Posted:
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Night Vigil
Kunwar Arjun, realizing the gravity of the situation, clapped his hands and instructed his soldiers to summon the Raj Vaid of Rajnagari.
Arjun (turning back and addressing the maid): Yes, I was informed by Pithaji just now about Maharaj Chandragupt's and Maharani Durdhara's arrival here. As a matter of fact, I was on my way to pay my respects to Maharaj Chandragupt as I had been away on urgent affairs when your party reached our palace. So you say Maharani Durdhara is ill?
Maid One: Maharani Nandini, Maharaj Chandragupt's third queen is ill!
Arjun (extremely surprised): What? I wonder why I didn't know about it or why Pithaji missed telling me about it. It so not like Pithaji to leave out details.
The maid, a bit spontaneously and unwittingly, said, "Kunwarsa, your father did not miss out anything. As a matter of fact, our Maharaj somehow missed out introducing Rani Nandini to your father and mother."
The blow had been dealt. But Arjun did not reveal what had exactly been running through the his mind in the cool and composed way in which he remarked to the maid, "I see! That accounts for it!"
After this, he strode in huge and big steps towards Nandini's room, while the maid running after him, barely managed to keep up pace.
Immediately he sought information about Maharani Nandini's present state of health from the other maid in the room. The maid gave a deep bow and launched demurely into an account of how the fever was getting worse.
Maid Two: Maharani has been delirious all this while. She is completely oblivious of what she is saying or doing. She is mixing and jumbling up things. The fever is also much worse. The cold packs are not at all working.
Arjun, not satisfied with just the account, was about to check the pulse and temperature before deciding on the future course of action. As he was about to do so, Nandini caught hold of his hand and said, "Dhan Bhaiyya...aap aagaye? ...Dekhiye yeh Chandra bhi na...meri sath ankh main choli khel raha hain!...Kahin jaakar chup gaya...aur main dhund hi nahin paarahi hoon!...Aap meri madath karenge na, Bhaiyya?...Aap Chandra ko daantenge naa, Bhaiyya?" (Dhan Bhaiyya...you came?...Look at this Chandra...he is playing hide-and-seek with me!...He has gone and hidden himself somewhere...and I have not been able to find him!...You will help me, won't you Bhaiyya?...You will scold Chandra, won't you Bhaiyya?)
Her maid tried to correct her by telling, "Maharani Saa, he is Kunwar Arjun Pratap, and nor your Dhan Bhaiyaa. Please see..."
Kunwar Arjun raised his arm at this to restrain the maid from telling anything further for fear that it would upset Nandini and worsen her health condition. To say that he was taken aback and touched at the same time to hear Rani Nandini associating him with her dear brother would be an understatement. He never had any sister though he would have loved to have one like Rani Nandini.
But at the present moment, he let that pass. The situation was so tense that his mind refused to dwell on it. He reassuringly spoke to Nandini, holding her hand, "Main hoon there saath Behen! Main Chandra ko dhundunga aur bathaunga ki usne anuchith kiya hai!" (I am with you sister! I will search for Chandra and tell him that his behavior was inappropriate!)
Nandini happily blubbered,"Main ...athi ...prasanna ...hoon ...ki ...aap... aagaye, ...Bhaiyya!" (I am very happy that you came brother!) Nandini's speech was becoming dreadfully slurred. It had become highly unintelligible by now. She was swallowing a whole lot of her syllables and not able to apply the correct stresses and intonation at the right places. There was lack of connectivity or logic in her utterances.
Arjun questioned, "Since when has the condition of your Maharani been like this?"
Maid one: Maharani Nandini has been suffering from indisposition since morning. During the journey she appeared a bit exhausted and had a throbbing headache. We observed the alarming symptoms like fever and delirium only after arriving here.
Arjun, almost instinctively, "What? And yet you continued the journey?" He stopped at this realizing that the maids could not be held accountable for what was a mistake of their Maharaj Chandragupt. A tremor of disgust ran through him as he pondered what sort of a man this Chandragupt must have been.
