PART 7
Chandragupta almost rushed to the conference hall, and pulled out his tongue in embarrassment seeing his mother and Acharya waiting for him. He entered inside and they stood up to greet him.
"I am so sorry to keep you waiting; I was indulged into another important work..." Chandra told while touched both of their feet to seek blessings. "Maa, you wanted to meet me?"
"Yes Chandra." Mura said. "I had something to discuss with you. Please take your seat."
After they sat, Mura started addressing Chandra. "I am concerned about Chhaya, Chandra."
"Why, Maa? What happened to her?" Chandra looked worried.
"Nothing Chandra..." Mura smiled seeing him. "I was talking about her marriage."
"Chhaya's marriage?" Chandra was yet to grasp the whole meaning.
"Yes, my son. She has already crossed the age of marriage. I am really worried about her."
"Ooo... So..." Chandra was not sure what should be his reaction after this. He can discuss about war-strategies, he can take decisions about political matters, but how he is supposed to help in this matter he could not get.
"You are the only guardian of Chhaya, Chandra. You are the only one to care for her happiness now." Mura explained. "I thought I should discuss with you on this matter..."
"You are my mother, your decision will be the last order for me." Chandra told with respect.
"But you are the king my son, nothing can be done without your opinion." Mura turned to Acharya and lowered her eyes with respect. "Acharya, you are not only the wisest man of the era, but also like God to my son and me too! None will understand the well-being of my family and Magadh better than you. With your permission, I want to put some opinions regarding this matter. I eagerly wish for your suggestion. "
"Please go ahead, Rajmata..." Chanakya nodded.
Mura smiled in gratitude and started. "Though my husband Maharaj Suryagupta had a very little kingdom to rule, he had a very good and cordial relation with the neighbouring bigger kingdoms like Magadh and Vaishali. The king of Vaishali was a very close friend of him, and when Chhaya was a kid he had asked her hand for his son Vajradev... They had made a commitment that they will be tied in this new bond when Chhaya and Vajradev will be in their age of marriage." She paused to take breath. "Years have passed after that, and maybe that commitment has no value now. Still, if Maharaj Vishnudev, the king of Vaishali does remember Maharaj Suryagupt and awes his son Chandragupta Maurya, and if there is no problem in Magadh's external politics to set this bond, then maybe Chhaya can get her due happiness by becoming the wife of Kumar Vajradev and also Maharaj Suryagupta's wish of seeing his dear daughter as the Rajendrani of a great kingdom may get fulfilled!" Her voice suddenly choked remembering her husband, but she immediately controlled the emotion with her royal dignity and continued. "Chhaya has already crossed the age of getting married. It will be hard to find a groom from a proper blue-blood family for her now... If Maharaj Vishnudev agrees for the marriage remembering the commitment then Chhya's future will get settled."
"Your thoughts are indeed very good, Rajmata." Chanakya commented. "Vaishali is the next most powerful state after Magadh, and is yet to bow down in front of Chandra. Maybe a marital relation can help to settle this. While confirming a settled and happy future of Devi Chhaya this relation will also be a good step of unifying the dissipated powers in Bharat. I think you should send a letter personally along with the royal stamped letter with the proposal mentioning commitment he did to your husband long back."
"But..." Chandra told in between with a sting of hesitation. "As far as I know, the crown prince of Vaishali already has 3 wives."
"It's not possible to get a fresh bridegroom for Chhaya now, Chandra. She is already 26 years old." Mura told with bit sadness.
"But... Acharya..." Chandra anxiously looked at Chanakya. "Vaishali did not support us when we wedged war against Nand. Maa is saying that King Vishnudev was my father's friend, but in these twenty-one years he never ever tried to carry out his duties as a friend. Is not it a hasty and disrespectful step to send a proposal of marriage all of a sudden?"
"Chandra, sometimes due to political reasons and the wellbeing of own kingdom kings are compelled to go with the flow forgetting the personal relationships. If Maharaj Vinshnudev never raised his weapon against Nand to fulfil his duty as a friend that does not imply he is a bad person; rather he is a peace-loving man who is a responsible king and understands inter-state politics well. No king wanted to directly involve in a fight with powerful Nand, Vishnudev was not an exception that's all." Acharya addressed him calmly. "And you must not forget that you were a leader of revels that time, so it was natural that the big kingdoms would not support you. Now all the equations have changed, you are the king of Magadh, you have an authority and king of Vaishali is bound to awe you. I don't think he too will have any problem to build a good relationship with powerful Magadh."
