the immortal of maluha
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did in a swift veer. Expecting her left arm to come in, he sliced with his right hand. Sati neatly<br />
pirouetted back. Before a surprised Tarak could react, Sati had leapt to her right and brought<br />
her right hand in brutally onto Tarak’s chest. The knife pierced Tarak’s lung. The shock <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
blow immobilised Tarak. Blood spurted from his mouth. He dropped his knife and staggered<br />
back. Sati ruthlessly maintained <strong>the</strong> pressure and dug <strong>the</strong> knife in deeper, right up to <strong>the</strong> hilt.<br />
Tarak stumbled back and collapsed to <strong>the</strong> ground, motionless. The entire stadium was<br />
stunned. Sati’s face had <strong>the</strong> expression <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r goddess in fury. Eighty-five years <strong>of</strong><br />
repressed anger had surfaced in that instant. She pulled <strong>the</strong> knife out, slowly twisting it to inflict<br />
maximum damage. Blood spewed out from Tarak’s mouth at an alarming rate. She raised <strong>the</strong><br />
knife with both her hands. All she had to do was bring it down on his heart and Tarak would<br />
meet his maker. Then suddenly, her expression became calm again. It was almost as if<br />
someone had sucked out all <strong>the</strong> negative energy inside her. She turned around. Shiva, <strong>the</strong><br />
destroyer <strong>of</strong> evil, sat on his throne, staring at her with a slight smile.<br />
Then she looked at Tarak, and whispered. ‘I forgive you.’<br />
The stadium erupted in joy. Even if Lord Varun had himself scripted <strong>the</strong> fight, it wouldn’t have<br />
been as perfect. It had everything that <strong>the</strong> Suryavanshis held dear. Defiant when under<br />
pressure, yet magnanimous in victory.<br />
Sati raised her knife and shouted, ‘Jai Shri Ram!’<br />
The entire stadium repeated, ‘Jai Shri Ram!’<br />
Sati turned towards Shiva and roared once again, ‘Jai Shri Ram!’<br />
‘Jai...,’ Shiva’s words were clogged by <strong>the</strong> knot in his throat.<br />
The Lord won’t mind this time if I don’t complete <strong>the</strong> cry.<br />
Shiva glanced away from Sati, lest he show his tears to <strong>the</strong> woman he loved. Regaining<br />
control <strong>of</strong> himself, he looked back at her with a radiant smile. Sati continued to stare at Shiva.<br />
Emotions that had been dormant in her for too long rippled through her being as she saw<br />
Shiva’s admiration. When she couldn’t bear it any longer, she shut her eyes.