Written by Destiny and Etched in Blood: A FF (Ch 54: Pg 100 NEW)

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#731

Part 2

Rajkumar Arjun inquired, "What does the scroll say?"

The scroll ran like this:

"This is how Padmanand treats traitors and double-crossers. Chandragupt, none of your men within the fortress are alive. I have a surprise for you. Your dear wife and friend Durdhara, your foster parents, your father-in-law, and all the villagers of Patalgram are in my captivity. I have taken them hostage. Let me take the opportunity of being the first to inform and congratulate you on becoming a father...Yes, Chandragupt! Durdhara is carrying your first heir. I became a father ten times. You snatched nine of my children from me and alienated my tenth progeny, Nandini towards your side. In a sense, all my ten children are dead because of you...Now you will know and realize the pain of a father. I am not going to seek safe passage out of Magadh as Amatya here wants me to do. I want my revenge. I have nothing left to lose. And you have everything to lose. Don't try anything clever. The slightest rustle from your side and your dear wife, future heir, foster parents and all the villagers will be dead. Chandragupt, you will come to meet me within the fortress all alone...Mind you...No soldiers and no tricks...I will play with you as I please before I kill you. Rest assured...I will give you the most horrible death anybody could conceive...I will give you five days to decide if you will choose your death...or the death of all these innocent people.

With love,

Padmanand!"

He handed over the scroll to Arjun who read it with his blood boiling with anger and disgust, "This man is intolerable...Maharaj...you will certainly not go...We will find a way out...We will rescue them..."

"Yes, Bhaiyya. Rajkumar Arjun is right. You will not put yourself in danger. Padmanand is trying to play mind games. You must not succumb to it" agreed Rajkumar Madhav, the Prince of Peeplivan.

Arjun continued, "However, in the present circumstances, we may have to stall the offensive while continuing the siege. Am I right, Maharaj?

Chandragupt did not say anything in reply. He merely nodded his head. But Nandini who knew him from the innermost recesses of his heart could very well make out from the expression in his eyes that he was planning to do the exact contrary of what Madhav and Arjun were advising him.

Her father had hit Chandrgupt in the only chink in his armor, HIS FAMILY. Having remained so long in his life without his family, Chandragupt would do anything to safeguard his family even if it meant forfeiting his own life. She knew that nobody on earth could convince and lead Chandragupt in the right direction except one single man. That was Acharya Chanakya. If they lost Chandrgupt now, everything would go back to the dark ages during her father's rule. She, as a wife and a daughter of Magadh, had to stop that from happening at all costs.

Nandini sought excuse and retired to her tent. She urgently composed her missive and handed it over to her secret messenger and instructed, "You will ride poste-haste and urgently deliver this message to Acharya Chanakya."

Her missive ran like this:

"Pranam Acharya Chanakya! We have encountered an unexpected setback here. Pranthpal Gajanan is dead and so are all our soldiers within the fortress of Sitapur. My father has taken Maharani Durdhara who was visiting her father in Patalgram as hostage along with Maharaj Chandragupt's foster parents, in-laws and the rest of the villagers. What has complicated matters further is the fact that Maharani Durdhara is pregnant. She is carrying the first heir of Magadh. In return for their lives, he has asked Maharaj Chandragupt to come all alone within the fortress. He has given us five days time to decide. At the present moment, Maharaj is like a rudderless ship without an anchor. His emotions are all over the place. My father has cleverly exploited the only weak chink in Maharaj's armor. All of us have tried to dissuade Maharaj from taking any such decision. But my inner instincts about the situation tell me the worst. Please come here immediately and lead all of us in the right direction.

Maharani Nandini."

Edited by shailusri1983 - 7 years ago

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#732

Part 3

That evening in Maharaj Chandragupt's tent,

The tent was in complete darkness. All the lights had been extinguished. Observing this Nandini instantly reignited the lamps. Chandragupt spoke mirthlessly, "Ah...Nandini...you...This darkness outside is nothing in comparison to the darkness raging inside my heart. Just when I thought everything was going to be alright...This?...My Durdhara...with that demon...when she is in such a state..." However, realizing that "the demon" about whom he was talking was Nandini's father, he checked himself from voicing out his feelings out of consideration for her.