"Still Acharya... directly the proposal of marriage? It's... it is sounding odd to me..." Chandra told half-heartedly.
"Your arguments have no base Chandra..." Acharya told. "In politics, the marriage proposals are sent this way only. There is no way of feeling disrespected or something like that. And this marriage will bind Vaishali and Magadh together, this certainly has a bigger benefit. I believe you understand this.
"But..." Chandra still could not agree with his mother and his Guru. Something was stinging inside him. Perhaps Acharya could sense that... "If you have slightest doubt that your sister will not be happy with the prince of Vaishali, you have every right to not accepting this proposal, Chandra. But before that it's also needed to know that whether your doubt is valid or not. Do you have any reason to think like this?"
Chandra looked at him and then at his mother. Mura was looking at his face with worried eyes. He sighed. He has no answer of his Guru's simple question. Basically there is no reason for him not to like this proposal. As a king he can understand the necessity, and also his mother says it was a wish of his dead father, Acharya himself is interested, and also Chhaya's future will be perfectly settled with the marriage... But still something was pinching him...As his mother has given him the responsibility of Chhaya's happiness. Chandra himself never ever thought about own happiness or sadness individually, basically in his life there is no scope of pondering over own emotions. He knows how to fight, he knows politics, he knows how to serve his motherland. But he does not know how to fill a sweet, charming, soft and affectionate girl's life with pure happiness. Maybe his mother thinks getting married in a big royal family will bring that happiness to her; but how can a simple, innocent rural girl, who cherishes the romantic soft rays of dusk in her poems, and gets the essence of love from the melting twilight over the horizon, fetch the happiness of life in a formal bond of a political marriage?
Maybe he is wrong; emotionless Chandra, hardly he has any knowledge on happiness; how would he know in which way does the complex mind flow?
"Have you talked with Chhaya about the marriage, Maa?" Chandra asked Mura after a moment in an unmindful voice.
"Not yet. But I know she will not refuse." Mura beamed. "I just want your consent Chandra. Acharya has put his opinion, now please say something..."
Chandra frowned in a confused manner. Perhaps Chanakya could read the thoughts of Chandra. "I have an idea Rajmata." He came with a middle path. "You can invite the royal family of Vaishali in Magadh without sending any official proposal of marriage. After the consent of both sides, marriage can be arranged afterwards."
This idea was liked by all. "As you wish Acharya..." Chandra agreed with him. Mura too joined her hands before him. After two more casual exchanges, Mura bid them and left the room. Chandra was about to go, Chanakya stopped him suddenly.
"In which work were you busy before coming here?" His question itself had the answer which can only be understood by Chandra.
"You guessed right, Acharya. The spy whom I had sent to keep an eye on Nandini's activities had come to report me." Chandra said. "Our plan worked. Our spy has seen Nandini to get a little note from someone in the crowd. We can say it that Nand has already contacted Nandini as per our plan, and now we can wait for the next step of him."
"Hmm." Chanakya nodded. "Have your spy seen the messenger?"
"Yes, and he followed him too; but he got disappeared in crowd." Chandra looked thoughtful. "I think the men of Nand are still in Pataliputra. Maybe they are the citizens of Pataliputra only. Else we would not get such a good response from our enemy camp in such a short notice. Question is, who they are..."
"Anyhow, I hope to get some news from my special spies by tomorrow only. Meanwhile we have to observe the actions of Nandini carefully." Chanakya's eyes suddenly caught an unmindful Chandra. "What happened, son? What are you thinking? "
"Nothing Acharya... just about a short incident. A small child had fallen in front of the chariot and the in-charge of the guard was to whip him. I expelled that man from his duty for using his power in a wrong way."
