Acharya Devrath says you can enter Kichak’s palace through Takshshila Vishwavidyala. Acharya Chanakya had made a special tunnel that went from there directly to the palace. It is a maze where anyone can get lost. Only Acharya, I and another person know about it. it is impossible for me to enter inside. The other person will never help Maurya’s. You will have to find out the map of the underground tunnel from the Vishwavidyalaya.
Agnibahu asks Amatya why he wants to meet Kichak. Amatya points out that the sculptor is busy with their work. You can tell me when I can meet Mahanayak. I can find a particular date for the meeting by then. He gets restless as Agnibahu keeps giving no particular answers to him. Agnibahu points out that only his Swami decides who to meet and when. Amatya is losing patience. He gives more gold coins to Agnibahu. I have to reach Kichak as only he can end Maurya Vansh. I was wrong to depend on Agnibahu. I have to use my oldest enemy, Acharya Chanakya now!
Raj Vaid cries. I wish I could tell you (Madhvi) I had no other option. I could not stand against them. I wish I could make you understand. Sushim comes there. He gives him a bag full of coins. He stabs Raj Vaid when he is busy checking the bag. Sushim points out that his death will also be a secret like Chanakya’s now! He sets the grass o fire. No one can come between me and my throne! The same Daasi spots him outside Raj Vaid’s burning house. Sushim has covered his face with a shawl so she could not see him, but she is sure it was someone from the royal family!
Ashoka thinks how to find out that map of the secret tunnel. He notices Kaurvaki talking to her father’s friend. He requests her to stay at his place but she politely declines. I cannot put your life in risk. He is impressed by her. She is taken aback to see Ashoka standing behind her. Did he hear everything?
Amatya comes to a room where the books are kept. He too is looking for the map of the secret tunnel. That’s my last hope to reach Kichak.
Ashoka asks Kaurvaki about the man. Who was he? Why are you crying? She tells him to mind his business. He demands for an answer. She tells him off. Don’t follow me. He holds he rhand so as to stop him. I worry for you. I have started to feel responsible for your safety. She asks him who she is to him. He makes it clear to her that she is not special to him. She too is curious to know who saved him from the soldiers. I am not interfering. Only 2 people hide their identity in the world. One, who do wrong! Two, who try to rectify something that went wrong! I always believed you are in the second category. This is why I have always helped you, but it does not mean I have allowed you to interfere in my life. Amatya notices them there. Go inside.
Ashoka angrily recalls all the tortures that he has inflicted on the people of Takshshila as he makes his sculpture. He breaks something. The soldier warns him to work carefully. Ashoka stares angrily at him. The soldier asks him to look down. Ashoka looks down. I have to go to the book centre to find that map, but how! Kaurvaki comes there. He refuses to eat food. She tells him not to be angry with food because of her. They cutely bicker again. He asks her to divert the attention of the soldier. I too will help you similarly one day, without any questions asked! Karuvaki intentionally falls down. The soldier rushes to her side. Meanwhile, Ashoka manages to enter the room where all the books are kept. How to find that map here? I have studied Arthshastra many times but it contained no such clue. I should read it once again. Maybe I will find something. He sits down to read Arthshastra again. Acharya always signs on the last page. This does not have it. it means this isn’t the last page. Where is it? He finds the page hidden in the back of the book cover. He finds a map there. He notes it down on another piece of paper. He hides the map back under the book as he hears someone’s footsteps. He too hides behind a book shelf. Amatya searches for the map once again.
Ashoka is hiding behind a book shelf. Amatya searches for the map once again. He too picks up the Arthashastra. He realises something and takes it with him. Ashoka comes out of the hiding place but finds the Arthashastra gone by then. He could not draw the complete map. What will I do with an incomplete map!
