Hiii my lovely readers... 😍😍😍😘😘😘

Sorry I fell asleep before publishing my new chapter. 🙈🙈🙈😆😆😆
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Continued part...

Kunti- Karna!!! I have come here to seek your help. You are the most generous person known. And I have come here to beg  from you.

Karna was filled with great shock, confusion and amazement. What possibly could the Rajmata of Hastinapur want from him?! She, who has five powerful and skilled sons, The Pandavas, who can give the Earth to her. She who is the mother of the prospected king and the crowned prince of Hastinapur, could want from him?!

Karna- You don't have to beg of me for anything. Please say what's bothering you??? You just need to command me, Rajmata Kunti. What is it?!

Kunti was still sobbing. She mustered out all her courage.

Kunti- Forgiveness for a sinner.

Karna- Sinner??? Forgiveness??? What are you saying Rajmata Kunti???

Kunti- Rajmata! I'm no Rajmata Karna. I'm an offender. A culprit. Your culprit, Karna.

Karna shook his head. He felt disquieted and asked urgently.

Karna- I couldn't understand. Please say it clearly. Why are you saying like that???

No matter how much Kunti tried to wipe her tears, fresh ones arrived.

Kunti- Because I'm your sinner, my Putra. I'm your sinner. I'm that unfortunate mother who has to abandon her first born child into river Ganga in his infancy.

Karna whole life crashed hearing that. It couldn't be true. 

Kunti started crying profusely.

Kunti- I'm your mother, my Putra. I'm your unfortunate mother who has abandoned you at your birth.

Karna took a step back. He was equally shattered and astounded. He was already weak in his emotions due to Urvi's sudden absence and was not at all ready for his secret identity which he always wanted to know, to be revealed right now. And somewhere his heart know that it's the truth.

Karna- No. You are lying. It can't be true. I'm not your son.

Kunti- Karna...

Karna- Radha is my mother, even if she didn’t give birth to me. She loves me, she is proud of what I have achieved and that is all that matters. I'm Radheya since birth. Only Radheya.

Kunti looked brokenly at Karna.

Kunti- I'm your mother, Karna. And you are my son.

Karna- No!!! I'm not your son. I can't be...

Kunti- it's the truth.

Karna howled as if in pain.

Karna- No!!! It's not the truth. I'm not your son. How could be I?? And even if I were, I must have been illegitimate child, for you have mercilessly floated me down the river.

Kunti- You... You are my firstborn son. You are the 'Mantra-prasad' of Lord Suryā Narayan given to me by the boon of Rishi Durvasa's mantra. I am sorry, my son. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.

Karna started crying too. He sobbed helplessly.

Karna- My father is Lord Suryā Narayan whom I worship everyday, my Ishta Dev. You are my mother who was always in front of me but never accepted me. I always... I always was drawn towards you, feeling a strong connection; you knew everything but kept your silence... Why???

Kunti told him everything.

Kunti- I am so sorry, my Putra. I was young and unmarried when I got you. I did not have the courage to face the society, neither the consequences. Even if I could have accepted my character being questioned but how could I have tarnished my father's honour.

Dejected, Karna said.

Karna- Definitely your father's honour and dignity must have been more valuable than your son's life.

Kunti replied weeping.

Kunti- No, son. I have committed a big mistake. I lacked the sense of what could have been caused by my mistake.

Karna spoke acerbically.

Karna- Mistake! I am the result of your mistake. My entire life is the result of your mistake. How much pain, agony, humiliation I have suffered, just because I am a Sutaputra. Innumerous scorn I have faced just because I am a Sutaputra. Just because you abandoned me at my birth. Where were you all this year?! And now you have come to claim me as your son. After everything is ruined.

Kunti said sobbing.

Kunti- I'm sorry.

Karna- Are you sorry because I'm your son or are you sorry that I didn't die or drown in the river Ganga?! The moment you threw me into the river, you forgot about me as one would get rid of garbage!

Kunti took a sharp breath.

Kunti- Please don't say it like that. I have always loved you. Longed for you. But I couldn't do anything. I was helpless.

Karna- Not helpless as I was since birth.

Kunti- Forgive your mother, Karna.

Karna- My mother?! Radha maa is my mother. You abandoned me but my Radha maa embraced me. Her breasts filled with mother's milk. She took me in her arms and fed me. She stayed up all night, weeping, when I slept hungry. Whenever someone ridiculed me upon seeing a bow in my hand, she held my hand and taught me tolerance, to keep my patience. What would I do about that mother. Say Kunti maa, what would I do about that mother.

Kunti was crying loudly. And so was Karna.

Karna- You must have recognized me on the day of tournament. No?!

Kunti mutely nodded. She has nothing to say but cry.

Karna- And yet you remained silent. Why didn't you tell at that time. That I was your son. You remained silent when your sons mocked me, ridiculed me. You remained silent when Dronacharya and Pitamah taunted me on my low birth. And yet you remained silent seeing all these.

The bitter questions and emotions Karna has bottled up inside him for so long were coming out. He wanted answer which no one but she can give.

Karna- Why Maata Kunti, Why??? Why remember me now, when I was dead and unwanted to you for so long???

Kunti's heart broke seeing him tormented. She is the reason of all his sufferings.

Kunti- Karna, You have suffered such indignity, such shame: because the world never knew you are Kunti’s son and Surya Deva’s. And it's because I was an unwed mother I could never claim you as my son. But if only you could give me one chance to redeem that wrong, I would be relieved of the guilt which has torn me all these years.

