CN SS: ~REVENGE~ part 11 updated at page 31 - Page 11

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Beautiful prologue, Stuti! To some extent, I see how you visualize your Chandragupt and Nandini. Two right people caught in a wrong situation. I did see what Shyamala Aunty had to say about the inherent contradiction in your Nandini and your explanation as well. Initially, I was also about to make the same observation, but then I gave the same explanation you gave to myself even before you gave it. Their relationship is political, the need of the hour, a necessity of the people on both the sides. Neither of them wants to be tied down to this marriage but are forced to for the sake of others. Nandini since the beginning never denies that Chandragupt was in the right. She acknowledges it. in that sense, her judgment is never clouded by her personal feelings. Her vengeance is purely personal. She never says it is right. But all the same, she wants it. A completely paradoxical situation.

PART 5:

Nandini was sitting in front of the mirror. The whole incident of morning was floating in front of her eyes. She was unable to forget Chandragupta's cold and apparent indifferent smile even for a moment. She was yet to grasp the fact that Chandragupta defeated her so badly. She would not mind losing swordfight in front of a professional warrior maybe and will consider it as her lesson, but Chandragupta has defeated her in the competition of mind and self-control. How strategically he tempted Nandini, made her wild in anger and played with her mind... just to test her abilities! He has again proved how much inferior she is in front of her opponent, who is becoming more strange, more magnificent in front of her eyes after their each confrontation. When she thinks about him, she can feel that how much impossible it is for her to take revenge from him! He makes her believe in his every smile that she is defeated from every aspect. He has defeated her from every aspect. Right now she has no individual entity other than being a political pawn in her enemy's hand! She felt her reflection in the mirror is mocking at her. All the furniture of the room is mocking at her. You are a loser Nandini! You have to spend your whole life on the mercy of your father's murderer... You have to live your whole life in this prison, like a prisoner in life-imprisonment! You have nowhere to go, you have no place to escape. You have to live in this hell with weaving the impossible dream of avenging your father and brother's death... You have lost!

Nandini closed her eyes. In her heart she wanted to scream loudly but she knew that not a single sound will come out from her throat. The source of tears has been dried up long ago! She had become a flame of revenge from her heart while the marriage; now the circumstances are trying to extinguish the fire with the vapour of despair and frustration... How will Nandini live without tears?

"May I come in, please?"

A soft and very energetic tone of a woman's voice rang behind. Nandini looked back. The young queen was standing near the door. With the touch of surprise in eyes Nandini stood up in hurry. "Yes please come. You need not to ask!" She told.

"Thank you... Actually I was getting bored all alone so thought to come to chat with you." With a very charming smile queen Durdhara entered and sat on the bed without asking for permission. "Why are you standing, Sit!" She pulled Nandini to sit beside her and started talking... "You know, I actually wanted to come to you much before. Lot of days has passed since your wedding and till I did not introduce myself to you! Well, I am Durdhara, Chandra's... I mean- His Majesty's second queen." She chuckled. "Though I am like your elder sister, you may call me by my name. I will feel much comfortable."

With a pleasant surprise Nandini was staring at Durdhara's face. She will not be much elder than her in age. She is tall, slim and pretty, but the lack of royalty in her appearance is very much visible. Her beauty has a touch of rural soil, her smile lacks the queenly arrogance, and her eyes do not know to hide the words of heart. Maybe for this she does not look much comfortable in her queenly attires. It can be said in one glance that Durdhara is very common girl with a very light personality, but she has something in her personality that anyone will feel comfortable with her; she has the greatest ability to make everyone happy around her by spreading own happiness.

"What are you watching in my face? I am not that beautiful!" Durdhara laughed pleasantly moving her palm in front of her eyes. "Actually to be frank, I look like a ghost in front of you. Really Nandini, very beautiful you are! Look at your skin, so milky and buttery." Durdhara started caressing her hand with a friendly comfort in her eyes. "What do you apply on your skin? Dudh-Malai or Haldi-chandan?"

Nandini kept on staring at her with wonder, unable to say anything.

