17 years later.
In the safe outer layer of the forest called Upvana.The tree leaves danced in a sweet wind on both sides of the flowing river.
The river water was clean, light blue; however, under the morning sunlight, it shone gold and appeared green in some places, reflecting the image of thick trees.
The beautiful figure came out on the surface of the same water.
He had long, chin-length black hair. Water dripped down his fair skin. When he opened his lotus-shaped amber eyes, they appeared to shine, reflecting the sunlight.
Karna’s gaze moved to the river shore, and a charming smile appeared on his lips. There sat three very familiar figures, who were playing with the water with their feet.
"You know you guys can really get in trouble," Karna said to the three beautiful women, making all three of them giggle.
In the center was sitting a brown-haired woman with white skin and hazel eyes. Her name was Mina.
She wore a simple sky-blue saree— it was just two long pieces of cotton cloth, as women wear it here. One piece was wrapped around her breasts like a blouse, and the larger piece was wrapped around her waist like a long skirt. The loose end, the pallu, was left hanging behind the skirt— The pallu women normally pulled diagonally across their torso, over their left shoulder. However, currently her pallu was on the ground, and the corner of it was getting wet in the river, leaving her fair, smooth belly bare.
"Mina, your pallu is getting wet," Karna informed the unaware woman.
"Ah?" She pulled her saree’s pallu out.
Karna chuckled.
To her left was Priti in a plain yellow saree. She had dark skin, black hair, and sharp features. And the last in a white saree was Lysa, with dark brown hair and eyes. She was the oldest of them, carrying a mature, naughty lady charm in her smile.
Three of them were married. And the thing was, Karna had sex with them. And those three would really get in trouble if this news even leaked as a rumor, or maybe not- he didn’t know.
"O Karna, right now you should be worrying about someone else, not us," Lysa said with her playful smile that increased her allure.
The two beautiful ladies next to her were stifling their laughter.
At Lysa’s words, Karna raised his brows. However, looking at their playful mood, he knew there was nothing serious. Or they wouldn’t be smiling like this and in the mood to tease him.
In fact, by the words of Lysa, he could already guess whom she was talking about. There was only one.
"And who might that be?" Karna asked, shifting his wet hair back from his face. Lysa’s next words confirmed he had guessed right.
"When we came, the village guards were taking your father to prison", she said without hesitation and even laughed.
Right. Karna sighed. There was no surprise in it. His so-called father was such a thief that the whole village knew he was a thief. So even if he didn’t commit the crime, the first suspect was always him. Well, he deserved it.
His father had even stolen from the temple of Lord Ashen- the God of gods.
NO, Karna wasn’t saying that specifically stealing from the temple was more wrong than stealing from others. No, that’s what other people think, but not Karna.
He believed stealing from a rich temple was much better than stealing from poor villagers, but the point was that his so-called father stole from whom he prayed to, like his own father; like there was nothing above Lord Ashen, but he still stole.
And that bastard wasn’t even dying from hunger or anything, and after that he had the nerve to pray to the same god and ask for blessings and boons.
That day Karna laughed hardest, and even now, whenever he thinks about it, it still makes him laugh. Though also a little worried, he didn’t want his so-called father to get any curses. He didn’t need it; he already got enough bad Karma.
And Karna’s own situation didn’t appear any good either. It appeared as if Karna was racing with his so-called father to see who would get more bad Karma; as you see, he wasn’t doing any good deeds, but he was confident he would be fine- no, he would be much more than just fine.
Karna moved toward the river shore, but before he got out, his way was blocked by those three ladies.
"Well?"
Lysa and Priti placed their hands on both sides of his shoulders, and Mina placed her fingers under his chin as he looked up, in confusion.
"O Karna, where do you think you’re going?" Mina said, with a hidden naughty glint in her hazel eyes.
So, that’s what they are excited about. Karna thought, gazing at them, their expressions telling him that they wouldn’t let him leave easily.
"Alright, what’s the price of letting me go?" Karna asked.
"No price", Lysa said, and the others nodded with her.
But as if Priti had just got a new idea and was going against their earlier plans, she added just after Lysa’s words. "We’re not freeing you no matter what? Or maybe we will if you dance for us."
Mina and Lysa looked toward her with wide smiles appearing on their faces as if loving the thought of making him dance for them.
Karna also laughed, remembering those days when they made him dance for them for some delicious treats, but it was years ago.
"Now, I’m not a kid anymore. I won’t look good dancing. How about I learn first properly, then..."
"No," Priti strongly shook her head. "Your dance was so beautiful. Everyone else would teach you the same old steps. It would ruin you."
" Yeah, do not learn from anyone until the supreme God himself comes and teaches you!" Lysa said, shaking him, and Priti joined her too. Only Mina nodded peacefully, yet seriously.
"Alright, alright, no need to be that serious, but right now I have to go. How about I dance for you tomorrow?" Karna thought it was better to escape from here, but how would that be easy when the ladies had already made up their minds?
"No!, No, no"
All three denied it without giving another thought, and even added some threats.
"If you don’t dance, we will call everyone. Then we’ll see how you can say no then." Mina said.
By everyone, she meant their big friends’ circle of village ladies.
And no, Karna didn’t have an intimate relationship with everyone in their friend circle. That would be really too much.
Though he did have it with many, and it was more like friends with benefits. And it’s taboo here, or maybe everywhere, because every woman he had sex with was married or a widow.
It all happened because he didn’t hold back because of any morals. At first, some beautiful women seduced him, and then he seduced some with his extreme good looks.
Though all those deeds were evil here, A crime cursed by the Gods and Sagas alike. But Karna didn’t care; as long as he didn’t force anyone, everything was alright.
However, he was also aware of how much of a problem he could create for those ladies, but for that, he kind of thought of a solution.
And maybe that would work if it was a world really similar to the mythology he read in his last.
But he wasn’t very sure right now, as this world was somewhat similar to mythology, not the same.