Firstly, he hadn't introduced his own wedded wife to his hosts. Such a gross disrespect of etiquette and decency! Whatever issues he had with his wife, they were personal. But washing all this dirty linen in public wasn't at all behavior expected from a king and Samrat. It showed him in such poor light. If he was the king, he wouldn't even be contemplating a diplomatic relationship with such a king who couldn't treat his own wife properly or justly.
His wife was seriously ill, and this man was nowhere to be seen or available. From the accounts of the maids, he could surmise that the Maharani had been terribly sick and ill, and yet this man didn't seem to have a clue or was not bothered about anything. How could anybody be so cold, indifferent, cruel, and hard-hearted? They hadn't taken any medical help or temporarily stalled the journey till the Maharani was better.
And he had also heard a few tales about how Chandragupt had married the daughter of the former king, Padmanand, and how both the Royal families shared a family enmity. He supposed the poor girl was paying for her father's deeds. To cap it all, his own mother had been contemplating to get him married to this man's sister if everything worked out fine. Personally speaking, he didn't exactly want a wife at this point of time, but all the same his little son needed a mother. So he had agreed to consider this alliance when his mother had suggested it to him.
If the man was like this, how would the sister be? Anyways, he was generalizing too much. How could he know what the sister was like based on his impressions about the brother? Rajkumari Chaaya could have been good and exceptional as the matchmaker said. Anyways, he had no business interfering in the personal affairs of Maharaj Chandragupt. But since the Maharani was their guest, and her welfare was their responsibility, he had to look into this matter at all costs.
Arjun checked the fever and pulse once more before he decisively said, "We have to do something immediately. Don't allow your Maharani to sleep until the arrival of the Raj Vaid. Keep sprinkling water on her face from time to time if you find her becoming unconscious or falling asleep. Continue the cold water packs. And you...(gesturing to one of the maids) crush some tulsi leaves, mix it with water and continuously make your Maharani to drink this at regular intervals. This is usually effective in temporarily controlling the body temperature. Don't be silent even for a moment. Keep talking and make her talk and respond to you."
Nandini was slipping and sinking into oblivion. Arjun and the maids tried to wake her up or keep her conscious till the arrival of the Raj Vaid. All their home remedies were to no avail. Nandini's skin had become very dry and reddish. Her body was burning hot with fever and her pulse was racing by now. Arjun stamped his foot in frustration as he agitatedly muttered within himself, "Not again! Last time was enough! Don't take another life before my own eyes...Please don't take another life...Give me the strength and power to save..."
He paced up and down the room constantly asking the maids for the latest developments.
Maid one: Maharani Saa is not waking up or responding to any of our words.
Arjun, realizing that these maids were utterly incapable and incompetent of dealing with such a situation, pushed them aside, took Nandini's hands in his hands and began speaking in a loud, imposing and rasping voice that was terribly grating on the nerves in order to keep her awake, "Behen, tum janthi ho main...(Sister, you know I...)
He kept this up continuously and incessantly while giving a slight rap on Nandini's knuckles when he occasionally found her losing track with herself. Nandini too smiled meaninglessly and blabbered and meandered along unconnectedly. Most of the events and incidents she referred to were from her childhood experiences with her Dhan Bhaiyya, and the recalcitrant behavior of her friend, Chandra, who was not at all cooperating or playing with her properly, and how she was feeling very lonely and isolated.
After a few minutes, even this was not working. Nandini fell unconscious with a blissful and beatific smile on her face. At this, Arjun who was by now pushed to the wall by the circumstances, gave Nandini a tight slap on her cheeks to wake her up.
A loud and kingly voice roared at this, "Teri ithni dussaahas! Main tumhe nahin chodunga!" (Such impertinence! I will teach you a lesson!)
Nandini, though in delirium, woke up on hearing this voice, "Chandra, tum aagaye?" (Chandra, you have come?)
Arjun coldly looked up for a slight instant to catch a glimpse of the man about whom he had been hearing all this while, and who was being ardently expected. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was severely prejudiced against the man. So this was the man!
He had to admit that his very appearance was impressive and awe-inspiring. It had the kind of charisma and magnetism that could attract thousands and thousands to follow him and lay down their own lives fighting for his cause without a single question or doubt in their minds.
