"People of Kuru Kingdom, I stand before you to make an important announcement. In recognition of Angraj Karna's valor and contributions, I with this announce the marriage of Princess Dusshala to Angraj Karna of the Kingdom of Anga."
The announcement echoed through the grand hall of the royal palace in Hastinapur. The courtiers and citizens of Kuru Kingdom gathered to witness the proceedings and responded with a mixture of surprise, murmurs, and contemplative expressions.
The news of Princess Dusshala's betrothal to Angraj Karna carried significant weight, and the court was abuzz with conversations.
Angraj Karna maintained his composure, his expression revealing little.
Princess Dusshala, standing beside King Dhritarashtra, masked her emotions with regal poise, although a discerning eye might catch a subtle hint of contemplation in her eyes.
Shakuni, ever the shrewd tactician, observed the reactions closely. His mind, always calculating and scheming, processed the unfolding events with a sinister satisfaction. Vidura, the chief counselor, remained stoic, aware of the political implications surrounding such announcements.
Kunti in the back was looking at Karna with eyes filled with longing and regret but what she didn't know was that Bhishma who was just a few feet away from her saw her expression while looking at Karna.
Bhishma, the grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, observed Kunti's expression with a keen understanding of the complex dynamics at play. He had witnessed the unfolding events in the court, and the subtle nuances did not escape his perceptive gaze.
Amid the court's reactions, Kunti's gaze lingered on Angraj Karna, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions—longing, regret, and a hint of sorrow. Bhishma, bound by his oath of celibacy and duty to the throne, could empathize with the unspoken complexities of relationships.
He approached her with a solemn expression, "Kunti, Come walk with me."
Kunti, her thoughts momentarily interrupted, turned to Bhishma with a nod. The courtiers and the royal family were engaged in discussions and celebrations, but the air held an undercurrent of tension and unspoken emotions.
Bhishma led Kunti to a quieter part of the palace, away from the prying eyes and ears of the court. As they walked through the grand corridors adorned with tapestries and ancient artifacts, the weight of unspoken words hung in the air.
"You should start from the beginning," Bhishma said not even looking at Kunti just walking at her pace.
"Huh! I-I don't know what are you talking about, Pitamaha?"
Bhishma sighed, his eyes revealing a depth of understanding. "Kunti, the eyes are mirrors to the soul, and yours reflect a tale that remains untold. Because every time your eye lays on Angraj Karna they reflect a story, a connection that goes beyond the courtly politics."
"!!!"
Bhishma stopped, turning to face Kunti with a gentle yet probing gaze. "Kunti, I've known you for a long time, and our histories are intertwined. Your eyes speak of a connection with Angraj Karna that transcends the present circumstances. Tell me, what lies in the recesses of your heart?"
Kunti hesitated, her gaze dropping to the intricately patterned floor. The weight of unspoken truths hung heavy in the air, and she felt the need to release the burden she had carried for so long.
"P-Pitamaha, H-He is m-my...Karna is my son," Kunti finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, revealing a truth that had remained concealed for years.
Bhishma, though prepared for such a revelation, couldn't hide the somber expression that crossed his face. He had sensed the complexity of the relationship between Kunti and Karna, and now, the truth had been laid bare.
"Karna is your son," Bhishma echoed, his voice gentle yet filled with understanding. "Why did you keep this truth hidden for so long?"
"Pitamaha, You already know about the boon given to me by Sage Durvasa that allowed me to invoke any deity and bear their child. However, when I was young and inexperienced, I tested the mantra. The sun god, Surya, appeared before me, and Karna was born. Fearful of the societal consequences and my status, I placed Karna in a basket and set him adrift in the river."
Kunti's words carried the weight of regret and sorrow. Bhishma listened in silence, acknowledging the struggles of a mother torn between duty, societal norms, and the love for her son.
"Kunti, What did was the worst thing possible a mother could do to their newborn child, He could have drowned in the river or faced other dangers," Bhishma said, his voice a mix of compassion and reproach. "Why did you not reveal the truth earlier? Karna's destiny could have taken a different path."
"Pitamaha, I was young and scared. The fear of judgment, the fear of tarnishing my reputation, clouded my judgment. I regret the decisions I made, and the guilt has haunted me ever since," Kunti confessed, her eyes reflecting the pain of her past choices.
