CN SS: ~REVENGE~ part 11 updated at page 31 - Page 14

The announcer was going ahead, followed by the imperial caravan with the royal ladies heading towards the temple at the end of the city. It was a sunny morning in Pataliputra, and the citizens had come to see the royal caravan with eager interest. The happy chants in the name of Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya and Mauryan dynasty was floating in air time to time spontaneously. A very few days have passed since Chandragupta has been coroneted as king of Magadh, but from the very beginning he has achieved the love and popularity among his subjects for his benevolent nature and dedication towards the people. The royal officers are working hard to reconstruct the almost broken financial structure of the kingdom, still the lanes of Magadh clearly shows the signs of poverty in each and every corner of it. Still they are happy now, as they know they will not be living under threat anymore, as they have got their saviour as their king now!

There were 3 chariots in the caravan surrounded by high security forces. Rajmata's chariot was leading at first, along with her daughter accompanying her in the way, followed by the chariot of the chief queen Maharani Helena. The status flag of the last chariot was carrying lesser importance, and the other two queens of Chandragupta, Durdhara and Nandini was riding on that. Nandini was gazing outside, the signs of nude poverty on the roads and lanes were shaking her, and the spontaneous chanting in the name of Chandragupta was amazing her at the same time. The strikingly contrast of poverty and happiness in the face of the citizens was shocking Nandini time to time. She could remember the days when she was the princess of Magadh. She used to come out of the palace occasionally, mainly during festivals or special worships, and in the roads of the Magadh there hardly used to be any picture of nude poverty... The roads used to be decorated with colourful lights and festoons, the grand golden gate used to welcome the guests at the edge of Pataliputra; there were a vast golden statue of Mahapadmanand in the middle of the road (which was brutally destroyed in the hand of raged countrymen the day Chandragupta captured the throne), and there was no permission of poverty in the province of golden Magadh! From where these slums, these poor faces, these hungry kids suddenly appeared in that happy picture of Magadh which is painted in her mind from childhood?

Had Magadh suddenly became poor after Chandragupta becoming the king? Then why these poor faces beams in happiness while chanting the names of Chandragupta? Nandini could easily remember how all the people of Magadh used to bow their head in very disciplined manner when royal chariots used to pass; their heads used to bend, little in awe, and mostly out of fear, out of dread fear... Now the cheers from the crowd is not well-maintained and disciplined, not full of courtesy loaded with awe and fear; they are only uncontrolled zeal, coming from the bottom of the heart of the dwellers of Magadh... the exuberant expression of joy in the smiles of the Magadh is the reflection of the heart of the soil of Magadh! And Nandini cannot afford but to accept it!

Just like how she had to accept that each and every person of Magadh's people had supported Chandragupta's revolt against her father. Just like how she had to accept that all the mothers of Magadh had light the diya of prayer in the name of Chandragupta only before the final war, they prayed hard for Chandragupta's victory against their own king; all the sisters of Magadh tied an amulet in the name of Chandragupta Maurya, and not for the safety of her nine brothers, they prayed for the destruction of Nand dynasty!

Nandini was gazing outside, still her mind was roaming in an ocean of thoughts. "What are you thinking, Nandini?" Suddenly Durdhara asked.

"I did not expect to see such a condition of Magadh! I can see nothing but the cruel poverty everywhere!" Nandini's voice trembled. "How can it happen?"

"It's not that difficult, Nandini. Poverty was always there, rather in a more dangerous form." Durdhara told. "Only that was covered with a thin wrapper of wealth that only belonged to the king and his followers. Now the thin cover of eye-wash has been torn so you can witness it directly." She smiled sadly. "The reality is always painful, Nandini!"

"What do you mean? How can this huge lack be hidden from the eyes of administration?" Nandini asked with an annoyance.

"If the authority wants, he can convert days into nights!" Durdhara touched Nandini's shoulder. "I never had been in Magadh in festivals, but what I heard from neighbours that, when the preparations for any grand festivals used to start, the slums beside the main roads were ordered to be destroyed; the poor farmers or workers were not allowed to pollute the ambience of the festival; only the rich and middle-class people were given permission. Any poor man without proper dress-up if be seen, used to be gifted with the wound of twenty lashes! A special tax had been implemented on the citizens, to compensate the expense that used to take place to decorate Magadh with a furnished cover of wealth!" She sighed. "There are countless examples of brutality in order to hide the poverty Nandini! What to say!"

Nandini was staring at Durdhara. She was unable to believe her ears...

