98. The truth is out.

                                    

                                          
" What do you mean it's in him! You said they were looking for the weapon even before you broke down. The pain you felt created that weapon! But you said  Jyeshth Yudhishthir and Devraj were already looking for it. I am confused." I heard Bheem say. 
" And it is true. Despite already existing, the weapon is still a part of Karali's soul. " Sudhuma said, eyes hard as she looked at Sulo expectantly. 
" I — alright. I knew they were all looking for the weapon. I also knew, that the gods truly knew where it was, well. I'd rather it not land in the hand of anyone. I knew where the weapon was. It's one of the agniastr. We of all people always knew. Karali had to lie to Dharma because she and all of us weren't allowed to let anyone know of where it was by order of Agnidev. So I went and took the weapon away. Karali is the one of us who has the most fierce and terrifying flame. Should anyone even dare to touch the weapon they would meet a sorry fate. So I took the weapon to her from Vajji . But when I reached there, she had been sobbing, her eyes bloodshot as she sat on her haunches, crying her eyes out. I was confused but my dharm to protect the weapon came first. So. I asked Karali to look after it, as she had finally calmed down. But the sight of the weapon triggered the guilt she held for lying to Dharma and she raged in her grief, nearly burning the weapon to ashes as she unleashed her flame. Agnilok, even as it was of fire was obliterated by the fire of her pain and rage, as a part of her soul embedded itself into the weapon. Now we had a problem. The weapon still had to be hidden, protected, with or without Karali's soul in it.. " Sulo trailed off. Even as I saw the vaidy gently remove the arrow from AJ's heart, I felt my own shatter at each groan of pain he made. 
" So, Agnidev told us all to protect the weapon with our own flames. Layers of blood and flames, fierce protections surrounded it, until we reduced it to the size of a pebble. But now, this pebble was a dynamite. Vowing to keep it safe, Karali chose to house it in her own heart. But we warned her against it, saying that it wouldn't be able to pass on to her mortal body. So we left the weapon right where we removed it from, in Vajji. But then, the last part of the enchantment was what Karali regretted. She willed the weapon to house itself in the heart of the one who holds hers when she takes mortal birth once he reaches Vajji. She claimed that there would be no chance they would come here and that the weapon would be safe till she died and then she would take it away. What she didn't know was that she'd have to come here as Sagarika. Now, you'll ask why I erased her memories of this, " She sighed, as I looked at her eyes. She seemed to be apologising for far too many things, but I didn't truly understand why. 
" After she willed it to happen, with the last enchantment, Karali realised something. Her mortal birth would have a partner. An innocent. One who might not even be able to house the energy of the flame. Even if it ended up being Dharma, she didn't want to hurt him. Her approach with the enchantment was to keep the weapon with her at all times. But it backfired the moment she realised the truth. Her pain at Dharma's loss, then even at this made me pity her. And I made a reckless decision. She needed to forget her pain. Which is why, I erased her memories of after the garden, not even what she did to the weapon remained. And then, we all chose to leave it be. " Sulo finished her story. 
"So you are saying, I hold a bomb in my heart? " Yudhishthir asked finally and Sulo nodded, as Mano rushed in. 
" Ajatshatru! " She shouted, handing her son over to someone else as she skidded over to the bed. 
She pushed everyone aside, sitting on the bed as she shook his body, " Wake up! You can't die! " She cried, putting her head into the crook of his shoulder as she shook him constantly, looking for any signs of life. 
I on the other hand was.... Dumbstruck. 
Yudhishthir housed a weapon. AJ was nearly dead. I made the weapon which could kill my husband. It was in his heart. I didn't know how I could pull it out without killing him or setting it off. 
I couldn't see anything but blur, my eyes glassed over as I stared at AJ's form, unmoving, silent. Unlike my best friend. He was full of life. 
" I'm, sorry Sagarika. I couldn't uphold my promise, " I heard Yudhishthir say to me. 
With what right could I accuse him when I was the one who signed his death note.. 
I stood up as he looked at me with concerned eyes. 
" Karali? " 
" Sagarika. Please I'm sorry—" 
I didn't hear the rest of it as I flee the room, rushing past the workers and maids as they carried healing supplies for the wounded. 
I nearly knocked into everyone as I ran. I could distantly hear Yudhishthir calling after me, rushing to help as I finally reached our room and locked the doors. 
Fear gripped my heart. I clawed at my skin, my husband would die because of me! I was responsible for his pain! 
"Sagarika! Please! Let me apologise! I'm sorry! " I heard Yudhishthir banging the door, even as I sat there, only Sulo's words ate me alive as I replayed the moments I wrote my own husband's death note. 
" Sagarika? " "Karali! " I heard a new voice shout as I tucked my head into my knees, sliding down the door. 
It might have been at least fifteen minutes of bangs when they went remote silent. 
" Sakhi, open the door. " I heard a voice call. 
" Go away, " I answered back. 
" Sakhi, it isn't your fault. You need to open the door. Open the door. " He said gently, pleading. 
I couldn't open it, my hands were shuddering far too much. 
But I unlatched the door as I crawled away from it. 
I heard the knowing steps of Krishn walking in. 
" Sakhi, this isn't your fault. " He whispered and I laughed, bitter, hoarse from tears. 
" Not my fault! I am killing my own husband! How's it not my fault! " I yelled at him and he sighed, before coming to sit by me. 
" Karali, even as you were cursed all those eons ago in Agnilok, I told you. Karm always has a way of coming back to you. You need to have faith in the time —" 
" I DON'T WANT TO HAVE FAITH! YOU TOOK MY PARENTS, MY GRANDPARENTS! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW AJ IS! YUDHISHTHIR IS ABOUT TO DIE ALL BECAUSE I WAS TOO IN PAIN AND GRIEF TO KNOW WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO! HOW DARE YOU SAY I HAVE TO KEEP FAITH! " I screamed at him. 
" Sagarika. Do you not trust me? " He asked and I looked at him with unshed tears. 
" It's not a matter of trust Krishn. I'm utterly, completely lost. " I said to him, i felt my legs giving back away as I slumped against the wall, eyes flitting with ways to escape this torment, yet  he smiled. 
" Some say that you find yourself when you have lost yourself. Want to find out? " He asked and I looked at him and for the first time today, looking into those dark eyes brought me peace. 
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Okay I lied. ... Like Sulo 😈
This is the last chapter for the next four days.... 
Tell me how it was.. I'm sure many of you must have been confused after the last chapter... I was itching to tell you the truth.... So I did. 😁
Much love 
Radhekrishn ♥