[Hastinapur, Kingdom Of Kuru]
[One Month Ago]
It's been more than one hour since Karna left after killing Devraj Indra while sparing the army of Devraj at the request of Krishna.
The whole palace was left crumbling, destroyed under the weight of mighty battles fought in just a few hours. The aftermath of the battle left the kingdom of Kuru in disarray, with the once-grand palace reduced to ruins and the streets littered with the debris of war.
Mahamahim Bhishma still didn't stand up from his kneeling position which he unwillingly took under the monstrous aura of Karna.
As Bhishma remained kneeling amidst the palace ruins, his mind raced with conflicting emotions. He had witnessed firsthand the sheer power and determination of Karna, a warrior whose strength and resolve seemed unmatched. Yet, Bhishma couldn't shake the unease lingering in the air.
The once-grand palace now lay in ruins, a stark reminder of the chaos and destruction within its walls. Bhishma's thoughts turned to the events that had led to this moment, replaying the scenes of battle and betrayal in his mind.
How everything went wrong from Drona's stupid decision to threaten Karna with the lives of his wives, Then Karna somehow learned of Drona's plans in which he (Drona) sent his son Ashwatthama to kidnap Karna's wives but ended up dead while taking one of Karna's wife's life too.
With the weight of guilt heavy upon him, Bhishma couldn't help but reflect on the chain of events that had led to such devastation. Drona's misguided actions, fueled by desperation and fear, had set off a chain reaction that ultimately led to tragedy. The loss of innocent lives, the destruction of the palace, and the fracture of trust among allies weighed heavily on Bhishma's conscience.
"Bhishma stand up already," Dronacharaya still filled with grief and regret with every word he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper as he addressed the kneeling figure before him. "There's nothing more to be gained from staying on your knees."
Bhishma slowly raised his head, his expression weary and haunted by the events that had unfolded. "I cannot," he murmured, his voice heavy with resignation. "Not after what has transpired. Not after witnessing the power of Karna."
"It's because of your actions that we are in this mess," Bhishma continued, his voice rising with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Your reckless decisions have cost us dearly. We have lost the trust of our allies, and our kingdom lies in ruins. How could you be so blind to the consequences of your actions?"
Dronacharya bowed his head, his own guilt weighing heavily upon him. "I acted out of fear," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "Fear of losing everything we have fought so hard to protect. But I see now that my actions have only led to further destruction."
Bhishma shook his head, his expression filled with disappointment. "Fear is no excuse for betraying our principles," he stated firmly. "We are warriors, sworn to uphold honor and integrity above all else. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by fear and desperation."
Dronacharya nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground. "You are right, Bhishma," he acknowledged, his voice tinged with remorse. "I have failed as a teacher, as a father, as a mentor, and as a friend. But I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make amends for my mistakes."
"You will not appear in front of Karna's wrath," Bhishma continued, his tone resolute. "He has shown us mercy when he could have easily destroyed us. We owe him our lives, and we must not forget that debt."
Dronacharya nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I will do as you say, Bhishma," he replied. "I will stay out of Karna's path and focus on rebuilding what has been lost."
Step~ x3
Many figures approached the ruined palace from the front, King Dhritarashtra with Queen Gandhari and her children following while Kunti and her five sons made their way through the debris, their faces etched with concern and sorrow as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The once-majestic palace now lay in ruins, a stark contrast to its former glory.
Dhritarashtra, his sightless eyes scanning the devastation before him, let out a heavy sigh. "What has become of our kingdom?" he lamented, his voice tinged with sorrow. "How could such destruction be wrought in so short a time?"
Gandhari, her expression pained, placed a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder. "We must be strong, my dear," she urged, her voice filled with determination. "We will rebuild what has been lost, together as a family."
Kunti, her gaze somber, approached her sons, concern evident in her eyes. "Are you all unharmed?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Yudhishthira, the eldest of Kunti's sons, nodded solemnly. "We are unharmed, Mother," he reassured her, though the weight of responsibility lay heavy upon his shoulders. "But the kingdom lies in ruins, and we must act swiftly to restore order."
Arjuna, his bow at his side, surveyed the scene with a steely resolve. "We must find a way to rebuild, to restore peace and prosperity to our people," he declared, his voice unwavering.
Bhima, his muscles tense with pent-up energy, clenched his fists at his sides. "Whoever is responsible for this destruction will answer to us," he vowed, his voice low and dangerous.
Nakula and Sahadeva, the youngest of Kunti's sons, exchanged a solemn glance before turning to their mother. "We will do whatever it takes to protect our kingdom, Mother," they promised in unison, their voices filled with determination.
Kunti nodded, her heart heavy with worry for her sons and her kingdom. "Together, we will overcome this trial," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "We will rebuild what has been lost and ensure that peace is restored to our lands."
The tension in the air was palpable as the adults exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to break the news to the younger generation. They knew that revealing the truth about Karna's involvement would only serve to further inflame the already volatile situation.
Kunti, her heart heavy with concern for her sons' reaction, approached them with caution. "My dear sons," she began, her voice gentle yet tinged with sorrow, "there is something you must know about what transpired here."
Yudhishthira, ever the calm and composed leader, looked to his mother with furrowed brows. "What is it, Mother?" he asked, his tone laced with apprehension.
Kunti took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult task ahead. "It was Karna," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was the one responsible for the destruction of Hastinapur."
"What? But why would elder brother do that to his own kingdom?" Yudhishthira interjected, his voice filled with disbelief. "Surely there must be some mistake."
"It's b-because o-of...Guru Dronacharya's plan," Kunti explained, her voice faltering slightly as she recounted the events leading up to the devastation.
"What plan?" x5
Kunti took a moment to gather her thoughts, the weight of her words heavy upon her heart. "Guru Dronacharya devised a plan to use Karna's love for his wives against him," she explained, her voice trembling with sorrow. "He sent his son, Ashwatthama, to kidnap Karna's wives, but the plan went awry, and in the chaos, one of Karna's wives lost her life."
The shock on the faces of Kunti's sons was evident as they struggled to process the information. Bhima's fists clenched tighter, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "So, it was Dronacharya's actions that led to this destruction," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Kunti nodded sadly. "Yes, my son," she confirmed. "But Karna, in his grief and rage, unleashed his power upon the palace, sparing only those who did not stand against him."
Arjuna's brow furrowed in thought as he tried to make sense of the situation. "But why would Karna spare us?" he questioned, his voice tinged with confusion.
"He spared us at the request of Lord Krishna," Kunti explained, her gaze distant as she recalled the events of that fateful day. "Krishna saw the destruction that was about to unfold and pleaded with Karna to spare our lives, promising that we would not stand against him."
Yudhishthira's expression softened with understanding as he absorbed his mother's words. "Karna showed us mercy, even in his grief," he mused, a sense of reverence coloring his tone.
Kunti nodded, her eyes shining with tears. "Yes, my son," she agreed. "Karna may have been consumed by anger and sorrow, but he still possessed the strength to show mercy to those who did not seek his destruction."
Silence fell over the group as they grappled with the gravity of the situation. The realization that their kingdom had been brought to its knees by the actions of their own allies weighed heavily upon them.
"We must find a way to make amends," Yudhishthira declared, his voice firm with resolve. "We cannot allow our kingdom to remain in ruins. We owe it to our people to rebuild and restore peace."