Durdhara smiled with pity looking Nandini's numb look and just had moved her eyes from her face, suddenly both of them was about to fall due to a jerk, as the chariot has braked hard suddenly. The other chariots too stopped and the security guards rushed at the place, and both of them understood they were just saved from an accident. It was very simple, a little kid of 5 years had accidentally came just in front of the chariot; if the charioteer would have delayed a moment to stop the horses, the poor kid would have been gravely injured.

A break in journey for such a silly reason! Who can keep his cool after that? The officer-in-charge of the guards of the caravan could not hold him anymore. Men are always the slaves of habits, and this officer had served Nands for years, so his instinct automatically let him to pull the whip out from his waistband, and to lash that with all strength on the poor boy! The little kid cried out in pain, suddenly a silence of cemetery dropped in the happy air.

"Hey wait! What are you doing?" Nandini could not hold herself anymore and came down from her ride instantly. "How dare you to whip on this little kid!" She lashed her rage on that man and pulled the poor kid up from the ground. The little kid was shivering in trauma, she caressed his dirty hairs with affection. Durdhara was watching all, she smiled only looking her.

"I am sorry, Yours Highness, but due to this rascal you might have faced an accident!"

"But that does not mean you have the right to whip this poor kid!" Nandini shouted. "Who gave you the permission to use the whip on poor innocent people without reason??"

"Apologies, her highness... but these idiots should be treated like this only; else they go out of control... In the time of your father if anyone had dared to commit such an offence, he would have lost his leg forever!" The officer tried to put an excuse...

"But this is not the time of Nand, Pratihari!" The authoritative voice of Rajmata echoed behind. "So it will be better for you if you refrain yourself from taking those examples again and again!" She too had come down from the chariot to solve the matter. The officer became half out of tension.

"I... I meant to say Rajmata..."

"I understand very well what you mean to say." Mura told in her usual steady voice. "And Mauryans do not need such people of great mentality- like you- to serve the kingdom! You may bid yourself adieu from this job!"

"Forgive me Rajmata!" He fell down on her feet. "I will never repeat it!!"

"At this moment I don't want to ruin my mood by taking any steps against you; but you are hereby ordered to meet the king at afternoon to face the consequence for this crime you just committed in front of all royal members! By then you're freed from the duties." Mura declared in the same tone. The officer tried to pursue her with a lot of crocodile tears but she did not move a little. The officer lost hopes and moved from there and the caravan again took position to start the journey. Mura, before going to her chariot, touched Nandini's shoulder. "Let's go, Nandini..." She told sweetly. "You are kind-hearted, my child... I am so happy to see this form of you." She patted on her head with a satisfied affection.

Nandini did not reciprocate. Perhaps she was not in the condition to reciprocate. Her heart was shivering in an uncanny pain. The last few minutes had moved the pillar of some childhood beliefs... the jerk is too hard to bear!

...

"I was kind of shocked seeing Nandini's reaction when that guard hit the boy." Chhaya told in her usual cheerfulness. "I expected her to be as heartless as her moron father but she came up as pretty soft and kind-hearted in that incident. Wonder how she became so violent while planning to kill Chandra!"

"I am not surprised Chhaya..." Mura told. "Like every young girl, she also has the normal humanity inside her. But alas! Her birth is cursed- she is the daughter of Nand and Avantika, viciousness is there in her blood!" She sighed.

"You know Maa, this huge crowd is the reason of all hazards! The soldiers are not able enough to maintain the crowd." Chhaya commented after a while. "Wonder why Chandra announced in the city that we are going to temple today! What was the need?"

Mura gazed at her eyes thoughtfully for a moment, then turned her face to gaze the sky; there were curves in her eyebrows. Chhaya's eyes caught the mild frown in Rajmata's brows. "What happened, Maa?" She asked touching her arm.

Rajmata Mura looked at her, the frown slowly disappeared along with the smile. "Nothing Chhaya! I was just thinking that..." She again became unmindful!

"Thinking what, Maa?" Chhaya asked again.

"About Chandra..." She answered. "I am unable to understand his motive."

"Motive? Motive of what?"

"Don't know Chhaya..."Mura smiled. "But certainly there is something going inside his head... I was thinking this only from last night... that what was the necessity of announcing in the city that we, the royal ladies will pass though the raj-path for worship in Vishnu temple; what was the need? Why Chandra wants to gather so much crowd in this simple matter?"

"You mean Chandra intentionally gathered this huge crowd?" Chhaya picked her brows. "But why? He wants each and every person of this Magadh to know that the royal ladies will be out of the palace in the morning?" She sounded confused.

