KARNA : THE WARRIOR

CHAPTER 16

Draupadi and Karna left the studies after their talk. Karna went to his practice area to do his yoga and excercises of the day and Draupadi went back to her chamber. In the chamber her maids were waiting for her. Draupadi has decided to rest for some time and after that she would get acquainted to the palace where she is supposed to spend her entire life. She talked with her maids for long time and then she called another maid that works in the palace to show her around the palace. Then with her and her personal maids she started touring the palace. She was not in right frame of mind till now so she hasn't looked at the palace clearly but now since talking with Angraj she was feeling quite well so she observed everything. She and her maid were amazed by beauty of the palace. The maid who was guiding them told them about the palace in detail. The information that Draupadi got was astonishing to say the least, she was shocked to know that the entire palace was made of white marble most precious stone available in entire Aaryavrat. She remembered that even in panchal only the temple inside the palace was made by such stones as it were that expensive. Then the next shocking information was the wooden furnitures, doors and windows of palace were made up of the best quality of sandalwood. The chandlier were not made up glass but several precious gemstones. The curtains were made up of finest silk and were embedded with precious gems too. There were several beautiful carving, sculptors and painting in the palace and palace was very large too atleast twice the size what Panchal palace was. The maid have also told them that everything was especially handmade and crafted by skilled artisans of Anga. The luxury truly amazed Draupadi and her maids. Draupadi couldn't help but ask.

Draupadi : Is Angraj so keen on luxury and beauty.

Maid : No Maharani, Our king never cared for either luxury or Riches. this palace is gift of acceptance of people of Anga to our King.

Draupadi : I don't understand.

Maid : Maharani, two years ago Anga was nothing but akin to barren land. We had fertile lands but there no system and organisations here. We had food but because of bandits dwell in forest around Anga we were constantly harrassed and there were several other illegal activities and problem here. But two years ago our Maharaj arrived here. He changed everything, Maharani what you are seeing now is all due to efforts of Maharaj.

He solved problem of bandits and illegal activities first and after that he provided  the resources for entire reconstruction of Anga. He has brought several reforms and changes here which brought prosperity to Anga. He is very generous and kind person maharani. You know construction of palace was last thing happened in Anga. During reconstruction all the people lived in temporary tents and our king was last person to leave the tent. He emphasized in prosperity of people before him. People were gratified and happy to have him so to show our support to him and his reforms we all came together and build this palace, people have used each and every skill to build and decorate this palace.

Draupadi was amazed hearing this, she can ofcourse pick up pride in tone of maid when she talked about Anga and admiration, devotion when she was talking about Angraj. She was as amazed that In just two years Karna has made the Kingdom so prosperous and gained such acceptance of his subjects. The maid then showed the group various places inside the palace, such as temple, kitchen, studies, etc. She showed them everything except Sabha, treasury etc where she was never allowed.

After the tour Draupadi decided to roam around the palace alone for sometime. She was casually strolling the palace like this she came to practice grounds and saw Karna was practicing with a Mace. She couldn't help but blush, she saw he was drenched in sweat which was glistening over his body and due him practicing mace the muscles of his upper body became especially pronounced. She was admiring his chest, abs, biceps and couldn't help but marvelling the gods creation. He has perfect body and that she can't deny he was muscular yet had lithe physique. She has touched his chest and personally felt how sturdy it was. She couldn't help but wonder why she get lost in such thoughts seeing him as she was in love with Arjun. She came out her thoughts hearing him calling her name.

Karna was practicing and suddenly he felt a gaze on him. He didn't mind as he thought it might belong to someone passing through. He has several such encounter with several maids which has always confused him so he let that be. But he felt the gaze on him for long time so he couldn't help but take a look who it belongs to and he was surprised to see Draupadi was there, she seems lost in thought so he called her.

Karna : Draupadi.

Draupadi who came out of her trance

Draupadi : Yes Angraj

The conversation of morning has let the relation between them to somewhat ease up. Atleast now they both can have conversations in friendlier terms.

Karna : Draupadi, What are you doing here, do you want to talk about something.

Draupadi : No, I was roaming around the palace. I didn't notice when I came here.

Then again there was silence.

Karna : Oh! You were looking at me, do you know how to use mace.

Draupadi who was caught red handed blushed but a quick idea came to her.

Draupadi : No I don't know. I don't know how to use any weapon. I was always fascinated by them but father never allowed me to learn how to use them.

Karna : Do you still want to learn?

Draupadi (excited) : Can I?

Karna (smiled) : If you want, sure you can. In Anga everyone is allowed to learn anything they wish.

Draupadi : Will you teach me.

Karna was shocked by sudden request, Draupadi too realised what she has asked for.

Draupadi : I am sorry for my eagerness, Angraj.

Karna ; No Draupadi. You don't have to be sorry. We have decided to spend life together, we can't be couple but I think we should be friends. What do you think.

Draupadi (Nodded) : I think so too, Angraj. We can't be strangers for rest of our life.

Karna : Yes, then do you accept my friendship Draupadi.

Draupadi : Yes, I do Angraj.

Karna : You can Stop calling me Angraj, call me Karna or Radhey. I am not in habit of being addressed by formal title by my friends.

Draupadi : Fine then I will call you Radhey, you can call me Krishna.

Karna : Krishna??

Draupadi : Oh, I was named Draupadi Krishna.

Karna : Oh! I can teach you Krishna, I have no problem in teaching you but it will start from tomorrow, today there are several things that you and me have to do.

Draupadi : What?

Karna : Krishna, First I will introduce you as queen of Anga in the sabha as we discussed, then you will have to take all the responsibility as queen of Anga from today and after that we have to go and meet the subject of Anga where I will introduce you to them. After that we have to some donation and charity. So as far as I can see you would be tired today. We will begin you training from tomorrow that too after one and half hour after the sunset till breakfast. But for today tell me what weapon do you want to learn.

Draupadi : I want to learn sword fighting.

Karna : Fine, we will begin tomorrow, now let's go and have breakfast, then the Sabha will begin.

Karna was happy that atleast he can be friends with Draupadi, he was content because he knew it will be as far as their relationship with grow despite what he felt towards her. Draupadi too was very happy that not only she achieved what she wanted yesterday but alos now she can be friends with Karna. Her life would be much easier, hearing about him from the maid she realised Karna was not a bad guy as she thought before instead he was a very good person and King who thought about welfare of his people before himself and such person can never be evil. She was excited to learn sword fighting, it not only fulfill her wish but will provide diversion in her thought process as instead of something else and unpleasant she will be focused on learning.

Draupadi went to kitchen to see the preparation of breakfast where as Karna went to his chamber but remembered it was Draupadi's now and as he promised he would not enter it. So he went to different chamber and took his bath. It was room where he usually place his royal clothes and yesterday too he had changed his attire here so his clothes, ornaments and crown were here. He changed into royal attire and came back to have breakfast with Draupadi.