Of Sacrifices and Regrets

4 years ago

ShiriHoonMain

@ExoticDisaster

"Five of your sons will be alive, mother." He remembered his promise to their mother as he stood in front of his younger brother on the battlefield.

He was now on the verge of perhaps the greatest battle of his life and somehow he knew it was going to be his last one too. He had waited for this day all his life, for a fair battle to determine he could accomplish what the world taunted him he never could. But in this journey to achieve this glory, he was already a lost man. He lost to his cruel fate the day he learnt that the man whom he hated so passionately all this while was no stranger but his own shadow lost among the crowd. A part of him felt pride on seeing Arjun that day putting up such a brave front.

Everyone including Sri Krishna, Mata Kunti and even Suryadev had tried to persuade him to choose the path of righteousness and join hands with the Pandavas. Even though his conscience had constantly nagged him to stand by his own brothers, he had a hard time dealing with it. He knew he would be eventually subdued by Arjun, but he still remained adamant on his decision of supporting Duryodhan in the war. He would rather prefer a heroic death than to be labelled as a traitor. What else would he have been called if he had switched sides? He was clear about one thing: he would fight in this battle till the last drop of blood remained in his veins.

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When he saw Karn's lifeless body on the battlefield that day, it gave him immense pleasure. He had killed his greatest mortal enemy, the one who had killed his young son, but the strangest thing about the motionless body was the serene smile on his face.

"Karn was your eldest brother!" his mother yelled and he felt like someone had stabbed him ruthlessly a thousand times with a dagger. The entire world around him was spinning.

"And I hated him all my life?" That was all he could mutter under his breath in his state of trance. He looked up to see his mother's guilt-stricken face.

Whom should I blame for this? he thought. 

Arjun - the greatest archer in the world had murdered his own brother: this was the guilt with which he would have to spend the rest of his life. 

How foolish he had been to think that a man with such great expertise, heavenly looks, topped with unnatural virtuousness and generosity... was a Suta? A low born? It was all a misfit! How could he not have seen through it? There was no doubt he was a Kshatriya! Maybe it had been impossible for him to see this as he was so blinded by hatred.

Karna had been killed before, multiple times by his own loved ones, maybe Arjun had just put him into eternal sleep, and relieved him from his never-ending grief. He had left a world that had taken away everything from him but had given nothing in return.

One by one he had spared the lives of Sahdev, Nakul, Bheem, Yudhisthir and finally his, till he had breathed his last breath, keeping his promise to their mother that he would not kill any of her sons on the battlefield.

"Forgive me, Jyesth! What have I done!" Arjun helplessly fell down on his knees. 

"Anuj, we both always knew this was going to happen," Karna said as he tried to hold his breath. 

"You were right, Jyesth," Arjun said as he held his hand. "I am not the greatest warrior. How can I be? I cannot tolerate the pain of killing my own brother for a kingdom that rightfully belongs to him. If I had known this before..." He covered his face with his palms. He cried his heart out.

"Arjun, you were completely ignorant about the fact, you are innocent. And yes, neither of us is the greatest. The greatest warrior in the world was your son, Abhimanyu. He fought till his last breath, scaring everyone to death. I am so proud of him. I am sorry for taking his life. Please forgive me." 

Arjun sat there as he saw everyone bidding goodbye to his eldest brother. The Pandav brothers cried, his mothers lamented loudly and his wife grieved with silent pride. 

As his hand slid from his, Arjun realised that Karna's death was close. But he wished, he wished with all his heart he could stay alive; they would have been an invincible duo. No one could have dared to set their sights on Hastinapur!

He looked up at the sky, feeling his soul watching him with an assured smile on his face. He was proud, his eldest brother was a great warrior, he was noble, heroic. He realized their story was more than just enmity, it was a tale of regrets and sacrifices, it was a tale of two brothers- Karna and Arjuna.

Beta-ed by LizzieBennett