As Karna approached Hastinapur, the grand city sprawled beneath him, displaying the opulence and power of the Kuru kingdom. The majestic palace stood at the heart of it all, a symbol of authority and intrigue.
Descending gracefully, Karna landed in the courtyard of the royal palace, drawing the attention of guards and courtiers. Who ran into the throne room in a hurry likely to inform the officials of Karna's arrival.
The air in the royal palace buzzed with anticipation and tension as Karna, with his golden wings folding behind him, made his way towards the throne room.
Bhishma Pitamaha and Guru Dronacharya were already present, seated on either side of the throne, as Karna entered. The atmosphere in the room became palpably charged, and the courtiers exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to expect.
Bhishma, with his characteristic gravity, spoke first. "Karna, you have come. The Kuru kingdom awaits your presence. There are matters of great importance that need to be discussed."
Karna nodded, his expression calm yet resolute. "I am here, Bhishma Pitamaha. Speak what you must."
Guru Dronacharya, with a discerning gaze, added, "The situation has grown complex, and the threads of destiny weave an intricate pattern. It is in the interest of all parties involved to find a resolution that avoids unnecessary bloodshed."
Karna's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the underlying motives in Dronacharya's words. "Speak plainly, Guru Dronacharya. What resolution do you seek, and what conditions are being imposed?"
Bhishma sighed, recognizing the delicate nature of the conversation. "Karna, it has come to our attention that your powers and abilities go beyond the ordinary. The revelations about your encounters in the celestial realm and the creatures associated with you have stirred concerns among the Kuru court."
Karna maintained his composure, his gaze unwavering. "And what concerns do you have, Bhishma Pitamaha? I have always fought with honor and integrity, and my abilities are not meant for unprovoked aggression."
Guru Dronacharya interjected, "The court is uneasy, Karna. They fear the unknown, the unpredictable. We request you to disclose the extent of your powers and make assurances that they will not be used recklessly in the impending conflict."
Karna's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance. "I will not be shackled by such demands. My abilities are mine to wield in defense, not to be dictated by the fears of others. If war is inevitable, I will face it on my terms, with the principles that guide me."
Bhishma leaned forward, his expression stern. "Karna, we seek a peaceful resolution. The Kuru kingdom is on the precipice, and a war of such magnitude will bring devastation. Will you not consider the lives at stake and the consequences of your actions?"
"Devi Kunti, Please step forward,"
Before Karna could reply, Bhishma called Kunti in front of the assembly. Kunti, who had been observing the conversation with a mix of concern and determination, stepped forward with measured grace. Her presence commanded respect, and the courtiers fell silent, awaiting her words.
"Tell him the truth,"
Bhishma's request was direct, and the air in the throne room seemed to thicken with anticipation. Kunti, looking at Karna with a solemn expression, took a deep breath before speaking.
"Karna, there is a truth that has been concealed for far too long. You are not just a warrior; you are my son, born to me before my marriage. I invoke the boon granted to me by Sage Durvasa, which allowed me to summon any deity and have a child by them."
Everyone awaited Karna's reaction to such a revelation but they just saw a calm and amused face of Karna. Karna's calm and amused demeanor surprised the courtiers, who expected a more dramatic reaction to such a revelation. His gaze remained steady as he processed the information, and a wry smile played on his lips.
"Who forced you to tell all this? Because you wouldn't admit it yourself."
Kunti, taken aback by Karna's composed response, hesitated for a moment before answering, "No one forced me, Karna. It is a truth that needs to be acknowledged, especially in these trying times."
"Hahahaha!!!"
Karna's laughter rang out in the throne room, echoing with a mix of amusement and bitterness. The courtiers exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of how to interpret Karna's reaction to such a significant revelation.
"What are you laughing about!!!" Guru Dronacharya shouted, his voice betraying a hint of frustration and confusion.
"He knew...He has known about this from the beginning," Mahamantri Vidur said slowly standing up from his seat and addressing the assembly. The courtiers looked at Vidur with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
Karna, still chuckling, spoke with a calm demeanor, "Yes, I have known about my lineage for a long time. It was not a secret to me, though it seems it was to many others."
Bhishma, Dronacharya, and the courtiers exchanged bewildered glances. The revelation that Karna was aware of his true parentage added another layer of complexity to the unfolding situation.
