Disclaimer : The dialogues belong to the show. I do not own them.
WHEN BLOOD MEETS BLOOD!
That feeling of loneliness never did go away.
As he trudged forth, his mother and brother at his side supporting him, his mind wandered to paths he had actively avoided to step on.
He had a large family. A mother he worshipped and a brother whom he trusted, three wives he respected and three sons he adored. And yet quite suddenly at days that haunting feeling of being alone suffocated him. Made him feel that despite the loving family he had, he was all alone stranded in some obscure island.
He suddenly took a longer step and his injured side throbbed. Immediately he controlled his response. No need to make his mother worry more. She was already troubled by the situation.
And that brought his mind back to the present. He had been grievously injured in a battle against the Ujjain's King Rajajiraj. In his unconscious state apparently there had been an attack on his life and that too by a child. A child!
He frowned. Of all the things his reign had to face, this was the most embarrassing and shameful event. A child attacking a Samrat! Whatever did that prove? His father would have definitely remarked that there was sure something wrong with the ruler if a child has to take up arms against him.
The grand doors to the court opened. Samrat Bindusar took a deep breath and stepped forth. Immediately the courtiers started chanting his name.
Flowers were showered upon him and his eyes fell on familiar faces of Amatya Kkhallatak, Amatya Ugrasen and Mir Khurasan. And then he saw him.
Years had definitely taken its toll but even the rampage of time couldn't do anything to the gleaming vigour and determination that sparkled in those wise eyes. Clad in white, the ornate stick in his hand and his only thick bush of hair now white, Acharya Chanakya smiled at him.
It was like a blanket of security suddenly enveloped him. He had never imagined the impact Acharya Chanakya's absence would have on him. Such gratefulness rose on him that he nearly staggered. It was Justin's grip that steadied him and his mind flashed to the last conversation with his mother. Apparently Acharya was here to defend the child that had tried to kill him.
The three of them reached the most brilliant man in the whole of Magadh and unable to control himself, he gave a small bow. Acharya Chanakya smiled.
He was guided to the throne. The resplendent architecture glimmered. A feeling of respect and duty gripped him and he detached himself from his mother and brother. Gripping the sheath of his sword tightly he took a deep breath and pushed his injured body up, to climb the stairs.
Heaving and flushed he finally turned to face the court and raised a hand to stop the chanting. All quietened down at once.
He could already feel his body wearing down and arranging his expressions into a poker face, he finally sat down.
The moment he sat his earlier positive feelings vanished. The depressing feelings of loneliness made a return. As he stared at all from his elevated platform as the ruler, behind the facade, an introvert, friendless, tired royal sent a prayer for respite.
He glanced at Acharya Chanakya. His curiosity had been budding since the day before.
"After 14 years we are meeting each other Acharya, and that too in such a situation where you are standing before me in defence of that person who attempted to kill me."
Acharya gave another one of his enigmatic smiles. "I have always stood in the side of those values which were the grounding pillars of your father Samrat Chandragupt Maurya's reign - Justice and Truth."
Bindusar swallowed. "Justice will definitely be done Acharya. I may be considerably weakened physically, but I am not mentally weak." He sat straight. "Present the child in the court."
The clanking sound of chains first caught his attention. He cocked his head at the sight. Four of his soldiers walked in a square formation guiding a boy clad in ordinary garments and bound by chains.
Not much younger that Sushim, he thought as he appraised the boy, maybe a year or two. A pink Dhoti with a blue kamarbandh and a piece of yellow cloth slung onto his shoulders, tucked onto both sides under the kamarbandh. As he drew closer, Bindusar's eyes fell on his headband. Red and blue in a twisted pattern, it was of a unique design and captured his attention.
Next he contemplated on the body language. The boy walked, no stalked forward with a startling grace. There was no hesitation, no fear of imminent punishment. As he neared Acharya Chanakya, the boy threw a sharp glare at the Guru of Mauryas.
Bindusar nearly choked at that. It was all due credit to his etiquette lessons that he managed to stop his mouth from falling down. What exactly was going on here?
The boy marched forwards and planted himself right in front of him. And then his dark eyes met the boy's curiously amber shade. Time froze.
He couldn't exactly figure out what happened but his heart stated thundering loudly. There was a certain sense of euphoria that nearly knocked him off his throne. It felt as if he had gained a surprising victory, won a big battle but whatever it was, those eyes that reflected in them no fear but a genuine rage at his helplessness imprinted in his mind. It was those eyes, that would haunt him for days, and he would frustratingly try to understand why they felt so familiar.
"Don't you have manners to present yourself before the Samrat?"
Mir Khurasan's sharp rebuke broke the trance. The boy exhaled and brought his hands in front of him offering a pranam and bowed his head.
Bindusar could very well understand. There was no real respect meant there, if the amber glare fixed on him was anything to go by.
"What is your name?" he asked verily curious about this impudent child.
"The one who gives freedom from sorrow, Ashok."
The clear tones vibrating with a vivid vitality shook him to the core.
He was hooked. There was something about his little attacker that confused him like no other.
"You are accused of being a traitor. Of trying to kill me." And on top of that you have captured my attention which many lust for without doing anything. "I don't understand how to treat you."
It was supposed to be a rhetorical question. He wasn't expecting an answer but apparently the little boy was ready to astound him.
There was a certain shift on his face as if this was a game of chess and he had gained an upper hand.
"The way one Samrat should behave with another Smarat."
Those words hit him like a powerful gust of wind. His right eyebrow twitched up at the incredulous answer.
The court obviously felt the same astonishment if the resounding silence was anything to go by.
"What did you say?" Maybe he misheared. He hoped he did for if not, an oncoming headache was announcing its arrival.
The boy gave him a look that spoke volumes.
"The behaviour one Samrat should exhibit with another Samrat." He repeated his words slowly and loudly as if speaking to an imbecile.
Bindusar gave a twitch at being considered an idiot. This was the first time it had happened. And it was quite intentional if he was right about the slow smirk unfolding on the face of the little brat.
And yet he couldn't find it in himself to be angry. The mischievous gleam in his eyes had somehow managed to hypnotise him.
An unhesitant smile broke on his face. Entertaining little brat who proclaimed himself Samrat, he scoffed.
So involved he was in the proceedings that he didn't realize the change in him.
It would be later in the privacy of his chambers that he would wonder what happened to the feeling of crushing loneliness that always followed him everywhere.
Edited by mistofshadows - 9 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
