Chapter Thirty-Two: Mysteries Abound
In Kunwar Arjun Pratap's Chamber,
The crown prince of Rajnagari was sitting on a big rocking chair with his one year old son sleeping in his arms before the painting of his dead wife, Bindumaalini. One of the Daasis came to him on a tip-toe and asked, "Kunwarji, can I take Choote Kunwar along with me and put him to sleep in his bed?"
The crown prince hastily shushed her telling not to make the slightest sound and gesturing that he would wake up if he heard any other voice except his father's. He spoke very softly taking care not to wake up his little son who was sleeping on his chest, "Leave him with me for today night! You can do something else for me. Behind me, I have sorted out two racks of books based on Maharani Nandini's preference for reading. Leave the books to the right as they are! Do not touch them or even open them. Take the books in the left rack and give them to Maharani Nandini."
The maid who was not able to make out from the soft tones of Kunwar Arjun the books in which rack to take and which to leave stood for a moment perplexed. She was about to question the crown prince again but seeing the little prince sleeping so blissfully on his father's chest, she did not have the heart to disturb or wake up the father-son duo.
She reasoned to herself what difference would it make if she took books from one rack instead of the other. So after remaining undecided for a minute, the maid took the books in the right rack and handed them over to Nandini's maid to be given to Maharani Nandini from the crown prince of Rajnagari.
After the maid had left, Kunwar Arjun continued speaking in a very soft, muffled, poignant and gut-wrenching voice to the painting of his dead wife:
"Our son took his first independent steps today. I missed you a lot today! You weren't there to share my happiness with me. Even my happiness seems so incomplete without you. Not that I cannot continue living without you after you are gone. I still live, I still breathe, I still do the things that are expected of me, but I don't feel happy.
As always, I showed your painting to our son. He kept saying, 'Ma! Ma!' again and again, clapped with glee recognizing your face in this painting, and started taking his first steps towards it. 'Ma' is the first word and the only word he has learnt till now. I am old enough to understand the immutability of death.
I was very rash and reckless after your loss. I gave way to my feelings in a way I should never have done. But time teaches a human being everything. It teaches a person how to cope up with loss. I know you will never come back. I have finally accepted this truth to myself. I know the clock can never run backwards.
But our son is still very young to realize the harsh realities of life. A day would come when he would ask why his mother never speaks, never cares, never smiles. Why his mother is just a lifeless painting and not a flesh and blood, living and breathing human being? How do I explain to him that day his mother is no more? I don't want him to face such a day! I want to shield him from such a situation.
I faltered, fell down and got up. But I dread the day, he might get to know the actual reality, the loss is going to cripple him for life. I want him to have a mother and a father to complete his childhood. He should not grow up with the regret that he has only a father and no mother. That's why I have agreed to Ma's request to consider a second marriage.
I sincerely wish and hope that Rajkumari Chaaya is everything the matchmaker avers she is. I too want this alliance to materialize soon at any cost. If I find a wife, another chance to love, to shower affection in this second marriage, I would consider myself exceedingly lucky and twice blessed. Those were your last words to me. You wanted me to be happy, to love and find love once again in life. But even if I don't, I would have no regrets in life if our son finds a mother.
Rajkumari Chaaya's sister-in-law is a very sweet, amiable, loving and charming lady. I have even made a sister out of her. Her name is Nandini. Don't know how it happened so suddenly, but she is that sister I never had, but always wanted to have. If Rajkumari Chaaya is even half as good as Rani Nandini, I would consider myself highly blessed.
Life is too long for regret and loneliness and too short for love, comfort and solitude. I kept saying that I had all the time in the world. I kept postponing things for the future. I remained stranded where I was while you vanished from my sight."
In a thicket in the forests in the frontier of Magadh,
Satyajit, heavily hooded and masked, along with a carrier pigeon on whose legs a small note was tied. Words of a distant promise he had made to somebody, echoing and reverberating within the narrow confines of his heart, visible and audible to no second person but him: "I will return soon! As soon as I accomplish my mission, I will return to you, once and for all. I will take responsibility for everything. Just let me go this once! My duty towards my motherland calls me. I cannot ignore her call! Please understand me! Just this once! We will face this together! But till then..."
He had told all that was necessary in that situation, but what he had never fully told her was all those feelings that animated and breathed alive in his heart for the most beautiful woman that ever walked, with whom he had madly fallen in love, whom he pursued to the ends of the earth with his passionate ardor, who had ultimately relented to him despite all her other qualms, and secretly married him.
When he married her, he didn't know she was a Royal living incognito for security reasons. It suited him as well that his marriage to Chaaya was a secret. It would keep her safe from the apparent threats in the profession of espionage to which even family members often fell prey to. Enemies who couldn't get back personally often targeted the families of the spies.
Similarly, much less did he suspect that she was the elder sister of Maharaj Chandragupt whom he had sworn to faithfully serve to his last breath. To say that he was shocked by the revelation was to say the least. But he couldn't shirk from his commitment at this point. He had to take responsibility for it. He would surely do that after the completion of this mission.
