Chapter 8: The Shadow's Curse
Before Karna…
Before rivers boiled and kingdoms burned…
The heavens were still. And so was the heart of the Sun.
---
Surya Deva, the mighty Sun God, had long stood tall in the skies. His light was eternal, powerful, and scorching.
At his side stood Sanjna Devi, his first wife, the daughter of Vishwakarma, the great architect of the gods.
They loved each other dearly.
Together, they had two divine children—Yama, the god of death, and Yami, the river goddess.
But love alone was not enough.
Sanjna suffered under Surya's burning radiance. She wanted to stay, to be a good wife and mother. But the heat drained her strength.
> "I cannot bear his light, not yet…"
So, in silence, Sanjna made a decision.
She created a shadow form of herself—Chhaya Devi—from her own essence.
> "Take care of my children. Care for my husband. Until I return."
Then, she left.
She went deep into the realms of stillness and power, training and transforming herself—hoping to return stronger.
---
Time passed…
Chhaya Devi raised Yama and Yami as her own.
She served Surya with kindness and patience.
She understood his silence.
She listened to his worries.
She never flinched from his heat.
Surya, who had once only seen Sanjna, now found peace in Chhaya's presence.
And over time, a new child was born—Shani Dev, born of Chhaya.
Surya smiled more.
He laughed more.
And a part of him softened.
---
Then, Sanjna returned.
She had trained her divine body to withstand the Sun's heat.
She had hoped to find her husband and children waiting… but when she returned, she saw three children.
Two were hers—Yama and Yami.
And the third… a boy she didn't recognize—Shani.
She found her husband gently holding this boy.
She saw Shani run into Chhaya's arms, calling her "Mother."
She watched as Surya smiled warmly at them.
And something inside her broke.
---
> "That smile…
That joy…
It was meant for me."
Sanjna's hands trembled.
She walked into the room with fury burning in her chest.
Before Chhaya could speak, Sanjna slapped her.
SLAP.
> "You imposter! You took my place!"
Chhaya staggered, shocked and silent.
> "You dared to bear his child?! While I was gone?"
Chhaya lowered her eyes. She had no answer.
Sanjna's divine aura flared.
She raised her hand again to strike, this time with the intent to kill.
> "You have no right to exist!"
But just as the energy formed in her hand—
> "STOP!"
A child's voice cut through the heavens.
Shani, small but fearless, stood before his mother.
> "You will not hurt her!"
With all the strength his young body held, he kicked Sanjna in the leg.
It wasn't powerful. But it was bold.
Sanjna froze in disbelief.
> "You dare… touch me? Your true mother?"
She raised her hand and in one sharp movement, cut off Shani's leg.
Chhaya screamed.
Shani collapsed to the ground, crying in pain, blood pooling beneath him.
> "My son! My baby!"
She held him close, sobbing.
> "He's your child too! How could you?!"
Chhaya turned to Surya.
> "She cut of my son's leg I want justice!"
But Surya did not speak.
He stood at the edge of the sky.
It was time.
He was the Sun.
He could not stop dawn.
Without a word, he turned and walked toward the horizon, beginning his journey across the sky.
---
Chhaya watched him leave.
Her heart broke.
> "He left… without a word."
> "He didn't even look back…"
In that moment, a storm rose in her heart.
> "He abandoned us.
He didn't care for our son.
I was just a shadow."
Tears mixed with anger.
She raised her hands and shouted a curse to the heavens.
> "Hear me, Surya!
From now on—any child born of another woman, not of me,
will suffer the greatest misfortune the moment you acknowledge them as your child!"
> "May your love bring them pain!
May they suffer as my child now suffers!"
Her voice echoed across the heavens.
And it was done.
---
Chhaya had forgotten she and Sanjana are one person—she was born from Sanjana's own soul, so except for her and Sanjana anyone who born not from them will suffer from the curse.
Now, any child born outside of Sanjna or Chhaya, once acknowledged by Surya, would suffer.
Not by hate… but by fate.
---
In a far-off future, that curse would awaken in a newborn placed in a river…
A boy with golden armor…
A boy who would be named Karna.