"I can't understand Chandra, Chhaya! And maybe I will never understand him! I left him behind me, and he has gone much ahead, too far from me!" Mura smiled. "It's for good, perhaps. The rough struggle has made him like iron- unbreakable, emotionless... like an ideal king! But..." She sighed again. "I would never be able to forget this grief that I could not see him to grow up, I could not bring up him in the way I wanted to, and I will never be able to touch the surface of his thoughts!"

"Don't be sad Maa." Chhaya touched her shoulder. "Maybe his intelligence, his thought-process and instinct are beyond our normal thoughts, as we are very common unlike him, but as a son, as a brother he is never far from us... Believe me Maa, the way we are trying to understanding him, he is too trying to mingle in his family fully not like an emotionless king, but like a lovable son, an affectionate brother... " She smiled. "Chandra is very cute Maa. He is just a mischievous brother whom I always imagined. Maybe he looks very serious in a king's attire, but he does have a soft green heart, and a very good sense of humour. And you know what, he has a strong allergy from love! He is like a kid, Maa!" She cracked up remembering his words about love. "Don't shed tears remembering the old days, Maa... Look, we are united again; and we will never be apart!" She rested her head on her shoulder.

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The chariots stopped in front of the grand Vishnu temple. The queens entered inside. The hall is as big as the courtroom; the huge golden idol is standing on the gold pedestal which is reflecting rays in the shine of sun! The walls are covered with gold-plates, embellished with priceless stones here and there. The whole temple is reflecting light, as if they have come inside the land of sun! This temple is one of the symbols of the devotion of the previous king Nand. The temple used to exist even before his kingship, but was not this much resplendent and wonderful! Maharaj Mahapadmanand, the great devotee of Lord Vishnu had renovated the temple and restricted the entrance for common people. Only the royal family has permission to pray to the God in this temple. Every year a great festival used to take place around this temple. There are a lot of rumours regarding this temple and the festival among the subjects. One can hardly listen to those, as ears can hardly bear it!

They walked through the security panel and sat in front of the God. The priest and his assistants greeted the queens. The preparations of the rituals for the particular Puja was already going on there, the maids who had come with the queens stared to join hands. Mura keenly started observing the preparations, Helena's eyes stuck to the architecture of the wall, Durdhara and Chhaya started supervising the maids as per their habit... and Nandini... she was gazing at the eyes of the idol of Lord Vishnu... One can hardly understand by seeing her face that what is going on inside her mind!

The priest, as per his habit, was eagerly explaining the rituals to them after the preparations were over, suddenly Rajmata Mura raised her hand to stop him.

"Excuse me, Purohit Ji!" She told in a humble tone. "May I know what the use of those golden flowers, leaves and fruits on those golden plates is?"

"These are being used from the time of Maharaj Nand, Rajmata! After the auspicious day when this temple was opened again after reconstruction, Maharaj Nand has started the ritual of Swarna-puja. All the elements needed for the puja is made of gold; be it the plates, lamps, bells etc or the bilva patra, flowers or the..."

"I understood..." Mura stopped him again. She called a maid suddenly. "Do we have enough flowers and leaves for the puja with us?"

"Yes Rajmata..." the woman told. "Though Purohit ji said we don't need them anymore, as the golden leaves and flowers are already there. He said it has been the ritual of this temple that royal people offers only gold to the God..."

"Okay. You please bring those." Rajmata ordered before looking at the priest again. "Purohit Ji, from now on all the rituals will be completed with natural flowers and leaves only."

"But Rajmata..." The priest tried to protest once, but then gulped that and nodded. "As you wish!"

"And... " Rajmata touched the golden plates, golden bells, Shankkha and the candle, joss-stick stands. "I will not offer my prayer with these things. Take them out and bring the new ones made of brass for our Puja." She ordered.

"Whh..what? But they are already in the name of God, Rajmata!"

"They are made of the blood that has been squeezed from the veins of the poor people of Magadh day after day, Purohit ji!" Rajmata uttered in a steady and firm voice. "I will not pray my lord with those impure things! Take them out from here and submit to the treasury!"

"But...bu...but!"

"Take out all the equipment that was used by Maharaj Nand for his puja!" Mura ordered louder this time. Her eyelids were shivering in a suppressed rage; her voice was trembling in an uncanny excitement and pant. "I don't want any sign of that sinner in this holy place!"

Perhaps she was too loud this time, as Nandini was compelled to break her static! And when she came back to the rational world from the land of thoughts she could see all the golden things are being taken out, and are being replaced with a new and common version of the same thing! Nandini only stared without blinking that how Rajmata is eager to wipe out every signs of her father from this temple also!

