Chapter 9: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/130792939
A/N: Dedicated to Niki, Ramsha, Gargi, Mac, Khushi, and Shelly. My dedicated readers and sources of inspiration.
Also Rohini, Medha, Krystal, Kaana and Vidhu. Old loyal CAS viewers who loved Chanakya niti just as much as me.
And finally my bros BB and Shyam who love Dharma and PS more than me. 😆
Chapter 10: The Prince of
Destiny
The sun was high
in the sky. In the plains of Assandh fair distance from the battle near the
edge of the forest Senapati Sudheshan was slowly marching with the Magadh army.
Or whatever was left of it.Deep down in his heart there were strands of
remorse.
It is a necessary sacrifice. Sudheshan
told himself. All for Yuvraj Sushim.
A large contingent in the distance caught Sudheshan's eye. They seem to be moving towards the direction of the battle.
Looks like it was more reinforcements for the ambush.
Sudheshan buried
his feelings.
"Pick up speed men!"
Sudheshan whipped the rein of his horse and he galloped ahead with his soldiers following closely.
In the battlefield
The battle had
reached a feverish pitch in the searing afternoon. Much to the surprise and frustration of their adversaries, the Magadh Sena had dug deep and held them to a
deadlock. The Yunani Yoddha were pulled back after they were repulsed by the
archers. The combined Ashraviu of the enemy Sena didn't get much ground as the
Magadh infantry repulsed wave after wave. The enemy had to resort to attacking
from afar with their spearmen and archers trying to whittle them down.
"Senapati Akramak had
trained these lads well." Bhim Ji remarked with pride.
"They are tiring."
Aadarsh said grimly. "Not sure how long they can keep this up. And we need to
get Rajkumar Ashok treated quickly." They looked down on their unconscious
Rajkumar. Blood trailing down his mouth. Aadarsh knelt down and wiped off the
blood.
"It's hopeless."
Saroj grimaced holding his injured arm. "We will die here."
"Perhaps." Aadarsh
got up. He grabbed a spear. "But as long as blood flows through my veins I
will keep fighting."
Aadarsh got up. He
set his eyes on the Khurasani commander running around the perimeter. Aadarsh
ducked down the shield as another wave of arrows rained on them. The last of
the arrows landed right next to Aadarsh. Aadarsh got up and dashed towards the
defending soldiers as the Khurasani cavalry charged at them. Aadarsh lined up
his spear and hurled it with all his might. The spear ran through the neck of
the Khurasani commander and he was dead by the time he fell to the ground. Aadarsh
ducked under the shields as Javelins were hurled at him in retaliation.
"If we go down, we
will take you down with us!" Aadarsh shouted. The Magadh Sena cheered as they
pressed against their opponents with renewed vigor.
Saroj who was
sitting next to Ashok broke into a smile. They had the upperhand. For now. He
looked down on their unconscious Rajkumar.
Deep inside Ashok's mind...
Ashok was walking
through a war torn countryside. Broken shields, swords and other assorted weapons were strewn
everywhere. Dead bodies lay wherever he looked. The buildings were being razed
to the ground by raging fire. The morbid scenery was endlessly vast. The more he
walked the worse the devastation seemed to be. He finally spotted someone that
wasn't dead. He rushed towards him. The man had his back towards Ashok.
"Hey! Can you tell
me where I am and what is-?"
Ashok stopped as
he realized the man was armed. Is he one
of those who did this.
Ashok reached for
his sword. But it wasn't there. Ashok then realized the sword was in the hands
of the man before him.
"Hey!" Ashok
snarled. "Who are you? Return my sword!"
The man turned
around. Ashok's nerves calmed down as he saw the familiar golden emblem on the
armor. Ashok then looked towards his face. It was a familiar one.
Pitaji?
But it wasn't his
father. His face resembled his father. But this was a different man. He was
shorter in height but had a stronger build which made him look more
intimidating.
"Are you-?" Ashok
asked extending his hand. The man smiled.
"Yes."
"Pitamha?!" Ashok
gasped. Chandragupt chuckled. His eyes were glinting with amusement. Ashok
realized that his Pitamha had the same eyes as him. Ashok felt confused. Was he
dead?
