‘What are you thinking?’ asked Sati.
‘I’m just thinking that marrying you was the best thing I ever did.’
Sati smiled. ‘I’m not going to disagree with that. But what specifically brought that up at this time?’
Shiva ran his hand along Sati’s face. ‘Because I know that for as long as you’re with me, you will always keep me centred on the right path.’
‘So, you’ve decided to do the right thing with...’
‘Yes, I have.’
Sati nodded in satisfaction. ‘We will win, Shiva.’
‘Yes, we will. But it has to be the right way.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Sati, and quoted Lord Ram. ‘There is no wrong way to do the right thing.’
A select assembly awaited the arrival of Parvateshwar, who was to be produced in the court of Kashi during the second prahar. The Kashi nobility was represented by Athithigva alone. Shiva sat impassively, his closest advisors around him in a semi-circle: Gopal, Sati, Kali, Ganesh and Kartik. Bhagirath and Ayurvati stood at a distance. Anandmayi was missing.
Shiva nodded towards Athithigva.
Athithigva called out loudly. ‘Bring the General in.’
Parshuram, Veerbhadra and Nandi escorted Parvateshwar into the hall. The Meluhan general was unchained, keeping in mind Shiva’s explicit orders. He glanced briefly at Sati before turning to look at Shiva. The Neelkanth’s rigid face was inscrutable. Parvateshwar expected to be put to death. He knew Shiva would not have wanted to do it, but the others would have convinced him of the necessity of getting rid of the general.
Parvateshwar also knew that regardless of what happened to him, he would treat the Neelkanth with the honour that the Lord deserved. The general clicked his heels together and brought his balled right fist up to his chest. And then, completing the Meluhan military salute, he bowed low towards the Neelkanth. He did not bother with anyone else.
‘Parvateshwar,’ said Shiva.
Parvateshwar immediately looked up.
‘I do not want to drag this on for too long,’ said Shiva. ‘Your rebellion has shocked me. But it has also reinforced my conviction that we are fighting Evil and it’ll not make things easy for us. It can lead even the best amongst us astray, if not through inducements then through dubious calls of honour.’
Parvateshwar continued to stare at Shiva, waiting for the sentence.
‘But when one fights against Evil, one has to fight with Good,’ said Shiva. ‘Not just on the side of Good, but with Good in one’s heart. Therefore, I have decided to allow you to leave.’
Parvateshwar couldn’t believe his ears.
‘Go now,’ said Shiva.
Parvateshwar was only half listening. This magnificent gesture from the Neelkanth had brought tears to his eyes.
‘But let me assure you,’ continued Shiva coldly, ‘the next time we meet, it will be on a battlefield. And that will be the day I will kill you.’
Parvateshwar bowed his head once again, his eyes clouded with tears. ‘That will also be the day of my liberation, My Lord.’
Shiva stayed stoic.
Parvateshwar looked up at Shiva. ‘But for as long as I live, My Lord, I shall fight to protect Meluha.’
‘Go!’ said Shiva.
Parvateshwar smiled at Sati. She brought her hands together in a polite but expressionless Namaste. Parvateshwar mouthed the word ‘Vijayibhav’ silently, blessing his god-daughter with victory.
As he turned around to leave, he saw Ayurvati and Bhagirath standing by the door. He walked up to them.
‘My apologies, Parvateshwar,’ said Bhagirath.
‘I understand,’ replied Parvateshwar, impassively.
Parvateshwar looked at Ayurvati.
Ayurvati just shook her head. ‘Do you realise that you are leaving one of the most magnificent men ever born?’
‘I do,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘But I will have the good fortune of dying at his hands.’
Ayurvati breathed deeply and patted Parvateshwar on his shoulder. ‘I will miss you, my friend.’
‘I will miss you too.’
Parvateshwar scanned the room quickly. ‘Where’s Anandmayi?’
‘She’s waiting for you at the port,’ said Bhagirath, ‘beside the ship that will take you away.’
Parvateshwar nodded. He looked back one last time at Shiva and then walked out.
The harbour master came up to him just as Parvateshwar reached the Assi Ghat. ‘General, your ship is berthed in that direction.’
