"I won't talk to you." "You will also leave me." "Grandfather too is leaving." "When you grow wings, you too will ﬂy away." "Emperor Chandragupta Maurya has embracedjainism... for which he is abdicating, giving up his throne... his kingdom and his people." "Grandfather, Asoka has taken your sword." "He says it is his." "You are leaving me, but the sword is mine." "Asoka, my son, this is not just a sword." "It's a demon." "When drawn, it hungers blood." "It doesn't see friend or foe." "It sees only b|ood.just blood." "Before it can do more harm, let us get rid of it." ""This is not just a sword." "it's a demon." "It doesn't see friend or foe." "It sees only b|ood.just blood."" "The Takshiia army is mightier than ours." "Halfour army has not reached." "General Shivrath, hasn't reached... or my brother Susima has not let it reach?" "We will not lose." "For even if wars are fought on battleﬁelds... they are won by the mind." "Takshila army, keep moving." "Prince, Takshila army is advancing." "Stop them, General, by force or by deceit." "Their army has been halved." "Now they want to surrender." "The enemy deserves a chance." "Don't you agree, General?" "Takshi|a's ﬂags are down." "We want to surrender, Prince." "Our army has laid down their weapons." "Takshila kneels before Magadha." "Surrender to me." "The weapon is with me." "That is no weapon." "This is a weapon." "The head that won't bow to us will be cut off." "What are you taking with you?" "Nothing." "All that and you say it's nothing?" "Give us some of it." "Should I?" "That's too much." "Want more?" "No, we'll share it." "You better smarten up." "Prince Asoka is arriving, victorious from Takshiia." "The stars never lie." "Damn your stars." "Susima's mother is King Bindusards favored queen." "With her around no one will dare eye the throne." "And what ofAsoka's mother, Queen Dharma?" "She is less of a Queen and more of a slave." "Only Prince Susima can claim the throne." "Where is Susima?" "General Shivrath." "The great General Shivrath." "It is you who suggested that Asoka be sent to Takshila." "You said he would lose, didn't you?" ""Send him with halfthe army and he won't return alive."" "You said so, right?" "Then what is this?" "What do we do with you now?" "You have failed." "What is the fate of a defeated soldier?" "Let me be sentenced to death." "Defeat hasn't crushed the Warrior's ego." "He still holds his head high." "I want him to lower his head." "These arms and medals belong to Magadhds proud army." "Do you thinkyou deserve all this?" "No." "Take them off." "Strip him naked." "Here, brother." "The General is now ready for war." "He has lowered his head." "Now you can kill him." "You don't know Asoka." "I have tried to kill him all ofeleven times." "Don't worry." "Asoka will die for sure." "You know your job well." "I advise you to attack him while he is bathing in the river... when he is most vulnerable... emerging out of the water, then..." "All I want is to know who sent you." "Long live King Susima." "You missed." "Again." "See, there isn't a scratch on me." "I want you to leave Magadha." "Why should I?" "The coming six moonless nights are not auspicious for you." "My good or bad luck rests with my sword." "ls that your wish?" "I run away?" "I'm no coward." "I'm not afraid ofanyone, Mother." "But I'm afraid." "How can you know a mother's pain?" "9 months I nurtured you in my womb." "lam your son, Mother." "I will understand your pain." "Even if I have to carry you around for nine months." "Let me know your pain, Mother." "You are right, Mother." "Nine moments maybe... but for nine months, you're too heavy." "Don't change the subject, will you leave or not?" "I heard you." "I promise, Mother." "Asoka." "l promise, Mother." "I promise, pundit—ji." "How are you?" "We've not met since your return." "I heard that someone tried to kill you." "Someone did try to kill me, yet again." "Who would want that, Asoka?" "A fool that misses each time." "Beware, Asoka." "One shouldn't underestimate the enemy." "He who faces me with a sword is my enemy." "Not someone who lunges from behind." "Either way, the one who survives ascends the throne." "No, Susima." "The throne belongs to the one... who has the courage to sit on it." "That's a childhood trait ofyours." "What I want, what I like... is your desire too." "You even took Grandfather's sword." "Get off the throne, Asoka." "Make me do so, Sugatra." "Not like this, Sugatra." "If you must have the throne then fight for it." "In front of everyone." "Meet me tomorrow morning and I'll ﬁght you, before everyone." "Tomorrow morning... in front of everyone." "Sleep well, Asoka." "Tonight is your last night." "You are ﬁnished." "I will fight him." "Go ahead...ﬁght him." "He dared to sit on the throne today." "Tomorrow, he may raise the sword on me." "Your Majesty, it is my belief that we analyze the situation..." "Prime Minister, my beiiefis that you stay silent." "It's you who has encouraged him." "Why blame the Prime Minister?" "Asoka is under Dharma's control." "Stop him, Dharma." "lfsomething should happen tomorrow... the blame will be entirely yours." "What's happening here?" "Mother is taking a vow ofsilence." "That will not happen here." "Everyone, leave." "What childishness is this?" "A vow ofsilence, for life?" "You won't talk to me ever again." "Why, Mother?" "She won't speak to anyone." "Mother says why speak when her own child turns a deaf ear?" "Mother wants you to leave Magadha and strive to live an ordinary life..." "Give her your word that no one will come to know you're Prince Asoka." "I must go?" "Leave?" "So that others can laugh at me for running away scared?" "You don't want your son to sit on the throne?" "But I wanted it for you." "Here." "I