2) Karna and the last visitor
Next day dawned...
Karna was coming to offer his
morning prayers to the sun god. He looked dazzlingly handsome as always. He
stood as handsome as ever for donating the needy his revered guru witnessing
his charity He noticed that the number of people increased each day as it was
morning to noon he was donating. All visiting him could only hear
"Granted!" with a beautiful smile of content that would lit his face
each time he saw a light of happiness in the visitors eyes!!
Each day the number almost tripled and the queue of the people kept increasing
to such an extent that on the fifth day the last visitor couldn't even be seen!
As the person approached he was not the least surprised to notice that the
person was none other than Supriya!. At the time when Supriya reached him
everyone had returned leaving them alone on the bank of the river. He gazed at
his wife with disbelief
Bowing low to him Supriya said a bit mischievously, "O mighty
warrior, the King of Anga. I hear that here the greatest daanveer of Aryavarta
is donating alms...Will he even donate me?"
He smiled affectionately at her and replied in a low voice,
"What should I daan someone who has got this daanveer himself? Answer me
dear wife! "
"Well umm...I am no wife here just a civilian respected
Angaraj!", she replied quite firmly
"Ok! Tell me what can this simple man do to satisfy you
lady?", he too replied in Angaraj's proud tone
"You will give me anything I demand?", she queried
"Anything", he replied firmly "Your wish is my
command lady!"
"Hmm...It should be!", she said smiling impishly with a
bit mischievousness in her voice but suddenly remembered that she is no wife
here and continued in a low tone "But Maharaj are you sure you will give
anything I ask?", she queried as she wasn't sure
"Such is my vow...ask anything you want!", he said
proudly gazing at the golden disc of his self appointed guru
"Fine..." she moved a bit close and unfolded a piece of
paper that she carried furtively
Karna raised his eyebrows in surprise, "A complete
list!", he said in a highly surprised tone
"Oh yes!...when and where would I get chance to catch you this
way?", she said smiling winners smile that answered his all unanswered
questions that reflected on his highly surprised handsome face!...she
continued. "Let's go one by one"
"Hmm...Ok", he said as he was left with no option
"So the first one...My mother recently had a makeover I want
you to tell her that she looks beautiful in her new attire! ", she said
"Wh-What?...B-But I cannot lie you know that! ", he said
helplessly
"But I am asking you to lie convincingly!...and you have to
anyway", she argued and pointing out a finger to Sun she whispered moving
close "Your vow Angaraj!", this melted his small signs of protest!
"Ok I will...but only once! Don't expect me to lie everyday
till she stay here!", he said in a sharpened voice
"Umm...ok once is enough for me!", she said and he gave a
huge sigh of relief!
"So what's next?", he queried
"Second is...I want you to return home and have your meals on
time! And not give Vrushu dii stress regarding your meals", she demanded
of him
He couldn't help exclaiming, "You both are sautans!...How can
your bond be so strong?"
"Arya...Vrushali di is more than a elder sister to me...How
can you forget that I could marry you just because of that pure soul devi I am
indebted to her forever!", she said her deep respect for Vrushali glinting
in her beautiful deep dark eyes.
Karna just smiled in
return as he remembered the way Vrushali greeted Supriya when she first entered
the Anga palace as his wife .He had expected her to be cold and distant towards
his new bride but instead she welcomed her and treated Supriya like her baby
sister They enjoyed each
other's company, teasing playfully and laughing a lot every now and then the
love that was reciprocated by Supriya in equal amounts or rather with interest!...
His thoughts were interrupted by Supriya's words, "Next
one...Once you return home I want our family member not a King keep the
intrigue and disputes in the court itself I don't want you to carry it all
along!"
"But...Angaraj and Vasusena are no two different people. How
is this possible?" he queried
"I just know nothing is impossible for Angaraj!", she
answered proudly
"Hmm...B-..."
Breaking she again reminded him, "Your vow Angaraj!"
"This is a difficult task!", He admitted
"Next ones are tougher too!... Should we move ahead" she
added impishly
"Let me read them first before I agree on anything!" he
said stretching is hands asking her to give the paper
"You have to anyway", she said and handling over the
paper to him she whispered in a teasing tone again, "Your vow
Angaraj...don't forget!!"
Reading the list he burst out sweating! His wife had caught him
correctly in the right place and right time he knew he cannot retaliate now!
"Can we skip the fifth and thirty- seventh", he appealed
in toddlers tone
"No!", the answer came in a flash, "Your vow
Angaraj!!...you forgot?", she again reminded him
"From where do you get such ideas?", he queried
"Hmm.. it's a women's secret so let it be a secret!", she
said in a silly way which made him smile affectionately at her!
...
He returned early in the evening as there was no sabha in the kuru
court that day. He found Supriya sobbing like a two year innocent girl as a
piece of glass pricked her foot the little pain was making Ganga Jammuna flow
out of her eyes. He noticed that each time she touched the glass the little
pain would be too much for her to bear as she would withdraw her finger
immediately, he moved forward and bent down in order to remove that cruel piece
of glass that was making his dear wife cry...but suddenly before he could touch
her feet she removed the glass with a "Oouch!" and stood up straight
with her back erect but head lowed
"What were you doing Arya?...A husband shouldn't touch his
wife's feet!", she whispered in a embarrassing tone
In his mind he recalled the mature Supriya who stood by his
decision of vow firmly, one he met on the bank was a bit naughty and caring
Supriya and the Supriya sobbing in front of him wasn't a mother of his sons but
a pure hearted innocent girl with a small yet unbearable pain and now she
transformed herself into a mature wife again suddenly!
She turned back and started moving towards the kitchen due to
the awkwardness she felt Karna noticed that she couldn't walk straight and her
foot was still bleeding He took the hold of her delicate wrist her heart
started thudding wide, her toes digging the floor and without waiting for her
retort he swept her into his strong arms!
"What are you doing?", she asked and continued in whisper
"It doesn't suit you Maharaj"
"My third vow dear wife... Now you forgot?", he mimicked
her which flashed the memory of the wish list in her mind she looked at him his eyes were twinkling a shy smile
crossed her face her dark eyes had that look again, somewhat teasing, sometimes
tender, that made his heart lurch...
No comments:
Post a Comment