Kaurvaki is looking for Ashoka. They collide just then, because of which the map falls. She recognizes it. You plan to enter inside Kichak’s palace! He tells her not to let anyone know. She thinks to go with him so he can find her father. She asks him to take her with him if he wants her to keep quiet. She reminds him of their promise to help each other without asking any questions. He gives in. She taunts him for bringing half of the map. There is no door here as per the plan. I can still help you. You should not get arrogant. I too am getting late because of you. Ashoka notices an idol kept near a wall. He recalls seeing a soldier twisting an idol previously to enter inside a secret passage. He twists it. The secret door opens. Ashoka and Kaurvaki go inside.
Kaurvaki asks Ashoka how he knew it would open this way. He shares that the idols are the symbol of the Maurya’s. This is how I got the clue. She is irked hearing about the Maurya’s. Kaurvaki calls Maurya’s cowards. This is why they have got the secret tunnels to get away. They argue over it for a while. He points out that they have only half of the map. We will have to figure out the right path on our own then. We will take lots of time.
Amatya thinks it will be more difficult to get Kichak on my side than reaching him. It will be impossible to destroy the Maruya Vansh otherwise. He too is in the secret tunnel.
Kichak tries to feed milk to Bhami but he politely refuses. He throws it on floor. You don’t take care of yourself which is why you could never hold a baby! You should realise that the baby is your womb will be Mahanayak Kichak’s son! This is your last chance. I will have to leave you if you don’t give me a baby now. I cannot have an infertile wife. This baby is very important for me. That man predicted about my baby sitting on the throne. Everything is happening just right since I heard it. Ashoka came before me. I got that royal coin. I will show you what benefit it will be of for me.
Ashoka reaches a point which is divided into 4 parts. How will we find out what’s the right way? Karuvaki asks him why he made the copy. You could have taken the real one. Ashoka says I had no idea someone will pick up the same book. It is not right to steal anything from the Vishwavidyalaya. She refuses to have any interest in his lectures. We will get lost in the maze now because of your act! Ashoka stops her as she was about to get hurt. Amatya hears her scream. Who can be here? Ashoka tells kaurvaki this isn’t an ordinary maze. Acharya Chanakya made it for the safety of Maurya’s. He would have made sure no wrong person gets out of here alive. We have to be very careful. She says you understand Acharya Chanakya’s strategies a lot. He thinks it is impossible for anyone to understand Acharya Chanakya rightly. But if he is Guru then I am also his disciple. They go one way while Amatya chooses the other!
Kichak shows the map of Hindu-Kush to Bhami. Chandragupta and Nicator chose the same entrance to enter inside Takshshila. Chandragupta got new fort made to avoid anyone from attacking this area again. The people who made the fort were thugs, thieves and all kind of wrong people! But they decided to work for Chandragupta all dedicatedly. Chandragupta succeeded in making Nicator bend down before him and got his daughter Helena married to Maurya’s. Everything is going to change now. I will use that royal coin to open the passage. She tells him against it. It can invite trouble for your people only. He scolds her for interfering in his matter. Nayak has left for Hindu Kush long ago.
The soldiers guarding Hindu Kush fort allow Nayak inside as he waves a peace flag at them. Nayak demands to meet their main security head.
Kaurvaki and Ashoka reach a dead end. She teases him for thinking too highly of himself. I will take you till that door. Let’s go back to the same point. Ashoka thinks she is more anxious to reach Kichak than him. Ashoka and Kaurvaki reach the same point from where they see 4 paths. Ashoka notices someone’s footprints. I could not see them earlier. Kaurvaki says you always look up. How could you look down! Ashoka points out that they seem fresh. Kaurvaki thinks to follow the footsteps. Maybe that’s the right path. She walks forward with Ashoka following her. She screams in shock upon noticing a dead body lying nearby. Ashoka covers her mouth but Amatya has heard her scream. I am mistaken. It is impossible for anyone else to be here. Ashoka and Kaurvaki look at each other. Ashoka notices the snake coming there. Ashoka shares it is an important lesson of life. Never follow anyone else’s footsteps without thinking anything. They both run from there. The snake follows them. Ashoka intentionally runs in a maze style to avoid the snake. Kaurvaki is surprised. How did you do it? Ashoka says a snake always follows you in a fixed pattern. They get confused if we walk in a different manner.