Karn and Sahira were on their way to Hastinapur as they spoke to each other, getting to know one another. They were passing through a forest.
" I thought people in Dwapar were 8 to 15 feet tall. Why are you so short ? "
" What ?!. I am almost 10 feet big ! " Karn protested.
Sahira looked at herself and saw she reached up to Karn's shoulders.
" So that means I am taller ..... " she looked very surprised.
" How short are Kaliyug people ? " Karn asked.
" They can reach up to 7 feet.The normal height is 5'8 to to 5'10 "
Karn laughed " you mean you people are midgets ?!. I myself was 6 feet tall at 10 years old ".
She scoffed " yeah, laugh it up ".
In truth, she was happy that he could laugh at all, after learning the truth of his parentage and birth.
She was glad she could make his life better by knocking some sense into him earlier.
" So..... what are are you planning on doing ? " Karn asked. To him, Sahira was different..... she spoke a lot without the usual reserved tones of women in this era's society. She spoke her mind and made sarcastic comments. He liked her.
" I have an entire knowledge of the future to my time. I can prepare the people to combat the threats that could come to this land in the future, prevent a lot of grief and heartbreak " the contemplative look in Sahira's eyes intrigued Karn " maybe I can help by empowering the people and fixing society first. This casteism thing, the rich and poor divide existed in some places in my time and ruined many lives, and even our governments were corrupt ".
" What was your government like ? " Karn asked in curiosity, since she mentioned that they had no Kings in her time.
" It was a parliament, composed of factions that decided the state of the country. The parliament had 543 seats and you need a majority of 272 seats to form a government or maintain it, and make decisions for the betterment of the country. Those factions were chosen through votes from the public "
" it sounds liberating and fair " Karn praised.
" Not when the government in power in the past was incompetent and corrupt, not when they blackened the names of heroes who sacrificed their lives for this country, not when we lost the Himalayas in war " Sahira grimaced.
" Wait... WE LOST HIMALAYAS !!! " Karn was infuriated " you mean that the pathetic government lost Himalaya, the abode of my Gurudev's Guru, to foreigners !!!! ".
" it's regions have mixed cultures nowadays and but our religion is still upheld there " Sahira said and grimaced " and you don't want to know what happened to the Ram mandir in Ayodhya ".
Karn paled in horror "..... no, don't tell me they didn't ".
" No, it was a Muslim invader named Babur who tore it down to build his own religious temple called a Masjid. The thing is that even after our freedom from the Brits and Mughals, the corrupt parties in power wanted to secure votes from the Muslim population. The Ram mandir took 70 years to be given approval for and be rebuilt ".
" 70 years!!! " A screech came from a nearby tree and they both turned in shock to see a monkey jumping down and transforming.
The Monkey was now a Vanar, 18 feet big with muscular body and a tail along with a monkey like mouth.
" Hanuman " Karn gasped in disbelief.
" Jai Siya-Ram " Sahira greeted with disbelief.
Hanuman turned to look at her in surprise, but smiled in approval " not many people remember to greet that way.... good greeting, devi ".
" Devi mat bulaiye, mai boodhi feel karti hoon " she nervously smiled and Hanuman laughed.
" Shree Hanuman..... you were following us ? " Karn questioned respectfully.
" Yeah.... it's not every day I find a time traveler, so I apologize for following you ..... but even curious, then I was furious to hear about my swami's mandir being destroyed! " Hanuman asked with barely contained fury.
" Calm down, Bhagwan !. Now that I have come here, I will try to make sure that madness like that doesn't happen " Sahira said.
" And I will support her ! " Karn declared " I have heard enough of my horrible future to know I fought for nothing..... knowing what I know, I want to fight for the betterment of people like me and preservation of our ways ".
Hanuman beamed in joy as he hugged them both and even though they felt blessed, they were near suffocated in his power hug that Karn's armor appeared to protect him.
Hanuman let go of them after realizing his mistake and smiled sheepishly, but said with determination " you have my support, just call on me if you need help but you fight your own battles ".
" Really ?! " Sahira and Karn were very surprised.
" really " Hanuman smiled and disappeared.
-
" can it be.... PUTRA !!! "
Radha ran to hug her son when he came in, recognizing him, as Adhirath joined in and Karn joyfully returned the hug.
Sahira smiled at the heartwarming reunion, and she was thankful for finding a grey dress of this yug which both enabled her to fight and didn't hamper her abilities.
" bhaiya !!! " a girl, a little shorter than Sahira came and joined in on the hug. Sahira was surprised to know Karn even had a sister.
" Devrya.... badi hogayi hai ! " Karn playfully ruffled her hair and she slapped his hand off with a pout.
" Cal me Rya! " she whined.
Adhirath's attention turned to Sahira " and who are you, putri ? ".
" Is that my bhabhi ?!! " Rya looked excited and Karn along with Sahira blushed.
" She's not my wife, choti ! " Karn felt awkward.
" I'm Sahira Nagir from Kaliyug, Bihar. Occupation = Indian soldier " Sahira introduced herself with a smile, to Karn's horror, and his family's surprise.
" Sahira, stop throwing information out of the blue ! " Karn exclaimed.
" whatever " she scoffed, rolling her eyes, surprising Karn's family with her mannerisms.
" I like her ! " Rya grinned and mockingly raised her palm as if to bless her " you have my blessings to wed my brother ! ".
" Rya ! " Karn and Adhiratha groaned. Radha smirked fondly at her daughter and Sahira.
-
It was supposed to be a normal dinner night after years as a complete family with now Sahira included.
Only, they didn't expect Sahira to literally call upon and be greeted by SANKATMOCHAN MAHABALI HANUMAN HIMSELF !!!.
Adhirath couldn't believe that a God had joined them for dinner, not even the fact that his daughter was excitedly chatting with him as if he was one of her own childhood friend.
Radha beamed at being able to speak with Hanuman himself and feeding him her kheer.
Karn smiled at Sahira and Adhirath couldn't figure out their relationship..... but as long as Karn was smiling more, and that's what mattered to him.
" I like having dinner with all of you, and I am happy that I can get to know everyone here, but there must be another reason you called upon me, isn't there ? " Hanuman questioned Sahira.
" Yes, to convince Karn's family of what I am about to say. Adhirath ji, Radha ji, Rya... Hastinapur won't be safe for anyone in the next few years, and we might need to leave soon ".
Karn's parents stared at Sahira shocked while Rya was wide eyed.
" She is telling the truth " Hanuman said and they both looked even more shocked " You are aware that within the Kurus, there is conflict brewing between Pandavas and Kauravas. This will start a war where people will die ".
" Baba, I understand that you are reluctant since we have a good life here, but these high caste people treat us worse than the dirt beneath their shoes. They will throw us, our neighbors and their children in their wars, leaving us with nothing but death, destruction, tears and heartache. Mahamahim Bhishma has failed to fulfill his promise to his father and we all will pay for it if we don't leave ".
Adhirath and Radha looked worried at each other, and then Adhirath said " I understand, putra... but where will we go ? ".
" We will go North, further North, where the Kuru control is not present. It's a beautiful and fertile land, it was called Kashmir in my time ".