Written by Destiny and Etched in Blood: A FF (Ch 54: Pg 100 NEW) - Page 63

Chapter Thirty-Five: On the Banks and Underwater

In Dhananand's Forest Camp,

Dhananand was practicing target practice along with a soldier who was standing in front of him with an apple balanced on head. His thoughts and focus were elsewhere. He was seriously anticipating somebody's death elsewhere. A sinister smile and even more demoniacal expression laced his facial expressions. He was finding it difficult to control himself. It would be something to see the man who had destroyed all their prospects and snatched what was rightfully his, bite the dust.

He was going to accomplish what even his own father couldn't do. He was feeling very happy today if that was the name people gave to this feeling or emotion he was presently experiencing. People said that anybody's death usually brought tears to one's eyes. They spoke the falsehood.

The blood he and his family spilt must have filled up rivers and rivers. But all that had never brought even a single tear drop into his eyes. He must have strewn hundreds and thousands on every battle field. In the death of an even greater number by unrighteous means, he had actively colluded. The numbers who must have perished due to starvation and exploitation, he must have even lost count.

But all that was his right, his right to treat as he chose, his right to use as he pleased, his right to destroy as he saw it fit. He owed an explanation to none. But this weaselly Chanakya thought that he and his family did. This miserable end would teach Chanakya and others like him a proper lesson. They would never dare to question him or his Pitha Maharaj.

Fear was a powerful thing. As long as it was there in the minds of the people over whom you ruled, you would remain unchallenged. The minute that fear was gone, they would question you and your authority, and these questions would translate into actions, revoltand rebellion. That was how this Chandragupt and Chanakya came to power.

His esteemed father Padmanand had neglected them. He allowed the fear in them to evaporate, the questions in them to grow until they became a raging volcano. He allowed the two of them to live when he should have done away with them years ago. The two gradually became two hundred, and the two hundred became two thousand, and the two thousand became twenty thousand, and the twenty thousand in turn multiplied and multiplied until it blew him and his Pitha Maharaj away like an avalanche.

Now, one of the two, with whom this entire story began would be gone forever. With one gone, the other would hardly withstand. They would reclaim all that they had lost. With all these multitudinous and tumultuous thoughts running in the background of his mind, all of Dhananand's arrows were missing his target by huge margins. They were whistling past to the left, the right, or from the top.

The soldier who was standing for target practice started sweating profusely. His knees and limbs started shaking nervously. Dhananand took aim another time. He pulled the string of his bow. It rang with a resounding twang as the arrow swished past, cutting through the air. By this time, even the brave heart of this soldier had failed, and he lay stretched on the ground in faint, out of pure fright. The apple on his head broke into two even without being pierced a single time.

Dhananand furiously shouted to his men, "Lift that chicken-hearted duffer out of my sight! I missed my shot because of him. I would have hit that damned apple this time if only he had stood his ground properly without fainting. If I see him again, it is not the apple which is going to get hit! Get lost!"

After this, he vented all his apparent frustration at an effigy in front of him, which to his murderous eyes appeared like Chanakya, with dart after dart placed in a tray before him. After a while, the face of the effigy looked like a porcupine with all these darts stuck to it. Amatya Rakshas who was watching everything from afar, came and stood there with an ambiguous smile on his lips saying nothing.

Dhananand: Only you were missing from the scene, Amatya! You have nothing to tell?You always have a lot to tell me. I know you are itching to tell me something this time too!

Rakshas: No! I have nothing to tell! I will show rather!

Rakshas took up the single remaining dart in the tray, closed his eyes for a minute before he took aim and hit. The whole big effigy collapsed wherever it was with that single strike.

Dhananand: I hate to accept this! But how do you do it every single time? What so many of my darts didn't do, a single dart of yours accomplished!

Rakshas: FOCUS! That's how I do it! A hundred immaterial strikes where they do not matter are not equal to a single calibrated strike at the exact spot where it matters. Your father had that unique ability. I have tried to teach you too but I never managed to succeed with you the way I did with your Pitha Maharaj.

Dhananand: Ah! Pitha Maharaj and his greatness! I wonder why you never tire of your admiration!

Rakshas: Your father was really special to me! I have always tried to see him in you, but in vain. I see only you! And what's worse, these days I begin to see you in him.

Dhananand: God knows what you saw in Pitha Maharaj, what you thought you saw in him, or what you didn't see in him!

Rakshas: Ekalavya tha thera Pitha! Ithna prabhavshali! (Your father was an Ekalavya! So talented!)

Dhananand: Kadachit! Kadachit woh Ekalavya the aur aap uska Dronacharya! Par jithna main unhe jantha hoon, woh aisa Ekalavya hain joh khud apni Dronacharya ki anghuta mangenge! (Perhaps! Perhaps he was an Ekalavya and you his Dronacharya! But as much as I know him, he is that kind of Ekalavya who will demand the thumb of his own Dronacharya!)

Rakshas (ambivalently): Haan, Kadachit! (Yes, perhaps!)

Down the memory lane once again,

The people whom Rakshas saw this time in his mind's eye were himself and his one time comrade-turned-arch rival Chanakya.

Chanakya was hidden under a heap of grain in an old and deserted granary at the outskirts of Patliputra, while evading Padmanand's men who were after him after he had the audacity to question him and disrespect him, in his own court before his own men. To aggravate matters, he took a terrible vow; a Pratigya to annihilate Padmanand and his entire lineage from the face of earth.

"My Shika will remain open till that day when I have not bathed it with the blood of Padmanand and his entire dynasty. I will weed them out like a farmer weeds out the weeds, or a surgeon amputates the diseased part of the body! This is the Pratigya of Canak Putra Chanakya to himself and his motherland!

Padmanand did not do anything at that time because Chanakya was a Brahmin and a Brahma Hatya was considered a ghastly and dastardly act by the norms and ideas of that period. So once he had left the court, Padmanand had quietly sent his men behind him to annihilate him, and along with him, quietly kill his Pratigya.

Amatya Rakshas was personally supervising the search. He observed long and carefully at the heap of grain before he told the soldiers who were accompanying him, "All of you go and search for him that way. He must have gone that way. I will remain behind here. Inform me if you have any further developments in your search!"

Once the soldiers had gone, he came and stood near the heap of grain and said, "Chanakya, you can come out! It is safe now! Leave Patliputra forever and don't ever show your face here again!"

Chanakya: Katyayan, if you knew I was here, why didn't you tell your soldiers?

Rakshas: The name is Rakshas not Katyayan! The man who stands before you is Rakshas- AMATYA RAKSHAS! I was giving you a single and last chance to save yourself for the sake of old times when we studied together, and for the Guru Dakshina I owe to your father. I will not keep repeating this favor again and again! I regret to tell that the next time, I will not be able to save you. I may even be forced to attack you myself. Rakshas ka prahaar kabhi khali nahin jatha! (Rakshas's attack never goes in vain!)

Chanakya: Thanks but it will be redundant the next time. I will save myself both from your protection and your attack. Main saksham hoon, nahin toh apne aap ko saksham banaunga! Agli baar aapko kasht nahin hoga, Amatya Rakshas! (I am capable, if not I will make myself capable! The next time you need not take any trouble, Amatya Rakshas!)

Rakshas: So you will not mend your ways! You're determined to be obstinate!

Chanakya: It pains me to see from what you have become what! I haven't lost either my way or my path. Tum marg seh batak gayeho, Katyayan! ( You have lost your path, Katyayan!)

Rakshas (with a tinge of sadness in his voice): As idealistic and unbending as you always were! The world is not so simple as it looks from the windows of your esteemed father Canak's Gurukul. There are no clear cut boxes into which the good and bad, the right and wrong, the truth and falsehood, the dharma and adharma fit. Nothing in this world outside actually fits any of these boxes. Most of what happens remains outside these boxes. I wonder why I am even telling you this when you are determined not to understand.

Chanakya: Katyayan, I don't need to understand anything. It is you who needs to understand.

Rakshas: If you were in Patliputra, why didn't you come to me directly? Why did you have to go to Maharaj? I run the real show here! I would have hired you under me. Your words and advice would have been duly heard and heeded. But then you had to barge into the court unannounced and bring all that insult upon yourself!

Chanakya: Katyayan, that man or his dynasty are not fit for the throne. You are upholding and protecting something that ought to fall apart with the power of your intellect. And what show are you talking about? You run nothing here! You and your wisdom are just a blind to cover something that is most ugly and cancerous. Tum kuch nahin kar rahe ho! Tum sirf ek dhakkan ho gandhagi aur badhu ko dhakne ke liye! (You are doing nothing! You are just a cover that is hiding the dirt and odor!)

Rakshas: Whatever you say, I am the Mahamatya of this state and I am just doing my duty towards my state and my king!

Chanakya: Your loyalties are misplaced Katyayan! You owe nothing to that man or his lineage. You owe your loyalties, wisdom and intellect to the motherland which gave birth to you. So I give you an offer today. I will hire you. I will find a true king who deserves to adorn the throne. I will depose this Padmanand and his lineage with his help. I will bring him to the throne of Magadh, and make him the unchallenged Chakravartin Samrat of the whole of Akhand Bharath. That day I will again come to you to ask if you will be his Mahamatya!

Rakshas: Vain words and foolish hopes, Chanakya! I have come too far already to ever think about going back. You try your best to destroy and I will try my best to preserve and protect.

Chanakya: I can see that you have lost everything you ever had!

Rakshas: What exactly did I have previously that you are riling me for loosing it? It is only after I became the Mahamatya of Magadh that I gained anything worth the name! One has to pay a certain price for everything, even success!

Chanakya: I will tell you the price you have paid for your success; what all you have gained, and what all you have lost! Perhaps you earned a name; AMATYA RAKSHAS, but you sold your soul for that, KATYAYAN! I knew KATYAYAN but I don't know this man standing in front of me! Perhaps you alone can decide for yourself if that is too little or too big a price to pay for success. Yeh jo safaltha ki Badi akash main tum udraheho, there sare pank katjayenge, there sare sapne tootenge, aur tumhe na apni akash na apni dharthi naseeb hoga! Is anisht ki hone seh pehle utjao! (This big sky of success in which you are flying, one day all your wings will be cut, all your dreams will break, and you will not have either your sky or the ground beneath your feet! Wake up before this catastrophe happens!)

On the way to Arwal,

Helena and Bhimsen were urging their horses and men as they rode nonstop at a furious pace, "Faster! Faster! Even the delay of a single second could prove fatal! We have no time to lose!"

