The girl turned around almost immediately. "You are done, my love? Come, let's go to the lake."
"It's almost the time of the Suryagrahan (Total solar eclipse). It's best if we stay indoors." Karna cautioned her. He added, "Mother said to never go out during this time as it is dangerous."
But, Roshini dragged him, "c'mon, you are no longer a child. You don't have to pay attention to every word your mother says. It's not like some asura will invade our world and abduct you, right? Moreover, it will barely last an hour. Please, let's go. You will return after sunset, anyway. Then, how do we get to look at the Indra Kamala?"
Under Roshini's persuasion, Karna admitted defeat, "fine, let's go."
The two of them left for the lake without knowing that Shukracharya is spying on them through his divine sight from his abode.
Taking some sort of blue-colored powder, he threw it on the ground. "Balasura, Venkasura, come before me."
Within a couple of seconds, two demons were summoned before him. They bowed to him and asked in unison, "Is there anything we can do, Gurudev?"
"Yes," Shukracharya nodded, "A very important task."
Back to the Gandharvaloka, Karna and Roshini were holding hands while walking side by side in the flowering fields. As Rahu swallows the sun, which was controlled by Lord Surya, thereby temporarily paralyzing him, several worlds were plunged into darkness during the daytime.
Karna is worried as this is the first time he was outside the palace when his father was in a weak state. Knowing that his father isn't keeping an eye on him, Karna couldn't help but feel vulnerable for some reason.
Thankfully, for him, there's his fiancée next to him. His nerves were calmed down when talking to her.
"Say, my love, I heard that you are going to the earth to learn under God Parashurama after your 16th birthday," Roshini asked him.
"Yes, that's true." Karna nodded, and then explained, "Father said that he had to request quite many times before convincing God Parashurama to teach me. Since he is the personal disciple of Lord Shiva himself, learning under him will probably bring me a step closer to Mahadeva. I'm looking forward to it."
His reply made Roshini a little bit sad as she said, "that means we can't meet for 12 long years, right?"
Karna let out a sigh and nodded, "Yes, I won't be permitted to leave those Mahendra Mountains under any circumstances."
"It's not fair," complains Roshini in response.
Karna halted his footsteps and looked at her who was about to tear up. He doesn't know what to say nor does he know what kind of face he is making but one thing is for sure. He is feeling incredibly guilty for being selfish, thinking about his own wishes.
In the end, he forced out a smile as he embraced her in a hug, "it's only 12 years. It will be gone in a blink of an eye. I will surely write letters to you, dear."
Roshini tightly hugged him back, "I'm going to miss you, very much."
"Well, you can miss me later. First, let's go to the lake?"
Karna and Roshini continued to walk.
After 30 minutes of walking, they reached a lake where hundreds of lotuses, in various colors, are floating on the surface of the water. However, due to darkness, none can be seen except for one lotus.
This special lotus, which was blessed by Lord Indra, can glow in the darkness in seven different colors like a rainbow. This is why it was named Indra Kamala.
Unlike other lotuses, it will close its petals and sleep for 1 year and then glows for one day before sleeping for another year.
Staring at it, Karna said, "Your father said that the flower when bloomed, can fulfill the wish of the people who were sincere at heart and follows dharma. Is it really true?"
Upon hearing his words, Roshini broke out into laughter, "c'mon, my love. Do you believe such things? If it is as divine as kalpavriksha and kamadhenu, then, by now, several asuras would have stolen it already. The army of my father wouldn't stand a chance against those demons. Forgetting about the demons, a person like Lord Indra wouldn't allow such a divine object to be grown here. He would rather take it to the swarga Loka.
If not, some foolish people would attempt to pluck it to keep it for themselves. Our ancestors might have created this story so that the flower stays protected. I don't believe in such things.
I just wanted to enjoy watching the flower changing its colors. It looks incredibly beautiful."
Karna mumbled to himself, "What's wrong with believing it? It's not like we would lose something."
He put his palms together and closed his eyes, praying in his heart, "I can't do tapasya nonstop like those rishis or asuras because my mother doesn't like it.
But then again, as far as I remember, I had never done adharma in my life. My wish is also sincere, coming from the bottom of my heart.
One way or the other… please let me have a glimpse of Mahadeva's true form just once."
As Karna opened his eyes, he found his fiancée staring at him.
"It looks like you have some big wish," She let out a grin as she commented.
Karna replied, "how about you wish for something as you are already here."
Roshini stared at him in silence. After a brief amount of time, she opened her mouth, "alright, for you…"
She closed her eyes and prayed for something with a mischievous smile.
Karna felt like her wish would be a strange one. He couldn't help but ask her, "What did you wish?"
Usually, people will keep it secret but Roshini always speaks out loud because she believes in karma. In her opinion, without working hard, no god would grant one's wishes no matter how sincere it is. And even if it happens by chance, then, it would only mean that something bad is about to happen to neutralize it. Karna knew her beliefs too.
Upon being asked, Roshini revealed her wish with a cheeky smile, "since we have already reached the age, I wished that our parents fix our marriage within a year."
Karna's expression turned stiff. "Don't joke around, dear. I cannot go for 12 years of compulsory education if that happens."
"I know that it won't happen anyway. So, no need to take it seriously." Roshini replied as she casually sat at the shore of the lake but Karna was worried.
He can believe that Roshini was insincere in her wish but what about his? He felt like his wish would also be gone if the legend of this flower turned out to be false.
"C'mon, what are you thinking, Sit down." Roshini grabbed his arm and pulled him down.
Pushing his thoughts away, Karna sat beside her and started chatting.
Little did they expect that very soon, Karna's life is going to take a different turn.
Everything happened just suddenly. Neither of them knows what or how it happened. They just lost consciousness after inhaling some strange scent mixed in the air.
And by the time the Surya Grahan is over, Karna disappeared from Gandharva Loka and Roshini was seen unconscious at the lake of the shore.