With all these thoughts running in the background, he diverted his energies and concentration to the present task at hand, and why it seemed to be miscarrying at every point, "I wonder why none of my messages are reaching Acharya Chanakya or Maharaj Chandragupt. This is my third attempt at sending them the co-ordinates where we are presently located. I was expecting them to attack and launch an offensive as soon as they got information that Rajkumar Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas are presently here and capture them. But nothing happened! We have changed locations twice. This is the third time now. My notes are most probably being intercepted by somebody in the palace. If this note too does not reach Acharya and goes astray, I might have to expose myself to the risk of detection and personally go to Patliputra to give this piece of information."
Suddenly a javelin whooshed past cutting the air in Satyajit's direction. A voice hoarse with fury thundered to his men, "I want to see the face of that bas****d! Capture him, now!" A host of soldiers, fleet of foot, and even fleeter and agile of hand, left in hot pursuit of Satyajit. This was his area of strength. He was Acharya Chanakya's best in action. He would beat these men any day in this game of hide and seek. Nobody could discover him or his subterfuge unless he himself revealed who he was. And that was the last thing he intended to do: to play into the hands of his enemies!
He knew the hues and colors of the night, the various shades and dark corners of the forest, and how to sneak into them. He knew how to become one with them and use them to perfect effect. He skillfully evaded Dhananand's men and took a slight detour, jumped a few vines on the trees and returned back to where he originally was when he was spotted and attacked by Dhananand and his men, silent and stealthy as the night! He carefully perched himself atop a tree at a vantage point from which he could observe and hear everything that was happening below.
Satyajit (to himself): This is the last place you will expect me to be in, right above your nose! While your men search me everywhere, here and there, I am here, right above you! I just hope the message with the pigeon reaches Acharya Chanakya this time at least!
But alas! He groaned and silently punched his fists to the branch of the tree in frustration. He beheld a man bringing a dead pigeon with a note attached to its feet to Dhananand's presence. However, it was a relief that contrary to his expectations and deductions that somebody at the Patliputra Palace was intercepting them, those birds were being intercepted and killed here itself in the forest.
So if he could manage to personally go and give this piece of information at the earliest possible, Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas would be in Maharaj Chandragupt's hands. With Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas removed from the scene, Padmanand would be like a snake whose entire poison was extracted and squeezed dry!
The soldier reported, "We couldn't capture him, Kumar! But we managed to intercept the bird and kill it just as we did the other two birds as well. Here is the note we found!"
Dhananand took the note from the hands of the soldier and pocketed it. After this he continued cross-questioning his soldier for further information: "Any marks or peculiar thing you or your men observed about him that we could use to detect this man? Anything... just anything at all?
The soldier replied, "He was heavily hooded and masked. We were not able to see who he was. He is tall, broad-shouldered, fleet of foot, skillful and efficient of hand, and a brilliant warrior, Kumar! He killed five of our men single-handedly!"
Dhananand: I will add one more very intriguing detail to this very detailed report you have given me! He is an excellent spy, while all the men around me are highly inefficient! I wasn't asking for the obvious! Does this make you and your stupid men happy? An entire contingent was behind a single man and you were not able to locate him! We have missed him again! He has been in our midst for God knows how long, and we are yet to identify or discover who he is! Admirable! Simply admirable!
From the shadows, came an sly and measured voice, addressing Rajkumar Dhananand, "Shanth! We achieve nothing undermining ourselves and our men. It only deflates the morale of our men. We will catch this man before long! He is Acharya Chanakya's best in action! So if you were expecting him to play into your hands, Kumar, it is your mistake! We still have several clues to proceed with! If he has infiltrated into our army contingent, he will most probably be missing from it now as he is presently on the run! (Rakshas, without straining himself or his inner reserves to the very least, slightly tilted his head towards the soldier who was standing there and ordered) Ask all our men to congregate in the open and let an attendance count of them be made. Except the soldiers who are dead in today's encounter and that spy, all the others are going to be present within the camp. Report the details of this exercise to me immediately!"
Satyajit, after hearing this from his position on the tree, said to himself, "I might have to go from here now! I have to sneak back into the camp before that soldier does! Goodbye, Dhananand! We'll meet in person some other day! I will most certainly fulfill your dream of meeting me! Pranam, Amatya Rakshas! It will be a pleasure playing the cat-and -mouse game with a player of your caliber!"
The man left to do what he had been instructed. A fire had been lit by now, and Rajkumar Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas were standing before it discussing something in right earnest. Dhananand was raging with fury that none of their plans against Chandragupt and Chanakya were working:</font>
<font size="4">"Chandragupt is in Rajnagari! If this diplomatic and war alliance is clinched, his position will be further strengthened. What are we even doing here sitting in these forests like mountain rats and sitting ducks waiting to be attacked any moment by that Chandragupt and Chanakya? Why don't we attack them now instead? Chandragupt is away from Patliputra. This is the right opportunity for us to launch the offensive! Our reserves of strength are also not pretty bad at the present moment. What would you advise, Amatya?"
