Bhishma stared at Karna for a long while, his old eyes heavy with thoughts that had been buried beneath duty for decades.
The wind brushed past them, carrying the distant sounds of the sleeping capital, but between them, silence sat like a third presence. Finally, Bhishma spoke, his voice low, almost careful.
"Do you hate her… for abandoning you?"
Karna did not hesitate even for a heartbeat. He shook his head calmly, as if the answer had been decided long ago. "No," he said. "Hate comes to the person who harmed us… or harmed our interests. She did neither."
His gaze remained steady, not cold, not warm, simply truthful. "If I had grown up as an orphan, if I had suffered a life of humiliation and hunger, then perhaps hatred would have been natural. But I did not."
He looked up at the moon again, "I grew up in Suryaloka. I received the love of a mother. I received the blessings of Mahadeva. I trained under Lord Parashurama himself." His voice softened slightly. "I lived a beautiful life, Mahamahim."
Bhishma's throat tightened. He exhaled slowly, and his eyes lowered, as if the weight of a hundred regrets had settled on his shoulders all at once.
"I wish you had grown in my household," Bhishma murmured. "I would have happily let go of this life." He looked at Karna again, and for the first time, his gaze carried something dangerously close to longing. "For decades… I have waited for an heir who possessed both the knowledge of dharma and the strength to protect dharma. I see that in you, son."
Bhishma's lips curled into a bitter smile. "But it is my ill fate that it could not happen."
While Karna could understand Bhishma's thoughts, he didn't respond much. Instead, he asked, "What about the princes? If you had to pick personally… who would you choose?"
Bhishma's expression grew solemn at the question. He folded his arms behind his back, staring out at Hastinapura's sleeping rooftops.
"I love all my grandchildren," Bhishma admitted. "But regarding qualifications…" He sighed. "Yudhisthira is the worthy candidate for the throne. He is clear-headed. Even Guru Drona has said that the knowledge and clarity Yudhisthira possesses is something not even Drona himself has."
He paused, his eyes sharpening as he continued. "With the other princes standing as pillars of support, Yudhisthira could rule this kingdom well, but…"
Karna finished the sentence for him, voice calm but cutting.
"But he does not have extraordinary strength enough to protect either dharma or the throne."
Bhishma nodded slowly, as if Karna had spoken the exact fear he had never dared to say aloud.
"Yes," Bhishma said quietly. "That is the flaw fate has placed in front of us."
Karna turned slightly. "Then what about Arjuna?"
Bhishma's eyes narrowed in thought. "Arjuna has the capability. In fact…" His voice lowered with certainty. "No other prince can match his talent or his strength."
Then Bhishma's gaze darkened again. "But I do not think Arjuna would ever agree to become king. He loves and respects his elder brother."
Karna's eyes sharpened with sudden clarity.
"If I had not interfered," Karna said, "Arjuna would have won the tournament, right?"
Bhishma nodded.
"Then, according to your rules," Karna continued, "he would have been declared Crown Prince. But he would refuse and offer it to Yudhisthira instead." His gaze became colder. "Do you think that would not cause problems?"
Bhishma's jaw tightened.
"I knew that from the beginning," he admitted. "That is why I opposed such a competition. But I was helpless. Maharaj Dhritarashtra's decision was final." His voice carried faint bitterness. "And he is often manipulated by Gandhar Naresh Shakuni's advice."
Karna narrowed his eyes, but he did not speak further on Shakuni. Instead, he turned his gaze back toward the city, the moonlight outlining the sharpness of his face.
"Well," Karna said slowly, "both Arjuna and Bhima are strong. But their anchor is Yudhisthira himself." His lips curled faintly, as if amused by the simplicity of the truth. "He controlled Bhima twice today. That alone shows their bond."
Karna's voice grew firmer. "That means they need one another. As long as they remain together, they will have both strength… and the power of dharma."
Bhishma nodded, his expression heavy but approving.
"I agree with your words," he said quietly.
Then Karna spoke again, voice calm but curious. "And what about Prince Duryodhana, by the way?"
Bhishma frowned instantly, as if the name itself carried thorns. "Duryodhana?"
Karna nodded. His gaze remained steady, not judgmental, only observant. "I can see that, just like Yudhisthira, Duryodhana has the absolute loyalty of his brothers. He doesn't have a Maharathi-level warrior like Arjuna on his side, but he surely has numbers. And in wars and in ruling a kingdom, a hundred Rathis loyal to their king can contribute more than a single Maharathi. Loyalty is not a small thing."
He paused briefly.
