5 : || Unprecedented Revelation ||

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
"P-Putra.." Kunti trailed off in horror, as her sons stood there shocked. 
Priyamvada gulped in fear, "Rajkumar, that Kumari-" 
Yudhisthir showed his palm to her, "We would like it if you leave us alone with our Mata, Priyamvada Kaki." 
The handmaiden looked down in guilt, before taking her leave from the chamber while the Pandavas stood in front of Kunti. 
"Mata, was Priyamvada Kaki telling right? Y-You had another son?" Yudhisthir asked slowly, dreading the answer. 
"And is Angraj Karn related to you by any chance, Mata?" Arjun questioned, in a low tone. 
"What was Kaki talking about distraction and mistake, Mata?" Sahdev asked, foreshadowing something grave. 
For a few moments, Kunti remained silent looking at the floor, her eyes shedding tears of longing, guilt and pain. 
The memories from her past rushed back to her mind, choking her from inside. 
She couldn't even raise her head and meet the accusing eyes of her sons now. What was she supposed to say? 
"I- that- Actually..." She still trailed off, as with great difficulty she looked at her sons. 
"Yes, you have another elder brother. And he is none other than Angraj Karn." 
Though she whispered the name, her voice echoed in their ears as they felt a sharp whiplash over their body by the revelation. 
As the time ticked, Kunti found herself blurting the truth out to her sons.
"I was just a teenager when Maharishi Durvasa granted me a blessing that I can summon any God and obtain sons. I was naive at that time and thought nothing of that sort could happen but out of curiosity, I tried the holy chant." She paused, as tears trickled down her face. 
There was a pin drop silence and slowly the Pandavas dreaded her next words, which could be something that may question their trust and faith. 
"One morning I went to the river side to offer my prayers to Bhagwan Suryanarayan. It was then, due to my foolishness I summoned Lord Surya to see if the chant actually worked." She bit her lower lips, to stop her sob. 
"And as per it, I was blessed with a newborn child." She again paused, as her throat cloaked with emotions. 
While her sons anticipated her next words, the silence was surely testing their patience. 
"He is your eldest brother, Putro. He is Suryaputra Karn." She added looking at them, her voice just above the whispering tone. 
As if the ground beneath their feet moved away while they heard something that questioned their entire existence. 
They had another brother. Eldest among them all, and they were unknown about his existence all those years. 
"When were you planning to tell us this, Mata?" Nakul asked, whispering though.