Karna asked fiercely.

Karna- How would you redeem the wrong?! Have you told your Yudhisthira, your Pandavas that I'm their brother? Or have you told any one of them that you are coming here to meet me, the Sutaputra Karna??? Tell me.

Kunti was speechless.

Karna shook his head. And controlling all his emotions, he said.

Karna- No. You didn't do that. Then, tell me Rajmata Kunti, why have you chosen now to reveal my secret. What is it you want from me. I have never left anyone empty-handed, and I will not. Please tell me what is it that bothers you.

Kunti- Karna...

Karna- Please don't Karna me.. say what is it you want.

Gathering her courage, Kunti asked. Still weeping, she spoke in a wobbly voice.

Kunti- Don't make enemies of your brothers Karna. They are innocent.

Karna felt that his heart was breaking into million pieces.

Karna- So this is it. You have not come here to get back you abandoned son. You have come here to ensure the security of your Pandavas... So be it. I will not harm any of your Pandavas, but tell me just one thing.

Kunti whispered soundlessly.

Kunti- What???

Karna- Where is Arjun right now???

Kunti- I have no idea where he is right now. He didn't tell me, just said that it's very important.

Karna said scathingly.

Karna- Then pray to God that he is not involved in the case of Urvi. I won't spare him then.

Kunti's face get ashen.

Kunti- Arjun has nothing to do with Urvi, Karna. Believe me.

Karna didn't say anything. He turned to go but couldn't budge from his place as if the Earth have rooted him on the spot.

Kunti couldn't help herself. She leaned on his shoulder and cried. Cried for all those years he was far away from her. Cried for all those times he was humiliated. Cried for him that he has to suffer so much because of her.

She murmured to his back.

Kunti- How could my one mistake be so dreadful that my son is still suffering from it. I'm so sorry my son, I'm so sorry. I should have died at my birth, so nothing of this could have happened. And I'm still dying day by day knowing you are burning on your rage.
I am holding Gangajal on my one hand and Panchamrit on the other and losing any one of it is a death for me.
I am a coward for not acknowledging you as my own but not anymore. I will tell your brothers that they have their Jyesta brother. My Jyesta Kaunteya is here. Forgive me my son, for it is too painful to live knowing that you hate me. Forgive me!

She trembled staggeringly. Karna too was shaking in his own despair. He whispered.

Karna- You have no idea how much I hated you all these years. I told myself I would abuse you if I ever saw you, because you were to blame for everything I suffered.

He turned slowly and faced her. His control and anger breaking.

Karna- But how would I convince my heart to hate you which has always loved you.

Kunti blinked at Karna through hazy eyes. Karna cupped his mother face and wiped her tears with his thumbs.

Karna- How could I hate you when you are in my conscience and heart ever since my birth. How could I hate you when my own heart shatters seeing you cry. I may not be worthy of your son... But you will always be my mother.

Kunti- Don't say that Karna. I am not the mother you deserves.

And she embraced Karna tightly, weeping in his arms.

Kunti- Please forgive me my son.

Karna too hugged her tightly. He kissed the side of her head and rested his cheek on it. He felt all the bitter poison seeping out of him. He couldn't hold grudge against anyone lest her. Giving her the boon she wanted, he murmured.

Karna- Forgiven.

Kunti felt like she has got a new life. They rested like that for a while.

Karna didn't feel any ill-feelings towards his mother. She was young and naive and unmarried. She could have accepted him after her marriage to king Pandu but she didn't, but it doesn't matter right now. What has happened could not be changed. The past may remain in the past. Nothing is to be gained by overthinking about it. The bottom line is that however tumultuous their relationship is, he still loved her. She may have given him pain but he couldn't do the same.

Karna said wistfully.

Karna- I always knew that you would come to me someday.

Kunti eyes watered again.

Kunti- I wanted to but I was afraid.

Karna- Its okay. Don't dwell on that further.

Kunti- Karna, Arjun is innocent. He has nothing to do with Urvi.

Karna- I wish the same.

Kunti- Your brothers would heartily accept you as their Jyesta.

Karna shook his head.

Karna- No mother. That's not needed at all. I am accustomed to live in the way I am living right now. They are not. Their joy lies in their ignorance. Not knowing that I'm their brother. Don't hurt everyone by breaking your silence. Do not tell them.

Kunti- No Karna. The time has come. I wish if I could had unsealed my lips years ago.

Karna- Let's not waste ourselves in what if. I have always lived as Radheya. And Radheya I must remain.

Kunti tried to object it. But Karna abruptly said.

Karna- You should leave before you're discovered.

He touched her feet. And when she turned to go, he spoke.

Karna- Don't torture yourself on what happened in the past, mother.

Kunti nodded silently. Leaving, Kunti said.

Kunti- I love you my son.

Karna- I love you too mother.

Kunti left.

Karna stood their watching her retreating form, pondering on his fate. He has many feelings he needs to acknowledge to himself but right now he has a shortage of time. That could be dealt later, he thought. He has another matter on his hands. To find Urvi.

When Karna turned to go to his home, he saw Radha maa standing some far away from there. Crying.

Karna- Radha maa?!

But his Radha maa didn't say anything. She ran from there sobbing.

Karna ran after her. Why is this day so fateful that he has to see both his mother crying. He yelled her name over and over, but she didn't replied.
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