"But whether he has the qualities of leadership, whether he follows dharma, those are things I do not know. So I cannot say anything with certainty. However, you can take this campaign against Panchala as an opportunity to test their leadership."
Bhishma nodded slowly. "I know."
For a few breaths, neither spoke. Then Bhishma spoke, changing the topic.
"Karna," Bhishma said. "I have something to ask."
Karna looked at him. "What is it, Mahamahim?"
Bhishma's voice grew more serious. "This is not for Parashurama's shishya Karna. This is not for Dharma's Protector Karna, nor for Sangyaputra. This is for Dakshina Kalinga's Maharaj." He paused. "If Hastinapura proposes a friendship alliance to you… Will you accept it?"
Before Karna could answer, Bhishma continued, his tone careful, almost weary. "The reason I ask you this in private is because I am the one who invited you to Hastinapura. And you are the type of man who speaks truth to one's face. If you reject it outright in the court, Maharaj Dhritarashtra will not take it lightly. That is why I am asking you now. Will you accept a friendship alliance if it is proposed? If you say no, then I will make sure not to make the proposal happen tomorrow…"
Karna did not pretend to ponder for politeness. His reply came directly, like an arrow released without hesitation.
"Even if there is no military alliance," Karna said, "a friendship alliance still means I will be forced to come to Hastinapura's rescue if it faces a threat it cannot handle. And for that, I must think carefully."
He looked down at the city again, his voice becoming slower, heavier.
"I need to observe. I need to see whether it is okay or not. I want to see how the citizens are living under the rule of the Kuru Dynasty. And I do not mean the elites. I mean the commoners." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I want to see who becomes the Crown Prince. I want to see what his vision is going to be."
Karna's tone shifted then, not angry, but firm in conviction.
"Unlike you, Mahamahim, I am not a preserver of culture and tradition. I will not force my views on your kingdom. But that does not mean I will be comfortable accepting your traditions either." His voice hardened slightly. "Everyone knows how it is in Kanipura. We do not restrict our women to kitchens and house affairs. We empower them. We encourage them to even take up weapons to defend their homes, their families, and their land."
He continued, his words carrying the weight of an entire ideology. "We believe that even those born in the lowest caste deserve education. We believe that inside a temple, before the gods, everyone is equal. We do not believe that only Kshatriyas should possess weapons. We believe those who protect the country, those who bear weapons, are Kshatriyas."
Karna glanced at Bhishma. "I know my views do not fit with a conservative protector of tradition like you, Mahamahim. That is why I must see what the future king thinks of my ideology before I bind my kingdom to yours through friendship."
Bhishma's brows furrowed deeply. His voice came out sharp.
"Are you suggesting that you want Kuru to adopt Kanipura's methods to form an alliance?"
Karna shook his head. "No." His answer was immediate. "What I want is acceptance. If you cannot respect my views and my methods, why should I become friends with you and trouble myself? It's not like we are neighbors."
Bhishma's shoulders sank slightly; the disappointment was visible on his face, not because Karna rejected him, but because Karna's answer reminded him of how far apart their worlds truly were.
Karna noticed it and spoke softly. "It seems you are disappointed."
Bhishma's voice was quiet now. "I wanted to see whether you could stand by my grandchildren… because they are your brothers too." His eyes narrowed, but there was no anger, only sadness. "But it seems you do not see them that way. And you do not seem to carry hatred strong enough that your opinion could be changed after spending your time here."
Bhishma looked away toward the palace walls. "Then I thought… at least you might stand beside Hastinapura when I am no longer here." His lips tightened. "I did not expect such an answer."
Karna's gaze remained calm, but his voice carried steel.
"I do not need friendships or relationships to stand on Kuru's side, Mahamahim." He looked directly at Bhishma. "If there is righteous rule, I will stand beside it. If there is adharma, I will stand opposite it."
Then his voice grew colder, sharper, like a verdict.
"I promise you this, Mahamahim. You ensure righteousness sits on the throne. A king who puts the welfare of society above his own needs. And I will ensure he remains on that throne even after your time."
Bhishma stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"I understand," Bhishma said. "You are welcome to stay as long as you like."
With that, the old warrior turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the corridor. Karna watched him leave, silent, the moonlight glinting off his earrings as his mind moved like a still river.
"Did he really understand my point?" Karna thought.
He exhaled softly.
"Well, it is Mahamahim. I am sure he understands my point… but I highly doubt he agrees with me."
His eyes narrowed, gazing toward the distant palace towers.
"And after hearing my decision earlier… I would not be surprised if he tries to keep me away, so that I do not influence his grandsons."