Ganga emerges from the river and stands in front of the couple.
"Goddess!!!"
The sight of Ganga emerging from the water astounded both Radha and Adiratha. They are startled, but quickly realise that it has to be a goddess who has appeared in front of them; otherwise, they would have died long ago after all of the other celestial creatures loathed the human race. So they both quickly kneeled and paid their respects to the goddess.
"Goddess, Could you please tell us your respected name?"
The first to speak was Adiratha. Although Ganga was previously was the queen of Hustinapur, this was a long time ago. As a result, most people in the kingdom have forgotten about her.
"I am Ganga, the goddess of purity."
Ganga was not offended by their failure to recognise her. She understands how fragile human memories are. If they don't need that information to survive, benefit from it, or hold any significant value, they will simply forget about it, unlike the gods, who are blessed with unforgettable memories that are both a curse and a blessing to them.
It's a blessing because they can relive happy memories as if they were happening right in front of them, but it's also a curse because they have to remember the bad ones as well. They wish they could forget something, but they can't. Like Ganga, she wishes to forget the memories of her drowning her 7 newborns in her own current.
She is aware that they were cursed sages. If she didn't do that, they'd have to live the worst possible life on Earth, but logic can only convince her mind; how can it calm her mother's heart? Her heart still bleeds when she recalls that moment, as if someone had repeatedly stabbed her heart with a blunt knife, causing her excruciating pain. After all, they were her own flesh and blood, curse or no curse, She was their mother.
"Goddess Ganga!!! Please forgive us for our inability to recognise you."
Adiratha exclaimed, "He never thought they would be able to get in the eyes of a Goddess like her as Suta (Chariotoor), a Shudra (Low born/Working class) cast."
"Please two of you get up; I am not here as a goddess, but as a mother, and I have a request that I hope you can fulfil."
Ganga said and did something unthinkable. As a revered goddess, the one whom even the king of gods Indra has to vary of folding her hands in front of this mortal couple.
"What are you doing, God-, Queen mother? You should give us a command not to request us."
Radha is the first to react at this time. She jumped to her feet and grabbed Ganga's hands with her free hand. She also cleverly changed her title to queen mother, because even if Ganga was not in her kingdom for long time, she was still was the wife of their previous king and held the title of Queen mother for the subjects of the Hastinapur kingdom.
"Putri, you're a clever one (Daughter). But I still have to request it. I want you to raise my son as your own, to become his father and mother."
Ganga made her request to the couple. She knew the couple's answer, but she was still nervous. Even the gods are not immune to the seven emotions and six desires.
"If he is your child, then you are the one who-"
Just as Radha heard her say she was Karna's mother. She quickly let go of Ganga's hand, and the respect she had shown her before was dismissed a alot.
"Radha!! Don't be so rude. Goddess, please forgive us for her rude behaviour."
Adiratha, fearful that his wife would say something hurtful to Ganga, interrupted her mid-sentence. He could feel Radha's hatred for the mother who abandoned this child. If he lets her speak, she will undoubtedly offend the goddess Ganga.
"*Chuckle* Adiratha, I will not be angry with her for acting this way; in fact, I am quite pleased with her reaction. She didn't care if I was a goddess or not because she love for the child exceed her respect for me."
Ganga laughed off Radha's reaction. She was even more relieved that she would be caring for Karna.
"Also Radha, You and I share the same hatred. I also hate the woman who abandoned this innocent child in my current. Though it was indeed me who send him towards you in my current but I am not the one who abandoned it."
Except for the special body and charm, Ganga explained everything to her from the beginning to the present. After all, knowing things by them is pointless. That will only bother them if they are aware of it.
"I apologise for my rudeness. Devi (Goddess) Ganga. I misunderstood you."
Radha, realising that she had been misunderstood, quickly apologised.
"You don't have to; I'm here to tell you that you can raise him as your own; you don't have to worry about cast discrimination or wealth; I'll take care of everything."
Ganga finally said the words that Radha had been waiting to hear. She became ecstatic.
"Ca-Can I really call him my son and raise him as one? Will he not be hindereded by our cast?"
Radha was excited and asked Ganga quickly. She felt a connection with Karna the moment she holds hold him. It was just that she was afraid her love would only harm the child, but after the goddess said it, she finally let go of her fear and accepted her love for child.
"Radha, you are his mother. Heaven agreed to make him your son the moment you announced him as your child."
Ganga revealed the couple this unknown secret. She said this to alleviate any of there remaining concerns. Radha was overjoyed when she heard it and eagerly began listening to Ganga's further instructions.
"In relation to the cast. I'll explain the solution of it to you later."
Ganga instructs them for a while. The sun is no longer visible in the sky, and Chandra (Moon) has taken his place to beautify the sky
*Growls*
Ganga was about to finish her speech and bid her farewell. She didn't need to say this much; she was just stalling so she could spend more time with Karna. After all, she had no idea how long she would have to wait to see him again. But then she heard Karna's stomach growl.
"Putra (Son), are you hungry? Where can we get milk, Arya (husband)? I need milk to feed my child. That- Queen Mother, you haven't yet told us his name."
Radha asked as she held sleeping Karna in her arms. They come to pray on the shoar, so they bring anything. She also now realises that in her joy of being a mother, she did not consider asking the child's name. She was a little embarrassed.
"Don't be embarrass, You are not the first one to forget about asking his name. After all, our son is so beautiful that people will lose themselves in his charms. I named our child Karna because that's the only name that felt worthy for him."
Ganga said the name of Karna as she also felt a little funny. Both of Karna's mothers forget about to ask his name, She laughed a little in her mind. She was about to flip her hand to bring milk for Karna, It is when she felt the power of high heaven rushing towards Radha. Ganga is taken aback because this is a sign that a miracle is about to occur.
As she thought about it, Miracle did happen. Radha who never once have a child started lactating as her upper garment was soaked by her milk. Her raw mother's love forced heaven to grant her this boon.
"This is a miracle. Radha your love moved the high heaven and grant you this boon."
Seeing that confused look of Adiratha and Radha, Ganga said. She herself was surprised, This is the second time Radha's love moved heaven to act.
"Then excuses me I should go to feed Karna."
Radha was delighted to hear that she can now feed Karna. She didn't even pay attention to the boon part of Ganga. So She held Karna to her bosom and started feeding him, But then she noticed a strange thing. Even though Karna was drinking her milk, He was still asleep. Then she realise that from the bigging to now he didn't even once open his eyes. He was always asleep.
"Goddess Ganga!!! Please take a look at him, He is not waking up."
Radha tried to wake up sleeping Karna but he didn't wake up no matter how much she tried, Seeing this she panicked and dashed toward Ganga to investigate Karna's situation because she is the only one who can know about it.
"Radha, calm down. Tell me what's wrong with Karna."
Even though Ganga told Radha to calm down, her own heart was racing. Her heart shook the moment she heard something was wrong with Karna. After all, whether you are a god or a human, The mother's heart is the same.
"All right, Radha, relax and tell us what's wrong with Karna."
Adiratha was also worried about Karna, but unlike mothers, fathers have to keep their emotions in check because they must remain as strong as a rock to protect their family.
Adiratha's calmness worked because Radha became less afraid and caled down, She then began telling about it.
"Let me take a look of him."
Ganga couldn't figure it out after hearing her words. So she takes Karna from Radha's worried gaze and places it in her own hand.
"How is this possible?"
Ganga was stunned as she discovered the cause of Karna's deep sleep.
(A/N : Yesterday, the Net was not working very well so that's why I couldn't able to upload.
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