3 Chapter 2: The Emperor's Crown

"You're not my son! Stay away!" His own mother screamed.

And the dream broken. He woke up. Panting and grasping for air. Drops of sweat dripping from his bald head. Even a drop of tear was on his chick. He quickly wiped it off and rose. His room was narrow. It had only a small window,a thin bed and a water pot. He looked through the window. The darkness is fading. "Dawn is close",he thought. He must go to the river and pledge his respect to the Suryadeva. The God of Light. He sighed. "When will you cover Bharat's with your light,O great Lord? When will you burn away the Nanda dynasty and unify this great land under one rightful ruler?". Anger flushed within him. He put his hand on the back of the head and felt his untied top-knot. "I curse you,I'll end this empire as a great wind uproots a tree. And until then,I vow not to tie this Shikha." He remembers him saying this in front of the Lord of the most powerful dynasty of the land. Fifteen years has passed since then,and he finally found a way to fulfill his vow just two years ago. He still remembered it. He was just another poor brahmin back when he just fled from Dhananada's court fifteen years ago. He asked for food village to village,some of the villagers welcomed him with more hospitality,some less,some none. In a less hospitable village,he found a pregnant woman,on the brink of collapse. She was so skinny that he could almost see her blue bones behind the skin. Her breasts were deflated,and her belly so swollen that she was looking very ugly. All the villagers avoided her hut and never responded to her cries. Chanakya chuckles just thinking about that moment he entered her hut. "Men will give more importance to the crying of a cow than they give to the crying of a woman,because the cow gives them milk everyday and women gave them birth only once." He thought. "Thats what the land of Sri Krishna,Sri Ram and countless Gods has become." Chanakya leaped into the dark histories once again.

When he entered the hut,a stink made his face crawl. Stink of blood,piss and shit. He couldn't even bear to take a look at the body of the woman. But when he gathered himself and looked at her face,that was the moment he knew.

She had royal blood in her.

He asked her how could he be of help. She replied she doesn't need any help. Chanakya could see it in her eyes. She'll die. Now,his job is to make certain that she dies after the childbirth,not before it. He opened his alchemy kit.

'Guru!' a distant shout called. Chanakya brought himself back from the past. The outside was already fresh. The gardener boy,Soumya is calling him. It is time to go to the river. Chanakya lifted himself up from his bed. He grabbed his stick and went out. It was still a bit dark. The river was not far. Chanakya walks fast for a man of his age. The road to the river was narrow and through the forest. When he came near,he heard the whooshing of water. Surprised,he grabbed his stick and went near the river and saw Chandra,swimming.

"What brings you here this soon,Chandra ?" He asked.

"Nothing. Just...you know... wandering in the water." The boy was shivering. It is clear from his voice. "And he is angry!" Chanakya thought. Though totally knowing the reason behind his anger,he asked "Come out of the water,Chandra. Why are you angry?"

Recklessness filled the boy's face. He reddened. Then leaped on the riverbank and screamed "Why did you not allow me to go to go with Kapil? I might be little,but I'm every bit of a warrior as he. Why cannot I fight alongside my brothers to defend our mother? Why cannot I fight alongside Kapil and the other Khsyatriyas?

"You cannot fight alongside them because you'll rule over them." Chanakya thought. "You cannot fight alongside them because you're not one of them. You're lowborn." Chanakya said.

Tears filled the boy's eyes. He jumped back into the river and chest high in water,he stayed still. Chanakya noticed that the sun is up. He's about to go into the water too,just before he saw a sight he wouldn't forget in his entire life. He paused.

Chandra was facing backwards him. The sun came right up his head,and it seemed that it stayed right there. Paused still. Making the sun look like a Golden crown above his head.

"Suryabangsham" Chanakya whispered. Then he bowed his head. Whether it was to the Sun God or to his King,no one knew.