Shaurya was sitting in the bank of Ganga River while skipping rocks in it.
'So, this is how arranged marriages were fixed in the old times, over tea talk. Heck there was no tea. How can they do things like this? And aren't girls supposed to be Papaki Pari? How can they just agree to marry their pari to someone else?'
'Master, why are so agitated?'
'So, what do I do, if not be agitated? Radha Maa has fixed my marriage at such a young age. If there were police, I'd be the poster boy for their 'Say No to Child Marriage' campaign-complete with a picture of me being tied to a tree. And moreover they didn't even ask me for my consent.'
'Are you saying you don't like Vrushali, master?'
'I am not saying that.'
'Then what are you saying?'
'I am just saying.'
'Master, you are not Shaurya of Kaliyug anymore. You are Radheya of Dwaparyug. These things are normal here and you must follow them least people declare you mad?'
'I know yaar it's just difficult to accept.'
'Why is it difficult to accept? You have clearly accepted and well-adjusted to this time period despite the lack of modern equipment. How is it any different than that? Cooler, Heater, T.V, Internet etc. were normal at that time period and child marriage was illegal. And in this time period, those equipment don't exist and it is normal for child marriage.'
'I am a demi-god. Son of Sun. The rays of sun provide me just enough warm, not too hot nor too cold. And I was an orphan without access to majority of the equipment throughout my life. I don't miss them. Also then environment here is clean and pure. The modern equipment and things are not necessary.
But child marriage. In my previous life, I was raised by NGO and I have participated in many of their programs. I have worked against child labor, child marriage and many malpractices. How can I now be just adjusted to this life so easily while discarding everything I have learned in the past? I can't do child marriage in a clear conscious.'
'Master that may be the case but...'
'No buts. We will not discuss this matter... for now.'
After saying that Shaurya went back to skipping stones in the Ganga River. As he was skipping stones, few people who looked like soldiers came to the Ganga River and began taking water in their pots. They were discussing few things and Shaurya who had divine body despite being quite far.
Soldier 1: Hey, I heard Maharaja Pandu was cursed by some Rishi Muni and that's why he had to leave the Hastinapur kingdom and go to the forest.
Soldier 2: Yeah I also heard that. I even heard that Maharaja Pandu killed the Rishi. That's why he was cursed. Maybe that's why there is no rain in Hastinapur Rajya for past 2 years.
Soldier 3: Yeah, I have heard that many places don't have many crops grown due to this. If this situation escalates then there may be a widespread famine in few years. The Royal family should think about a way to appease the gods.
Soldier 1: Yeah, they should consult the Raj Guru and perform a ceremony for Indra. Only then the gods will be pleased and there will be rainfall and Hastinapur will be saved.
Soldier 2: Yeah, you are right. I think they should hold a huge ceremony to appease the gods. I think many of them are displeased with Hastinapur. At first there was no king for so many years and then when there was a powerful king, he was cursed and left the kingdom. And there is a new king now, a blind king.
Soldier 3: Hey, be silent, will you? Don't you know it is forbidden to talk bad about the royal families? That those who talk bad about the royal family end up having their tongues cut out. Do you want that?
Soldier 1&2: No no no no no.
Soldier 3: Then stop talking and keep working.
After finishing their task, the soldiers returned to their camp without caring for a boy of 4 who was sitting in the bank of the ferocious Ganga River. Though they assumed that no-one had heard them talk, that wasn't the case for Shaurya as he heard every one of their words.
Even though soldier's fears of being overheard was due to talking of royal family, Shaurya's focus was on completely different topic.
'So, Pandu has already gone to the forest huh. So, in few years, Pandavas will be borned. And also lord Krishna will be borned. I hadn't noticed that the story has progressed quite far.'
'It seems to be the case.'
'Hey, about the thing soldiers were saying. Was there any mention of famine in Mahabharata?'
'I found no records for that master. And then again, it is not the original universe. There is no guarantee that it will turn out same. The rain has indeed stopped for past 2 years and if the situation continues, the famine will definitely occur.'
