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Dedicated to and Inspired by Kaatayani and Spring01 from the EDT 😛😛
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This is just one piece ... I have no plans of continuing this. 😆😆
(This was actually how it started ...)
Things to keep in mind -- Jaggu is trying to find Dharma / Dharma is headed to mandap / Spoiler(SBB) Devi is standing near entrance, Jaggu isn't present on the mandap and comes afterward. Also this is heavily based on the DVs CAS. Keep that last bit in mind for sure.
As Dharma is headed towards the Mandap, Jaggu crosses her path and stops her.
"Where were you Rani Dharma? What were you doing?"
Dharma smirks. "I don't have to tell you anything Jagganath. But tell me, what are YOU doing outside of the mandap?"
"I was looking for you. Who knows what kind of plans you and your dumb husband are making?"
"Samrat Bindusar is a Mauryan. They never go back on their word."
"I don't trust Mauryans Dharma. I'm not even confident that I'll even get Magadh after Kaurvaki gets married to Ashok."
"Samrat Bindusar signed the contract." Dharma says disgustedly, as she moves past Jagganath.
A few moments back, in Devi's room, Devi was beginning to feel the effects of the antidote working against the poison. It was a tough battle, but she was a strong woman. She turned her head to the side and glanced at Vitt who was busily hopping between massaging her hands and feet, hoping to keep her awake, to keep his best friend alive.
"Vitt." She murmured slowly.
Vitt looked up, a look of joy on his innocent, yet worried face. "Are you feeling okay Devi Didi?"
"Yes, I'm much better now. You've been here the entire time?"
"I had to make sure you're okay Didi. Maa had to go to the mandap for Ashok Bhaiyya."
"Oh the wedding." Devi struggles to get up.
"Devi Didi! Devi Didi! What are you doing? Maa said you need to rest!"
Devi smiled softly. "Don't worry about me Vitt. I can't miss the wedding of Ashok and Kaurvaki. Besides, like I said, I'm feeling much better now. Here, help me up." Devi extended her arm.
Together, the two friends slowly walked towards the mandap, Devi using Vitt as a crutch.
Jagganath was furious. He let out an angry roar and punched the wall.
"This is unbelievable. I'm giving my daughter away for Magadh, and all I have is some letter with Bindusar's stamp."
Jagganath's eyes lit up for a second. Bindusar's stamp. He quickly pulled out the letter and read it aloud. "I, Samrat Bindusar Maurya, son of Chandragupta Maurya, agrees to hand over my throne and my kingdom to the King of Kalinga, Jagganath Padmabhushan, after his daughter, Kaurvaki Padmabhushan weds Bindusar Maurya's son, Ashok Maurya." He brought the letter closer to his face so he could examine it better.
"You just got trolled by Samrat Aprateem!" was written on the not-so-royal stamp.
Jagganath's eyes reddened. "I knew Bindusar was going to trick me. How dare he?"
"It's because you don't just look stupid, you are stupid." a small voice dared to say.
Jagganath turned around, and his mouth snarled as he saw Vitt and Devi. He pulled out his sword and stepped towards them. "You saw nothing, you heard nothing. Do you agree?" He said threateningly.
Devi came to her senses temporarily and luckily, and she gave Vitt a push. "Run Vitt, Run!!" Without his support, Devi fell to the floor, helpless.
Vitt turned back, tears in eyes. "I can't leave you Devi Didi! Maa told me not to leave you alone. You're still fighting against the poison!"
Jagganath gave a sly smile.
Devi smiled. "Don't worry about me. Save yourself, don't worry about me. Please, for Ashok Bhaiyya." She emphasized the last bit.
Vitt nodded, and raced away.
Jagganath stepped towards Devi, who was still fighting an internal battle with the effects of the antidote / poison war. The world started to blur away, dancing in circles around a confused woman.
"Stop moving in circles Jagganath. Stay still." She yelled, touching her head trying to regain control over the world. But alas, it was too late and the world was beginning to turn dark.
