TWENTY
They sat like that, interminably, Karna with his head in his mother’s lap and his eyes shut. Neither knew if moments passed, or hours. Then Karna roused himself. He said, “Never in my life have I known such peace. I don’t know if hours have gone by, or years. But tell me why you came, for what boon? Radheya Karna waits to hear what you want from him. He is impatient to do anything for his mother.”
Kunti said, “Don’t say Radheya any more, my son. Say Kaunteya Karna. You are Kunti’s first son and she is proud of you. Kunti has six sons now, not five and she cries for joy.”
But he stopped her lips with his hand. He was trembling. “You make me cry as well, mother, because I long to be called Kaunteya too. But that cannot be in this life. Karna is Radheya and Radheya he must remain. No more of that; tell me what you came for. If it doesn’t taint my honor and it is in my power to give, you shall have it, be it anything.”
Kunti said, “You have suffered such indignity, such shame: because the world never knew you are Kunti’s son and Surya Deva’s. Your time of torment is over, my child. You hated your brothers, never knowing who they were. Put all that behind you; now you know the truth, you cannot fight the Pandavas. Come with me, I will take you to them. They will worship you and make you lord of the earth. From today, your destiny lies with them; you must leave Duryodhana and come with me. This is the boon I came to beg.”
A wry, familiar smile was on Karna’s lips, “Strangest times are upon us! These last two days, two of the noblest ones alive have offered me the earth. Both say that Yudhishtira himself will serve me. But, tell me mother, what will really happen if I do come away with you?”
Without hesitation, she said, “Your brother Arjuna will fall at your feet and the hatred between you will vanish like darkness before the sun. The Pandavas will win the war and the world will be yours to rule, because you are my eldest son. Karna will not be a sutaputra any more, but the emperor of Bharatavarsha. All your shame and suffering will be paid back to you in honor and glory! Come away with me.”
Suddenly, the disk of the sun on the river grew blinding. Kunti and Karna were swathed in uncanny light, dazzled. A voice spoke out of heaven, earth and river, the voice of Surya Deva, Lord of the day. “My son, do as your mother asks. Long shall you live and be master of the earth.”
Karna jumped up with a cry, but the unworldly radiance faded in a moment. Karna stood staring at Kunti. Slowly, he said, “Mother, you have no idea how much I hated you all these years. I told myself I would abuse you if I ever saw you, because you were to blame for everything I suffered.” He took her hands, “But now I see you before me, your eyes full of tears and all I feel is this great love, which I can hardly believe that I, Karna, am feeling. That and a sadness I cannot describe.
I have loved my mother Radha as I have loved no one else. But even my love for her pales before what I feel for you.”
He went on, “A tide of love for my brothers overwhelms me. I, who am so used to hatred, find this hard to bear! How will I deal with this terrible love that tears at my heart?”
With a cry, Kunti embraced him, as if to clasp him back into her mother’s body. From above, Karna’s father, the westering Surya Deva, watched them.