"Maa..." Chhaya touched Mura. "Is this needed, Maa? They are already offered to the God! We can't send them back to the treasury!"

"Offered to the God??" Mura smiled sarcastically. "No Chhaya! This temple was never a home of God! It was always a nude display of that sinner's power and sins! All the gold-plates of the wall have witnessed a story drenched with blood! All the golden stuff is made of the tears of the hungry kid of this kingdom. This golden idol is not the god of human being, it is an ugly display of Nand's cruel authority! How can I let them to stand with pride in my son's kingdom? My son has started to clear the dirt from Magadh, I, as a mother, am bound to help him!" She looked at the idol. "Very soon I will arrange to take the gold-plates out from the wall. The pedestal will be made of normal metals. And if possible I will tell Chandra to replace the idol too! The temple will be no longer for royal people, all the citizens of the kingdom will be free to pray here! There will be no sign of that sinner Nand in my son's Magadh!"

"You want to wipe out all the signs of my father from his Magadh, Rajmata?" Suddenly a broken voice pieced like a sting in their ears. All looked behind, it was Nandini. She was staring at Rajmata's face directly, her big eyes are full of tears, but there was an unbending stubbornness clearly seen in those eyes.

"Yes, Nandini. And I will do it." Rajmata did not feel it necessary to say something more about it.

"Why is this much antipathy towards a lost, dead king? Why is this strange crazy trial of wipe out his every trace from everything that belonged to him?" Nandini uttered in almost broken voice. "He has been dethroned by your son, but after our marriage it is official that we all surrendered in front of you. After this we can expect you people to give him the least respect that he deserves as the previous king! But instead of that you're throwing all the things out of the temple as it is made and used by my father? Isn't it an unjust to us, my lost father and the royal principles?"

"I can understand your sentiments Nandini... But I think in this situation your sentiments have hardly any cost." Mura told in a stern voice. "Don't think much about it, and get ready for the prayer."

"About what Puja are you talking about Rajmata!" Nandini shouted almost. "You are taking out all the things that has been offered in the name of God out of your own hatred to my father! This way you are not only hurting the belief of the religion but also insulting the devotion of a man! I was ready to join you all in this Puja for the wellbeing of the Mauryans, but now it seems the purpose of this puja is something else! It is not held for the betterment of the Mauryans, rather it is arranged to insult Maharaj Mahapadmanand's memories and his devotions!"

Deep frowns came automatically in everyone's brows hearing Nandini's arrogant style of talking. "Be careful Nandini! You are insulting the queen mother! You know, what is the punishment of this crime??" Helena came forward to protest, but again Mura stopped her. "Stop Helena..." She said. "Nandini, this Puja is not only arranged for the wellbeing of our family, but also to pray for all the people of our kingdom! And I believe, if there is any trace of your sinner father in this temple, Magadh cannot be happy! " She came closer and touched her shoulder. "About what devotion are you talking about Nandini? Do you think that showing off own wealth and power is devotion to God? Do you think making a big idol of Vishnu by smashing the poor citizens under the burden of taxes is devotion? Do you also feel that committing countless number of sins in the name of festivals and puja are also a part of devotion???"

Nandini bit her lips in excitement. From her childhood she can never bear to hear anything against her father. But today every one of the world is hurting her immensely in that very weak place of her heart... She tried to remember! His father was not a devotee of God? What he did was just to show off his power? She could easily remember how much excited her father was in the day the reconstruction of the temple was completed. Was that excitement only a hypocrisy and the excitement of displaying own authority over everyone including the religion? But... how?? He was Nandini's father! How can he be so bad! He can't!

The single memory invited a lot of small memories behind it; a bunch of happy memories with her father started to be flashed out in front of Nandini's eyes one-by-one, soothing her heart!

Why will Nandini believe to this woman when she herself has seen her father from so close? Such an affectionate and protective man, how can he be a sinner? He can't! He was not! Nandini will not let anyone to influence her thought against her father anymore! She closed her eyes forcefully!

"You can't wipe out all my father's trace from Magadh, Rajmata! You can't!" Then she opened her eyes. "You will never be able to erase his existence till I am here!" She came closer, her voice choked. "I myself is the biggest trace of my father, Rajmata! How will you wipe out his existence when I am here? You have to kill me first for that!"

Mura stared at her face very calmly, then a very peaceful smile came in her lips. "You forgot Nandini, what I had told you. You are my daughter-in-law Nandini; you are Chandragupta Maurya's wife! You are no more a symbol of that cruel and autocrat Nand! You are unable to feel, but you are lucky that you got the chance to get that new identity!"