Jagganath laughed. "You stupid girl. I have no reason to kill you now; I'll go and handle that idiot brother of Ashok's first and then come back for you."
Leaving Devi sprawled on the floor, he turned and dashed towards Vitt. He wasn't sure where he was headed, but he guessed that Vitt was headed where Dharma, Bindusar, and Ashok were - the Mandap. Once Vitt reached there, it would be impossible for him to do anything. He had to reach the Mandap before then. He cursed his stupidity in not reacting instantly, but what had happened, happened. He tucked his head and began to sprint.
Vitt had barely made it when Ashok and Kaurvak were beginning their walk around the sacrificial fire to complete the marriage ritual. Taking the fire god Agni as witness, the couple would take vows to be with each other for the rest of their life. As the sixth circle finished and the seventh began, Vitt raced in yelling, "Ashok Bhaiyya! Ashoka Bhaiyya! Stop the marriage right now or else we'll all become Jagganath's slaves!!"
Ashok stopped and turned towards Vitt. He approached Vitt, and asked him to repeat what he had just said.
"Devi Didi and I just heard that if you and Kaurvaki Bhabhi get married, then Jagganath will get Magadh."
Ashok swallowed hard and mentally cursed himself for foolishly thinking that Jagganath would seriously agree without any motives.
He looked towards the door, only to see Jagganath standing there. A mysterious, crooked grin plastered on his hideous bearded face.
"Is this true Jagganath?" Ashok said in a low dark voice. "IS THIS TRUE!" Ashok yelled.
Kaurvaki tried to step in, but Ashok snarled and pushed her away. Jagganath approached Ashok, containing his thirst to stab Ashok right here and now.
"This is true. But, your father made me an offer I couldn't resist. This was his planning." Jagganath said, slyly.
"That's a lie!" Dharma cried, her voice thundered across the silent wedding hall. "You agreed to the marriage if Samrat gave you Magadh."
Charumitra whistled under her breath. This confirmed what she had overheard Ashok saying the other day. Bindusar definitely was not planning on making Sushim the heir, nor was he planning on being fair to his sons. It was always Ashok, Ashok, Ashok.
Kaurvaki looked at Jagganath with a look of disgust, "Is this true Pitaji?"
Jagganath snorted. "I tried numerous times to tell you that these Mauryans aren't worth it, that these Mauryans are liars and thieves, that this place isn't the right place for you. But you were certain that this was the right place for you."
"But can't you see Pitaji. Samrat Bindusar agreed to give his own kingdom for me. Isn't this the right place?"
"Agreeing is one thing, but cheating is another. This cheap Samrat was planning on getting me killed for robbing the treasury after you got married. This was all a big coverup."
"Pitaji, stop lying!"
"Am I? Am I?"
He pulled out the roll of parchment and handed it to Kaurvaki. "Read the stamp of the royal Samrat Bindusar. These people don't care about promises, they only care about wiping their own filthy asses."
Ashok grabbed the letter and read it over. "You asked for Magadh Raja Jagganath." He said slowly, his body trembling as anger built up inside him.
"YOU ASKED TO BECOME AN OBSTACLE IN ACHARYA CHANAKYA'S AKHAND BHARAT SWAPNA!" He yelled, physically grabbing Jagganath by his shoulders and shaking him. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"You touch me again like that Ashok, you will die along with your annoying mother, stupid father, and this runt you call brother. You talk about the Akhand Bharat Swapna of Acharya Chanakya? Let me tell you something. Acharya Chanakya is a worthless piece of trash that not even worth the speck of dust on the bottom of my feet. For all I care, it's good he died, because if he wasn't dead now, I would do that deed myself."
Ashok couldn't control his rage anymore. He removed his wedding jewelry,and untied the knot that linked him and Kaurvaki. Pulling his dagger he had tucked under his dhoti, he grabbed Jagganath by the shoulder and pulled him in for a deathly embrace, ensuring the dagger went deep inside Jagganath's abdomen.
Everyone stood shocked as Jagganath fell to the floor clutching his fatal wound, gasping for air, and crying out in pain.