give in." "Now speak to me." "Vitasoka, tell Mother to greet an ordinary man." "Mother's like you, brother." "She won't speak till you leave." "All right, I'll go." "Even if you ask, I won't return." "Speak to me." "Brother won't be here." "He has gone, leaving Magadha." "Gone?" "So he's scared." "The brave Prince has ﬂed to save his life." "Idiot." "Change your tune." "What's the matter with you?" "Nothing." "Friends like us have nothing to hide." "Last night, when I went home, my wife was not there." "Where did she go?" "When I asked her in the morning... she said she was with her friend, Kamini." "Silly." "She must have been with Kamini." "You idiot, I was with Kamini." "No, I was with Kamini." "I was there too." "You must have gone after me." "Strange." "My wife's name is also Kamini." "That dark one?" "Yes." "Have you heard?" "Prince Asoka has gone leaving Magadha." "He must have gotten scared of Prince Susima." "Whenjupiter enters its twelfth position... every great man must go into exile." "Really?" "Like Rama, Pandavas, Princes." "Strange." "You're not from here." "Who are you?" "An ordinary traveler." "The sun remains the sun even behind clouds." "Your destiny indicates that you are in no way ordinary." "What lies in my destiny then?" "That I am a prince?" "One day I will be enthroned?" "Be an emperor?" "Even emperors are ordinary." "Your destiny transcends the throne." "Whose destiny can surpass that ofan emperor's?" "A traveler's... when his journey has been completed." "Eat, child." "In Kalinga no one goes to sleep hungry." "You eat too." "Here, Pawan. it's good food." "Pawan, eat this. it's tasty." "Why should you eat?" "You too miss Mother's hand feeding you." "No fuss." "I'm an ordinary man." "You an ordinary horse." "No royal palace or sumptuous dishes for us." "Now, it's the ground to sleep on... the open sky above... and pretty princesses who now exist only in our dreams." "Go, you searching wind, go away" "Go seek out my beloved" "One good enough for me" "It cannot be..." "If there is..." "Then maybe we can be together" "Go... go..." "The sky is a poet's page" "And I its poem" "Someone like me..." "Is rare in this world" "Touch me not..." "That's a dare..." "It would start raging ﬁre" "Go... go..." "I didn't see a thing." "I was just listening." "You swim..." "I mean you sing very well." "What's your name?" "I don't talk to strangers." "Stranger?" "Do you not feel that we have met before?" "In some other place, in another time... somewhere?" "Who are you?" "Pawan (the Wind)." "And you?" "Why are you following me?" "Your voice drew me." "lam warrior blood." "You risk death." "I am dead." "My warrmr." "Pawan, this place is unﬁt fora horse like you." "Wait here." "Look, another one in search of the same thing." "You won't ﬁnd..." "Nobody will." "Who?" "Not who, 'What'." "100 shining, clinking gold coins." "Reward for ﬁnding Prince Arya and Princess Kaurwaki." "You're very pretty." "And you're the prettiest, Meghna." "Meghna?" "My name's Urvashi." "Doesn't matter, you're all pretty." "Who is there?" "Will someone dare to take up my challenge?" "Friend, you seem new here." "How about you?" "Come, show us your mettle." "Go...go." "Brave youngsters these days parade around with twigs." "Give it back." "Sit." "Win it back." "What's your name?" "—Pawan (the Wind)." "A horse's name." "His father must be 'Badal' (cloud)." "Look behind..." "There's no one." "You won by cheating." "Either way, I won." "You must fight me again." "Let go." "I will not." "No way out." "You'll have to fight." "Where were you last night?" "I've been waiting for ages." "Who are all these people?" "Come home now, I'll show you." "You are the ﬁrst to defeat Vi rat." "Come with me." "You've not been drinking, have you?" "No." "You take over the bullock cart." "it's dangerous to drink and ride." "He's right, let's go." "Woke up, finally?" "Will you just sit around?" "Or will you work?" "What work?" "You must work if you want to stay." "If not, you should leave." "I can do any kind ofwork." "This work I cannot do." "Greetings." "I'm new to this." "You could face some discomfort." "Even so, please don't move." "And please don't kick." "Your eyes too are beautiful." "You?" "Why are you following me?" "lam following you?" "Yesterday I was in the forest and you emerged from the waterfalls." "Now you're here on the pretext ofgetting milk." "And what were you doing in my dream last night?" "At least tell me your name." "Give me the milk." "—Look, over there." "Hey, Warrior." "Stop." "Princess Kaurvvaki." "Yes, we found her." "The 100 gold coins are ours." "100 gold coins for her?" "Back off." "She is ours." "—Know how to swim?" "Yes, of course." "And you?" "That's good." "Lets go." "You crazy?" "If you can't swim then whyjump into the water?" "What's wrong?" "Seems all of Kalinga is after you..." "Princess Kaurvvaki." "You're among them." "For you, all I mean is 1 O0 gold coins." "I couldn't put a price on you." "The earth doesn't have enough gold for that." "Stay with Arya." "He is alone." "Stop." "Who sent you?" "Drink up." "When I'm king, there will be food for all." "Don't tell anyone." "Who is this?" "ls he dead?" "—|t'sjust an injury." "Go back inside." "How did he get hurt?" "—Bheema hit him." "Go inside." "Did he come to kill me?" "Arya, go inside." "Why did you bring him here?" "You know it's dangerous." "Why did you hit him?" "Arya, go inside." "First tell me, whyyou hit him." "Arya, go inside." "Why did you bring him here?" "He could be anyone, a murderer, an assassin..." "He saved my life, Bheema." "Don't you know why?" "He's after the same thing:" "100 gold coins." "You may take your life lightly but Arya is my responsibility." "Arya is my brother, General." "Let's go then." "I