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A few months had passed. Winter was set to arrive, announcing its presence with a drop in temperature. The capital city of Champa faced the cold breeze. The streams of the Ganga and Chandan rivers were filled with rainwater, raising the water level, and the coming winter was making the water even colder.

Inside the palace of Anga, its queen adjusted herself comfortably. She had good relations with all the members of the court. She had bonded not only with her personal maid, Sarita, but also with all her maids.

Karna and she were getting to know each other quite well. He realized his wife was wise and full of knowledge. Their frequent accidental touches, meeting of eyes during evenings spent together talking, and her visits to his study chamber to discuss her duties as his queen were bringing them closer.

The evening air was cool as the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue across the palace gardens. Madirakshi walked over the soft grass, her fingers grazing the soft petals of blooming flowers. She found solace here, surrounded by nature, where the fragrance of jasmine and roses mingled with the cool breeze.

Karna, who had been watching her from a distance, quietly approached. She was lost in thought, her eyes closed as she inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers. He couldn’t resist the urge to join her in this peaceful moment.

"You seem to enjoy the gardens as much as I do," Karna remarked softly, not wanting to startle her.

Madirakshi opened her eyes, her gaze meeting his. A gentle smile spread across her lips. "The gardens remind me of home," she replied, her voice filled with warmth. "They bring me peace."

Karna stepped closer, his hand reaching out to take hers. "And you bring me peace," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. "Do I?" she asked, her tone playful but with an undertone of seriousness.

"Yes," he said, drawing her closer to him. "Whenever I’m with you, I feel like the weight of the world lifts off my shoulders."

Madirakshi blushed at his sincerity. "And what about now?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"Now," he said, wrapping his arms around her, "I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be."

They stood there, the world around them fading away as they got lost in each other’s eyes. The warmth of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart against her cheek, and the scent of the flowers around them created a perfect moment of harmony.

With a crimson blush on her cheeks, Madirakshi rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes as they swayed gently in each other’s arms. No words were needed; their silence spoke volumes. In that moment, everything was perfect, their hearts beating in sync.

★

That night, as the palace grew quiet, Madirakshi sat before her dressing table, the soft glow of oil lamps casting a warm light over her. Her maids worked with practiced hands, removing the last pieces of jewelry from her ears and wrists.

Sarita, her closest maid and confidante, gently combed through her long, wavy black hair, letting it cascade over her shoulders like a dark river.

Madirakshi’s thoughts were far away, still lingering on the tender moment she had shared with Karna earlier in the evening. She could still feel the warmth of his embrace, the way his words had wrapped around her heart, making it race.

At dinner, she had found it impossible to meet his gaze for long. Each time she caught him looking at her, she felt her cheeks flush with a shyness she couldn’t control. Karna had clearly noticed, and his knowing smile only deepened her blush.

"Your hair is truly beautiful, Maharani," Sarita said, her voice filled with admiration, though Madirakshi was too absorbed in her own thoughts to respond immediately.

"Maharani?" Sarita called again, this time gently tugging on a lock of her hair to get her attention.

Madirakshi blinked, coming back to the present. ,"Yes?" she answered, a hint of distraction still in her voice.

"What were you thinking, Maharani?" Sarita asked, her tone playful yet curious.

Before Madirakshi could answer, another maid joined in, her voice teasing, "Oh, Sarita, can’t you see? Our Maharani’s cheeks are pink with thoughts of someone special."

Sarita and the other maids burst into lighthearted giggles, their laughter filling the room. Madirakshi felt a smile tug at her lips as she shook her head at their playful banter.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, noticing the faint blush on her cheeks. The memory of Karna’s tender words and the way he had looked at her made her heart flutter again. As she let herself be pampered by her maids— allowing herself to bask in the warmth of the moment, content to let the future unfold as it would.

★

"The weather is nice out here," Madirakshi remarked, taking in the peaceful surroundings.

"Yeah," Karna replied, though his mind was preoccupied.

He had asked her to accompany him to the bank of the Ganga this morning. It had been nearly six months since their marriage, and he felt it was time to reveal his secrets. As they walked in silence, he tried to muster the courage to speak.

"Gaurika," he finally began, his voice heavy with emotion. "I've brought you here to tell you something important—something you have the right to know."

"What is it, Arya?" she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Karna hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Gaurika… I am cursed."

She stared at him, horrified. "Cursed? Who cursed you?" she asked, her voice edged with impatience.

He then told her about the curse from Bhagwaan Parashuram, his revered teacher. He recounted how, one day, while Parashuram was resting on his lap, a giant scorpion stung Karna’s thigh. Despite the excruciating pain, Karna did not move, not wanting to disturb his guru's sleep.

When Parashuram awoke and saw the blood from Karna’s wound, he realized that Karna could not be a Brahmin—no Brahmin could endure such pain without flinching. Feeling deceived, Parashuram cursed Karna, declaring that he would forget the use of the Brahmastra when he needed it most.

Parashuram later regretted cursing his favorite disciple, and in his remorse, he gifted Karna the celestial weapon Bhargavastra and his personal bow, Vijaya.

Karna then spoke of the second curse, from a Brahmin. While practicing the Shabd Bhedi arrow, Karna had accidentally shot down a Brahmin's cow, mistaking it for a wild animal.

The distraught Brahmin cursed him, saying that Karna would be killed by his enemy when his attention was diverted during battle.

Finally, he recounted the curse of Bhudevi, the Goddess Earth. On his way back to his parents, Karna had helped a young girl retrieve ghee she had spilled on the ground by squeezing the earth itself.

In response to the pain, Bhudevi cursed Karna, vowing that she would offer him no assistance in his time of need and would even make him vulnerable in battle.

"You've been cursed three times!" Madirakshi whispered, still in shock.

He nodded slowly. "I should have told you this before our marriage. You might have reconsidered... I really wanted to tell you on the day of your swayamvar, but I never found the chance. I regret it now. I never wanted you to suffer because of me."

"Don't say that," she cried. "I would have suffered if I couldn't marry you!"

He couldn’t help but admire the strong, fearless woman standing before him. She was no coward.

"Even if I had known about your curses before our marriage, I still would have chosen to marry you. Because I've always loved you," she said, her eyes glistening with tears she refused to let fall.

"And on the day of my swayamvar, Bhagwaan Parashuram came to me and blessed me. He said I would be Akhand Saubhagyavati," she added softly.

He stared at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. And knowing you're cursed doesn't change my feelings for you. My love is not that fragile."

Karna smiled in relief and gently patted her cheek, but he knew there was still more to reveal.

"Gaurika, there is one more secret I need to share," he said, bracing himself to tell her the biggest truth of all.

"What is it?" she whispered, her heart pounding.

"I'm not the real son of my parents. I am adopted. My true father is Suryadev—I am Suryaputra."

Her eyes widened in shock. It was indeed a day of revelations, one after another.

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Hello readers!
Shubh Janmashtami 🦚✨️🪈
Here is another chapter.
Hope you enjoy it!
Stay tuned! ;)