Otherwise why would one of the finest brains in the country like Acharya Chanakya back him, or how would powerful kings, poor peasants, workers, carpenters, blacksmiths, dacoits accept him as their undisputed and unchallenged leader to lead the revolt against tyrannical Padmanand.
Otherwise, why would a woman like Rani Nandini love him so wholeheartedly despite his despicable behavior towards her? So the man would obviously have his good points. But seeing what he had seen today, he couldn't be so charitable with a person who could be so cold, indifferent, and cruel towards his own wife.
Kunwar Arjun looked perfectly unperturbed. He did not devote a second look to Chandragupt. He looked beyond Chandragupt's shoulder at the Raj Vaid who had arrived just now and spoke in a nonchalant tone, "Vaidji, aayiye! Aap Maharani ko Chikitsa Kendra lejana chahenge yaa inka upchar aap yahin karenge?" (Vaidji, please come in! Would you like to shift Maharani to your hospital or would you prefer to commence her treatment here itself?)
Raj Vaid: Main apni sari aushadiyaan saath laaya hoon! Chikitsa Kendra lejane ki koi avashyakta nahin hai! (I have brought all my medicines along with me. It is not necessary to go to my hospital!)
Arjun: Theek hai! Aap upchar turanth shuru kijiye! (Alright! Please start the treatment immediately!)
After this he slowly turned towards Chandragupt, and casually asked, "Main aapko jantha hoon?" (Do I know you?)
Chandra, a bit imperially and bombastically, "Main Chandragupt Maurya, Magadh ka Samrat!" (I am Chandragupt Maurya, the Samrat of Magadh)
Arjun with crisp indignation and acrimony, "Toh anthatha aap aahigaye, Magadh Naresh! Pehle jaayiye aur apni Pathni ka kyal rakhiye! Woh mrityu ki khagaar par hai! Main bhi yahin hoon aur aap bhi yahin hain! Meri dussaahas aur aapki saahas baad main dekh lenge. Ab kyunki meri avashyakta yahaan nahin hain, main chaltha hoon! Main Kunwar Arjun Pratap hoon! Bahut prasannatha hui aap seh milkar, Maharaj Chandragupt Maurya! Angnya deh! Vaidji, yeh hamare athidhi hai! Inka upchar theek seh karna! Main baad main aap seh suchna lunga!" (So at last, you came, King of Magadh! Please first go and take care of your wife. She is standing in the jaws of death. We will see about my impertinence and your courage and confidence later on. Since I am not needed here now, I will get going. I am Kunwar Arjun Pratap! Very happy to meet you, Maharaj Chandragupt Maurya! Please excuse me! Vaidji, they are our guests. Please treat her properly. I will seek information from you later on!)
But the way in which he gave his intonation, it seemed as if Kunwar Arjun Pratap had not been very pleased to meet Chandragupt. By this time, even Chandragupt understood that Arjun had done whatever he did to save Nandini and not to insult her or to affront him. Despite the accusatory tone in which Arjun spoke to him, Chandragupt was not angry today. If he was angry with anybody, it was with himself. His unpardonable behavior had merited every bit of the reproof he had got. He had again failed himself and everybody. His anger and king-sized ego had again clouded his judgement.
Firstly, he had not investigated what the problem with Nandini was though she had called for him twice from her Palki. He had just assumed things on his own. Secondly, he hadn't introduced his wife to his Royal hosts. The way the whole thing had bludgeoned out of control, and Nandini's real identity had come in front of the royal family of Rajnagari, they wouldn't be having a very good or flattering opinion about it.
It reflected very badly on his judgement and dealing of affairs. While today in comparison, Kunwar Arjun's behavior had been spotless and blameless. He had done everything to save Nandini and fulfilled his Athidhi Dharm (duty towards one's guests perfectly). Chandra even dreaded to think what would have happened to his Nandini but for him. Had Arjun stayed a minute longer, he would have thanked him for everything he had done today. But alas, that heartfelt thanks had to wait for some other time or some other day.
The Raj Vaid carefully examined Nandini and then informed that she was suffering from a heat stroke and that he had given the requisite medicines and applied the necessary leps. Since she had previously been suffering due to lack of sleep and indisposition, it had greatly aggravated the situation by making the heat stroke severer.