can't leave him in this condition." "You'll have to." "We are leaving from here." "General, are you ordering me?" "No." "I'm just trying to make you understand." "The rest is up to you." "Forgive me, Prince." "Please have your meal now." "Here, I'm Prince?" "Inside you scold me?" "Scold me then after eating." "l don't wish to eat." "I want to go home" "Yes, Prince." "We leave tomorrow." "Not tomorrow, today." "l said tomorrow." "It's always tomorrow." "When I am king everything will be settled today." "No tomorrows." "Kaurvvaki..." "Kaurvvaki, give it to me." "Mother, look at Kaurvvaki." "Mother." "It's all right." "It was onlya nightmare." "I want to go home." "Yes." "We will go." "Where is Prince Arya?" "I assure the senate that Prince Arya will soon be with us... to take the royal place of his late father." "I have announced a 100 gold coin reward to anyone who ﬁnds him." "It's not just a matter offincling Prince Arya." "The King's assassins roam free." "What's happening in Kalinga?" "Answer me." "There is a conspiracy brewing in Kaiinga." "The person involved is here in this senate amongst us." "Who is he?" "You." "Or you." "It may even be you." "Me?" "It could be anyone." "Suspecting each other is futile." "It's your responsibility to find the culprit, Prime Minister." "We trust you." "Kaurvvaki..." "Kaurvvaki..." "Now Kaurvvaki?" "Last night another name was on your lips." "ls that so?" "And what were you doing so close to me last night?" "Don't go." "It still hurts..." "If you leave, the pain will get worse." "My Warrior, listen." "l don't want to hear." "But I want to say it." "Fine." "Say it." "Can I come close and say it?" "What are you doing?" "Nothing?" "l saw him trying to tell you something." "He was telling me a story." "l want to hear it too." "But I don't know any stories." "l order you." "Tell me a story." "Prince, don't get angry." "I will tell you a story." "Once, there was a prince." "—Like me?" "A little older." "He left his kingdom and roamed thejungle." "Like us?" "Then what?" "One clay he heard something..." "Someone was singing." "The voice drew him to a waterfall." "He saw a princess, bathing..." "Her lovely body, head to toe, glistening with water drops." "And the prince fell in love." "At first sight." "l knew it." "Then?" "Said the prince to the princess, "You sing beautifully!"" "The princess got angry, picked up her sword." "Why?" "The prince didn't do anything." "He watched her bathe, you see." "So?" "I too bathe in the open." "You're different." "The Princess had no clothes on her." "Arya, supper's ready." "Come eat." "But I want to hear the story." "First eat." "Then the story." "How are you now?" "I'm fine." "I must ﬁnd the rascal who hit me from behind." "This rascal." "He hits everybody." "We should leave now." " By the way, where are you headed?" "Kalinga." "That's where I am going too." "We won't trouble you." "Let's go." "Tell me the story." "Rascal." "What is this?" "Left your work without warning?" "Work when you please." "Leave when you please." "This won't do." "She went away." "She didn't even look back." "ls it done?" "Come, get ready." "Come, get ready." "Let's catch the evening boat." "Let's get on it." "Come, let's go." "There will be an anchor, somewhere..." "Somewhere there's a shore Let's go." "Let's go." "Prepare yourself, then let's leave" "Whether we swim or we sink..." "We have to get across" "The evening will be so pleasant" "The words will be mine." "But the thought yours" "The talk will be innocent..." "sweet, diluted with honey" "What is this surge of love?" "D0 I drown to experience it?" "Can't you tell what it is?" "Where could it lead?" "The heart will burn, the eyes will ﬁll" "You ﬁght very well." "Here, straighten this." "I'll be leaving too." "Wait." "The fight is not over." "l warn you." "I have learnt the art of battle from the great texts." "I know 1 8 tactics ofﬁghting." "I do too." "All 'l8?" "All 18 of them." "Come, fight." "Tell me, friend." "Do you know the 1 9th tactic?" "Which is this i 9th tactic?" "The 1 9th tactic?" "In the 1 9th tactic the warrior ﬁghts his foe blindfolded." "Like this." "Pawa n, Pawa n." "Quiet, everyone." "What's new in that?" "Even I know this tactic." "Prepare yourself." "Have you got the blindfold on?" "Yes." "You can't see anything?" "—Nota thing." "You hit ﬁrst." "T")!" "again." "Keep at it." "Friend, remember... the '19th' tactic." "Quiet." "Will he be back?" "Who, Pawan?" "Yes, Pawan." "I want to hear the story." "Here you go, prince." "Eat some fruit." "Bheema, know any stories?" "No." "No for everything." "Tell us, who are you?" "What are you doing here?" "Princess, hide." "Were you looking for me?" "When you left you did not look back even once." "Take care ofArya." "Don't leave them, Bheema." "He will kill everyone." "Well, what's this?" "The sun pendant." "It is our Prince Arya, isn't it?" "Look, our Prince got scared." "Don't be afraid, Prince." "We won't do anything to hurt you." "You ﬁght well." "Where did you learn?" "I'm a soldier in the Magadha army." "You, soldier of Magadha army?" "And I'm the General of Kalinga." "That makes us enemies." "Enemies." "How long?" "How much longer will it take?" "Do I have to wait for eternity to ascend the throne?" "Find Prince Arya and kill him." "As proof, hand me the sun pendant he wears around his neck." "Go." "Why a sword in such beautiful hands?" "I want to be as skilled as you in wielding the sword." "To fight the evil ones." "Who are they?" "The ones who killed my parents." "I'm with you, Kaurvvaki." "I will always be close to you." "I don't want to depend on others." "Then, hold the sword like this." "Let it be a part of your body." "Let it connect to your soul." "No fear, no hesitation..." "No