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Chapter 4
Nand was pacing up and down in his cave. The cave was not very far away from Pataliputra but it was situated in deep jungle.Ganga was flowing outside the cave. Amatya Rakshasa and Avantika were speaking about the next plan of attack.
" Amatya, are you sure this is going to work?"Avantika asked him while she was preparing dinner in the cave.
"Maharani, we have to try hittong in all directions,if this works we win otherwise we will try alternate way."
Nand came near AMatya" where is Suprabha?"
Amatya " she came to meet me in evening.It seems foolish Moora is going to send Nandini to Devi Katyani temple for khali raath pooja. So we will execute the plan at that time".
Avantika started to shout"It is all because of this man ,I told him to kill that witch Moora long back when we eliminated Shishunag. Now my daughters are in dangerous place. who listens my words. What special Moora can give you which I cannot give you".
Avantika speaks without even thinking that a third person is amidst them.Her words is the outcome of all bitterness that her conjugal life with Nand inflicted upon her. She lost her power of thinking
Amatya became uncomfortable at this ranting of Avantika. Before he could reply a loud slap landed on Avantika face. "you stupid lady,where is Varshini?"Nand putting end to her words.
Avantika "She is dressing herself for tonight adventure".Nand's heart calmed down for a while.There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.
He never cared to listen to murmurs of Avantika .AMatya too started to read parchments of details which his spies gave him from Magadh.
Meanwhile outside the cave there was a very small hut.Inside it ,a young lady of Nandini's age was busily dressing herself as Nandini. After finishing her makeup she checked once again whether she missed any detail.Her dasi Kinnari was helping her. Just then they heard a knock on the front door.
Kinnari opened and a man of age around 30 walked in. His gait was royal and with all the freedom he sat in the small wooden bench near the mirror.
"Ekant" the girl said .Kinnari disappeared through the front door.
"So what makes the brave army head of Nand to see this Varshini?"
" Varshini are you mocking at me?"
"Bhadrasal, if you people fought the war more cleverly today I will be happily seated in the royal garden to listen all your love stories. And my sister Nandini will be happily married in Parvartak . Varshini said with a authority.
" Varshini,we fought with full capacity". He tries to give a explanation.
"Bhadrasal, you can be my fiance but in reality you talk too much lies. I saw how you and Hiranyamitra fumbled. Chandra could have taken you captive ,but it was due to my timely interference you had time to escape"
" You fought like a lioness. Seeing your prowess I thought of embracing you in the battlefield itself" he tried to calm down.
" Lioness hunt because you lions are lazy.Cut it out. Am I looking like Nandini.Did i miss".
Bhadra's face became dull seeing his lady love is going to act as someone's wife.
"What happened sir, I am going to only to act. Not to romance with Chandra" Varshini understanding his mind.
" How Varshini, like how you alone can escape him during nighttime . ?"
"Hey hey,Dont teach me how to do. For sake of my father's honour I can do anything. I can take care of myself. "Varshini retorted him.
Bhadrasal glanced her for a while. He took a sindoor from the cup and placed in her forehead.
" Dont forget Varshini, this Bhadrasal is waiting for you ."
Varshini let out few tears " Bhadra,will you marry me even if"
"Even if??"
" Like if chandra does something to me ..let me put it down this way ,if he really start to take to behave or excise the rights of an husband . "Varshini finished the sentence with her face eagerly waiting for his reply.
"Will you let it happen". Bhadra asked
"Not at any cost Bhadra. But still I am not sure how the situation is going to be.I tried contacting my sister but in vain. I dont know Bhadra none of my teachers taught me how to handle this kind of situation.It is like walking barefooted in a sword. Just think I have to gain Chnadra's confidence but will he really grant that without taking his rights as husband?"
Bhadra has no answer to this question. He knows how Varshini loves him . He got up from the seat and took her hands
Nand was pacing up and down in his cave. The cave was not very far away from Pataliputra but it was situated in deep jungle.Ganga was flowing outside the cave. Amatya Rakshasa and Avantika were speaking about the next plan of attack.
