A Slave Who Became Emperor 46 The Abandoned City

Avanti city was renowed as the city of learning.. this city didn't have any warriors.. It was considered as the city of Knowledge.. the people who lived there were scholars.. It was governed by the great King Shantanu.. it stood independent and was never absorbed by any empire.. education was something which was valued by everyone.. the n.o.bles and emperors sent their kin to Avanti to learn and develop.. one fine day King Shantanu and his subordinates were walking near his palace.. there was a well learned astrologer who came and said, 'King Shantanu, you need to abandon this city and move towards east..the whole country will be struck by a famine..since Avanti is an independent city. ..no empire will come forward to help you..unless it gets absorbed into that empire..,in the East there is an abundance of food..you and your people will flourish..' King Shantanu got scared, he immediately called the astrologer in his court and told him the prophecy...the court astrologer calculated something on his fingers,closed his eyes and cast his vision into the veils of time..he saw black clouds approaching the city of Avanti..he read them as misfortune..he told the King what he saw..King Shantanu made all arrangements for his people to migrate....some scholars chose to leave Avanti and travel the country to exhibit their talent in courts of various Kings and Emperors...some moved out and established their own gurukuls (residential schools), the offsprings of various emperors and Kings were sent back to their respective places.. along with them message about upcoming famine was given to everyone so that they could be ready to face it.. then the whole city under the leaders.h.i.+p of Shantanu left towards east.. they constructed a beautiful city in the east and called it Arunodaya.. now it became the seat of learning for Hindustan as well as neighbouring countries..

Samyukta said, 'But, Avanti is not a forted city.. It's not strong enough to withstand wars and invasions.. ' Emperor Krishna Chandra said, 'my dear.. you are right.. but there is no need to build everything from scratch.. we already have structures built... we can rennovate few buildings.. and modify few.. we will also constuct a huge fort wall around Avanti.. I was fortunate enough to see Avanti city when it was flouris.h.i.+ng.. the King's palace, the Trimurti (Three great G.o.ds of Hinduism) temple, council Hall, learning centres and houses were well made.. people of Avanti excelled in Architecture.. every construction is a lesson in architecture.. but of course it has been many years.. now we need to see and decide what needs to be done to make Avanti city be the glorious capital of unified empire... '

Emperor Surya Gupta said, 'Avanti was a great city.. as emperor Krishna Chandra said, let's send some people along with few architects to study the old city.. based on their report.. things can be taken forward.. of course construction and renovation would be planned only after the war with Zaffar ends.. '

Everyone nodded in agreement.. Old emperor Kailash Nanda (Pinaka's Grand father) said, 'Prince Deepak is indeed very smart..he came up with an excellent solution..I wish I could marry him off to my granddaughter..Princess Mallika Nanda, my son's daughter..'the Prince blushed.. everyone was taken aback, the old emperor was so decisive.. he just spoke his mind without dabbling his words in honey or playing word games.. emperor Krishna Chandra said,'old emperor, it would be an honor.. but of course the Prince and Princess have to meet first and decide..'

'Hahaa.. of course.. let's discuss this in private.. later.. now the issue at hand is solved I believe.. arrangements should be made for the marriage.. my grandson will be married soon.. his freedom would be taken away.. 'emperor Kailash Nanda said and laughed out loud.. it was a lite hearted moment.. it brought a smile on everyone's face..

Meanwhile Badshah Khan left Ben.a.z.ir with her grandfather and resumed his journey.. he reached the foothills of Hindukush mountains.. he traversed across the rough terrain.. he found a mountain pa.s.s.. as he moved forward he felt someone move in shadows..