sense oflife or death." "Focus only on your target." "Not like this." "Eye to eye..." "Never shift your eyes from your enemy." "I just touched my warrior and she took offense." "just imagine, she pushed me." "You men." "You could not have said or heard anything." "Probably grabbed the girl's hand." "l did." "So?" "You need to be gentle with girls." "Some love, some ﬂowers... say some words of love." "Say what?" "Love speaks for itself." "Are you afraid of expressing love?" "I'm not afraid ofanything." "Nonsense." "Tell me, how does one go about this love talk?" "Here." "Hold these ﬂowers." "Take it all." "Go tell her..." "I love you...you alone." "I can't think ofanything but you." "After meeting you my world has changed." "I have changed." "I can't understand anything." "lfl keep silent, I'll go mad." "All that?" "I can't do it." "Hold this?" "You have to say it." "I'm In love with you" "Right." "Only you." "Perfe:t." "Keep at it and I'll get some more ﬂowers." "Ever since I have met you, everything's changed." "I have changed, you seem changed." "I can't think ofanything or anyone else but you..." "You." "Your love story brings tears to my eyes." "Now your tears will ﬂow." "My friend, not today." "Somebody is waiting." "They'll have to wait a lifetime." "\/I rat, my friend..." "Nothing will work today." "No blindfold, no l 9th tactic." "Today nothing will work." "What if I say there's someone behind you?" "I won't look back." "There's someone behind you." "l know there's no one." "Virat, somebody is there." "You're cheating again." "Telling me lies?" "I'm leaving, my friend." "So?" "You promised you'll be with me forever." "After that day, I see you today." "I won't speak to him ever, didn't even tell me before he left." "Are you Crying?" "First, you ﬁght with Pawan." "Then you sit here and cry?" "Why should I cry?" "What have I to do with him?" "—Look, Pawan's horse." "You glass doll..." "Sealed in your lips is the Iilt of love" "But you won't speak" "Or utter it" "It lingers on your eyelashes" "And lurks on lowered eyes" "Come, listen." "Sweeter than sugar are your veiled eyelids" "You don't open your eyes or reveal what they say" "If you wish to cross the hills I'll move mountains for you" "If you seek shelter in the clouds I'll ward off the monsoon rains" "A bird in the sl y will guide you to the hill where the sun rises" "Please introduce yourself, beautiful Your smile is sweetness" "You are a foreigner, will forget me easily." "Give me your promise" "So I can wear it like a jewel" "The prime minister of Magadha has sent a message." "Please continue with the story." "The story... where were we?" "The Princess's clothes..." "She wore them, walked away, and the prince followed her" "Why?" "Lovely princess, alone in a dark forest..." "What ofwild animals?" "Any wild animal seeing a lovely princess would follow." "Then what happened?" "The princess turned around and said, "l am a princess..." "If you follow meyou will get a tight slap"." "The prince left then?" "No, he was shameless." "ls this your story or mine?" "You tell it then." "No, you tell it." "Why would our prince who braved death bother over a slap?" "He kept following the princess." "Suddenly, three monsters appeared." "Where was the prince from?" "The prince had no kingdom." "It was stolen from him." "just like us." "Someone stole our land as well." "Someone stole our Kalinga." "So what?" "The sun is yours, the moon too." "All the stars up there are yours." "No one can take that away from you." "Really?" "Yes." "What's more, no man can take your land away from you." "I'm there with you." "I'll get your land back for you." "Hey, warrmr." "I listen to me." "I have not told anyone this before." "Kaunmaki..." "listen." "Please listen." "Tell me." "Kaurvvaki, I love you, only you." "I can't think ofanything or anyone but you." "Ever since I have met you everything has changed." "I have changed." "I don't know what to do." "If I didn't tell you, I would lose my mind." "I love you, only you." "I can't think ofanything or anyone else but you." "Ever since I have met you everything has changed." "I have changed." "I'm glad you told me." "If you didn't, I would lose my mind." "That's exactly what I said." "But you should say it like this." "Where were you?" "With Pawan." "What were you doing?" "ls this the way to behave?" "That too with an ordinary soldier?" "Bheema, don't forget who it is you are talking to." "That's why I am speaking out." "It is not right for you to associate with Pawan." "Careful, Bheema." "I love Pawan." "You love Pawan?" "Who is Pawan?" "Where does he come from?" "He says four nice words to you and you think it's love?" "How do you see it?" "You think I don't know what love is?" "You don't." "You don't know the difference between love and a commoner's lust." "Don't forget that you arejust a General... and I'm a princess." "You are my servant." "A slave to my royal family." "Yes, I'm a servant." "But who are you?" "You thinkyou are a princess?" "The family you are so proud of..." "What did you say?" "What about my family?" "Tell me, Bheema." "You were found by a ﬁsherman." "Your origin is unknown." "No one knows your lineage..." "The king adopted you." "Who am I then?" "Nobody knows." "My warrior, why are you here alone?" "I know what you are thinking." "Me, a princess." "He, a mere soldier." "Arriving with his heart, horse and sword." "Warrior." "What happened?" "What's wrong?" "lam no warrior, Pawan." "Those who I thought were my parents..." "I am not of their blood." "They found me, Pawan." "They raised me as an orphan." "I have no identity, Pawan." "What difference is there... between the blood of a warrior and that ofan ordinary man?" "Nothing's changed." "I love you." "Who do