"I can't forget my root; even if you kill me I will not forget that I am Mahapadmanand's daughter!" Nandini shouted in a trembled voice, then got out of the hall running!

"Where is she going??" Helena looked worried. "Guards, catch her and bring her here. She has to sit for the puja!"

"Leave her Helena!" Mura smiled sadly. "Poor girl is in a shock. Leave her alone to cope up with herself. She will not escape anyways."

"But, Maa... How can the rituals be completed without her? You had decided to complete the rituals with all the wives of Chandra..." Durdhara looked worried. "It will be an omen if she does not sit for puja now. Let me see her."

"Leave her Durdhara... She needs time..." Mura told.

"Durdhara is right Maa..." Chhaya told suddenly. "I am not concerned about her, but when she is the wife of my brother, this puja is related to the fate of my brother. She has to sit for Puja even if she does not want to! Come with me..."

Nandini was right there just out of the hall. Durdhara held her hands. "It's a sin to not to sit for puja after making the mind, Nandini!"

"If this is a sin, then throwing out the flowers, leaves ornaments and other things offered in the name of God is a bigger sin as well!" Nandini told with stubbornness!

"There's no need of this mindless argument, Nandini! This puja is for our family and kingdom and as a queen it's your duty to sit for it!" Durdhara tried to pursue her.

"I am not the queen! Am I? I am just a prisoner of the previous lost king! I am the daughter of the same king whose memories are also harmful for the betterment of people according to the Rajmata! I am the daughter of that man, so very naturally I am sinful in your eyes, so I can't sit for the puja which is held for the wellbeing of Magadh!"

"I told you earlier, and again telling you, that you are the officially married queen of my son, and that is the biggest identity of you. So you have to respect that relation!" Mura told from behind. "Anyways, if you don't want to sit, I can't force you. Just come in and don't create scene in front of all!!"

Mura left the place after that. Durdhara looked perplexed. But Chhaya could not hold her temper anymore. In spite being a princess by birth, she has been brought up among common poor people. She does not have the queenly gravity and dignity like Mura. When something irritates her, she does not know the art to hide that under the cover of mild queenly smile! She does not like Nandini from first day, and so her attitude put on fire in her mind. She just came in front of her and pulled her hand. "Come in!"

"Leave me!" Nandini took back her hand and uttered.

"No matter you want to sit for the puja or not Nandni; as per the rule you have to go ahead, and you are bound to abide by it. Understand?"

Nandini looked at her eyes for a moment, ogling fire, then removed the glare. This princely arrogance for no reason irritated Chhaya even more. She pulled her face towards her.

"What do you think of yourself Nandini? Do you forget that you and your family are alive just on my brother's mercy? Any other king would hang you all till death after the horrendous crime you had attempted!"

"I don't want to live in your brother's mercy! Kill us all!" Nandini told.

"You spoilt brat!" Chhaya smiled cruelly! "Your father has spoilt you from core by pampering you more than need, and you have become a nincompoop as a result! Don't forget Nandini that your nasty father is no more a king, so none is going to pamper you to go inside here. You have to come anyways, and that's it! Don't act childish and come inside without creating scene!"

"Please don't refer to my father all the times! He was my father and I love him!" Nandini shouted! "Your brother has snatched him from me, and now your mother wants to wipe out everything that belonged to him from this kingdom!! And you all expect me to sit with you all in puja for the wellbeing of your family happily?"

"So what?? Is it only you in the whole world whose father has died???" Chhaya mocked very cruelly! "What did you expect? That my brother will build a mausoleum in your father's name and all the citizens of Magadh will visit there every evening to show their condolence?? My dear, my brother has killed him in a battle! He has not cut his body parts apart and left him alive to die slowly, thank him for that!! Despite your father's deeds, and even after your murder-attempt you are still using the royal chariots, are given the due respect of a queen, what more do you want from us?" Her pretty face was red in the sudden burst of rage. "You act as if you are the only one whose father has been killed and as if we all have done a great offence towards you! Is there any count how many innocent daughters have lost their fathers for your nasty father???" Her voice was trembling now. "You take a big credit for being a fatherless daughter who used to love his father a lot, don't you? Have you any idea how a 5 years old little girl feels when after getting up in morning suddenly she comes to know that her father's head has been chopped off, and her pregnant mother, who had promised to gift her a brother, is missing and will never meet her in her life? Do you have any idea that how it feels when that little 5 years old kid becomes a beggar of street from the status of princess in one night, and has to struggle to live and to be alive from the murderer of her father throughout the life? Why are you silent Nandini? Do you have any idea??" She could not hold her tears anymore...