"By the way, this kangan is so beautiful... I like the design so much. The gem-cutters of Pataliputra are really gems. In our Pippalivan we hardly used to get any new designs on ornaments. I am actually not much fond of gold jewelleries though, but I seriously need a good Kangan for my daily wears. You see, mine one is just old fashioned and... " Durdhara did not wait for comments from Nandini, and kept on continuing normal womanly talks. Nandini was mostly amazed, and she could feel that the cloud of gloom in her heart is slowly going away with the pleasant touch of Durdhara's smile, and the burden of her heart in reducing. In the crowd of the resplendent personality of all the people surrounding her, Durdhara is like a pure, refreshing, gentle breeze!

"Look at me!" Durdhara suddenly smiled. "I am blabbering only without giving you any scope to speak. Now you tell something."

"I... What to..." Nandini smiled, could not move the conversation forward.

"You talk very less, isn't it? Chandra too talks very less. And he complains that I talk too much than need." Durdhara chuckled. "He is not wrong either; I really talk too much... You know what had happened once? My father had a... O shit! Again I started talking gibberish!" Durdhara took her tongue out.

"You may talk; I am enjoying." Nandini told with a sweet smile!

"You're enjoying? Thank god! At least there is one in this palace who will enjoy my useless blabbering!" Durdhara laughed out in her own joke.

Nandini smiled silently, but her thoughts again started roaming in the incident of the morning. The swordfight with Helena... followed by the swordfight with Chandragupta... He himself challenged her for a duel, and all of a sudden on the peak of the fight he threw his weapon accepting own defeat? What is this man actually? Is it possible to understand his mind? Strange warrior he is! Strange and magnificent! He can talk though his sword! He can move the sword like his own hand...

"What are you thinking again?" Durdhra nudged her.

"Nothing..." Nandini smiled.

"Well." Perhaps even the talkative Durdhara lost her words. She was looking at Nandini's eyes. This girl is a cold-blooded murderer? This girl had tried to assassinate the king? Durdhara tried hard to find the killer instinct from her eyes. She found nothing. She could only find a broken young girl drowning in a sea of despair. Her silent and gloomy response to her cheered talkativeness made Durdhara to feel sympathy on the young girl. Somehow she felt a pure affection seeing her big cloudy eyes. She recalled her argument with Chandra today morning. That small discussion was not letting her to sit peacefully; so after a lot of hesitation she came to Nandini, only to try to understand her nature. Durdhara had no interest on Nandini even when Chandra decided to marry her. But the thoughts of that girl have overpowered her mind from the very night she attempted to kill Chandra. She was frightened as well as amazed to see Nandini's desperate courage! She has thought from many aspects on this action of Nandini; and from her normal sensibility she has found a strong justification from Nandini's point of view too! And that reason made her to pity the former princess; she did not hesitate to feel bad for her! Was she wrong in judging her? Chandra can't see her other than the reflection of Mahapadmanand's criminal mind... but is she really a shadow of that evil king? Then why her eyes do not contain the feeble shadow of evil? Is it only because Durdhara is too simple and don't know to judge people like Chandra? But... again her heart could not agree with Chandra and she justified her opinion again. She is just a poor helpless girl, now groping aimlessly in dark after losing everything from her known world. She only needs a ray of light to find her path of life again...

Nandini was still looking at her with a warm smile of acceptance, Durdhara touched her hands with a warm smile. "Let's be friends." She proposed in an enthusiastic tone. "Are you ready to take the oath of friendship with me?"

"Oath of friendship?" Nandini repeated with surprise. All her friends were literally appointed by her father to take care of her happiness, she never have made friend spontaneously, she never has any idea that there can be a ritual of friendship too...

"You don't know it?" Durdhara smiled. "This is a common gesture in our village. When someone makes new friend, they has to take oath of friendship in the name of their favourite things, then share that with each other. So..." She gave her palm. "Put your hand on my palm and recite with me..."

Durdhara was reciting a rhyme in pure Magadhi dialect and Nandini was staring at her face with a satisfied amazement. The very simple gesture of friendship had thrilled her. The simplicity touched her heart deeply and somehow soothed her inflaming soul.

"So now..." Durdhara giggled while explaining her... "You have to share your favourite thing with me..."

"I have nothing! He snatched my every happiness from me!" She uttered in a very low, unmindful and gloomy voice.

"Is it so easy to snatch someone's happiness?" Durdhara touched her shoulder. "You have only lost them. Open your eyes, try to find them, they will come back to you..."

Nandini gazed at her assuring eyes for a long time, then held her hands and smiled. "I am sorry for being unmindful. Wait for one minute..." She got up from the bed and opened the nearby chest. It was thoroughly searched by Chandragupta's guards some days back, and still now is in a disorganised condition. She searched from something and a brighter smile came in her lips.

