Karna's Wife by Kavita Kane

slight smile on his face when he turned back to Shona. ‘Yes,’ he answered reflectively. ‘I do not love her the way I love Vrushali, who I know you are utterly devoted to. I will never hurt Vrushali, if that’s what you are afraid of. I know that’s the reason you are asking me this question. I respect her too much. She is a very good woman, with a sweet, gentle nature, who can make everyone happy. Uruvi, on the other hand, is like a wild exotic flower in a desert who must be sheltered from the bitter winds. I want to protect Uruvi; she has fought the world to be with me. No one need think of protecting Vrushali for she is too capable and self-sufficient. I think Vrushali loves me for myself and not for what I may become. Whatever happens to me or whatever I do, I shall never disappoint her. But I am not good enough for Uruvi.’
    ‘She doesn’t think so. She adores you, as does Vrushali.’
    ‘I admire Vrushali more than any woman I have ever known,’ said Karna gravely. ‘But Uruvi is much too good for me. She has a wonderful intelligence; she is as good as she is lovely. I love her enthusiasm, her lively humour, her ambition to work as a healer. She is interested in everything and has a lot of knowledge and good sense. There are very few topics she cannot discuss. She is an extraordinary creature of opposites—there seem to be two women in her, one rational, the other emotional. I am entirely unworthy of her.’
    ‘What utter rubbish! When have you started getting daunted by love and beauty?’ Shona scoffed.
    ‘It’s not just love and beauty as you so dismissively say. Uruvi has taught me a lot of things…’
    ‘Oh? How? What has she taught you?’ Shona asked, bewildered.
    ‘She has taught me to live…’
    Shona laughed scornfully. ‘Really? Is she teaching you how to be more of a kshatriya? No, the question here is—is she worthy of you? Is she suited for you, for our family?’
    ‘She is. She has already passed her test…but I have yet to do so.’ Karna had his back to Shona so Shona could not see his face. Was it possible that Karna had smiled when he said those words?



Friends: Ashwatthama and Duryodhana
    At the King of Anga’s palace, a visitor who often came by was Ashwatthama. Uruvi was a little intrigued by this unusual friendship, because Guru Dronacharya’s disdain for Karna was as notorious as his undying affection for his famous disciple, Arjuna. Ashwatthama, the ‘brahmin warrior’ and the only son of Guru Dronacharya, clearly did not follow his father’s sentiments, Uruvi gathered, with a mirthless smile. And neither father nor son made any pretence about their feelings for Karna. Dronacharya’s dislike of Karna was equal to the loyalty Ashwatthama pledged to the same man. Dronacharya’s distrust of Karna went a long way back—as long as Ashwatthma’s burgeoning friendship with the young Karna when the sutaputra had dared to visit the guru’s ashram so many years ago.
    ‘It soon became clear to us that Radheya was obsessed about learning warfare rather than taking up a charioteer’s profession like his father,’ sighed Radha, when a curious Uruvi asked her how Karna and Ashwatthama became friends. She never once called him Karna, Uruvi noticed with amusement; he was always her Radheya, the son of Radha.
    ‘One day, bowing to Radheya’s demands, Adhiratha decided to take him to meet Dronacharya, then an established teacher in the art of warfare who taught the Kuru princes. But Dronacharya, on realising that Radheya was Adhiratha’s son, rudely refused to accept Radheya as his student because Adhiratha was a charioteer. He only taught kshatriyas, he insisted. Angered by the guru’s insolence and being dismissed so indifferently, and seeing his dream crumbling before him, Radheya was a little more impolite to the guru than he meant to be.’
    ‘Oh, what did Karna say? I know that Dronacharya was so piqued that he has still not forgiven Karna,’ Uruvi asked,