The novel is the story of Karna, developed through the viewpoint of Draupadi in the reflection of her life story. The book begins at the end of the Kurukshetra War. Yudhishthira has just learned that Karna, the much-hated enemy of the Pandavas, killed by Arjuna is his brother. Draupadi, the wife of all the Pandava brothers, is unable to understand her sense of guilt surrounding the situation. However, she soon learns more about the once-hated Karna. Draupadi's feelings towards Karna change through the course of the novel. As the wife of all the Pandava brothers, she comes to realize, had Karna accepted the offer to become the eldest Pandava and consented to rule the kingdom, he would have been her husband.
