Language: English & Bengali 

The Passion of Poison
The nobles and dignitaries of Pataliputra resided in the neighbourhood of the Royal Palace; the colony was a cluster of distinguished wooden bungalows, each one unique in its style and grandeur. The residence of Minister Harishena especially notable, appeared to be a dream abode; such was its beauty and magnificence. There was a lotus pond in the middle of the garden, with breath-taking white water lilies adorning its pristine water. A jackfruit tree shaded the stone base beneath; Harishen and Pushpaketu sat there facing each other. Ketu was playing Vasant Bhairabhi on his Veena, and Harishen complemented the rendition with his flute recital; the musical soiree created a magical aura in the pleasant pre-summer afternoon. Harishen was an important minister in the cabinet of Emperor Samudragupta, a close aide to the Emperor himself in the matters of administration and external affairs; he was popular among the public too for his amiability and rational thinking. On the auspicious day of Mesha Sankranti he was just a devout musician, spending a bit of peaceful time with his favorite companion Pushpaketu, someone he treated like his own son. After a while he got distracted by the chime of anklets and the fragrance of fresh jasmines. A young girl approached, she was Haimanti, Harishen’s daughter; her pretty face and innocent charms left everyone enthralled, the Minister being no exception. Haimanti and her maid laid silver plates full of sweetmeats on the pedestal, along with also camphor mixed buttermilk; the confectioneries were a specialty of the occasion, prepared with wheat, millet, condensed milk and jaggery.
‘You needn’t bring it yourself, Putri’, Harishen addressed her.
‘It is auspicious to have these sweets today, Dhaima told me.’
‘Did you prepare them yourself?’ Pushpaketu asked her, there was a hint of mischief in his eyes.
‘Dhaima didn’t allow me to go to the kitchen, but I made the buttermilk by myself, isn’t it Chapala?’ she seek for support from her maid.
‘Would it be prudent to have the buttermilk in that case? Our weak stomach may fail to endure such a celestial drink.’ Harishen burst into laughter at that suggestion; Haimanti got charmingly annoyed, but Pushpaketu good humouredly managed to pacify her in due course.

They were enjoying the refreshment, as a palace guard appeared with an urgent message for Harishen.
‘What is it Jayanta?’ The Minister was surprised.
‘It’s a bit urgent Prabhu. Birinchidev, the emissary from Vaishali is violently sick in the Royal guesthouse. Mahapratihari panicked and asked me to inform you.’
‘Have you informed Royal physician Bamdev?’
‘Yes, people have gone to fetch him already’.
‘Birinchidev is an important man; it’s a difficult situation, it seems. Tell Mahapratihari, I shall be there soon.’
In due course, Harishen started for the Royal guesthouse worried.

ViratSingha, the Governor of Vaishali was a powerful authority in the Magadha Empire; Birinchidev was his spiritual Guru. The Brahmin also played an important part in the administration of Vaishali by managing a spy network which kept an intent eye on the neighboring Himalayan states. Birinchidev was staying at the guesthouse, on his recent official visit to the Royal court. He had brought a marriage proposal between ViratSingha’s eldest daughter and the Emperor’s nephew Prince, Mayukh. His illness could be cause to embarrassment to the Empire, given this situation.

By the time Harishen reached the guesthouse, two aides of Bamdev were nursing the patient under the Physician’s supervision. Birinchidev suffered from a massive convulsion, his face turned blue in extreme pain.
‘How do you feel about this?’ Harishen asked the physician.
‘It’s almost hopeless, the lungs have gathered fluid, the heart is weakened as well, Bamdev sighed.
‘What could possibly be the reason behind it?’
‘Adulterated water could be a reason for this vomiting; he quite possibly wasn’t careful enough about it while travelling from Vaishali’.
‘So I assume nothing happened in the last five days that he has been our guest?’
‘Five days? Has he been here for five days? I don’t think anything taken beyond five days could have had such a delayed impact on his health. In that case, the lapse must have occurred here itself.’
‘Is that so?! Alright, I shall enquire about what he ate or drank on his journey. This could lead to a great deal of embarrassment, if anything happens to him. Please try your best Acharya’, Harishen grasped Bamdev’s hands in great despair.

Upon enquiry, Batuk, the manservant of Birinchidev, reported that his master hadn’t consumed any food or drink, other than in those provided by the inns or drinking water joints. ‘He is a distinguished man, why would he drink water from just about anywhere?’ he retorted indignantly.

That entire night Bamdev struggled in vain; the ailing patient took his last breathed at the early dawn. Harishen rushed to the guesthouse upon receiving the bleak news; his face showing signs of worried sleeplessness.

‘We must inform ViratSingha immediately, the Emperor must know about this’, Harishen muttered.
‘You need to first decide what to convey to ViratSingha’, Bamdev remarked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘The body of the patient had turned completely blue. I even observed his vomit closely; I believe it is a case of poisoning’, the veteran physician gave his verdict decisively.
‘If that’s true, it will bring a great deal of trouble, ViratSingha wouldn’t tolerate it. This is a bad omen!’ Harishen sounded crestfallen.