"I don't know if you like books or not, but I have this one only to gift you now." Nandini handed the bound manuscript to her. "I love reading books."

"Well..." Durdhara smiled. "I am not much fond of books and all though, I will read it. Now it's my turn... Open your mouth..."

"What?"

"Do what I say." Durdhara commanded and when she opened her mouth she put something inside. "Mango pickle. My favourite... I hope you like it." She smiled.

"It's delicious!" Nandini had never ever tasted this kind of simple yet tasty thing before.

"I have brought the whole bowl for you..." Durdhara chuckled. "In this palace none is interested in making pickles, can you imagine? In my house, I used to make a lot ofarities of pickles now and often. We all friends used to sit together in the afternoon to tie our hairs together, and our gossip started along with this tasty pickles. Not only pickles, there used to be so many items...Nimki, Peda, homemade sweets; you know, the foods of the palace are much more delicious than then, but where is the touch of heart in the taste of palace's food?" She looked dreamy. "I miss my old days so much! I miss my beautiful village, the sunrise and sunset over the mountain from behind the net of leaves of the forest."

Nandini was listening to her with deep attention. Perhaps she was able to see the whole scenario in Durdhara's eager eyes. "Your village must be very beautiful, isn't it?"

"Undoubtedly!" Durdhara told with excitement. "Though my house was almost at the edge of the main township of Pipplivan, my friends were from the nearest village only... Chandra used to live in the same village... Okay, I will tell that story another day..."

"You're so lucky... I wish I could also live there!" Nandini uttered dreamily. "I never got to see a real village!"

"What? You never saw a village?" Durdhara exclaimed.

"No... Actually I hardly got out of the boundary of palace." Nandini said in a lower tone. "My Pita Maharaj was a very protective father; he brought all happiness for me inside the boundary of the palace but we could not go out of the palace without special security force... He was so protective and worried about me that he did not even use to allow the blazing Sun rays and dust of the roads to harm his dear daughter any way..." She smiled remembering the old thoughts and simultaneously her eyes flooded with tears... Pita Maharaj, where are you? Your dear daughter, whom you did never let to face any kind of mere difficulties in her life covering her with coat of all possible happiness, is now standing alone in the camp of the enemies, with your greatest enemy ruling over her existence in excuse of the bond of marriage!

"You miss your father very much, isn't it?" Durdhara asked.

"Yes... He was the best father a daughter can get!" Nandini's voice eventually broke while saying this. Her eyes were reflecting the scene of her father's death again which she had forgotten for a moment while talking with her. Her lips started trembling and she became silent...

"Best father! But never a good king! Isn't it funny that a king like Mahapadmanand can also be a best father to his daughter??" Durdhara's tone suddenly bent in sarcasm as she was talking to her own, and which was not at all matched with her personality. Nandini looked at her. "What did you tell?" She asked with a strong disbelief and despair mixed with good amount of anger in her voice.

"Nothing!" Durdhara smiled but again it was full of sarcasm. "You know, you really need to open your eyes! You really need to know, feel and understand how bitter the reality is!"

Nandini kept staring the same way, with a pinch of confusion added in her glare. But slowly it was cleared that she is not willing to hear these discussions anymore! Durdhara understood that very clearly even before Nandini, and she stood up.

"Okay Nandini, I am going... "

"Nice to meet you, Durdhara!" Nandini smiled out of courtesy...

"I have a proposal for you. We are going for a Puja tomorrow. Will you like to join us?" Suddenly Durdhara proposed.

"I..." Nandini looked confused. "Maybe His Majesty will not permit me to..."

"I will talk with him. You just get ready in morning." Durdhara smiled broadly. "You need to know the roads and houses and peoples of Magadh... And then, I will try if I can take you to my paternal house. What say?"

Nandini was standing amazed. She is treating her really as her own sister after a little meeting only?

And that too despite knowing she had tried to kill her husband!

"I want to know what are you and your whole team actually doing Purushdutt! Almost 1 month has passed and still we have no trace of Nand. You were known as the most efficient gumshoe of my team, where is your skills now when those are needed the most?" Chandragupta was trying to control his voice as much possible, but his frowns clearly indicated his irritation and worry. The person before him kept on standing lowering head while rubbing the palms together. "We are trying our best, your majesty!" He told after a moment understanding that Chandragupta was expecting an answer from him.

