"Enough crying, you know what? Now I’m the strongest person in the world.’’ Karna said. He was just trying to divert her attention to something else.
"That’s how Asuras talk in the stories, after receiving boons,’’ Priti said loudly in his ear.
"You shut up and tell me what you girls were doing here at Riverside. It’s already night. You know it’s dangerous.’’ Karna said.
He glanced at Hidimbi, not sure if her mentioning Asura as the bad example was bothering her or not. Hidimbi was looking at him with narrowed eyes, and again, after seeing him gazing at her she looked away with snort.
’’Well, that’s sister Lysa’s favorite spot. She missed you here waiting...,’’ Priti answered.
"Priti," Lysa glared at her.
"Sorry, I mean, our... okay, I will shut up. Look, sister Lysa, there is his wife, ’’ Priti pointed her finger.
Lysa turned and looked at Hidimbi.
Hidimbi looked back at her.
Then together they both looked away, Hidimbi at the riverside, and Lysa again hugged him, hiding her face against him.
"Sigh,"
Priti giggled.
Ignoring her, Karna carried Lysa in princess carry.
"Let’s leave. It’s getting cold. Now where are you girls living if not in your old house?" Karna asked.
Priti stopped clinging to his neck and walked forward.
" I will lead the way,’’ Priti said, but seeing her grin, Karna thought something was not right.
"That’s alright, but what’s with your weird smile? Tell me, what are you planning?"
"You misunderstood something. I’m just happy to enlighten you.’’
’’ Enlighten? No, I don’t want to be enlightened. Just tell me what I misunderstood?’’
"Just follow me!’’ Priti turned after giving him a wide grin and started walking ahead.
Karna looked towards Hidimbi. She came next to him without saying anything and they both followed Priti.
Karna reached there and it turned out it wasn’t a simple hut. It was Hermitage of twenty huts or so. Before Karna left the village, it wasn’t there.
"How many people are living in the forest now, and why?’’ Karna asked.
"You will know soon."
Karna didn’t need to know; he guessed it.
" Don’t tell, it wasn’t just you two who took a Sansas?’’
"hehehe..."
"Oh, come on, how many?" Karna asked.
"Count yourself?" Priti said ...
"Wait, it wasn’t because of me, was it? ’’
Priti and Lysa both giggled.
"Are you kidding me?’’ Karna said
How can that be? It was their choice. I didn’t do anything. I wasn’t even here then. They were just not happy in their married life; I didn’t corrupt anyone! I’m not proud!
Priti ran forward and started shouting.
"Karna is back!"
"Sigh," Karna thought it was going to be the longest night.
***
The next morning, the sun rose on the horizon.
The birds had already left their nests.
Women carried the clay pots on their heads, taking the water from rivers and wells for daily use.
Karna left the hut, and just then a brown-haired woman with white skin and hazel eyes grabbed his hand.
"Where are you going?" Mina asked.
Karna rolled his eyes at Mina, who was barely reaching his shoulder length. She and everyone else were treating him as if he were going to run away after doing something horrible and without taking responsibility.
" I’m not going anywhere, " Karna said, smiling at her.
" I just want to spend more time with you.. Can’t I?" Mina asked.
"Of course, you can. "
Just as he was talking with her. Priti and Mina also came out with Hidimbi.
"Where’re the others?" Karna asked.
"Still sleeping in their huts after all; they didn’t sleep the whole night", Priti said.
Last night, Karna was surrounded by more than fifty-three women; they just talked the whole night.
Karna swore before leaving the village that he didn’t have an intimate relationship with more than thirty women, so more then fifty here pretending to be sanyasni, it had nothing to do with him.
Anyway, he gave his blood to all; he even offered that if they had any friends or dears, feed them too. But they said their everything was here. Karna had no idea what type of evil cult they were making.
Karna and four ladies walked to a river.
Karna now possessed the power to conquer the world. But he delayed the plan, as spending time with his girls was more important, and he didn’t think conquering the world was going to give him more satisfaction or anything.They were not going to let him leave anyway.
Well, we could conquer it together... But seriously, what’s with them?!
Karna thought, looking at Priti and Hidimbi holding hands, whispering to each other as if they were a best friend forever.
’’ Hidimbi, now tell me, what’s going on? When I told you about them, I’m pretty sure you were dissatisfied with them; now you’re dissatisfied with me. What’s with the sudden change?’’ Karna asked, unable to hold his curiosity.
"Husband, I’m not dissatisfied with you, but you broke your promise. You said we would spend time alone, but you had so many wives, and you ignored me." Hidimbi complained, looking at him.
"Well, they’re not my wives..."
"We are!"
"We are!"
"We are!"
Three glares landed on him. Both Lysa and Mina were hugging his arms. And Priti was walking on the other side of Lysa.
"Okay, I see. Thank you for making it clear!" Karna nodded. But he questioned in his heart: hadn’t they just broken their marriages, and now they again wanted to play husband and wife?
Weirdos.
He heard Hidimbi laughing.
"Why are you laughing? And tell me, how can you two become good friends? You were not planning to eat her..."
"I would never, Husband!", Hidimbi said immediately.
" You should tell them. If you want, of course. Maybe they would be scared at first, but it would be fine." Karna suggested.
" Husband, you tell them."
"What were you guys talking about?" Priti asked.
"Well, she was an Asura", Karna said
"What!" All three gasped.
"He was lying, r-right?" Priti asked, Hidimbi.
In response, Hidimbi showed her two sharp fangs with a wide smile.
"Ahhhhhh!.."