Amatya coolly, "I advise you do nothing! Seeing how badly we fared in our previous attack during the Theej, we should carefully watch every step we take!"
Dhananand: But Chandragupt will return soon from Rajnagari, the alliance will also be clinched, and the treaty between Magadh and Rajnagari signed by that time. An alliance with Rajnagari is not something to be sneezed at. It will boost the strength of Chandragupt and Chanakya tremendously.
Amatya: There are always as many chances of an alliance working out as of its going astray. If it is in our power or hands, we will most certainly try to sabotage it. But now that we have nothing to do with that, we have to concentrate our energies on what lies before us.
Dhananand: Let's attack Magadh now, Amatya! Just give me the go ahead! Pitha Maharaj has advised that I act according to your advice and discretion. He relies so much on you. More so than he does on me! If it had been left to me, I would have attacked Patliputra long ago.
Amatya, his voice not rising a pitch beyond where it was, said, "Patliputra is not so entirely unprotected or undefended as you think it is. I have heard that despite being a woman, Maharani Helena is a woman only in appearance, but for all practical purposes, an ace warrior and general with several Greco-Indian contingents under her disposal.
We are hardly equipped to deal with Greek war strategies in which she is an adept. Her association with Chandragupt would have taught her by now how to counter any reverse Indian military strategy we may devise. You cannot have forgotten her exploits during the previous battle when you and your Pithaji lost Magadh? And the most important thing of all, she has Acharya Chanakya to guide her from behind the scenes!
Your Pitha Maharaj was well advised in trusting to my intellect and sagacity than in your youth, recklessness and rash bravery! If only you had attacked as you were proposing to do, you would have been dead as a door nail before long, Kumar Dhananand! You entire contingent has not been able to unearth a single spy of Chanakya till now, and you brag about taking Chanakya, the man who trained him, himself head on?"
Dhananand (surprised and amazed at the same time): But we are anyhow going to catch that spy now, red-handed, aren't we?
Amatya shook his head slowly, as he said wistfully, "No, we aren't! That man is too complex and ingenious for that! He would have sneaked back to the camp as soon as he was clear of our men, which would have to be pretty soon, seeing what nincompoops our men were! I was just making sure it was so! That bird is not going to come into our trap so easily! We might have to work for it a bit!"
The soldier who had been dispatched by Rakshas came back with the report that the attendance count had yielded no results as all the men were within the camp. Amatya Rakshas softly rubbed his hands to his eyes saying, "Interesting! Very interesting! This is getting better and better as we proceed!"
Dhananand slashed his sword in anger against the nearest tree a number of times in anger saying, "What's so interesting or good about this but as a proof of our own failure and incompetence?"
Amatya: Kumar, aap samjhenge nahin! Shatranjh main maza tab aata hai jab samne wale khiladi bhi takkar ka ko! Ab is khel main maza aayega! (Kumar, you will not understand it! One gets pleasure in a game of chess only when your opponent is also of your equal caliber! Now this game is becoming interesting!)
Dhananand: Amatya, I have seen you since my childhood. But even now, I fail to understand you!
Amatya: Woh purush hi kya joh ithni aasaani seh samaj aaye! (What is a man if he will be understood so easily!) I take this as a compliment. All is not lost, Kumar! We still have a few clues to proceed with and catch this spy!
Dhananand: What clues Amatya? He has covered up all his tracks for now. The man will be even more careful in future! It will be even more difficult to discover him.
Amatya: You forget those notes written by that man which are still in our possession! It tells us something about that man!
Dhananand (still unable to comprehend what Rakshas was trying to convey) What do you mean, Amatya? Those notes speak about us and the co-ordinates where we are located, our army strength, our infantry soldiers, our cavalry, where our horses are kept, the location of our weapons cache...
Amatya: You're mistaken, Kumar! They tell us about the man himself...HIS HANDWRITING!
Dhananand was for a moment at a loss of words at the absolute brilliance of the man standing before him. After he recovered himself, he exclaimed, "Brilliant, Amatya! I salute your intellect! Chandragupt will never be able to strengthen his hold over Magadh when you stand between him and it. Unless he wins you over to his side, he does not have the least percent chance. He will forever stand in the danger of being supplanted or unseated, Acharya Chanakya, notwithstanding!
Amatya: You may be sure that what you suggest is never going to happen. I have written my loyalties forever on your side and your father's! I will bring down Chanakya and Chandragupt at any cost, and avenge the insult to my intellect when they defeated you and your father and snatched Magadh! I took them too lightly and for granted the previous time, but I will not this time.
Dhananand (evilly smiling through): Yes! Yes! I know! You are the deadliest enemy Magadh or Chandragupt could have! But it hurts me to think we are wasting this opportunity of attacking Magadh when Chandragupt is not present here!