On the river bank,

The Chief of the Prime Ministerial Guard, Purushottam, as soon as he glimpsed at the blood-red waters of the spot where Acharya Chanakya had gone to do the Sandhyavandanam, shouted to his men, "Savdhan! Hey Eshwar yeh kya anisht horaha hai! Jaldi Nadhi ke andar jao aur Acharya Chanakya ko dhundho!" (Careful! Oh God what's this catastrophe that is happening! Go fast into the water and search for Acharya Chanakya!)

Even before he had completed these words, a full-fledged attack was launched by enemy soldiers who had been hiding nearby. They were surrounded on all sides and fighting their own battle of life and death on the bank of the river. None of the soldiers in the Prime Minsterial Guard were in any position to go to the aid of Acharya Chanakya. For that matter, nobody had the least idea what was happening or what exactly happened to Acharya Chanakya.

All this while underwater,

Chanakya was fighting his own struggle for life and death all alone. He was surrounded on all sides by enemies who held him tight with an iron and vice-like grip. Five terrible ruffians held each of his hands and legs, while a last held on to his chest. The fifth man menacingly brought out a sharp and cold knife tipped in poison from the folds of his dress. All these men were masked in black cloth. Instantly, he realigned the muscles of his hands, his legs and his chest in such a manner that for a single second, the five men who were holding him back lost their grasp over him.

Coordinating this with a superhuman effort of strength, stamina, and the tenacious will to survive at all costs, he jerked his hands and feet in such a manner that his captors crashed into each other stunned and benumbed. The fifth soldier who had been holding his chest was thrown off balance by this sudden and surprise movement. He rolled off and came very close to Chanakya's feet which he caught by now. Not being near to the chest, but having the feet in his grip all the same, he brought out the knife with which he wildly slashed at Acharya Chanakya's right knee.

He was about to repeat the same action to Chanakya's left knee as well when he was weighed down from his position by a dead weight. To his horror, he found that it was the body of his own comrade. There was a slight and thin cut near his throat. The blue and clear waters started turning red and smelt of blood.

The man stared on in disbelief. Chanakya was not armed. Then how did he do this. Before he could think any further, two more of his companions started drowning in the waters, blood oozing from their bodies. He withdrew all his ideas of attacking Chanakya when his own life was under threat, and shouted to his remaining comrade who was still alive, "Mitra yahan seh niklo! Kuch tohgalat horaha hai! Baad main dekhlenge!" (Friend, get out of here! Something is going wrong! We'll see later!)

But the man at the other end, "Aise kaise jaoon mitra apni Shatru ko chodkar? Kumar Dhananand aur Amatya Rakshas ko kya kahenge?" (How can we go like this leaving our enemy? What will we tell Kumar Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas?)The man this side, was not at all convinced by his comrade's arguments, because he personally saw defeat staring at him under water. "Jeevit rahenge toh kuch bhi karenge, aur kuch bhi bathadenge Kunwar Dhananand aur Amatya Rakshas ko! Chalo yahan seh!" (Only if we remain alive, we can do anything, we'll tell whatever suits us to Kunwar Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas! Let's get out of here!)

The man at the other end by now seemed convinced by this soldier's arguments! He said, "Haan, Theek kehthe ho tum! Jeevit rahoonga toh kuch batha pavunga!" (Yes, you're right! Only if I remain alive will I be able to tell something!) The first soldier was flabbergasted when he heard these words, "Ardhath?..." (What do you mean?)From the other end, a knife suddenly pierced into his chest as his own comrade said to him, "Ardhath, Teri mrithyu ki ghadi aagayi aur tum apni mrithyu ke samne khade ho!" (I mean, that your moment of death has come and you are standing in front of it!)

After this, he slightly touched Acharya Chanakya's feet in a gesture of obeisance before he tore a small piece of cloth from his tunic and tied it at the spot where his comrade had slashed at Acharya Chanakya's right knee.

This entire scuffle which took so long to describe was what happened in the time interval of a few minutes. Once this was over, both Satyajit and Chanakya came above just to the surface level to take a fresh and deep breath of air outside the water without emerging completely from it

Satyajit: Why did you take such a big and unnecessary risk, Acharya?

Chanakya (a bit surprised): You are asking this question? I took it because this was the only way of making you come. The only way you were going to know I was here is by letting our enemies know I was here. And that was precisely what I did. I gave them a bait and they took it. Seeing that this game is terribly risky and dangerous, I couldn't have offered anybody else's life as a bait. I offered my own life since that was the only one left, and the ruse has paid as you can very well see for yourself.

Satyajit (a bit concerned by now): Acharya, was one intelligence report worth all this risk?

Chanakya: It is, my boy! I hadn't heard from you for weeks for whatever reason. I was receiving no information, no intelligence reports, nothing from your side. At a crucial juncture like this when we are at the brink of war, no news about the enemy is bad news. One proper intelligence before a full-fledged war saves a thousand lives during it and almost as surely enhances your prospects of victory. And this is not a war we could afford to lose! We need to win at all costs!

Satyajit: Acharya, that knife was tipped in poison! We should instantly get it treated!

Chanakya: Don't bother about that my boy! I have grown immune to such poisons long back. This wound is a mere nothing!

Satyajit: Acharya, even then it was a needless risk! What if I wasn't able to make it in time? Your life would have been in danger! Your life is of paramount importance!

Chanakya smiled a soft and sly smile as he said, "How do you know I am undefended or incapable of defending myself if you had not come, young man?"

He showed the ultra thin and sharp silver threads which were hidden under his actual Yagnopavita (The Sacred Thread worn around the shoulders by Brahmins). Similarly, he also showed the sharp and claw-like Bhaag ke Nak (Tiger claws) which he was wearing on his hands.

Satyajit: Even then, these precautions would be no match for a full-fledged attack! You should at least have come with a few army contingents along with you.

Chanakya: Yes, a few army contingents; and perhaps the whole of Patliputra in tow, so that I could immediately broadcast the confidential details of this intelligence report to everyone immediately? This is an intelligence endeavor; and the fewer people involved, the better for maintaining secrecy!

Just a few moments ago, Chanakya remembered how one of his assailants who was standing to his left came very close to his ears and said, "Acharya main yahin hoon! Kuch nahin hoga! (Acharya I am here! Nothing will happen!) I will loosen my grip on you. Just elude from the others's grip and keep yourself out of the way, I will take care of the rest!"

Chanakya smiled a knowing smile as soon as he heard these words. This was what he had been expecting when he pulled up that elaborate charade about visiting his ancestral village and doing it in such a manner that his travel itinerary was in the public domain.

The vision outside on the banks was pretty hazy and blurred in the fading light. It was hard to make out any definite shapes. Only the clang of the swords rang ferociously through the air. The fighting outside was very vigorous and violent. The men in the Prime Ministerial Guard were fighting tooth and nail.

Purushottam: Rally round me! We are all dispersed! Get into the Mandala Vyuh! (A sort of semi-circular but highly defensive military formation and battle array)

They continued fighting relentlessly. It was becoming very difficult to penetrate past this battle array. Even the twenty odd men fought like a hundred that day.

For a moment, even the unusually cold, clinical and brutal Bhadrasal felt like saluting these brave and indomitable men fighting to the last drop of their blood on the battle field. He knew he would have to hack and mow them down in order to succeed. But for one odd moment, he thought he would give anything to be fighting alongside such men instead of against them. But war was like that! You were forced to shed the very blood of the men whom you would otherwise have respected or saluted.

Had not Chanakya held him back, Satyajit would have gone above and barged into the battlefield like a charging bull, unmindful and heedless of everything. Chanakya however resolutely held back the young man with him.

Satyajit: Nahin, Acharya! Mujhe chodiye! Main un sab ko sabak sikhaunga! Main aise kaayar ki tarah pani ke andar chup kar nahin bait saktha! (No, Acharya! Just let me go! I will teach them a lesson! I cannot remain hidden under water like a coward any longer!)

Chanakya: I am along with you in the water. So I have to be a coward as well by your admirable logic!

Satyajit, instantly and suitably chastened, "I didn't mean that, Acharya! I just wanted to go out and teach that Bhadrasal a lesson!"

Chanakya: Just wait a moment! You will get your answer!

Sure enough! The Chief Intelligence Officer of Magadh, Bhimsenand Maharani Helena had arrived and jumped into the fray along with their men.

Satyajit: Thank heavens! Bhimsen and Patrani Helena are here with reinforcements. But how did they know? I sent my message to you!

Chanakya: They are here because I sent them your message for you. Your message has... I again suspect...been intercepted or diverted as all your other messages were! Now let us get out of here! Bhimsen and Patrani Helena are more than adequate to take care of the situation here. Both of us need to get out of here now. WE NEED TO TALK!

Satyajit hung down his head while nodding to his mentor's words in perfect acquiescence. After this, a pregnant pause of a long minute ensued between the mentor and his student. It was the mentor who first broke this silence.

Chanakya: How long can you remain in water without coming up for taking breath? I can manage three minutes if I take a deep breath now. And you?

Satyajit: I can manage three too!

Chanakya, pointing towards one particular spot on the opposite bank which was shaded and sheltered with a heavy cover of foliage and vegetation and huge boulder rocks which would prove as an ideal camouflage cover for both of them to emerge out of water undetected and unidentified by their enemies in the crouching darkness of the night, said, "We need to reach there!"

A couple of minutes later,

Satyajit and Chanakya crept out from the spot and quickly sneaked for cover unobserved by anyone. Bhadrasal was infuriated that only thing he ever hated and feared in his life, FAILURE, was staring straight into his eyes! How did the reinforcements from the Magadhan side suddenly come? He hadn't been expecting them. Similarly, the signal agreed upon after the success of Chanakya's assasination between him and his men never came. That meant that all that blood he saw was not Chanakya's but his own men's.

Where the hell was this elusive Chanakya then if he wasn't dead? He hadn't emerged from the water at this end of the bank. So this only meant that he had somehow eluded the net and made it to the opposite bank of the river. Chanakya was somewhere out there beyond the reach of him and his men. He barked his orders to his men, "Yahan turanth sab samaapth karlo aur Nadi ke us theer Chalo!" (Finish this off quickly and come to the other bank of the river!)

Bhadrasal rode along with his horse, ahead of his men, his sword swinging wildly and ruthlessly cutting anybody who came in his path. He waded at that point in the river where it was the shallowest on his horse, holding it in a very firm grip and occasionally kicking it wildly on its legs with his heels to make the beast proceed forward much against its wish or will.