The fever would subside gradually within the next twenty four hours. The critical period was past now. Everything would return back to normalcy in a few days. There was nothing to really worry now except if the fever shot up again. If that happened it meant that her body's temperature regulating mechanism was severely damaged. And that was a dangerous sign. Otherwise none of the other things were really life-threatening.
The delirium, headache, and stomach indisposition would also gradually settle down. He said that the Maharani would have to endure a lot of pain and discomfort for the next few hours. That couldn't be helped, though the medicines he had administered and prescribed would take care of them, and alleviate the discomfort to some extent. He duly finished explaining about the medicines to be given, in what quantities, time intervals, the diet restrictions to be observed, and additional care to be taken.
Chandragupt hung onto each and every word from the Vaid's mouth carefully and attentively. After the Raj Vaid departed from there, he thanked Nandini's maids for helping and faithfully serving their Maharani in her hour of need. He later dismissed them asking them to rest properly for the night telling that they must have had a very hectic and strenuous day.
Maid Three (demurred): But Maharaj, if we go away, who will give Maharani her medicines and change her cold water packs throughout the night.
Chandra: I will stay back. All of you have diligently performed your duty till now, I will do mine now.
After everyone had left, Chandragupt walked to the couch, took her hands in his, and stared at the reclining and recumbent figure of Nandini, occasionally wincing in pain and discomfort, the crinkled lines on her forehead clearly visible, occasionally speaking something disjointed, tossing about this side and that when one particular side was becoming too hot, and yet in the midst of all this clutching at his blue angavastra, for a long while in silence.
He had checked her body temperature the eighth time in fifteen minutes. It was almost becoming a compulsive reaction. The temperature was a bit high but not abnormal. It was neither increasing nor reducing. It was stable wherever it was. He knew that it was not going to change instantaneously or miraculously. But still his heart kept on hoping that the fever and pain were going to subside during the next minute itself.
He checked the lep the Raj Vaid had given to applied to her chest. It was dry by now. He applied a thick layer of the lep once more near her chest. Later, he saw what else he could do to make her comfortable. He adjusted the pillow beneath her neck. Then he observed that as a result of this sickness, she was looking terribly sooty, grimy, unkept and untidy.
He decided that he was going to wipe her clean with a wet cloth. She would definitely feel better and fresh. If he kept on thinking doing nothing, he was getting very negative and guilty thoughts. He tried to push them away by keeping himself busy and making himself useful to her.
He gently removed his blue angavastra that she had been clutching so tightly as though for dear life. His chest became heavier and heavier. It was one more reminder of where and how he had failed his love again. He gently and soothingly spoke to her, "Just let that go! I am here with you now. You don't need that any longer. I am with you!"
He gently wiped her face, her neck, her hands, her legs with a soft muslin cloth dipped in water. He did this as softly as though she were a delicate feather or the softest flower in existence which would wilt or break at his slightest touch. He did this taking care not to wake her up. After this, he raised her gently, held her up carefully against his broad shoulders, combed her hair, and tied it up securely in a small bun so that it would not keep falling on her face again and again irritating her, before he laid her back to sleep on her pillow.
Chandra (to himself): Now you look better! Let's see what else I can do. You mustn't have drunk water since a long time. In this condition, you would need a lot of fluids to recover.
He again held Nandini up in his arm, gently pried open her mouth, made her drink water slowly in small sips, and midway through when she coughed and hiccuped a bit while drinking, he smoothed and patted her back and her head gently to relieve them. After this, he again laid her down gently on her pillow, and sat down beside her.
Chandra (to himself): Let's see if I have to wet your cold pack again!
He checked the cloth. Sure enough, it wasn't wet. It was very dry by now. He dipped it in water and again placed it on her forehead again and allowed his hands to rest over the wet cloth on her forehead.
Some time had elapsed. She suddenly woke up with a jerk. She still wasn't in her senses. She was still delirious. She didn't know who he was or who she was. She wasn't able to speak clearly even now.
[Edited out portion: She made a few gestures as if she was feeling a slight discomfort in her stomach.
Recognizing and understanding what she was trying to convey in her disturbed and distraught state, Chandra asked, "Do you feel like vommiting out? (He instinctively stretched and held out his hands before her mouth and said) Here! Out with it! Don't think! It's alright! Just get done with it! You will feel better and relieved."