you love?" "Who am I?" "You are my warrior, my princess." "Come with me." "Look." "Look at the ﬂame." "Are you going to push me away again?" "Not so quick." "Tell me, what's my wedding gift?" "I've given you my heart." "What more?" "Your horse." "He's yours." "Your sword." "That too." "Your clothes." "Not in front of the horse." "What are you doing?" "My Warrior...no...no..." "I'll be right back." "Stand upright, don't bow." "Greetings, Prince Asoka." "Embrace me." "Why are you here?" "Your mother wants to meet you." "Tell Motherl will not return." "She is very ill." "You may go." "What's the matter?" "Mother's unwell." "You should go to her then." "What about you and Arya?" "We'll be ﬁne." "We'll stay here till you get back." "Please go." "You're leaving again?" "I won't let you go." "Prince Arya, a matter of two days." "I'll return soon." "You did not even finish the story." "Where were we?" "Yes... the three monsters died." "The prince killed them all." "The Princess's anger turned to love." "The prince asked for her hand in marriage." "She said yes, right?" "Instantly." "Then?" "Then the prince left." "Where to?" "To his mother who was ill." "This is a sad story." "No way." "The prince will return with hundreds of horses and elephants to take his princess away." "Tell the prince to return soon." "His princess will be waiting." "The prince will come back with hundreds of horses and elephants." "You take care of Kaurvvaki." "Greetings, Prince." "Where is Mother?" "Come inside." "You lie to me and then want God's forgiveness?" "Had I not lied how would I see my son?" "Seen me?" "Now I must leave." "Someone is waiting for me." "who?" "Someone." "As lovely as a lotus, a heavenly creature." "She is so beautiful." "Anyone who sees her..." "Will become a poet?" "No... a lover." "You forget the white hair." "White hair?" "She is someone else but you'll always be my ﬁrst love." "Mere words." "Who is she?" "Kaurvvaki." "—Kaurvvaki?" "What of her family?" "All here." "You, Vitasoka, me." "We are her family." "Mother, I have married her." "Married?" "Whydidwtyou bring her?" "Not like this." "When I do, Magadha will welcome her ceremoniously." "The streets will be lit with lamps, decorated with ﬂowers." "Then I will tell her who I am." "You've not told her yet?" "I told a lovely white-haired lady that I won't tell anyone." "Silly." "Take the blessings of the King." "Praise the lord." "General, the rumor all over Kalinga is that Prince Arya has been killed." "The senate has decided to place someone else on the throne." "I know that's why it's important that I go to Kalinga." "It's unsafe for Arya to go there now." "Princess, give me your anklet..." "Arya, your necklace." "No one should know they are hiding here." "Don't worry, General." "I will guard them with my life." "He's served the royal family for years." "You'll be safe here." "Don't go anywhere until my return." "Yes... now I have to listen to the Genera|'s orders." "Greetings, Susima." "Greetings." "Where were you all these days?" "just wandering around." "Tomorrow morning, in front of everyone." "I was just scaring you." "I don't want to fight." "Susima, I don't want the throne or the crown." "I don't want anything." "Have you ever loved someone?" "Love?" "—No?" "You should." "Brother, he is trying to trick us again." "So, you've returned?" "You remembered Magadha?" "Forgive me, Your Majesty." "I wanted to..." "A rebellion is threatened in Ujjaini." "Go there." "Any problem?" "No, Your Majesty." "Are you missing Pawan?" "Yes." "He said that should I think of him I should call his name out loud." "Then, he'll appear." "Should I call him?" "You call out as well." "Prince..." "I must go." "His highness has ordered..." "Don't worry." "You go to Ujjaini." "I will meet you there." "Despite the talk, I was sure you were all safe." "Who would want to kill Prince Arya?" "At ﬁrst I suspected you." "And I suspected you." "At times like this friends suspect one another." "Bring Prince Arya here at the earliest." "I cannot contain the senate any longer." "You are right." "Don't go alone, General." "I need no one." "You do." "The enemy is very cunning." "Where are Prince Arya and Princess Kaurvvaki?" "Burn this village, burn everything... either they'll come out or burn alive." "Where are Prince Arya and Princess Kaurvvaki?" "No." "Stop." "Stop, we are here." "Please let them be, I beg you." "Kaurvvaki." "Good that I found you." "That woman, she said..." "Where are Kaurvvaki and Arya?" "Bheema?" "Where is Kaurvvaki?" "What happened, Bheema?" "Where is Kaurvvaki?" "Bheema, where is Kaurvvaki?" "Bheema..." "I askyou, Where is Kaunmaki?" "Here's your 20th tactic." "What about the 1 9th one?" "Speak up, friend." "Your turn now." "No running off today?" "You've lost?" "Get up." "You're not even worth a thrashing." "What's this?" "Lost your mind?" "Let go of my hand." "Let go." "Who are you people?" "Let me go." "Wait." "But Prince Asoka, he tried to..." "Spare him." "'Prince' Asoka?" "You'll stay here." "Pawan is waiting for me." "His kind never return." "He will, Bheema." "His horse is here." "How is the wound now, friend..." "Prince?" "Prince, my problem is that my ﬁst moves faster than my mind." "Why haven't you left?" "How could I?" "You saved my life." "it's my duty to guard you for life." "From now, in war and victory, Vi rat will stand by you." "I want death not victory." "Was she beautiful, Prince?" "Very." "Are you going to Pawan?" "Yes." "I will come too." "You will not." "You will go to Kalinga with Bheema." "If I don't go, you don't either." "Should I call Bheema?" "Call him." "Come on." "Lets take Pawan's horse with us too." "How much longer?" "l don't know." "Asoka's winning war after war." "He seems undaunted by