Beyond Times

Chapter 62 - At the Market in Girivaraja

Five Days turned into five nights, as Tiasha's venture continued. Hastinapur, Pandavas, Kauravas, Sakuni, Yudhishthira, Draupadi, The throne of Kuru Kingdom, the war, the struggles at this moment she forgot everything and everyone. Only the dreams of seeing her motherland swirled in her eyes. Leaving behind the vast expanse of the Kuru kingdom and the land of Koshal far behind, She travelled onward, until finally, you could make out the borders of Magadh in the distance. Only a few more days... a few more days before she reached Banga.

Her soul ached for Banga's soil — the intoxicating scent of earth after the rains, the familiar hum of rustling leaves, the sweet songs of chirping birds. She thought of that little squirrel she used to feed every day. Each memory stirred her heart, filling her with both yearning and joy, so long...it's been so long since she left all of it behind. So much has changed since.

Banga awaited her, and with each step she drew nearer, its essence called to her like a mother's eager voice, beckoning her home. She knew that this Banga would be different from the Bengal she once knew. Yet, no matter how different it may be, her heart held steadfast to the belief that her motherland would forever reign as the queen of every land on Earth—'Sujalang, Sufalang, Sashyashyamalam, Mataram...' A thread of love wrapping her very being, always drawing her back to its embrace.

Her journey wound through countless small towns and humble villages, past ancient forests and across small, skittish rivers. In each village, curious onlookers caught glimpses of a lone traveller—a young man atop a majestic black stallion, with a gaze as unwavering as the wind itself. Tiasha paused only briefly, stopping just long enough to let her faithful companion rest. Yet sleep evaded her; the closer she got to Banga, the more restless she became.

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Tiasha stood by the city walls and affectionately patted Bivhas, her only trusted companion for this long lone journey. He took long sips of water at the open horse shelter in the vast marketplace of Girivaraja, the capital of Magadh. 

Most of the Kingdoms in Aryavarth had built high walls around their capital cities to make them stand out and protect them from outside attacks. The Market of Girivaraj started just inside the walls on the northern side of the town and was stretched till where the residential area began. 

Out of all other cities in Aryavarth, Girivaraj's size could only be compared to that of Hastinapur but with twice the population. Here in the market nobody had the time to stop and breathe. One can hear the shopkeepers and Vendors from all around shouting, trying to catch the attention of the customers, and the buyers moving from one shop to the next to get everything that they need.

-"Come here, you won't get such fresh vegetables so cheap anywhere else in the market."

-"Yes sir, what did you ask for?"

-"I won't pay, one more rupee for this."

-"Oh sister come back, twenty more rupees discount for you...take it!"

-"Oh brother, How much for this?"

The morning was most probably the busiest time in the market. The customer bargained with the fisherman. The Vegetable seller argued with the naive lady claiming his vegetables were all fresh. Little kids danced in joy after finally receiving the sweet treat they had been whining for. Young girls crowded the jewellery and maquillage shops. Some things always remain the same, time or space doesn't seem to change them much. Like this market, a symphony of life — loud, energetic, and unapologetically chaotic.

She glanced down at Bivhas, who had finished his water and was now nibbling on some hay offered by a kind stable boy. She gave the horse an affectionate pat and muttered, "Not much farther now, Bivhas. Just a few days, and we'll be in Banga." Her words were drowned out by the cries of vendors, but her horse, sensing her excitement, gave a small, reassuring snort.