Amatya: Kumar the time is not ripe for that. We will attack, or rather in other words wait for Chandragupt and Chanakya to attack us wherever we are! That may be pretty soon! We will retaliate and show who we are then! You told just a while ago that we are like mountain rats. Do you know Kumar, hunting out a mountain rat entrenched in its mountain hole is the most difficult thing? And we will make it even more so for Chanakya and Chandragupt! We ought to take a few leaves and lessons from them! We weren't able to dislodge or unseat them all the years they were in hiding in the forests fighting a guerrilla war with your father. I wonder why we cannot emulate them now and do an even better job than they ever did by bleeding them in a hundred difficult cuts and thrusts all over their body!
On the way to Nandini's Guest Chamber,
Chandragupt at last made his way to Nandini's room after a rather hectic day at the court discussing the modalities of the diplomatic and war alliance with Maharaj Indupratap and his council of ministers, and his some of his own ministers who were accompanying him. The same procedure would continue for three more days before finalizing everything and signing the treaty with the kingdom of Rajnagari.
He had an eventful evening as well. He had come to check upon Nandini and find how she was doing. But instead, he had found his own wife, Nandini in the arms of the crown prince of Rajnagari, Arjun. Though there was really nothing much to read into this as neither Nandini nor Arjun were capable of anything unethical or immoral, and even if they were, they wouldn't be indulging in anything like that in the presence of that maid. So the entire scene he saw must have been a mistaken impression. He was reading the entire thing wrong.
Then he had witnessed Nandini conversing with Arjun with such ease and comfort, something that was entirely missing in their conversations with each other. It was either silence, embarrassment, confusion, repulsion, arguments. Ever since that night of the Theej nothing had been going right for both of them. He had tried to mend matters, and she had also tried to mend matters on many occasions, but to no avail. The chasm between both of them kept getting wider and deeper. All these thoughts kept confusing him to no end.
They had driven him to seek the garden to compose himself from making a fool of himself. The same state of mind had made him seek the company of his second wife, Durdhara, who also happened to be his childhood friend. Instead of solving and crystallizing matters for him, her words and advice had left him more confused. If only he could be secure of Nandini's affections for him, it would solve most matters for him. But what would ensure that? He might have to confess what he felt for her when she was conscious and not unconscious as she was yesterday night.
In this connection, he asked Durdhara what any woman would love to hear from her man, but he certainly did not expect that it was the kind of stuff Durdhara told him. Even while he was just rehearsing it all alone, it sounded too atrocious. Much less, he would never be able to act or talk as she had advised him with Nandini. She was in all probability pulling his legs. And very much like Durdhara to do it as well. He should have known better than seek her advice on such matters.
Helena was a very sensible and accomplished woman. She never spoke like this to him or expected him to speak something like this about her. Since Nandini was also equally learned and accomplished, she would never want him to speak or act like how Durdhara had advised him to behave. Moreover, that day when she drew back from him was vividly etched in his memory. So it was literally impossible that he could behave like this because Nandini would never want that.
But this left him with another question of what exactly did Nandini want out of him. Helena was always very clear, direct, and precise in whatever she wanted out of him. He never had problems understanding her actions or motivations. Her anger, her revenge, her jealousy for Nandini, her possessiveness regarding him, he understood everything! As far as Nandini was concerned, he loved her a lot, but he hardly understood her. He was unable to understand what the crux of her problem was. Did she like him? Did she pity him? Why did she shrink from him?
Many days had passed after that day when her whole face became clouded and broke into spasms as soon as he came near her. But he was still stuck in that same rut. His emotional time had stopped and got stuck at that very same place. Why did she not want him as he wanted her?
Though it was not any real betrayal in any sense, he still felt betrayed and wronged! He tried to camouflage it through his anger and his avoidance of Nandini. Even that line of action had a pretty bad end when Nandini fell very ill, and he ended up carelessly ignoring her without seeking the proper information or caring to investigate whatever details he had at his disposal, and precipitating her health condition.
At night in Nandini's Chamber,
Nandini, her head bent over one of her books, completely engrossed in it, lost to the rest of the world and its mundane activities, scarcely noticed the arrival of Chandragupt. He must have been in her room for a couple of minutes before she actually noticed his presence. He had been imitating and duplicating her actions by observing Nandini herself as unwaveringly and steadily without taking his enigmatic gaze away from her even for a single second. It seemed as through he was trying to read the very essence of her soul by observing her like this just as she was trying to get to the crux of all written matter in that book by reading it so assiduously with such attention and concentrated effort.
Nandini, in an effort to break this spell between them, spoke, "When did you come? I didn't observe you?"
Chandra: How would you when you were so lost in that book? I just wish you had the same kind of attention span and concentration to observe what in happening around you!
That was a definite dig against her. She could not let that go now! She retaliated and instantly.
Nandini: Just like you were so observant and aware of what was happening around you during the journey? Methinks you should consult a Vaid! There is something definitely wrong with your auditory sense. I called out to you twice. Didn't you hear?
Oh! So she was still angry with him for his behavior during the journey! Anger and arguments were any day better than pity or revulsion. They showed that she still cared! Though he might have responded to this, seeing her delicate state of health and her intemperate and irritable mood, he just let that pass. He remarked something else, "I thought you would be asleep by now! You're still mulling over that Pustak!"
