the immortal of maluha
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war. I had heard <strong>of</strong> a diplomatic mission from Mesopotamia coming in two days ago. Then why<br />
not have this with Swadweep as well?’<br />
‘You don’t know <strong>the</strong>m, my Lord. They are untrustworthy people. No follower <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Suryavanshi way will dirty his soul by even speaking to a Chandravanshi willingly’<br />
Shiva frowned but didn’t say anything.<br />
‘You don’t know <strong>the</strong> levels <strong>the</strong>y have sunk to my Lord. Over <strong>the</strong> previous few years <strong>the</strong>y<br />
have even started using <strong>the</strong> cursed Nagas in <strong>the</strong>ir terrorist attacks on us!’ said Kanakhala, with<br />
a disgusted look.<br />
‘Terrorist attacks?’<br />
‘Yes, my Lord,’ said Daksha. Their defeat kept <strong>the</strong>m quiet for many decades. And because<br />
<strong>of</strong> our overwhelming victory in <strong>the</strong> previous war, <strong>the</strong>y believe that <strong>the</strong>y cannot overpower us in<br />
an open confrontation. So <strong>the</strong>y have resorted to a form <strong>of</strong> assault that only repulsive people like<br />
<strong>the</strong>m could turn to. Terrorist attacks.’<br />
‘I didn’t understand. What exactly do <strong>the</strong>y do?’<br />
‘They send small bands <strong>of</strong> assassins who launch surprise attacks on non-military but public<br />
places. Their idea is to attack non-combatants — <strong>the</strong> Brahmins, Vaishyas or Shudras. They try<br />
to devastate places like temples, public baths — areas where <strong>the</strong>re may not be soldiers to fight<br />
back — but whose destruction will wreck <strong>the</strong> empire’s morale and spread terror.’<br />
‘That’s disgusting! Even <strong>the</strong> Pakratis in my land, a bunch <strong>of</strong> complete barbarians, would not<br />
do that,’ said Shiva.<br />
‘Yes,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘These Chandravanshis don’t fight like men. They fight like<br />
cowards!’<br />
‘Then why don’t you attack <strong>the</strong>ir country? Finish this once and for all.’<br />
‘We would like to my Lord,’ said Daksha. ‘But I am not sure we can defeat <strong>the</strong>m.’<br />
Shiva observed Parvateshwar seething silendy at <strong>the</strong> insult to his army, before turning<br />
towards Daksha. ‘Why, your Highness? You have a well trained and efficient force. I am sure<br />
your army can defeat <strong>the</strong>m.’<br />
‘Two reasons, my Lord. Firsdy, we are outnumbered. We were outnumbered even a<br />
hundred years back. But not by a very significant margin. But today, we estimate that <strong>the</strong>y have<br />
a population <strong>of</strong> more than eighty million compared to our eight million. They can throw a much<br />
larger army at us — <strong>the</strong>ir sheer numbers will cancel out our technological superiority.’<br />
‘But why should your population be less? You have people who live beyond <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> two<br />
hundred years! Your population should be higher.’<br />
‘Sociological causes, my Lord,’ said Daksha. ‘Our country is rich. Children are a matter <strong>of</strong><br />
choice, more than a duty. Parents would adopt children from <strong>the</strong> Maika system in small<br />
numbers, may be one or two, so that <strong>the</strong>y could devote more attention on <strong>the</strong>ir upbringing.<br />
Fewer and fewer mo<strong>the</strong>rs are giving birth at Maika as well. In Swadweep, for <strong>the</strong> poor, children<br />
are bonded labour to supplement a family’s income. The more children <strong>the</strong>y have, <strong>the</strong> less poor<br />
<strong>the</strong> family. So that country as a whole has a far larger population.’<br />
‘And <strong>the</strong> second reason for avoiding war?’<br />
The second reason is something that is under our control. We fight with “rules <strong>of</strong> war”. With<br />
norms and ethics. The Chandravanshis do nothing like that. And I fear that this is a weakness in<br />
us that our ruthless enemies can exploit.’<br />
‘Rules <strong>of</strong> war?’ asked Shiva.<br />
‘Yes. For example, we will not attack an unarmed man. A superior armed person like a