death." "Each victory is a step closer to the throne." "You must stop him at Ujjaini itself." "Friend." "Do you know any Pawan?" "A soldier in the Magadha Army, rides a horse." "No." "Let's go. it's raining." "Come." "No herb or medicine is helping him." "How does one save the life of a man who has no desire to live?" "Kaurmwaki, Kaurmwaki." "'Kaurvvaki'?" "Prime Minister, where is Asoka?" "l don't know." "You don't?" "Or are you hiding something?" "Why all this loyalty to Asoka?" "My loyalty is to the throne of Magadha." "Prince Asoka is getting better, isn't he?" "Physical wounds will heal." "But wounds of the heart..." "Haven'tyou seen how he calls out her name even in his sleep?" "Kaurvvaki, Kaurvvaki, Kaurvvaki." "Are you Crying?" "You see, my heart is rather tender." "Kaunmaki was very lovely?" "Yes." "But you are too." "You too." "And you, most of all." "What kind ofiove is this that lives on even after death?" "When you left you did not look back even once." "A bright glow pervades" "and ﬁlls your eyes" "Your eyes warn..." ""Don't touch me"" "Your dreams too... are reﬂected in your eyes" "I've searched and searched for you..." "In the sweep ofthe skies above hoping to ﬁnd you encased in a cloud" "I have looked and looked for you in every nook and corner hoping to spy you walking on a river bank" "I held on to time" "To ask where you are" "I asked the river and the vast ocean" "I walked the crest of waves feeling your caress" "Stop." "What are you doing?" "I won't let you kill this harmless bird." "Move away." "Why?" "It deserves to live as much as I do." "Move!" "Release the arrow." "Devi..." "Where were you, Devi?" "The ceremony awaits you." "Come, dear, come here." "She's exquisite." "They make a lovely couple." "I met Prince Asoka today..." "She's so shy." "She's quite spirited though." "He's become so vicious." "Everyone's scared of him but not me." "Why whisper?" "Tell us too." "What do you think of our son?" "Tell me, dear." "Are you happy?" "Congratulations, she has agreed." "Asoka's in Ujjaini, badly wounded." "Tale advantage of this, Sugatra." "How?" "He is guarded on all sides." "it's impossible to break through." "Difﬁcult but not impossible." "Here, take this medicine." "With this your fever will lessen and you'll sleep well." "It's Devi's wedding today." "She won't be here." "Today, you will listen to me instead." "Drink it?" "A little more?" "I forgot to apply the herbal paste on Prince Asoka's wounds." "Grandmother, I'll be back soon." "Make something for me as well." "Halt." "What are you taking inside?" "Medicine." "Go in." "Pass me some water, please." "Who's there?" "Wait." "What are you feeding him?" "Let go." "Fﬂend?" "Prince Asoka?" "Here?" "How did this happen?" "Come on let's go." "This wedding cannot be." "Where are you going?" "Please don't go." "It's no fault of this child." "You've no right to ruin her life like this." "I will not let you leave." "I request you to please wait." "If the Prince's request is a command, we will not leave." "Poor Devi." "Who will marry her now?" "You won't push me again, will you?" "My warrior." "Did she love you as much as you love her?" "I know that only Kaurvvaki lives in your heart." "I cannot take her place." "Please forgive me, Devi." "Why?" "There's so much love in your heart." "Maybe my destiny..." "No. it's not love, only pain." "Love wounds in a way that does not let you live or die." "If I had seen herjust one last time." "Kaurvvaki is right here with you, in your heart." "But where was I when she needed me?" "I promised her... that while I was there she would come to no harm." "Where was I, Devi?" "Where was I when she was dying?" "Where, when she took Pawan's name in her parting breath?" "The intoxication of our night together" "Has not left me" "The sensuousness of your body is still entwined in my arms" "I opened my eyes but that didn't disturb my dream" "Yes. f recall" "Yes. f do" "The dream which your lips gifted me stays with each breath I take" "Even in your absence" "The thought of you excites me" "When I turn over in mysleep my dream just takes another hue" "When the thought of you enters my mind those moments bubble under a sheet of water" "My body is on ﬁre" "Yes. f recall" "Yes." "I do..." "The seasons that bind you to me are countless" "They contain promise of several lifetimes" "Mysorrows are trivial" "I wish fora long night and a longer day" "I wish fora life endless enough to contain our togetherness" "Yes, I recall Yes, I do" "The dream your lips have gifted me lingers with each breath I take." "lam looking for Pawan, a soldier in the Magadha Army." "Pawan?" "We don't know." "Ask her, she knows everything." "I too waited for a long time for him but he never came back." "What kind of people are these?" "Come on, let's go." "As per your wish, your highness." "We have served food to all." "Eat well, such a feast is rare." "Mother, look. she is Devi, the girl that Prince Asoka has married." "Please serve to those there and those too." "Have you heard?" "Prince Asoka is returning to Magadha with Devi." "The stars predict tension in their marriage." "You and your stars." "They're married so what tension could there be?" "Here, eat sweetmeats." "Why are you distributing sweets?" "His wife gave birth to a son." "But you have not been home for more than a year, right?" "We were his emissaries in love." "—But..." "No buts... give your sweets and go." "Long live Prince Asoka." "You're here to see Prince Asoka as well?" "No, I am looking for Pawan." "Look who's coming." "Let's go from here." "Come Arya." "I will not go." "Enough of this madness." "You have looked for him enough." "l will not leave without Pawan." "Do as you please." "Look for your Pawan." "When you're done, return