"Since when..." Asked Kunti, Her head down in shame and regret.
"Since the day I was born," Karna's response hung in the air, leaving a heavy silence in the throne room. The courtiers and dignitaries were caught in a mix of shock, intrigue, and uncertainty. Kunti, still standing before Karna, looked up with a mixture of emotions on her face.
"You knew, yet you never sought acknowledgment or recognition?" Kunti's voice quivered with a combination of regret and surprise.
"And whose acknowledgment or recognition I should seek? A mother who abandoned her son on the day he was born, I don't want anything to do with from these type of people."
Karna's words cut through the tension in the throne room, carrying with them a raw honesty that left the assembled courtiers stunned.
The revelation of his knowledge about his parentage and his feelings towards Kunti resonated deeply, exposing the complexities of their relationship and the wounds that had long remained unhealed.
Kunti, visibly moved by Karna's words, struggled to find a response. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she grappled with the weight of her past actions and the implications they held for her relationship with her firstborn son.
"I understand if you harbor resentment towards me, Karna," Kunti said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I cannot undo the mistakes of the past, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Hate? Resentment? No, We resent or hate someone who we loved once. But I...I never loved you, nor did I hate you. You were just a name to me, a woman who abandoned her child. I don't carry any emotions for you, Devi Kunti," Karna responded with a stoic expression.
The revelation of Karna's awareness of his true parentage and his lack of emotional attachment to Kunti left the courtiers in a state of contemplative silence.
The weight of truth hung heavy in the air as the assembly grappled with the complexities of Karna's identity and his response to the long-concealed secret.
Bhishma, ever the wise and composed figure, spoke with a measured tone. "Karna, the past is a realm we cannot alter. What matters now is the present and the impending future. We stand on the brink of a conflict that could shape the destiny of Bharatavarsha. Can we not find a way to avert the impending catastrophe?"
Karna's gaze remained steady, his resolve unshaken. "Bhishma Pitamaha, I did not seek this war. It was thrust upon me by those who refused to listen. If there is a way to avert bloodshed without compromising my principles, I am willing to consider-"
But before Karna finished his words, His eyes narrowed, and a huge pressure with a murderous aura like a tidal wave spread throughout the kingdom forcing everyone to their knees emitted from Karna.
The sudden surge of power emanating from Karna sent shockwaves through the throne room. The courtiers, Bhishma, and Dronacharya felt the overwhelming force, causing them to kneel involuntarily under the intense pressure. The atmosphere became charged with a palpable tension as Karna's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.
"What is this power?" Bhishma muttered, struggling to maintain his composure.
Karna's voice echoed with a commanding authority, "I did not come here seeking conflict, but you have to do that cowardly attack on my wives huh~ but you know what? Your son died in that attack Guru Dronacharya."
Guru Dronacharya's eyes widened in shock, the revelation hitting him like a thunderbolt. The courtiers, still on their knees, exchanged anxious glances as the gravity of the situation escalated.
"Karna, what do you mean by this? We had no knowledge of any attack on your wives," Bhishma said, attempting to defuse the rising tension.
Karna's expression remained stern, and his voice carried an unmistakable edge. "Do not play ignorant, Bhishma Pitamaha. The attack on my wives was a cowardly act orchestrated by those who seek to manipulate the course of this war. It is a stain on your honor as well, for you sit on that throne, supposedly the protector of Hastinapur."
Bhishma's face tightened with a mix of concern and frustration. "I assure you, Karna, I had no knowledge or involvement in any such attack. This goes against the principles of righteousness that I uphold."
"You may not know this but he did," Karna said while pointing toward Guru Dronacharya who was crying blood and guilt written all over his face. The revelation sent shockwaves through the throne room, and the courtiers exchanged uneasy glances, grappling with the implications of Dronacharya's involvement in the attack.
"Why, Guru Dronacharya?" Bhishma's voice held a mix of disappointment and anger. "What drove you to such an act?"
Guru Dronacharya, unable to meet Karna's accusing gaze, finally spoke with a heavy heart. "I...I wanted to prevent the war. I believed that by targeting Karna's loved ones, he would be compelled to reconsider his stance, to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. It was a misguided attempt to avert a catastrophe."
"Come Forth~"