He began walking in the direction indicated. Parvateshwar saw Anandmayi by the gangplank of a small vessel, obviously a merchant ship.
‘Did you know that I would be allowed to leave honourably?’ asked a smiling Parvateshwar as soon he reached her.
‘When they told me this morning to arrange a ship to sail up the Ganga,’ said Anandmayi, ‘I could surmise it was not to carry your corpse all the way to Meluha and display it to the Suryavanshis.’
Parvateshwar laughed.
‘Also, I never lost faith in the Neelkanth,’ said Anandmayi.
‘Yes,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘He’s the finest man born since Lord Ram.’
Anandmayi looked at the ship. ‘It’s not much, I admit. It will not be comfortable, but it’s quick.’
Parvateshwar suddenly stepped forward and embraced Anandmayi. It took a surprised Anandmayi a moment to respond. Parvateshwar was not a man given to public displays of affection. She knew that it was deeply uncomfortable for him so she never tried to embrace him in public.
Anandmayi smiled warmly and caressed his back. ‘It’s all over now.’
Parvateshwar pulled back a little, but kept his arms around his wife. ‘I will miss you.’
‘Miss me?’ asked Anandmayi.
‘You have been the best thing that ever happened to me,’ said an emotional Parvateshwar, tears in his eyes.
Anandmayi raised her eyebrows and laughed. ‘And I will continue to happen to you. Let’s go.’
‘Let’s go?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where?’
‘Meluha.’
‘You’re coming to Meluha?’
‘Yes.’
Parvateshwar stepped back. ‘Anandmayi, the path ahead is dangerous. I honestly don’t think that Meluha can win.’
‘So?’
‘I cannot permit you to put your life in danger.’
‘Did I seek your permission?’
‘Anandmayi, you cannot...’
Parvateshwar stopped speaking as Anandmayi held his hand, turned around and started walking up the gangplank. Parvateshwar followed quietly with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.
Chapter 19
Proclamation of the Blue Lord
‘I have a brilliant plan,’ said Daksha.
Daksha and Veerini were dining at the royal palace in Devagiri. A wary Veerini put the morsel of roti and vegetables back on her plate. She stole a quick glance towards the attendants standing guard at the door.
‘What plan?’ asked Veerini.
‘Believe me,’ said an excited Daksha. ‘If we can implement it, the war will be over even before it has begun.’
‘But, Lord Bhrigu...’
‘Even Lord Bhrigu would be impressed. We will be rid of the Neelkanth problem once and for all.’
‘Wasn’t it the Neelkanth opportunity some years ago?’ asked a sarcastic Veerini.
‘Don’t you understand what is happening?’ asked an irritated Daksha. ‘Do I have to explain everything to you? War is about to break out. Our soldiers are training continuously.’
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. But I think we should keep out of this and leave the matter entirely to Lord Bhrigu.’
‘Why? Lord Bhrigu is not the Emperor of India. I am.’
‘Have you told Lord Bhrigu that?’
‘Don’t irritate me, Veerini. If you’re not interested in what I have to say, just say so.’
‘I’m sorry. But I think it’s better to leave all the d
ecision-making to Lord Bhrigu. All we should be concerned about is our family.’
‘There you go again!’ said Daksha, raising his voice. ‘Family! Family! Family! Don’t you care about how the world will see me? How history will judge me?’
‘Even the greatest of men cannot dictate how posterity will judge them.’
Daksha pushed his plate away, shouting, ‘You are the source of all my problems! It is because of you that I haven’t been able to achieve all that I could have!’
Veerini looked at the attendants and turned back towards her husband. ‘Keep your voice down, Daksha. Don’t make a mockery of our marriage.’
‘Ha! This marriage has been a mockery from the very the beginning! Had I a more supportive wife, I would have conquered the world by now!’
Daksha got up angrily and stormed out.
‘This is a huge mistake,’ said Kali. ‘In his obsession for the right way, your father may end up losing the war.’
Ganesh and Kartik were in her chamber in the Kashi palace.
‘I disagree, mausi,’ said Kartik. ‘I think baba did the right thing. We have to win, but we must do it the right way.’
‘I thought you were in agreement with us,’ said a frowning Kali.