"You are not dead Pautra." Chandragupt said reassuringly. He relaxed the grip on his sword and
sheathed it.
"Where am I?"
Ashok asked.
"One of the roads
of fate." Chandragupt replied. Ashok's bewilderment only rose.
"Whose fate?" He
asked. Chandragupt stopped smiling. He had a grim look on his face.
"Magadh." He said
solemnly. Ashok felt his stomach churn.
"No." Ashok said
disbelievingly. "It can't be. It's not possible."
"It's very much
possible Pautra." Chandragupt sighed. "Walk with me."
Chandragupt lead
him through the stone path as the scenery dissolved around them. Ashok found
himself walking on a meadow on top of the mountain right outside Patliputra.
"Is this all in my
mind?" Ashok asked hesitantly.
"Probably."
Chandragupt smirked.
"Why are you
here?" Ashok asked, "Sorry if I sounded rude. I was just curious."
"I don't know
myself." Chandragupt shrugged.
"Where are we
going?" Ashok asked.
"I don't really
know." Chandragupt replied. Ashok was starting to get irritated.
"Relax Pautra."
Chandragupt smiled. "You need to keep your temper in check you know?"
Ashok sighed. "Is
it really possible that Magadh will end up like that?"
"Yes. If you die
here today, it probably will." Chandragupt said gravely.
"What do I do
Pitamha?" Ashok asked urgently. "We are surrounded. We have no way out."
"There is always a
way out." Chandragupt said firmly. "The fight is only over when we either die.
Or we give up fighting."
Ashok didn't say
anything as he pondered over his Pitamha's words.
"Am I really that
important to Magadh?" Ashok asked.
"What do you
think?" Chandragupt asked. Ashok contemplated for a moment.
"Many people died
for me. Many are dying for me." Ashok said quietly.
"So I guess you
are important." Chandragupt smiled. "The question is Pautra. Are you willing to do what
it takes to protect Magadh and its people?"
"I am." Ashok
replied determindedly. "I promised my Acharya that I would."
Chandragupt drew
his sword. Ashok's muscles tensed.
"So you think you
are ready to wield this sword?" Chandragupt asked him. His expression was
unreadable.
"I already have."
Ashok replied with a scowl.
"You were raised
to walk on the path of peace and non-violence. You do realize that when you
pick up a sword blood has to be shed?" Chandragupt asked, "It is inevitable."
"That is no longer
relevant. I will shed blood if it is necessary, whether it is mine or my
enemy's."
"It's a good
mentality to have. What if the blood you have to shed is one of your own?"
Chandragupt asked questioningly. The night he killed his stepmother came back
to Ashok's mind.
"I have already
done that." Ashok said swallowing his discomfort.
"Yes. Of course."
Chandragupt nodded. "How does it feel?" Ashok blinked. That was a strange
question.
"Horrible.
Nauseating. Terrifying."
"You will get used
to it. Eventually." Chandragupt said thoughtfully.
"What if I don't
want to?" Ashok asked. The way he said it was childish. But he didn't care.
Chandragupt gripped his sword with both his hands. He stepped forward as if
facing an invisible enemy. He began swinging the blade in smooth and quick
motions. Ashok was rooted to the spot in awe. The deft movements of the
flashing blade were like an art. Ashok could just stare at his Pitamha in wonder. Chandragupt leaped up and stabbed the sword to the ground.
"You have to."
Chandragupt stood up letting go of the blade. Something suddenly struck Ashok's
mind.
"Why did you leave
Pitamha?" He asked.
"That is something
you don't need to know now." Chandragupt replied. "You won't understand."
Ashok felt his temper flaring again.
"I deserve to
know! I have to clean up the mess that you created!" Ashok said angrily.
Chandragupt smiled knowingly.
"Think about
everything that you have gone through till now. And you will know the answer."
Ashok was puzzled by the response. He sighed exasperatedly. He racked his head,
trying to piece the answer to his own question. Ashok's frowned as he realized
there was only one answer that made a semblence of sense.
"To protect your
son?" Ashok asked. Chandragupt laughed.
"You are indeed a
worthy prodigy of Acharya."
"Why?!" Ashok asked heatedly. Chandragupt sighed.
"Acharya had his
hands full protecting both me and Bindusar. It was only a matter of time before
they killed him."
