Chapter 34: The Four Pillars — Forging the Round Table of Bharat
### **Chapter 34: The Four Pillars — Forging the Round Table of Bharat**
**Year:** 78 BCE | **Atriyaa's Age:** 44 | **Aryan's Age:** 29
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The empire stretched vast and strong, its roads flowing with life and its temples echoing with prayers. But Aryan knew that unity, once achieved, was a fragile flame. The sheer scale of **Akhand Bharat** demanded a new kind of governance—one that empowered the farthest corners while ensuring the heart remained intact.
A vision emerged: a **council of equals**, representing the north, south, east, and west, each bound by duty to protect the empire's soul.
It was time to establish the **Round Table of Bharat**.
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### **1. The Birth of the Round Table**
In the grand city of **Indraprastha**, chosen as the **central hub** of the empire, a colossal hall was constructed—**The Hall of Unity**. Its towering domes were adorned with carvings of Bharat's gods and heroes, while a vast circular table of pure jade sat at its core.
**Aryan** stood before his council, with **Atriyaa** at his side, as artisans unveiled the finished table—its surface engraved with the map of **Akhand Bharat**, stretching from **Gandhar** in the west to **Dhaka** in the east, and from the snowy mountains of the **Himalayas** to the temples of **Hampi** in the south.
**"This table,"** Aryan declared, **"is where Bharat will speak as one."**
The table would be the **nerve center** of the empire—where decisions, strategies, and policies would be debated and agreed upon by the highest-ranking officials.
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### **2. The Four Pillars — Round Table Commanders**
To ensure the stability and strength of the empire, Aryan appointed **four Round Table Commanders**, each tasked with overseeing one of the cardinal regions. These commanders would be the ultimate authority in their lands, yet answer to the unity of Bharat.
1. **Indraprastha (Central Hub)** — *Aryan* himself led from the heart of the empire, overseeing all regions and maintaining balance.
2. **Gandhar (West)** — A battle-hardened general, **Vikraal**, was chosen to guard the empire's western frontiers, keeping watch over **Afghanistan** and the potential threats beyond **Persia**.
3. **Dhaka (East)** — **General Manas**, a brilliant strategist from **Assam**, was appointed to oversee the eastern territories, including **Burma** and the newly built **Shiva Temple** in Dhaka.
4. **Hampi (South)** — From the southern kingdoms, **Queen Meenakshi II** of the **Chola** dynasty was selected to represent the south, a fierce warrior-queen known for her loyalty and leadership.
These commanders would meet at **Indraprastha** twice a year, sitting at the **Round Table** to discuss the empire's future.
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### **3. Cultural and Military Integration**
With the **Round Table** established, Aryan focused on weaving the regions closer:
- **Cultural Exchanges**: Grand festivals were synchronized across the empire. The **"Festival of Unity"** saw **Indraprastha**, **Dhaka**, **Hampi**, and **Gandhar** celebrate together, connecting diverse traditions into one heartbeat.
- **Military Cooperation**: The **Round Table Commanders** oversaw combined military drills, creating regiments composed of soldiers from different regions. These units, called the **"Sons of Bharat,"** stood as a symbol of unity.
- **Trade Routes and Temples**: New roads were built connecting **Hampi** in the south to **Dhaka** in the east, while **temples** dedicated to **Bharat Mata** sprang up in every major city.
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### **4. The Growing Rift — Aryan and Atriyaa**
Despite the empire flourishing, the bond between **Aryan** and **Atriyaa** grew increasingly complex.
Atriyaa's once-clear role as **Eternal General** was clouded by emotions she could no longer ignore. She had raised Aryan, guided him, but now he was a man—a king with his own will and desires. Her heart battled the conflict between **maternal devotion**, **duty**, and a deepening, forbidden affection.
Aryan, too, felt the growing tension. The fragments of his past life as **Vikramaditya** still flickered within him, making every glance at Atriyaa a mix of familial memory and something more intense. Their time together, once purely strategic, now carried **unspoken emotions**—a mixture of pride, longing, and confusion.
One evening, standing atop the **Lotus Tower** in **Indraprastha**, the two overlooked the city's glowing streets.
**"You've built a world I could never have dreamed of,"** Atriyaa whispered, her voice soft, filled with both admiration and sorrow.
**Aryan** turned, his eyes piercing hers. **"And yet, something stands between us. You feel it too."**
Her hands trembled as she placed them on the stone railing. **"I feel everything, Aryan. Duty, love, fear... all tangled."**
The moment hung heavy, but before it could break into confession or denial, a royal messenger approached, bowing deeply.
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### **6. The Path Forward — Emotions and Duty Collide**
With the **Round Table** now fully operational, Aryan summoned the four commanders. For the first time, the table bore the weight of impending war.
But even as they planned the defense of Bharat's western borders, the rift between Aryan and Atriyaa widened.
- **Atriyaa** struggled to suppress her growing emotions while maintaining her role as protector and guide.
- **Aryan**, aware of her turmoil, found himself torn between his system-driven destiny and the complicated bond he shared with her.
The next battle would not only be fought on distant borders but also within their hearts.
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### **Current Year:** 78 BCE
**Atriyaa's Age:** 44
**Aryan's Age:** 29 (*System: Fully Awakened*)
**Status:** Round Table Established | Western Threat Looming
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### **In the next chapter:**
- Aryan leads the Round Table Commanders to Gandhar to prepare for the western invasion.
- Tensions between Aryan and Atriyaa reach a breaking point, leading to a confrontation that could change their bond forever.
- A mysterious prophecy from the **Shiva Temple** in Dhaka hints at a destiny far more complex than either of them imagined.