Bhimsen shouted, "Follow Bhadrasal and his men now. Quick! As soon as you come across any of Bhadrasal's men, hunt them and hack them down! Our prisons are already full. We can't keep more prisoners. But Bhadrasal, I want alive! There is a lot I need to learn from him! (He turned towards his messenger and instructed) Send message to our nearest Mauryan Military Outpost that we need more reinforcements for search and comb operations in these forests!

The messenger left post-haste to execute Bhimsen's orders and seek reinforcements from the Military Outpost.

After this, Bhimsen turned towards Helena and said, "Patrani Helena, it is my humble request that you will allow me to take full charge from now on! It is getting very dark and we will be venturing into forest areas. Bhadrasal and his men are ogres. It will be a needless risk! Purushottam and his men and one half of the contingent will remain behind with you for your own security while the rest will follow me! Please retire to Acharya Chanakya's ancestral house in the village where I have organized everything for your stay. It will be safer! You can co-ordinate things from there. I give you my word of assurance that nothing has happened nor will ever happen to Acharya Chanakya! I pledge my life on it!"

Helena could have nothing to say in reply to this. That appeared to be the best possible course of action for all concerned. She retired to the village of Arwal along with Purushottam and his men and a part of her contingent, while the rest followed behind Bhimsen in hot pursuit of Bhadrasal and his men.

Chapter Thirty-Six: Round One Won! Cracks Emerge!

In a secluded cave within the forest on the opposite bank,

Satyajit sat at Acharya Chanakya's feet and forcibly dressed the wound caused due to the poisoned knife on his right knee with the poison antidote herbs and soothing medication in the folds of his tunic though his mentor kept on protesting that it was nothing much to worry or bother.

Satyajit: I know you would say that this is nothing much to bother or worry about. I know that you are very strong and care nothing beyond the welfare of Magadh and our Bharath. But to me, your welfare is as important as that of Magadh or Bharath. You cannot stop me from caring for you!

Chanakya: Alright! Have it your own way!

After Satyajit had finished dressing the wound, and stood up, Chanakya asked, "Are you done with it? Can we get down to the real business now? What's the current situation in Dhananand's camp?"

Chanakya heard about the detailed intelligence report given by Satyajit regarding the present situation in Dhananand's forest camp.

Chanakya, after listening to Satyajit, pondered aloud, "The army strength is not too bad if we go by the numbers. They can be a force to reckon with. Moreover, they are not engaging in direct attack either. They are firmly entrenched in the frontier and making themselves as irritating as possible. A problem you cannot rid yourself of nor one you could afford to ignore!"

Satyajit: Yes, Acharya! Amatya Rakshas's presence in Magadh makes our enemies all the more powerful. As long as he is with Dhananand, it would be impossible to capture the prince. A direct attack would yield no results because till date we have changed locations and hideouts a number of times.

Chanakya: How many army contingents are in Dhananand's possession and currently operating and working against us on the soil of Magadh?

Satyajit: There are fourteen in the aforesaid locations I have mentioned in my report. We have negated the kingdom of Parvathak only recently. But Uttara Meru continues to be a thorn in our side. Two of our neighboring states, Anga and Videha to the East and and Gandhar and Khambhoj to the north west are jealous of the growing power and supremacy of Magadh under Maharaj Chandragupt. The same is the case with Toshali to the south. They are indirectly aiding and abetting in subversive activities via Padmanand. They are providing the logistics for a long drawn out battle though they dare not directly involve in this for fear of bringing the ire of Maharaj Chandragupt on them.

Chanakya: Yes, I was made aware of all these facts by my other spies working in these kingdoms. I am looking into this. We will find a solution to quell this. Anything else of interest?

Satyajit: Acharya, I don't know if this piece of information is of any use or interest to you. Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas have been in communication with a famous arms dealer from Central Asia. The disguised and camouflaged caravan carrying the weapons cache is expected to arrive in a day or two via the Hindukush frontier near Takshashila from where it is going to be smuggled in. I am still to ascertain or find out by what modus operandi they intend to exactly do this. General Vakranas has personally gone to inspect the weapons and their quality before taking delivery of the same from the dealer after paying the requisite amount.

Chanakya: Any specific reasons why you think they are doing this?

Satyajit: I heard them discussing that their existing weapons were old and worn out and they were intending to replace them with the new weapons. Since they were preparing for war, they want to be well-prepared for it! I found nothing unusual in this! Old weapons are usually replaced from time to time with newer ones!

Chanakya (with a intriguing smile on his face): INTERESTING!

Satyajit: I have to leave now, Acharya! Anything else before I leave?

Chanakya: Remember one thing! I have my information, and I didn't want you to go back this time! So you can return any time you want!

Satyajit: No, Acharya! My mission is still incomplete! It will not be until Dhananand is completely annihilated. Acharya, I am in the same contingent with Amatya Rakshas and Dhananand. If they could plan to assassinate you, why can't we do the same with them? I will get many opportunities to try this!

Chanakya: You can go if you want. I wouldn't like to curb either your patriotism or enthusiasm. But all I advise is a bit of caution and prudence. And none of those grand assassinating plans you were outlining! You are a spy and not an assassin or mercenary. So just stick to intelligence and information gathering! Firstly, I have some major designs on Amatya Rakshas! So I don't want him to be harmed. Leave it to me on how to nullify Amatya Rakshas. As for assassinating Dhananand, I wouldn't have you try it! If you succeed, great! But if you don't, you are bound to get caught! And in that case, you would be faced with the prospect of the most horrible and excruciating death.

Satyajit: Acharya, you needn't fear for me! I am your Shishya! I will not be caught!

Chanakya: Never say never when you are up against a man of Rakshas's caliber! You've already had a minor brush with the soldiers of Dhananand, this handwriting test, and the failure of this assassination attempt on me; they are bound to be on the lookout for you! One of the primary rules of sleuthing is the element of surprise which is precisely missing in your case. Our enemies are aware of your presence, they just do not know your identity. It is just a matter of time before they discover you. How many times do you expect to outwit them? And how many times do you think Rakshas is going to fail? If I were you, I wouldn't test my luck so much!

Satyajit: Acharya, please...just a few more days! I might be able to bring more information!

Chanakya: I was just telling my opinion about this! You have done very well for this assignment! I have learnt everything I needed to learn. I would personally have you return now instead of indulging in undue risks! It is not at all necessary or advisable!

Satyajit: Acharya, I will stick just to business. Just allow me to go back!

Chanakya, his voice quivering a slight bit before he said, "Alright!

Satyajit bent down to take blessing from Acharya Chanakya by touching his feet before leaving. Acharya Chanakya, with pride and affection brimming in his eyes for his student, placed his palm on top of his head in blessing.

Satyajit immediately covered his face and left from the cave while Acharya Chanakya sat down biding his time.

At the other bank,

Bhimsen sent one third of his troops ahead of him in pursuit of Bhadrasal before he stayed behind a couple more minutes to give parting instructions to a couple of his Aides who were to stay behind and bring the reinforcements he had sought from the Military Outpost, and how and where they would exactly find him on the opposite bank after his arrival.

Bhimsen: Send for a few scouts and guides from the village of Arwal who know the forests very well to accompany each of our divisions in their search and comb operations. I will make marks like this wherever I go. So you will be able to locate me easily if you need me at any point of time.

One of the Aides expressed a doubt at this point, "Sir, I just have a doubt. These are dense forests. I don't know even if a hundred guides or scouts would be of any help to us. They would only know the terrain, not where our enemies would be hiding. It is already very dark now. It will be the work of a minute for Bhadrasal and his men to hide and camouflage themselves. How are we even going to find them if we cannot see them? It's not like we can smell our enemies like hunting dogs!

Bhimsen, for a moment, was stuck by the unexpected brilliance of his Aides's casual remark and got an idea out of it, "I am told that the Chief Commanding Officer of the nearest Military Outpost has a brilliant troop of hunting dogs! Seek his permission to take them and use them in our operations! Now I'd like to see how Bhadrasal and his men escape from us because we can see them and smell them now!"

The search and fighting continued in bursts and starts on the opposite bank. The involvement of the hunting dogs in this operation made it literally impossible for Bhadrasal's men to hide from the Mauryan forces. They were dragged, chased and hunted down from wherever they were hiding. Nearly two-thirds of the force with which Bhadrasal had set out was decimated to naught in a couple of hours. The reinforcements that were supposed to join Bhadrasal were intercepted and tackled on their way itself by the Mauryan reinforcements from the Military Outpost.

So Bhadrasal had been isolated and cut off from all possible help or aid. However, owing to his superior skills, Bhadarasal and a few of his men had still evaded the net and were out in the open in the dense forests on the opposite bank of Son River. They were still searching for Acharya Chanakya. Neither did the Mauryan forces under Bhimsen's leadership nor did Bhadrasal and his men come across the whereabouts of Acharya Chanakya in all this while.

In the cave,

After Satyajit's departure, Acharya Chanakya coolly sat down and meditated visualizing the near possible future, his short term and long term goals for Magadh and the whole of Bharath, the key people he was going to use for this task, and how he was going to set about doing this; while outside both the troops battled it out among themselves.

He was very well aware of what was happening outside. He did not want to prove an impediment in that task to the very least. Bhimsen and his soldiers were apparently having a whale of a time. Moreover, a bit of a practice match and minor scuffle like this always came in handy before any major battle or war. Even a knife occasionally had to be sharpened for better cut and thrust! So were one's soldiers and generals too! They best way to judge your possibilities of victory were to actually see them in action in a true battlefield.

And that was what it had been today. The way Purushottom and his men had defended on the banks of Son by getting into the Mandala Vyuh and holding back Bhadrasal and his men who were many times larger than them in number (When they were fighting, they were hardly going to be aware that the reinforcements were even going to turn up), and now the way Bhimsen and his men seemed to be approaching this search and comb operation was praiseworthy.

The blood curdling cries he had been hearing somewhere afar in the forests, the swift hooves of the horses, the clashing blades of the swords, the barks of dogs; all these were a testimony to the fact that the Mauryan side were carrying out their business very admirably.

Hunting dogs put to the task! That was really a good brainwave! He knew that Bhimsen was very capable. But this was a new one even to him. Everything and everyone was working smoothly, efficiently, in a well-oiled manner, with perfect synchronization. Just then his thought were interrupted by the sound of footsteps rudely barging into the cave!