Nandini: Don't stop yourself today, Chandra...Don't stop for me...I am listening...

Chandra: You know Nandini...I never knew I was so weak...

Chandragupt choked with tears at this point, "I could die a thousand deaths in the battlefield...but I cannot stand by and see all of them get killed for my sake...If I choose my life and political correctness, Durdhara and the rest will...No...No...Not a single person will lose their lives for my sake..."

Nandini her head held high in pride said, "Do you know Chandra...I know none so strong as you are...Anybody with a sword can kill hundreds or even thousands...but a true warrior is not one who kills thousands with his sword...but saves the life of at least a single person with that sword...Though I do not concur with the decision you seem to have already taken in your mind...I AM PROUD OF YOU..."

At night within Sitapur,

Maharani Durdhara was crying her heart out in the isolation of her chamber. Her plate of food lay in front of her untouched. She did not know where the rest had been kept. The news that had been a matter of great joy and celebration for the whole of Patalgram, the discovery of the first heir of Magadh being on the way, had turned into an utter nightmare when they had given their enemies the chance to retaliate by being unguarded in their celebration of joy.

She had been nothing but a bother and problem creator for her husband and dear friend, Chandragupt. She hit her hands in frustration against the wall of the chamber in which she had been imprisoned. The feeling that had been gnawing her from within was, "If only we had..." It is always easy to condemn oneself and one's actions in hindsight. But at that moment, when things are actually happening, we fail to judge properly and take the right decisions at the right time.

She should have refused the villagers when they sought permission to celebrate the happy occasion. At that time, it all seemed very right. What was wrong in accepting the love of one's Praja? She always considered herself inferior to either Helena or Nandini in terms of what they could give Chandragupt and how they could support him in his kingly endeavors.

After all, she wasn't a royal nor did she have the kind of upbringing they had. She was a merchant's daughter. She knew nothing about politics, statecraft, warfare tactics or fighting. She had always spent a cocconed luxurious life both before and after marriage. She as a queen could give nothing of importance to a king.

For the first time, she felt that she was going to give Chandragupt something really special, something he would treasure his whole life, his heir. She could very well realize even from here what Chandragupt must have been feeling on receiving this news.

Padmanand must no doubt have informed Chandragupt by now. Of course, he would definitely try to blackmail and use this to his advantage. If only she could help her husband in any way...For that she had to keep her eyes and ears open. She had to observe every small detail carefully. Yes. Observe. That was the clue.

Edited by shailusri1983 - 7 years ago

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#733

Part 4

Just then Durdhara heard discordant notes of disagreement emanating from outside.

Padmanand: Amatya, I don't wish to discuss this any further.

Amatya: But Maharaj if we have been able to make comeback in this war, it is primarily because of Bhadrasal...

Padmanand: My son and heir is no more just because of that man. I later questioned the other soldiers about what exactly happened in Bhavanagiri. But for Bhadrasal's folly, my son would have been alive. Padmanand does not forgive mistakes. Bhadrasal will not see the light of tomorrow. He will be executed.

Amatya: Maharaj I told you how Chanakya and Chandragupt cleverly wove a web around him...You too got misled by them and fell into their trap by coming here to Sitapur...Bhadrasal too made a mistake of judgement...But he has been one of our most loyal men and stood beside us always...

Padmanand: If Padmanand walks into a trap, Padmanand knows to walk out of it too. I don't need a Bhadrasal...

Amatya: Maharaj, if you don't need Bhadrasal now...just because he made a mistake...tomorrow, you might not need me too because I might also have made a mistake or committed an error of judgement or failed to produce the appropriate results...am I right?

A troubled silence ensued. Padmanand neither agreed no disagreed to this. Both the men parted ways in the corridor in mutual dissatisfaction. Neither was pleased with the other's words or behavior. But they still remained with each other out of mutual need and greed. The foundation of mutual trust, respect, esteem was however shaken.

Durdhara thought to herself, "Good...Amatya Rakshas and Padmanand at loggerheads...This is a welcome development...If only there was a way of manipulating this to our advantage...If only there was any way of knowing where her father, Chandragupt's foster parents and the rest of the villagers were held hostage...If only there was a way of winning over Amatya Rakshas to their side...If only she could somehow pass all this information of what was happening within to Chandragupt..."