Nandini was staring at the drop of tear rolling down her cheeks with wonder in eyes. She felt her stubbornness and rage is looking useless and meaningless in front of those tears... From the age of 5 years Chhaya is struggling for her life after losing her family! And in front of that grief, her pain looks so ordinary and pale!

She could not help but to join the puja after this!

...

After the puja there was a small event of charity. The poor people of nearby had come to get something from the royal family.

Mura came in front and joined her hands. "I, Rajmata Mura, hereby thank you all for being present here to give us the scope to serve you all! I will love to announce that, from today onwards, this temple is open for every one of the kingdom. You all are given the right of praying to your God!"

Very naturally there was an excitement in the crowd. After that, they made some queues and the donation is started. The queens stood in front of every queues, and the event was going on systematically. Until that unwanted incident took place.

Nandini was enjoying this charity event, to be honest. While giving away the plates full of foods and clothes she had become unmindful for a moment. She is not experiencing this type of events for first time; so there was nothing new...

But never in her life, had she faced such a humiliation while doing charity!

"STOPPP!!!!" A sharp voice of an old woman suddenly pierced the air. It was coming from the queue in which Nandini was going to donate...

"I WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE HAND OF NANDPUTRI!!!!" The old woman shouted! And surprisingly, after this, some more shouts floated in the air. "WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM NANDPUTRI! GET HER OUT FROM HERE!" The intensity of the noise was growing along with time! Nandini was shocked with this sudden unexpected protest. She has never faced anything like this before!

"SILENCE please..." The announcer had to involve in. "Maharani Nandini has come to serve you all. Please cooperate her!"

"WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYTING FROM THOSE IMPURE HANDS OF THAT SINNER'S DAUGHTER!! GET HER OUT OF HERE!!!!"

"Please keep calm! She is the wife of Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya!"

"WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING FROM HER HAND! HER FATHER HAS DESTROYED US! WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM HER!!"

Nandini stood mum! Her heart was paining.

Rajmata had to come in front. She didn't care of the raged people, pulled Nandini's hand and just walked to the old woman who showed her grievance first time. "What happened, Kaki... Why you don't want to take anything from this little dear girl?" She asked in an affectionate tone.

"I am sorry Rajmata!" The broken voice of the old women hurt Nandini's ears! "I too had a daughter like her once upon a time! This girl's father had kidnapped her in one festival night! She never returned to me! I had a son, same age of your son that time... He had gone out to find his sister, his dead-body had returned instead of him!" She put her eyes straight in Mura's eyes. "You are rajmata, hence you are great and can accept her as your daughter-in-law in spite of all the unjust against you! But I am a street-beggar! I cannot forget everything that happened with me by accepting the charity from her hands!"

Nandini kept on staring at her eyes... she was shocked and silent!

This was the start... Ample of protests started to come up then! "This girl's father has burnt our house..." "That Nand killed my husband for no reason..." "That scoundrel king tortured my sister after picking her up in one festival night... she has become mad now... " and a lot of protests like this! All had the same demand, they will not accept anything given away by the daughter of the same man who is the only reason of their destruction! In pressure Mura decided to let Nandini stay away from this event. Maybe Chandra could have handled this raged crowd, but she is not able to control this raged mob!

Nandini slowly came back, and stood at the side, trying to hide herself from the crowd. She was feeling vulnerable from inside! She was never insulted this way before. She felt her self-respect and pride both are being smashed up together! Even at the night of first encounter with Chandra she did not feel so humiliated!

What allegations were they making against her father?! No no no! It's not true! It cannot be true!! She tried to believe it hard, she tried to close her eyes forcefully not to see the harsh reality which was slashing her heart and in this process she felt as if she will faint in stress!

Maybe she would have fallen, but she didn't. As a small but very strange incident happened with her in all of a sudden.

She was not in the rational world, and was fighting with her mind, but suddenly she felt a touch in her elbow, which again pulled her back in her world. She turned back, and saw that someone has inserted a very small piece of paper inside her armlet. Her eyes became excited, she tried to find the man from the crowd in front who did this! Then saving herself from the eyes of the guards, she opened the little note.

"SHE IS NAYANIKA... BE PREPARED... DESTROY THIS NOTE..."

She could not get head or tail of this, but... the handwriting is very much known to her- especially the style of writing N and KA! She gazed for a moment and then her pulse rate increased double!