"That is a good decision made by you. First you have to filtrate the uncontrolled violence from the blood of the common soldiers of Magadh as the first state of purifying the system." Chanakya told. "Only we have to keep in mind that these men do not join the enemy camp. I think they will not..." He paused, as he again noticed Chandra to be a bit unmindful.
"Chandra?" He called.
"I am sorry Acharya..." He composed himself at once.
"What are you thinking?"
"No... just..." Chandra uttered as if he was talking to his own. "I heard that Nandputri Nandini was the first one who jumped to protest the act of that guard... She is not as bad as her father... rather she is more kind-hearted than I thought her to be..."
"Maybe... but that is none of your business, Chandra." Chanakya said. He was sternly gazing at Chandra. "Maybe Devi Nandini is an owner of a great heart; but right now she is a pawn of reaching to her father. Don't think much than you need now."
"I know Acharya..." Chandra lowered his head to show his respect. "And I sincerely hope Nandini commits some mistake very soon so that we can get a link to fetch Nand."
...
...
Nandini felt her palpitation was not yet in control when she sat in front of mirror. She herself was unable to match what exactly had happened. Everything is taking place so quickly that she is unable to match her mind with the situation. She fearfully looked back once. Her guards are standing near the door idly, gossiping with each other in a relaxed mood. She inhaled long. She remembered what that women had instructed her in bathtub. Should she abide by that?
Again she understood that she is too perplexed to think on her own. She has no way but to listen to that woman. Trying to compose herself she clapped once. "I need to take care of my hair... Someone, please send for a maid..."
One moment passed, then someone entered inside her room. Nandini held her breath for once, as she could see Nayanika's fearless, smart appearance from close. The guards were not cautious enough, they did not feel in necessary to check a uniformed royal maid before letting her to carry out the queen's order. Nandini could not breathe normal till she came closer to her and slowly started combing her hair.
"Are you tensed, my princess?" She whispered.
"N...noo..." Nandini tried to get rid of the unnecessary tension forcefully.
"Then sit quiet. Don't move." She murmured. Right then Nandini felt something in slowly getting inside the bun on her hair...
"This is a hairpin!" Nayanika uttered. "Take it out and give me another one. Act as if you don't like this one so ordering me to change the hairstyle!"
Though Nandini could not act convincing, yet as guards were not noticing them much, she passed it anyway. "Press the ball of the side... It will open!" Nayanika again ordered her while making a bun on hair swiftly... Nandini, in trembling hand, carried out her order. The designed part of the hairpin opened like a seal of bottle, and a slit of paper peeped out from there...
"That's Kumar Dhananand's message for you!" Uttered Nayanika, in a warned, measured tone! "Yes, my princess, he is alive and wants you to be free from this prison!"
Holding her breaths again Nandini opened the secret message.
My dear Nandini,
I am alive. Trying hard to reconstruct our army to free our Magadh from that monster's clutch... Day by day it's getting more difficult, it seems we have to surrender soon! And it's also known that what that savage blood-sucking shepherd will do to us once we surrender.
I can't surrender. I can't accept my defeat. That scoundrel has not only killed my brothers and snatched everything from us, he has dared to capture you to smash the pride and honour of Nand Vansh! I am thirsty for revenge, and I can't accept defeat before getting it. I know it well, my dear sister, that you too are dying to take revenge of your family's destruction and your own humiliations... There is none who is beside you now, and there is none beside me to help me too. We have to help each other as much as possible, and this way we will be able to take our revenge and get back our lost power and pride by killing Chandragupta!
Nayanika is my faithful. You can trust on her completely. Whenever you want to contact me, she will convey your message to me, and similarly will convey my messages and plans to you. Don't afraid my sister, you are no more alone in that palace, I am there beside you always!
I have a news for you which you might not know; but I can't disclose it now... Let me organise my armies a bit more, then I will tell you what you have to do next!
With love,
Your Dhan-Bhaiya...'
She had forgotten to take breaths while reading the message. She touched the fonts once blankly, as she was yet to organize her thought-process. Her mind was murmuring only one phase- Dhan Bhaiya is alive... Dhan Bhaiya is alive... Dhan Bhaiya is alive...
"YOU ARE STOPPING THE PATRANI FROM ENTERING THE ROOM???"
