Written by Destiny and Etched in Blood: A FF (Ch 54: Pg 100 NEW) - Page 60

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Ship Comes Home!

At night in Patliputra in Acharya Chanakya's chamber,

Acharya Chanakya suddenly got up from his bed and started pacing to and fro the room. He been feeling terribly uneasy since a while due to some kind of strange intuition. His throat had been feeling terribly parched. He went to the earthen water pitcher in his chamber and poured a glass of water for himself. He gulped it down avidly.

All he observed was that his thirst had been quenched and his need had been served. In his preoccupation, Chanakya didn't notice that the pitcher had been at the very edge of the wooden stool. While placing it back, he unbalanced the pitcher which broke. This sound roused the sleep of his young student companion Radhagupt. Radhagupt glanced at the broken pitcher and then at his master and realized that he was deeply troubled by something else.

This seems to be a literal and a symbolic instance of destruction, of the clay pitcher and of Satyajit. The point that it is Chanakya who is the deus ex machina in both cases is subtle but striking.

Radhagupt: Acharya, is anything the matter?

Chanakya: Yes, I was a bit worried about the safety of someone very dear to me!

Radhagupt: Who is it, Acharya, if I may know?

Chanakya: You do not know him!

Radhagupt: Which means it is not Maharaj Chandragupt but somebody else! Is it another student?

Chanakya: Yes, you are right! It isn't Maharaj! It is another student.

Radhagupt: Why don't you warn him in that case, Acharya?

Chanakya: My boy, it isn't so simple! Both of us knew about the dangers! Still he wanted to go, and I let him go despite the fact that I was the only person who could stop him.

Radhagupt: In that case, I must imagine the situation which enforced this decision warranted it.

Chanakya: It did! In similar circumstances, if I had to take similar risks for my country, I wouldn't have flinched or backed out from it. I too would have done the same!

Radhagupt: We all know that, Acharya. For you, our nation is paramount! You can sacrifice anything for that or seek a sacrifice from anybody for the same purpose as well. Desh Kalyan ki is Yagna main aap khud ki bhi aur kisi aur ki bhi aahuti deh sakthe hain! (In this Yagnya for national welfare you could offer yourself or anybody else as a ritualistic oblation!)

Chanakya (in a highly ambiguous manner): Haan! Aahuti hi toh hai! (Yes! It is an oblation!)

Yes, and it is he who has made the oblation. Needlessly, as it turned out, in the process wasting an invaluable asset who could hardly be easily duplicated.

At some distance from Dhananand's forest camp,

Dhananand was addressing the captive caught by him and his soldiers in a highly menacing manner. He had caught him red-handed in an act of treason trying to pass on vital information to his enemies. Despite being surrounded on all sides by enemies, and terribly battered, bruised and bleeding at many places on his body, his spirit and dauntless courage were not broken.

Dhananand: Your game is up, Satyajit!

Satyajit: Gloat away in your success for now! You would never have succeeded in catching me without this elaborate treachery you practiced on me.

Now this is very odd. What does he expect them to do? Stick to the code of dharma? Chanakya would be the first to negate any such statement. It is treachery only if it is practiced against you. If it is done by you it is kootniti!

Rakshas: But this is what you have been doing all these days against us, young man! So, we cooked up the news of Maharaj Padmanand's arrival in Magadh in such a manner that you were bound to believe it and rush at the first given opportunity to give this information to Chanakya. So there you are! You are caught!

Aha, so this is the disinformation trick they pulled on him! Like putting cheese in a rat trap.

Dhananand shouted while glaring at him, "Now I will make an example of you for others like you!"

Satyajit who was tired and exhausted by now of his struggles just gave a defiant but weak smile to his captor as if to communicate to his enemies that he did not care what they did to him.

Amatya Rakshas tried to intervene at this point saying, "Kumar, we cannot execute him like that! We need to interrogate him in order to know what all information he has passed on to our enemies and what he hasn't! We need to learn that first! He is in our hands. We can execute him after learning about those things whenever we want!"

Dhananand turned a deaf ear to those words and continued punching the captive relentlessly to dissipate his frustration caused due to the repeated failure of his cause.

Rakshas cautioned, "Kumar, a bit softly! The man will die before telling us anything!"

Dhananand, however, seemed to be least bothered by this or by anything. He continued doing what he was doing earlier without respite. Rakshas was about to stop and hold Dhananand from venting his anger on the hapless captive, when it was the captive himself who spoke, "You're wasting your time Amatya Rakshas. Better get done with this formality. You are not going to elicit a single word of information that will reveal anything or help your cause from me!"

Look at the ostentatious folly of the young man! He should have been equipped with a whole set of false stories to tell if he was caught, if only to mislead his enemies even if he was executed in the end. This is what I call the Dharmendra style, mouthing arrogant lines right in the villain's den. And to no purpose.

Dhananand: Do you see the impertinence of this worm, Amatya? You're wasting your sympathies. Since we have no use for him, allow me to execute him!

Rakshas: Kumar, he isn't a worm for you to crush beneath your feet! He is a spy and he was doing his duty. All the same, since he was acting against us, we should execute him. Have it your way but I am not staying behind to witness it. I am retiring to my tent. Shubh Rathri, Kumar! (Good night, Kumar!)

This is typical, waffling Rakshas. Why does he not take Satyajit into his own custody saying that he can get something out of him no matter how stubborn he is? Dhananand could hardly have refused that. But Rakshas has already sold his soul to the devil, and he cannot be bothered to do anything more than mouth platitudes.

As Dhananand reciprocated the 'Shubh Rathri' with a 'Shubh Rathri' of his own, a strange gleam came into his eyes as if he was the very incarnation of all distilled evil and darkness present in this universe. There were many times when his own father and Amatya got scared witnessing his excesses. It was with difficulty they managed to rein him in the past.