" Amatya, are you sure this is going to work?"Avantika asked him while she was preparing dinner in the cave.
"Maharani, we have to try hittong in all directions,if this works we win otherwise we will try alternate way."
Nand came near AMatya" where is Suprabha?"
Amatya " she came to meet me in evening.It seems foolish Moora is going to send Nandini to Devi Katyani temple for khali raath pooja. So we will execute the plan at that time".
Avantika started to shout"It is all because of this man ,I told him to kill that witch Moora long back when we eliminated Shishunag. Now my daughters are in dangerous place. who listens my words. What special Moora can give you which I cannot give you".
Avantika speaks without even thinking that a third person is amidst them.Her words is the outcome of all bitterness that her conjugal life with Nand inflicted upon her. She lost her power of thinking
Amatya became uncomfortable at this ranting of Avantika. Before he could reply a loud slap landed on Avantika face. "you stupid lady,where is Varshini?"Nand putting end to her words.
Avantika "She is dressing herself for tonight adventure".Nand's heart calmed down for a while.There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.
He never cared to listen to murmurs of Avantika .AMatya too started to read parchments of details which his spies gave him from Magadh.
Meanwhile outside the cave there was a very small hut.Inside it ,a young lady of Nandini's age was busily dressing herself as Nandini. After finishing her makeup she checked once again whether she missed any detail.Her dasi Kinnari was helping her. Just then they heard a knock on the front door.
Kinnari opened and a man of age around 30 walked in. His gait was royal and with all the freedom he sat in the small wooden bench near the mirror.
"Ekant" the girl said .Kinnari disappeared through the front door.
"So what makes the brave army head of Nand to see this Varshini?"
" Varshini are you mocking at me?"
"Bhadrasal, if you people fought the war more cleverly today I will be happily seated in the royal garden to listen all your love stories. And my sister Nandini will be happily married in Parvartak . Varshini said with a authority.
" Varshini,we fought with full capacity". He tries to give a explanation.
"Bhadrasal, you can be my fiance but in reality you talk too much lies. I saw how you and Hiranyamitra fumbled. Chandra could have taken you captive ,but it was due to my timely interference you had time to escape"
" You fought like a lioness. Seeing your prowess I thought of embracing you in the battlefield itself" he tried to calm down.
" Lioness hunt because you lions are lazy.Cut it out. Am I looking like Nandini.Did i miss".
Bhadra's face became dull seeing his lady love is going to act as someone's wife.
"What happened sir, I am going to only to act. Not to romance with Chandra" Varshini understanding his mind.
" How Varshini, like how you alone can escape him during nighttime . ?"
"Hey hey,Dont teach me how to do. For sake of my father's honour I can do anything. I can take care of myself. "Varshini retorted him.
Bhadrasal glanced her for a while. He took a sindoor from the cup and placed in her forehead.
" Dont forget Varshini, this Bhadrasal is waiting for you ."
Varshini let out few tears " Bhadra,will you marry me even if"
"Even if??"
" Like if chandra does something to me ..let me put it down this way ,if he really start to take to behave or excise the rights of an husband . "Varshini finished the sentence with her face eagerly waiting for his reply.
"Will you let it happen". Bhadra asked
"Not at any cost Bhadra. But still I am not sure how the situation is going to be.I tried contacting my sister but in vain. I dont know Bhadra none of my teachers taught me how to handle this kind of situation.It is like walking barefooted in a sword. Just think I have to gain Chnadra's confidence but will he really grant that without taking his rights as husband?"
Bhadra has no answer to this question. He knows how Varshini loves him . He got up from the seat and took her hands
" Varshini,I love you not for your external appearance.Not because you are untouched by others. I love you for your heart. This very heart which is standing up for the sake for her father.For the sake of motherland. I am not bothered whether he forces you etc. Even if that is the case, I am sure he cannot pollute your heart which beats only for me. Forget everything Varshini, think this as sacrifice for the gratification of lord. You are gold and I am sure you always will be.
