54 years. That's how long it took for Karna to complete his education. As he stood tall at the banks of a stream on Mahendragiri Pavat, doing his Suryapuja, the sun briefly shone brighter before dimming back again. A smile unconsciously made way to his face. After that, he started to sing the Shiv Tandav Strotam, followed by Ayegirinandini, accompanied a free spirited dance. With each step of his, the elements of nature seemed to converge with him, urging him to never stop. Through years of taining, his guruma had turned his voice into a beautiful streamline voice that surpassed all the males that attempted to sing. Karna was probably the only male in the entirety of Aaryavart that sang. Donning a new angavastra(dress) he started to walk back up the stairs. He soon reached the aashram of his guruacharya. Not disturbing his guruacharya, who was lost in meditation, he started to enter the cottage.
"Guruma! I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
"Oh, you are hungry already. You already ate so mucmh last night. Alright alright, sit down. I've already prepared food for you."
Mata Renuka shook her head. Even after so long, Karna was stil just as childish as the day he arrived there. Soon, her son came too with his parashu.
"Mate, I'm hungry too. Can I eat something?"
That noon, as Bhagwan Parashuram rested on Karna's lap, he blowed hands over his guruacharya's white hair. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his thigh. Wincing, he first attempted to ignore it, however it was too hard to ignore it. However he held all the pain within him, unwilling to disturb his Guruacharya's rest. Suddenly Bhagwan Parashuram sat up.
"Karna! What's this wet stream on my arm? Blood! Karna! Are you alright son?"
"Yes guruacharya. It just hurts a bit."
Bhagwan Parashuram's eyes suddenly grew moist. Over the many eons he had lived, had he ever experienced such attachment to anyone. This fatherly love was so foreign to him, yet so welcome. He had seen Shri Ram crawling, taught Gangaputra Devrat Bhishma! Yet this was far more welcome than anything else. However, this posed a problem for him. His penance would be affected by overly emotional attachments to anyone. Thus he had to make sure that he went away. But how! How would he send away this boy that had grown so close to him, that he was ready to give up his life's motive, just to keep him close.
Karna understood all. With a sad smile he looked his guruacharya in the eyes and said,
"I know guruacharya. I know. I will go away, today in fact. I have overstayed my welcome."
A clang suddenly brought both their attention towards the entrance of the cottage. There stood Mata Renuka, with the pot of water laying broken at her feet.
"Karna, Putra Karna, don't go son. Don't go. I just got the joy of becoming a grandmother, don't take that away from me, child."
"Guruma, forgive me. I must do this. My life's aim must be achieved, bless me so that I may accomplish all my goals."
As Mata Renuka shed tears, a cold and frigid voice made Karna break into a sweat.
"STOP."
As he turned, he no longer could find his Guruacharya, who had become like a second father to him. For there stood, Parashuhate Bhrigupati Bharghav, the one who had rid the world of Kshatriyas 21 times.
"Where is my Gurudakshina?"