KARNA : THE WARRIOR

CHAPTER 15

Karna who was in samadhi woke up due to his biological clock, Suddenly he felt light weight on his shoulder and smell of lotus sneaked in his nose. He turned and saw Draupadi was sleeping on his shoulder carefree and in deep sleep. He couldn't help but a smile appeared on his face seeing his wife/love sleeping on his shoulder. He raised his hands to caress her face but he stopped because he remembered last night and especially his promise to her. His expression hardened he wanted to move away but he couldn't as he will have to touch her and her actions of last night clearly indicated she doesn't want that. He was in difficult situation one her smell was intoxicating him and seeing her carefree face free of any worries or pain soothed him but he knew this was nothing but illusions that will fade away once she wakes up and he has to wake up because  the sunrise was not far away. He tried to move but it resulted in her clutching his shoulder tightly to not move around. He didn't know what to feel now happy because his love was beside him and resting on his shoulder or sad because he know it is momentary. He fidgeted for a long time but couldn't help but to call out Draupadi.

Karna : Draupadi..

Draupadi : ummmm

Karna : Draupadi wake up.

Draupadi : Just five more minutes jiji.

Karna : Draupadi wake up or I will be late for my Suryapooja.

Draupadi yawned and rubbed her eyes with one hand, Draupadi then open her eyes and was shocked to see Karna beside her and looking at her. She immediately widened her eyes and tried to pull bach but her one arm was still held onto his shoulder. She couldn't pull back but was pulled towards him instead but Karna and her hands landed on his broad chest and she could feel his breath on her neck. She didn't know why but once again her heart started to beat rapidly. She blushed and was embarrassed. She then pulled herself back and sat beside him. She was too embarrassed to even look at him. After Karna was free from her grasp he didn't said anything but instead stood up to go for his Pooja.

Draupadi (surprised) : Angraj.....

Karna (blandly) : Not now Yagseni, I will be late for my Pooja. Since you are so adamant to talk them we will talk after I return to palace, for now go and take rest in your chamber. I will let a dasi inform you of my return.

Karna said and took up his sawl from rack beside the entrance of practice are, he wrapped it around him and went out of palace. He sighed a breadth of relief there, he has almost lost his control see the adorable Draupadi rubbing her eyes and getting flustered. When her hand landed on his chest for support, her intoxicating smell almost led him to lose his control, It took all his decipline to control himself from giving it to his carnal desires but he wasn't sure if he could hold onto it for much longer that's the reason he hurriedly came outside as he remembered his promise and Karna was nothing if not man of his words. But this proved quite a thrilling torture for him and he couldn't decide whether he wants to avoid such things in future. She really affected him like no one else ever did or maybe could, he sighed and questioned why did he fall for her. Since he told he he will speak then he would. Thinking about it he reached to banks of river Ganga and waited for first ray of his father's blessings fall onto him.

Draupadi was stupidly sitting there, she couldn't think anything slowly she remembered how she sat beside Karna last night and she was emotionally stressed these days, yesterday she became distressed and slightly guilty so she came to talk to him because in her selfishness she did hurt him but he was not ready to talk to her and stated meditation so she too sat beside him to talk as soon as his meditation was over but it seems the sleep that was avoiding her these days grasped her so she slept and that too on his muscular shoulder while clutching it. She was embarrassed when she thought about it. She remembered as soon as she opened her eyes and looked towards him there was smile on his face for fleeting second and then it became stiff like last night. She remembered she slept peacefully for fist time than her swamvar, she couldn't understand why his presence make her feel safe as it could be only reason she could sleep so peacefully and carefreely on his shoulder. She raised he hands which touched his chest for getting support when she fall towards him and with her other hand she touched her neck where she felt his breadth. She doesn't know why but her body involuntarily shivered but was it out of excitement or fear that was unknown to her. All these thoughts were going on her mind but suddenly she remembered she didn't get a chance to talk to him as he hurriedly left. She sighed atleast he decided to have talk once he returns but where is he going that she didn't knew. She stood up and decided to take a bath herself and change and wait for him come back to talk. She roamed around in palace and after a lot of time she reached her chamber, it was easily recognisable because of decorations. She went to closet to see if any dress for her was there, she found sarees, jewelleries, and other woman accessories there. She removed her jewelleries and went to take bath in simple white saree. She went for bath. She bathed herself and came back to her chamber in the saree that she took out of closet. She saw various dasi that accompanied her from Panchal was there at the entrance of her chamber. She gestured them to come inside, they were well acquainted and close to her. They helped her in her Sringar. As all this was done Draupadi was still waiting for Karna to comeback to talk, she couldn't understand the reason behind his delay as Pooja usually doesn't take so much time. She waited but still couldn't sit still for a long. Suddenly a maid came and informed her that Karna has came back from his Pooja and was waiting for her in his studies. The maid then escorted her to studies.