‘I was. But maa’s words convinced me otherwise.’
‘In any case, mausi,’ said Ganesh. ‘It has happened. Let us not fret over it. We should focus on the war instead.’
‘Do we have a choice?’ asked Kali.
‘Baba told me that I will lead the war effort in Ayodhya,’ said Ganesh. ‘Kartik, you will be with me.’
‘We’ll destroy them, dada,’ said Kartik, raising his clenched right fist.
‘That we will,’ said Ganesh. ‘Mausi, are you sure about Lothal and Maika?’
‘I’ve already asked Suparna to send ambassadors to Governor Chenardhwaj,’ said Kali. ‘Trust me, he is a friend.’
Kartik bent and touched his mother’s feet.
‘Vijayibhav, my child,’ said Sati, as she applied the red tilak on Kartik’s forehead for good luck and victory.
Sati, Ganesh and Kartik were in the Neelkanth’s chamber. Ganesh, whose forehead already wore the tilak, looked at his brother with pride. Kartik was still a child, but was already universally respected as a fearsome warrior. The two sons of Shiva were to set sail down the Ganga and meet their allies in Vaishali. From there, they were to turn back, sail up the Sarayu and attack Ayodhya. Ganesh turned towards his father and touched his feet.
Shiva smiled as he pulled Ganesh up into an embrace. ‘My blessings are not as potent as those that emerge from your mother’s heart. But I know that you will make me proud.’
‘I’ll try my best, baba,’ smiled Ganesh.
Kartik turned and touched Shiva’s feet.
Shiva embraced his younger son. ‘Give them hell, Kartik!’
Kartik grinned. ‘I will, baba!’
‘You should smile more often, Kartik,’ said Sati. ‘You look more handsome when you do.’
Kartik smiled broadly. ‘The next time we meet, I will certainly be grinning from ear to ear. For our army would have defeated Ayodhya by then!’
Shiva patted Kartik on his back before turning to Ganesh. ‘If Ayodhya is willing to break ranks with Meluha after my proclamation is made public, then I would rather we don’t attack them.’
‘I understand, baba,’ said Ganesh. ‘This is why I’m taking Bhagirath along with me. His father may hate the Ayodhyan prince, but Bhagirath still has access to many members of the nobility. I’m hoping he’ll be able to convince them.’
‘When will the proclamation come out, baba?’ asked Kartik.
‘Next week,’ answered Shiva. ‘Stay in touch with the Vaishali Vasudev pandit for the reactions from across different kingdoms in Swadweep. You will know then what to expect in Ayodhya also.’
‘Yes, baba,’ said Kartik.
Shiva turned to Ganesh. ‘I’ve been told that you have recruited Divodas and the Branga soldiers into the army.’
‘Yes,’ said Ganesh. ‘We’ll leave on board five ships and meet the combined Branga-Vaishali army at Vaishali. I’m told they have two hundred ships. Fifty of them have been deputed to the Western Army under your command and are on their way to Kashi. The remaining hundred and fifty ships will be with me. We will attack Ayodhya with a hundred and fifty thousand men.’
‘That won’t be enough to conquer them,’ said Sati. ‘But we should be able to tie them down.’
‘Yes,’ answered Ganesh.
‘We’ll hold them back, baba,’ said Kartik. ‘I promise you.’
Shiva smiled.
‘How is she now?’ asked Kali.
Kali was at the river gate of the eastern palace of the Kashi king Athithigva. The palace had been built on the eastern banks of the Ganga, which was considered inauspicious for any permanent construction. The kings of Kashi had bought this land to ensure that no Kashi citizen lived on that side. It was in this palace that Athithigva had housed his Naga sister, Maya. Ganesh and Kali’s open presence had given Athithigva the courage to let his sister come out of hiding.
‘Your medicines have helped, Your Highness,’ said Athithigva. ‘At least she’s not in terrible pain anymore. The Parmatma has sent you as an angel to help my sister.’
Kali smiled sadly. She knew it was a matter of time before Maya, a singular name for conjoined twins who were fused into one body from the chest down, would die. It was a miracle that Maya had lived for so long. On discovering her presence, Kali had immediately supplied Naga medicines to lessen her suffering. Since she was to leave with the Western Army the next day, she had come over to leave the rest of her medicines with Maya.