Without the slightest bit of thought or disgust, he caught it in his hand as she vommited. Then he gently placed her on her pillow, and quietly went aside and washed his hands. When he returned, he found that] She was restlessly tossing about and squirming in terrible pain.
Greatly alarmed, he asked, "What's happening? Aren't you alright? I'll call for the Raj Vaid!"
She caught hold of his hand with a vicious grip, "Nahin!...Tum mat jao! ...Mujhe akela chodkar tum math jao!" (No! ...Don't go!...Don't leave me alone and go!...)
Chandra: What's happening to you?
Nandini began crying and whimpering as she told, "Mujhe atyant peedha horahi hain!" (It's paining terribly!)
Chandra: Kahan? (Where?)
Nandini: Yahan...yahaan...yahaan...pure shareer par...meri puri badan tap rahi hain! (Here...here...here...in my whole body...my whole body is burning!)
Chandragupt started fumbling for the medicines the Raj Vaid had left behind, "Which one was it?...This one?...That one?...Or the other one?...Which one is the pain killer?...Ghosh!...Why am I forgetting everything?...Why can't I find a single medicine properly?...Why am I so confused?...Why are my hands shivering like this?"
At last, he identified the pain killer among the medicines and made Nandini drink it.
Chandra (a bit hopefully now): You are feeling better now, aren't you?
Nandini trailed behind, "No! ...It still pains...here...here...here...it burns like hot molten wax...poured all over my body..."
Chandra (after a few more minutes): Are you feeling better now? The painkiller must have started working! Is it less?
Nandini gritting her teeth in great pain, "No...it isn't!...It's still paining!
This vigil and ordeal had become harrowing and nerve-racking by now. He was is such excruciating mental pain himself. He was unable to stand as a helpless bystander and watch her writhe and wriggle in pain. It made him loathe himself and his unpardonable behavior during the journey. If only he had heard...if only he had acted earlier...if only...she wouldn't have been in such pain!...And he had even been gloating...that he had taught her a lesson...
In utter despair and a self-condemnatory mood, he bit his lips and walked back a few steps towards the nearest wall where he hit his clenched fists again and again in a highly abrasive manner every time he heard her groan or murmur in pain. His lips became reddish and swollen, and the skin near his knuckles got scraped off at a number of points. There were several deep gashes on his knuckles as a result of this violent action of his.
He ran to her and pleaded, "Just tell me you are feeling better and in lesser pain than before! I don't want anything else!"
By this time, her pain and weakness took complete toll of Nandini. She just weakly stared at him completely exhausted, barely managing to keep her eyes open, unable to tell anything in reply to his queries.
He ravenously gathered her in her arms as he kissed her face, her cheeks, and said brokenly, "Ab sab theek hojayega!...Sari peedha chali jayegi!...Theri sari peedha main apne aap main samaunga!...Theri peedha mujhe dehdo!...Meri sari khushiyaan tum lehlo!...Tum sirf prasanna rehna!...Mujhe aur kuch nahin chahiye!...Kuch nahin!" (Now everything will be alright!...Your whole pain and discomfort will be gone!...I will absorb all your pain within myself!...Give me your pain!...Take all my happiness!...You just remain happy!...I don't want anything else!...Nothing!)
As he was tightly clutching Nandini like this, he felt a slight wetness on his cheeks. He slightly touched them with his finger to see what it was. As he held up the small glistening tear on his index finger with perfect disbelief, "Ashroo? ...Mere ankhon main?" (Tears?...In my eyes?)
He wiped it aside. But they kept coming again and again. He exclaimed in wretched misery and anguish, "Yeh ashroo rukthe kyun nahin?" (Why don't these tears stop?)
PS: This is to all my readers. I loved writing this chapter for all of you. I would love to hear what you think about it. Another important point. When I first posted this chapter, the lines which are now within square brackets were there. After that I deleted them. Now being a bit confused, I have added them again but this time within square brackets. Those of you who liked them can consider those lines as a part of this chapter. The others who found them uncomfortable or messy just need to consider those lines removed or absent.
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