Karna was walking in his studies, he was waiting for Draupadi to arrive, today was unusual for him too. First the episode with Draupadi then as reached the bank of river Ganga he saw a very large crowd, he understood the news of his mairrage was already spread so more petitioners came to Anga, he didn't have any problems with petitioner but he was afraid that his parents might know about it too and that scares him, he could lie to them or involved them in the complications of his life. He was worried and was hoping that it could provide solutions for this. He heard the door of his studies open so he transformed his facial expressions to neutral one. He saw Draupadi entering the room with neutral expression too.

There was strange silence in the room as neither of them know how to proceed the conversation. They stood awkwardly waiting for other one to begin the conversation. Suddenly

Draupadi : Angraj.
On
Karna : Yagseni.

Both said at same time and it got even more awkward,

Karna : You say first, what is it you want to talk about.

Draupadi : Angraj, I .....

Karna : Yes, you what Yagseni.

Draupadi : I think we should discuss about certain things that can make our life easier don't you think Angraj.

Karna : Yes, I think so too, that was reason I came to talk to you yesterday. I wanted to have amicable relationship between us, I knew we can't be husband and wife so the least I wanted us to be in friendlier terms but it seems it was too much for you,

Draupadi : Angraj I know we didn't have a good start but....

Karna : Good start Really, you were shivering and trembling when I came  to you yesterday, without knowing anything about me you have already judged me and made possible assumption about me.

Draupadi (angry) : Angraj, you are thinking from your perspective only, think about my perspective too. I did and thought like any woman in my position would do but I realised what I did was hasty and I came to talk to you but you were not ready to listen to me.

Karna didn't know how to proceed further because what she said wasn't completely wrong, any woman would do what she did, he even expected that to happen but after accepting his love for her he was too hurt by her actions to think anything else than his image in her mind.

Karna (sighed) : I accept what you are saying but what should we do now, you are struck in this marriage and with me so what have you decided to make it bearable for you.

Draupadi was again Shocked by his acceptance, she was also felling guilty but her pride wasn't allowing her to admit it aloud but here he admitted it so openly. She thought he was talking about her situation because anyway he would marry again and have another woman in his life but she would be all alone and she has already accepted her fate. What she didn't knew that he said it because he loved her and never considered living with her as a matter of being restrained or being struck and he would never marry again.

Draupadi : Angraj, I think we should atleast be friends and try to understand eachother. We can't be husband and wife but it doesn't stop us from being friends and because of this marriage not only our life but life of our loved ones including family and friends got entangled. I believe for them or anyone else we should pretend to be happily married. What do you think?

The word pretend again cut Karna deeply as it reminded him she can never be his and that hurts more that he could think but as situation is he know there was no other option than this. Anyway he was worried about his parents especially Radha maa but with this atleast he could save her from pain.

Karna : I agree with you Draupadi. I think we should do that. Don't worry I will never take advantage of you be in private or public. My promises to you still stands.

Draupadi : I know Angraj, I realised I was being selfish and has judged you wrongly. You are nice human being Angraj. I hope you marry again soon and get the happiness that you deserve which I may never be able to give it to you. Thank you for agreeing with me.

Karna didn't have any expression in his face. Draupadi didn't knew why but thought of him getting remarry felt off with her.

Karna : Draupadi, so as per our agreement, I will introduce you as queen of Anga. Don't worry you will forever the queen till I am king or you decide to leave here someday. It is least you deserve.

Draupadi too nodded and thought it was Karna's way to accept what she said.