"Well, I will not regret anything. I am going to announce Karna heir to the throne," Bhishma stated firmly, his decision rooted in a sense of justice and recognition of Karna's rightful place in the Kuru lineage.
Kunti's eyes widened with surprise, "Pitamaha, you can't! The court, the society—they won't accept it. Yudhishthira should be the king-"
Kunti wanted to continue but the disgusted and disappointed gaze of Bhishma Pitamaha silenced her words. "Kunti, your actions have deprived Karna of his rightful place for far too long. It's time to rectify this injustice. The court and society will have to accept the truth. Karna will be acknowledged as the heir to the throne, and his lineage will be recognized."
"But Pitamaha, the consequences..." Kunti started to protest.
"IF ANYONE DARE TO SAY ANYTHING THEN, I GANGAPUTRA BHISHMA WILL DECLARE A DHARMA YUDDHA AGAINST THEM," Bhishma thundered, his eyes ablaze with determination. The weight of his words resonated through the grand corridors of the palace.
Kunti, taken aback by the intensity of Bhishma's resolve, fell silent. The decision to acknowledge Karna as the heir to the throne was a radical shift from the established norms and the consequences were unpredictable.
Bhishma continued his voice firm, "Kunti, it is time for the truth to prevail, regardless of the consequences. Karna deserves to know his heritage, and the kingdom must acknowledge its rightful heir. This is a matter of justice, and I am willing to face any opposition to ensure that justice prevails."
Kunti, torn between her past decisions and the potential upheaval that Bhishma's proclamation might bring, nodded reluctantly. "Pitamaha, I understand the gravity of this decision, but I fear for the repercussions it may have on the stability of the kingdom. and Yudhishthira-"
"You disappoint me, Kunti, I used to think of you quite highly." Bhishma's words hung in the air, the disappointment evident in his gaze. Kunti, burdened by the weight of her past decisions, couldn't meet his eyes.
The revelation of Karna's true lineage, the acknowledgment of his rightful place in the Kuru dynasty, was a seismic shift that would reverberate through the court and the entire kingdom.
"Pitamaha, I...I understand the significance of what you propose, but the repercussions on the kingdom and my other sons—" Kunti tried to articulate her concerns.
"I MADE THIS KINGDOM FROM DIRT AND BLOOD! AND IF THE KINGDOM CAN'T ACCEPT THE TRUTH NOW THEN IT IS BETTER IF THE KINGDOM FALLS."
Bhishma's words echoed through the grand corridors, carrying the weight of his unwavering determination. The grand patriarch, bound by duty and righteousness, was ready to face the consequences of revealing Karna's true lineage.
"You might not know him well but I know him like my own blood. Karna possesses the qualities of a true king—the strength, valor, and nobility that befit a ruler. What do you think a king feels or do when I wage war on them."
"They fear for their life and they surrender before the war even starts...because they know that facing me in battle is akin to challenging the inexorable course of time itself."
"But Karna...He fought me just because I hit some of his soldiers because of waiting for him in a line. His principles and his loyalty to his soldiers were unwavering. Karna stood against the mightiest warrior, Bhishma Pitamaha, not out of fear but out of a sense of justice, protecting those under his command. That is the mark of a true leader. The kingdom needs a ruler like Karna, who understands the value of every life and is willing to stand against any injustice, even if it means challenging the very fabric of time," Bhishma declared, his voice resonating with conviction.
"Pitamaha, I understand your perspective, but the court, the people—" Kunti attempted to express her concerns once more.
"The court and the people need a leader who embodies dharma, who upholds justice, and who is not shackled by the prejudices of the past. Karna is the rightful heir to the throne, and the kingdom deserves to have a ruler whose heart beats for justice," Bhishma asserted.
The grand corridors of the palace held the weight of the impending revelation. The court, still immersed in the celebrations, remained oblivious to the seismic shift that Bhishma Pitamaha was about to initiate.
Bhishma, his gaze unwavering, turned to Kunti. "Prepare yourself, Kunti. The truth cannot remain hidden any longer. Karna deserves to know his heritage, and the kingdom deserves a ruler whose lineage is just and true."
With those words, Bhishma continued his determined stride, leaving Kunti standing in the corridor, her mind entangled in the complexities of the choices that lay ahead.