But such a radically opposite picture, his wife and his sister had about him. They used to believe him the very epitome of everything good. There was nobody like him for both these women. He was a very different person there. A gentler and more loving husband or a loving brother than him mustn't have existed. His men even thought that it was a case of split personality.

But it wasn't. He loved the two of them more than anything else in his own demented way. He could never bear to see anything but hero-worship and adulation for him in both of their eyes! This was the very paradox of life. His small little sister, Nandini had changed! She hated him and his Pitha Maharaj! The beautiful butterfly had emerged from her cocoon and spread her wings. She had seen what the truth and reality was. With a heavy lump in his heart he thought of how his dear little sister would never be what she was to him. The person responsible for this was that Chandragupt.

But Gautami...She would never be able to hate him whatever be his crimes! Her eyes glowing with love and admiration for him reinforced his ego. He loved to see himself through the mirror of her eyes. She would forgive him everything and accept him! How long it had been since he had seen Gautami! If only he could see her once! If only he could bring her away from that palace along with him...Alas! He was powerless! She was in his enemy's hands! It was the same Chandragupt again who stood between him and the love and the only bright spot of his life. He chafed at this fact!

Very interesting take on the other face of a real monster, an unrepentant and vile sadist. There is an interesting question one can ask oneself . Dhananand loves Gautami. Would he have died for her? I think not.

After Amatya Rakshas had left, he expended all his unspent anger and frustration on the hapless Satyajit in a manner that eludes any sane description. It was savage and animalistic to say the least.

NOT animalistic, my dear! Animals never kill except for food or in self defence. It is man who indulges in sadism.

As he and his men gloated over the dying man and his state, Satyajit gathered all his remaining strength to speak these ominous words, "Each of you will pay for this! For each suffering of mine, and each drop of my blood spilt here, all of you will pay a hundred fold! My death will keep hounding all of you until you are completely annihilated!"

Scared out of their wits by these pronouncements of doom and retribution, Dhananand and his men, who were superstitious in addition to being sadistic, hastily decamped from there. They left Satyajit like that in that dark, dense forest full of wild animals to breathe his last breaths.

Another very perceptive touch. But how is it that they are not afraid of divine retribution?

His childhood home...the beautiful mango orchards surrounding it...swam before his blurring eyes. He remembered showing it to someone very dear to him holding her hands in his.

Satyajit: Hum apna chota sa sansaar yahin basayenge! (We will establish our little world here!)

Chaaya: Par yeh sab khab hoga, Satyajit? Khab?

Satyajit: Yeh sab hoga, aur bahut jaldh jab main lautunga!

He offered his hand to her which she held for long. The darkness around both of them kept closing faster and faster as his hand in her grasp was rudely and forcibly wrenched away. He spoke the last words, "Kshama karna Chaaya! Main apna vada nahin nibhapaaya! Eshwar hamesha there saath rahen...(Forgive me Chaaya! I wasn't able to fulfill my commitment towards you! God be there with you always...)"

RIP Satyajit. You fought the good fight, and there will be a place of honour for you in the veer swarga to which you will go.

I knew this was going to happen, but I can still neither understand nor excuse Chanakya's folly in letting him go back to certain death. Neither in practical nor personal terms.

In Rajnagari in Chandragupt's chamber,

Chandragupt was in his chamber and the maids were applying ointment on the sore and bruised spots of his back due to the match of Malla-Yudh. Nandini silently entered in a tip-toe and silently gestured the maids to leave the chamber.

His back was turned towards her. Since she had removed her anklets and others jewels before coming, he wouldn't be alerted about her presence by their tinkling sounds. But even before she approached near him, a slight scent wafted up Chandragupt's nostrils alerting him to the fact of who was standing behind him. But he did not move even an inch.

Today, he had a lot of questions running in his mind; quite a lot of them; but hardly any he would receive a direct answer. Nandini finished applying the ointment and was about to leave when Chandragupt remarked, "You thought you would come here secretly, apply the ointment and leave, and I wouldn't even know? What else have you been hiding just like this from me?"

Nandini stared in disbelief. How did Chandra come to know it was her without turning back? She replied, "I couldn't bear to see you in pain. That's why I came!"

Chandra: But why?

Nandini: It hurts when I see you in pain. It feels like mine!

Chandra exclaimed wistfully, "What then of all those times you knowingly and unknowingly hurt me?"

Nandini: It wasn't intentional. I just couldn't help it just as I couldn't help myself from tending to you. Your hurt and pain hurts me more than it does you.

Chandra: Do only my pain, my hurt, my scars have this effect on you? Is it only when your sympathies are aroused you feel for me and not otherwise?

Nandini: It is because I want to see you smile and be happy that your pain and hurt have such an impact on me. I have rarely seen you happy and at peace. And even more rarely that I have been the cause of happiness. Do you see only my sympathy in this? Can't you see anything else?

Chandragupt was extremely touched by these words. However, he did not reveal their impact on him in his external expressions.

Chandra: I wonder many times what you could have found in me to attract you. Except the fact I am your husband. But then you had no choice in it. I might have been a royal by birth! I might be a King to the people of Magadh! But I am still a Charwaha at heart! I am not very learned. Though I wanted to, I hardly had any time or leisure to indulge in it. My boyhood passed in learning to fight, and my teenage in actual fighting, battles, and wars. Now into manhood, it passes in state affairs, responsibilities and duties towards my Praja. I don't need expensive things or luxuries to make me happy. I long for the most simple and most commonplace things in life. Perhaps if you had been in better circumstances, you would have chosen a true Royal by birth and nature.