"You're trying! Very good! But you should understand that trial makes no sense unless it has any fruitful result." Channdra sat on the throne hopelessly. "Nand is alive, Purushdutt; unless we eliminate him completely we cannot move forward to our real mission. He will be a headache for us. Try to understand the gravity of the situation."

"I know Majesty... Believe me, we are doing our level best. But God knows where he has disappeared suddenly! Where is he, from where he is getting the resources to be alive, if anyone helping him or not... all are in smog!" Purushdutt, the chief of the special spy-network of Chandragupta sighed.

"You have to clear that smog! In my knowledge, there is hardly any dweller of Magadh who will want to help Mahapadmanand; and also my instinct says that he is not very far from Magadh. He is very close to us, and in a helpless condition... he has to be caught soonest..." Chandra sighed. "However, any news of Dhananand or Amatya Rakkhsas?"

"Kumar Dhananand was found in a small village near Pataliputra, but before our troops could catch him, he fled." Purushdutt murmured in a hesitating tone!

"Ridiculous!!!" In rage Chandra clasped his own palm, and tried hard to control his anger. "I cannot understand how you people are so casual about this? Mahapadmanand is alive, Dhananand is alive, Amatya Mudrarakkas is alive with a good part of army and probably planning against us sitting in a safe place, and here we are..." He left the sentence incomplete and took a long breath! "Why I have appointed you all in this crucial assignment? Can you give me any fair reason??" He asked in an annoyed tone.

"Your Majesty... I... we..."

"He can't, Chandra! So there is actually no reason to appoint him in this very crucial assignment."

A voice full of authoritative gravity echoed in the grand hall. Chandragupta stood up readily and bent his head in front of his guru. Chanakya's right palm rose spontaneously as habitual gesture, and looked curtly at Purushdutt. His glare was neither raged, nor cruel, still it shook him from core.

"You are free from all your responsibilities regarding this assignment from now on, Purushdutt." Staring at his eyes directly, Acharya declared.

"But Acharya..."

"I want to talk to His Majesty, Purushdutt; will you please excuse us?" Chanakya's voice was stern.

"I am sorry, Achrya... Please excuse me, your Majesty!" Purushdutt bowed in front of them before he left sighing hopelessly.

After he left, Acharya turned to Chandragupta. He was standing with his head lowered showing his severe respect to his teacher, but from the very mild shivering of his lips it is cleared to his Acharya that what is going on his mind. Chandra surely has a lot of questions regarding his sudden decision.

"I dismissed Purushdutt as I don't think we need him anymore to search Nand, Chandra." And he answered his question.

"Though I know these searches are of no use basically, but Acharya..." Chandra's voice still had a touch of doubt. "We have no option left other than to find Nand as soon as possible..."

"We do not need to find him Chandra!" Acharya smiled.

"But..."

"Because he himself will come to us..."

"How can you be so sure Acharya?" Chandragupta put his question in front of his teacher. Acharya Chanakya stared at his bright eyes with the shadow of a slight doubt, and smiled. "Because his psychology says this; besides being an arrogant king, he is a very protective father too- he will definitely try to access his daughter to assure her that he is still alive. While neither can he bear to see you sitting on his throne, nor can he accept that his daughter is totally under your control now. You have defeated him completely by marrying his daughter. He is weak now and completely broken from all aspects. He can't do anything to destroy you, but he will keep on trying out of the rage of his hurt ego; and in this process normally he will step on some common mistakes, and we have to cash that opportunity to catch him!"

"So you think Nand will definitely find some means to contact with Nandini?"

"I am quite sure about it Chandra." Acharya smiled.

"So that means we have to keep an eye on Nandini's actions. But will it be enough?"

"Right now we have to act just as Nand and Amatya Rakkshas want us to. They will surely fall in our trap. For some days stop thinking and doing anything , Chandra... Let our enemies to come out from their den. Let them roar, and we will track them easily."

"Alright Acharya. But it is necessary to know the location of the den to hear the sound of roar too." Chandra put his opinion after a little thought.

"You may give me that responsibility. I expect to get the exact information of the possible next step of Nand very soon, maybe within 2-3 days. We will shape our plan according to that." Chanakya smiled mild leaving Chandra in confusion.