Nandini: Why the heavens should I be asleep now? I must have been asleep or delirious since yesterday afternoon till today afternoon. So I am not sleepy now! And why do you want to see me asleep always? Main koi athi bhayanak pashu hoon ki aap ko apni nethron seh nigal lungi agar jaagi hui hoon toh? (Am I a very dreadful animal that if I keep my eyes open, I will swallow you?)
This was getting irresistible now. He could no longer let this go without getting in a side thrust of his own.
Chandra: Shayad is taraf seh nahin par us taraf seh bilkul us bhayanak pashu seh milthi jhulthi ho agar nethron khuli ho toh! Maine kabhi pehle dhyan nahin diya! Par ab jab tumne mera dhyan is or kendrith kiya toh mujhe bhi abhas hua ki yeh bat tumne satya kahi hai! (Perhaps not from this side but from that side you definitely resemble that dreadful animal you were referring to if your eyes are open! I never paid attention to that aspect before this but now that you called my attention to this fact, I have realized that you are telling the truth!)
At this point, the book in Nandini's hand flew towards Chandra's direction and would have hit him real hard had not his reflexes been quick in side-stepping and catching the book double quick.
Chandra: Achi abyas thi yudh skshetra ke liye! Mai theri aabhari hoon, Nandini! Jeevan bahut kuch sikhadehthi hai! Ek bhayanak pashu seh kaise nipat teh hain! (Nice practice that was for the war field! I am indebted to you, Nandini! Life teaches you a lot of things! How to overcome a dreadful animal!)
Nandini: Aap ne mujhe phir seh bhayanak pashu kaha? (You called me a dreadful animal again?)
Chandra: Maine kab yeh kaha ki tum bhayanak pashu ho? Main toh sirf tumhari Haan main Haan mila raha tha...BHAYANAK PASHU! (When did I say that you were a dreadful animal? I was just joining a Yes to your Yes...DREADFUL ANIMAL!)
This time it was the pillow on Nandini's bed which flew in Chandragupt's direction. This time he did not defend himself but just allowed the pillow to strike against his chest before it rebounded to another side.
Chandra: Prateeth hota hai ki BHAYANAK PASHU ko koi achcha shastra nahin mila prahaar ke liye! TAKIYA aur woh bhi Chandragupt Maurya par prahaar karne ke liye? Kam seh kam apna nakoon aur daath nikaal lethi prahaar ke liye! (It seems as though DREADFUL ANIMAL did not get any good weapon to attack! PILLOW and that too for attacking Chandragupt Maurya? At least you should have brought out your nails and teeth to attack!)
Nandini, by now extremely vexed by this leg pulling, despite her rather weak state of health, chased him with another pillow in her hand. He wagged his finger at her, as if challenging her and telling her that she couldn't win in a race with him, while trying to evade the pillow that was waiting to land on him. He laughed at her inability to catch him which seemed to exasperate Nandini even more.
But this exertion rendered Nandini who was still recuperating breathless and dizzy. She was about to fall down once again when she was quickly and promptly held back by Chandra from falling down again. She lost her consciousness once again, tightly and securely held, and tucked away in Chandragupt's arms.
Though Nandini had momentarily passed out, Chandragupt was fully aware of everything. He just did not want to let go of her even for a moment. He wanted to hold her, protect her, and shield her within his arms from the rest of the world for an eternity. Her heart beats resonating with his, both of them so close enough to hear this symphony of heart beats vividly. There wouldn't have been a moment of more seraphic beauty and blissful transcendence than this! But like all such fleeting moments of beauty and divinity, this one too came to an end.
Chandragupt realized the utmost importance of placing Nandini on her bed and examining if everything was alright with her. He checked the fever and pulse. It was normal. So it was really nothing to worry about. She had already been weak and all this running and chasing had taxed her reserves of strength. So she had in all probability had a fainting fit due to weakness and exhaustion.
He cursed and reprimanded himself for not being careful enough and indulging in playful revelry which had proved detrimental to Nandini. He splashed some cold water from a jug on Nandini as he continued anxiously shaking her to wake her up and bring her to consciousness. After a moment or two, Nandini budged a bit, coughed and spluttered a bit before getting up. She beheld herself in a pool of water and Chandragupt looming over her, looking at her, and calling out to her very anxiously.
Nandini, astonished and fretting at the inconvenience caused due to his action, "Koi aise kisi murchit vyakti ko utatha hai kya? Mere sare vastra geeli hain! Mujhe ab inhe badalna padega!" (Does anyone wake up an unconscious person like that? All my clothes are wet now! I might have to change them now!)
Chandra (peeved by now): Main toh phir bhi tum par pani hi feka, tumhari tarah pustak nahin! Main tumhe uttaraha hoon aur tumhe uttane ki vidhi seh aapathi hai? Ab yeh bhi batado kis pustak main murchit vyakti ko kis prakaar uttathe hain ki sahi vidhi! (Still I threw only water at you, not books like you. I am trying to wake you up and you have a problem with the mode of waking you up? Now you yourself tell me in what is the proper way of waking an unconscious person according to which book!)