Durdhara went to sleep thinking over the so many "if only" possibilities that lay before her. She did not eat the food or drink that had been kept for her.

The next morning at the fortress of Sitapur,

As Bhadrasal was being led away for execution, Padmanand and Amatya stood outside. Amatya's face was averted and bent in shame and guilt. He was feeling sorry for Bhadrasal's condition.

Bhadrasal prophesied ominously as he was being led away by the soldiers, "Padmanand, I bartered my soul for you and this is what you give me?...This is the price I am paying for being faithful to this man...What will be the price you will have to pay when your time comes, Amatya?"

Amatya Rakshas's personal chamber,

Amatya Rakshas was sitting all alone in his chamber. Bhadrasal cries and shrieks kept echoing in his mind, "I bartered my soul...This is the price I am paying for being faithful to this man...What will be the price you will have to pay when your time comes, Amatya?"

The words he had heard long ago from his comrade, co-scholar and contemporary Chanakya's mouth kept replaying in his psyche, "I will tell you the price you have paid for your success; what all you have gained, and what all you have lost! Perhaps you earned a name; AMATYA RAKSHAS, but you sold your soul for that, KATYAYAN! I knew KATYAYAN but I don't know this man standing in front of me! Perhaps you alone can decide for yourself if that is too little or too big a price to pay for success. Yeh jo safaltha ki Badi akash main tum udraheho, there sare pank katjayenge, there sare sapne tootenge, aur tumhe na apni akash na apni dharthi naseeb hoga! Is anisht ki hone seh pehle utjao! (This big sky of success in which you are flying, one day all your wings will be cut, all your dreams will break, and you will not have either your sky or the ground beneath your feet! Wake up before this catastrophe happens!)"

Amatya shut his ears in frustration to escape from his inner voices but in vain. The voices continued echoing in his ears.

Edited by shailusri1983 - 7 years ago

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#734

Part 5

In the kitchen,

Padmanand was questing the cook, "Did you mix that herbal decoction in the food?"

The cook replied, " Yes, Maharaj. I did. But the food and drink that was sent to her room was untouched."

Padmanand said, "Keep doing that. It is a slow poison. I need both of them alive at the present moment. So the poison will not have any immediate effect. But in the long term, it will kill Durdhara and her child. She is sure to eat and drink something or the other in these four days."

In the corridor,

Amatya kept walking away from there hastily. His heart started pounding very badly in his chest. The air around him had become unusually heavy and stuffy. He felt suffocated for breath. He had come to discuss the kind of nutritious diet their soldiers were to be provided when he accidentally overheard the conversation between Padmanand and the cook.

They were planning to kill a yet unborn, innocent child and a pregnant lady...Padmanand had not deemed it fit to either inform or discuss it with him. He had started keeping secrets from him. It only meant he no longer trusted him. Maybe, Padmanand knew he would never agree to something like this...He had done countless bad and amoral things in his life...But even he couldn't do this...He had to correct his mistakes...He couldn't let them die...He would save them at all costs...

In the chamber Durdhara was imprisoned,

The food and drink had been pushed in from afar before the door was securely locked again. Durdhara had spent a whole day without food, drink or proper nutrition. This present status quo could continue many days before rescue came. She would have to eat and drink to remain alive and for the sake of her forthcoming child. She was about to keep a mouthful within when she observed a secret note hurriedly stuffed within the food, "Slow poison has been mixed in this food and drink. Do not eat or drink anything. If at all you ate anything before you read this, eat the herb I have secretly placed beneath this plate. It is an antidote for this poison. If you do not trust me, there is a red vial of liquid. Add it to the food and drink. If they change color, it means your food has been poisoned. I may not be able to help you directly. There is a ledge beneath the widows of your chamber. I will secretly keep some food and drink on that ledge regularly. You will be able to sneak it within and eat and drink. But whatever you eat, drink or use here, test it with the red vial of liquid for any traces of poison.

-Amatya Rakshas."

