Third Person's POV :
Duryodhana could not stop thinking about Karna's connection with his sworn enemies, no matter what.
He had always seen Karna as his truest friend. He took pride in Karna's strength and often claimed that Karna was more powerful than Arjuna.
It was true that he had first approached Karna with the intention of defeating Arjuna, but over time, he had genuinely come to regard him as a dear friend.
Karna, in turn, had always stood by Duryodhana. He was ready to sacrifice himself for his friend, and Duryodhana knew that.
So, the revelation that Karna was the eldest Pandava unsettled him deeply.
He was disturbed. He feared Karna might switch sides.
"Will he fight for the Pandavas now?"—that was all he could think about.
He didn't really care that Karna was the rightful heir to the throne. In fact, he was almost pleased about that.
But the idea of his best friend being friendly with those filthy, worthless Pandavas was unbearable.
So when Shakuni repeated his idea about sending the Pandavas to Varnavata, Duryodhana suddenly found the idea very appealing...
Shakuni even suggested convincing Karna to help carry out the plan. He had a twisted, but clever scheme to make it work perfectly.
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Duryodhana's POV :
A servant informed me that Karna had returned to Hastinapur and wished to meet me to discuss something.
Mama Shakuni and Bhrata Sushasana were also in my chamber.
I already knew what Mitra Karna wanted to talk about.
Mama Shakuni assured me that he would handle the situation.
Just then, Mitra entered the room.
He looked... disturbed, and somewhat angry.
"What happened, Mitra? You look furious."
Mitra Karna paused for a moment before speaking.
He described the entire situation—and he was clearly furious with his shameless and spineless mother.
I was secretly glad he didn't like the idea of being the eldest brother of those Pandavas at all.
"Now calm down, child. I truly feel sorry for you right now. Rajmata only cares about her five sons. She dared to hide such a huge truth, and now she dares to tell you to stop fighting Arjuna!
You must not forgive her, my child. She was lying. She was so afraid that she used Arjuna to reveal everything to you.
I believe she never intended to tell you anything. But she was forced to—only to protect that spineless Arjuna and her other sons.
Don't forget, she caused pain to you and your parents. She is cunning.
Arjuna tried to manipulate you. But you must not fall into his filthy trap, my child," said Mama Shakuni.
For the first time, Karna agreed with Mamashree.
"Get revenge, my child. Help us send her five sons to Varnavata. Give her back the pain she gave you the moment you were born.
If she had not abandoned you, you would never have been known as a Sutaputra. You were humiliated at the Kalapradarshan—all because of her," Mamashree continued.
I knew very well that Karna did not mind being a Sutaputra. But I also knew how much he valued his self-respect.
And I knew he was still deeply hurt by the incident at Kalapradarshan.
So I used that pain to provoke him further.
"Mitra Karna, help us. They deserve to be killed this way. Sly people like them are not real warriors.
They don't deserve to die on a battlefield. Their souls should never find peace."
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Karna's POV:
My head was spinning. I knew the Gandhararaja was trying to manipulate me. He was pushing me to make a rash decision.
And my ego and hatred finally won over my morals.
I decided to help them.
"Okay... I will help you, Suyodhana. But how do I convince them?"
"Arjuna is the only one who knows the truth, right? Then talk to him.
Act like a friend and persuade him to go to Varnavata with his four brothers.
But make sure he keeps your identity a secret for now.
Can you do that?" Gandhararaja said.
I nodded, as though under a spell.
Suyodhana and Sushasana looked pleased. But I was torn inside.
Is this really the right decision?
I asked myself that. But my mind refused to answer. I was too stressed...
Now, I was going to meet Arjuna—that sly enemy of mine.
Today is turning out to be quite an entertaining day, to say the least...
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