"So you knew? Why
didn't you do anything?" Ashok asked his voice rising.
"I didn't have
proof." Chandragupt replied. "A Samrat cannot execute someone on the basis of
his whims and desires. If you kill one on that basis what will stop you from
killing another? Acting on emotions alone will lead you to a darker path."
"You could have
gotten Chanakya to collect proof!" Ashok retorted. "Or have sent my father away
from the palace!"
"I considered
everything." Chandragupt sighed. "And I chose the decision that was best to my
judgment. My son was ready to ascend the throne. As ready as he will ever be."
Chandragupt added with a sigh. Ashok could tell the disappointment in his tone.
"There was no point in holding him back."
"But why did you
have to leave? You could have just abdicated and stayed in the palace." Ashok
persisted. Chandragupt smiled again.
"Because if
Bindusar made any mistake," He said calmly. "The Brahmins will inevitably look to
place me back on the throne. Whether I stayed or not, Magadh would have always
been in danger. And if it came down to it Acharya would have let my son die.
His reasoning would be I could always sire another son."
"You were wrong!"
Ashok said angrily. "Acharya Chanakya would never do that!" Chandragupt began
laughing. It infuriated Ashok even more.
"You only know
Acharya for a year or so kid." Chandragupt said with a scowl. "I have known him
all my life. I know how he thinks."
"He saved your
son! Many thought that he killed your wife to save him!" Ashok retorted.
"Even if that was
the case, at the time it seemed like the most pragmatic thing to do."
Chandragupt replied calmly. "But Bindusar didn't grow as Acharya expected him
to be. Helena had ruined him."
"But he still protected him. He protected him risking his own life!" Ashok shouted.
"It is necessary for Bindusar to live until you are ready." Chandragupt said very seriously. "I can assure you that was my Acharya's reasoning."
Ashok couldn't believe him. His Acharya wasn't this heartless.
"You could have stayed and protected
him!" Ashok said stubbornly. Chandragupt shook his head.
"Yes. Maybe."
Chandragupt sighed. "But I wasn't getting any younger. The wounds of the
endless wars I have fought were catching up. I could not serve Magadh for long
anyway. So it made sense to let Bindusar find his feet. And with Acharya by his
side I am sure he could hold his own. And he didn't disappoint me."
Chandragupt finished looking out to the bright cloudless sky.
"You are forgot
someone else amidst everything." Ashok said quietly. "Your other son."
"He was more of
Helena's son than mine." Chandragupt snapped.
"That is nonsense!
You could have given him the guidance he needed!" Ashok reasoned.
"Helena would have
poisoned my son's heart no matter what I did." Chandragupt said grimly. "You have seen
how your elder brother is. One when day when you will be in my position you
will see how it is." Ashok knew his Pitamha was right. But he still argued.
"My father is
facing the same problems as you! And he has fought as many wars as you. He
bears as many wounds as you. Probably more. And he is staying with us making sure that we are protected instead of running away!"
"And I am proud of
him. He is stronger than I thought he would be." Chandragupt said smiling
again. His eyes glinting with pride. Ashok didn't say anything. He just stared
at the ground trying to calm himself. Even his own father underestimated
Pitaji Maharaj. Ashok didn't know why he was feeling this angry.
His Pitamha wasn't what he expected to be.
"Whatever his
flaws may be," Ashok said quietly after a while. "He is a better father than
you."
"Magadh needs a
worthy Samrat. Not a doting father." Chandragupt said turning to Ashok. "If I
wanted to be an ideal father I would never have ascended the throne of Magadh. We all
have choices to make in life. Some pay off. Some don't. I made choices I
thought was best at the time."
Ashok stared at
the ground. He wasn't sure what to say.
"Ashok."
Chandragupt said gently. "I don't expect you to understand everything. But just
remember this. The future of Magadh lies in your hands. Choice is yours. You
can sit by and let everything be destroyed. Or you can rise up and make the
necessary sacrifices for the greater good."
Ashok pursed his
lips. He bit back the retort that came. There was so much he wanted to say. But
what should he start with?
Chandragupt pulled
the sword from the ground. He walked towards Ashok and extended the sword
towards him.
Ashok looked up.
He bowed down and extended his hands. Chandragupt placed the sword on Ashok's
hands.