Nandini's heart almost jumped out in shock and strange fear and nervousness! The secret letter alias the hairpin fell from her hand, and rolled into the bottom of the dressing table...
"Sorry, Patrani! We were not stopping you to meet her, we only asked for the reason of meeting her as we might have to report his Majesty... You can go in..." One of the guards told and let her to come in. Helena stepped inside Nandini's room with her authoritative attitude.
"You think you are very clever. Don't you?" She smirked. "But alas, I caught you!"
In utter shock and tension Nandini lost the ability of speaking.
"You have planned everything very concretely, but you forgot there are always pairs of eyes keeping account of your each moves!" Helena continued with a cruel, confident smile.
"Wh... what are you talking about, Helena..." Nandini tried hard to act normal. She could not even look at Nayanika, who was standing behind her lowering her head, and there were drops of sweat on her forehead.
"Oh... You don't know about it? You're an innocent soul, aren't you?" Helena laughed out. "Sorry Nandini, you might be a good actress, but this time your acting is not at all convincing!"
"I have no idea what are you talking about." Taking a long breath, Nandini tried to gather all the courage and confidence she has. "And if you think I am a convict of any crime, you can get me arrested and present me in front of His Majesty. I am answerable only to him, not in front of you!"
Again showing off own princely arrogance! Helena can't bear it. She does not want to kill Nandini, only she wants to smash her pride and honour under her feet! But Nandini is made of some other metal. She can break, but she does not bend! Even in this moment, when she has cornered Nandini completely, her proper, arrogant and proud answer again defeated Helena! She again failed to bend her head in front of her own authority, and this defeat added fuel in her frustrated anger!
"Don't forget that you're talking with Patrani!" She groaned in rage!
"I never forget this Helena! But as per my knowledge, a queen is only answerable to the king in any personal or political matter, not to the first wife of the king!" Nandini told.
"Don't forget you are not a mere queen! You are a prisoner! A political prisoner of Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya!" Helena almost shouted.
Nandini felt a jolt inside her heart. But again she was able to control her inner nervousness and managed to answer her smartly. "In this case too, Maharani Helena, I am only answerable to the king, or the Mahamatya, or the higher officials of the state. You have no right to cross a political prisoner, as per my knowledge?"
Helena's face reddened but she could not reply back. She only stared at her face in fuming eyes... Then suddenly she started smirking.
"I can see, you are trying to act over-smart as you're caught Nandini!" She told in a taunting voice.
"I said earlier, I have no idea about what you are talking about..."
"Really?" Helena laughed. "Okay, I am helping you. Can you remember a piece of paper, with secret message, that was being exchanged with the help of a maid??"
Nandini's heart started beating hard and she could not help but to reflect her fear on her face. She gulped to become normal, but her heartbeat did not decrease. She has absolutely no idea how she has to pay for this if she gets caught by chance! But still, she can't break down as it will prove her involvement easily. "No, I can't remember..." She told with a touch of forceful arrogance.
"Really?" Helena laughed out. "Okay... I will help you..." She clapped once. A maid with trembling legs came inside.
"Remember her?"
Nandini understood she really does not remember her. She shook her head.
"And do you remember this?" Helena oscillated a pair of golden earrings in front of her eyes.
"Yes...These are mine..." Nandini was confused more than nervous now.
"Then how did they reach to this maid?" Helena smirked winning smile.
"I... maybe I..."
"I am helping you. You had bribed this maid with these earrings... so that she can convey your messages to our enemies, wasn't it?"
"No!" Nandini shook her head. "I remember I..."
"No need to show any excuse Nandini! This maid has confessed that she was bribed by you to pass a piece of paper to someone near the reading room in outer palace. Can you deny?"
"Yes I did... But that's only..."
"Think as much excuse as you can, dear Nandini... but you will not be able to cover the truth." Helena came closer and looked inside her eyes... "You wanted to stand in front of Chandra regarding this matter to answer him directly right?? I will fulfil your wish. Chandra himself will cross you regarding this matter..."
"Helena!"
The majestic voice filled the air with a splendid aura. Maharaj Chandragupta Maurya entered into the room. For nothing Nandini's heart again filled with the previous fear and nervousness. She has discovered it long ago that she can save herself from Helena managing the situation by hook or crook. But Chandragupta is not so easy to handle! When he looks into the eyes, he clearly reads all the hidden words of heart.