Nandini: Haan vidhi hain na! Ek murchit vyakti ko uttane ke liye apni padaraksha us murchit vyakti ke naak ke sameep rakna padega. Aur woh vyakti ut Jayega! (Yes, there is a method! To wake up am unconscious person, we should keep our shoes near the nose of the unconscious person. And that person will wake up immediately!)
Chandra: Haan ut jaata hoga woh vyakti! Kisi bhi vyakti kisi aur ki padaraksha soongne ke baad zaroor jeevan seh ut jayega! Kis Vidwaan Moorkh ne yeh vidhi batayi? (Might be the person will get up! After smelling the shoes of another person any person is bound to reach the other world! Which learned fool told this procedure?)
Nandini, not immediately realizing the intended pun, continued pretty seriously, "Haan, Charak Samhita main Maharishi Charak yehi kehthe hai. (Yes, Maharishi Charak says this in his Charak Samhita.) In the 188th page, verse two, line 3 of the Pustak, he elaborates upon this procedure!"
Chandra: Bahut achchi baat hai, ki Eshwar ki kripa seh ki main thoda kam shikshit hoon! (Very nice thing isn't it that by God's grace I am less learned!)
Nandini: Tujh jaise gavaar ko kya patha Maharishi Charak ke apaar gyan ke baren main! (What will an illiterate like you realize the greatness about the immeasurable knowledge of Maharishi Charak!)
Though this retort was playfully intended by Nandini, it stung Chandragupt quick at some deeper point, because it made fun of his childhood, his deprivation, his weakness and his vulnerability. Though it was strictly not true, because he had the opportunity of graduating from Takshashila, one of the most premier educational institutes of the world, it targeted his area of weakness. Though he was well-educated as far as the fighting skills, theories on administration, statecraft, political theory, war tactics and methodology, it was not general or versatile. He never had the opportunity or time to be well-read and well-versed in the various other branches of study.
Chandra remarked despondently, "Haan! Mujh jaise gavaar ko kya patha hoga aise buddhiman and Vidyavaan Maharishi ke baren main! (Yes! What will an illiterate like me know about an intelligent and knowledgable Maharishi like him!)
Nandini: Mere sabdhon ka ardh woh nahin tha! Mujhe skshama kar do! (This was not the meaning of my words! Please forgive me!)
Chandra: Usse antar kya padega ki tere sabdhon ka ardh woh nahin tha? Mujhe chubha uthna hi! (What difference will it make that the intention of your words was not that? It pained me just that much!)
Nandini: Ithna bhi chane ki jhad par chadne ki avashyakta nahin hai! Skshama maangrahi hoon na? Aap toh ab bhi nahin maangrahe hain! Kal seh meri tabyat theek nahin thi aur aap ab aarahe hain meri tabyat puchne ke liye? Main toh phir bhi aapko Safar ki samay main aapka vyavhar ke liye kuch bhi nahin kehrahi hoon! (There is no necessity to climb the high horse! I am asking sorry, am I not? You are not asking sorry even now! I was ill since yesterday and you are coming only now to ask about my health? I am still not reproaching you for your behavior to me during the journey!)
Chandra: Tumhe sach main nahin patha ki main kal sham seh teri hi saath tha aur teri dekhbaal kar raha tha aur saari raath teri saath bithayi? Aaj subah hi main Raj Sabha ke liye gaya tha aur woh bhi jab mujhe pura vishwas tha ki tum bilkul theek thi!(You really don't know that I was with you all the time since last evening and that I spent the whole of last night taking care of you? And I went to the Raj Sabha only in the morning, and that too because I was confident that you were alright!)
Nandini (great elated on hearing this) Sach? (Really?)
Chandra: Haan much! Aur Safar main joh hua, uske liye Skshama kar do! Main sach main uske liye lajjith hoon! Par sach toh yeh hain ki mujhe kuch nahin patha tha, aur tumne mujhe kuch nahin bataya! Toh sari galthi teri hai! (Yes, really! And for whatever happened during the journey, forgive me! I am really apologetic about that! But the truth remains that I wasn't aware, and you told me nothing! So, the entire fault is yours!)
Nandini (irritatedly) Aap galthi ke liye skshama maangrahe hain yaa mujhe daat rahe hain? (Are you asking sorry or fighting with me?)
Chandra: Donon! Aur main aaj sham bhi bahut pehle aaya tha par tum us taraf seh us Arjun seh baath kar rahi thi, kare ja rahi thi ki rookne ki naam hi nahin lerahi thi! Pratyek vakya ki pehle aur anth main aabhar aise bole jarahi thi ki mujhe yaa toh kahin doob jane ki ichcha horahi thi ya toh kanon main seesha daalne ki ichcha horahi thi. Aur main toh phir bhi do hi pure vakya sunna tha. Patha nahin mere jaane ke baad tum us Arjun ko kithni baar aabhar vyakt kiya hoga! Bichara! Aaj puri raath kanon par us prahaar seh uthnahin payega! (Both! And this evening too, I came much before, but you were taking with that Arjun like this, and kept on talking, as if you would never stop! Before and after every sentence you spoke, you were attaching a 'Thank You' that I felt as though I could go somewhere and drown myself or pour some wax into my ears. And I just heard only two full sentences from you. Don't know after I left, how many times you must have assaulted him with your 'Thank you'! Poor fellow! He wouldn't be able to recover from that assault on his ears for the whole of this night!)