Varshini hugged him tightly " now I can accomplish our mission".
Soon they entered Nand's den.
Avantika and Amatya welcomed them warmly.Nand hugged Varshini.
" my dear girl , do you remember what we have planned?"
"yes father"
" Go and release your sister from the hands of enemies. Once you take her place in the temple ,behave as though you are Nandini. Take time,no hurry. We can wait even for years but dont ruin it in haste. Win his confidence . "
"Yes father. I know my limits father"
" from now on your name will be Roopa".
Avantika and others bid farewell to Varshini a.k.a Roopa.
Within no time they landed near Goddess Katyani temple. Varshini spotted Nandini .She wasted no time and asked Nandini to leave with Bhadrasal who was dressed like the temple priest replacing the real priest .
"Varshini... "
"sshh, sister I am not varshini.I am roopa..."
Nandini's mind was like a candle which is floating in a cyclonic sea. She was not in both the side.If her husband is victorious her lovable father will be running for his life.If the case is otherwise again her father will get her married to Malay citing that previous one was a forcible captive. She was confused and struck in between.While Varshini's state of mind is pristine clear. She wants to uproot Chandra from the Magadh .
Varshini sat on the temple floor and began to wait for sunrise.
Varshini hugged him tightly " now I can accomplish our mission".
Soon they entered Nand's den.
Avantika and Amatya welcomed them warmly.Nand hugged Varshini.
" my dear girl , do you remember what we have planned?"
"yes father"
" Go and release your sister from the hands of enemies. Once you take her place in the temple ,behave as though you are Nandini. Take time,no hurry. We can wait even for years but dont ruin it in haste. Win his confidence . "
"Yes father. I know my limits father"
" from now on your name will be Roopa".
Avantika and others bid farewell to Varshini a.k.a Roopa.
Within no time they landed near Goddess Katyani temple. Varshini spotted Nandini .She wasted no time and asked Nandini to leave with Bhadrasal who was dressed like the temple priest replacing the real priest .
"Varshini... "
"sshh, sister I am not varshini.I am roopa..."
Nandini's mind was like a candle which is floating in a cyclonic sea. She was not in both the side.If her husband is victorious her lovable father will be running for his life.If the case is otherwise again her father will get her married to Malay citing that previous one was a forcible captive. She was confused and struck in between.While Varshini's state of mind is pristine clear. She wants to uproot Chandra from the Magadh .
Varshini sat on the temple floor and began to wait for sunrise.
There inside Chandra's room Durdhara decided to convince Chandra regarding misconception about Nandini. She explains him that today is Khala ratri where newly wed girls of Magadh has to sleep in Katyani temple to get her blessings. It is the practice followed in Magadh since days of yore.
Chandra did not react and was steadily looking at Moon. Durdhara did not understand why her husband is standing still as if he has become a statue. She touched his shoulders and asked "Maharaj, are you still angry at Nandini?"
"Durdhara, A coin has two sides.Sometimes we see two coins but think as if it is one.Do you understand?"
"no Mahraj"
He smiled and " let it be..I am waiting .watch the play"
"What "
" Khali ratri is for Nandini only right?" Chandra with a smirk in his face.
"yes" Durdhara blushed understanding the inbuilt meaning of her husband's words.
Chandra did not react and was steadily looking at Moon. Durdhara did not understand why her husband is standing still as if he has become a statue. She touched his shoulders and asked "Maharaj, are you still angry at Nandini?"
"Durdhara, A coin has two sides.Sometimes we see two coins but think as if it is one.Do you understand?"
"no Mahraj"
He smiled and " let it be..I am waiting .watch the play"
"What "
" Khali ratri is for Nandini only right?" Chandra with a smirk in his face.
"yes" Durdhara blushed understanding the inbuilt meaning of her husband's words.
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