Chapter 450 Guilt Of A Mother...

(A/N):

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Inside the royal palace, the women had taken charge of much of the wedding arrangements.

Gandhari, Lata, Saurabheyi, Yami, and Indhumati were discussing the various ceremonies, while several attendants brought in samples of silk garments, jewellery, and decorations.

"Make sure the wedding mandapa is decorated with fresh flowers. I want the entire arrangement completed before the auspicious day,"

Gandhari instructed one of the attendants.

"Yes, Maharani."

Yami examined a selection of flower arrangements before turning towards Lata.

"What do you think of these? The white and golden flowers would look beautiful around the mandapa."

"They would," Lata agreed.

"But we should also include some red flowers. It will make the decorations more vibrant."

Indhumati, meanwhile, was looking through the jewellery arrangements prepared for Vishali.

"She must be overwhelmed by all this,"

she remarked with a smile.

Saurabheyi chuckled.

"Perhaps. But I suspect Karna is even more nervous than she is."

The women exchanged amused looks.

After all, they knew Karna well enough to understand that the formidable warrior was considerably less comfortable when the subject involved his own feelings.

Elsewhere, Karna was discussing some matters with Drona and Ashwatthama when Devara approached them.

"So, Karna," Devara began, wearing a faint smile.

"I hear that the wedding preparations are progressing rather well."

Karna looked towards him.

"Yes, Maharaja. The arrangements are being taken care of."

"Good. After spending so many years fighting battles, you finally have something more important to prepare for."

Ashwatthama immediately grinned.

"Indeed. I wonder whether he will be as confident standing before Vishali as he is when facing an enemy army."

Drona gave his son a warning glance, but the latter only smiled.

Karna sighed.

"You both seem to have found considerable entertainment in my wedding."

"Naturally," Devara replied.

"We cannot miss the opportunity to see Karna, the great warrior, struggling to answer a few simple questions from his bride."

Ashwatthama laughed.

"Perhaps we should arrange a special contest. Let us see how many questions Vishali can ask before Karna surrenders."

"Enough,"

Karna said, shaking his head.

For a brief moment, however, his stern expression softened.

He looked towards the palace courtyard, where the wedding preparations were taking place.

Vishali had accepted him.

After everything that had happened throughout his life, he had finally found someone who wished to stand beside him not because of his reputation, his strength, or his accomplishments, but because of the person he was.

Devara noticed the change in his expression and allowed the teasing to settle.

"She is fortunate to have you, Karna. And you are fortunate to have found someone who understands you."

Karna looked at him and nodded.

"I know, Maharaja."

Ashwatthama folded his arms.

"Then you had better make certain you do not keep her waiting."

This time, even Drona allowed himself a small smile.

The preparations continued throughout the palace, and the news of Karna’s upcoming marriage soon became one of the most eagerly anticipated occasions in Trivenivrata.

For once, the great warrior would not be entering a battlefield carrying his bow.

He would be entering a wedding mandapa, with Vishali waiting for him.

The day of Karna’s marriage arrived with great celebration throughout Trivenivrata.

The royal palace had been decorated magnificently.

Long garlands of jasmine, marigold, and lotus flowers adorned the pillars, while golden lamps illuminated the corridors.

Musicians played traditional instruments, and the royal kitchens had been preparing an elaborate feast since the previous evening.

Kings, nobles, sages, warriors, and distinguished guests from several kingdoms had gathered to witness the marriage.

For Karna, however, none of the grandeur mattered as much as the woman waiting for him at the wedding mandapa.

Vishali.

His childhood friend, the woman he had loved for years, had finally agreed to become his wife.

Standing before the sacred fire, Karna wore magnificent ceremonial garments and traditional ornaments.

His usual stern expression had softened considerably, and although he attempted to maintain his composure, the happiness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Vishali arrived accompanied by the women of the royal household.

Adorned in beautiful bridal garments and jewellery, she looked towards Karna as she approached the mandapa.

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the surrounding celebrations seemed to disappear from their awareness.

Ashwatthama, standing beside Drona, leaned towards Karna.

"Try not to stare too much. You will have plenty of time to look at your wife after the ceremony."

Karna gave him an irritated glance.

"Can you remain silent for a few moments?"

Ashwatthama chuckled, while Drona shook his head with an amused smile.

Devara, who was seated among the distinguished guests, noticed the exchange and smiled.

The ceremonies proceeded according to the prescribed rituals.

The priests chanted the sacred mantras, offerings were made into the fire, and the couple performed the required rites under the blessings of the elders.

When the time came for Karna to tie the sacred marriage thread around Vishali’s neck, the entire gathering became quiet.

Karna carefully lifted the mangalya and looked at Vishali.

She lowered her eyes, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

He tied it around her neck.

