Barun Saarang, a young royal, smart and witty who is well versed in politics as well as warfare is questioning his life and values after his father's unfortunate death and the events that followed after. Karuna is a soulful sitar player who performs with a nomadic group of artists. She is free spirited but craves a stable lifestyle and wishes to live comfortably in a home of her own someday. One day she finds an injured soldier and decides to look after him until his recovery. During this time, they grow fond of each other. Before leaving he asks her to marry him and promises to return soon. Unaware of his real identity, she hopefully waits for his return. However, there's a kingdom named Agharna ruled by the powerful Ranga dynasty for generations, keen to establish itself as the ruler of the entire Indian subcontinent. It is on the path to change its future as well as the future of the entire land of Utpalli. In what ways will the dreams of a dynasty affect the lives of Barun and Karuna and to what extent? Or will a young royal and a soulful musician leave their mark in the history of the powerful Ranga dynasty? Note: Mature content. Depicts violence, abuse, death and sexual scenes. (Disclaimer- The characters, incidents & names herein are fictional and any resemblance to real events, people or places is coincidental and unintentional.)
Chapter 1 Prologue
It was long ago, after the fall of the supreme empire, the Utpals also famed as the 'white elephants' of the land due to their vast armies and unbeatable battle records. Moreover, because of their authority over the two-thirds of the Indian subcontinent that was distributed among many small kingdoms ruled by its native rulers and all these small kingdoms under the Utpal dynasty's rule were collectively referred to as Utpalli . The Utpal empire's fall had come with their king's illness, a famine , rebellion of the smaller kingdoms, and significant distrust from within the palace.
Soon after their fall, the land was again divided among many small kingdoms ruled by monarchs and governed by the blades of their armies. With no supreme leader to keep them on a leash, these kings were free to choose between peace or more power. Many kings chose peace and carried on as they did during Utpal's reign. But others either remained independent or wished to acquire more power.
Mostly the years passed without much conflict but soon the struggle to emerge as the most powerful began between the kingdoms and the dynasties, some were open about their desire for power whereas some disguised it as the welfare of the society and protecting the innocent from their cruel kings. Some were fair and just in their pursuit , while some… not so much. Some used all means of gifts, coins, land, threat, and even dirty politics like burning crops or villages to force the opponent into surrendering. Dirty tricks were used to acquire more power and become the next 'White elephant' . Sometimes these means worked and sometimes did not. But whatever the means might be it never promised the lack of bloodshed, death, and destruction… these all would follow suit in one way or the other.
This is the story of a kingdom and the desire of its king to rule the world which was so big that he overlooked all the misery that it would cause in the process. And a girl who has seen and lived through the adversities of the battles with the help of her fellow refugees, music, and in hope to experience peace someday in the comfort of her home. A story of wants and desire that held the power to shake the nation , to build or destroy those in its way… to mold the future in ways they themselves had never imagined.