Bhadrasal: So we found you at last, Chanakya! (Pointing towards Acharya Chanakya, he turned to the men along with him and said) Do your task!

They were about to advance towards Acharya Chanakya when they were felled by a host of arrows shot from a distance by archers on horse cavalry. Bhadrasal was the only man standing alive apart from Acharya Chanakya in that cave. Bhadrasal quickly jumped for cover from the arrows behind a rock ledge in the cave, and drew his sword and shield lightening quick in a reflex action while standing in readiness for a fight. He weighed in all his possible options.

Could he manage to take Acharya Chanakya as a hostage and fight his way out of this? That didn't seem either possible or feasible. Acharya Chanakya was at the farthest end of the cave. All his men were dead and the only reason why he must have been spared must have been because Bhimsen probably wanted to catch him alive.

But all the same if he made the slightest move towards Acharya Chanakya, the archers were well prepared for it. He was surely but steadily under their aim. They wouldn't hesitate to finish him off in that eventuality even for a minute. He knew that his game was up. But if he was going to fall, he would not do so before he had taken as many of this side as he could along with him.

Bhimsen and his mounted horse cavalry approached the entrance of the cave. Bhadrasal was surrounded by soldiers but he continued fighting with the viciousness of a viper whose tail had been stamped by somebody. A few soldiers of the Mauryan side ran to Acharya Chanakya and formed an impenetrable safety circle around him with their shields and carefully escorted him out of the cave to a place of safety while their comrades and Bhimsen remained behind to tackle the indomitable Bhadrasal who was fighting like the devil himself though he was pushed against the wall.

Every time a Mauryan soldier fell, his energy and stamina got redoubled and rejuvenated. With every drop of enemy blood he drew, Bhadrasal became even more potent just like the Raktabheej of mythical yore who came alive as many times and in as many places as his drops of blood fell. His face and clothes were splattered with blood, and there were dismembered limbs strewn all over the cave.

It was a very lurid and unpleasant sight inside the cave such as one to make a person forgo his next nearest meal. Bhadrasal's sword broke, his shield was snatched away from him, and he was hastily disarmed of all the weapons he had with him. Finally, he was held back by the Mauryan soldiers and secured with chains and locks from escaping! He bellowed the most ominous fulminations and curses, "You cowards! Set me free and fight me! Then see who I am! Dare you touch me!"

Bhimsen in a very low voice of silent menace, "Thank your stars that you are alive, Bhadrasal! You would have been free and in the lower reaches of the Vaitrani of Hell if I had given my archers the command to shoot you down as well along with your men. It is only because I wanted to capture you alive that you are talking!"

Bhadrasal was instantly quietened by the silent authority of Bhimsen, which unnerved even a man like him. A lion was free and all powerful in its own jungle, but imprisoned in a circus, even a dreaded lion was scared of its lion tamer and his whip. If Bhadrasal was like a caged lion in a circus, Bhimsen was the lion tamer himself. He knew that he had perhaps a worse fate awaiting him in imprisonment and incarceration than he would ever face if he had been dead.

In Dhananand's forest camp,

Dhananand had been informed by the handful of survivors who came back about Bhadrasal's capture, the failure of their mission and about the literal annihilation of the entire force that had been sent for this mission. This news made Dhananand burst in uncontrollable rage. He fretted, fumed, upturned all the things and pieces of furniture in his tent, slapped his Aides, kicked anybody who had the misfortune to come before him out of his path to vent his frustration at the failure of a mission in which he had been anticipating sure success.

It was in this state, Amatya Rakshas found him. Despite all his loyalty and sincerity towards the cause of Padmanand, Rakshas felt a slight tremor of disgust and disenchantment unconsciously flowing through him at the manner and deportment of the corky, saucy, bull-headed Prince who neither behaved nor could be forced to behave at that particular moment.

He had much more important things and graver issues to discuss than managing the mood swings of a spoilt prince. But the prince never seemed to understand that. He was overwhelmed by the feeling of swimming against the tide and fighting a lost cause. He was emotionally tired and drained out.

Even since the very beginning, he had been having misgivings about this entire mission. That was why he had entrusted this mission to Bhadrasal and prevented Rajkumar Dhananand from personally going or leading this attack. They had lost a significant number of men on what had turned out to be a trap for them.

To boot, a warrior like Bhadrasal had been captured. Though he was confident that he wouldn't reveal any of their secrets to Chanakya and his men, it was terribly demoralizing to see one of their key men put out of action. To make matters worse, the Prince just did not realize that it was his rashness and yen for instant results that had led to them taking a bait they should have just let go in their present precarious position. What made him cringe was not the loss, but the fact that he felt a misfit in his surroundings and that his prize horse in the race was the lamest and most violent in existence.

Amatya: Ekant! (Privacy!)

Dhananand: Come, Amatya! Any specific pearls of wisdom to explain the loss in privacy? You keep bragging about your learning and your intellect! Pitha Maharaj gives you the full powers and authority to execute plans even over me, his own son; and yet, all you manage to produce is this? That Chanakya manages to outwit you all the time!

Rakshas: Prahaar karen mujh par, Kumar? (Attack me, Prince?)

Dhananand: Are you serious?

Rakshas: You can choose any method you want or any weapon!

Dhananand threw a javelin towards Rakshas. He defended that by catching it in the nick of time. This time he brought out his sword, but Rakshas defended it by holding up a shield before him.

Dhananand, perplexed by now, "What exactly were you intending to convey?"

Rakshas: Winning and losing are just part of the game. Neither have I lost nor has Chanakya won. This is just a minor setback. We will recoup. Har spardha main, hum kuch karthe hain, toh virodhi uska prathi uthar dehtha hai! (In any struggle, if make a move, our opponent makes a counter-move) That is just what Chanakya and his men have done. We need to keep our composure in each and every situation; in defeat, and in triumph. I know we lost this time. But even if we had succeeded, your state would have been so pitiable and unbalanced. Just as this defeat has enraged and demoralized you, that victory would have inebriated and made you outrageous. I feel as if I am wasting my everything in this struggle. I can assure you that perhaps half our troops are feeling the same. More than our enemies, we are endangering our own cause by this kind of behavior.

Dhananand: Watch your words, Amatya!

Dhananand while catching Rakshas in an apparent stranglehold, immediately drew the knife from his pocket and held its tip pointed to the throat of Amatya Rakshas's Adam's Apple until it drew a single drop of blood that dripped down the sharp pointed blade, before it tapered down the handle to touch the palm of his hand recalling him to some amount of sanity.

He glared at the man who had the insolence and temerity to state in plain terms to his face that he was unworthy. Rakshas too stood his ground, unmoved and as unyielding. Finally, it was the younger of the two men who was forced to relent. Subduing his volcanic rage that threatened to overwhelm him for a minute, he withdrew the knife, while laughing nervously and mercurially.

Dhananand: Another person in your place would have been dispatched by now! I tolerate you just for the sake of Pitha Maharaj!

Rakshas: I too do the same I assure you!

Dhananand: Excellent! We finally think alike on at least one thing. You cannot blame me here, Amatya. I had nothing to do with this loss. You never allowed me to do what I wanted. If only I had gone instead of Bhadrasal, things would have been better. You planned the whole thing. You chose the wrong man to execute your plans. I wasn't suspecting your loyalties or your abilities. I just wanted an explanation for this defeat!

Rakshas: We are apparently talking at cross purposes, Kumar! All this while, I was doing precisely that. I was explaining why we had failed. I cannot produce instantaneous results just like that. What do I gain by endangering my own life in this exile in the forest, fighting your cause, if you don't trust that I will deliver? I will resign and step down from my duties if that is what you want! You can find a worthier man than me for this post to produce the results you want. I have nothing more to say!

Dhananand, realizing that things had gone too far in his anger and haste, and that he had antagonized and hurt the man in front of him deeply this time, instantly backtracked, "Amatya, you're taking me too earnestly and seriously. I was just joking! Have things your own way, do things the way you want, just produce me the results I want instantly! I do not care how you're going to do it, I just want it done!"

At this point, Amatya Rakshas groaned, bone-weary and tired. He did not deign to explain any further, realizing the futility of wasting it on the object in front of him.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Baby Steps towards a Mammoth Dream

Part 1

In Patliputra,

The previous day had yielded a number of breakthrough developments. The assassination attempt on Acharya Chanakya had been foiled, the enemy contingent sent for this task had been completely annihilated, and its commander Bhadrasal was in their captivity. It was further revealed that the whole thing was a bait the wily Acharya Chanakya had planned for the success of an intelligence endeavor.

Chanakya: So, I have explained the reasons why I acted in this manner, and the end result we got justified the means I took to accomplish it!

Bhimsen: Acharya, do we inform Maharaj about the current developments?

Chanakya: No! Such confidential and important pieces of information are not relayed via messengers. There is a possibility of it being misused against us.

Helena: I too second Acharya's views in this matter. Anyhow, both I and Acharya have been fully authorized by Maharaj Chandragupt to act according to the situation and take the necessary decisions. Moreover, his entire concentration and energies should be centered on clinching the alliance with Rajnagari.

Chanakya: An alliance with a powerful state like Rajnagari will go a long way towards furthering our agenda and catalyzing our present plans. The situation as it stands is that we need this alliance more than Rajnagari does. So our part is a bit weak here on the negotiating table. But I expect that Maharaj is more than adept in handling such a situation.

Helena: Acharya, what troubles me presently is the information our spies have brought. Uttara Meru was always against us since the beginning. Now five major Janapadas; Anga, Videha, Gandhar, Khambhoj and Toshali are working subversively against us and aiding Padmanand and his cause. It is a cause of concern and worry!

Chanakya: I realize the gravity of this situation. That is the very reason why I have always advocated Akhand Bharath Nirman. Today six odd Janapadas are acting against us. Tomorrow, it could multiply. The situation in state politics is often that volatile and unstable. Such a state of affairs will only lead to anarchy in the whole country. That is why I have visualized the conception and creation of a welfare state under a benevolent and capable monarch, a Chakravartin Samrat, a King of Kings, the kind Raja Bharath of ancient lore was!

Helena: Pardon me Acharya for saying this! But even the mighty Alexander for whom my esteemed father, Selucus worked, returned from the frontiers of Bharath, empty-handed, unable to accomplish his dream of conquering the whole of India. How will Maharaj Chandragupt be able to accomplish such a mammoth dream?

Chanakya: Patrani Helena, do you feel this is an impossible dream? Bhimsen, you too think the same?

