Chapter 18: The Departure of a Brother
General POV
Shon had turned eight a few months ago.
It had been three months since the princes of Hastinapur had left for their gurukul under Dronacharya's tutelage. The city missed their presence, but the forest by the Ganga had not fallen silent. One boy still trained with the fire of ten warriors—Shon.
He never missed a day of his routine. Rain or shine, he pushed his body, mind, and soul every single day. The results were obvious. Shon had grown into a lean and strong boy, his compact muscles hiding an immense power that could rival even the strength of two fully grown elephants.
His stamina was unbelievable. He could now complete 500 pushups, 500 pullups, 500 situps, and hold a plank for 30 minutes—all done three times a day. But in all this, he never let arrogance creep into his heart. His constant chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, the Panchakshari Mantra (Om Namah Shivaya), and Hanuman Chalisa grounded him, giving him peace and humility.
But even this tireless warrior had someone he looked up to—his elder brother Karna.
And Karna was working even harder.
Fueled by the growth and determination of his younger brother, Karna had pushed himself past every limit. But now he had reached a plateau. No matter how much he trained, the improvement was marginal. He had exhausted what self-learning could offer.
He needed a guru.
A true master.
He made up his mind. At dawn, he would leave in search of the teacher who would show him the path to greatness.
---
That evening, Karna stood by the banks of the Ganga, having completed his Surya puja to the setting sun. The orange rays danced over the water, and the soft murmur of the river filled the air with serenity.
Sitting on a stone nearby, watching the rippling water and lost in thought, was Shon.
Karna walked up and sat beside him silently.
Feeling the presence, Shon turned his head and smiled.
"How was your day, brother?" Shon asked.
"It was good. What about you?"
"Same as always—training and mischief," Shon replied with a grin.
Karna chuckled. "Shon, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"You're going to find your guru, right?" Shon asked casually.
Karna looked at him, surprised. "How did you know?"
Shon shrugged. "I had a feeling. You've been thinking a lot lately."
"Yeah… I need someone to guide me. I've reached my limit alone."
Shon nodded seriously. "That's the right decision. But listen to me carefully, brother. We are sutas. Not everyone will welcome you. Be prepared for rejection."
Karna's jaw tightened. "I know. But I will try with all my heart."
"Good," Shon said. "And remember—never lie about who you are. Knowledge gained by deceit never stays. When you need it most, it will fail you. If someone refuses to teach you because of your birth, then they are not worthy to be your teacher."
Karna stared at Shon. His little brother wasn't just growing in strength—he was growing in wisdom.
"I'll remember that," he said quietly.
Shon continued, "Also, don't compare yourself with anyone. Compare yourself with who you were yesterday. Your only competition is yourself. And don't chase the title of 'best archer.' That spot belongs to Mahadev alone. Just try to be better every day."
Karna nodded solemnly.
"And don't forget us," Shon added with a small laugh. "Especially Radha maa and Pitashree. We'll be waiting for you. And when you come back, I promise I'll prank you so bad you'll wish you stayed away."
Karna laughed too. The two brothers sat there for a while, silently watching the river carry the twilight light away.
---
That night, after dinner, Karna shared his decision with Radha and Adhirath. They were quiet for a long moment.
Radha's eyes welled with tears. "Must you go, beta?"
"Maa… I have to," Karna said softly. "I've done all I can on my own. If I want to grow, if I want to fulfill my dreams—I need a teacher."
Adhirath placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then go. Follow your path. And no matter where you go, remember this—our blessings are always with you."
Radha hugged him tightly. "We will always wait for you, putra. Come back stronger. Come back wiser."
That night, Karna slept with his head on Radha's lap, just like he did as a child. Her fingers stroked his hair, her eyes lost in thought. He had grown up so fast.
---
The next morning, the sky was still painted in the colors of dawn when Karna stood at the threshold of his home.
He touched the feet of Radha and Adhirath.
"Victory to you, son," Adhirath said.
"My blessings are with you," Radha whispered.
He turned to Shon and embraced him.
"Be well, little brother."
"Come back as the warrior you're destined to be, big brother," Shon replied.
And with that, Karna turned and walked away—towards an uncertain path, but with a heart full of determination.
This marks the begining of karna journey become somtheting greater withoud doing the same mistake his original self had done . This is due to influence of Shon in his life and his last parting words.