Karna was leaving for his house, and was thinking about his wife and son. If there is anything which he loved equivalent to if not more than his friendship with Duryodhan, it was his family.
He could go to any lengths just to bring a smile on the faces of his dearest wife and son. He could fight the entire world, if it meant to keep them safe.

As Karna was walking out of the palace lost in his thoughts. He heard his name being called, which brought him back to the reality.

He turned back and saw Gandhari and Bhanumati coming towards him.

He smiled and went towards them. As he approached them, he took Maharani Gandhari's blessings and spoke," Ji maharani"

Gandhari frowned, " Putra are you upset with me?"

Karna got confused, "Nahi maharani, why are you asking this question?"

Gandhari then spoke, "Because you are calling me maharani, and not mata. Did I not accept you as one of my own kids."

Karna then smiled and said, "Nahi maharani, I am not upset with you, if there is anyone with whom I am upset with then they are the other elders of this dynasty. And as far as calling you mata, I have left the thrown of anga and am a normal citizen of Hastinapur.And being such, it would not be appropriate to address you as mata, and thus it is important for me to show you the respect which you deserve."

Gandhari's frown deepened, and she spoke, "Oh so you only considered me as mata, till you were the king of Anga, Is that it. And now since you are not the king, our relation no longer matters to you"

Karna frowned and spoke, "it's not like that Maharani. It's just that I do not want anyone to raise any fingers at you for interacting so casually with a sut."

Gandhari sighed and spoke, "Karna, sometimes you act so mature, while sometimes you are a complete idiot. Don't you understand that relationships are much more important then any position or materialistic pleasure. And if you still have some reservations, then it's an order from me that you will not reer to me as maharani."

Karna finally chuckled and said, "It's always fun to tease you mata, and yes I will never disobey an order from any of my matas."

Gandhari understood Karna's prank and sweetly called Karna a little closer.

As soon as Karna came a little closer, she pulled his ear and twisted them. She then spoke, "Oh so you have now also started to tease me with your pranks."

Karna chuckled and spoke, " its fun mata, you should also try pranking someone. And please leave my ear, it's paining."

Bhanumati was simply enjoying the interaction and was amused as always on Karna's antics.

Gandhari left Karna's ear and spoke, "If your pranks are over, I just wanted to thank you for what you did today and yesterday for my family."

This time Karna frowned, "Mata, just now you said that you accepted me as a son, and now you are thanking me. You hurt my feelings mata, as a son I have a duty to give away my life on your one command, and you are thanking me for something which I did for my family, or do you not believe me to be a part of your family."

'Ek pal me apne se paraya kar diya aapne'." Karna spoke this with black clouds forming over his head.

Gandhari smiled listening to his words and hugged him, "it's nothing like that putra. You are always a part of our family. But what you did today is something which I could have never done. It's all you who changed Duryodhan to be a better person."

Karna hugged Gandhari back and said, "No mata, more than me it's Bhanumati. Before her he was much deeper in the clutches of mama shakuni. But her true love and care for him brought some light to his life, and slowly he started becoming a better person. My contribution is less than what she does for Duryodhan."

Gandhari nodded and turned to Bhanumati, "I also want to thank you Putri for coming in my son's life and showing him love and affection he never received."

Bhanumati smiled and said, " Mata it's the responsibility of a wife to support her husband in the darkest moments and show him the right path, and so is the responsibility of the husband towards his wife. When he always loved me unconditionally and made me his first priority, then how can I not do the same for him. And also please don't thank me mata, by thanking me you are making me feel ashamed. As it make me feel that my actions are considered to be done for appreciation and not out of love for my husband."

Gandhari smiled, nodded her head and spoke, "okay, now I will be retiring to my chamber. And after today's events, I think both of you should also do the same."

Saying this she bid farewell to both of them and went from there.

Bhanumati then turned to Karna and sarcastically said, "so sakha, do you also want to give me respect by calling me Yuvrani. "

Karna chuckled at the jab to his prank, and said, "Na Bhanu, you haven't grown that old that I need to show you any such respect, or have you?"

Bhanumati shook her head in amusement and said, " Hawww, are you referring mate to be very old, wait I need to tell her this."

Karna's face showed the fake horror and he spoke in a fake scared tone, " Bhanu you won't do any such thing. Do you not like seeing me in a single piece, that you want mata to beat me senseless."

Bhanumati chuckled at his antics and said, "you will never change."

Karna simply smiled and said, " Never, there are only a few people before which you can be yourself. So, those people will have to bear my antics. And fortunately or unfortunately you are one of those. So have fun."

Saying that he patted his back, as if he won the biggest debate on the planet.

Bhanumati chuckled and said, " I know, I am doomed to this horrible fate."

Like this the friendly banter continued for some time, and then Bhanumati suddenly asked, " so what are you planning now, as you have left the thrown of Anga, what will you do, have you spoken to Vrushali jiji and is she coming to Hastinapur..."

Karna chuckled and said, " Hey maate please be a little kind to this poor soul. How will I answer, if you won't let me speak and just continue on asking the questions."