Chanakya turned to look and face towards Bhimsen who was also in the same room. Bhimsen's curious expression revealed that he too was unconvinced by Acharya Chanakya's dream. However, he refrained from saying anything out of his great respect and esteem for Acharya Chanakya.

Chanakya: Radhagupt, do you also feel like Patrani Helena and Bhimsen?

The focus of the entire room was drawn towards the addressee in question, a brilliant fourteen year old young man whose years hardly reflected his mental age, and the Tejas radiating from his face and aspect manifested tremendous intellect, wisdom and learning. He looked very much like the Vaman Avatar of Lord Vishnu who measured the three worlds with his three steps when he became the Trivikram.

Radhagupt: Alexander was not able to accomplish his dream in India because my master and Maharaj Chandragupt stood between him and that dream. As far as Akhand Bharath Nirman goes, if my Acharya feels that it is possible, I would believe him in an unquestioning manner. It is a difficult dream, but not an impossible one. History is a testimony of this fact. If it was accomplished before this in times of lore, I would say that it is possible even now. If we cannot take inspiration from history about what is possible and attainable, then of what use is it?

Chanakya's eyes swelled with pride and complacence and his chest became even more erect when he heard these words out of the mouth of his man Friday, his young student companion who followed him like his own shadow and constantly served him, Radhagupt. Someday, he hoped to see the young man in a position of great power and authority. He had no doubt that his student would earn it with his immense potential.

Chanakya: I knew that you would not disappoint me. That was exactly what I wanted to hear from you. So, you haven't forgotten any of my lessons?

Radhagupt: I haven't forgotten even a single spoken word of yours, Acharya! I duly record whatever I hear from you everyday.

'*A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.

*Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions: why I am doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.

*Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.

*The king shall lose no time when the opportunity waited for arrives.

*If a king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is reckless, they will not only be reckless likewise, but also eat into his works.

*The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind but the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.'

Chanakya: My boy, my boy, keep all this carefully with you! Give them to me someday when I will ask you for them! It will definitely come handy that day. But for now, I definitely think you are boring your companions with these big lectures and thesis!

Helena and Bhimsen together: On the contrary, Acharya! It is our good fortune that we have been blessed by your company and guidance.

Chanakya: So where were we originally before we digressed? Why Alexander failed, and why Maharaj Chandragupt will succeed in Akhand Bharath Nirman? Alexander failed in his mammoth dream because he did not give himself or his dream the time it required. Another reason is that he directly engaged in Yudh or war. Wars are not won purely by physical prowess. The intellect plays a major role in any victory. Hum Saam, Dhaan, Bhedh, aur Yudh; us har yukthi ki upyog karenge joh hame Akhand Bharath Nirman me sahayatha karegi! (We will use peaceful talks and alliances, bribing the enemy, dividing the enemies among themselves, and war; using every trick and tactic available to us to accomplish Akhand Bharath Nirman!)

Chanakya now turned towards Radhagupt and said, "I have a few letters to dictate, addressed to the Kings of Anga, Videha, Gandhar, Khambhoj and Toshali! Are you ready to take down?

Radhagupt, taking the requisite writing materials like scrolls and scribes, sat down at a desk, and said with perfect alacrity, "I am ready, Acharya!"

Chanakya, turning towards Helena at this point, "Once this is done, I may need you to affix Maharaj's royal seal to these documents before dispatching them to their respective locations. Then, we can wait and see what the response of our rivals is before taking the next step.

Helena: Of course, as you deem fit, Acharya!

Chanakya: Bhimsen, will you inform our garrison commander in Takshashila, Vidur, what he has to do with regard to General Vakranaas?

Bhimsen: I will take care of that, Acharya!

Chanakya with silent and quiet satisfaction in his tone: So, Patrani and my dear comrades, with that, we are done for the day!

Part 2

At Rajnagari,

A famous wrestler from South India had challenged the wrestlers in Rajnagari to a duel. So a festive wrestling joust had been organized. As esteemed and distinguished guests, Chandragupt and the others from the Magadh side had been cordially invited to attend it. The event had been announced in the town square by the town crier to the accompaniment of drum beats.

Huge crowds had thronged to the Akhada(wrestling arena).The entrance was decorated with huge geometrical patterns drawn with rice flour and flowers strewn all over. Banana leaves were placed to each side of the entrance, and flashy and colorful festoons and decorations were hung all over the arena in a huge canopy.

The wrestling pit was separated from the spectators's arena by ropes and heavily guarded by hordes of soldiers as two prominent royal families were going to grace the event, the royal family of Rajnagari and Maharaj Chandragupt and his whole retinue from Magadh. The benches were packed to full capacity.

The seating area of the royal families was segregated from the general public due to security reasons. It was comparatively nearer to the wrestling pit. People in the back benches kept craning their necks to catch a glimpse of what was happening in front.

In the shaded section of the Royal enclosure, Chandragupt inquired his wife Nandini, "It's very hot and sultry today. You recovered just shortly from a heat stroke. Would like to return? It is not necessary for you to attend this event!"

Nandini with smiles playing all over her face, "No, I am perfectly fine. On the contrary, I wouldn't want to miss this event. I used to enjoy the Malla Krida matches held in Magadh during the time of Pitha Maharaj!"

At this point, Nandini bit her lip that she had again reminisced and been nostalgic of the times she had had with her Pitha Maharaj. She made a faux-pas and she knew it. From the way in which, Chandra tried to pretend ignorance and deafness to the word "Pitha Maharaj", it was very evident that he hadn't been very pleased to hear her father's name out of her lips.

Though she knew the true character of her father and was completely disillusioned by his truth, it was impossible to exorcise just like that memories of eighteen years of her life as if they never happened in a matter of a few days or months. How was she ever going to fight these memories that came flooding upon her?

It was true that Chandragupt liked and cared for her. But he looked irritated and put out at the slightest mention of her past life. It wasn't as though she could erase her past or her origin. She was and would always owe her birth to a demon in human form. But she wasn't a demon herself.

Her father, for all his evilness and wickedness, had been the best father any girl could have. Hate him, she did, for his crimes and sins against her mother, against Chandra and his family, against humanity, against Magadh; but it wasn't enough!

In one corner of her heart, his abundant and bountiful love for her never seemed to fade. How could any daughter hate completely the father who loved her so much, so unconditionally, whatever be his crimes and sins against other people? She wasn't a saint or superhuman to be untouched by the illogical frailties of the human heart. She fell silent and so did Chandragupt.

Durdhara, who was sitting at the other side of Chandragupt, remarked at this point, "I am feeling very thirsty! Will you please summon something cool for me to drink?" She hadn't heard this verbal exchange between Chandra and Nandini.

Chandragupt: Yes, of course!

Even before he could put these words into action, Kunwar Arjun who was overlooking the distribution of drinks and refreshment to both the Royal sides instructed the man who was serving aloud, "Attend to Maharaj Chandragupt and his party. Have you finished serving refreshments to our guests?"

The drinks and refreshments were duly brought and served. After this was over, he seated himself beside Nandini on the other side. Both of them shared pleasant smiles, witty remarks, a few occasional jokes. First, they spoke about the sport that was about to commence and how it originated. Next, it was about the weather, followed by the favorite books they had read.

Arjun: I am sorry about the books I sent you the other day. I got to know about the mistake just now. It was the maid who did not hear properly and brought the wrong set of books.

Nandini: Even I assumed there must have been some misunderstanding. (She gestured him closer and whispered in his ear so that it would be audible only to Kunwar Arjun) I did not see the titles of the books nor their content. I actually asked Maharaj to read them which he did with great discomfiture. He really thought I perhaps loved to read such books. Can you imagine it?

Arjun, broke out laughing at this point, "You don't say so! Maharaj Chandragupt ...who is so serious ...read out of such books for you?"

Nandini, in the same low tone of voice, "He did! That is the most surprising thing! (After a pause) But I never thought you would have such books in your personal library!"

Arjun: They were not my books. They belonged to my first wife, Bindumaalini. She loved reading such mushy books. I did not have the heart to discard them, however bad those books might be, after her untimely demise. So I retained them along with me just like her memories.

During this whole while, Chandragupt kept looking very uneasily in the direction of Nandini and Arjun, and shifting this side and that of his seat as if it was becoming too hot for him. Their smiles, their gestures, their ease, everything told that they were better acquainted with each other than he imagined them to be. Their manner with each other was extremely friendly, cordial and to some extent secretive.

Though he really did not imagine what common secrets the two of them could share to which he could not be privy, but it did seem that both of them had several things in common that just the two of them knew and he didn't. He lifted his gaze in their direction once more, before he covered it by being extra attentive and caring towards Durdhara. It was a slight pang of jealousy mixed with irritation and the feeling of being left out. Nandini did not notice it nor did anyone else.

Chandragupt: Are you fine now?

Durdhara: Yes, I am!

Chandragupt: I hope you aren't feeling too bored?

Durdhara: No, I am enjoying the whole thing!

Chandragupt: Would you like to eat or drink something?

Durdhara: I had my refreshments just now! (After a brief pause, audible only to Chandragupt) What is the matter? Why are you paying so much attention to me today? Is something wrong?

Chandragupt: No, nothing! Watch carefully! The match will begin in a short while from now!

By this time, Nandini had turned to Chandragupt's side and casually remarked, "It is very crowded in here, isn't it? I usually don't prefer watching matches to which such huge crowds throng. I prefer matches in smaller arenas with a select gathering."

Chandragupt (acerbically and icily said): I was one among this crowd until recently!

Nandini felt uncomfortable after this remark. She did not know what to say in reply to this remark. She knew that Chandragupt was in a pretty black mood. But she was unable to divine the reason why he was so. Everything had been fine between them all these days. What had gone wrong again so suddenly?

Judging it better not to talk or make Chandragupt talk in his present state of mind, she turned towards Kunwar Arjun and pursued her conversation where she had left it off. She did not observe that this action of hers instead of making things or Chandragupt's mood better had made it worse.

Part 3

The scene of action was gay and throbbing with life and vibrancy. Victory is such events brought national recognition, name and fame. Wrestling champions from all over the kingdom had flocked to the event. Moreover, it was a matter of state pride and patriotism because the wrestler from the southern part of India, Valhalla had challenged that nobody in this state could defeat him.

The citizens cheered their own wrestlers who came into the arena to face the challenger with shouts and grunts. They indulged in some body building exercises and calisthenics to improve their stamina and power. The wrestling pit was filled with clay and circular in shape.