"What happened Helena? You called me in this room all of a sudden?" Casting eyes on Nandini only once, then without wasting a word Chandragupta asked Helena straight.
Helena's eyes beamed in smile of victory. "This stupid girl still has not understood what her status and her strength is now. I caught her red-handed in an attempt of conspiracy."
Chandra's brows joined in a frown for a moment, then the slightest sign of worry too disappeared. "Is it?" He asked too dully without any warmth of excitement or rage.
"You may ask this maid, Sandracottus!" Helena was very excited. "She has confessed that this Nandini bribed her with a pair of gold earrings to send her message to someone named Parikshit at outer palace so that he can go out and give that to our enemies..."
"Really?" Chandra looked at Nandini's eyes in his usual calm and cold glare. Despite knowing Helena is in a wrong track, Nandini's heartbeat doubled again! She gulped hard to wipe the trace of anxiety from her face.
"Yes Sandracottus! Interrogate this girl, she will tell everything!!" Helena told in a heated enthusiasm.
"Hmm... So where is the message?" Chandragupta idly turned to the maid and asked suddenly...
"M...message... I gave that to Parikshit Ji... Maharani Nandini told me to..."
"She already handed the message to that spy and maybe he already has set off! We have to do hurry Sandracottus, come on... Imprison her and... "
Helena could not suppress herself seeing Chandra's cool attitude and cut the maid in middle, but she too could not finish as Chandra was staring at her sternly. She gulped the rest of her words. "Let others to complete first before you start to speak Helena." Chandra told in his usual calm tone and looked at Nandini. "What do you say about this matter, Nandputri?" He asked very normally, as if they were having a very normal discussion!
"I had told this maid to give Parikshit the list of books that I want." Nandini tried to compose her voice so that it does not tremble in front of Chandra and stated calmly. "Parikshit is the supplier of books in royal library, and I always send him the list of the books I want to read this way."
"She is lying, Sandracottus! Else why did she bribe this girl?" Helena shouted.
"I did not bribe her! I just gifted my earrings to her as her reward of doing my work. It's a princely gesture that I practiced from childhood." Nandini answered calmly.
Chandra observed her for some minutes with a trace of sarcastic smile in his eyes hearing her. Then he smiled... "What was the need of ordering books in such a confidential way?"
"I didn't try to hide anything from anyone. But I was not sure if His Majesty will allow his prisoner to read books or not..." Nandini uttered.
"Hmm..." Chandragupta's eyes roamed around the room and stuck at the reading desk. He moved towards that and picked up one book from there. After turning one-two pages a genuine smile shone in his lips. "So reading is your hobby?"
"Yes." Nandini answered. Her palpitation had already started again seeing Chandra roaming inside the room. What if he finds the letter of Dhan Bhaiya by any chance??
"Impressive! Not only the books of Poetries and Dramas, but also a lot of books of Alankar-shastra, Nyay-shastra, Jyotir-vidya, Arthneeti and even on Yoga-sastra!"He started turning the pages of each books with appreciation. "And I used to think that women only like to read Poetries! What a fool I am!" Picking the book of Nyay-Shastra he read the first line and smiled. "You have read all of them?"
"Yes!" Nandini told.
"You seem to have a vast knowledge on politics, justice and economy then?" He asked.
"Not any vast knowledge; I only can say that I have read those Shastras..." Nandini said. She was getting back her normal self slowly in this light conversation.
"So Magadhrajnandini's span of knowledge is as vast as her skill of sword? Wonderful!" He smiled endearingly with a gentle appreciation charming in his eyes which made him even more handsome to look. Nandini felt she was happy when he indirectly praised her.
"It really feels good to see someone having keen interest on gathering knowledge." Chandra continued talking. "My Acharya always uses a term- Vidyaratnam Mahadhanam!" I genuinely feel happy when I find someone trying to achieve that priceless treasure of knowledge... Keep it up!" He picked up another book and smiled. "Alankar-Sastra... I was very bad in this particular one, and never ever read fully. The condition of the book says you have read this one the most! This is your favourite?"