Nandini: Mujhe sirf ek sandeh hain! ( I have a small doubt!)
Chandra (gruffly) Kya hai? Woh bhi dur kardoonga! ( What's it? I will clear that too!)
Nandini: Aap baahar hi the toh andar kyun nahin aaye? (If you were outside, why didn't you come in?)
Chandra: Kyon? Taaki main bhi moorchit hojaun har vakya ki pehle aur akhir main aabhar sunkar? (Why? So that I too become unconscious listening to a thank you before and after every sentence you speak?)
While he was speaking, he waved his ring finger like this and like that making animated gestures. Nandini glanced at if for a moment before a knowing glance came to her face and expressions. Her whole face brightened up instantly. There were soft smiles dancing in her whole aspect and her eyes.
Nandini (in a heartfelt manner): Aabhar Chandra ki tumne meri khayaal rakha! Aabhar tumne mere liye yeh kiya. Aabhar, Chandra, aabhar! (Thank you, Chandra that you took care of me! Thank you, Chandra that you did this for me! Thank you, Chandra, thank you!)
Chandra, confused and unable to understand the drift in Nandini's conversation, reiterated, "Ki maine kya kiya?" (What did I do?)
Nandini cupped his palms and held it before her mouth before she said, "Ki tumne yeh kiya!" (That you did this!)
Chandra was even more confused about how Nandini got to know about the previous night. So did she hear everything he spoke? Was she conscious?
Nandini remonstrated, "You don't take your bath seriously! You are in such a hurry that you never see if the ring in your hand is clean or not! That's how I knew! As soon as I got up, looking at the state of my bed coverlet, I realized that I must have thrown up. Your ring still carries slight traces of that! Does that explain my thanks to you? But now please allow me to excuse myself! I have still not changed my wet clothes."
Chandragupt turned back while Nandini retreated to a corner of the same chamber where the dressing area was and drew aside the curtains. She emerged after five minutes, fully dressed in new clothes.
Nandini saucily began, "Since I have already had a water bath, which I was actually supposed not to have by the Raj Vaid of Rajnagari until tomorrow morning, courtesy, Maharaj Chandragupt's efforts to bring me to consciousness, will Maharaj do me a further favor please?
Chandragupt: What's it?
Nandini: Maharani Durdhara brought me some Vibhuthi Prasad from the Puja she had got performed for my good health at the Shiva temple. She asked me to apply it immediately after my bath. It is over there (She pointed where it was kept by the maid) So will you be kind enough to...
Nandini had been on the verge of saying "pass it to me" which Chandragupt understood and took as "apply it on my forehead". He took a pinch of the sacred holy ash and drew a small and neat horizontal line at the center of her forehead with his ring finger. Then he carefully kept his palms over the line taking care not to rub the line he had drawn earlier and blew a delicate and gentle puff of air to remove off the excess Vibhuthi.
Chandra and Nandini once again got lost in this moment and its exquisite beauty and divinity, Nandini with her eyes closed, and Chandra with his eyes open, looking deep into the soulful and spiritual beauty of the woman with whom he was in love with. Seconds passed turning into minutes, and after what seemed like an age, both of them recovered sufficiently. He nodded his head to convey that the task was accomplished, and she, in acquiescence. They spoke and conveyed with each other through their eyes. There appeared no need for words between them. Everything seemed perfect.
After this moment passed, both of them got back to think about the ground realities. Nandini looked at him with an intricate query in her expression regarding the sleeping arrangement for that night. Chandra understood her and said, "Yesterday, I didn't sleep. I was sitting beside you on that stool. For today, perhaps, I could try sleeping in that Divan!"
Nandini: Ha! Ha! Very funny! The divan is half your size! You won't fit into it! Even if you did, you won't fit out of it tomorrow morning, becoming a permanent fixture! I am feeling much better now. I can manage by myself for today night. I think you should retire for today night to your own guest chamber.
Chandra: Not at all! You fainted just now a short while ago. I will spend one more night on that stool without sleeping...
Nandini: In which case I might have to don the hat of a ministering angel beginning with tomorrow morning because you are bound to fall sick if you keep on spending sleepless nights like this! Let's think up of something better!
She glanced for a moment at her bed. It was big enough for three and they were only two. Both of them could sleep comfortably on it. She arranged the pillows in between in a straight line before saying, "That's perfect! You sleep to the left and I will sleep to the right!"
Chandragupt also nodded his head in agreement and settled himself down to sleep on his side of the bed. As he was about to close his eyes and sleep, he found Nandini, her eyes wide open, looking at him as though wanting to ask him something, but a bit hesitant to do the same.
Chandra: What's it? Aren't you going to sleep? You don't intend to remain awake the whole of the night?