The soil had been carefully cleared of any possible gravel or stones which could hurt the wrestlers. The pit had been carefully watered and prepared with various ingredients like ghee mixed in its soil in the requisite measurements to avoid injury during the matches but at the same time hard enough so as to not prove an impediment in the easy movements of the wrestlers.

Before beginning the event, a small prayer was offered to Lord Hanuman, the patron deity of the Malla Krida. The rules were clearly laid out. None of the wrestlers could indulge in strokes or blows below the abdomen. Similarly, this competition wasn't meant to be a fight unto death. The wrestler who had succeeded in grounding his enemy and was able to hold him like that for a count of five would be acknowledged the victor in that particular match.

The referees and competitors took their positions in the ring. Once they were ready, Maharaj Indupratap sounded the conch to inaugurate the proceedings. Valhalla defeated all the wrestlers from Rajnagari one by one. The huge and noisy crowd in the arena went silent suddenly as wrestler after wrestler from this side was defeated with impunity and nonchalance by the challenger. He seemed to be an adept in all the four schools of wrestling, Hanumanti, Jambavanti, Jarasandhi, and Bhimaseni, named after legendary fighters and heroes who popularized this form of fighting.

Though there had been no loss to life, the blows were so severe that a few wrestlers on the Rajnagari side had broken teeth, jaws, bleeding faces, a few black eyes, and a few were completely knocked out by the blows and had to be carried out on a stretcher out of the arena to be treated. The challenger became even more energetic and enthusiastic after his victory in every duel. He had been not been hurt or tired in the very least. At last, there was nobody on the side of Rajnagari left to duel with Valhalla.

The king was about to signal the closure of this event by giving the challenger the reward and money he sought when he became so arrogant in his strength and skill that he shouted, "Is there no man worth the name in Rajnagari to defeat me?" The man continued laughing, shouting and jeering. This was when a hush fell over the audience. They were smarting under this insult.

Feelings and emotions were running high but there was nothing they could do about it. Their national pride had taken a severe beating. The victor had defeated all their men. The only feeling that raged in their consciousness was, "Is there not even one amongst us that can avenge this insult and salvage our pride? How dare he? Is there nobody to teach this arrogant man a lesson?"

Just then, everybody heard a loud and commanding voice roar, "There is! And that's me!"

It was their Crown Prince, Arjun who had spoken. The prince withdrew to change from his expensive Royal attire into the wrestling attire and get ready for this match. As he emerged, ready to take on the arrogant wrestler, the whole multitude that had gathered cheered and clapped wildly for their prince.

The wrestler was very strong, skillful, deft, and efficient. But their prince was no less. It was a hard fought contest. But finally, the Prince made the arrogant wrestler bite the dust and eat his own ignominious words and apologize for his undue arrogance to the people of Rajnagari. But since, he had duly won against all the other wrestlers of the State, and since the Prince was originally not a contestant, he was handsomely rewarded and his talent was acknowledged in certificate of merit awarded by the King of Rajnagari.

For a moment, Chandragupt forgot about his jealousy or apparent irritation for the Crown Prince, Arjun who was behaving in a manner too good to be true with all of them, more so with Nandini. There was no necessity to be so extra thoughtful and attentive. It was enough if he had kept and maintained the kind of stance his father Raja Indupratap maintained with him and his retinue, neither too far nor too close, just hospitable and extremely welcoming.

But the Crown Prince's behavior was such that it seemed as though he was trying very hard to cultivate their friendship and form an incredibly good opinion about himself in their minds. Why would any Crown Prince go out of the way? It wasn't as though he was going to seek a job or favor with him or his family! This mystery seemed to puzzle him to no end.

But at the present moment, he was very impressed by the valor, the majesty, and the inspiring example the crown prince had succeeded in sowing in the minds of his Praja. His intimate connection with the Praja, their needs, their moods, the way he responded to them with immediacy was very impressive. Such an ally in wartime would be a very tremendous boost to one's morale. His deftness and agility of movement were highly laudable. It was a long while since Chandragupt had fought a match of Malla-Krida with a warrior of equal strength and repertoire. Only his old rival, co-scholar, and batch-mate at Takshashila, Malayketu came close to him in expertise and fighting techniques in this form of fighting.

But he too wasn't in the league of the Crown Prince who was a true warrior both in name and fame. It would be refreshing to fight a friendly match with the Prince. His expression was that of a warrior raring to go for a contest. But realizing the present delicate state of affairs between the two states and how even a friendly match of that sort could complicate matters, he did not suggest it though his whole heart was asking for it.

Just when everyone thought the event was over and were about to disperse, Rajkumar Arjun surprised everyone by inviting Maharaj Chandragupt of Magadh to fight a friendly match of Malla-Krida with him. The idea itself was very interesting and enchanting to everyone present. Nobody had seen anything as exciting as this nor ever would.

Two warriors of the caliber of their Kunwar and Maharaj Chandragupt, it could be asserted beyond any doubt that in such a contest the sparks would fly and lightening would strike. Why the tournament was originally held, everyone seemed to have forgotten. Arjun and Chandragupt became the cynosure of everyone's eyes. Everyone waited with bated breath and without batting a single eyelid for the two titans to clash with each other in the wrestling arena.

Both of them prepared for the match. Their bodies were massaged with oils to make it strong, supple and slippery. After this both of them tried to enhance their strength and stamina for the friendly match by doing uthak-baithak and stretching their arms and muscles.

Durdhara cheered very loudly for Chandragupt while Nandini looked a bit worried. She thought this match the most ill advised thing. Both the contestants were only going to lose in this match, both the victor and the loser. She was surprised that Kunwar Arjun, who was usually very balanced and sensible, thought of doing something like this. Why he intended doing it was beyond her!

She couldn't blame Chandragupt here because he hadn't suggested it in the first place though he seemed to badly want to fight this duel. But being a royal, he couldn't turn down the challenge even to a friendly duel like this. But as she thought about the impending diplomatic and war alliance, Chaaya's marriage talks with Rajkumar Arjun about which Chandragupt did not know anything; there were a number of things that could go wrong here.

Durdhara: Don't worry, Nandini. I know Chandra is going to win this. I have seen him fight such matches before this also. He is going to win hands down.

Nandini still looked worried. She wasn't able to share either Durdhara's confidence or her infectious spirit. The fact that her husband was one of the best exponents in this form of fighting did not make things better for her. There was so much at stake here that went beyond victory and loss in one particular match. Only the King and Queen of Rajnagari looked equally apprehensive about this turn of events. Both Chandragupt and Arjun had got into the spirit of the sport and were completely engrossed in it and were oblivious about the rest.

Both the combatants stood stand still for a couple of minutes making unflinching eye contact with each other. They did not make any move towards the other, neither attacking nor defensive. They just watched the other's movements and tried to guess what was going on in the other's mind before planning the countermove to deal with it.

Arjun himself did not know why he had suggested this match. Perhaps it was curiosity to see Maharaj Chandragupt in action that had got the better of him. Arjun had heard a lot about his fighting prowess. In one corner, it was also a bit of vanity to prove that he too was no less than Chandragupt when it came to fighting and warrior-like skills.

Of course, he and his father sparred and played such friendly duels very often. His friends and cousins too often fought such friendly matches with him. And if Rajkumari Chaaya accepted him, Maharaj Chandragupt would be his brother-in-law. So he saw nothing amiss in a friendly match like this. It would be a refreshing change.

Chandragupt: Kunwar Arjun, I must tell you before we start in right earnest that I hate to loose in anything! You did a mistake by inviting me for this duel!

Arjun: On the contrary, this is going to be interesting! I love to win in whatever I undertake!

Nandini glanced intently at both the redoubtable warriors battling it out in the arena. As both of them locked arms with each other trying to push each other with their immense strength and stamina, they firmly clawed the ground with their toes for better grip. The dust started rising and settled on both the warriors covering them in full glory. Chandragupt caught Kunwar Arjun in an iron grip, and as both of them struggled, he said, "I do not let my opponents escape from my hands!"

Kunwar Arjun: I have learnt the art of slipping away from the tightest corners just as I have done now! Nobody can contain me for long!

True enough the prince had broken free from Chandragupt's grip. Both the warriors went round and round the wrestling pit looking for the slightest chink in the other's armor, a chance for victory, a chance to defeat the opponent in a match that had been stretching incredibly long and was proving to be terribly indecisive. It was a spectacle of the kind none had witnessed ever before.

Chandragupt was at his attacking best. His moves, his agility, his punches, his locks, his sheer physical strength were such that they would awe anybody. But the defense of Kunwar Arjun was no less. It was rock solid. It was evident by now to most of the spectators that their Prince was not fighting to win this match. He was just enjoying it and defending while Maharaj Chandragupt was fighting it earnestly and going for the kill.

Chandragupt (with intensity): None can escape me when I intend to attack, Kunwar Arjun.

Arjun (smiling pleasantly): When I defend, none can get past me, Maharaj Chandragupt!

Beads of sweat perforated the forehead and bodies of both the opponents. Raja Indupratap had been pondering since a while if it would not be better to just call off this match at this point. It looked as if a result would never emerge out of it. At this point, something happened that distracted Chandragupt from his concentration in the match.

Nandini was muttering beneath her breath, "Let him win! Let him win!" Chandragupt got distracted from his duel for a tiny second on watching her minutely observe Rajkumar Arjun and his actions instead of him and the way he was fighting. She ought to be observing him. She ought to be concerned about him. But why was she more bothered about his opponent?

Chandragupt was losing his patience by now. This match was stretching incredibly long. He had never fought so long and yet not won. He had never come across an opponent who stood his ground against him for so long without yielding even an inch. He wanted to end this match by now. He was about to try one of his favorite and infallible moves in Mallayudh which never failed.

Exercising a superhuman effort of strength and concentration, he was about to bring Arjun down with a powerful and sudden push and heave when he heard the words, "Let Rajkumar Arjun win this duel!" out of Nandini's mouth. He lost his equilibrium, both physical and mental, in that single moment. And that single moment of distraction was enough for Rajkumar Arjun to seal and clinch his victory. He was grounded and did not recover his composure before the count of five.

Chandragupt could not believe that he had lost a duel in Malyudh! He had lost because he heard his own wife wishing for his opponent's victory instead of his. He had lost because of her! He always kept saying that love made a person vulnerable. And today, he had seen it first hand! Though he might not have won the match, he wouldn't have lost it but for Nandini. Her words had distracted him from the task at hand!