"You have a big
heart son." Chandragupt smiled as Ashok stood up looking at the sword. "But a
big heart doesn't necessarily mean that you can make everyone happy."
Ashok looked up at
him. Into the eyes that were a mirror of his.
"Time to go."
Chandragupt said and the world around him begun fading. Ashok felt the pain in
his chest rising.
"Tell Bindusar,
that I love him. And I am proud of him." Chandragupt's voice echoed.
Shunga couldn't
help but leer as the Magadh Sena was pushed back under the weight of the
attacks. They were tiring. Their strength and their numbers were diminishing.
One by one their men fell as arrows pierced their body and spear tore through
their flesh. He could sense that they were reaching their breaking point. It
was a long and grueling battle. His archers were exhausted. They didn't have
enough arrows to keep firing. But his Yunani Phalanx was relatively unharmed.
He didn't use them. He opted for the slow approach of whittling them down. It
was effective and saved his numbers. Even so, it had lasted longer than he
expected. But it was finally ending. And he still had an elite regiment that
was fresh and ready to do his bidding.
Mahanayak Keechak
shall reward me well for this.
And a terrifying
roar pulled him out of his happy cerebration. Even his Sena stopped attacking
and stood still.
The Senanayaks and
the Sena of Magadh looked on bewilderment. They couldn't believe what was
happening.
Rajkumar Ashok was
up. His face was contorted in pain as he breathed heavily suppressing the pain.
The crack in his armor just showing the surface of the damage that Yoddha did
to him.
"Soldiers of
Magadh! Do not give up!" Ashok bellowed.
Cheers reverberated
through ranks of the Sena. The dwindling spirit of the Magadh Sena had revived.
And with renewed vigor they began counter-attacking their enemies.
"Aadarsh!" Ashok
shouted as the dead bodies were piled around him, eerily similar to his dream.
Aadarsh rushed to his side. "What is our situation?"
"Are you okay
Rajkumar Ashok?" Aadarsh asked concernedly. "You should rest."
"What is our
situation?" Ashok asked through gritted teeth. Aadarsh was taken aback. He
shook his head and then said.
"We can still
fight sire." Aadarsh said confidently as Bhim Ji walked up to them.
"We need to break
out of this Chakraviu." Ashok said through gasps. "Bhim Ji any ideas?" Ashok
asked to elderly Senanayak, his eyes frantic with desperation.
"There is one
thing we can try." Bhim Ji said. "It's risky."
"Let's just do
it." Ashok said biting down the pain.
Saroj rubbed his
eyes in disbelief. What is this kid made of?
"Oi." Saroj said
quickly to a soldier. "I think my arm is just sprained."
The soldier
nodded. He grabbed Saroj's arm and twisted it. Saroj yelped in pain. The
soldier wrapped a cloth around Saroj's hand.
"Are you okay?"
The soldier asked.
"Better than
okay!" Saroj grimaced. "Tie the shield around my arm." Saroj said taking the
sword on his left hand.
"Are you sure?" the
soldier asked.
"Do it!" Saroj
growled.
"And then we push
towards one flank." Bhim Ji said quickly. "We have enough Ashwa for one final
charge."
"It's worth a
shot." Ashok said drawing his sword. Every movement he made seemed to just
increase the pain. Saroj walked up to him. Ashok looked at his injured
Senanayak.
"Can you still
fight?" Ashok asked.
"Of course I can!"
Saroj said with a pained smile.
"Good. We need you
to lead in our next move." Ashok said with a grimace.
"Leave it to me."
Saroj replied. Ashok smiled. He took a deep breath.
"Soldiers of
Magadh! Rally to me!" Ashok shouted. His voice echoed through the ranks. The
Magadh Sena pushed off their enemies and pulled back, rallying around their prince
as their enemies continued to launch their attacks on them.
"Sainiko! Form up!" Saroj shouted. The Magadh Sena raised their shields and spears.
Shunga looked at
the development with increasing apprehension. The Magadh Sena had formed a
Phalanx of their own. It wasn't perfect. But his archers were no longer potent
enough to take advantage of their weakness.