She hurriedly dropped whatever she was about to eat and tested the food and drink for traces of poison. True enough. The food and drink changed color. She thanked Amatya Rakshas within her heart of hearts for saving her and her forthcoming child. Durdhara ran to the window. Just like the note had mentioned, food and drink had been kept there. To be doubly sure, she cross-checked by testing the food and drink before eating it. So this only meant that the chasm between Padmanand and Amatya was growing wide enough for Amatya to contemplate going against Padmanand.

Edited by shailusri1983 - 7 years ago

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Sweet88

@kanu_nvlkh

Beginner

Posted: 7 years ago

#735

Brilliant story! What narration! It's as if I m watching them live... U r simply brilliant... Always waiting for ur update...

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#736

Chapter Fifty-Three:

Four days later within the Fortress of Sitapur,

Padmanand and the cook were discussing why Durdhara was not eating the food that was being sent to her chamber.

Padmanand: It is really suspicious that a lady who is expecting has been forsaking her meals on a continuous basis.

Cook: I too felt the same. So I investigated and found that food and water are being regularly placed on the ledge beneath her window.

Padmanand: This is a serious issue. Somebody in our midst is helping our enemies. Were you able to see the person who was keeping the food and drink.

Cook: No...That person was too clever for me. He was a master of stealth.

Padmanand: This person whoever he is, is somebody Maharani Durdhara obviously trusts. So do one thing now. Send food as usual to her chamber and then exchange the food and water kept by this person on the ledge with our food and drink laced with slow poison. She may not be so careful with what she eats and drinks this time because she trusts this person.

Cook: Yours orders will be executed, Maharaj.

At night,

Amatya Rakshas was taking a night stroll when something that he beheld lying on the window ledge curdled his stomach. It was a jet black raven. He had apparently eaten a few dropped remains of food. He looked terribly sick as though what he had consumed had terribly upset his stomach.

Rakshas immediately sped to the inner chamber of Durdhara through a secret passage which only he knew.

Rakshas asked with bated breath, "Maharani, you haven't eaten the food and drink I kept for you on the ledge, have you?"

Durdhara: No...I wasn't feeling well so...

Rakshas: Thank goodness! That food was poisoned. Padmanand was cleverer than we assumed him to be. He switched the food I kept for you.

Durdhara (utterly shocked): But I did eat a mouthful...

Rakshas: Quick...consume the antidote...I did tell you to test everything you consumed, but...By the way, how long ago did you eat?

Durdhara: Amatya...I trust you completely...That's why I did not check...May be a three or four hours ago...

Rakshas sat down shell-shocked.

Durdhara: Then won't the antidote work?

Rakshas: Not as effectively as one would wish...Though it makes me happy that at least somebody trusts me unconditionally the way you do, I only wish you had realized the precarious sitiation in which you are.

Durdhara: Then am I and my child going to die?

Rakshas: Not as yet...This is slow poison...and moreover you have taken the antidote...Chanakya would be able to save your child...But you...you...may not survive this childbirth...

Rakshas sat down contemplating the whole situation before he said, "Let's go..."

Durdhara: Where?...Without the other hostages?

Rakshas: It is too unsafe for you to remain here any longer...I will take you out of this...I have made my call...I don't care what Padmanand thinks...I will not have this crime on my conscience

Durdhara: But I am not coming without the others...

Rakshas: I will be able to sneak just you out of this fortress and not the entire village...

Durdhara: You may not be able to do it...But if you seek my husband, Maharaj Chandragupt's aid, he surely will be able to save all of them ...Don't you think, so...

Rakshas paused for perhaps the last time he would in his life pondering whether he was going to take this jump; desert an undeserving master whom he had served faithfully for years and take the leap of faith on a true and benevolent monarch

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Shailaja

@shailusri1983

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

#737

Chapter Fifty-Four:

Near a Landslide Site,

Acharya Chanakya was talking to a group of officers who were supervising the clearing up operations of the Raajmarg leading to Sitapur.

Chanakya: How long will it take to clear this blocked route?

Officer: It will take three more days.

Chanakya: I have to reach Sitapur as quickly as possible. Fasten up the cleaning operations.

Officer: We are trying our best, Acharya. But even the present weather conditions are acting against us and stalling the work. It has been raining heavily since two days.

Chanakya: Is there another route?

Officer 2: There is another circuitous and dangerous route.

Chanakya: Anything...anything will do rather than sitting here like this waiting for things to happen.