But his opponent, Kunwar Arjun had rightfully won the match. He couldn't blame the prince for his loss. It was his distraction, his fixation, his vulnerability; Nandini whose words, actions and behavior which had made him lose his composure. Though he did not understand the reason why Nandini had been favoring Kunwar Arjun, he acknowledged the victory of the Prince by embracing him in the appreciative manner in which one encourages one's comrade and raised the Prince's right hand to the top in a sign of victory without the least bit of kingly ego.

The people of Rajnagari were even more impressed by Maharaj Chandragupt's righteousness, humility and lack of kingly ego. No king or Royal, so powerful and influential, could have been like this. Even a very common wrestler was so vain and arrogant of his own achievements and accomplishments that he had jeered so openly and arrogantly after his own victory, while a king and emperor had been so graceful even in his own defeat that one never felt he had lost. The spectators clapped wildly for both the opponents in this game.

Nandini came up to Chandragupt once the match was over, and was about to take his hand in hers and tend to him, when he pulled away his hand from hers and said in a low voice audible only to her, "I hope you are happy now that I have lost! You wish came true! Go and be happy!"

As Chandragupt walked out on her, Nandini could only stare on in disbelief.

Part 4

In Maharaj Indupratap's chamber,

The King, Raja Indupratap and Queen, Maharani Swaralika of Rajnagari were in conversation with each other.

Indupratap: I have been thinking about this since a couple of days. Arjun seems to be trying too much to please and be in the good books of Maharaj Chandragupt and his retinue.

Swaralika: I too felt the same! Since marriage talks are on between him and Rajkumari Chaaya, it is but natural that he would try to know all of them better and cultivate their good opinion. I only wish he hadn't told so plainly to Rani Nandini about his condition for this marriage. By Arjun's conversation, I understood that Maharaj Chandragupt has still not been informed by Rajmata Moora about this marriage alliance. Only Rani Nandini on their side seems to be aware of the whole thing.

Indupratap: In a way, it's better like that! Both of us will be able to negotiate the terms and conditions of this alliance and sign the treaty without being influenced and swayed by personal equations which would only prove to be detrimental to our state policies and interests.

Swaralika did not say anything in reply to this. She seemed to share a contrary opinion to this. When she perceived how the marriage alliance on which she had set her heart on was about to go astray, she wanted to mix the personal and political to manipulate the Magadh side into accepting their marriage alliance.

Indupratap: I was apprehensive initially when Arjun suggested the duel. But all's well that ends well! It was a very entertaining and engrossing wrestling contest! Equally fought! I wouldn't consider any of the two any less or greater than the other though our son won! I hope you too enjoyed the joust, Maharani?

Swaralika: I did, Maharaj! But I am afraid the exertion was a bit too much for me. I am feeling very tired.

Indupratap: In that case Maharani, you should instantly retire to your room and take rest.

Swaralika: I will Maharaj. But what is your opinion on the matter we were discussing prior to the wrestling joust.

Indupratap: Please try to understand, Maharani. We cannot do this. It is unethical. It will be a gross disrespect and withdrawal from our earlier stance. We cannot do it!

Swaralika: I'd like to ask, why can't we?

Indupratap: These are two different things! We cannot mix the personal and state decisions and policy affairs!

Swaralika: It is a question of our son's and grandson's welfare.

Indupratap: But Maharani you ought to realize the way Kunwar Arjun has been insisting on unreasonable and untenable conditions, that alliance is not going to materialize. You are a woman too. Can you be so selfish to make the life of another young woman a case of state politics?

Swaralika, after a lengthy and slow pause, "I can Maharaj if it is going to improve the life of my son and grandson! I had asked the matchmaker to hide this truth to the bride's side. We have considered a number of alliances before this and all of them have failed because of this stupid condition. See the beauty of the bride whom I want for my son. (She showed a painting of Rajkumari Chaaya to Indupratap) You really think our son will be able to ignore such beauty and grace and stick to his stupid condition even after marriage. No he will not! The more he sees of her and her good qualities after marriage, he will undoubtedly fall in love with her and give her the place she deserves in his life. I know my son. He cannot be unjust with anyone. He will whole-heartedly accept her.

Indupratap: You are thinking from a positive angle. But supposing our son never accepts Rajkumari Chaaya as his wife, what will her apparent status be after marriage? A glorified royal nanny? Why would the sister of Maharaj Chandragupt think twice about such an alliance where she has nothing to look forward to?

Maharani Swaralika, at this point, enacted a wheezing spell of breathlessness due to asthma before carefully watching the expression of her royal spouse in the midst of her coughs. She often suffered from these crippling wheezing spells and coughing attacks. But this time, she didn't have them.

She was doing it to garner the sympathy of Indupratap and make him toe her line of thinking. Her husband's words had shown to her that he wasn't exactly sympathetic to her cause. In such cases, she always used her health condition to emotionally blackmail and get things done the way she wanted from her husband and her son.

Maharaj Indupratap's expression instantly softened and he appeared greatly concerned by the deterioration in the health of his queen. He instantly offered her his hand and made her to sit on the huge divan in his room. He immediately took out a few smelling salts to help her breathe better, and poured out a glass of water for her to drink.

Indupratap: I will instantly summon your maids. They will escort you to your chamber. You need to rest now. I will ask the Raj Vaid to treat you immediately.

Swaralika had elicited the attention she had wanted from her husband. She knew she could twist and wrap her husband around her little finger in whichever way she pleased now. Her health was a sore spot in his armor. He would definitely listen to her. He wouldn't refuse her so out rightly. Though her invalidity of health often troubled her, she had learned to transform her patient and invalid status to her own benefit by getting things done the way she wanted. How would anyone know when she was actually sick and when she wasn't unless she told them? As for the Raj Vaid, a few gold coins were enough to make him repeat whatever she wanted about her health updates to her husband and son.

Swaralika, speaking with great difficulty, "No, Maharaj! I am not done yet! I will not retire to my room nor get myself treated until I have completed what I have to say. (Another spell of coughing succeeded this, before she continued) Rajkumari Chaaya is already past the marriageable age for girls. So, there is a possibility that her side might consider this alliance.

Indupratap, by this time, was extremely concerned about his queen. Her health condition was rapidly deteriorating and she was refusing to put an end to the conversation. However, even this whole drama had still not succeeded in suppressing his idea of right and wrong. He ventured in a highly placatory tone taking care not to aggravate Swaralika's mood, "Even then, she could choose to remain unmarried and remain as a sister of Maharaj Chandragupt if your son persists in maintaining this stupid condition. Now that he has precisely told Rani Nandini about it, we cannot hide or gloss over this matter. The bride's side are in full possession of facts. Why should Rajkumari Chaaya be so desperate to be married to our son? If she was my daughter, I wouldn't want her to get married to such a groom. So going by that logic, Maharaj Chandragupt wouldn't want this for his elder sister as well."

Swaralika: Ah, my head! ...It's aching like anything...Maharaj, the salts again...please!...I know that! ...That's why I am seeking your help... You will have to support me in this...If we do like this...

Indupratap, highly worried by now, "Maharani, we'll discuss this later! Let me help you to your room! You need rest and treatment!"

Swaralika: Take your time, Maharaj! ...If you think about it carefully, you will realize that this will be the best possible course of action...Our side will benefit a lot in this way!

Indupratap did not speak anything. But his Maharani's words had left the desired impact on his mind. The wall had been breached and the seeds of this idea had been sown. The more he considered, the proposition did not seem unfeasible to him.

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.

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!)

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 was 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.

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!

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!"

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!)

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 chaffed at this fact!

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. 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.

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...)"

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!

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.

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!

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 Khambhoj 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.

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?

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?

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?

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!

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!

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!

Chapter Forty: The Storm Clouds Hover Over Magadh

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 merianupastithi 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 rahatha 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.

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 barenmain 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

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. 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.

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

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. 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."

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?)

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!)

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?"

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 rachnakaroongi!" (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 neededclear-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 legs 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?"

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'shand at the Swayamvar, Toshali will automatically be obliged to fall in line with Magadh!"

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!"

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.

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.

After all, it was human tendency to long for and feel jealous forwhat 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. 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.

The silence was broken this time by Nandini who said, "Maine isebanaya! 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 bhinahin 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 tohroklo!" (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 auraas paas main joh bhi Magadh ke gudachar kam kar rahen hain, un sab ko samaapth karna hoga! Is seh jab tak Chanakya aurChandragupt 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.

That night in Nandini's chamber,

Nandini wasn't feeling sleepy at all. She lay awake for sometimebefore 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 harvishay main saath doongi!" (I will support you in every phase and every aspect of life!)

Chapter Forty-One: Destiny Chooses her Own

Before Chandragupt's Chamber,

Rajkumari Chaaya had been to her brother's chamber but found it empty and bereft of its occupant. It was still early morning. She hadn't imagined that his duties at the Raj Sabha would call him so early. She thought she would have a nice and cosy chat with her younger brother before that.

She had actually come to return his ring which he had removed at the Bhojan shala while having his family dinner. In his preoccupation, he had forgotten to wear it again. She would tease him a bit about his carelessness before returning it to him. It was good she had seen it while the Daasis were cleaning the chamber after the dinner and took it with her. He would need it today for attesting and passing any royal orders at the Raj Sabha. Since it was very important, she did not want to risk its being lost by sending it through someone else. There was always a possibility of such things being misused.

She inquired the guards in front of Chandragupt's room, "Where has Maharaj gone so early in the morning? Do any of you have an idea?"

Two guards nodded in the negative while a third said a bit unsure, "Perhaps in Acharya Chanakya's Chamber. I saw Radhagupt come to Maharaj with a message. Maharaj left immediately after that. So perhaps Acharyaji had something important to share with Maharaj! Should I go and check for you Rajkumariji?"

Chaaya, on second thought, refused telling, "No, that will not be necessary. I will check on my way to my chamber."

She said to herself, "If Chandu is with Acharyaji at this hour, it must be important and also confidential. In which case, I cannot have this guard interrupting him. But this ring is his signet ring. So I have to return it to him at the earliest possible. It would be better if I go personally, excuse myself for the interruption to Acharyaji, and return this ring to Chandu. Yes! That will be alright!"

Before Acharya Chanakya's Chamber,

Chaaya found that all the guards had been dismissed from there and only Radhagupt stood in earnest and careful watch outside the chamber. So in all probability, it was meant to ensure confidentiality of whatever was being discussed within the chamber between Acharya Chanakya and her brother, and also to prevent the generation of palace gossip.

