the immortal of maluha
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
question?’<br />
‘Of course, my Lord.’<br />
‘Do you agree that honesty is required to make any friendship work? Even if it means deeply<br />
<strong>of</strong>fending your friend with <strong>the</strong> truth?’<br />
‘Yes, <strong>of</strong> course,’ replied Daksha, wondering where Shiva was going with this.<br />
‘Complete honesty is not just <strong>the</strong> bedrock <strong>of</strong> an individual relationship, but <strong>of</strong> any stable<br />
society,’ interjected Parvateshwar.<br />
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ said Shiva. ‘And yet, Meluha wasn’t honest with me.’<br />
Nobody said anything.<br />
Shiva continued in a courteous, but firm tone. ‘When my tribe was being invited to come to<br />
Meluha, we had <strong>the</strong> impression you wanted immigrants because you needed people to work.<br />
And I was happy to escape my benighted land. But now I realise that you were systematically<br />
searching for <strong>the</strong> Neelkanth.’<br />
Turning to Nandi, Shiva said, ‘We weren’t told that a medicine called <strong>the</strong> Somras would be<br />
administered to us as soon as we entered. We weren’t told that <strong>the</strong> medicine would have such<br />
effects.’<br />
Nandi looked down with guilty eyes. His Lord had <strong>the</strong> right to be angry with him.<br />
Turning to Daksha, Shiva continued, ‘Your Highness, you know that <strong>the</strong> Somras was<br />
probably administered to me on my first night in Kashmir, without my knowledge.’<br />
‘I am truly sorry about that dishonesty my Lord,’ said Daksha, with his hands in a penitent<br />
namaste. ‘It’s something that I will always be ashamed <strong>of</strong>. But <strong>the</strong> stakes were too high for us.<br />
And <strong>the</strong> Somras has considerably positive effects on your body. It doesn’t harm you in any<br />
way.’<br />
‘I know. I am not exactly upset about having to live a long and healthy life,’ said Shiva wryly.<br />
‘Do you know that my tribe was also probably given <strong>the</strong> Somras that night? And <strong>the</strong>y fell<br />
seriously ill, perhaps because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Somras.’<br />
‘They were under no risk my Lord,’ said Kanakhala apologetically. ‘Some people are<br />
predisposed towards certain diseases. When <strong>the</strong> Somras enters <strong>the</strong> body, it triggers <strong>the</strong><br />
immediate occurrence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se diseases, which when cured, never recur. Hence, <strong>the</strong> body<br />
remains healthy till death. Your tribe is actually much healthier now.’<br />
‘No doubt <strong>the</strong>y are,’ said Shiva. ‘The point is not about <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Somras. Both my<br />
tribe and I are better for it. Yet, from what I understand <strong>of</strong> Meluha, getting somebody to do<br />
something without telling him all <strong>the</strong> facts would not have been Lord Ram’s way. You should<br />
have told us <strong>the</strong> complete truth at Mount Kailash. Then you should have let us make an<br />
informed choice ra<strong>the</strong>r than you making a choice for us. We probably would still have come to<br />
Meluha anyway but <strong>the</strong>n it would have been our choice.’<br />
‘Please forgive us <strong>the</strong> deception, my Lord,’ said Daksha, with guilty regret. ‘It is not our way<br />
to do something like this. We pride ourselves on our honesty. But we had no choice. We are<br />
truly sorry, my Lord. Your people are well taken care <strong>of</strong>. They are healthier than ever. They will<br />
live long, productive lives.’<br />
Parvateshwar finally broke his silence, speaking what was always in his heart since <strong>the</strong><br />
search had begun many decades ago. ‘Shiva, we are truly sorry for what has been done. You<br />
have every right to be angry. Lying is not our way. I think what was done is appalling and Lord<br />
Ram would have never condoned this. No matter how serious our troubles, we have no right to<br />
deceive someone into helping us. I am deeply sorry’