This is her Dhan Bhaiya's handwriting!

While squeezing the paper with her palm she eagerly hunted the messenger in the crowd again... Where is he? Who can be! Who is Nayanika! Who gave her this note??

Suddenly one man stuck her eyes. Quite a tall profile, has a young, fair and handsome face, and is looking at her only from the crowd! She gulped in excitement. Is this man the messenger? But who sent it? What is the meaning???

"Nandini!" With the call, she turned her face immediately and saw Chhaya behind her. She tried to smile. "Chhaya?"

Chhaya looked a little sad. Her enthusiasm in the incident of temple was vanished somehow. "What are you doing here Nandini, we are leaving for palace. Come!" She told in a paler voice.

Nandini stepped ahead followed by Chhaya. For once she looked back, and she noticed Chhaya gazing at that tall young man in somehow a lost glare... Strange!

...

"Do you know what happened today? A little kid had fallen in front of Maharani Nandini's chariot; and our Mota Mohandas, I mean, who was in-charge of the guards today, had almost started whipping him!" A maid announced the news to her friends in hurry.

"So what? Is that anything new? Is there any single man in Magadh who never had tasted the royal whip when royal caravans go out of the palace?" Another maid bent her lips.

"Please... That was the time of that scoundrel Nand! Now great Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya is our king!! Do you think that he will ever tolerate any injustice towards innocents? That Mota- Mohandas is suspended from his duty; and His Majesty himself has punished him after they returned to the palace. His wife was crying in front of me." She giggled. "You know what, she was telling that Maharaj has such a great personality that Mohandas was unable to utter a word on his favour! He didn't show his anger, didn't accused him; only he asked about the whole incident and after hearing he declared the punishment in his magnificent voice!"

"Our new Maharaj is sent by our God! He is the avatar of Lord Vishnu!" Another girl uttered in a dreamy voice!

"What actually happened today? There are other members of the royal family too; how did they react after Mohandas's deed?" It was obvious that the maids are very much curious about the characteristics of the new members of the new royal family.

"Rajmata Mura immediately expelled him from today's duty and ordered him to meet the king, Maharaj suspended him with warning after that as far as I know." The girl winked. "Rajmata is something else you know; can you imagine Maharani Avantika to ever protest against any wrong deed? She only knew how to order the maids and always used to shiver in the fear of husband and sons! Full family of that Nand was rotten! Only Maharajkumari seemed normal and like human to me... You know what, she had protested first when Mohandas whipped the boy."

"Yes, she is kind-hearted and a good natured unlike her family!"

"Even Maharaj himself appreciated her kind nature when he heard about her reaction."

"They look good together, isn't it?"

"Aree chhoro bhi! They can never lead a normal life of couple, write it! Mahapadmanand's daughter and Chandragupta Maurya... NEVER!!"

"None can say what's going to happen in future... Now do your work! She is coming to bath very soon, remember??"

The huge bathtub in the grand snankaksh was being prepared with warm and fragranced water, sandalwood mixtures, different scented oils and other bathing equipment for the bath of the new queen. The chat-session was on among the maids very naturally. The girl-workers in the palace never used to talk or smile freely before in some obvious fear. Nowadays they have been rejuvenated and have got back their usual smiles and laughs.

"It's like a dream no? Has anyone ever thought in this Magadh that a royal officer can also be suspended from his job for trying to whip a beggar boy? The poor men of the kingdom were so used to with their fate, isn't it?" A girl sighed.

"Yes! Remember those days when the princes used to come back from hunting or to go out for amusement?" Another maid told with heat. "They often used to run their horses or elephant on the slums, smashing the roofs of the poor people! Remember how Kumar Dhananand used to whip everyone whoever used to come in front of his eyes when he set for Nagarparikrama as only he enjoyed whipping people? They never treated the subjects as human! They used to find entertainment by hurting the innocent people!"

"They were demons!!" Another girl commented! "I so wished Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya would not kill them so easily. They should have been tortured till death first before sending to hell!!"

"I wish they rot in hell forever!"

The chatting was going to continue for a long time maybe, but suddenly a sudden sound compelled them to stop. Someone had dropped some metallic thing on the floor.

They turned back; it was Maharani Nandini as expected, surrounded by the guards. Perhaps something had happened to her a moment ago, as she had lost her balance and almost fell on the nearby flower-stand. The guards had caught her immediately but the stand has fallen on floor. The maids stood up and greeted.

"Are you all done with your gossips? Then come and hold her highness! She is not feeling well perhaps. It's her time to bath!" One of the guards shouted at them.

