the immortal of maluha
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closed in on <strong>the</strong> women’s boat and diving underwater charged at <strong>the</strong> craft, rocking it with its<br />
massive body. The tiny vessel tilted and capsized, throwing <strong>the</strong> women into <strong>the</strong> Beas.<br />
Screams <strong>of</strong> terror rent <strong>the</strong> air as <strong>the</strong> women fought to stay afloat. The crocodile had moved<br />
too far ahead in its dash. Turning around, it swam towards <strong>the</strong> struggling women. The delay <strong>of</strong><br />
those crucial seconds proved fateful for <strong>the</strong> women. The rescue boat arrived between <strong>the</strong><br />
crocodile and <strong>the</strong>m. Turning towards Vishwadyumna, <strong>the</strong> hooded figure ordered, ‘Save <strong>the</strong><br />
women.’<br />
Before Vishwadyumna could react, he had flung his robe aside and dived into <strong>the</strong> river. With<br />
his knife held tight between his teeth, he swam towards <strong>the</strong> advancing crocodile.<br />
Vishwadyumna pulled one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> women into <strong>the</strong> boat. She had already lost consciousness.<br />
Turning to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r woman, he reassured, ‘I am coming back soon.’<br />
Vishwadyumna turned and paddled vigorously towards <strong>the</strong> bank. On <strong>the</strong> way he passed<br />
some <strong>of</strong> his o<strong>the</strong>r soldiers. ‘Row quickly. The Lord’s life is in danger.’<br />
The o<strong>the</strong>r soldiers paddled towards <strong>the</strong> area where <strong>the</strong> hooded figure had dived into <strong>the</strong><br />
river. The water had turned red with blood from <strong>the</strong> battle raging under water. The soldiers said<br />
a silent prayer to Lord Varun, <strong>the</strong> god <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water and <strong>the</strong> seas, hoping that <strong>the</strong> blood did not<br />
belong to <strong>the</strong>ir Lord.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiers was about to jump into <strong>the</strong> water with his sword when <strong>the</strong> hooded figure<br />
emerged onto <strong>the</strong> surface, soaked in blood. It was that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crocodile. He swam forcefully<br />
towards <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r woman who was on <strong>the</strong> verge <strong>of</strong> losing consciousness. Reaching her in <strong>the</strong><br />
nick <strong>of</strong> time, he pulled her head out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water. Meanwhile, two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshi soldiers<br />
dived <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong>ir coracle.<br />
‘My Lord, please get into <strong>the</strong> boat,’ said one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. ‘We will swim ashore.’<br />
‘Help <strong>the</strong> woman first,’ replied <strong>the</strong> hooded figure.<br />
The soldiers pulled <strong>the</strong> unconscious woman on to <strong>the</strong> coracle. The hooded figure <strong>the</strong>n<br />
carefully climbed aboard and rowed towards <strong>the</strong> shore. By <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> hooded figure reached<br />
<strong>the</strong> river bank, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r woman had been revived by Vishwadyumna. She sat disoriented at <strong>the</strong><br />
rapid chain <strong>of</strong> events.<br />
‘Are you alright?’ Vishwadyumna asked <strong>the</strong> woman.<br />
In answer, <strong>the</strong> woman looked beyond Vishwadyumna and screamed. Vishwadyumna turned<br />
around. On <strong>the</strong> river bank, <strong>the</strong> hooded figure was coming ashore carrying <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r woman’s<br />
limp body. His clo<strong>the</strong>s were glued to his massive body. To <strong>the</strong> disoriented woman, <strong>the</strong><br />
crocodile’s blood all over his clo<strong>the</strong>s, seemed like that <strong>of</strong> her friend.<br />
‘What have you done, you beast?’ shrieked <strong>the</strong> woman.<br />
The Naga looked up abruptly. His eyes showed mild surprise. He, however, refrained from<br />
saying anything. He gently laid <strong>the</strong> unconscious woman on <strong>the</strong> ground. As he did so, <strong>the</strong> mask<br />
on his face came undone. The woman next to Vishwadyumna stared at him with horror.<br />
‘Naga!’ she screeched.<br />
Before Vishwadyumna could react, she leapt to her feet and fled screaming, ‘Help! Help! A<br />
Naga is eating my friend!’<br />
The Naga looked at <strong>the</strong> fleeing woman with melancholic eyes. He shut <strong>the</strong> windows to his<br />
tormented soul and shook his head slightly. Vishwadyumna meanwhile turned to see his Lord’s<br />
face for <strong>the</strong> first time in years. He immediately lowered his gaze, but not before he had seen<br />
<strong>the</strong> rare emotion <strong>of</strong> intense pain and sorrow in his Lord’s normally expressionless eyes.<br />
Seething in anger, Vishwadyumna drew his sword, swearing to slay <strong>the</strong> ungrateful wench he