Chapter 18 : A Name She Shouldn't Know

The wind sighed outside.

The cave glowed with the last orange light of dusk, wrapping the stones in gentle warmth.

Bhima had just lulled Agnika to sleep by letting her braid his wild hair into knots. She’d laughed, drooled a little, and finally curled beside him with her fingers clutching the edge of his scarf.

But in the deepest part of the night —

> She twitched.

Her face tensed.

Her breath stuttered.

And the dream came.

---

She stood in a land of dust and gold.

The sun blazed above her — not cruel, not hot, but... lonely.

A man stood at the center of it all.

Not smiling. Not frowning.

Just... alone.

He looked strong, proud — his armor like melted sunlight — but his eyes were heavy.

> Karna.

She didn’t know his name.

But it bloomed inside her.

Like a sound she'd heard in the womb of the world.

---

He bent down in the dream, offering someone a garland that no one accepted.

Then… he turned.

His golden eyes met hers.

And though she was only a child—

> She felt it.

That ache.

That longing to belong.

That love no one returned.

And in her sleep, a tear slid down her cheek.

---

She awoke with a soft whimper.

The fire was low.

The others were resting.

Only Arjuna sat near the cave mouth, polishing his arrows with quiet focus.

Agnika sat up slowly. Her blanket fell from her shoulders.

She toddled toward him.

No one noticed.

Not even Arjuna—until she was right in front of him.

Tiny.

Sleepy.

Eyes wide.

She looked at his face.

Paused.

Then reached one hand toward his knee...

And whispered, softly—

> “...Karna?”

---

The arrow in his hand slipped.

Arjuna blinked.

“…What did you say?”

Bhima stirred nearby.

Sahadeva rolled over.

But only Krishna looked up, eyes unreadable.

Arjuna turned to face her fully.

The fire flickered.

> “Where did you hear that name?”

Agnika just stood there.

Silent.

Watching him.

She pointed — gently — to his chest.

Then touched her own heart.

> “Karna,” she said again.

Soft.

Like it hurt her mouth to say it.

Like she didn’t understand it — only felt it.

---

Draupadi sat up now, confused.

“The child—what is she saying?”

Yudhishthir frowned. “That name… Karna?”

“Why would she say his name?” Bhima muttered.

“He’s a warrior,” Nakula added. “Duryodhana’s favorite. Enemy.”

Sahadeva rubbed his eyes. “She’s just repeating things. Soldiers speak of him.”

But Krishna said nothing.

He only watched Arjuna.

---

Arjuna was still staring at Agnika.

Her little face was tilted up at him, eyes so full of something…

…recognition?

…sadness?

He didn’t know.

But suddenly his chest ached.

> He reached out, lifted her gently into his lap.

She curled into him, small and warm.

Didn’t speak again.

Just laid her ear against his heartbeat.

And stayed.

---

Arjuna held her tighter.

He didn’t know why…

But his hands shook.

---

In the shadows, Krishna whispered to himself:

> “The child remembers what even time forgets.

And still… she does not fear it.”

---

🌑 End of Chapter 18