the immortal of maluha
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<strong>the</strong> Maika to deliver <strong>the</strong> child. It was <strong>the</strong> monsoon season. Unfortunately, <strong>the</strong> child was<br />
stillborn.’<br />
‘Oh my god!’ said Shiva, empathising with <strong>the</strong> pain Sati must have felt.<br />
‘But it was worse. On <strong>the</strong> same day, her husband, who had gone to <strong>the</strong> Narmada to pray for<br />
<strong>the</strong> safe birth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir child, accidentally drowned. On that cursed day, her life was destroyed.’<br />
Shiva stared at Brahaspati, too stunned to react. ‘She became a widow and was declared a<br />
vikarma <strong>the</strong> same day.’<br />
‘But how can <strong>the</strong> husband’s death be considered her fault?’ argued Shiva. ‘That is<br />
completely ridiculous.’<br />
‘She wasn’t declared a vikarma because <strong>of</strong> her husband’s death. It was because she gave<br />
birth to a stillborn child.’<br />
‘But that could be due to any reason. Maybe <strong>the</strong>re was a mistake that <strong>the</strong> local doctors<br />
committed.’<br />
‘That doesn’t happen in Meluha, Shiva,’ said Brahaspati calmly. ‘Having a stillborn child is<br />
probably one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> worst ways for a woman to become a vikarma. Only giving birth to a Naga<br />
child would be considered worse. Thank god that didn’t happen. Because <strong>the</strong>n she would have<br />
been completely ostracised from society.’<br />
‘This has to be changed. The concept <strong>of</strong> vikarma is unfair.’<br />
Brahaspati looked at his friend intensely. ‘You might save <strong>the</strong> vikarma, Shiva. But how do<br />
you save a woman who doesn’t want to be saved? She genuinely believes she deserves this<br />
punishment.’<br />
‘Why? I’m sure she is not <strong>the</strong> first Meluhan woman to give birth to a stillborn. There must<br />
have been o<strong>the</strong>rs before her. There will be many more after her.’<br />
‘She was <strong>the</strong> first royal woman to give birth to a stillborn. Her fate has been a source <strong>of</strong><br />
embarrassment to <strong>the</strong> emperor. It raises questions about his ancestry’<br />
‘How would it raise questions about his lineage? Sati is not his birth daughter. She would<br />
also have come from Maika, right?’<br />
‘No, my friend. That law was relaxed for families <strong>of</strong> nobility around two hundred and fifty<br />
years back. Apparently in <strong>the</strong> ‘national interest”, noble families were allowed to keep <strong>the</strong>ir birthchildren.<br />
Some laws can be amended, provided ninety per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Brahmins, Kshatriyas and<br />
Vaishyas above a particular chosen-tribe and job status vote for <strong>the</strong> change. There have been<br />
rare instances <strong>of</strong> such unanimity. This was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. Only one man opposed this change.’<br />
‘Who?’<br />
‘Lord Satyadhwaj, <strong>the</strong> grandfa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Parvateshwar. Their family had vowed not to have any<br />
birth children since this law was passed. Parvateshwar honours that promise to this day.’<br />
‘But if <strong>the</strong> birth law could be changed,’ said Shiva working things out, ‘why couldn’t <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong><br />
vikarma?’<br />
‘Because <strong>the</strong>re aren’t enough noble families affected by that law. That is <strong>the</strong> harsh truth.’<br />
‘But all this goes completely against Lord Ram’s teachings!’<br />
‘Lord Ram’s teachings also say that <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vikarma is correct. Don’t you want to<br />
question that?’<br />
Shiva glanced at Brahaspati silently, before looking out over <strong>the</strong> river.<br />
There is nothing wrong with questioning Lord Ram’s laws, my friend,’ said Brahaspati.<br />
‘There were many times when he himself stood down because <strong>of</strong> someone else’s rationale. The<br />
question is that what are your motives for wanting to change <strong>the</strong> law? Is it because you