Episode on Sunday, February 8, 2009

Prithvi could not save his friend in time in spite of returning to Kannauj the earliest. Pundir is responsible for saving Prithvi's life. He blocked the spear with his body that was meant for Prithvi thrown at him by Jaichand.
All the troops have gathered around Prithvi and Chand who hold Pundir in their arms, he has perished he has become a martyr or “veer gathi”.
It is evening time and they mourn his death.

Prithvi carries his friend’s body back to the camp in the battlefield at the Kannauj border. There he lays him with the help of two troops onto a platform. Very gently and carefully they put him down. Prithvi sits by his side looking at him endlessly. Prithvi gently rubs his cheek with his palms and brushes his hair out of his face. He can't get enough of him and gazes at his face. The troops stand outside near them at the camp. The wind blows everywhere, it is late at night.
Chand comes and kneels by their sides. He looks at his friend with sadness. Prithvi? Chand puts his hand on Prithvi's shoulders, Prithvi, Arjun's health is deteriorating.
Prithvi just looks at Pundir silently.
Vaidji has told that..... He will not survive by morning time, Chand didn't want to say it and weeps. They have already lost Pundir.
Prithvi slowly turns his head and looks at Chand but says nothing. The wind blows outside and the lightning strikes in the sky, Chand looks up to see.

Arjun is in the tent and lays motionless in the bed, he has been bandaged and a loose sheet covers his body. Prithvi silently enters the tent, he looks at him from the entrance and then slowly proceeds to his bed, Chand also enters the tent behind. Arjun's eyes are closed he rests. Prithvi slowly moves to his side and sits by his bedside and looks at him.
Chand watches them from a distance.
Tears fall from Prithvi's eyes and he gently touches Arjun's forehead without disturbing him. Prithvi cannot control his tears and starts to cry, Chand sees him and cries also he holds tightly onto a post of the tent.
Prithvi’s hand is on Arjun's forehead he has woke him up. Prithvi quickly wipes his tears away.
Arjun sees Prithvi next to him .
Arjun?
Chand sneaks a glance at them both, he cannot take it.
Prithvi puts his hand on the bed’s sharp metal design. How are you buddy?
How do I look? Arjun seems unaffected.
You look exactly like a true “Veer Yodha”.
Arjun gives a slight grin. Chand bows his head down. Ugh! Arjun moans in pain. Prithvi watches him and feels sorry he takes his hand in his and raises it slowly, you’re in pain?
A “Veer Yodha” doesn’t have pain, he shakes his head and smiles. Arjun moves his head slightly and sees Chand all by himself standing near the post of the tent weeping. Prithvi…… Where is Pundir?
Chand moves his head to look at them, Prithvi is speechless he doesn’t know what to say. He…. Prithvi stops his sentence and looks at Chand instead.
Chand tries to control his emotions and gives a fake smile.
Arjun looks at Chand then Prithvi, he…
He…Prithvi cannot tell.
He… Is okay, right? Huh? Arjun assumes and answers for him.
Prithvi just moves his lips no sound comes from his voice huh, huh. Prithvi now grips the metal of the bed tightly, and stops himself from crying. He…… Is absolutely alright, bluffs Prithvi and smiles.
Arjun nods his head and grins.
Prithvi crushes the sharp metal design with his palms very hard, blood drips out. Chand is watching and cannot bear it. The ‘vaid’ is applying ointment and bandaging him in the other tent. More blood rushes out of his palm, he is unable to tell his friend the truth.
You just tell him that if he doesn’t lift the sword again by morning time, I will never allow him to lift a sword again, huh? Tell him okay, Arjun requests.
Yeah, yeah I will tell him. Chand looks and cries, but you must rest a while, Prithvi pulls the covers on him, and once it is morning, you lift the sword again.
Arjun grins and looks at Chand, he looks back at Prithvi, nothing will happen to me, you just don’t worry Prithvi, my eyes… Are open, they will not close. I have made a promise to sister-in-law that I will return victorious to Dhilli.

