before looking at him, "How are you?" She asked as she thought how to continue to conversation, while he was struggling with the same thing.

"I'm good. What about you? And I hope your wound must be alright now?" He asked, referring to that day when Madirakshi was wounded by a stone.

"Oh yes, it is. I'm totally fine now."

"I'm glad to know," He smiled gently.

She nodded. "I thought you might be with Yuvraj Duryodhan. What are you doing alone here?" She asked slowly.

"I was," He sighed. "Mahamahim Bhishma arrived there, and he wanted to talk with Duryodhan about something important, which could be discussed only among the family. And for sure, I'm an outsider." He clearly sounded upset.

Madirakshi looked at him emphatically. Karna, for the first time, felt that he could share his thoughts with someone. Even though he had met her a few times, he found her company comfortable. She never judged him, and he had a feeling that she never would.

"Pitamah Bhishma is the eldest of the Kuru family," She begins slowly, immediately having his attention. "He is that pillar of the family because of whom the Kuru clan still stands strong." Realising him listening, she continued, "I've noticed— don't know how many thoughts he keeps hidden in his mind, which keeps troubling him. He shares them with no one."

"Sometimes, he does things which maybe not according to us, but later we realises he did that for our own good." She given him a small smile, "So please, don't be upset."

He hummed, "I don't know about Pitamah, but I believe you." He smiled at her. "I feel calm down after listening to you. I'm grateful, Rajkumari."

She smiled more, "No need. You believe me, and for me, that's enough."

Madirakshi had a question in mind but couldn't decided— whether to ask or not. Sensing her strangely silent, Karna asked her, "What's wrong, Rajkumari."

"Uh, I've a question in mind, but I'm afraid it might anger you." She said, hesitated.

"I won't. Don't hesitate to ask, please." He spoke gently.

Listening to his positive response, she asked, as she looked at him, "Why do you hate the Pandavas, Angraj?"

Karna looked at her bemused, "Rajkumari, I— don't know." He said, unable to answer her question, which felt more like a riddle.

"What kind of answer is this, Angraj?" She said in response, "Everyone has some reason to hate or love someone. Isn't it?"

Karna looked at her, with raised eyebrows, "I don't think so, in case of the latter." He whispered, "Does love even need a reason?"

The atmosphere between them abruptly changed. Madirakshi's curiosity led the situation to somewhere else. The feeling was warm, but at the same time, it made her nervous.

"I didn't mean that," She fiddled with her fingers, and her silvery white cheeks, turned in the hue of scarlet. Something was happening to Karna too after seeing her reactions, who was keenly noticing her.

Her hand reached for a rose, as she blushed, when he moved closer to her whispering— his voice suddenly husky, "Stay still, you might hurt yourself again, Rajkumari." Listening to him, she felt shy. Bringing his warrior hand near to her delicate one, he plucked out the beautiful flower. The back of her hand, brushed against his palm, both could feel their fast heartbeats.

"Here Rajkumari," He forwarded the rose to her, with a small courteous smile, her lashes lowered, as she took it from his hand, her slender fingers brushed with his beautiful long fingers, again. Both looked away, flustered.

"Thank you," She said, which was more like a whisper. He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"By the way," she spoke after a short stillness, "You didn't answer by question."

"Do you really hate the Pandavas? And, if yes, then why?" She asked again.

After a brief moment of thinking, he spoke, "My answer was still the same, but— now when I think, perhaps because our first meet and impression on each other was not good at all. It is not even something to remember. Unless to spoil the mood."

"Don't you think you can mend things with them?"

"For that, it's too late now."

He said simply, to which she replied with a soft smile, "No, it's not that late, Angraj."

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