Nandini: I had that every thing you said you didn't have. But today all those things appear tainted and immaterial. What I want today are those very simple and ordinary things you speak in such a dismissive tone. I might not have chosen you as my husband...but I am glad I never got to exercise my choice else I would never have gained you. Niyati ne aapko mere liye chunna aur main aaj kehthi hoon Niyati sahi thi aur main galat! (Destiny chose you for me and I say today that Destiny is right and I was wrong!)

Chandragupt's confidence began to rise as soon as he heard these words. But he did not want to rush like the previous time. He wanted to be sure before acknowledging his feelings and emotions for Nandini. He could not bear a disappointment this time. Her words gave him tremendous hope but still...

Chandragupt: How long will this whim remain? One second or two? Will it be gone the minute you find I have to fight your father and elder brother? Don't you still hold me responsible for all that you have lost in life? Doesn't the death of your seven brothers affect you even today? Don't you hold me responsible for that? And the future, when the same hand will come down again to snuff the life out of your father and elder brother?

At this point, Nandini's voice and demeanor quivered and flailed but she managed to gather the fortitude to speak calmly and softly, "I mourn them and will always mourn their loss. And whenever...the inevitable happens in future to...Pitha Maharaj...and Dhan Bhaiyya...I will mourn them as well...But I don't hold you responsible for anything!...You were just an instrument of their destruction!...The seeds for it were there in their own Karma!...THEY GOT THEIR DESERTS!...Even when Pitha Maharaj...and Dhan Bhaiyaa...when their time comes...(Nandini broke down sobbing at this point uncontrollably. It took two entire minutes for her to stop crying and calm down) I will not blame you or anybody else! They...sowed...what...they...reaped!"

Chandra: But will you feel the same for me even then? Won't your feelings change?

Nandini: My feelings for you will not change like the weather or seasons but will remain like the Earth; steady, constant and patient! And about today's match, let me assure you I didn't want you to lose. I didn't wish you to win this match...A win would have proved too costly for us in more ways than one...But I didn't wish for you to lose as well!...I was praying for a no result or tie!...I observed it even during the match and thought you must have misunderstood it!

Chandra: How? I clearly heard you saying 'Let Rajkumar Arjun win'!

Nandini: It wasn't me. Both of you were very close to the fence of the enclosure on our side of the seating area. A few of Maharani Swaralika's Ladies-in-Waiting were standing behind me. Perhaps in the din and confusion of the match, you heard and took their words to be mine. A pretty enthusiastic lot they were!

Chandragupt appeared greatly relieved by this revelation. His suspicions about what was cooking up between Nandini and Arjun could wait for some other day. They seemed to have some kind of secret between them that they were hiding from him. But he knew both of them well enough to judge that neither of them could do anything wrong or unethical. So he quietened his suspicions about that for the present. She hadn't wanted him to lose. That was enough for him for the present!

Nandini continued, "Whatever be the battle, whichever be the circumstances, and whoever be the opponents, I would never want you to lose. I will always pray for your victory...AND YOUR VICTORY ALONE...because you are on the side of right!

Chandra: So much confidence in an individual? What if I fail you at some point?

Nandini: No, you never will because my heart tells me! And I am not the only one who trusts you unconditionally! Acharya Chanakya trusts and believes you implicitly! So does Maharani Durdhara! And so does Maharani Helena!

Chandra: Acharya had been with me since I was eight. Durdhara has known me since my childhood! Helena has been with me for more than two years. But it isn't a long while since we have actually known each other...And I haven't been the best of myself with you...and yet you trust me? Pramaan kya hain tere paas mera vishwas karne ke liye? (What proofs do you have to believe in me?)

Nandini: Mujhe pramaan chahiye hi nahin! (I don't want any proofs!) The intellect needs time, proofs and constant reiteration to believe. But the heart doesn't! A single instant is enough for that! Main aap par vishwas karthi hoon; yeh mere liye kisi bhi pramaan seh upar hai! Main aap seh prem karthi hoon; aur use kisi bhi pradarshan ki avashyakta nahin hai! Bas use samajne ki drishtikone chahiye! (I believe in you; it is beyond any proof! I love you; and it is beyond any display of affections! What you need is the right perspective to understand it!)

Chandra: How? That is my question! ...When so many things conspire against us...our own tendencies...our egos...our thought processes?

Nandini: It's very easy! Whenever in conflict, I don't think like Nandini. I keep myself in your place and try to think like you, and I always feel that Chandra is right. However big the wall of misunderstanding between us, it cannot be so high that it will separate Chandra from Nandini. I will bring down that every wall between us!

Chandra hardly managing to control himself by this time, "Sometimes, whenever I see you and your trust in me, I feel scared whether I can live up to it! I am human after all. I am not infallible! Tum meri durbaltha ho! Mujhe tere samne harne seh darr lagtha hai! (You are my weakness! I feel scared of losing in front of you!)

Nandini inquisitively, "Aur aise baar baar haarkar bhi mujhe jeeth jathe hain, uska kya? Aap meri Shakti hain aur hamesha rahenge! Par dukh toh yeh hai ki main aapki Shakti nahin hoon! Aapki durbaltha banthi jaarahi hoon! Ise toh behthar main khud ko khatam kar ke aapko aapki duvidha seh mukth karoon! (Even after failing like this, you win me, what about that? You will always be my strength! But I feel sad that I am not your strength! I am becoming your weakness and vulnerability! It would be better if I put an end to your conflict by destroying myself!)

Chandragupt hastily put his hands on her lips and intervened, "Aisi ashubh baatein math karo! Bachpan seh bahut kuch khoya hai maine! Mujhe ab haar seh aur kuch khone seh bahut darr lagtha hai! (Don't talk such inauspicious words! I have lost a lot since my childhood! Now I feel scared of defeat and losing something!)

