KARNA : THE WARRIOR

CHAPTER 22

The family talked after dinner. Radha and Adhiratha asked Karna to take Draupadi to palace as they knew she wouldn't be comfortable here especially sleeping in cot but Draupadi declined the idea stating she wants to stay here only. Elderly couple though were unsure but didn't denied this. They went to their room asking Draupadi and Karna to go to sleep. So now both Karna and Draupadi was sitting there and situation is quite awkward because there is only one room which they had to share. Karna has promised to never enter in the chamber of Draupadi so the situation is quite unsettling.

Karna (whispering) : Krishna you go and sleep in the room. I will meditate here only.

Draupadi (whispering) : What if baba and Mata wake up for something and see you here what will you do then.

Karna : Then I will go outside and meditate.

Draupadi : No need Radhey. We can go into the room here.

Karna looked at her perplexed. While Draupadi was nonchalant about it.

Karna : I have promised to never enter your chamber Krishna and I don't go against my word.

Draupadi : I know but it's your room radhey, you can't enter my chamber by I can like this everything will be fine.

Draupadi said it with expression that say I-am-so-smart. Karna was looking at her flabbergasted both with her idea and her smug expression. He was thinking does she even know what she was saying.

Karna : I don't think this is good idea, you go to room. I will meditate outside everything will be fine once I came back from Suryapooja.

Draupadi : No, my idea is good. Remember what we have decided. What if someone saw you outside and asked mata or baba about it. Now it's decided we will go to that room come with me.

Saying that she didn't leave any room for argument and left. Karna was sitting there like fool thinking about everything she said. After sometime he too went to room as he agreed with her points.

He wasn't prepared for what he saw after entering the room. As he entered the room he was shocked Draupadi was standing there and was removing her kamarbandh. She was already removed her neck and ears accessories but it seems like her kamarbandh got tangled in her saree so she was trying to free it and in doing so her blowse was visible as it was her pallu that was struck. Karna was see her jade like neck, collarbone, from there he was able to see the deep guly of her blouse and skin that were exposed because of it. He can see her creamy waist. He couldn't help but involuntarily gulped. He was unable to retract his eyes but he did because it was improper. He turned around and closed his eyes but the image wasn't leaving his mind. He knocked the door to get her attention. Draupadi was too ingrossed in greetings kamarband free that she didn't notice him until Karna gently knocked at door.

Draupadi looked up and saw him, she became confused why he was turned around. He must have seen her struggling and still he just turned his back on her without helping, she was as irritated.

Draupadi : Radhey what are doing at door? Don't you see I am struck help me.

Hearing her Karna was even more flustered, he couldn't understand she was teasing him testing him or what was her purpose so he turned around and when he saw her innocent and expecting eyes he realised she was doing none of that. He was sometimes amazed how innocent she is. While he was thinking about this Draupadi was getting even more irritated.

Draupadi : Radhey, why aren't you helping me. Some friend you are Radhey not helping your friend in the time of need.

Draupadi words were like cold shower on Karna, it made him remember that they both are just friends and nothing more. She was expecting help from her friend nothing else. He sighed but went to help her. He gently pulled her pallu to get it free but it was not helping so he grabbed it hard and pulled it and in doing so he touched the waist of Draupadi. Draupadi felt like a current has passed through her body. She shivered involuntarily but it felt right to her. She looked at Karna who just pulled his hands back after freeing her pallu and kamarband. His expression was neutral like he hasn't felt a thing like her
She saw him immediately go into a corner and sat cross-legged closing his eyes. Draupadi too removed rest of her jwellery and went to city but her mind was thinking of pleasant sensation that she felt when Karna touched her. She couldn't help but think why it felt right and familiar when she was sure Karna has only held her hands and never beyond that so how did his touch felt familiar and something she longed for. Her brain reminded about her love about Arjun but unknowingly she skipped  that thought and was thinking about touch of Karna only. She turned towards him and saw him in meditation but don't know she thought he wasn't meditating despite having similar posture and expression he had whenever he was  meditating. But her thoughts drifted as she was looking at him. Numerous times she has seen his posture during day but it always intrigued her but today it was different moon light coming from the window of the room were falling on him giving him an otherworldly glow. The trident with damaru mark on his face was glittering in moon like unlike the sun mark that usually standout during the day. His face too was replicating the glow, his bare upper half too was glowing she was seeing his chest and remembered first morning of anga when she touched his chest unknowingly blush appeared on her face. Thinking of everything she didn't knew when she drifted in her sleep with smile on her face.

Karna on other hand she as facing difficulty. A hardship which he didn't know whether he truly wanted to avoid or face. He couldn't face it because it will ruin everything and can't avoid because his heart wasn't letting him to. How could he not felt his touch a current also ran through his body he immediately retracted his hands and went for meditation because he wasn't sure wheter he could stop himself from going further, he has also seen the shivering of Draupadi but it didn't help but seems like encouragement so he immediately left for meditation to control himself but that is also not helping him as he closed his eyes he was thinking about an image that is struck in his head, he so desparetely want to let it go but at same time clutch it very tightly. He didn't know just what to do. Then he felt a strong gaze on him. He knew it to as of Draupadi's so he did his best to mimic what he does daily since he started training her as these gaze fell onto him at that time too and he savour it little daily in the morning but not was surely not the time. He was so hardly supressing his desires which only she could awake in him as she is the one on which ansh of Surya and Mahadev has lost his heart. It took him all his training under shukracharya to have mental fortitude to let the thrilling but torturing session to pass. Soon he felt strength of  gazed reducing and he realised Draupadi was just now sleeping. And after some time the gaze disappeared whic mean she has slept or turned around. He didn't dare to open his eyes to confirm but since the gaze was not on him anymore he too gone into samadhi, not before releasing a breadth that he unknowingly was holding.

A/N hope you like I am not great at this