Outside, 114 servants immediately bowed when Karna approached. Dushala looked relieved; she believed he had come to help.
Karna walked slowly among them. He asked questions.
"How many of you are married?"
Many hands rose.
"Children?"
More hands.
"Parents still alive?"
Some nodded. Some shook their heads.
"How many wish to return to Hastinapur?"
No one raised a hand. Silence settled over the courtyard.
Karna smiled slightly. "So all of you truly intend to live here."
They all nodded.
He turned toward Dushala.
"And you still want everyone despite Mrinalini's order?"
Dushala lowered her head in silence.
Karna asked the servants again.
"Can any of you read?"
Some could. Some could not.
"Can anyone keep accounts?"
A few stepped forward.
"Any physicians among you?"
Three women raised their hands.
"Teachers?"
Several more.
"Cooks? Tailors? Musicians?"
Many stepped forward in each group.
Karna studied them for a moment, then said, "When I brought Mrinalini to the household and accepted her as my Chief Queen, I promised her that in the matters of Antahpur, she would have the highest authority. However, I do not want to disappoint my queen who just entered the household over something as insignificant as this, where there is no dharma at stake. Hence, I can welcome you as the citizens of Kanipura but not as Queen Dushala's servants."
Everyone looked confused. What did he mean by that?
Meanwhile, Dushala blinked in surprise.
Karna then continued. "In accordance with your capabilities, you will all be given a home and a place to work to make your livelihood here at Kanipura. Some of you will work in the palace while some of you will be living in the city. But none of you will ever face injustice in the city of Kanipura."
Everyone bowed and thanked Karna in unison.
The weight on Dushala's face lifted. She smiled—genuinely—and thanked him, even beginning to bow slightly.
Karna stopped her at once. "No need. You left your home. No one should ask you to abandon every memory together with it."
Dushala's eyes glistened.
Meanwhile, Dhavani happened to walk past at that moment. She said nothing. She only paused long enough to hear the last words—"No one should ask you to abandon every memory"—and to see Dushala smiling while Karna settled the matter himself. Then she quietly continued on her way.
A small thought crossed her mind: "When I came… I never demanded anything."
That was all. She did not linger on it.
---
Just before sunset, the queens gathered for the evening meal. Conversation was ordinary. Mrinalini returned from her duties as usual, and Karna explained his proposal to her.
As a King, he doesn't need to ask their opinions.
But Karna always does take the opinion of Mrinalini, and in matters of governance, he often takes advice from Sumedha.
And Mrinalini agreed almost at once. "Instead of remaining palace attendants, they become public servants. It is a good solution."
Sumedha praised the idea.
Ratnaprabha nodded. Subhadra smiled. Dushala's face brightened once more.
Dhavani smiled as well. While the others continued talking, she quietly placed more food on Karna's plate instead of letting a servant do it. No one noticed—except perhaps Sumedha, who glanced once and said nothing.
After all, it is a scene she has seen countless times in the past few years.
The meal continued in peaceful conversation.
***
A few more days later;
The golden rays of dawn had only begun to spread across the eastern horizon when the palace of Kanipura stirred to life.
In the royal courtyard, the seven celestial horses pawed gently at the marble ground, their golden manes shimmering in the morning light. The divine chariot waited silently. Servants and soldiers stood respectfully to either side while the queens gathered to see Karna off.
Mrinalini stood at the front. As Chief Queen, she already knew the familiar routine whenever Karna left the kingdom, yet every departure still carried the same quiet weight. Karna stepped before her and placed the royal seal into her hands.
"Until I return, the affairs of Dakshina Kalinga are once again in your care, dear."
Mrinalini accepted it with both hands and bowed her head. "Please travel without concern, Maharaj. I shall ensure the kingdom remains as peaceful when you return as it is today."
Dhavani, however, quickly added, "I hope you return alone this time, Maharaj. Not with another bride."
A faint smile crossed Karna's face while others chuckled along. Dushala was slightly uncomfortable, feeling as if Dhavani targeted her, but she kept silent.
He nodded toward the others, exchanged a few final words, and ascended the divine chariot. The seven celestial horses neighed proudly. The next moment, the chariot rose into the skies and disappeared beyond the clouds.
Far to the north, where the world became a kingdom of snow and silence, the towering peaks of the Himalayas stood unmoved beneath an endless sky.
The divine chariot descended gently upon the summit of Nanda Parvat.
Karna stepped onto the snow-covered ground. The freezing wind swept against his robes at once. His gaze went instinctively toward the solitary stone where Dharani continued her meditation.
She had not moved. Her saffron robes remained dusted with snow. Her long hair flowed gently in the mountain wind while her lips continued their unbroken chant.
"Om Namo Narayana… Om Namo Narayana… Om Namo Narayana…"
Karna's expression softened for a moment. Then it froze. His eyes slowly widened.
"Impossible."
The transparent barrier surrounding Dharani had disappeared completely.
He turned at once toward the surrounding mountains, his divine senses expanding across the snowy landscape. Nothing. No signs of battle. Yet his protective barrier was gone.
Karna frowned. "That barrier was born from Vijaya itself. Time alone cannot destroy it." His fingers tightened around the legendary bow. "Then… who removed it?"
His first thought was simple: someone had destroyed the barrier but perhaps not disturbed her and left.
Without wasting another moment, he raised the bow again. Divine particles gathered around the bowstring, weaving themselves into another celestial arrow. He intended to recreate the protective barrier before speaking once more to Dharani.
Just as he drew the string—
"Stop it, child."
The gentle voice floated across the mountain like warm sunlight upon winter snow.
Karna's fingers stopped. His breathing halted. That voice carried neither command nor force, yet it possessed an authority before which even the winds seemed to grow quiet.
Slowly he lowered the bow and turned.
Not far away, a divine woman materialized. S
he wore garments of pure white bordered with deep crimson and embroidered in flowing threads of gold that shimmered beneath the mountain sun.
A magnificent golden crown rested upon her head, while a radiant halo surrounded her like the first light of dawn.
In one hand she held a blooming lotus, in another a sacred golden kalasha.
Her third hand held a resplendent trident, while the fourth remained raised in blessing.
Her long dark hair flowed freely in the icy wind, yet around her the snow itself seemed reluctant to fall.
Karna's pupils trembled.
"Nanda… Devi…"
Without another thought, he fell to his knees. Joining both palms, he lowered his head until it almost touched the snow.
"Mata…"
The word escaped naturally.
His voice became slightly unsteady. "This son… never imagined he would receive Your divine darshan."
A gentle smile appeared upon the Goddess's face. "Yashasvi Bhava, son."
Her blessing settled over him like warm sunlight. Karna remained bowed for several moments before slowly lifting his head.
"What fortune has brought the Divine Mother here herself?"