Nandini: Chandra, you have to exorcize these past demons once and for all! What will make you do that?

Chandra: YOU!

Only after he said this did he realize that Nandini could possibly still have reservations which were holding her back from him. He instantly drew back and was about to pretend as if he hadn't spoken this word at all when Nandini herself drew towards him telling, "Mujhe apne rang main rang lo, Chandra! Main aapki hoon! (Color me in the color of your love! I am yours!) Make me yours in a way nobody can take Chandra away from Nandini or Nandini away from Chandra!"

It was the union of two pure souls in the divine bliss of love. No more walls of distrust and misunderstanding remained between them. The night was long and dark but not long enough for them to express the passion they felt for each other nor dim its brilliance by the slightest degree. Whatever the future held for them, both of them remained blissfully unaware and ignorant of it.

The only unalterable fact was that whatever would come their way, they would traverse this journey together, supporting the other whenever they faltered, boosting each other's morale and spirits when things were against them, smiling and being happy with each other in every path they took, being the secure anchor who would remain with each other in defeat or in triumph, in life or in death, in this world or the next!

Now this, my dear, does not interest me at all, I am afraid. Do forgive me for being so indifferent to what is clearly a labour of love about love!😉

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Chapter Thirty- Nine: A Roadblock and a Breakthrough!

In Rajnagari in Nandini's Chamber,

Nandini was supervising the maids who were packing up her things. The mood of everyone was very upbeat on the Magadh side. Their hard work of so many days would bear fruit. The treaty between Rajnagari and Magadh would be signed in the morning. They would have a powerful ally like Rajnagari on their side in times of war. They would begin their return journey to Magadh in the afternoon.

Chandragupt returned from the Raj Sabha earlier than expected. He slumped into the sofa in Nandini's chamber in a tired and exhausted manner.

Nandini began excitedly, "How did it go today? Has the treaty been signed already?"

Chandragupt glanced at the presence of a couple of maids in the room arranging things in trunks and chests as a preparatory for the return journey to Magadh. He clapped his hands as he said, "Ekant!" (Privacy!) in a highly authoritive and assertive tone!

Nandini was getting a bit disturbed and anxious by now. She inquired, "What happened at the Raj Sabha today?"

Chandragupt: It's all over! There is going to be no treaty between Magadh and Rajnagari!

Nandini: But why? Everything was set until yesterday!

Chandragupt: It was but today it isn't! The treaty is conditional. It will be valid only if Chaaya Di agrees to marry Rajkumar Arjun. That was the great secret between you and Arjun, isn't it?

Nandini: I wanted to tell you this much before, but Rajmata Moora wanted me to desist from informing this to you on account of the diplomatic visit. She didn't want both the things to get mixed up.

Chandragupt: I just wish either of you had given me a hint. I would have been prepared for it unlike now when the entire thing suddenly blew up on me. I would have known how to tackle it.

Nandini: I was promised by Kunwar Arjun that the two things wouldn't be mixed up and would remain separate!

Chandragupt: A pity then, isn't it? Rajkumar Arjun isn't the king. The final authority to decide anything rests with the king. Maharaj Indupratap is determined to make the diplomatic and war alliance conditional on the marriage alliance.

Well, we knew this in advance, didn't we? What Chandragupt does not know is (a) what Swaralika has set her heart on and (b) what a henpecked husband Indupratap is.

Nandini: Even after knowing how beneficial this diplomatic alliance will be for the welfare of both the states?

Chandragupt: Yes! He seems more bothered about his personal and family welfare than state welfare. Not that I have anything against a marriage alliance between Chaaya Di and Arjun. But the choice for that should be hers. It shouldn't be forced upon her due to state politics.

Nandini was feeling very dejected and despondent after hearing this, "I am sorry that I spoilt the entire thing for you! If only I had known this thing would be used against us like this, I would never have kept silent!"

Chandragupt: I am also feeling bad about how things have ended but there is nothing we can do about it now. Moreover, you were just doing what Maa asked you to do. If she, with all her age and experience can commit such an error of judgement, you are still young and immature. This is how real state politics is. We bargain for the best deal if we have the upper hand, if we have the lower hand, we step down a bit!

Nandini: Acharya Chanakya will be very disappointed with you, won't he?

Chandragupt: Yes, but we will find a way out of this. Anyways, it is conditional. Provided Di agrees to this marriage, this treaty will still be valid. Except for the fact that Arjun is a widower and has a son by his first marriage, this marriage seems eligible in all other respects.

Nandini, a bit hesitantly now, "I have serious doubts about that! It is like this!...(Nandini explained the whole thing including Kunwar Arjun's conditions for the marriage)

Chandragupt (a bit fatalistically): I see! There is nothing more we can do about it then!

Nandini nudged and hustled closer to Chandragupt into his arms, "I am feeling very scared about the future!"

Chandragupt smiled for a tiny instant as he remarked, "So you feel scared even when you are within my arms?"

Nandini: No, that is the only place where I feel safe and secure! But the future?

Chandragupt: Leave that for now! Let's take care of the present and the future will take care of itself! But you have to promise me one thing! Never hide anything from me in future, important or unimportant! You will include me and keep me in the loop about whatever you plan to do in future. We will do it together. From today, there should be no more secrets between us. Got it!

You will excuse me if I skip all this cootchie cootchie stuff!😆

In Patliputra in the Raj Sabha,

Maharani Helena, Acharya Chanakya and the ministers in several key positions in Magadh were discussing state affairs.

Helena: Acharya have the scrolls to the Kings of Anga, Videha, Toshali, Gandhar and Kambhoj been dispatched to their respective locations?

Chanakya: Yes, and those to Anga and Videha have even reached them. The others will also reach them in due course of time.

Helena: Any response?

