Hi All,
This is my first attempt for writing an Fan Fiction. I am planning to complete it in three shots. I want to say that I am no Karna fan, but somehow through the various folklore I feel that Karna and Duryodhan's wife (Bhanumati) did share a very close bond to which Duryodhan never had any objection to, by this story I want to explore that angle.
As per our knowledge after the Vastraharan episode all the royal ladies of Hastinapur went to the Dwit Sabha and objected the heinous act so I feel that Bhanumati too did not like that. Please ignore my spelling and grammar errors
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I could hear a lot of chaos outside but I can bet that it could not match the chaos which I had in my heart. I was sitting all alone in my room. Twice since yesterday my daughter had come to me asking for a bed time story, but I lied that I was unwell. Seeing my face, she might have actually believed me, but the truth is I didn't want to talk to anyone. First time since my marriage I was feeling betrayed. For the first time I felt that the men whom I trusted the most were not worth enough.
"Yuvragyi", a sudden voice broke the chain of my thoughts, "Please get up and take a bath. You look so untidy today, your eyes are all swollen. This is no unlikely for the Yuvragyi of Aryavrat" Her last three words shook me. They reminded me of the episode I was so desperately trying to forget. I started sobbing. "Yuvragyi pardon my mistake please", Dasi aid in a worried tone, "Please dont cry" "I am fine dear," I said with a smile, "Please excuse me for some more time. I want to stay alone" Dasi bowed to me and left.
I looked at the mirror for a moment, Dasi was right, I was not looking like Yuvragyi, but then neither did I want to look beautiful, not at least in a palace where women are nothing but a second class citizen and a show piece. I can't say that I had started hating my husband since yesterday's episode, in fact I can not do that, but the respect he commanded in my eyes till yesterday is all history now.
"May I come in Yuvragyi?" I heard a familiar voice from behind. "Since when did you started needing my permission Angaraj!" I replied. "Well not always do I find Yuvragyi in such a horrific attire!" he replied grinning, "It is better safe than sorry" Karna had unique ability to make me smile even when I was very sad, this was the reason Swami always send him to me after our fights. But today was different and Karna sensed that too. "Why don't you accompany me to Anga Pradesh this time. Vrushali often asks about you. I must admit that you both have developed a strong bond in these years. Sometimes I feel that she and not Supriya is your childhood friend!"
For a moment I forgot everything, I recalled last time when Karna had visited Hastinapur with his family. I had visited his official quarter. I had met Vrushali for the first time. Swami had told e that she was the sister of his royal charioteer. "Bhrata Duryodhan!" she said, "Why didn't you tell me that Yuvragyi would be accompanying you this time. I would have had made some special arrangements" "I did not want that Vrushali", said Swami with fake jealous in his voice, "Not at least here. You know that my wife and your husband always team against me. Here me and you could just team up and show them that we can beat them in anything." "Sorry Bhrata, me and Supriya are always with Yuvragyi " she said, "This world has become pretty tough for us women, so the need of this hour is that all the women support each other."
The thought of Vrushali made me feel all the more miserable, she was right all women need to support each other, as all the rules are made by men and they do not want to let women reach up to a decision making stage. Yesterday's episode was the biggest proof of this, my eyes started burning "Did you come here only to invite me Vasu?" I said. The anger in my eyes startled Karna for a moment, He had a strange expression in his eyes, a mixture of fear and guilt. "Come on Bhanu", he said after gaining some confidence, "Why are you behaving in such a strange manner? Dasi told that you are sad, so I came here to cheer to up that is it. By the description Dasi gave, we understood that you are in your Koop Bhawan mood and so Mitra did send we here to bear all the wrath"
"What wrath are speaking about Vasu", I nearly shouted, "Yesterday in the Dwit Sabha you people made a decision that a women is the property of her husband, what right does a property have to get angry to it's owner?"
"Why are you talking like this Bhanu?" Karna said, "You know Mitra loves you dearly that is why he decided not marry anyone else after you" "I thought the same till yesterday, but yesterday's episode changed my thinking. A person who can not respect a women can never love a women." "Draupadi was just a Dasi yesterday Bhanu" Karna replied more to convince himself than me "You know that Yudhisthir lost her in the game. We did not force him. He could have left the game once he lost his kingdom, but no he continued to play the game and lost his brothers, himself and finally his wife. Now when we started behaving with them as Dasas, they are behaving as they have been wronged. They have the habit of playing victim card"
"Oh so you have publicly humiliated all the Dasis of this palace?" I replied, "But why am I discussing this with you? You and your friend is same in this regard, in fact you are even worse, how could you ask for her disrobe in public? You called her by names?"
"That was all in heat of moment Bhanu" Karna had his gaze down. "You know Vasu", I said, "Whenever I saw Draupadi jiji and Krishna together, I thought of you. I had such a beautiful picture of our friendship but unfortunately you broke it. I can never forgive you for this" I turned my eyes away from him.
Karna looked at me for a while and then left. I saw him leaving, I felt as if I was losing my friend for ever, henceforth he would only be a guest/friend of husband of a husband who no longer is my pride. Never did I knew that I would speak with him again and that too in a condition when I would be mourning with him...
Part 2: Bhanumati comes to mourn Vrihsena's death