"But how Acharya?" Chandra instantly caught the meaning just after putting the question. "Do you have any source which..."

"I have someone who is trying to penetrate inside the scattered army of Mahapadmanand from a long time to fetch all the secret information about Nand's whereabouts. And according to the last update, he is at last successful in doing so. Dhananand is trying to rebuild the scattered force again, and he is successful to win his trust."

"Dhananand is alive still now! He is reconstructing army to attack us, and we are just sitting mum! Acharya..." Chandra groaned in extreme frustration. "Can't we just arrest him by sending a huge force in the location where he is found and just eliminate his existence from the world?"

"No Chandra, what you are telling is completely unrealistic. Just think deeply; you yourself have spent a long time of your life in this phase like Dhanannand is doing now. Just think from that point of view, will you ever let yourself to be caught by huge troop of Nand? Remember how many times you have befooled the troops of Magadh when you were just a revel? Dhananand will do the same; we will not take that risk! This type of operation usually goes in vein and makes enemy cautious." Chanakya touched Chandra's shoulder. "I understand the reason of your impatience my son; but still have patience and think logically. Remember what you were taught as your first listen of winning a war. First let the enemy to think that he is winning... At one point he will gain overconfidence, and from that point his defeat will start."

"As you wish, Acharya..." Chandra bent his head in obedience. "So we will get news from that camp by a spy and depending on that the strategies will be thought?" He asked.

"Yes Chandra..."

"But Acharya... May I know..." Chandra made sure his voice was not conveying any vibe of even a little audacity. "... May I know the name of that spy?"

"No you can't Chandra... This is a very confidential information that I have promised him to keep between him and me only." Chanakya told.

"But Acharya... can't you even tell me?" Chandra asked a bit impatiently.

"I think I am quite efficient and experienced about managing spy system. So you need not to worry about him Chandra, he will work perfectly under my supervision..." Chanakya smiled.

"I didn't mean it Acharya..." Chandra bit his lips mildly with a slight dissatisfaction in his eyes. "I just... Acharya... I mean... perhaps this is the first time in my life you are hiding something from me! Is that man so important Acharya??"

Chanakya smiled broadly looking the childlike demand of his very mature pupil. "I am not hiding from you my child. You can say it's just a deal with him!"

"But Acharya..."

"If I say you that I want not to tell you his name to save you from ethical dilemma, then?"

Chandra gazed at his Acharya's face for a while, then asked with a surprise- "Do I know him?"

"You do. He had been one of the students of Taxila..." Chanakya smiled mysteriously. Chandra frowned involuntarily. "Any prince who used to read in Taxila? But..."

"You need not to bother about this Chandra, spend this time behind something more constructive." Chanakya patted on his back. "You're no more a mere student; neither are you a leader of some revels trying to dethrone the king anymore. You are the king now, and you have to get used to with this situation as soon as possible. I want you to give your maximum time behind the welfare of Magadh. The financial condition was completely broken in hand of Mahapadmanand. You have to reconstruct it. You have to rebuild a new political structure; you have to work on the justice system. There are so many things to ponder over Chandra, you have to know, think, analyse and then to take decisions! Those are more important than Nand right now. Leave that matter on me and do your actual duty towards your kingdom!"

"As you wish, Acharya..." Chandra listened to his words carefully, the trace of dissatisfaction from his eyes were wiped out completely by the shine of respect and dedication... then touched his guru's feet to fetch his blessings...

The west sky had spread the orange scarf over the horizon; the birds were on the way of their nest. In the balcony princess Chhaya, the sister of the king, was drowned inside a lots of scrolls and birch barks and ink, completely detaching herself from the world surrounding her. She was thinking more looking at the sky, and smiling in her own mind while writing one or two letters on the birch paper, as if she is trotting in the smooth way of her dream. The chants of the birds had added an extra charm in the beautiful dusk, Chhaya lost herself while humming a tune along with the birds, her dreamy eyes started searching someone in the melted twilight of the horizon...

But suddenly a great accident compelled her to get back from her dream. With a sudden shock she discovered that all the papers that were opened in front of her has automatically handed in some other's hand, and that man is reading those very minutely standing behind her.

"Chandra!! Give it to me!!" Chhaya jumped up and tried her best to get back her properties. But the stealer was too smart than her. "Not before I read them fully. Sit quiet." Chandra picked his hands up so that Chhaya cannot reach to the birch papers and she kept on jumping to get those. "Give me back. Please...please give me back! Don't read those! Please!!" She was almost going to cry while pleading.