Kaurvaki stood there absorbing the scene. A few seconds later, she and her mother were on the floor next to a dying Jagganath.
"Kaurvaki..." Jagganath managed to say, as his final warm breath left his now cold body.
Kaurvaki kneeled next to Jagganath dazed, unable to process anything that had just happened. Suddenly, she rose, whirled around and her hand met Ashok's face forcefully..
"You just slapped me Kaurvaki." Ashok said slowly and softly, as if he was uncertain if the love of his life had just slapped him in front of an audience of his family and friends.
"Ashok! What did you do? You just killed my father!" Kaurvaki cried, ignoring Ashok.
"I killed a three-time backstabbing traitor of Magadh." Ashok said angrily. The slap didn't hurt as much as the reasoning. She had slapped Ashok for not letting a traitor go like the previous time.
"I don't care, you should not have killed my father!"
"You don't care? The last time your father betrayed my motherland, you made me swear on you to not reveal his identity for your sake. And now he threatens to take away my family's kingdom and you expected me to let my mother and father and the confidence of my guru bow down to this man." Ashok said with disgust as he pointed his hand towards Jagganath.
"You didn't have to kill him!" Her hand rose once more, but was caught by Ashok mid-slap.
"You're right. I should have tossed him and his selfish family outside of Magadh."
Dharma shook her head. "But Putra Ashok, your wedding ..."
"It's off now Maa." Ashok said grimly.
Kaurvaki laughed. "Do you really think there is a girl out there that is willing to get married to you. Look at yourself. You're a mess. For a small matter --"
"A small matter? You think this is a small matter!" Ashok interrupted.
Kaurvaki raised her hand. "I'm not finished Ashok. For a small matter, you tore off your wedding jewelry, you killed my father, and your hair is loose and ugly. You're crazy Ashok, you're crazy. But sadly, that must make me just as crazy because I was going to marry you."
Ashok looked down, seething. "Don't even think for a split second that you're the only girl for me. Don't try that on me Kaurvaki."
He looked past Kaurvaki, towards the entrance of the door where he saw a young woman leaning against the wall, an expression of concern written over her face.
"Devi." Ashok said, his anger still shaping his harsh tone. He approached Devi, offered his hand, and said: "Will you marry me Devi?"
Devi still hadn't fully recovered and was not in her full senses. She stayed silent.
"Devi! Tell me if you will you marry me!"
Kaurvaki smirked."Devi is MY friend. What makes you think she will marry you? Tell him no Devi."
Ashok ignored her. "Devi, will you marry me?"
Devi stayed silent, unsure of what to do. Memories of her childhood days with Ashok flooded her consciousness.
"DEVIII!" Ashok roared.
Her moments with Chand Ashok in Ujjain and the brave Ashok who saved her from Nilankush made her heart beat even faster.
Devi looked down and placed her hand on top of Ashok's.
Ashok's eyes widened when he felt Devi's hand/ Grabbing her hand, he led Devi past Kaurvaki, giving her a dirty grin.
"Pandit, start your mantras." Ashok barked.
The pandit immediately started chanting various shlokas as Ashok tied his scarf to Devi's dupatta. Together, they walked 7 times around the sacred fire and sat back down.
"You two are now dharmapati and patni. Take this mangalsutra and tie it around your wife's neck Kumar Ashok." The pandit said.
Ashok grabbed the mangalsutra and placed it around Devi's neck while the pandit again chanted some shlokas.
Seeing the marriage complete, recalling Bindusar's words that he will make Kaurvaki watch Ashok get married to another woman, and remembering her father's words about how deceitful Mauryans were, the princess of Kalinga turned and left the place, her eyes wide with anger, her nose pointed towards the sky.
"Kaurvaki!" Devi cried. She got up to stop Kaurvaki, but Ashok grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"Let her go. Good riddance." He said egotistically. He looked over at Devi, who stood still unsure whether to listen to Ashok or to go after her saheli. Maybe breaking the marriage with Kaurvaki wasn't such a bad decision after all.
Shiv Shakti