Officer 2: I will arrange for a special escort then...

Chanakya: Yes, do that.

After the officer left, Chanakya spoke within himself, "I am trying my best Chandragupt. But I don't know if even after all these attempts I will reach in time to help you...Oh Almighty, please guide my student in the right path. Send somebody who will advise him in my place and extricate him from this difficult situation. This is his biggest test of all. His family, his people, his nation and he himself is at stake...It has never happened before that he is in such a tricky situation and I wasn't with him...Guide him, Lord.

At Chandragupt's Camp near Sitapur,

Amatya Rakshas had escorted Rani Durdhara out of the fortress of Sitapur, true to the promise he had made to her.

Chandragupt: I really do not know how to thank you sufficiently for whatever you have done for us in bringing Rani Durdhara out of that situation.

Rakshas: I have worked and acted against you and Chanakya for nearly half of my life. But even in my enmity, I have respected both of you. While in discharging what I thought was my loyalty, I always despised myself. I WAS WRONG.

Nandini: Please do not say like that Amatya. You were misled by your sense of loyalty.

Rakshas: Whatever it was, I have to pay the price for it.

Durdhara: Please don't say that! You saved me and the future heir of Magadh.

Rakshas: I regret to inform you that I didn't Rani Durdhara...I didn't... I only stalled your death until the time of childbirth. The effects of the slow poison you had consumed are not completely nullified. Chanakya with his immense knowledge of medical and surgical procedures will be able to save only the heir of Magadh. And don't feel sorry for me. I endangered your life and that of the villagers of Patalgram in the first place.

Chandragupt: But Amatya, have you considered this. If you go back, it is your sure death and that of the rest of the hostages as and when Durdhara's absence is discovered...Nobody else has the nerve and steel to act against Padmanand right beneath his nose...He will know it was you who did this...

Amatya: There is a plan...risky...but if properly executed could be successful. Neither will Maharani Durdhara's absence be noticed nor will the lives of the hostages be endangered.

Chandragupt: What is it?

Amatya: But for that... I need Rani Nandini's help.

Nandini: Please guide us, Amatya. I am ready to do anything if it will save our people and help us in nabbing...Pitha Maharaj.

Edited by shailusri1983 - 7 years ago

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AshtaVasus

@AshtaVasus

Voyager

Posted: 7 years ago

#738

OOOH... SHAILU is BACKKK

Let me reserve this seat...

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AshtaVasus

@AshtaVasus

Voyager

Posted: 7 years ago

#739

Beautiful and very interesting updates, Shailu.

One incident, correctly executed, is sufficient to bring down the mountain of trust between Nand and Rakshas. And the underlying principle of not touching women by Amatya is what has brought the downfall of Nand. Amatya was as such troubled by Bhadrasal's death, followed by Chanakya's words ringing in his ears. So, finally he chose to listen to his heart and chose to help Durdhara. Is he planning to replace Durdhara with Nandini in Sitapur fort ?

Edited by rajatshweta - 7 years ago

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Princess of Videha

@JanakNandini

Voyager

Posted: 7 years ago

#740

I am really glad to see you back after so many days.Though you are writing very good plots around bahubali in wattpad , I feel you shpuld come here as well and write another ff in cn.It wouldbe a treat if you could write a contemporary era ff.

Coming to the story

i find it very well executed plot.Your characters did not change.Like Nand is nand.He has not subdued cruelly as cvs did in serial.Nand is giving superb fight to cgm.At this point he almost teared his shield.He is in upper front over cgm in the seige.

Next is Amatya. Again unlike in the cn he is shifting his side from evil to bad.He got his own set of rules that no one should harm unborn child etc

But somewhere i feel Nandini is given more importance.Nandini may be king favorite but as per this story she is not far superior than Helena. Dont get me wrong.I really expected Helena to be there .Durdhara she herself always sees down that she is not contributing anything to cgm.But I wish to see how cgm calms and consoles her.She is going to die soon.

I find two points unanswered

When amatya says durdhara is poisoned and shall die.Neither chandra nor others exoresses any shock over that.Instead Chandra was more bothered about Amatya...???

Nand did not notice Durdhara missing iin her room.

Edited by JanakNandini - 7 years ago