the immortal of maluha
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ecome unwell!’<br />
The harsh tone had <strong>the</strong> desired effect. While Shiva did not move from his place, he let<br />
Ayurvati dress his wounds. Ayurvati <strong>the</strong>n quickly tended to Parvateshwar’s wounds and left <strong>the</strong><br />
hut.<br />
Shiva looked at <strong>the</strong> prahar lamp in <strong>the</strong> hut. It had been three hours since Ayurvati had<br />
removed <strong>the</strong> arrow. Parvateshwar had left <strong>the</strong> hut to look after <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r injured and make <strong>the</strong><br />
preparations for setting up camp, since <strong>the</strong> convoy was going to stay in Koonj for some time.<br />
That was Parvateshwar’s way. If he was confronted with an ugly situation that he could do<br />
nothing about, he did not wallow in his misery. He would drown himself in his work so that he<br />
did not have to think about <strong>the</strong> crisis.<br />
Shiva was different. Many years back, he had sworn that he would never run from a difficult<br />
situation. Even if <strong>the</strong>re was absolutely nothing he could do. He hadn’t left Sati’s side for a<br />
moment. He sat patiently by her bed, waiting for her to recover. Hoping for her to recover.<br />
Praying for her to recover.<br />
‘Shiva...’ a barely audible whisper broke <strong>the</strong> silence.<br />
Shiva looked at Sati’s face. Her eyes were slightly open. Her hand had moved indiscernibly.<br />
He pulled his chair closer, careful not to touch her.<br />
‘I’m so sorry,’ cried Shiva. ‘I should never have got us into this fight.’<br />
‘No, no,’ murmured Sati. ‘You did <strong>the</strong> right thing. Someone had to make our stand. You have<br />
come to Meluha to lead us and to destroy evil. You did your duty.’<br />
Shiva continued to stare at Sati, overcome by grief. Sati widened her eyes a bit, she was<br />
trying to take in as much <strong>of</strong> Shiva as she could, in what she knew were her last moments.<br />
Death is <strong>the</strong> ultimate destroyer <strong>of</strong> a soul’s aspirations. Ironically, it is usually <strong>the</strong> approach <strong>of</strong><br />
this very destruction which gives a soul <strong>the</strong> courage to challenge every constraint and express<br />
itself. Express even a long-denied dream.<br />
‘It is my time to go, Shiva,’ whispered Sati. ‘But before I go, I want to tell you that <strong>the</strong> last<br />
few months have been <strong>the</strong> happiest in my life.’<br />
Shiva continued to look at Sati with moist eyes. His hands developed a life <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own and<br />
moved towards Sati. He checked himself in time.<br />
‘I wish you had come into my life earlier,’ said Sati, letting out a secret that she hadn’t even<br />
acknowledged to herself. ‘My life would have been so different.’<br />
Shiva’s eyes tried frantically to restrain <strong>the</strong>mselves, struggling against <strong>the</strong> despair that<br />
needed an outlet.<br />
‘I wish I had told you earlier,’ murmured Sati. ‘Because <strong>the</strong> first time that I am telling you will<br />
also probably be <strong>the</strong> last.’<br />
Shiva looked on at her, his voice choked.<br />
Sati looked deeply into Shiva’s eyes, whispering s<strong>of</strong>tly, ‘I love you.’<br />
The dam broke and tears poured down Shiva’s grief-stricken face.<br />
‘You are going to repeat <strong>the</strong>se words for at least ano<strong>the</strong>r hundred years,’ sobbed Shiva.<br />
‘You are not going anywhere. I will fight <strong>the</strong> god <strong>of</strong> death himself, if I have to. You are not going<br />
anywhere.’