Arjun's POV:
"You can go and meet Angraj now, Kumar," the guard said.
"Alright."
As soon as I returned to Hastinapur, I headed straight to Angraj Karna's palace. I haven't even seen my brothers, Mata, or anyone else yet.
Strange, right?
But I have a reason.
While I was still in Dwarka, Madhav had once said,
> "You were right about getting help from Angraj Karna, Parth. Why did you give up so fast?"
That single line stuck with me. Madhav never says anything without a reason.
So yes—I'm certain now. He's the one who can help me. He's also the one who deserves the truth. My eldest brother.
Today, I've decided to do something bold.
I'll tell him the truth. About who he is.
Yes, it sounds insane. But in the original timeline, Mata Kunti only revealed his identity when the war was already upon us. When everything was far too broken to be fixed.
But I'm here to change that. To stop the war before it starts.
And if I stay silent now—will he never know what he truly is?
Will he die in ignorance? Without ever knowing his real place in this family?
No. He deserves the truth.
And maybe—just maybe—he'll finally stop hating me.
---
Karna's POV:
"Pranipat, Angraj Karna," Arjun greeted, entering.
"Kalyan ho," I replied. "What brings you here, Kumar?"
"I... I wanted to talk. I have something important to say."
He looked nervous—unusual for him.
"You're stammering," I said, raising a brow. "Didn't know you feared me that much."
"Bold of you to assume I fear you, Angraj."
There it was—the fire again. The Parth I knew.
We're similar in one way at least: neither of us knows how to back down.
"Well, before you say whatever you came to say," I began, "I need to tell you something important first."
"Trust me, Angraj. Nothing could be more important than what I'm about to say."
"You're wrong," I said firmly. "This matters—"
"No. Let me speak first. Then you can say your part."
"Do you always love arguing this much?" I snapped. "I'm not here for hours of back-and-forth."
"And you really are as stubborn as Bheem," he shot back. "Why can't you ever just yield for once?"
"Because I never learned to," I said. "And thanks, but I wouldn't want to be your brother. You're loud, annoying, and insufferably stubborn. Don't forget—we're rivals."
That silenced him.
Strange. That wasn't even one of my harshest insults. Why did he go so quiet?
"But you are my brother," he said softly.
I froze.
Was this a joke?
I tried to laugh. "You didn't have to match my joke with one of your own. And with such a straight face?"
He didn't laugh. He didn't speak. Just looked at me. Eyes unreadable.
I frowned. "What are you talking about? How can I be your brother?"
"You are the eldest son of Mata Kunti, Jyesth," he said with unsettling calmness. "You're not a Radheya. You're a Kaunteya. The rightful heir of Hastinapur."
The words hit like thunder.
I stared at him.
"You dare say I'm not the son of Radha Ma and Pita Adhirath? You dare insult them like that?"
My voice rose. I didn't care.
"Don't shout, Jyesth—"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
He looked… hurt. But I was beyond caring.
"Fine," he said, quietly. "But lower your voice. No one else should hear this."
"Then tell me—how do you know this?"
"That's not what matters right now. If you want the truth, go ask the ones who raised you. Then go to Mata Kunti. She'll tell you everything."
I couldn't breathe.
No. No, this can't be real.
I stormed out.
'This must be a lie. This can't be my life. God can't be that cruel.'
---
Meanwhile...
Unseen by either of them, someone else had been listening.
Every word.
---