to Kalinga." "Prince Arya." "Let's go." "I don't want to go." "Bheema, let go." "He acted as he thought appropriate." "Give him my blessings." "Your Majesty, at least meet him once." "There is no place for a Buddhist girl in this family." "Tell Asoka to return to Ujjaini." "General." "We feared that even you..." "General, I promise you..." "Whoever conspired to kill Prince Arya... will be severely punished." "No need of that." "Prince Arya and Princess Kaunmaki are alive." "Impossible." "Arya..." "This is not possible." "You have lost, Prime Minister." "Your conspiracy misﬁred." "A lie." "I have served Kalinga all my life." "lam innocent." "Forgive me, Minister." "They've come to know." "Take him away." "Such a traitor should be sentenced to death." "Take him away." "l am innocent." "Didn't I promise you that we will be together in Kalinga?" "Yes, only Pawan is not with us." "How much longer will you wait for him?" "Till his return." "lfhe doesn't?" "That could be." "But I'll still wait for him." "You knew I would not spare your life." "Even then, you joined hands with Susima?" "What's your life worth now?" "Answer me?" "What is it?" "I must tell you something." "Go on." "Calm down ﬁrst." "What is it?" "What is it?" "What is it?" "A son?" "My son?" "I will teach him everything." "Everything." "I will teach him to ﬁght with the sword." "I will teach him to fight like a warrior." "My son." "The ﬁrst heir to the Mauryan empire." "The Emperor of Magadha." "I will take him in my arms and put him on the throne." "What ifit is a daughter?" "No." "It will be a son." "Go and tell Susima, it will be a son, the emperor of Magadha." "Wasn't ityour dream that I sit on the throne?" "I give you my word I will strive to be an able King." "You will be proud of your Susima." "Devi is expecting." "Susima, the word is out that an heir is to be born." "Asoka's son will occupy the throne." "The people will never accept him." "Am I right, pundit-ji?" "—That's right." "A son born of a Buddhist mother cannot claim the throne." "The people have no choice, Susima." "And you?" "You're incapable of producing an heir." "It's destiny." "You tell me, Pundit—ji." "What fate awaits Asoka's child?" "Think before you answer, pundit—ji." "What fate awaits Asoka's child?" "Asoka's son will not live." "Destiny. it's all destiny." "Who is there?" "There is someone here." "Soldier." "Everybody leave." "—Friend?" "I said, everyone leave." "Leave." "Come." "Speak to me, Mother." "Please, Mother." "Talk to me." "I did all that you asked me to." "Please, Mother, talk to me once." "Speak to me just once, forjust one moment." "lfsomething happens to you, all hell will break loose." "I will destroy everything." "Everything." "Vitasoka, tell Mother to talk to me." "Please, speak to me." "Please don't." "Don't stop me today." "Somebody has to stop." "Anger destroys everything." "Then let it." "I will never let you touch my child with a killer's hands." "So, you've come to kill your brother?" "Kill me." "Pick up the sword, Susima." "What about your mother's death?" "Take your revenge, Asoka." "Why hesitate?" "Go ahead, kill me." "Pick up the sword, Susima." "Your mother was like my own." "I'd love your son as my own." "Only if you were not Asoka." "But you are Asoka. it's destiny." "Pick up the sword, Susima." "To helpyou defeat me?" "I won't allow you that pleasure." "Let history note that Asoka did not win the throne... he had to kill to get it." "Pick up the sword, Susima." "No." "I was not a murderer, Asoka." "You left me with no choice." "Moment to moment I lived in fear of your snatching the throne from me." "To sit on the throne you must kill your own brother." "You will have to become 'Susima'." "Kill me, Asoka." "Kill me." "You need courage to sit on the throne... and also to kill your brother." "Kill me, Asoka." "I knew that you are incapable of killing your siblings." "I know you cannot." "That's why the throne is mine, not your's." "Destiny..." "What should I do with the brothers?" "Kill them all." "I have killed all my brothers, Susima." "Now can I sit on the throne?" "Long live King Asoka." "What's the matter?" "Why are you all so quiet?" "There's nothing left to say." "Asoka killed all his brothers." "And no one said a word." "Who can say anything?" "Even King Bindusara is no more." "Entire Magadha is terror-struck." "Strange." "Keep quiet, idiot." "Know what people are saying?" "An evil man now rules over Magadha." "'Evil' Asoka." "You will not go anywhere, Devi." "You know I will not let you go." "I am leaving." "What was I to do?" "They killed Mother." "I should forgive them?" "Yes." "I don't have such a big heart." "I know." "That's why I am leaving." "You are not leaving." "lam going" "You should know." "Where is Sugatra hiding?" "He won't say anything." "He does not know." "Then his life is meaningless." "Friend, please stop." "Enough." "Nothing will stop me now, Virat." "I will be the greatest emperor on earth." "Greater than King Bindusara, stronger than Chandragupta Maurya." "The greatest, ever." "Susima said, "To rule an empire, to be a great Emperor... one needs to kill."" "Please rest, Prince Sugatra." "Give the senate time to think about it." "My death is certain ifKa|inga does not grant me asylum." "I plead with the senate of Kalinga to protect my life." "Kalinga has given asylum to Sugatra." "Why?" "Had they not heard my order?" "They say Kalinga owes nothing to a man who killed his brothers." "My relationship with Kalinga is a strange one." "Till today no one has attacked Kalinga." "Kalinga is a democracy." "Your grandfather dreamt of a united India." "Make that dream come true." "Attack Kalinga." "Kalinga." "We will always win." "Pawan's with the Magadha Army." "Will he too ﬁght