"Uuuhuuhh! No way!" Chandra smiled mischievously to his sister and held her hand to stop her before managing to read those papers properly. "Let me read what secret things you are writing in your journal."

"It's not fair Chandra! You should not snatch anyone's private thing this way!" Chhaya kept on trying to stop him. But he was able to read those write-ups simultaneously while fighting with her in one hand. "I know it's wrong, but what to do! Can't help it! The way you were smiling like a mad while writing that I am dying to read the content..." He told while sitting on the seat saving those papers from his sister's grip. "Let me read properly! Why are you jumping Chhaya??"

"You again called me by my name? I am your elder sister!" Chhaya fumed up in anger. "Hey! I told you not to read! You don't listen to your elders??"

"Of course I do. Only I can't think you as my elder. You know, you are so little and so childish and..." Chandra was giggling. The frequency of the giggle was going louder with his pace of read.

"Why are you laughing!! Give my papers back to me!!" Chhaya shouted in pure anger.

"Ohh!!Hoho!! These are poetries!! Hahahaha!! Aree ruko na!! Let me read the whole!! O my goodness! Each and every line is overflowing with romance!! My God!! Hahaha!!" Chandra kept on laughing like hell while mimicking each line loudly. "Don't read them loudly idiot!!" Chhaya tried to scold him badly and ended up with crying. "Give me back!!"

"Areee tum to rone lagi!!" Chandra held his tongues out and patted on her back. "Ok ok take them. I will not read any more. I will not touch any of your things ever. Promise promise promise... Now cheer up!! Areee!!! Why these girls start weeping in every single reason??"

"They are very bad, aren't they??" Chhaya asked with tearful eyes.

"Lo!! Now are you taking me as a very good and serious critic of poetries? Please don't! I am very bad when it comes to literature! Even I can't understand the difference between tragedy and comedy in literature!" Chandra kept on laughing.

"No I know! They are must be very pathetic so you are laughing like this!" Chhaya told with fuming lips and tearful eyes.

"Well, to be honest, I don't know about wordings and rhymes, but the topic of the poetries are... hmm..." It looked as if Chandra was finding a better and innocent word to fit with it, "... highly immature!"

"Is it?" Chhaya frowned.

"Actually so... Just go through it..." Chandra, like an expert sat very seriously. "Well, the things were going good; description of a beautiful evening; Sun setting on West, birds going back to their nest, the horizon is looking like a gateway of heaven... till this it was such a nice and creative description, then all of a sudden from where did you import the smell of love in between all these? In this beautiful evening the girl is only waiting for her priyatama... Like seriously?? She does not have any other work??"

"Obviously this is a romantic poetry so..." Chhaya was ready with excuse but again cut by Chandra...

"That's the main problem! There are so many things in this world to think about, and you people are only after romance; in a scenario of sunset forcefully you have to pour a lover all of a sudden! What type of torture is this?"

"Who said you its forceful?" Chhaya picked her brow. "When love blossoms in heart, lovers start find their love in each and every eternal element of the world!"

"Really?" Chandra chuckled. "Well, first of all, love does not blossom in heart. Heart is just an organ for blood-circulation, not a plant of producing love. Secondly, the symptom that you referred after falling in love, I think, is a very common temporary mental disorder through which the young people pass through very frequently." While measuring the expression of Chhaya from the corner of the eyes he went on. "Under this disorder, people usually start hallucinating wrong things. They forget that flowers are just a part of a plant-lifecycle, moon is just a heavenly body who gives light at night, and wind flows for some natural reason, not to indicate how much one loves another... This way, as you mentioned, they start find love in every single thing around them- like in morning sun, in West sky after sunset, at moonlight, in daylight, in air, in water, face, nose, eyes, flowers, fruits etc etc etc and in the critical situation, they forget their own stand and identity in the name of love, give away their sense and base of personality and finish themselves!"

"Aab rahene bhi do!" Chhaya sighed hopelessly. "As if you never felt anything for anyone!"

"Me??? Love??? Hah!" Chandra started laughing again. "I am not going to suffer from any type of mental disorder, write it!"

"Really?? I don't believe it! You are handsome, young, strong and attractive; there should be a crowd of women behind you!" Chhaya tried to pull her brother's leg. "And such an allergy from love in such a young age? It smells something fishy!"

