Chapter Forty-Nine:
At Toshali,
The royal crier announced, "Prince Madhav of Peeplivan has been adjudged the winner of Princess Malathi's hand in the Swayamvar by the Jury."
Princess Malathi, a garland in hand, her head bent in shyness and her face blushing a deep red, walked in very slow and measured steps up to Prince Madhav to garland the victorious suitor for her hand. Two of her maids followed her holding the hem of her veil while the rest kept on showering flowers petals on Madhav and Malathi to commemorate and celebrate this happy event.
Just when she was about to garland him, Madhav held her hands to stop her drawing the entire ceremony to a screeching halt. A hush and embarrassed silence fell over the entire gathering before the King of Toshali, Rajendra Varma roared, "What kind of impertinence is this! I hope you have an explanation for this or else..."
Prince Madhav spoke in a highly placatory tone, "Please forgive me your Highness if my actions were in any way rude or insulting towards you or your beautiful and gifted daughter whom it is my good fortune to have won as my life partner. It was not my intention to insult either of you. I would want this ceremony to be solemnized as soon as possible. But when I will apprise you of my predicament, you too would surely feel that my apprehensions in wanting this ceremony to be temporarily stalled for the present very reasonable. Can we talk about this in private?"
Rajendra: The court is adjourned!
In a private royal chamber,
King Rajendra was seething with rage. He just did not want to discuss this matter anymore. His daughter's Swayamvar had become the laugh of the town. He did not see any justification possible for Prince Madhav and his behavior...yet he wanted to hear him out fully before deciding anything further.
Rajendra: Prince Madhav, do you wish to marry Princess Malathi or not?...If not...why did you participate in this Swayamvar? Nobody forced you to!
Madhav: It was my precarious situation which forced me to. I had heard about Princess Malathi's beauty and royal graces from my sister-in-law, Maharani Nandini, the Queen of Magadh who also happens to be a close friend of Princess Malathi. I instantly fell in love with her simply by hearing...
Rajendra: We are hearing...Proceed...
Madhav: Magadh and Peeplivan are at the brink of a major war with Maharaj Padmanand. I hope you must be aware of it...because Maharaj Padmanand has entered Magadh from your side of the border...
Rajendra, a bit apologetically, "I have nothing against Magadh or Peeplivan...I did not stop Maharaj Padmanand when he was passing through Toshali to enter into Magadh to safeguard the best interests of my people. I did not want to antagonize a snake like Padmanand and bring his ire upon me and my people...That is how it goes in politics...
Madhav carefully measuring his words, "I understand that...that is how politics works...neither do any of us blame you for it...but unfortunately...it has precipitated matters for both Magadh and Peeplivan. My brother, Maharaj Chandragupt and my sister-in-law, Maharani Nandini have already left for war. I was also supposed to accompany them to the field of battle. Princess Malathi's Swayamvar was announced at that precise juncture leaving me in a great dilemma. If I did not attend the Swayamvar, I would lose the person whom I loved forever. But now that I have won her hand in the Swayamvar, I cannot afford to ignore the fact that as soon as I go back from here, I will have to join my brother Maharaj Chandragupt in the battlefield. This is a real war and I could lose my life in it as well...
Rajendra: Young man with the kind of bravery and wit that you have displayed in all the competitions of the Swayamvar, I am very confident that neither you nor your side will lose...
Madhav: It is good to be confident but not overconfident when one is up against foes of Maharaj Padmanand and Amatya Rakshas's calibre...I know the very thought would be unpleasant to you...but supposing we lost the war and I lost my life in it...where would that leave your daughter? ...She will become a widow even without seeing anything of marital life...So all I am asking for is a little bit of time and your permission and approval for me to go back to Magadh and return after I am victorious in my endeavors before solemnizing this marriage. I hope you find nothing wrong in this request.
Rajendra: I understand your situation young man...but I don't know whether you realize it or not...Now that you have won my daughter's hand in the Swayamvar, she is as good as married...whether she garlands you or not...whether this ceremony takes place now or later...Nobody else will marry her...
Madhav: I am sorry for that Maharaj. I assure you that I will return as soon as we win the war to seek Malathi's hand. Please permit me to leave now...
King Rajendra Varma after a very long pause and some deep thought said, "Alright...you may go...but...
Madhav with bated breath, "But..."
He was on the verge of clinching what he had set out to negotiate and bargain even without exactly asking for it. He had to do this for his motherland...his brother...his aunt...his own parents...Acharya Chanakya...for everyone back home... who were expecting and relying a lot on him to do his side of the job. So did he or didn't he?
Rajendra: You may leave but ...with our army...The army of Toshali will accompany you to Magadh to help you in the war with Maharaj Padmanand...We will also get a chance to rectify our mistake by helping you and Maharaj Chandragupt...Malathi is my only child. So both you and Malathi are all that I have...I hope you have no qualms accepting my help? I want my child to be happy at the earliest possible...
Madhav heaved a sigh of relief, "Of course Maharaj...I understand...I cannot express how happy I am that you understood my situation...
PS: Dear readers, at this stage in my narrative it will be impossible to have Chandini in all the chapters. There may be a few chapters where they may not even figure just like this one. I hope all of you will understand this. Thank you for being so understanding during this whole while when I went missing. My eyes are fine now. I will try to keep giving one update per week.
Chapter Fifty: Page 97
Edited by shailusri1983 - 8 years ago
