King Chandragupta Maurya was walking towards Daadi's Chamber with all the letters collected as evidence.
In light of the sudden turn of events, changes in the administration have to be handled on priority. And, where family, receptivity towards people and commanding people with love are concerned, Daadi was a specialist and a better judge. Daadi's deep insight and her emotional intelligence in handling the family brawls was well known.
If a job has to be done right, at the right time and right place, and in the right way, a Leader will have to choose the Right person to do it.
It is very heartening to see a intelligent dadi. I think these days dadi's fan are increasing!
Other than Daadi, nobody else can make this family work as a single cohesive unit, at a time when everything in this family seems to be brittle. So, he chose Daadi to be his mascot.
In times of impending war, night or day does not matter. Every single moment was important. On the way, Chandra sent word for Rajmata Moora and Nandini to assemble in Daadi's Chamber immediately.
The arrival of King Chandragupta Maurya to Daadi's was announced. Before Moora and Nandini could arrive, the King briefed his Daadi about the recent discovery of evidences and his plans in the new changes of administration.
Chandra is somewhat close to dadi than Moora. Perhaps Moora did not think ideally like a queen mother as she hurled Nandini many times !She should have read between lines as friends can be sometimes enemies in any royal household!Moora should have made her own assesment regarding the situation. Like Duru had two sautan. She should bought both of them under scanner which she did not do.
Helena was Patrani and was in-charge of the Palace. And since she is kept in house arrest, the Palace Administration should not suffer. Also, nobody in the Palace should sniff her absence; especially the Greeks. Therefore, the Palace related administration will be handled by Rajmata Moora with immediate effect. Considering her seniority, nobody would dare question her about Patrani's absence. Helena's official Rajsabha related administration will be handled by him and Acharya Chanakya.
Daadi questioned why Nandini cannot be given the Palace Administration as she is also his Queen. Chandra explained further.
Nandini's innocence in Durdhara's murder and other cases have now been proved. But he cannot go out and declare it public in the open Court, immediately. Naturally, the questions will arise as to who is the real culprit. If Greeks come to know that their Queen Apama and Helena have been imprisoned for acts of treason, war will break out immediately to get them released. Magadh is in imminent danger. And Nand will be waiting for such an opportunity. Hence, Nandini will have to act as Daasi for some more time.
Perfect! I will give a bow to this King!Why he should place his people into a trouble for the sake of helena
But, he din't want to see her one more day as a Daasi. He can't punish the innocent woman any further. She has been punished enough already. So, if he can't officially give her the Queen's post back, he atleast wanted her to live a clandestine royal life.
He requested Daadi if she could accommodate Nandini and Bindusar in her chamber for a few days. That way, Nandini need not work as a Daasi and take care of Bindusar at the same time. Not many people visit Daadi's chamber, and as such, everyone knows that Nandini was always Daadi's favourite. So, it won't raise many eyebrows and gossips in the Palace. Besides, it would be easy for him as a King, to keep three of his royal family members secure, in one place.
Daadi was only too thrilled to spend time with her great grandson and her favourite grand DIL. But, without wasting time, she questioned what plans the King has in mind, for Nandini.
The King explained that Nandini is the best Mother and Guardian to guard the Heir to the Throne. He narrated in brief how he had gone in disguise to kidnap Bindusar, and Nandini had a sword duel with him to protect his son. So, Nandini's primary duty would be to protect the Prince.
But, If war breaks out and he had to go out on war, he wanted Nandini to handle Magadh's official administration and court related matters. By then, He or Acharya Chanakya would declare her Queen and innocent of all crimes to the Public.
And if necessary, he wanted Nandini to head the Naari Sena (army of female soldiers) to fight the Greeks. He proudly told Daadi how Nandini had laid Chakravyuh against him, when he came to attack Magadh for the first time; and how beautifully she had trained her Naari Sena to fight with him valiantly.
I could see Nandini as a skilled fighter in your paragraph. I loved your writing here.
(Moora, his mother had just arrived and silently sat beside them).
But... he explained his predicament to Daadi with regard to Nandini. His voice was hoarse and face full of sorrow.
His Acharya used to say "Test a servant while in the discharge of his duties; a relative in difficulty; and a wife in her misfortune. And the beauty of a woman is in her unalloyed devotion to her husband".
Chanakya niti from Arthashastra.Looks like you have done a deep research for this ff.
As a banished Ex-Queen of Magadh, and brought back to work in the same Palace as a Daasi, Nandini had been a real angel in protecting his son Bindusar; even protected Him from his enemies sometimes. Everytime she had warned him of the impending danger, he had repeatedly ridiculed her and extended cruel pleasure in verbally abusing her, making her jealous, even manhandling her sometimes.
Despite all the taunts and insensitivity she had to endure, his dear wife had extended the same unconditional love and care towards him and his family. There was absolutely no change in her respect towards Mother Moora and Daadi. And Chandragupta Maurya, her husband and King, took every single opportunity to insult her; demean her; put her down with snide remarks of Nand Putri, Daasi, Dai Maa and Rajdrohi.