‘I’m no angel,’ said Kali. ‘If the Parmatma had any sense of justice, he wouldn’t make an innocent person like Maya suffer so much. I’m doing all I can to set right his injustices.’
Athithigva shrugged in resignation but was too pious to curse God.
Kali’s gaze turned towards the Ganga where the fifty ships of the Branga armada had dropped anchor just the previous day. The mighty fleet covered the width of the river, stretching to the opposite bank. A nervous excitement was palpable throughout Kashi. The smell of war was in the air.
The flotilla’s initial progress would be slow for they would first sail west against the current and then southwards up the Chambal. After disembarking, the soldiers would then march towards the Narmada. The second voyage would take them along the course of the Narmada out to the Western Sea and then north towards Meluha.
‘Let’s go in,’ said Kali. ‘I’d like to see Maya before I leave.’
‘Your Highness!’ said Kanakhala, running into Daksha’s private office.
Daksha looked up at his prime minister as he slipped the papyrus he was reading back into the drawer of his desk. ‘Where’s the fire, Kanakhala?’
‘Your Highness,’ said a frantic Kanakhala, obviously carrying something within the folds of her angvastram, ‘you need to see this.’
Kanakhala placed a thin stone tablet on her emperor’s desk.
‘What’s this?’ asked Daksha.
‘You need to read it, Your Highness.’
Daksha bent over to read.
To all of you who consider yourselves the children of Manu and followers of the Sanatan Dharma, this is a message from me, Shiva, your Neelkanth.
I have travelled across our great land, through all the kingdoms we are divided into, met with all the tribes that populate our fair realm. I have done this in search of the ultimate Evil, for that is my task. Father Manu had told us Evil is not a distant demon. It works its destruction close to us, with us, within us. He was right. He told us Evil does not come from down below and devour us. Instead, we help Evil destroy our lives. He was right. He told us Good and Evil are two sides of the same coin. That one day, the greatest Good will transform into the greatest Evil. He was right. Our greed in extracting more and more from Good turns it into Evil. This is the universe’s way of restoring bal
ance. It is the Parmatma’s way to control our excesses.
I have come to the conclusion that the Somras is now the greatest Evil of our age. All the Good that could be wrung out of the Somras has been wrung. It is time now to stop its use, before the power of its Evil destroys us all. It has already caused tremendous damage, from the killing of the Saraswati River to birth deformities to the diseases that plague some of our kingdoms. For the sake of our descendants, for the sake of our world, we cannot use the Somras anymore.
Therefore, by my order, the use of the Somras is banned forthwith.
To all those who believe in the legend of the Neelkanth: Follow me. Stop the Somras.
To all those who refuse to stop using the Somras: Know this. You will become my enemy. And I will not stop till the use of the Somras is stopped. This is the word of your Neelkanth.
Daksha looked completely stunned. ‘What the hell?!’
‘I do not understand what this means, Your Highness,’ said Kanakhala. ‘Do we stop using the Somras?’
‘Where did you find this?’
‘I didn’t, Your Highness,’ said Kanakhala. ‘It was hung on the outer wall of the temple of Lord Indra near the public bath. Half the citizens have seen this already and they would be talking to the other half by now.’
‘Where is Maharishi Bhrigu?’
‘My Lord, what about the Somras? Should I...’
‘Where is Maharishi Bhrigu?’
‘But if the Neelkanth has issued this order, we have no choice...’
‘Dammit, Kanakhala!’ screamed Daksha. ‘Where is Maharishi Bhrigu?’
Kanakhala was silent for an instant. She did not like the way her Emperor had spoken to her. ‘Maharishi Bhrigu had left Prayag a little more than a month back. That was the last I heard of him, Your Highness. It will take him at least two more months to reach Devagiri.’
‘Then we will wait for him before deciding on a course of action,’ said Daksha.
‘But how can we oppose a proclamation from the Neelkanth, Your Highness?’
‘Who is the Emperor, Kanakhala?’
‘You are, Your Highness.’
‘And have I taken a decision?’
‘Yes, Your Highness.’