'Great. Not only am I battling early marriage, but now I have to solve climate issues and famine too. Maybe I should have chosen to reincarnate as a rain god instead of Karna. So, what should we do to fight against this situation? The village though near the river, it is still quite far and is little upwards in such way that water won't climb up. It was made in a way that the village won't be affected even if a flood came. Making canal won't work since water won't be able to climb up and transporting water by person for irrigation is not physically possible. Hey, Jarvis do you have any ideas?'
'Yes master, I do have few ideas. Among them I believe most suitable one would be building an artificial pond using a canal.'
'Alright, and water will just go upwards the hill right. I thought you were supposed to be smart and intelligent one among two of us.'
'By making the level of canal in same level or a level more in height in respect to the pond in the village. We can use Persian waterwheel to get the water in the canal.'
'Persian waterwheel… Persian waterwheel… where have I heard it? Hmmm, I remember. I think I had a project related to it in my school. It's a wheel used to get water in little high places, isn't it? I has buckets attached to it and it moves when the water pushes the bucket. I think it makes water flow in opposite direction in the canal from the original source, doesn't it?'
'Yes Master. It can create a flow in opposite direction of Natural River in canal.'
'Yes, if it is that wheel then it can indeed solve the problem of water for irrigation. But remember, there are less equipment for other thing than weapons and armor. So, there will be no nails for us to us. And also, it will be harder to convince other people that it is no black magic. Otherwise I will be tied to a pole and burnt alive. Or have stakes through me. Though I am leaning towards the former.
And also, even if we can manage to do all of that, there is the god-king to consider. Making something like this will definitely strike him negatively. That guy is strongest among gods and has ego surpassing his own strength, power and fame combined. If that guy decides to act up then it will be a huge mistake. We need to find a way to avoid angering him.
'Master, haven't you heard, 'if there is a will, there is a way'? All you have to be ready to do something, we will tackle problems as they come and I don't think such small matter will bother Indra considering it is happening near Hastinapur, where Bhisma who fought Lord Parshuram to standstill lives. I don't think, Indra will be that reckless.'
'Hmm. You are correct about Indra. I was just overreacting to that. I am not important enough for Indra to pay attention. As you say, 'if there is a will, there is a way'. I can do it. By the way, do you have any way of wood construction that does not use nails and also is strong enough to not break in Ganga River?'
'Of course master, I do have such method. This method originates from Japan. As you know, Earthquakes are quite frequent in Japan but the wooden structures there held for quite long time. So, this method is tested and proven method. This method is called Kanawatsugi or Japanese Joinery. Though it originated in ancient China but it was refined by Japan in edo period. In this method, the wooden structures are precisely crafted so that they can be joined like puzzle pieces. This method can be used to create Waterwheel. Also this method is very useful in repairing if some small part is damaged.'
'So, there exists a technique like that, huh. Well, if that's the case, then I can probably craft a small model and convince people like Bahubali did with his stone breaker or something in second part. But I need to convince people to make tools and also make them believe that I didn't use black magic to make that Waterwheel.'
'Master, maybe you can convince them by saying some god told you in your dreams.'
'Well that could work. But which god should I say? Hmm… What about Ganga Maa? That could work. Perhaps I should ask for something like permission first otherwise if she gets angry, then I will be cursed for using the name of a goddess.'
Shaurya stood up, closed his eyes and joined his hands in prayer. Then he started to say,
"Hey, Ganga Maa. There has been no rain for two years and crops have started to die. I want to help the people. I have thought of a method but I can't do it alone and I fear people will not trust a 4 years old child. So, I want to say that you came in my dream and told me what to do. Please don't be angry with me, okay. If I have your permission to use your name then please, give me a sign of some sorts."
After saying that, he opened his eyes and looked towards the river. There was no strange act that could be taken as sign. Seeing this Shaurya became little sad but suddenly there was some sound and when Shaurya looked towards the sound, he saw water raising up and forming a body.
'A figure forming from the water. Maybe it's Ganga Maa but what if it's her lawyer coming to sue me for daring to sue her name or maybe her lawyer is coming to discuss terms and conditions.'