Moora was shifting uneasily in her seat now. Moora had inflicted the same wounds on Queen Nandini and insulted her intentionally in front of other Maids repeatedly. Everytime something went wrong, she had pounced on Nandini, just because she was Nand-Putri, the arch enemy's daughter. She also had been a tool in the hands of Apama and Helena to separate her own Son and His Love. Daadi had been the only one who stood for Chandra's and Nandini's Love consistently; and Moora had hated her for it.
The fact that her son chose his Daadi over his Mother to express his love and anguish, right in front of her, showed how immature she had been. And she was in no position to console him. She was equally guilty. It stung her like a bee. She dint know what all to apologise for, and how to correct her mistakes. Moora was totally embarrassed at the prospects of looking at her DIL in the eye now. Despite her age and experience, Moora realised that she still has a lot to learn from her Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law.
I really doubt if Moora was born in a royal lineage. She does not have any iota of brain and knowledge to be a queen mother.
Chandra continued with tears and in his tormented looks. He told Daadi that he was scared that Nandini might leave Him now. He had ill-treated her, and she had a right to be angry with him. And whenever she was angry or upset with him, in his experience, her nature was such that she would always silently walk away. He was scared she might leave Pataliputra without even telling him. And he dint know what to tell her now and how to convince her to stay.
Chanakya...Moora...Helena...Daasis... Anyone and Everyone who had insulted her can take refuge behind him; they can avoid her; they can keep their distance from her; they can seek apology from her... But HE ????? How can he avoid her? How can he hide from her? He cant take refuge behind someone else. He doesn't want to stay away from her. He has to face her. She is his Ardhangini. How can he face her ? What excuse can he give her?
He longed to see her as his Wife. But she would not be ready to accept him in her life ever again. He was scared at the prospects of losing her again. He dint listen to his heart. And now, he would never get a chance of confessing his love for her.
He had wronged her, as a Husband. As a Man, he had abused a woman. As a King, he had hurt the innocent. HE... was at fault... And when war is knocking at the door, he doesn't have the time to explain all this and apologise to her.
Daadi smiled and patted Chandra on his back. She knew both Chandra and Nandini are deeply in love with each other. Chandu is a "Hot and Angry" dude; Nandu is a "Calm and Docile" damsel. Chandu is an orphan-turned-king; Nandu is a Princess-turned-Daasi. They are like two poles of the same magnet. They keep fighting with each other, but can't live without each other.
The wise old woman advised the King that a Husband-Wife relationship of a King and Queen is different than that of a common man. Their Husband-Wife quarrels and misunderstandings can be handled, after the war dust settles down.
The need of the hour is that, each and every royal family member has a duty to perform to protect the Kingdom and its people.
She gave a meaningful look at Moora and Chandra before continuing "As of now, it is a lesson well learnt for both of you, that an enemy is not necessarily a person who revolts against you. You actually need to be wary of a friend who has been putting you down secretly."
As far as Nandini is concerned, she proudly continued, that her favourite grand DIL is a Magadh Putri and she would always be ready to handle anything for Magadh. Nandini would never leave her husband when he needs her the most. She knows her responsibilities as a Mukhya Maharani and will exercise her rights if the situation demands it.
She cited a few examples to pep him up : how Nandini had galloped alone towards her Father's camp to fight him, when both Nand's army and Seleucus' army had marched towards Magadh, how Nandini did not want to become Mukhya Maharani, but did so to appease the raging public, how she had saved him from Kaalkot Vish in the jungle and from the Vishkanya.
The King smiled and thanked Daadi for her wisdom and left it to her to explain the situation and responsibilities to both Mother Moora and Nandini.
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Nandini who had been standing all along silently behind the curtain, smiled at Chandra's confession of his true feelings for her, and felt humbled at Daadi's assessment of her nature.
She had come to Daadi's chamber in the middle of the night, to say that she was leaving Pataliputra (just as Chandra predicted), and Daadi was insisting that Chandra still has feelings for her and requesting her to stay. And that was when Chandra walked in, and Nandini quickly hid herself. She was angry with him and after all the things that happened, she dint have the heart to face him. She did what she came here to do; she came to Pataliputra to catch the culprit who killed Durdara and roaming free in the Palace, while she was getting punished unnecessarily. Now her job is done and she felt no longer needed by anyone. As such, Chandra repeatedly told her that he no longer needs her. And that hurt badly. She was leaving.
And Daadi, in her usual cupid form, đ this dadi is so playful as well.
great piece of work Sangeetha.I loved your chandra,nandini,dadi and Moora. As shailu asked what is the stand of Moora after knowing the truth? will she ask pardon? I am waiting for your update.I hope Nandini does not budge in easily. She is royal by birth an she is maintaining her level in this story.
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Anupamaa
Udne Ki Aasha