Bhanumati just gave a sheepish smile in response.

Karna then said, "And regarding the future plans, haven't thought of anything for now. I have sent a letter to Vrushali, she would have reached at our house by now. I will explain everything to her and what happened. I know her she would be more satisfied with this decision even more then myself."

Bhanumati nodded and said, "I know. And I want to see Vrushali jiji and Vrishseina tomorrow. Can you bring them to the palace?"

Karna said, "What happened to my sakhi in a mock panic tone. From when did she started requesting anything from me. As far as I know she always gave me orders with a complete rights of a best friend."

Bhanumati smiled at that and said, "Sometimes it's better to change with time."

to this Karna replied, "Changes in relationships are necessary with time, I agree. But it does not apply to all relationships. It will definitely be important in a married life, because there are multiple phases which both the partners go through together, for example – the initial phase after getting married, getting to know your partner, falling in love & connecting at a deeper level, becoming new parents, raising children etc. all these phases need a different level of maturity and level of understanding between the partners. So growing together and adapting to changes become important. But friendship is a relationship where this does not hold true. You are each other's companions and a safe haven for each other, which need not change. Because if it does, we would loose the connection and spark in it, which is not good.

And so I want my Bhanumati back, who is childish, sarcastic and some times an angry bird."

Bhanumati chuckled at his last line and just nodded her head, "sure sakha, so I will be expecting all of you to arrive tomorrow."

Karna nodded his head and spoke, "Bhanu I need to go and check on your Bhabhishri and vrishseina, and in the mean time spend some time together with Mitra. Because you won't be seeing him for the next week."

They both share a few more words, and bid their farewell.

At Karna's house

As Karna reached his house, he saw Vrishseina playing outside the house, which brought a smile to his face.

And as soon as Vrishseina noticed his father coming, he ran towards him and hugged his leg.

Karna picked him up and said, "So Vrishu when did you reach? And started tickling him a bit."

Vrishseina giggled and said, "Pitashri I and mata have just reached. She went inside and I wanted to wait for you, so I started playing outside."
Karna smiled and walked inside his house carrying Vrishseina in his arms.

As soon as Karna reached in the living room, he saw only Radha ma. He knew that his father would be returning in another hour or so. He put Vrishseina down and asked, " Mata, where is Vrushali."

Vrishseina ran and jumped in the arms of his grandmother, and raadha simply smiled and spoke, "I sent in her room to take rest after the long journey."

Karna nodded his head and said, " I am going to see her, and Vrishseina don't trouble your grandmother, okay?"

Both Radha and Vrishseina nodded their heads.

Karna soon entered his room and saw Vrushali lying on the bed with closed eyes.

Karna approached her, and gently ran his fingers through her hairs. Vrushali opened her eyes and smiled.

Karna took his hand back, and said, "Sorry Vrushu, I did not mean to disturb your sleep."

Vrushali sat up and said, "No arya, you did not disturb me. I was waiting for you."

Karna sat on the bed and brought her in his embrace, and started running his fingers through her hairs gently.

He then spoke, "Vrushu, I missed you so much in the past few days."

Vrushali smiled and said, "me too arya."

Karna then asked, "Did you eat anything?"

Vrushali just shook her head in no, without leaving his embrace.

Karna then pulled away, and said let me go to the kitchen and get something for both of us. You stay here, I will be back in a minute."

Without giving Vrushali anytime to object, he went to the kitchen and returned with a big thali filled with food.

He then sat on the bed and started feeding Vrushali with his own hands, Vrushali also took the morsels of food from the plate and started feeding Karna.

Dinner went like this, with some small talks here and there, but mostly feeding each other and cherishing their presence.

Soon they both laid down in the bed, where Karna took Vrushali in his arms and brought her close to him. Vrushali kept her head on his chest and said, "Arya what happened in the court, that you had to take such drastic steps in such a haste."

Karna smiled and explained everything to Vrushali. And at the end he said, "I am sorry Vrushali, I took such a big decision of leaving the thrown of Anga without your consent."

Vrushali heard everything patiently and at the end of the story, she hugged Karna tightly.

She then spoke, "You did right arya, a thrown which bounds you and makes you feel indebted is not something which anyone of us needs. Life is not about power and wealth, rather the satisfaction we derive out of it. And now you can also ensure that Bhrata Duryodhan, never falls into the web of hatred ever again."

Karna smiled, kissed Vrushali's forehead and said, "You know vrushu, sometimes I feel I did great penance in my past life to get a wife like you to share this journey of my life."

Vrushali smiled and said, "Arya I feel the same way."

Karna then said, "Vrushu, you would be tired after the long journey, and so sleep for now my dear. We can continue our romantic talks tomorrow."

Vrushali shook her head, kept her head back on his chest and soon his heartbeat lulled her to a deep slumber.

While Karna just looked lovingly at his wife, who was sleeping in his arms.

Soon he too felt in a deep slumber, content with his life.

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Author's Note –

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