"Yes I like reading this..." Nandini told in somehow lost manner. The dead fear of getting caught was slowly diluted. She was constantly being attracted towards Chandra's enthusiastic style of talking and also on the topic. She was a bookworm from childhood and till date she never found anyone with whom she can chat about the books and the topics related to this. From the words of Chandra she understood that Chandra is not only an admirer of education and has interest on books, but also by the style of his turning the pages and his genuine enthusiasm it is clear that he has read almost all of them and he loves reading. In her deep of mind she gave birth of a wish of sitting with him and to discuss about the Shastras for a while, as he must know better and will explain well, but that is never possible.
"You are reading Brahma Sutra too! Wonderful!" Chandra seemed to be elated seeing the big bound book. "It's not at all an easy job to achieve the knowledge of Vedanta this way! Do you understand the meanings properly without any help?" He asked with wonder.
"No... actually... My Guru just started to teach me but suddenly my..." She stopped and gulped. She could not tell how she was compelled to give up her education in middle as her marriage was fixed and her to-be-husband did not want a scholar wife! She unmindfully, just for once, looked at Chandra's eyes... the bright eyes were full with normal delight, enthusiasm and softness- quite different from his usual self. She never had seen such a natural empathy in any man's eyes near her... Her heart stung suddenly for no reason...
Helena, in the meantime, was not only bored, but also feeling ignored and insulted. She could not hold herself anymore. "Sandracottus!" She called.
"Yes, Helena?"
"Have you forgotten what you were supposed to do?" She said with an irritated superiority.
"Of course not Helena, and also, I am not supposed to learn from you that what should I do and when... isn't it?" Chandra smiled sweetly in return.
"How do you believe her words so easily?" Helena was really surprised.
"Okay, for your peace of mind..." Chandra clapped to call for a guard. "Tell the royal librarian to send the worker named Parikhsit to me at once with the last entries of the book and also with the list the Maharani Nandini ordered..."
Parikshit came within two minutes. "This girl had given you some piece of paper two days back...what was that?" Chandra asked directly.
"The list of books that Maharani wanted, My Lord. They will come from Taksheela very soon." Parikshit told.
"Can you show me the list?"
"Yes, here is it my lord!" He handed a page to him. "We are conserving the best books of the scholars in our Magadh, and these are some of them. They will come from Takhshila very soon... We have entries in the main record too." He paused a bit. "Maharani Nandini always looks for the new books and often sends me the name of the books she wants like this. The process of conserving the priceless books in the library mainly has started in her initiation."
"Okay. You can leave. Thank You..." Chandra told while going through the list. Parikshit got off bowing down for once. Chandra looked at Helena.
"There's no reason of believing on this man too..." Helena argued.
"Indeed there is no reason to believe on anyone other than the judgemental doubt in your mind, isn't it?" Chandra was smiling though it was seen that he was irritated.
"You're not understanding, Sandracottus... If he is a spy of Nandini then he will not tell truth and..."
"Do you have anything to prove it?" Chandra cut her in middle...
"Proof... I mean if you interrogate..."
"Then too nothing will be found Helena!" Chandra smiled sarcastically. "I already knew that Parikshit is one of the workers of the library of Magadh. And I also know that Nandini was the initiator of the process of conserving the books. Nandini do have a cordial relation with the workers of library so this exchange of informal notes is not at all abnormal. I am given the particular list about which you were talking. And I don't find any loophole in the logic that Nandputri had ordered the maid to hand the list of the books in the hand of librarian and had rewarded her some ornaments for this. I can't harass people and waste time in interrogation only as my wife has doubt."
"I was just worried about the security of your kingdom Chandragupta!" Helena told in an extinguished fury.
"I know. You are new here and so do not know the names of the royal workers, so rising doubt is quite normal. But you should have investigated properly before jumping into conclusion and accusing someone without pondering over her point." Chandra told. "You should have at least tried to know who this Parikshit actually is and why he will be waiting near the reading room for getting a message. You should not forget that you have a status and responsibility as well; you cannot accuse anyone like a common lady before knowing the whole truth just as you don't like her or have doubt on her." He softened his glare. "Anyways, I am happy to see that you are so concerned about the security of our kingdom and our palace and also smart and capable enough to keep account what is going on inside the Antahpur. Just don't jump into conclusions like this next time; at least discuss with me before. I think there is nothing left to discuss about this, forget about it."