us?" "Pawan will never fight us." "That's true." "Order me, Your Majesty." "I'll make them stare into the eyes of death." "Fear will render them useless." "They will forget patriotism." "What are you saying?" "Friend, this is against the rules ofwar." "War has only one rule, Virat." "Victory." "We'll burn their houses, destroy their ﬁelds." "I told your father." "This village, these homes, these people... all belong to Emperor Asoka." "Which means all belong to me." "You too are mine." "Your father is very brave." "Such cruelty?" "ls he human or a monster?" "Who is this Asoka?" "Why kill so many innocent people?" "He'll do anything to win the war." "He has not spared his own brothers." "Then he must die." "I can take you to Asoka." "Let's go." "Kalinga has attacked!" "Look, there he is." "Sugatra?" "Come, come, Sugatra." "You've missed your brothers so much that you came to meet them?" "You want to ﬁght me?" "One more time?" "You won't face me?" "All right then, strike from behind." "Come Sugatra." "Attack me!" "Come, attack me." "You can kill me..." "but you can never defeat Kalinga." "The Magadha ﬂag will tower over blood-stained Kalinga." "Give my greetings to Susima, my loving brother." "What will become of us, now." "How will we ﬁght this war?" "This is not mere soil." "It is our ancestral heritage." "Nobody can take it from us." "Should we lose, what will we tell our children?" "Why should we lose?" "Why should we not ﬁght?" "We will ﬁght... together!" "All my sons were killed in the war." "Had I one more, he would ﬁght too." "She is my daughter." "Now she will ﬁght." "Every man in Kalinga will fight." "Every woman in Kalinga will fight." "Yes, we will all fight!" "You don't know him." "He will do anything to defeat Kalinga." "At any cost he wants victory." "Only victory." "My wish is that when my child opens his eyes... he should see only love not death." "The ﬁrst words he hears should be oflove, not shrieks of pain." "Everything will be destroyed." "Everything." "Where to, friend?" "A war awaits me." "Have you forgotten?" "Before that you have to ﬁght another war." "Really?" "Who is this new enemy?" "The one who stands in front of you." "No." "You are a friend, my only friend." "Then listen to your friend and stop." "Enough!" "When will you stop killing innocent people?" "How much longer will you ﬁght?" "Tilllwin." "Till I win it all." "Then today you will not win over me." "One moment..." "You will kill your own friend?" "l will go to any length to stop you." "Remember, friend, the 1 9th tactic?" "Enough, \/I rat !" "No!" "Never." "You're alive..." "because you are a friend" "You are nobody's friend." "You are your own enemy." "That's why you are called 'Evil' Asoka!" "'Evil' Asoka!" "Today we'll have a feast in Kalinga." "But Emperor Asoka has not come yet." "You don't need elephants to crush ants." "Charge!" "Come on, move back!" "Follow them." "Cowards!" "Running away from the battle ﬁeld?" "Pawan !" "We have lost the war." "We cannot lose." "I will go and ﬁght." "We cannot lose!" "Please don't go, Prince." "Please stop." "What happened, Vitasoka?" "You wanted to be a poet." "Then why this guise?" "I know what you want to say." "The tormentor Asoka!" "Evil Asoka!" "ls that what you want to tell me?" "I have heard it all before." "I have come to tell you that you have become a father." "My Son !" "Mahendra is your son and Sanghamitra is your daughter." "Where is Devi, Vitasoka?" "I am their father, Vitasoka." "You are only an Emperor." "Emperor Asoka." "Donning another garb does not change the truth, Vitasoka." "War is the truth." "Wars happen." "In war, you either win or die." "And I have won, Vitasoka!" "I have won." "Yes, you have." "You have won the tears ofwidows... the cries of orphans and enﬂamed bodies." "You have won it all." "Vitasoka, I have won." "I have won, Vitasoka." "We've never collected so much wealth in any other war, as this." "We've never killed so many people in any other war, as this." "The bigger the victory, the more the wealth!" "You have stumbled on a fortune, such a beautiful and strong horse." "They say it belongs to 'Kaurvvaki', the one who inspired... the farmers and women to ﬁght against Magadha's army." "Who cares?" "The horse will fetch a handsome price." "Kaurvvaki..." "Water..." "You have not won..." "I'll never let you win." "Kaurvvaki." "lam alive !" "You have to ﬁght me." "Throw down your sword Kaurvvaki, the war is over." "The war is not over." "You have to kill me too." "How can I kill you?" "I am your Pawan." "You are not my Pawan." "You are Asoka..." "Asoka!" "Forgive me." "Why did you not come?" "I waited so long..." "Where did I not look for you?" "I searched everywhere." "Pawan..." "Arya !" "Where were you?" "Asoka took away all my land." "No one can take your land from you." "It is your's." "I have come back." "You will not go again?" "No, never again" "Promise me?" "I promise." "See?" "I did not even cry." "Pawan?" "Did the prince return?" "Yes... he did." "With horses and elephants?" "With hundreds of horses and elephants." "Then?" "He took the princess on his horse and rode away." "Then?" "They lived together." "Happily?" "Yes, very hHPPHV" "Pawan, it's getting dark." "The sun, moon and stars are fading." "No, Arya... nothing will happen." "Nothing will happen to you." "The sun, the moon, the stars..." "are all yours." "Pawan..." "I have become the greatest emperor." "The mightiest ruler." "I have won it all." "I have also destroyed it all." "What did I win?" "What can Emperors win?" "Only wealth, land and kingdoms." "My destiny transcends an Emperor's." "My destiny will be that of a traveler's... who completes his journey." "And today I start my journey." "A journey of love, peace and nonviolence."