Meanwhile Sanyo is happy, she is really arranging the decorations in the palace for their welcome. She orders a servant to put a garland of flowers in one area and 2 lamps in another area. Sanyo wants the other lamps decorated in another place. She tells her servants to do it fast. Many servants are at work throughout the palace arranging the lamps and lighting them. Sanyo moves around to inspect and supervise the arrangements, at least more than 200 lamps have been lighted so far.
One window of the palace suddenly opens on its own and a strong breeze enters the room, most of the lamps that were lit go off all of a sudden. Sanyo asks what happened?
See this Queen what has happened, suddenly all the lamps have gone off? Two servants complain to her.
Sanyo looks at the lamps, they have gone off, so what, light them again, she says to them.
But Queen, it is a very bad omen when all the lamps that have been lit for an auspicious occasion have suddenly gone off.
Sanyo can see most of the lamps have died off, her attention goes on the shutters that swing open/close, go and see there the windows are open.
Her servants look.
Now if such bursts of wind enter inside, of course the lamps will go off, right? Now stop talking about ridiculous omens and superstitions and go and close the door, go.
The servants do as ordered and close the shutters of the window.

In Kannauj the campfire burns, Pundir’s body lays on the platform with Prithvi mourning at his side. He cries and remembers the childhood spent with him. He remembers when his friends all took oath and vowed to serve him in his Kingdom each representing a weapon. Prithvi remembers and takes Pundir’s hand in his. Prithvi remembers the good times spent with him, he gently puts his arm down. He remembers when Pundir showed him his “rakhee” given by his sister, but he declares his sister Pratha’s “rakhee” is the best. Prithvi reminiscences how he wanted to protect his father, and how Pundir comforted him those days. Prithvi weeps and remembers again how he lost his father to Bhimdev’s sword and the same images of Sanjam run in his mind. He thinks deeply in his mind and covers his face with his hands, he is unable to block the thoughts, plus he has lost another friend now, Pundir and cannot come into terms with it. Prithvi remembers when all of them vowed to live together and die together at the Gurukul. You had promised me that you would be at my side on every step of the way of our lives. How could you break this promise, how?
Chand returns and sits by them. Prithvi looks at him.
Now it’s time for the last rites, Chand says sadly, all the preparations have been made, come on. Chand calls Prithvi and pats his shoulder.
Prithvi looks at his friend, no, it’s not the time yet.
What is this you are saying Prithvi? We must give Pundir a send off.
No Chand, the soil where Pundir was born, the same place where he will have his funeral pyre….. Dhilli.
I will send my friend off with full reverence. Pundir’s body must be properly taken care of. It must be embalmed and preserved with oils, ointments and herbs until we reach Dhilli, till that time.
But what if the battle continues for a long time, then? Chand is worried.
No Chand, the war will be over tomorrow.

Jaichand waits outside his tent at camp the fiery wind blows through the night. Today, if at the last moment the sun had not set, then at that time your corpse would have fallen too along with your friend’s Prithviraj Chauhan. But do not worry now, today one of your hands was cut off, but by tomorrow your neck will be cut off also.
“Senapati” greets Jaichand, Maharaj Ki Jai Ho.
Have you found out anything about Sanyo? Where is she? In which corner of the battlefield has Prithvi hidden her? Jaichand wants an answer.
The “Senapati” stays silent he hesitates to answer.
Why are you so quiet? Why don’t you talk?
They…. Maharaj……
Where is my daughter? Why isn’t any sound coming from your mouth “Senapati”! Jaichand is getting irritated because he doesn’t answer. I am asking you where is Sanyo!
She has already reached to Dhilli, Maharaj!
Noooooooooo! How can this be! He grabs the tents pole angrily.
Prithvi had dropped her in Dhilli and returned back here.
Now that cheater will not be able to save himself from my hands.
Already one friend of Prithvi has been killed Maharaj, and the other, the other friend counts his last breaths. Right now he is like a wounded tiger, he will not survive that much time.
Now even if God came, Prithvi will not be able to avoid death! He will not be able to avoid it at all! PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN!

