Noor was pacing to and fro and muttering to herself that if Dharma is really alive and Bindusara succeeded to find her out than it would cause grave danger for Mir Khorasan and in turn for Noor herself. The only way out of the mess was for Khorasan to find Dharma before Bindusar came across her and annihilate her. Noor said to herself that to wipe Dharma out of their lives she was even ready to form allegiance with the foe. Charumitra entered the room in a state of mounting fury and began to throw tantrum about why Bindusara didn't think it necessary to inform her about his marriage to Dharma. Noor got her opportunity and utilized it to the fullest extent to serve her own end. Noor began to foment Charumitra by saying that if the king is this much crazy for Dharma when he hadn't even came across her, then it was anybody's guess what he would do once she returns to him. She further instigated Charumitra by saying that if Bindusar actually found Dharma then his all other queens would be reduced to being Dharma's maids and nothing more. Noor suggested that they should join hands if they wished to get rid of Dharma. Subhrasi, on the other hand, asked why they should do anything like that. She said that it was normal for a king to practice polygamy. They should accept and respect Dharma in the same way as they had accepted and respected each other. However, Charumitra negated her advice by saying that she lacked Subhrasi's benevolent nature.
Bindusar was in front of Dharma's effigy and was lamenting that he didn't search for Dharma more extensively and believed that she had left for good so easily. He promised that he would shower her with such love and affection once he found her that she would forget all the agony of the time spent apart.
Dharma entered the room where the three queens were engaged in the conversation, chasing Dhrupad. She apologized and was about to leave, taking Dhrupad with her, when Charumitra asked her about her native place. Dharma hesitated but Subhrasi came to her rescue. Subhrasi said that it was not appropriate to doubt the maid and asked Dharma to leave who immediately obeyed.
Ashoka, along with Subahu and Basunandan, was searching for the trapdoor to enter the underground chamber where Chanakya had been kept captive when he heard Helena, Seleucas and Rajajiraj approaching. Immediately the trio hid behind bushes. Seleucas and Rajajiraj were ecstatic that Chanakya was out of their way but Helena asked Seleucas to be vigilant as someone was bound to become suspicious at the prolonged absence of Chanakya and would try to search for him. She wondered if anyone was searching for him at the moment. However, Seleucas made light of her worries. Rustling of leaves brought them to a halt and they glanced around to ascertain if anyone was following them or eavesdropping in their conversation. However, satisfied that no one was present there at the moment, they meandered away.
As soon as they disappeared out of sight, Ashoka and his friends reappeared and resumed their search. Finally they succeeded as Ashoka came across the concealed trap door. Ashoka decided to go alone and asked his friends to inform Radhagupta if they think that he was taking much longer than was normal and could be in some kind of danger. Ashoka jumped down the trap door and landed in the secret passageway. He advanced deeper into the passageway and began calling out to chanakya. Chanakya gradually gained consciousness and began struggling to free himself when he heard Ashoka calling out to him. Chanakya struggled to let Ashoka know about his presence in the secret chamber but failed to do so. Ashoka came across traces on the dusty floor of someone being dragged and followed the traces. He came across a dead end which brought him to an abrupt halt. Enraged, he punched the stone wall hard and began to regress when suddenly a thought struck him. On inspecting his fist he found that not only were they absolutely unharmed after hitting a solid stone wall but it also felt like the stone wall had been newly built for the purpose of concealing something that was already there. He returned to the dead end and hit the wall again which confirmed his thought. He began to punch a hole in the wall. Chanakya thought to himself that this wall was the barrier between the success of the plan of the enemies and the victory of Magadh and if Ashok could bring the barrier down he would save Magadh.
Subahu and Basunandan, on the other hand, were concerned that since Ashoka was taking such a long time he was, plausibly, in some kind of danger and decided to inform Radhagupta. At that precise moment, two soldiers ambled in, seeing whom the two boys scurried away. However, the soldiers noticed them and wondered what they were doing at the place when they came across the trap door which was wide open.
Subahu and Vasunandan informed Radhagupta that Ashoka was probably in some kind of danger. Radhagupta was shocked to know that.
Ashoka was single mindedly endeavoring to break through the barrier when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
Precap - Dharma said through tears that she could stay away from her husband and his love but she could not take any chance with the safety of her son.