Chaaya apprised Radhagupt of the purpose of her visit to the chamber. After thinking for a moment, he stepped aside to let her pass into the room. As Chaaya entered the room, she observed both Chandragupt and Chanakya in earnest and serious conversation with each other.

Chanakya: It all began when we found a half-decomposed body in the forests of Vikramashila.

Chandragupt greatly disturbed, "Is it the body of one of our men?"

Chanakya: Yes, it it!

Chandragupt: Whose?

Chanakya: SATYAJIT!

Chaaya who had exactly entered during the later exchanges of conversation, collapsed completely on the ground on hearing it. This was where Satyajit had told her he was when he last contacted her. So the Satyajit about whom Acharya Chanakya and her brother were discussing was her Satyajit. She didn't want to believe it but in vain. There was no reason not to believe the truth in front of her eyes.

Everything that she knew now came flooding upon her. This was the reason for their secret marriage after all! This was the reason why he went missing for long periods of time. Her husband worked for her brother! Her husband was a spy! YES A SPY! That was his real life then! A life about which she too had no knowledge and idea. A part which he had kept hidden even from her. FROM HER!

Her life ended even before it began! How could fate be so cruel to her? HER SATYA WAS NO MORE! She hadn't seen him at least one last time! SATYA TAKE ME WITH YOU! THIS IS WORSE THAN DEATH!

Chaaya lost her consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she found herself on the bed in Acharya Chanakya's chamber surrounded by Chandragupt, Rajmata Moora, Helena, Durdhara and Nandini, all looking extremely concerned for her. It looks like they were all summoned when Chaaya became unwell. The Raj Vaid had finished examining her. He said, "Rajkumari Chaaya has fainted due to extreme stress. I will leave a few medicines which will soothe and tranquilize her and help her in regaining her strength and mental composure. I think now the Rajkumari may be safely moved to her chamber. Everything will settle down in some time."

Chaaya seemed to be making sense of nothing happening round her. She was in a daze. Just when she concluded that all this was just a bad dream or a figment of her own imagination, she saw the signet ring still tucked away within the folds of her dress, where it originally was, when she collapsed.

Chandragupt was greatly worried seeing Chaaya in this condition, "Di, what happened? Is anything wrong?

Chaaya sobbed uncontrollably, "Everything...(sob...sob...sob) Chandu!...(sob...sob...sob)...Everything...There is nothing left...Yes...I will die...That is the best...I will put an end to my life...Satya...(sob...sob...sob)...How will I live without you?...

None of those in the room hardly understood what was happening. Acharya Chanakya on hearing the word 'Satya' guessed what might be the matter. But his supreme self-control showed neither that nor the turmoil of guilt that was racking his soul that in his greed to know more, he had destroyed what he himself had created. While maintaining the placid and unreadable expression of blankness on his visage, he moved to the other corner of the room, to give space to the royal family for the revelations that were about to happen and for each one of them to come to terms with the harsh reality.

Chaaya, fighting hard to regain a semblance of normalcy, before revealing the secret of her innermost heart, "I am secretly married. I have been so since many years. The name of my husband is (she broke down at this point crying for a minute before continuing again) WAS SATYAJIT! Chandu...Acharyaji...what happened to him?...How did this happen?"

Everyone was shell-shocked at the revelation. They looked towards Acharya Chanakya for further information. In a calm voice, he said, "Satyajit was one of my best spies. A few days ago, we found a body tallying with the description of Satyajit in the forests of Vikramashila. After investigation and inquiry, it was confirmed that the body indeed belonged to him."

Chandragupt in an absolutely toneless voice, instructed, "Maa, Helena, Durdhara and Nandini, take Di to her chamber and remain with her. She needs rest now! I will rejoin all of you in a short while."

Without asking any questions, all the ladies escorted a Chaaya who looked lifeless and numb with grief to her chamber. She was looking completely drained out due to this excruciating ordeal. She wouldn't have been able to walk on her own without their support. Even now she faltered at many points as they took her.

Chandragupt, his face livid with rage by now, questioned his Acharya perhaps for the first time with such an icy cold and reproachful voice, "How did you let it happen, Acharya? You would have known that Satyajit was in danger. Why didn't you warn him?"

Acharya Chanakya in a voice that appeared very contrite, "I needed information about Dhananand and Amatya Rakshas. Satyajit was the only one who could give me a first-hand report of what was happening on the spot instead of forcing me to rely on possibilities, analysis and deductions. I knew he was in danger and it would be risky for him as he would be under the scanner of suspicion. But I couldn't see anything else before what my dream for the safety of Magadh and Akhand Bharat Nirman required. Now there is nothing I can do except feel sorry and guilty for what has happened and live with that regret the rest of my life."

After this, Chandragupt did not speak for a long while. He didn't want to do it when he was in such a state of mind where he could end up insulting or offending the Guru who had been the paramount in his life for many years from now. When he did, it was with a voice that sounded terribly ominous! He spoke, "Main aur prateeksha nahin kar saktha! Mujhe pratishod chahiye! Ab aur abhi!" (I cannot wait any longer! I need vengeance. Now and immediately!)

Acharya Chanakya was about to stop him for a moment before he glanced at the expression of fury in Chandragupt's face that appeared as though it would blow away anyone who came in the path of his holocaust of anger and said, "Pratishod tumhe milega! Ab aur abhi! Bas apna aapaa prathishod ki is jwalamukhi main math khona!" (You will get your vengeance! Now and immediately! But do not lose your composure and self-control in the volcanic anger of your vengeance!)

Both Chanakya and Chandragupt discussed their impending strategies at length, "I have always taught you how to break free from a Chakra Vyuh. But here, I have created situations such that I have cornered all our enemies into devising this Chakra Vyuh around us so that we may get rid of all of them at one shot!"

Chandragupt, without wasting any unnecessary words, but with just a tilt of his head and facial expressions conveyed to his Guru that he understood what was expected of him and that he would live up to it. He had fought a number of external battles and this was his area of strength as well. Where he was actually falling weak was in fighting the internal battles that were raging within him. He had to conquer himself first before he conquered the rest.

The hours ticked by and the ladies of the royal family continued waiting for Chandragupt and Acharya Chanakya to join them. The evening came and then the night. Now it was nearing dawn. Chaaya had been vacillating between consciousness and complete blankness. She knew not her self nor her surroundings.

It was as if she could not conceive of a life beyond Satyajit! There wasn't even a hint of tear on her eyes. Only any empty vacuum, a lifeless shell! All their hearts bled to see her in this condition. But there was nothing anybody could do to alleviate it even by the slightest degree.

How could anybody console a person grieving and mourning the loss of their own about the inevitability of death? Except expressing solidarity of grief and staying together, there was nothing any of them could do. They were in a disturbed state of mind even previously. But now they were definitely growing restless and uneasy.

None of them spoke a word about their apprehensions or unnamed fears. Was this just a forerunner and precursor of more bloodshed, grief and loss? The initial signs were not very bright. And they were right. When Chandragupt and Acharya Chanakya joined them, Chanakya calmly informed all of them without batting even a single eyelid, "Rajmata, paristhithiyan kuch aisi ho gayi hain ki Maharaj ko abhi yudh ke liye nikalna hoga! (Rajmata, the situation has become such that it has become inevitable for Maharaj to go for war!)

Moora gave a slight tilt with her head, regally and majestically. There was neither fear, worry, shock nor indecision on her face after hearing this. Only a calm, quiet and determined acceptance of the inevitable. She calmly instructed her daughters-in-law, "Tilak ki taiyari karo!" (Make preparations for the Tilak!)

Chandragupt was preparing to set out. The battle gear was laid out in front of him. He had dismissed all his helpers and Daasis from his room because he wanted to remain alone and with himself. He was deep in thought but such was their depth that a third person would have been unable to guess what it was about. Just then, they were disrupted by a voice which said, "Kya main tumhari ekant bhang kar sakthi hoon, Putra?" (Can I disturb your privacy, Son?)

Chandra looked up a bit surprised at this interruption, "Ma, aap yahan? Aapko Di ke paas rehna chahiye tha! Unko aapki avashyakta hain!" (Ma, you here? You should have remained with Di! She needs you now!)

Moora: Chandra, I know who needs me the most now. Chaaya has others with her now. But my son has none!

Chandra: I've got used to this state of things. I was always alone before. Only now I have got a family.

Moora: I never interfered much in your affairs not because I didn't know or I didn't care. But because there were others around you to take care. They seemed to do things better and more efficiently than me. I didn't want to add to your burden and weaken you with the weight of my expectations. I kept myself aloof. I had seen more than enough for a lifetime.

Chandra (with empathy): I know!

Moora: Sometimes we do not choose the things which happen in our life. But they happen! We just have to keep going! Karma is the biggest dharma of all! Do your best, Son!

Chandra: I will!

Moora: When you return victorious, we will make up for all the lost time since your childhood!

Chandra: Ma, I don't know about the future. I have five minutes more now. Will you give me your lap?

Chandra laid his face in Moora lap and closed his eyes. She brushed aside the hair from his face and soothingly stroked his forehead. After five minutes which seemed like eternity, Chandragupt got up, ready for the battle, neither propelled by the feeling of anger nor the desire for revenge.

All that motivated him now was a philosophical bent of mind and a fatalistic outlook that come whatever may his way, he was going to do his Dharma. Whoever be the enemies who stood in his path, he was going to remove them from that path not because he hated them, or because they hurt him or his loved ones, but because there lay the betterment of his nation, and because that was his Dharma.

All the knots in his heart were completely untangled today. This was his journey, the path he had to take. Whether he had many with him or whether he was all alone, whether his own supported him or deserted him, he had to walk this path. His vision for the future got clarified today in these five minutes in his mother's lap. Whether he chose his destiny of not, whether he chose this life or not, destiny had chosen him to execute and be the architect of this big master plan. He would fulfill it without any questions in his mind.

Shaillu all the best with your little one family come first

Originally posted by: amina1

Shaillu all the best with your little one family come first

Honestly TV was baby sitter for me but back than we just had cable and it was kids network we had internet few years ago

Nowadays hardly anything on if and its no point discussing episodes because some of us do not watch it

So true, Amina. Family always comes first. That's why I and my husband took this decision. More than me, logging off from the internet severely handicaps my husband. But nowadays he does all his work at the office itself. I actually write my chapters whenever my little one is in preschool. I check my mails and other stuff also during this time only.