One of the Ministers: Nothing at all! Our friendly overtures have not been received negatively. But there isn't a positive response either! They seem to be biding and buying time. They are perhaps waiting for us to lose in the impending war against Mahapadmanand before deciding.

Once that has happened, what will be left for them to decide? They will have to knuckle under to Padmanand, and with him 'under' would mean under. They do not seem to have the good sense to choose the lesser evil, from their point of view, and given Padmanand's track record, the choice would surely be Chandragupt!

Helena: Acharya, in that case, what do you and the Mantri Mandal suggest as the next course of action? War?

Chanakya: We cannot take a decision of that magnitude in Maharaj's absence. We might have to wait for his return from Rajnagari to declare war. And my personal opinion is that we might not need a war to convince our neighboring kingdoms regarding the wisdom of remaining with Magadh and Maharaj Chandragupt instead of siding with Nand!

Helena: How do we accomplish that? Is there anything we could do before Maharaj's return to smoothen and facilitate this? How could we make these states decide to remain with us instead of antagonizing us? (Turning towards the ministers in the cabinet) All of you are very learned! You must be having a number of new and innovative ideas. Any suggestions?

I simply LOVE your Helena! How well she has adjusted to the Magadha royal milieu, and how well she handles all the high govt. functionaries, from Chanakya downwards, despite being a foreigner!

At this point, it was the Irrigation and Waterworks Minister, Nagaphaneendra who spoke, "Patrani, the agricultural produce of Anga is mostly dependent on the waters of River Champavati which originates in the landmass of our state. It later flows through Anga where it waters their delta regions. It is their major source of potable drinking water and source of irrigation. So, if we were to somehow stop the waters of Champavati from flowing through Magadh into Anga, the entire economy of the state would collapse and the entire state would turn into a barren wasteland. They would be left starving for even a single grain of rice or thirsting for a single drop of water."

Chanakya: Excellent suggestion! This would suit us perfectly! But just a small doubt, is there anything like this that Anga can also use against us to coerce or blackmail us into acceptance?

This is what is called sewing up both the ends. One has to be wary of a possible backlash before setting out on any such course.

Nagaphaneendra: Nothing that I am aware of, Acharya! Magadh owes nothing like this to Anga while Anga owes its everything to us.

A slight smile of triumph started playing on Acharya Chanakya's face after he heard this. He ordered, "Let a temporary dam to be built in the vicinity of the borders of Anga and the waters of Champavati be diverted via canals within our own state. This is sure to be observed with interest and reported to the Anga Naresh!"

But one of the other ministers demurred, "But Acharya, don't our ancient scriptures say that construction of dams across rivers is unethical? Moreover, can we withhold a water source and source of life from so many people just like that? Aren't we morally culpable? Isn't it against the principles on which the Mauryan rule was established and the Nandas were overthrown?

Now this is very interesting. I would not normally have expected a minister of Magadha to raise such an objection to a course of action rooted in realpolitik and essential for the security and even survival of Magadha. But that he feels free to voice it reflects well on Chanakya's style of functioning, which seems to be more collegial than autocratic, and thus bound to be far more productive overall than if the other ministers were cowed down and too scared to voice any counter opinions or ideas.

Chanakya, turning towards the minister who had raised this issue, "You are looking at the entire thing with your heart and not your intellect like Nagaphaneendra! Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous! Only then people will respect it and also fear to antagonize it. Otherwise, people will start taking advantage of our own goodness.

The Minister: Then Acharya, you didn't mean building a dam across Champavati in the real sense?

Chanakya: Of course not! That's why I said temporary! We have nothing against the people of Anga. We are doing this to show to the Anga Naresh what we could do, and what we are capable of doing, and bring him down on his knees!

The dissenting minister clearly has no grasp of detail, and so he does not notice the vital adjective. But this is not what concerns me, it is the time factor. It will take weeks, if not months, to construct even a temporary dam and divert the water thru canals to Magadha. What will they do to check Anga in the interim?

Helena: Yes, Acharya! After this, the Anga Naresh will be ready to personally seek alliance with Magadh. And we will set the terms and conditions of this alliance in return for letting the waters of Champavati. The Anga Naresh will never dare to raise his head against Magadh after this.

Chanakya: Exactly! That is what we would be trying to achieve by this endeavor!

The two of them, Chanakya and Helena, are like a general and his favourite ADC (aide de camp).😉

On the one hand, in Rajnagari, the cause of Akhand Bharath Nirman had encountered a roadblock; while in Patliputra, Acharya Chanakya, Patrani Helena and the Mantri Mandal were racing ahead on this path even in Chandragupt's absence and achieved an important breakthrough. Anga was brought down to her knees. Let's see what else the future held for Magadh and Chandra and Nandini after their return to Patliputra!

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Chapter Forty: The Storm Clouds Hover

At the entrance of the Patliputra Palace,

Helena was performing the Arthi and welcome of Chandragupt after his return from Rajnagari as Rajmata Moora, Acharya Chanakya and the rest of the ministers looked on happily.

Helena: Maharaj, aap ka swagath hai! (Maharaj, you're welcome!)

She applied the Tilak and showered him with flower petals before she handed over the Arthi Thal to the Daasi near her!

Chandragupt: Sab kaise chal raha hai Patliputra main meri anupastithi main? (How is everything going on in Patliputra in my absence?)

It was Chanakya who replied to this, "Bahut achcha! Patrani Helena ne karyabaar bahut achche seh samala!" (Very well! Patrani Helena has managed the state affairs very well!)

Chandragupt: Mujhe vishwaas tha jab main yahan seh nikal raha tha ki Helena aur aap Saab kuch bahut achche seh samalenge! (When I was leaving from here, I had the confidence that you and Helena would manage the affairs very well!)