Nandini: No! I cannot sleep until I have read something. I would have done that myself but my head is splitting by now with a dull ache. Will you please read a book for me from that pile of books on that side table? That will help me sleep better!
Chandragupt turned towards the pile of books. His eyes froze with shock when he glanced at the titles of the first two books. He looked back at Nandini perfectly incredulous, saying, "You want me to read these books?"
Nandini: Yes, and perfectly good books they are! Rajkumar Arjun sent them for me when I expressed that I was fond of reading such books.
Chandragupt sighed to himself. Perhaps Durdhara was right after all! Perhaps all women loved such stuff! Seeing that there was nothing to be done, he sifted through the various titles of books until he found one suitably impressive, and began reading out from it. It was titled, "Asur Guru Shukracharya ki Krodhaagni!". He told himself, "Ah! That sounds more like it! I will read this one! This seems the best one of the lot!"
Sure enough! The book read interesting enough for many pages. It lulled Chandragupt into a relative sense of ease. He proceeded reading it fluently, narrating the story about the rivalry between the Devas and the Asuras...the Vidya of the Mrithsanjeevani over which Asur Guru Shukracharya held supreme mastery...the definite edge it gave to the arsenal of the Asuras...the infinite love Shukracharya held for his daughter Devyani...the entry of Kacha...the son of Dev Guru, Brihaspathi, as Shukracharya's student...the attempts on his life by the Asuras on discovering his real identity...how he was saved on every occasion by Shukracharya from death on the insistence of Devyani who had taken a definite fancy for this Brahmachari with the Mrithsanjeevani Vidya...finally how due to circumstances Shukracharya had to teach the Vidya to Kacha to revive him from death...Devyani offering her hand to Kacha after he came alive...his refusal and curse to Devyani...Devyani's antagonism and rivalry with Sharmishta...the ego battle between two strong individuals...arm-twisting the King to give his own daughter, Rajkumari Sharmishta as a maid to herself by using her father, Shukracharya's influence and power...the entry of Yayati into Devyani's life...her marriage with him...Sharmishta also going along with Devyani as her maid and part of the dowry...
Everything was fine and interesting till this point when the next few lines which assaulted Chandragupt's eyes, rendered him incapable to proceed any further. A glance at the next few pages revealed that things weren't getting any better but actually worse. He stuttered and spluttered tremendously, and tried his best improvising the story a bit, in his own words, but in vain, "Yayati ne Sharmishta ko dekha...Shatmishta ko nahin...uske kaksh main jo...jo...jo...haan...pustaken thi...unhe kaskar pakda..."
Nandini: Mm...What happened next?
Chandra: I mean...I mean...Yayati got a headache and closed the book...
Nandini: Then...what happened after that?
Chandra: What happened?...What happened?...Devyani complained to her father Shukracharya...
Nandini: I see!...But about what?
Chandra: Of course...what did she complain...what did she complain...(Thinking aloud to himself) That Yayati didn't respect the Pusthaken... tab phati Asur Guru Shukracharya ki Krodhaagni jwalamukhi ki tarah(then burst the volcano of anger of Asur Guru Shukracharya) ...on the hapless Yayati!
Nandini by now sensing that something was definitely wrong peeked at the book before she blushed tremendously as she said, "Why didn't you tell me before? ...This is what you think about me?..."
Chandra (a bit sheepish): No...I don't!...But Durdhara told me all women liked such stuff...and then you were precisely telling that you told Rajkumar Arjun...that you preferred reading such books...so I wondered whether...
Nandini: You should have asked me directly...and I would have told you...There is definitely some mistake or misunderstanding...I never asked such books...(Grimacing by now looking at the very titles of the books) Dhai Akshar Prem Ki...Karkasha ki Rathri ki Kahani...Chitrangada ki Moh...Pranayah ki Bhasha...Yuck!
Chandra (at perfect ease by now): I am glad to know by now that you don't love such stuff. Because reading another such book to you will be a perfect torture to me!
Nandini: Asur Guru Shukracharya ki Krodhaagni...Ha! Ha! Ha!...(Imitating in Chandra's voice modulation) That Yayati didn't respect the Pusthaken...tab phati Asur Guru Shukracharya ki Krodhaagni jwalamukhi ki tarah...on the hapless Yayati!...Ha!Ha!Ha!
Chandra continued looking at Nandini and her merriment uninterruptedly. If only he could see her smiling away, laughing and being happy like this for the rest of his life, he could want nothing else in life. Nandini tired and exhausted, laughed herself to sleep, but Chandra continued looking at her pleasant and much loved face, before he too fell asleep; Nandini's smiling visage encapsulated within his closed eyelashes. He had never felt so happy in life. If there was happiness and bliss on earth, it was this! Being close to the person one loved, seeing them happy, and keeping them happy! He prayed to almighty to preserve this joy and bliss with him forever. That was the last prayer he sent floating up the ether before he fell asleep!</font>
Edited by shailusri1983 - 8 years ago
Hindi TV Shows
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Noyontara
Kumkum Bhagya
Current Affairs
