"Hush. Keep quiet Rajkumari. It is me" it was a naturally loud voice struggling to remain within a whisper.

Sonakshi stopped resisting. That voice sounded familiar.

"I am Bheem" he whispered loosening his grip on Sonakshi, "Or Brahman Kumar Su... whatever, I don't remember."

"Rajkumar Bheem" she nearly exclaimed as he frantically gestured to her to lower her voice.

"Rajkumar Bheem what are you doing here?" she whispered "You could get yourself killed!"

"I will be Bhrata (brother) Bheem for you soon" he grinned "Arjun is waiting nearby, keeping watch. Come with me."

He had already started taking long strides when he realized Sonakshi was not following him. Sonakshi stood rooted on the ground. He gave her a questioning look.

"You want me to run away and marry Rajkumar Arjun?" she asked, her voice tormented.

"Yes... You two love each other" he replied unable to understand her hesitation.

"But how can I betray Angraj Karna" she said softly.

"What has that sutputra (charioteer's son) got to do with this? He kidnapped you!" he said aggressively "Now we will give him a taste of his own medicine."

"You will not insult his birth. Every new life is divine and special" she replied heatedly.

"Okay, fine" he said giving up "But now come fast. We have to get out of Anga before daybreak."

"No. I cannot do this. This is deceitful!" she said firmly "Angraj Karna abducted me but he has been so—"

"Do you think Arjun even cares that you were abducted. He loves you and that is more than enough for him" he interjected before she could complete, he had never understood all the social norms and customs.

"But Agraj Karnaa has been so und—"

This time a swift arrow swivelling though the air striking the ground between them with much force interrupted her yet again. Both turned around sharply towards the direction the arrow had come from. Sonakshi's gasped, what she had been fearing so long had come to life. Karna was standing some distance from them, bow and arrow in hand eyeing Bheem furiously.

"Bheem" his voice boomed through the quiet of the night "You thought you could come and kidnap my...you could kidnap Rajkumari Sonakshi without me getting a hint of it!"

Karna glared at him. Bheem glared back with equal ferocity, his hands itching for a fight. Had Bheem been armed, Karna would have shot him long back.

Sonakshi could feel the situation going out of control. She quietly stepped near Karna, that should soothe his anger a little, she thought. And it did, though not for long for another sppeding arrow appeared out of nowhere cutting through Karna's arrow.

"I respect your upholding of battlefield rules Angraj Karna. But you can fight now because I am armed unlike Bhrata Bheem" said a tall figure dressed in white holding his bow in position

"Yes Arjuna, show him what you are capable of!" Bheem joined in.

"Then why are we wasting time throwing words at each other, shoot your arrows Arjuna!" Karna shouted.

Sonakshi's eyes filled in horror as the two warriors took up fierce stances against each other. There would be bloodshed again, someone will die, the others would grieve- like she grieved for her father and brother, now there would be another death she would have to grieve for again.

"Stop it" she cried suddenly, her voice breaking "Stop it, both of you. Just because I am an orphan now, because I have no family behind me, doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want to do with me.It doesn't mean you get to decide for me."

Her face contorted in plaintive sobs. Bheem put his arm around her comfortingly, gently wiping the stray tears. He was a simple- hearted man. All he understood was that his brother loved this woman and she was currently in pain and had to be comforted. Karna and Arjun too dropped their weapons and knelt by her side.

"I am sorry Sonakshi. When I saw Bheem with you I just lost my cool. I didn't know you knew them." Karna said gently, he had a million questions running in his mind but decided to wait for another time to ask them.

"Yes Sonakshi, please don't cry. I did not think what you may have had in mind. I acted impulsively.." Arjuna added.

Karna and Arjun looked at each other. There were a million complicacies to be sorted.

"All of you please head for the palace" Karna said standing up "Be my guests Rajkumar Arjuna and Rajkumar Bheem. Whatever needs to be done will be done tomorrow."

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Sonakshi sat on her bed with no sleep in her eyes. She tied the peacock feather stone to a thin bracelet around her wrist. She read and reread the letter. She had never thought she would have another friend after her kingdom's defeat, not that she ever had any real friend other than her brother.

'Third option' the letter had read. She knew the night would be spent with her musing over it.

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The next morning Anga woke up to a rapidly advancing contingent of soldiers. Karna barked orders at his commanders and generals. None could make out who was heading them nor where they were coming from. Even Arjun and Bheem assisted Karna as the unknown threat loomed towards them.