"Tell our Phalanx
to attack theirs." Shunga ordered the soldier. "And tell the rest of my Sena
keep up the attacks. Try to take advantage of any gaps in the formation they
can find. Make sure that the frontline of all charges are fresh men. The Magadh
scum are tired. And they will fall easily." The soldier bowed and ran off to
issue the order.
Ashok mounted
Kulbhusan who was bloodied from the soldiers who protected him but was otherwise unharmed.
"Alright." Ashok sighed stroking Kulbushan's neck. "Let's do this." Ashok
muttered as his royal guard reformed around him behind the Magadh infantry.
Ashok looked up to see the formidable
Yunani Phalanx had reformed ahead of them. They began descending. Ashok raised
his sword.
"It's now or never
Sainiko!" Ashok shouted. "CHARGE!"
The Magadh Sena
all at once began charging up the plateau. The Khurasani cavalry tried to
attack them. But the Magadh archers repulsed them.
"Damn it!" Shunga
shouted in frustration. "How do they still keep fighting?!"
The Magadh
Infantry clashed with the Yunani infantry. They were held at a deadlock. The
Magadh Yoddha had deflected the pikes which were stuck on the shields. The
Yunani commander gave the command to pull back.
"Frontline.
Charge now!" Saroj roared. The Magadh Infantry dug into the ground and
with a violent shove they begun climbing up the plateau.
To Shunga's
amazement the unstoppable Yunani Phalanx was being pushed back. The lower
ground was actually giving the Magadh Sena impetus to fight back. Against such
towering odds they were fighting back.
The Magadh
Infantry split into two flanks as Aadarsh dashed out leading the Magadh Ahsraviu
into a terrifying charge against the disoriented Yunani Phalanx. Aadarsh swung
his heavy blade with vicious effectiveness. He simply hacked down any Yoddha
that tried to challenge him. The ones that went past him, Ashok and his royal guards killed them ignominiously. Saroj and the Magadh infantry fought off the enemy Ashraviu preventing them from aiding the Yunani Yoddha.
To Shunga's shock
and horror the Magadh Sena crushed his left wing and broke out of the encirclement. Despite
everything they threw at them, they remained strong. The Magadh rear guard lead
by their Senayak was brutally effective. Not only did they repel the charges
from his Sena but they managed to take out more and more of his men. His elite Yunani infantry were all but wiped out.
No way. This is
impossible.
Shunga decided
enough was enough. It was time to finish this.
"Andromechus!"
He called to the giant. "Attack them from the rear. Crush them!"
Shunga ordered his Elite Yoddha that he had reserved until now to join Andromechus. They prepared to march down the plateau with the rest of the Sena. It was time to finish this battle.
The Sun was setting. Shunga saw dust rising in the distance.
Under which a large contingent of Ashraviu and Yoddha approaching the battlefield. More reinforcements? Looks like God has
written victory for me today.
The blue banners came into view. The soldiers were wearing
grey robes. Shunga smiled. Andromechus and his elite guard begun marching.
It ends now.
But in the next
instance Shunga felt dread grip his mind. He ordered Andromechus to stop.
Something wasn't right.
And sure enough
the cavalry of the new contingent maneuvered down the plateau and begun attacking his Sena
instead. Their infantry joined the Magadh Sena. Shunga watched on in shock as waves of javelins and arrows pierced through his ranks of soldiers.
No way!
Ashok and his Sena
looked around in surprise as their ranks were reinforced by their new allies as
the clash renewed. The enemy Ashraviu begun broke away and retreated to their
leader's ranks. The cavalry of the new arrivals to the battle were fresh. They were blowing through enemy Sena like wild elephants in a forest.
"Who are they?"
Ashok asked. "They are not from Magadh."
"They look like
Ujjainis!" Bhim Ji shouted. He looked pleasantly surprised. Everyone around him was.
"Never thought I'd
see this day." remarked a soldier.
"Me neither."
Ashok watched as
the black bannered army that had joined their enemy earlier begun withdrawing. I need to find out where that army came from.
Shunga looked on
in rage as the army that joined him earlier were retreating in the horizon. He let out a maniacal roar. His voice cracking with frustration.
Ashok looked on as
both armies reformed their lines. They were now more or less evenly matched.
""Let's take them down!" Ashok shouted.