Drawing near Helena and almost in a whisper audible only to Helena, "How are you? In taking care of everybody and everything, did you take care of yourself?"

Helena's blushed with gratitude at this remark. His care and concern for her that were reflected in this remark animated her whole face. She did not reply anything. She contented herself by smiling sweetly in reply. But her smile told him that she appreciated it.

This is what I would call the perfect touch, a touch of caring, of affection, of comradeship. Chandragupt knows Helena's true worth, and he also knows that from time to time, he has to let her see this, that he values her place in his life. It is very important for any relationship to have the correct amount of demonstrativeness if it is to stay fresh and blooming.

He bent down to touch Rajmata Moora's feet and take her blessings! Moora blessed him, "Yashashvi bhava, Putra!" (May you be successful in all your endeavors, Son!)

Chanakya: Bahut kuch charcha karna hai. Hum un sab ke baren main kal charcha karenge! Abhi thoda vishraam karlo! (There is a lot to discuss! We will discuss all that tomorrow. Now take rest for some time!)

Chandragupt acquiesced by nodding his head.

At the outskirts of Takshashila

Now for what I was really waiting for!

The Garrison Commander of Takshasila, Vidur was talking to his one of his soldiers very seriously.

Vidur: What happened to the deal?

Soldier: The arms deal was successful.

Vidur: Where are Vakranaas and his men?

Soldier: General Vakranaas has left Gandhar with the cache.

Vidur: They should have been here now in that case!

Soldier: There is still no sign of them. We have received no information from any of our outposts!

Vidur: I had sent a couple of you to Gandhar to tail Vakranaas and give me reports about his latest movements. What happened to that?

Soldier: Our comrades were constantly tailing Vakranaas and his men! But we don't know how they gave us the slip and we lost track of them.

Vidur: He must have been alerted to the fact that you were following them and gave you the slip. They must have passed this way only. Is there something that we are missing? A huge caravan like that cannot vanish into thin air. They must have been merely disguised and we have been unable to spot them due to our own carelessness and stupidity.

Disguised is something they would have been in any case. And the caravan would never have been overtly military either; it would have been camouflaged as a commercial caravan of merchants, which would also explain the large consignment of goods they would have been carrying. So how is it that Vidur's lookout spies missed something so large and conspicuous? It does not seem as if they have themselves gone missing either, for they have reported back.

What kind of weapons were they?

Soldier: The weapons have been reported as the finest in existence. Sharp, sleek, swift and lethal. Any opposing army would find it very difficult to withstand its onslaught, and its possessor, assured of the most certain victory. Our comrades were very astonished when they beheld those weapons for the first time.

How did they get a look at all these wonder weapons anyway? And what could they have been to be so revolutionary in their impact on warfare? There was no gunpowder in those days and no explosives, and so no cannon either. So what then? Their report, in the absence of the vital details, seems almost like scare mongering

Vidur: Anything else to report?

Soldier: Based on a few remarks they accidentally happened to hear, exchanging old weapons with new ones does not seem to be the only purpose. Vakranaas and his men have been assigned something very big. But we were at a loss to guess what it could be. They were speaking in code words mostly! "Mandhara" "Parvat ke Shikar", "Ashok Vatika", "Sita", etc

Oh Lord, Shailaja, here is the Ashokavanatil Seethai again!😆The only Sita I can think of, in this context, is Nandini.

Vidur: Based on the context, could you guess what they were planning?

Soldier: Nothing at all! It was all very confusing! We could hardly make any sense!

Vidur: Then it becomes even more imperative that we foil Vakranaas and his men. Such weapons in the wrong hands are powerful enough to destroy the whole of Magadh.

Here they go again! After all, how many of these super weapons could have been transported in any normal caravan? And how large an army could they have equipped? It is all quite vague and imprecise, and does not seem to warrant such blind panic.

Keep watching and keep me posted about the developments! Disperse in all directions. Summon the fastest horses! Don't rest or while away your time anywhere! Anything suspicious you find, you will immediately report to me! For now, inform Bhimsen Ji that we missed them near the border. I will dictate what has to be sent in the message!

Soldier: As you wish, Commander!

The message read like this:

"Head of Intelligence, Bhimsen Ji, kindly accept the greetings of Patliputra Garrison Commander Vidur! I regret to inform that we have missed the cache and Vakranaas! The deal has been finalized and Vakranaas and his men have been spotted and trailed till Gandhar before we lost scent of them. But the reports of the weapons we have received until now indicate they are of such quality that they could destroy the whole of Magadh. Replenishment and replacement of the old weapons with new weapons does not seem to be the exact intention of the deal. Though I am not in full possession of the facts, the way Vakranaas and his men disappeared into thin air, they are intending something major. They must have intruded into the borders of Magadh by now. The search in still on. My informer reports me that Vakranaas and his men have been talking in coded words "Mandhara" "Parvat ke Shikar", "Ashok Vatika", "Sita", etc. We have still not deciphered or decoded what they exactly mean or what they are planning."

Now the headache has been transferred to Bhimsen. But I am pretty sure old man Chanakya has already taken care of these super weapons. 😉

The same day in the palace of Patliputra,

Chandragupt was seated for dinner. The food was being served by the maids as Moora, Chaaya and all his wives sat beside him.

Chandra: Di, there will be no compulsion from my side regarding the marriage alliance. As a matter of fact, going by what Nandini tells me, it will not be any marriage at all!

Chaaya was very much relieved that the sword of marriage hanging over her head was withdrawn and she did not have to fear anything in the near future. But at the same time, she was concerned by the loss that would accrue from the rejection of this alliance to Magadh!

Chaaya: Par Magadh? Uska Kya? (But Magadh? What about that?)