"If one is handsome, strong, young and attractive then does it imply that he has to be a sufferer of a mental disorder? It's your problem that you are finding something abnormal in the most normal thing!"

"I can't believe! You never fell in love?"

"How can I fall in something which does not exist?"

"What?"

"Yes." Chandra nodded very seriously. "What you people demand as love, is just an instance of weak mental state; and what the books demand as love, is just a hypothetical concept... like a fairy-tale. And I am a practical person; I have no time to nurture with fairy-tales."

"Hmm!!" Chhaya looked disheartened, but did not lose hope. "But I still can't believe that you have never fallen in love! Is there any heart-breaking story behind it??"

"Well..." Chandra laughed out. "There is a story of heartbreak which has a grave importance in my life! Helena's heartbreak!" He whispered.

"I knew it!!" Chhaya chuckled and sat properly folding knees. "I always knew that you and Helena's life has a real romantic angle! Let me guess what happened. Helena used to love someone, but that idiot dumped her, and you became her support, and you both started growing feelings for each other... and..."

"O my dear Chhaya... Ok I mean Didi... you really have some problem of mixing romantic dosage in everything! For your information, our story of marriage is too solid, juiceless and unromantic; you will be severely disappointed!"

"Acchha?"Chhaya pouted! "Well, never mind, then I am very sure that you always had an affair with Durdhara. Am I right?"

"O God!! Me?? Love-affair??? Durdhara??"

"Of-course! You two are childhood friends na? You used to play with each other in childhood! Then after growing up you both started sharing romantic feelings for each other but never admitted... " Chhaya winked. "I know I am correct Chandra, no need to blush!"

"You should check your eyes. I am blushing that too in name of Durdhara!!!" Chandra almost rolled out of laugh while clapping. "She is even crazier than you, and even she also has a problem of finding romance in everything; thank god she has not tried finding her prince of dream in me!! Else I would have lost a very good friend of mine!!"

"Anyone is talking about me??"

"Aa gayi!!" Chandra whispered and looked back smilingly. Durdhara was frowning standing behind them. "Come Durdhara," Chhaya welcomed her. "We were talking about Chandra's love life!" she winked. But Durdhara perhaps could not understand. "Chandra and love! Don't tell this Didi. He is the most useless and unromantic person that I have ever met!" She started talking in her usual enthusiasm.

"One cannot be useless and unromantic at the same time. As usually one person becomes useless once he becomes romantic..." Chandra commented in a mild voice.

"O shut up Chandra!!" Durdhara punched mildly on Chandra's shoulder. "He is absolutely heartless Didi! He does not know the importance of love in life! Just ignore him!"

"Objection! I obviously do have a heart... every creature does have heart." Chandra murmured in middle...

"So you have a heart my brother, but you did not meet the lady of your heart till now... Once you find her, come to me... I will eagerly hear if your concepts on love is changed or not!" Chhaya ruffled Chandra's hairs with sheer affection. "What are you doing Durdhara, help my brother to feel the meaning of love!" She winked at her. Durdhara popped her eyes with a mixture of surprise, fun, rejoice and a little bit of blush in those, but said something else. "Please excuse me from that duty Didi! I am too poor soul to handle your brother..." Her eyes involuntarily became unmindful while changing her gaze at the red sky... all of a sudden...

"You're conspiring against me that too by using Durdhara?" Chandra picked his brows. "No way; Durdhara is in my team; isn't it Durdhara?" He looked at her. In response Durdhara smiled only, did not tell anything...

"I never knew that you are so babyish!" Chhaya giggled. "But you know, I am confident that you are going to find your soul-mate very soon; maybe she is in front of you only, among all your 3 wives, but you can't find her; but one day you surely will; and from that day you will start seeing the world from a new angle..."

"In your dreams!" Chandra yawns... "Well, I think I have to go now. Just remembered some work... See you both in dinner..." He was going to leave but suddenly Durdhara stopped him.

"One minute Chandra... I had to ask something."

"Hmm... Tell fast."

"You know there is a Vishnu Temple just in the border of Pataliputra. Very sacred place that is... Maa wants to hold a Puja in that temple, and all the female members of our family are needed to be present there... So I want your permission!" Durdhara blabbered in one chance.

"Why do you need my permission when Maa herself has arranged it? Go for it... If anything is needed I will arrange that." Chandra smiled.