Helena lowered her eyes. Her eyes were ogling fire and flooding with tears. She was feeling humiliated. Chandra was taking side of Nandini and proving her wrong in front of the guards and maid, what can be a worse insult for proud princess Helena? The feelings of humiliation fumed up the anger even more, and she immediately left the room without taking permission from His Majesty. Chandra understood that she is angry, but he is not a man who has the time of thinking about wife's anger, and so naturally he did not even notice her attitude and kept on reading the names of the books from the list.
"So you had ordered these books so that you can understand the meaning of Brahma Shastra better without the help of anyone?" Chandra asked in a praising voice. "I adore your tenacity and your thirst of knowledge, Nandini." '
"Thank you Your Majesty!" This time Nandini's smile was genuine too.
"From next time, you do not need to send the list of books to the Librarian secretly with the help of maids; you can give the names to anyone of your guards, and they will do it for you." Chandragupta smiled. "In my kingdom none has any restriction on their right of education, be she being my prisoner, or my wife, Nandputri!"
Nandini gazed at his face for a while. For this moment of time she had completely forgotten that she has a strong urge of revenge from this man. Why it becomes tough to believe that this man is her enemy, and her aim of life will be fulfilled with the death of this man?
"And with your permission..." Chandra continued while looking at the books. "May I borrow two or three books from you for my bedtime read?" He smiled. "When I was a student I had a habit of studying at night; even now, though I have cut off my relations with books long ago, still sleep does not come when I am free and there is no book to read in my bedtime... You're not reading all of them, so may I keep them to me? I will return them I promise!" He chuckled with the last word.
Nandini nodded only, she could not speak. The incidents happening now can hardly be imagined by her who has born and brought up in the environment of Magadh's palace!
"Thank you." Chandragupta smiled. "Okay, it looks like you were busy with some other essential work and we all disturbed you all of a sudden." He noticed her half-done bun now only. "Have a nice day." He smiled to bid goodbye and was going to turn back, but suddenly his eyes stuck at something. He was keenly looking at the bottom of dressing table. Nandini's palpitation again began when she followed his eyes.
"What is that?" Chandra looked at Nandini and asked very casually...
"That's... that's nothing... maybe... maybe a..." Nandini's voice trembled in utter nervousness. Chandra observed her eyes for a moment, and then came forward to take that out from under the table... He was going to bend to pick that up, but Nayanika, who was still standing there, swiftly moved and picked that out from under the table. "It's a hairpin my lord!" She showed the pseudo- hairpin to Chandragupta to clear the doubts from his head. Nandini stared at them holding her breathes...
Chandra looked at Nayanika for a whole minute, then he turned to Nandini and gazed at her eyes for a moment. "Okay!" Then he smiled. "Go ahead, complete your work. Good bye Nandputri! Meeting you soon..."
Nandini tried to smile in response. In nervousness she could not observe how a light trace of screwed smirk was shining in Chandra's eyes. Chandra bid her once again and then left the room. Both Nandini and Nayanika released a sigh of relief!
"We are saved luckily!" Nayanika whispered. "You were awesome to manage the situation in front of that Yavani and this Chandragupta." She smiled in appreciation. "Now I have no doubt that you are the most efficient person to help Kumar Dhananand from inside the palace."
Nandini could not tell anything. Though, the storm inside the room had cleared the cloud and smog of her mind. After the traumatic incidents in the temple, then the shocking entry of Nayanika and then the letter of her brother had took off her usual senses from her; but after her encounter with Helena and Chandra she has got that back. And with her sense she felt one thing that she herself could not believe! That she is not sufficient happy to know that Dhan Bhaiya is alive... She should have felt much more happy and relieved than she is feeling now. Actually she has no trace of joy in her mind. Other than being relieved her heart is feeling with load. She only felt that she is slowly being fastened with a chain of unwanted hazard and confusion... and there is no one to rescue her from there...
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