Hasthinapur was alive with celebration. The streets were lined with people, their voices blending into a sea of cheers and excitement. The new king and queen, Pandu and Kunti, had arrived, and the city rejoiced in their honor.
Karna stood at a distance, watching the grand procession. His sharp eyes caught the golden chariot as it rolled through the city gates, the sunlight catching the ornaments that adorned the horses. But it was not the chariot or the celebration that held his attention.
It was her.
The queen.
There was something about her...a grace, a quiet strength. The way she smiled as she looked around at the people, as if truly seeing them, not just acknowledging their cheers. It was a smile that reached her eyes, a happiness so pure that Karna felt something stir within him.
An unknown warmth.
He did not understand it. He did not know her, yet the sight of her joy filled his heart in a way nothing ever had.
That night, as the celebrations continued, Karna wandered near the lake outside the palace. The moon's silver light danced upon the water, illuminating the delicate lotuses floating upon its surface. He picked up a stone and tossed it across the water. It skipped twice before sinking.
And then an idea struck him.
His fingers curled around his bow. His mind raced. What if he could give the queen a gift? Something beautiful, something magical, something that would make her smile once more.
With quiet determination, he notched an arrow and aimed at the sky. The air around him stilled. His heartbeat slowed. He whispered a silent prayer to the Sun, his unknown father, and released.
Twang!
The arrow shot into the sky, disappearing into the darkness. A moment of silence. And then, a miracle.
The wind shifted. The surface of the lake trembled. And then, from the water, the lotuses lifted, twirling into the air as if drawn by an unseen force.
One by one, the flowers rose, caught in an enchanting dance. Higher and higher they ascended until they drifted downward once more, showering the palace gardens in a soft rain of petals.
A rain of lotuses.
Gasps echoed through the city as the people noticed the phenomenon. No one knew how it had happened, but they watched in wonder as the delicate petals floated down, covering the pathways in a bed of blossoms.
From the palace balcony, Queen Kunti stood, her eyes wide in astonishment. And then...a smile. A radiant, pure smile of delight as she reached out, catching a falling petal in her hand.
Karna, hidden among the trees, watched.
His chest ached with something unfamiliar. Pride. Joy. An unexplainable satisfaction.
He had given her this moment.
And that was enough.
As the last petal drifted to the ground, Karna turned away, slipping into the shadows once more. No one would know it was him. No one would praise him for his skill. But it did not matter.
For the first time in his life, Karna felt truly happy.