Chapter 36: Curse

Chapter 32: The Reunion of Suns

Indraprastha glittered like a promise reborn. The capital stood adorned in gold and garlands, waiting to crown its glory with ceremony. Dancers filled the courtyards, priests blessed the walls, and nobles from every direction arrived to witness a new dawn in Bharat.

But it was not the celebration that brought Krishna and Agasthya back.

They arrived at twilight, cloaked not in regalia but in silence, bearing a truth heavier than any crown.

In the inner chamber of the palace, the five Pandavas stood side by side, dressed in white and gold, prepared for the rituals.

Krishna stepped forward. "Before this day begins in joy, it must begin in truth."

Agasthya raised his head. "You have another brother."

They froze.

Yudhishthira's face darkened. "What are you saying?"

Krishna looked at him, steady and gentle. "You know him. You've fought beside him. You've envied him."

Bhima stepped forward, confused. "Who?"

"Karna," Agasthya said simply.

The word dropped like stone.

Arjuna staggered back. Nakula and Sahadeva looked to Yudhishthira in disbelief.

"No," Arjuna whispered. "That cannot be."

"Karna is the first son of Kunti," Krishna said. "Born of the sun. Hidden by shame. Raised by love."

Silence fell.

Then the door opened.

Karna entered.

He wore no armor. No crown. Only truth.

The brothers stared.

He said nothing at first. Then:

"I did not come here to be accepted. Only to be known."

Yudhishthira stepped forward. For a long time, he said nothing.

Then, softly: "All this time... I cursed fate for giving us an enemy like you. When all it gave us was a brother."

Karna smiled faintly. "Fate has never been kind to any of us."

Bhima strode forward and grabbed his hand. "You could've told me! You idiot!"

"I didn't know," Karna said.

"And now you do," Bhima said. "So you're stuck with us."

Nakula stepped forward. "I always wanted an older brother who'd hit harder than Bhima."

Sahadeva simply hugged him. Quietly, tightly.

But it was Arjuna who stood apart.

He looked at Karna for a long time.

"I hated you."

Karna nodded. "I hated myself."

"I don't know how to change that overnight."

Karna smiled. "Then don't. Just start with today."

Arjuna stepped forward.

And they embraced.

---

Later, as the sun rose over Indraprastha, Kunti watched from the balcony.

Yudhishthira joined her. He looked at her, calm but distant.

"You could've said something."

"I was afraid."

He nodded slowly. Then, half-smiling:

"Let this be a curse on women everywhere, then. That no mother can ever keep a secret again."

Kunti looked down, half-laughing, half-crying.

And inside, six brothers stood side by side.

Finally, whole.