Part 2 - That Night before War..
Karna realised that his worries and fears are making vrushali more vulnerable... He made sure she is convinced of his return even when he is not..
"Vrushali.. where is our son.."
"He went to see preparation of battle for next day arya... I think he should be back by now..."
"Are you scared for him Vrushali.." Karna sensed it seeing his wife ...
"I will be proud of him..if he never fails his father..."a determined mother said...
Karna had never thought that his friendship will make his family come to this stage... He had sworn in to fight this greatest battle of his lifetime... He knew things would change..for him..for his wife...and their son.'.He wished he could save his family from this destruction...but it looked inevitable...
As night approached further...King of Anga became more restless... He called upon his son to his chamber...
"Son, I am sure you will be able to take care of this kingdom and our family... if anything happens to me.."
Vrihasena looked at his father and said with a determined look...
"I will make sure that together we are victorious father...We will rejoice their victory together..I have seen how much you have suffered.. from the hands of those pandavas..I will make sure...they will pay for their sins now..."
"Never hate them son... they are your elders...do pay them respect... it was not their fault but my destiny perhaps... We are on war with them..but dont forget that ..." He stopped mid way realising he cant tell him truth...truth of their relation... as he knew his son would then force him to take up hastinapur kingdom as a true heir..which he could never think of...
Confused vrihasena looked on as he noticed his father had started being soft on his enemies... for pandavas..when he used to just boil in anger hearing their names...he was now asking his son to pay respect to them..
Karna discussed war strategies with his son ..and then he sent him away to his chamber..but as he was going... he looked back at his father.. He sensed something was wrong... Karna was not the same one who had been waiting for this moment for ages..to get revenge ..Karna looked back at questioning eyes of his son with a smile and pride in his eyes for his son...
Karna was once again alone ...and Night looked far from being over...He was being restless...he needed fresh air..he went out of his palace and there was darkness of night around...He was not sure which darkness was greater...darkness around...or within his heart... He rode on his horse and went along the path he didnt know where it will lead...He remembered that unfateful day of dice game... how he had insulted draupadi..how he could not stop dushasan and duryodhana...how his rage took over..He could never look in the eyes of that woman again..how could he.. and to make things worse...he came to know that she was his brothers wife... He remembered how pandavas were humiliated by him..and duryodhana that day... how he gained satisfaction seeing them in tears ...laughing at their helplessness... He regretted everything that happened that day...He wished he could do something about it...and He knew only thing that he can do...is to let them have revenge for it... Then how could he just take krishna's suggestion..and kunti's plea..and devoid pandavas of that one thing they so rightly deserved... this will be his ultimate remorse... for that night..
As he rode further into darkness...he remembered his encounter with that woman who gave him life...
"Come to our side..you belong here my son... you belong to pandavas... Yudhisthir will make you emperor.. they will always listen to you... "
"You belong to us.." those words echoing still in his mind... He never belonged there...he wished that she was not that late in saying those words... but she was...
He didnt belong anywhere... it was irony though..he was in Kauravas side..but his heart had sought victory for pandavas..
He stopped..and came down from his horse...He was at the bank of river where he would usually go for his morning prayers... He didnt know how he had come this far from his palace..may be in search of himself... may be in search of that boy that was abandoned many years ago in the very river...
"I never belonged to you mother...and you knew it...didnt you..."
those questioning eyes looked upon as first rays of sun came over him sparkling his entire body...as Sun had just come out to console his son...and answer his question along...
Indian Idol 15