"No actually the thing is..." Durdhara smiled with a bit difficulty... "I want the permission for Nandini."

"Nandini?" Chandra repeated. Chhaya frowned with bit disgust. By no chance she wanted the daughter of the murderer of her father to become a part of her long-lost happy family, so naturally she does not like when her topic comes in any kind of discussions regarding her family.

"She is too a part of this family, and also your legal wife. Whatever may happen, if you still consider her as your legal wife in front of the whole world you are bound to give her the opportunity to fulfil her duties too!" Durdhara gulped while saying this as she could not read Chandra's expressions. He becomes completely vacant of expressions when any deep thoughts go on his mind, and that unpredictable man seems too much unknown to her that time.

"You know that Nandini is house-arrested; and she is accused in attempt of regicide?" Chandra uttered in his usual cold voice after she completed her sentence.

"Yes... I don't want you to free her...just... can't you only let her to visit the temple with the guards covering her?" Durdhara tried to pursue him... "She tried to kill you, but you yourself did not let the news to go out of the four walls of the palace or punish the queen properly for her severe crime as you did not want that to tell upon the reputation of Mauryans and also the royalty of Magadh... Then how can you stop her to join any ritual? Will not it look odd in front of the citizens?"

Chandra still stared at her without any change in his facial expressions. But Chhaya looked impatient. "What are you telling Durdhara? She tried to kill my brother! Can you imagine how much vicious she is? By no chance she can be let to go out of her room! What if she conspires with our enemies? I know you are very innocent and can't imagine anyone to be evil, but believe me she is Nand's daughter! She is just as dangerous as her father!"

Perhaps she would continue, but Chandra stopped her. He was smiling. A bent smirk was playing in his lips. His eyes were indicating that he was thinking in some different direction... "I did not know that you love Nandini so much, Durdhara! I heard you had gone to meet her today... such a deep love for own sautan in a meeting of 5 minutes... not an easy task and only Queen Durdhara can do this!" He commented in a lighter tone, but the touch of deep affection was clear in his voice. Durdhara loves everyone for sake of her own happiness, and this quality of her always amazes Chandra... the very common girl, his childhood friend becomes unique in her ability of selfless love in his eyes!

"It's not anything like that. I have no special affinity towards her what you can define as love." Durdhara uttered in a low tone. "I just want things to be normal. I can't take these complications anymore!" She raised her eyes on his face... "Can't you give her a chance to see and understand the world and the life from near? How will someone learn to differentiate between light and darkness unless she gets chance to see light?"

Chandra gazed at her for some moments; then his smile shined brighter. "Okay, I am giving permission... Nandini can go to temple tomorrow."

"But Chandra... If she does something harmful..." Chhaya tried to put his point but Chandra looked at her. "Don't worry Chhaya, she will not do anything. What Durdhara told is right, it's needed to show the enemies that everything is normal with Nandini and us." He told while his lips were touched with a cunning smirk again... According to Acharya's assumption Nand will try to access Nandini now. If he has to catch Nand, first he has to set a trap in form of Nandini...

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Another awesome chapter Stuti. The heart to heart conversation both the queens of Chandra, Nandini and Durdhara had with each other was poignant and heartwarming. Durdhara's intention of showing life as it really is outside the four walls of the Patliputra Palace very well-meant. However I still do not understand how this is going to end with Chandragupt all set for a mousetrap and full of murderous intentions towards Nand and Dhananand. I also loved the reference to the spy network of Chanakya. Is the special spy in question Malayketu or Satyajit or somebody entirely new? I can think of only these options. The story is going great guns. I am loving it. And thanks for the PM.

Originally posted by: jayaks02

Devil 🤗 What a Killer Chapter !!!!!

This is brilliantly done Stuti. I am loving your Chandra, Chanakya more and more.

Every character is built with finesse, depth and a logic from their perspectives. Loved the conversation between CK and Chandra. As well as his conversation with Chaaya. Looking forward to see he swallowing all these words with delight some chapters later.

Please write regularly and I cannot wait to see the turning point in the hate story. And you have a knack for keeping a lot of mystery elements.

Supeeer Stuff Stuti. Eagerly waiting for the next chapter ⭐️ 👏

Originally posted by: Avantika1115

Nice update... stuti... wow today i read two ff with different flavour of nandini...😉