I am glad to see that she thinks of Magadha and rajneeti as well. But poor thing, she does not know what has happened to all her long cherished dreams of happiness.

Chandra laid his arm on her shoulder and consoled her telling, "Koi baat nahin, Di! Main hoon na!" (Don't worry! I will take care of it!)

Very nice and brotherly, but how? And he does not know the complete state of affairs either.

Helena who had a lot to share with Chandra about what had transpired in his absence began, "Chandra I missed you a lot all these days. I didn't even know if I could manage everything properly till your return. When Acharya Chanakya was attacked by Bhadrasal and his men, I got really scared. Magadh is nothing without Acharya's mighty intellect behind it.

And do you know; Uttara Meru, Toshali, Anga, Videha, Gandhar and Khambhoj are hatching one subversive plan after the other against us. Thank goodness! We found out a way to deal with Anga. Now Anga will never go against us! But Chandra you must find a way to deal with the rest of these states as soon as possible! And the way Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas are increasing their power in Magadh, it is truly alarming! What do you think we can do?"

What a crisp and concise summing up!

Chandragupt: What? Why wasn't I informed of all this? I would have immediately returned to Magadh!

Helena: Supposing you were to lead an expedition tomorrow to capture Dhananand and Rakshas?

Chandra: Even I was thinking along the same lines. But what about these treacherous states. We have to tackle them at all costs because if I am away from Patliputra again for leading the expedition against Dhananand, they could take advantage of this situation. This implies we have to do both these things simultaneously.

Nandini was greatly interested in this discussion. It reminded her of all those war strategy sessions she used to hear between her father and Amatya Rakshas. They used to fascinate her when she was small with the sheer brilliance of their tactics. Listening to Chandra and Helena conversing on the same lines took her down the same memory lane.

She remembered how she had insisted when she was very young that she too would stay behind for the strategy session and listen to her father and Amatya Rakshas spellbound. The way they devised their vyuhs around the enemy and how they wouldn't even know it, and how they would pull the carpet beneath the feet of their enemies.

She used to say, "Main bhi yudh karoongi! Main bhi vyuh rachna karoongi!" (I will also fight! I too will devise war formations!) Her father and Amatya Rakshas would just kid her along telling, "Tum hi toh yudh ladrahi ho! Tum hi hamari Senanayak ho Nandini!" (You are only fighting this entire war! You are our General Nandini!) Today those words sounded like hollow jokes. She neither fought then nor was Chandra ever going to allow her to fight now.

Everybody, for that matter even Helena, thought she was a delicate wallflower who had to be protected. They were going to laugh if she was even going to say that she too could fight when the necessity arose. She meekly ventured to give a suggestion of her own regarding what Chandra and Helena were discussing, "Regarding Toshali, I have a suggestion! Can I?..."

Chandragupt and Helena were surprised to hear her even speak in this connection. Politics, intrigue, strategy wasn't exactly her cup of tea. They knew that she was emotional and took all her decisions from the heart, and all these issues needed needed clear-headed thinking and pure intellect. They thought she would be more interested in books, arts, medicine, public welfare activities and not in such topics.

But all the same, both of them were curious and interested in listening to what she had to say. They raised their inquisitive eyes towards her. Nandini continued hesitantly, "Rajkumari Malathi of Toshali used to be my best friend before marriage. Her Swayamvar is scheduled to be held very shortly. So if we can...

Chandra, unable to resist pulling Nandini's leg even when she was talking about serious issues, said a bit cheekily in order to exasperate Nandini, "So you want me to attend the Swayamvar and marry her?"

Delightful quip!

Nandini with an angry pout on her lips, "I wasn't intending to tell that! I meant Malathi would be perfect for your uncle's son, Madhav, the Prince of Peeplivan! If Madhav could win Malathi's hand at the Swayamvar, Toshali will automatically be obliged to fall in line with Magadh!"

Good Lord, there is a Malathi-Madhav here too!

Helena clicked her tongue in approval, "Just the exact thing we need! Good suggestion, Nandini! You are learning the tricks of this game pretty fast! Chandra you should immediately send Madhav to Toshali for the Swayamvar!"

See how ready she is to acknowledge and accept a good suggestion!👏

Rajmata Moora interrupted the discussion at this point telling, "Helena, Chandra and Nandini, no more of this! All of you can reserve this for the Raj Sabha tomorrow, and not here in the Bhojan shala now! This is exclusively family time. No politics will be discussed here! Got it!"

Everybody fell instantly silent. Chandragupt resumed eating.

Helena was trying to exactly figure out what she exactly felt regarding Nandini. Was it surprise? Was it shock? Was it jealousy? Was it admiration? Was it acceptance of the inevitable? She hardly knew if it was one of these or all of these. She was beyond doubt jealous about the importance Chandragupt gave to Nandini in his personal life. Whether she spoke it aloud or not, that was the truth. But she could rise above her own petty thinking and accept even the people with whom she had issues if it was necessary for those whom she loved.

A beautiful and sensitive sketch of Helena's mental and emotional make up.

She loved Chandra boundlessly. She had enormous influence politically. He took her advice on all state affairs and issues. He treated her with great respect and gave due importance to all her suggestions. Chandragupt and Chanakya included her in all their strategy sessions. When Chandra had to go from Patliputra, Acharya Chanakya and she were given the full authority to take decisions on his behalf.

For that matter, Chandragupt's nature was such that he would have heard out even a common Das or Daasi if ever they wanted to tell him something. He did not consider listening to their opinions or views as beneath his dignity. He listened to everyone and took his own decisions.

However, she longed to see the kind of longing and passion she saw in his eyes for Nandini.

But where does Helena see this? Not during that session with the books. Since then Nandini and Chandragupt have been away. At this mean then?