"Forgive us, Her Highness!" The girls immediately ran towards Nandini and held her hands. "Should we call for the physician?" One of the maids asked the guards.

"No need! I am alright! I just need to bath!" Nandini uttered in a very low tone. Her voice was free of any type of emotions. All the maids and guards present there looked at her face with surprise. "Are you sure that you're okay Maharani? It's not a good symptom to lose balance and fall all of a sudden!" A guard asked her in a professional tone!

"Yes I am alright. You people can wait outside, I will call you if anything is needed." Nandini said trying to bring a little touch of authority in her voice. "I want to bath myself!"

"But we are not ordered to leave you alone, Maharani!"

"Not even in the time of bath!" Nandini looked at the guard, her eyes were now seeking pity from her! "Please, I beg you. I really need solitude for a while! Don't fret, Maharaj will not charge you! I cannot plan any conspiracy in this bathtub all alone!"

"Alright Yours Highness! You may call us when you need!" Maybe the guard was really feeling pity for Nandini. It's not very tough to guess that how Nandini lost her balance all of a sudden. She has clearly heard all the gossips of the maids... It's really very painful when people curse those people whom you love, especially when they are no more in the world! Nandini's plight was not very difficult to understand.

Nandini sank herself in the warm water of the bathtub. The soothing touch of water was not able to sooth her, rather it inflamed her heart even much. The words of the maids were ringing inside her ears! What were they saying? Were they speaking truth? Were the incidents of the temple true? Were the subjects of Magadh saying truth? Why everyone is talking against her family? Are her brothers, her father really that much inhumane? How?? She has always worshiped her father as the idol of her life! How does he, her brothers resemble to the monsters of the stories? Such a huge load of sins were burdening on the head of Nand dynasty, so God himself punished them in the hand of Chandragupta? This is the truth? How Nandini will live with the load of this unbearable truth??

Nandini dropped inside the water... Again and again and again... She was not able to cry, she was not able to think... she only kept on sinking inside the water; pull herself up and again drown inside!! She herself was unaware of her own feelings... she never knew that reality makes people numb and emotionless, unable to think!

A lot of time passed in between...Suddenly she felt a sensation on her bare back...

"I told I do not need any help!" Nandini told, composing her voice as much as possible!

The girl behind her hardly listened, she kept on rubbing her back. She now could feel that the soft sensation of the touch of the very tender hands is slowly coming to her neck. She saw a very beautiful hand slowly caressing the area surrounding her neck...

"I said I don't need you! Get lost!" Nandini shouted this time, as she was losing her temper, but another shocking thing happened which didn't let her to proceed. The beautiful hand clasped her mouth tightly from back!

"SHHH!!!!"

All the thoughts of Nandini again mingled with each other! She turned back in shock. The girl behind her is surely a maid going by her uniform. But how sensually beautiful she is! As if she is not a woman of the real world, rather she is one of the dancers of the paradise! The intoxicating eyes, intoxicating lips and the curvy figure, she is able to make any type of man mad behind her! Forget men, Nandini too, being a woman, could not remove her eyes from her face for a whole minute and kept on gazing at her beauty out of mesmerisation.

"It was tough to seek a moment to talk to you! Don't do any silly thing, it will invite unwanted danger!" The girl whispered in a warning tone. "The guards are sitting idle outside, they didn't notice me. If they find me everything will be finished!"

"But who are you?" Nandini asked while she felt her heart is beating faster than normal.

"Didn't you get the message? One of my men was going to give the note to you so that you can be warned before!"

"Message??" Nandini tried to remember, and after a while she could recall the little paper she was given in the time of charity after Puja!

"You're... You're..." Nandini's voice was almost muted out of hell excitement... "You're... Dhan Bhaiya's... you're..."

"Yes my dear princess! Maharajkumar Dhananand has sent me!" The girl bowed her head out of respect... "Accept my Pranam, Maharajnandini! My name is Nayanika! I have come to serve you!" She paused for a while trying to understand the change of expression in Nandini's eyes. "I am here to help you to get your revenge!"

Nandini only took a long breath. She was unable to utter anything! In this state she could understand the girl is drying her hair very fast!

"My name is Nayna in this palace. Remember that. If you need me, just call for me. None will suspect!" She whispered in almost silent voice.

Nandini understood her voice has been choked.

"Get ready fast!" The girl commanded in whisper. "After reaching to room, call the maids to make your hair! I will be there!"

Nandini nodded only. She understood she has lost her usual power of thinking!

...

...