The conches sounded, flowers showered upon the newly married couple, and the gathering erupted into cheers.

"JAI!"

"LONG LIVE KARNA AND VISHALI!"

The marriage was complete.

Karna and Vishali exchanged garlands once again before receiving blessings from the elders.

Devara personally approached them, placing his hand upon Karna’s shoulder.

"May your life together be filled with happiness, Karna. You have spent enough years facing enemies. I hope your household gives you nothing but peace."

Karna smiled.

"Thank you, Maharaja."

Devara then turned towards Vishali.

"Take good care of him. He may be a formidable warrior, but he can be rather stubborn."

Vishali laughed softly.

"I already know that, Maharaja."

Karna looked between them.

"I believe I am being discussed in front of me."

"That is because you are the subject,"

Ashwatthama remarked from behind.

The surrounding guests laughed.

Yet, amidst all the happiness and celebration, there was someone whose heart carried a different kind of emotion.

Among the gathered guests stood Kunti.

She had attended the wedding, but unlike the others, she found herself struggling to maintain a smile.

Her eyes remained fixed upon Karna.

Her eldest son.

The son she had brought into the world, yet had been unable to raise.

The child she had abandoned out of fear and the circumstances surrounding his birth.

The child who had grown into a remarkable warrior without ever knowing that she was his mother.

And now, he was getting married.

Kunti watched as Vishali stood beside him, receiving the blessings of the elders.

She saw the happiness on Karna’s face, the gentle way he looked at his bride, and the warmth with which the people around them welcomed the couple.

Her eyes gradually filled with tears.

She wanted to walk towards him.

She wanted to stand beside him, place her hand upon his head, and bless him as a mother should bless her son on the day of his marriage.

She wanted to tell him that she was proud of him.

But she could not.

What right did she have to approach him as his mother after everything she had done?

She had not been beside him during his childhood.

She had not comforted him when the world questioned his birth.

She had not been there when he struggled to establish himself as a warrior, nor had she protected him when others humiliated him because of the circumstances of his birth.

Radha had raised him.

Adhiratha had given him a father’s love.

They were the parents who had stood beside Karna throughout his life.

Kunti had only watched from a distance, carrying the secret of his birth while he lived without knowing her.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

My son...

She pressed her lips together, trying to control her emotions.

How she wished she could have stood beside him today, not as a queen or a guest, but as his mother.

She imagined what it would have been like to perform the wedding rituals for him, to welcome Vishali into their family, and to bless the couple before the sacred fire.

But those moments belonged to another life, one that her own decisions had denied her.

"I don’t deserve this..." she whispered to herself.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her saree.

She felt that she had no right to claim the happiness of being called Karna’s mother when she had not fulfilled the responsibilities that came with that relationship.

She could not even bring herself to approach him and ask for his blessings as his mother.

The thought made her eyes burn.

From a little distance, Gandhari noticed Kunti standing unusually quietly.

She followed her gaze and understood immediately.

Kunti was watching Karna.

Gandhari approached her without drawing attention from the others.

"Rajmata," she called gently.

Kunti quickly wiped her tears and turned towards her.

"Gandhari..."

"You have been standing here for quite some time."

Kunti attempted a smile.

"I was watching the ceremony. Karna looks happy, doesn’t he?"

"He does," Gandhari replied.

Both women looked towards the newly married couple.

After a moment, Gandhari spoke again.

"You should not spend this entire occasion hiding your tears."

Kunti lowered her eyes.

"How can I celebrate freely when I cannot even stand beside my own son as his mother?"

Gandhari remained quiet.

"I should have been there,"

Kunti continued, her voice trembling.

"I should have held him when he was born. I should have watched him grow, guided him, and protected him. Instead, I left him to face the world without knowing who he was."

She swallowed.

"Today, another woman is standing beside him as his wife, and I am standing here among the guests, unable to tell him that I am his mother. What kind of mother does that make me?"

Gandhari gently placed her hand over Kunti’s.

"A mother carries many regrets, Rajmata. But you cannot change what has already happened."

Kunti looked at her.

"I know."

"Then do not allow those regrets to take away the happiness of this day. Karna has found someone who loves him. He has people who care for him, and he has a place where he is respected. At least today, allow yourself to be happy for him."

Kunti looked towards Karna once more.

He was smiling at something Vishali had whispered to him.

And despite the tears still gathering in her eyes, Kunti managed a small smile.

"May he always remain this happy," she whispered.

Gandhari gently squeezed her hand.

The celebrations continued around them, the sounds of music and laughter filling the palace.

Karna had begun a new Chapter of his life, surrounded by people who loved him.

And somewhere among those people stood the woman who had given birth to him, silently blessing him from a distance, carrying both the joy of seeing her son happy and the sorrow of knowing that she had missed so much of his life.

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(Author note:)

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