Unknown Place
"Ugh," I groaned, my head pounding as I slowly opened my eyes. The ceiling above me came into focus—a high, ornate surface carved with intricate patterns. "Wait… ceiling?" I muttered aloud, blinking in confusion.
I shot up in a panic, only to stumble off the bed and land face-first onto the floor. Wincing, I quickly got up, my hands pressing into the soft carpet beneath me. My eyes darted around the room. It was massive and opulent, with towering walls lined with gilded frames and heavy velvet drapes. The furniture gleamed with gold accents, and the scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air.
"Didn't I die?" The thought struck me like a thunderbolt. My memories came rushing back—the screeching tires, the blaring horns, the blinding lights… and then, the pain. Oh gods, the pain.
I staggered to my feet, taking in the room again. It looked like something straight out of a fantasy novel—the kind of chamber only a king would live in. Yet, something was strange. There were no modern amenities. No lights. No fans. No buzzing TV or air conditioning. The walls were lined with glowing candles instead, their flickering light casting long shadows across the space.
"Wait… old-style lavish room… no electricity…" My heart began to race as realization dawned. "Still alive after death? No, no, NO! This can't be real!"
Frantically, I ran to a large balcony and flung open the doors. The view stole the breath from my lungs. Stretching out before me was a massive medieval city. Stone buildings rose proudly, their rooftops adorned with flags fluttering in the wind. Wide, paved roads crisscrossed the city, bustling with people dressed in attire from centuries past. In the distance, a wide river glimmered under the morning sun.
And most surprising of all—there was no smell of filth. The air was crisp and clean, free from the stench of unwashed streets or sewage that one might expect in a medieval setting.
I stepped back from the railing, my mind spinning. "How is this possible?" The memories of my death and the strange vision after it flashed before me—the stars, the universe, and… Mahadev.
"Did He send me here?"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head, and I stumbled, clutching my temple. But as quickly as it came, the pain subsided, leaving me with a strange sense of clarity. Slowly, a grin spread across my face, and before I could stop myself, I burst into laughter—a loud, almost maniacal laugh that echoed across the grand room.
"Just you wait, you damned kangaroos," I cackled, my voice filled with a newfound determination. "I'll wipe your entire species off the face of the Earth!"
Now, you might think I'd lost my mind. But let me explain. In this new life, I've been reborn as the soon-to-be-crowned emperor of the richest and most powerful empire in this world. Sure, there are some problems, but nothing I can't handle. First things first, though—I needed answers. The royal archives would have everything I needed.
But just as I was about to leave the room, my stomach growled loudly.
"Ugh… maybe breakfast first," I muttered, scanning the room for something appropriate to wear. After slipping into a finely embroidered tunic, I pushed open the grand doors to find two guards standing outside.
Meanwhile, Outside
"Eh, Suresh, maybe we should check on the prince," a young guard whispered nervously to his senior, glancing at the closed doors. "I mean, we heard those… weird sounds coming from inside."
Suresh, an older and more seasoned guard, smacked him lightly on the head. "Shut up, Rahul! We're not allowed to enter the royal chambers unless summoned. Don't you know anything?"
"But what if something's wrong?" Rahul insisted, rubbing his head. "The prince has a lot on his plate with the coronation and the situation in Bengal. Maybe he's overwhelmed—"
"Stop speculating," Suresh snapped, though his voice softened at the mention of Bengal. Before he could say more, the grand doors creaked open. Both guards froze.
Ayush stepped out, raising an eyebrow at their startled expressions. Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads as they quickly straightened their posture.
"Bhagwan ki daya hai," Suresh muttered under his breath, relieved the prince didn't overhear their conversation.
"What were you two whispering about?" Ayush asked, his sharp tone making them flinch. "Never mind. Come with me." Without waiting for a response, he strode down the hallway.
Back to Ayushmann
I walked briskly through the castle's grand corridors, the two guards trailing behind me like obedient shadows. The walls were lined with ornate tapestries and paintings of rulers from generations past. Finally, I reached the private royal dining area and stopped for a moment.
Instead of chairs and a table, the room had large, polished marble slabs arranged on the floor, covered with intricate rugs and cushions for seating. Brass plates and cups were neatly laid out on the floor in perfect symmetry, following the traditional Indian style.
Inside, two children—a boy and a girl—sat cross-legged on the ground. The boy, around twelve years old, had sharp features and an air of seriousness that seemed too heavy for his age. The girl, no older than seven, clutched a small stuffed toy tightly to her chest, her large eyes filled with worry.
Ah, right. In this life, I had two younger siblings. Well, at least the Mauryan dynasty wouldn't die with me if something went wrong. Small blessings, I supposed.
Plastering a warm smile on my face, I stepped inside. The moment they saw me, they jumped up and ran to me, throwing their arms around me in a tight hug.
"Bhaiya, are we going to die?" my sister Tulsi asked, her voice trembling.
I blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"
Before I could process her words, my brother Surya spoke up. "We know about Bengal," he said, his tone grave.
For a moment, I just stared at them, dumbfounded. "Where… where did you hear this?" I finally managed to ask.
Tulsi answered quietly, "We heard voices coming from the council chamber."
Taking a deep breath, I knelt down and pulled them into another hug. "Don't worry," I said softly. "I'm here, and I'll handle everything. This is just a small issue, and it'll be resolved soon."
Guiding them back to their seats, I ordered the maids to serve breakfast. Plates of freshly cooked parathas, chutneys, and steaming bowls of dal were brought out. As we ate, I talked and laughed with them, doing my best to ease their fears. But deep inside, my mind was already racing.
The council had some explaining to do.
Whatever was happening in Bengal, I'd deal with it. These kids were my responsibility now, along with the empire. And I'd protect them—no matter what.