Under the hot summer sun, the laborers worked. The sweat dripping off their brows and shoulders. Along the river bank, laborers were resting, cooling off in the muddy waters of the river. But soon they were back to work. Hauling stones and bricks to Mohenjo-Daro, where a new set of walls were being built. The stone and earthen walls surrounded the capital. But their purpose was not to keep out barbarians, but to keep out nature. Flooding has destroyed the city many times over. Now King Dhiren Avanindra embarked on an ambitious project to shield Mohenjo-Daro and other major cities from the flood waters. Walls and levees were to be constructed, diverting the water away from the cities and into the fields where they can be used to replenish and irrigate the soil.
Months later, the new walls began to take shape. Fashioned with stone and brick and lining the river. The walls were to become the newest line of defense against the flood waters. Learning from lessons of the past, the foundation for the walls was set deep below the ground to prevent the wall from collapsing from beneath. Dhiren Avanindra walked along the wall, inspecting its masonry. It was the first section to be completed of an ambitious project to protect the dozens major cities along the river. From the height Dhiren Avanindra could see his kingdom. The farmland extended into the horizon, the fields of wheat and barley across the river. The floods have refreshed the farmlands year after year. The land provided the city with a surplus of food, wheat and barley were made into bread and beer. In addition, herds of cattle roamed. Sacred and respected by Hindus, they are not to be harmed, only used for milk. Roaming with the cattle is the goat and sheep, supplying the city with meat, and other products. And the newest addition is the chicken, which arrived from the east.
On the other side of the wall laid the perfect grid street layout of the city. City planning was held high in Mohenjo-Daro. Perfectly aligned streets ran thru the city. The buildings were engineered to the highest standard. In the markets, goat skins were being traded. Wool cloths were being woven. The latest harvest of wheat arrived to be transported to the granary. Lapis lazuli from the west was being traded; men snatched it up for its blue color and beauty. The city was bustling. Lest, the king knew that if the walls failed, all of this beautiful city would be washed down the river once again.