After all, it was human tendency to long for and feel jealous for what the other had and not be happy with what they had. If she were to ask Nandini, perhaps she was going to say she wanted what she had with Chandra.

Very true, and the end part of this chapter illustrates this very point.

Helena had her issues with Nandini and still had them but they were not big enough to overpower either her love for Chandra or her judgement of what was right and what was wrong. Now she could tolerate Nandini for Chandra's sake and his welfare and even appreciate her ideas if the were good enough and would help Chandragupt either politically and personally.

There was a time when she just couldn't tolerate Nandini's presence in Chandra's life and had even schemed to send her away from Patliputra without thinking anything about the consequences. But all that was the past. She had made peace with the fact that Chandra and Nandini were an integral part of each other's lives, and if she tried to separate one from the other, she would lose the very Chandragupt who meant the world to her.

Chandragupt hadn't changed in the least towards her. So she too would remain the same to him irrespective of Nandini.

Lovely stuff, Shailaja! My felicitations on your marvellous Helena!

The silence was broken this time by Nandini who said, "Maine ise banaya! Kaisi hai? Aur lijiye!" (I made this! How is it? Have some more!)

Durdhara not to be behind hand served something else, "Chandra yeh kheer khalo! Aur parosun?" (Chandra eat this kheer! Shall I serve some more?)

Helena: This is the most famous savory item of Greece. Shall I serve some more?

Chandra was in a fix because he could neither refuse nor eat. He looked towards Moora and Chaaya with an expression that was screaming even without speaking, "Save me!"

Chaaya spoke out, "Do you see that person over there? (She pointed to one of the chefs in the kitchen who was terribly obese and pregnant with all the leftover food in the kitchen which he was in the habit of gobbling up and gorging down his mammoth stomach) My brother will also become like that in a few years if you three don't stop over feeding him!"

All of them began laughing at this! Chandra closed his eyes for a moment! Nandini who was the nearest to him observed this. She asked in a whisper audible only to him, "Why are you closing your eyes?"

Chandra too in a voice audible only to Nandini, "I was capturing this moment within my eyes! I was scared it would vanish! I wanted to retain it forever with me! I am very happy today!

Nandini in a soft voice, "I know!"

Both of them kept looking into each other's eyes oblivious of their surroundings.

Chaaya in a teasing tone, "There the two of you are again lost in a world of your own! Bhai, we too are here!"

Both Chandra and Nandini looked sheepishly that they were caught while Chaaya and the rest continued teasing and laughing happily at their confusion.

At a mountain retreat near the Magadh border of Toshali,

Mahapadmanand in a soliloquy, "Chandragupt tumhe patha bhi nahin chala aur main apni vishal sena ke sath Magadh main pravesh kar chukka hoon! Ithna Bada aur prabhavshali Gudachar vibhag Acharya Chanakya aur tumhare paas, aur tum donon ko suchna hi nahin! In sab main meri sahayatha ki tumhari hi Prathpal ne! Mahatvakanksha ki koi seema nahin hoti! Maine use dhan aur unche padh ka moh dehkar apni or karliya hai! Maine aisa Chakravyuh teri charon or rachaya hai ki tum use nikal hi nahin paaoge! Ise kehthe hain sheh aur maath! Rok sako toh roklo!" (Chandragupt you did not even know, and I have entered Magadh with my vast army! You and Acharya Chanakya have such a big and efficient intelligence network, but yet have no information about this! In all this, I have been aided by your own Prathpal!

There is no upper limit for ambition! I lured him over to my side by bribing him with money and the promise of a high post! I have devised such a Chakravyuh on all four sides that you will find it difficult to get out of it! This is what we call check and mate! Stop me if you can!)

Aloud to somebody who just entered the cave, "Aayiye, Prathpal Gajanan! Main aapke hi prateeksha kar raha tha! Is skshetra aur aas paas main joh bhi Magadh ke guptachar kam kar rahen hain, un sab ko samaapth karna hoga! Is seh jab tak Chanakya aur Chandragupt ko patha chalega ki hum Magadh main hain, hum unke bahut sameep pahunchjayenge! Hamara lakshya hoga yeh! (Please come in, Prathpal Gajanan! I was waiting for you only! Eliminate all the spies of Magadh working in this area! So that by the time Chanakya and Chandragupt get to know about our presence in Magadh, we will be very close to them! This will be our goal!)

Both the men discussed their forthcoming war plans at length.

Ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaaye.😡

But I wonder if Chanakya really has no idea of this. In fact, I have a strong suspicion that Prantpal Gajanan is really Chanakya's triple agent, ie he is pretending to have gone over to Padmanand's side but is really a means for Chanakya to get to know exactly what Padmanand is up to.

That night in Nandini's chamber,

Nandini wasn't feeling sleepy at all. She lay awake for sometime before she took a look at the titles of the manuscripts near her bedside. The first was "Kathasaritasagara" and the second was "Yudh Neeti". Unconsciously and instinctively, she was about to take the first manuscript when with a self-conscious effort she kept down the first and actually began reading the second.

Nandini told herself, "I can read for my pleasure anytime! But this is the necessity of the hour! So I must develop my knowledge and awareness about this subject! What if someday I have to take charge, I have to be prepared for it! Chandra, till now I didn't take much interest in politics and war. It's true I often came to the Raj Sabha and presented my views and opinions and you also respected them and took them into consideration. But I want to become the kind of partner and helpmate Helena is to you. For that, I have to properly equip and prepare myself. This will be my first step in that direction. Main tumhari har mod par aur har vishay main saath doongi!" (I will support you in every phase and every aspect of life!)

In short, to become a Helena 2.0!

PS: My new FF on Akdha: In the Vale of a Myriad Flowers

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/jodha-akbar/4833540/in-the-vale-of-a-myriad-flowers-a-ff-on-hold