The Magadh Sena roared raising their swords and spears. Aadarsh and Saroj rallied their
respective divisions around Ashok's royal guard. It was time for the final
assault.
Shunga considered
his options. The numbers as well the morale of his troops were dwindling. On
the other hand the Magadh Sena was still very potent. Despite losing soldiers
they had managed to protect their Senanayaks. Shunga had carelessly let his
Khurasani commander fall. And the Yunani infantry were too small in number to matter now. The
disoriented Khurasani Ashraviu and his exhausted archers couldn't mount a proper offensive. The Magadh army was reinforced while his own reinforcements have abandoned him. All he had left was the elite regiment. And they were too valuable. Mahanayak will definitely not spare him if he loses them. He needed to save whatever he had left.
"Retreat!" Shunga
shouted turning his horse around. "Retreat now!" Damn it. Defeated by that kid again.
Ashok and his
Senanayaks looked on in elation as the enemy Sena begun retreating.
"Rajkumar Ashok,
should we give chase?" Aadarsh asked.Ashok suddenly felt drained.The adrenaline
rush was gone now that they were out of danger.
"Yeah." Ashok said
weakly. "Capture as many of them as you can."
"Leave it to me."
Aadarsh said. "Come on men!" He shouted gripping the rein of his horse. Aadarsh
and his well rested Ashraviu galloped ahead. The Ujjani Ashraviu joined him as
they charged towards the retreating soldiers, their screams echoing in the
distance. The red rays of the sun signaled the end of the battle.
As Ashok saw his
Sena chase the enemy through the plains his vision became blurred. Ashok tasted
blood in his mouth. The world around him began spinning. His vision faded.
"Rajkumar Ashok!"
Bhim Ji shouted as he saw Ashok falling off his horse. The soldiers grabbed him
before he fell. They carefully placed him on the ground. Bhim Ji and Saroj knelt down next to Ashok.
"We need to get
him to the Vaid immediately!" Saroj shouted.
"We cannot carry
him like this." Bhim Ji said grimly. "You." He said pointing to a soldier. "We
will set camp here. Order our supply caravan to get here. And you get the
Vaidraj here as quickly as possible."
"As you command
sire." The soldier bowed. He quickly grabbed a horse and galloped away. Saroj
sat down exhausted.
"Bhagwan ka Lakh Lakh shukar hai." He
sighed. "We survived."
Bhim Ji gave him a
strained smile.
You did well today Rajkumar Ashok. You did very well. Without your
inspiring leadership, we would not have made it today.
Bhim Ji looked up
to see a horse pull up next to them. It was the Ujjaini commander. He
dismounted from his Ashwa.
Bhim Ji stood up.
The fading rays of the sun fell on a familiar face.
"Rudra." Bhim Ji
said in astonishment. "It has been a long while."
Senapati Rudra
raised his hand in greetings. "Indeed." Rudra said looking down at Rajkumar
Ashok. "So this is Rajkumar Ashok?"
"Yes." Bhim Ji
replied. "I am curious. I never thought that you of all people would come to
our aid."
"Me neither."
Rudra shrugged. Bhim Ji chuckled.
"So what brings
you here?"
Rudra sighed. "I
am here on the orders of my queen."
Bhim Ji's eyes
widened with surprise. "You mean...Rajkumari Ahankara?"
Rudra sighed in
frustration. "She is our Rani you know?"
"I guess." Bhim Ji
said hesitantly.
"He is not going
to die is he?" Rudra asked.
"I hope not." Bhim
Ji said worriedly.
"He is younger
than I expected him to be." Rudra knelt down looking closely at the Rajkumar.
Bhim Ji chuckled
as he could almost hear Rajkumar Ashok saying, I hear that a lot.
Bhim Ji looked out
to the setting sun as Senanayak Aadarsh returned with the Ashraviu. What they pulled
today was no less than a miracle.
The soldiers around him lit up the torch as the night begun. He looked down to his unconscious Rajkumar. The flickering lights cast a glow on the Prince who seemed to be in a serene slumber.
Acharya Chanakya was definitely right. He is special. And I have no doubt in my mind that this youth is destined for greatness that transcends time.
Leave your thoughts below. Hope you enjoyed it. 😊
Chapter 11:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/130958504
Edited by babur1527 - 7 years ago
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