Chapter 2: Rebirth
Unknown Day, December 1576, Cooch Behar
Rajib jolted upright in bed, his hands instinctively moving over his body, checking for injuries. The memory of the truck's impact flashed through his mind, but as he assessed his physical state, something strange caught his attention. His surroundings had completely changed. He wasn't on the bridge where he had been struck, nor was he in a hospital room. Instead, he found himself in an opulent chamber filled with jewels and expensive artifacts—yet the room lacked any modern touches. The decor was old-fashioned, a stark contrast to the world he had known.
For a moment, Rajib thought he might still be dreaming. He pinched himself. When the pain registered, he realized with shock that this was real.
As he continued to survey his surroundings, he heard a knock at the door. Before he could respond, a voice called from the other side in a language that resembled Assamese but sounded slightly different. "Your Majesty, Prince, please wake up. Today is your coronation." The voice paused and then added, "Your Majesty, are you there? I'm coming in."
Just as the door began to open, Rajib's head throbbed with a sharp pain. He managed only a groan, "Ahh…"
The door opened fully, and a maid entered, rushing toward him in concern. She found Rajib holding his head, his face contorted in discomfort. "Your Majesty, are you alright?" she asked, kneeling beside him to help.
"I'm alright, Rama Aunty," Rajib responded, trying to reassure her. "It's just a slight headache. Nothing to worry about."
Relieved by his words, the maid relaxed. "I'm glad to hear that, Your Majesty." She informed him that guests had arrived for the ceremony and that he should prepare for the coronation. After giving him her instructions, she left the room.
Still in a daze, Rajib sat on the edge of the bed, trying to make sense of everything. Somehow, he had transmigrated into the body of Lakshmi Narayan, the third monarch of the Koch Dynasty. However, there were significant differences from the history he knew. His father, King Nara Narayan, was supposed to live until 1587, but in this timeline, he had died in a carriage accident two months ago, along with his cousin, Radhudev.
In the original timeline, Radhudev was supposed to become the de facto ruler of Koch Hajo by 1581, after his father, Chilarai, died of smallpox in 1577 during a military campaign in Bengal. Radhudev was also expected to declare the independence of Koch Hajo in 1587, splitting the mighty Koch kingdom into Koch Behar and Koch Hajo. But in this altered timeline, with Radhudev's death, it seemed the kingdom would remain united.
Another significant change was the death of Rajib's mother, the Queen, who had passed away giving birth to his sister five years ago. So, despite his transmigration into a new life, Rajib had become an orphan once again. At least now, he had a sister—and hopefully an uncle, who he wished would survive and not succumb to smallpox in the coming months. The weight of leadership began to settle on him.
Rajib, now inhabiting Lakshmi Narayan's body, was no stranger to hardship. In his previous life, he had overcome adversity, securing a spot at IIT Guwahati—one of the top six IITs in India—despite losing his entire family just months before the exams. Even under such tragic circumstances, he had ranked among the top 100 in the IIT-JEE Advanced exams. He had chosen IIT Guwahati over IIT Delhi or IIT Bombay simply because the state government would only offer him a scholarship if he studied within the state. With his sharp intellect, Rajib's mind now resided in a body that had been trained in the martial arts, warfare, and weaponry of an earlier age. It felt like receiving an upgrade.
Not long ago, Rajib's consciousness and memories had merged with those of Lakshmi Narayan, who, by Rajib's estimation, had been poisoned and died. As he prepared for his coronation, Rajib—now Lakshmi Narayan—couldn't help but reflect on the vast heritage of the Koch Dynasty and the cultural shifts that had taken place under his father's reign. King Nara Narayan had helped spread Hinduism and Neo-Vaishnavism throughout the Kamata region (now northeastern India). Rajib had been a follower of Neo-Vaishnavism (Eka Saran Hari Nama Dharma) in his past life, and he felt a pang of sadness that he would never meet its founder, the legendary sage Srimanta Sankardev, who had already passed away. However, he could still meet one of his most devoted followers, Sri Sri Madhavdev, who had made significant contributions to Assamese literature.
But beyond the cultural heritage, Rajib, now Lakshmi Narayan, had more immediate concerns. The expanding Mughal empire in the west posed a growing threat. The conflicts with the Ahoms in the east remained unresolved, and although the Kasari Kingdom to the south appeared neutral, it was secretly undermining the Koch Dynasty. Rajib suspected that they might have been behind the poisoning that killed Lakshmi Narayan before his soul had taken over the body. His blood boiled with anger as he considered the possibility, but he knew it was still just an assumption. The threat of foreign forces, especially the Islamic rulers seeking to spread their religion, was becoming more pressing. And in the future, he feared the looming danger of European colonial powers, all of whom had their eyes on India.
As someone from the 21st century, Rajib was acutely aware of the historical bloodshed and oppression suffered by Hindus, especially those in the northeast, where people still faced racism even in the 21st century. His fury grew. "I will change it all in this lifetime. I will build the strongest empire ever seen on the Indian subcontinent." His determination burned brighter than ever.
With the coronation ceremony approaching, Lakshmi Narayan (Rajib) steeled himself for the challenges ahead. He knew the road would be difficult, but he was resolved to uphold the legacy of his grandfather, Biswa Singha, who had founded the Koch Dynasty.