Hey Guys!!!!

The third chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

Happy Reading!!

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Third POV

What did he need to do?
Why did he only meet the baby and nobody else?

Was this a message of God?
But why would God, ask him to break his oath of celibacy?
Plus, why should the kid live a life serving some else?
Was this right in any way?

So, what should Bishma do now?

Abandon him? Like his parents did?
No, that is not right.
What could have this poor sole done that he needed to be abandoned?

So, what now?

"You need to think so much, Putra? I am disappointed." His mothers' voice broke him from his thought.

He looked up to see, that his mother, Devi Ganga was standing there in front of him. Looking at him and the baby in his arms.

"What are you talking about, Mata?" Bishma asks confused.

"I am talking about your decision, Putra."

"But Mata, why?"

"What do you mean, by why?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Why me?"

"Because, maybe the gods are the ones that chose you." Devi Ganga shrugs.

"But I am a celibate, Mata. Why should I be put in such a dilemma?" Bishma questioned the destiny again.

"Celibate means you won't marry, Putra, it doesn't stop you from raising somebody." Devi Ganga explains.

"But Mata-" He tries to protest. But is cut off by his mother.

"What problem is there, Devrat?"

"Him... me... baby... celibate..." Bishma starts to mumble words, here and there in no particular order and sense.

Devi Ganga sighs, this is tougher than what she thought was.

"Bishma" Devi Ganga touches her son, instantly drying him off. "Come here."
She makes him sit on a stone while sitting in front of him.

The baby in Bishma hands, relaxes even more, once Bishma is dry. The feeling of having the baby in his arm was not strange or foreign. It felt, right.

"He is a Kshatriya, Putra. And his life is difficult, I will say this much. But you should be there to help him."

"Why me, Mata?" Bishma asks. "Why not anyone else?"

"Destiny is a bizarre thing, Putra. We are simple pawns under its hand."

"What about my oath of celibate?" He questions again.

"You adopt him, Putra. Raise him like your own son. Your oath doesn't stop that. You raise him to be a capable person and warrior. The rest is in the hands of destiny." Devi Ganga elucidates.

"What if he expects to sit on the throne?" Bishma inquires.

"Are you sitting on the throne, Putra?"

"No."

"Then why will your son expect that?" Devi Ganga back fires a question again.

"But he isn't mine, na Mata?" Bishma hesitates.

"Relationships are formed by bond, Putra, not blood." Devi Ganga chides.

"What will Raj Mata say?" He brings another of his doubt up.

"She is a mother, Putra. Tell her how you found her. The mother in her will melt." Devi Ganga explains Bishma.

"But Mata-"

"You worry a lot, Putra. Believe me, all is well and will remain well.

"But is it right form him to be raised as a Kings' servant's son?" Bishma feels uncertain.

"Is it right for him to be left alone? Would it had been right, if he died like this?" Devi Ganga questioned Bishma.

"Then also Mata. How will I do this?" Bishma asks, lacking his usual confidence.

"Putra, take him with you, raise him like your own son. Teach him about things of the world, positive and negative. Raise him to be a proficient person. Let the destiny play its game, thereafter. Raise him to be proficient, and you will see him flourish, not necessarily be the king or the servant of the king, just let him be himself. He will make, his own position in this world."
Devi Ganga tells her son. "And I know, you will be proud of him, Putra. Proud that you could raise a kid like him."

"I am still not sure of this and how will I convince Raj Mata?" Un- surety dripping from Bishma's words.

"Promise her that your son would not ask for the throne of Hastinapur." Devi Ganga simple shrugs.

Bishma looks at his mother for few moments. Unsure of why was she so rigid on him adopting him.

"What if people mis- treat him?" He voices another thought.

"Do you think people will? You are considered the most fearsome warrior of Aryavarta and being your son, I doubt he can be mistreated." She gave her son a deadpan look.

"You say, you saw what all happened to him, right?" Bishma questions.

Ganga nods. "Yes."

"Then why did his biological parents abandon him?" He asks.

"Because of the situation they were in, they can't take him in, Devrat. They can't raise him; they don't have the position to do so."

"And what states I do?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Putra, calm your mind, realise all the worry mugged up in there. Relax. You will be excellent. And so will be your son." Devi Ganga tries to make her son understand.
"See, the way he sleeps in your lap. He loves you and accepts you. Their parents couldn't provide him justice. You should. Believe me son, if there is someone capable to raise him, a child like him, it's you. Only you." She adds for extra measure.

"Let him learn to fight and win for the things he wants. Send him to Parshuram for his further studies. Let him, understand the difference between a normal man and a prince. Raise him in a palace like a normal person. Make sure that he doesn't turn out like one of those stick- up brats for prince. He will flourish and so will the future of Hastinapur." Devi Ganga tells her son.

"Also, tell Satyavati to talk to me, if she doesn't believe you." Devi Ganga further speaks. "Though son, have confidence in yourself and Niyati. All will be well, for whatever is positive and well."

"I am putting my confidence in you, Mata." Bishma sighs.

"Be happy, Putra. It's a time for great joy and pleasure." Devi Ganga smiles at her son.
Hey Narayan, protect them, please, for me.

"I will take him with me, Mata." Bishma smiles down at the kid in his arms.

"Name him, Putra."

"Because of his radiance like the sun, he will be called Karn and because of being my adopted son, he will be known as Devrat Karn in this world." Bishma declares. And Devi Ganga smiles at the irony of situation.

"I Yogini Ganga, mother of Devrat, take his adopted son, Devrat Karn as my adopted Grand- son." Devi Ganga declares. "Karn wears shinning gold ear- rings from birth and thus, I Yogini Ganga, his adopted grand- mother name him Vasusen."

"Vasusen." Devrat repeats smiling at his son, in his arms. 

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He has been taken. 
He has been named. 

(1215 words.)

--Sxxxxx