the immortal of maluha
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<strong>the</strong> life <strong>of</strong> an outcast.’<br />
‘I DON’T NEED YOUR PROTECTION! I CANNOT BE SAVED!’ shouted Sati, before<br />
storming out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room.<br />
Shiva glared at her retreating form in irritation. ‘What <strong>the</strong> hell is it with this woman?!’<br />
‘She’s right Shiva,’ advised Brahaspati. ‘Don’t go <strong>the</strong>re.’<br />
‘You agree with her on this vikarma business? Answer with your heart, Brahaspati. Don’t<br />
you think it is unfair?’<br />
‘I wasn’t talking about that. I was talking about Sati.’<br />
Shiva continued to glare at Brahaspati defiantly. Everything in his mind, body and soul told<br />
him that he should pursue Sati. That his life would be meaningless without her. That his soul’s<br />
existence would be incomplete without her.<br />
‘Don’t go <strong>the</strong>re, my friend,’ reiterated Brahaspati.<br />
The caravan left <strong>the</strong> river city <strong>of</strong> Kotdwaar on a royal barge led and followed by two large<br />
boats <strong>of</strong> equal size and grandeur as <strong>the</strong> royal vessel. Typical <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Meluhan security system,<br />
<strong>the</strong> additional boats were to confuse any attacker about which boat <strong>the</strong> royal family may be on.<br />
The entire royal party was in <strong>the</strong> second boat. Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three large boats was manned by a<br />
brigade <strong>of</strong> soldiers. Additionally, <strong>the</strong>re were five small and quick cutter boats on both sides <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> royal convoy, keeping pace and protecting <strong>the</strong> sides in case <strong>of</strong> an ambush.<br />
‘When <strong>the</strong> monsoon is not active, my Lord,’ said Ayurvati, ‘<strong>the</strong> rivers are <strong>the</strong> best way to<br />
travel. Though we have good roads connecting all major cities, it cannot match <strong>the</strong> rivers in<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> speed and safety.’<br />
Shiva smiled at Ayurvati politely. He was not in <strong>the</strong> frame <strong>of</strong> mind for much conversation.<br />
Sati had not spoken to Shiva since that fateful day at Kotdwaar when he had refused to<br />
undergo a shudhikaran.<br />
The royal barge stopped at many cities along <strong>the</strong> river. The routine seemed much <strong>the</strong> same.<br />
Extreme exuberance would manifest itself in each city on <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Neelkanth.<br />
It was a kind <strong>of</strong> reaction unnatural in Meluha. But <strong>the</strong>n, a Neelkanth didn’t grace <strong>the</strong> land<br />
every day.<br />
‘Why?’ asked Shiva <strong>of</strong> Brahaspati, after many days <strong>of</strong> keeping quiet about <strong>the</strong> disquiet in his<br />
troubled heart.<br />
‘Why what?’<br />
‘You know what I am talking about, Brahaspati,’ said Shiva, narrowing his eyes in irritation.<br />
‘She genuinely believes that she deserves to be a vikarma,’ answered Brahaspati with a sad<br />
smile.<br />
‘Why?’<br />
‘Perhaps because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> manner in which she became a vikarma.’<br />
‘How did it happen?’<br />
‘It happened during her earlier marriage.’<br />
‘What! Sati was married?!’<br />
’Yes. That was around ninety years back. It was a political marriage with one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> noble<br />
families <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> empire. Her husband’s name was Chandandhwaj. She got pregnant and went to