In the tent where Arjun rests, a “vaid” has come to check upon his status. He checks his pulse. Prithvi watches him. The “vaid” places his hand down and checks his eyes.
Now it’s only about few moments Maharaj, the “vaid’ admits.
Prithvi stands horrified by the news.
As morning arrives, his breath will subside.
Prithvi looks at Arjun then to the “vaid”.
Forgive me Maharaj, he bows and folds his hands, I cannot do anything else for him.
Prithvi listens in shock and looks at his friend, his eyes become watery.
We are like marionettes/puppets Maharaj, the one who makes us dance sits up, the “vaid” gestures upward with his head.
Prithvi is speechless and just sees.
The “vaid” bows and takes his leave, he is unable to treat Arjun, as the weapons had pierced his body deeply damaging his internal organs. Two swords had penetrated his body, in the back and the other in the waist. An infection has spread into his body and his lung or intestines must have been punctured, his spine has been damaged also.
Prithvi just watches sadly he will soon lose his other friend too. Prithvi kneels by his side, nothing will happen to you Arjun, I will not allow your eyes to close. Prithvi bends his head down and leans on his arms.
Chand enters the tent with a Pandit in orange loin cloth. The Pandit has brought his “granth” and sits down on the ground ready to chant the “slokas”.
Prithvi raises his head and looks at Chand. Prithvi looks at the Pandit curiously, what is all happening here, Chand?
Pandit starts his chanting of the Bhagavad Gita “Ne nam shast rani….” “Ne nam gwal……” the slokas where Krishna told Arjun at Kurushetra that the soul has to shed his old body and everybody who is born has to die someday.
Prithvi listens and looks at the Pandit in shock, while he is reading out the "slokas".
For the purpose of death, the soul which will be blessed and get peace, explains Chand.
Prithvi cannot take it, he looks terrifyingly at Chand, he glances at Arjun, it’s not that he is dead already.
…..For the purpose of attaining “Anmol Moksh”. (Paradise, in heaven).
Prithvi is so furious and gets up, he shouts loudly, stop this “shastra”! He looks at the still sleeping Arjun.
Chand starts to cry silently, he is helpless, just doing what he knows best for his buddy.
What are you saying Chand? Right now nothing has happened to him. By morning time he will be absolutely alright! There will be no recitations here! All you people understand! Nothing will happen to my friend.
Chand walks over to Prithvi’s side, he doesn’t want to accept the truth. Prithvi, take care of yourself Prithvi. You already heard what the “vaidji” has told, he just has few…..
Prithvi is extremely irritated, NO Chand! He screams at Chand, he will not agree to the fact. Chand turns his head and tolerates Prithvi’s response. Nothing will happen to Arjun! He will not die! Prithvi points at his friend. The “vaidji” did not say anything and you go from here, he shouts at the Pandit! This is my order! At that instant the Pandit gets up and takes his things and leaves. Nothing will happen to my Arjun! Nothing will happen to him! Prithvi shouts so loud in Chand’s face. Chand looks down and away he cannot answer back to his King.
Suddenly Arjun and Prithvi notice some movements coming from Arjun, his chest starts to move upwards and down again he is breathing hard.
Arjun? They both quickly kneel by his bedside. Prithvi pats his forehead. Arjun is taking deep breaths, like he has some trouble breathing. Arjun?... Arjun? One more big long deep breath from him his eyes are still closed. Prithvi holds his head, you are okay?
Chand calls, Arjun? Again he breaths hard in the same fashion.
Arjun? Say something Arjun? Tears are falling from Prithvi’s eyes, talk, talk with me. Arjun is still taking deep gasps of air. Look at me, Arjun! Arjun stops taking breaths, ARJUN! Prithvi looks at him and shouts.