A chariot with a red flag and a symbol of Sun on it stopped in front of them. A man got down elegantly and looked at Advika. Advika smiled and asked "Bhratashree why are you here?" Indrajit smiled at her and turned to Karna and nodded saying "Prince Karna." Karna nodded back greeting "Prince Indrajit."
Advika tilted her head and asked "You guys know each other?" Karna looked at her and found her expression cute. Indrajit nodded and said "We met a few times." He continued "Anyway I came to take you back Advika." Advika gave him a questioning look and said "But I was coming back tomorrow anyway Bhrata."
He flicked her forehead and said "We know about you. You will say that you will come back tomorrow but you will stop at Vrindavan for your Yashoda Maa, then at Hastinapur for your Radha Maa and then at Panchal and other kingdoms for the princesses."
Advika poked her cheek with her tongue to stop her grin. He continued "By the time you come back you will be 30 years old. " He shook his head "And also the swayamvar for you is there soon." At this both Karna's and Advika's smiles faded. She kept a protesting expression and whined "But bhrata I got the letter just yesterday. So soon?"
He sighed and said "I have been delaying your swayamvar saying one or the other reason to Pitashree. I can't delay it anymore." Advika looked back at Karna and whispered "I'm sorry Sakha." She left with her brother leaving Karna standing there with confused and mixed emotions.
~â¢~
In Hastinapur after the Pandavas came back, Karna sat in his room thinking about what he felt when Advika left. His emotions were complicated and he was confused. As he slowly sorted and thought he realised the truth. He liked Advika not just as a friend but more. He sat stunned unable to digest this information.
~â¢~
In Ayodhya too Advika sat thinking about why she was feeling resistance to the idea of Swayamvar. She couldn't comprehend her unwillingness and came out of her thoughts when a maid said that her father called her. She went to the throne room where her father was sitting.
He beckoned her to sit and started "You already know that your Swayamvar is arranged soon. Here see these are the kingdoms I'm sending an invitation to and you can decide the competition. I know Putri that you are reluctant but try to understand a father's heart."
Advika nodded and looked at the invitations. Her heart lifted when she saw an invitation to Hastinapur. She smiled lightly and went through the rest. After that before she could say anything a soldier came said that Lord Parashuram had come.
Advika and the king immediately went outside and welcomed him. As he settled he said "Putri Aditi I'm here on an important work. I heard that soon your Swayamvar is arranged soon. Here as the contest keep this Vijaya bow and whoever can lift the bow will be your suitor. It is similar to Devi Sita's swayamvar and I think it is appropriate for yours."
Both of them joined their hands at him and agreed. Advika could easily lift the bow but King Aditya couldn't. He was astonished and was comforted that this formidable bow will be lifted by a formidable warrior. After Lord Parashuram left Advika kept the bow on the dias and went to her room.
She could feel the divinity in the bow and was a little reassured about the swayamvar but the restlessness remained. She didn't understand why her heart beat fast when she read Hastinapur. She laid down on her bed and prayed that the swayamvar would go smoothly for her.