the immortal of maluha
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Shiva noticed that <strong>the</strong> second amulet on Brahaspati’s arm showed him as a swan. A very<br />
select chosen-tribe among Brahmins.<br />
‘This is Lord Shiva,’ said Kanakhala, pointing towards Shiva.<br />
‘Just Shiva will do, thank you,’ smiled Shiva, with a polite namaste towards Brahaspati.<br />
‘Alright <strong>the</strong>n. Just Shiva it is. And, who might you be?’ asked Brahaspati, turning towards<br />
Nandi.<br />
‘This is Captain Nandi,’ answered Kanakhala. ‘Lord Shiva’s aide.’<br />
‘A pleasure to meet you, Captain,’ said Brahaspati, before turning back to Shiva. ‘I don’t<br />
mean to sound rude Shiva. But would it be possible for me to see your throat’<br />
Shiva nodded. As he took <strong>of</strong>f his cravat, Brahaspati came forward to examine <strong>the</strong> throat. His<br />
smile disappeared as he saw Shiva’s throat radiating a bright blue hue. Brahaspati was<br />
speechless for a few moments. Slowly ga<strong>the</strong>ring his wits, he turned towards Kanakhala. ‘This is<br />
not a fraud. The colour comes from <strong>the</strong> inside. How is this possible? This means that...’<br />
‘Yes,’ said Kanakhala s<strong>of</strong>tly, with a happiness that seemed to emanate from deep inside. ‘It<br />
means <strong>the</strong> Neelkanth has come. Our saviour has come.’<br />
‘Well, I don’t know if I am a saviour or anything like that,’ said an embarrassed Shiva, retying<br />
<strong>the</strong> cravat around his throat. ‘But I will certainly try my best to help your wonderful country. It is<br />
for this reason that I come to you. Something tells me that it is important for me to know how<br />
<strong>the</strong> Somras works.’<br />
Brahaspati still seemed to be in a daze. He continued to watch Shiva but his attention<br />
seemed elsewhere. He appeared to be working out <strong>the</strong> implications <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> true Neelkanth’s<br />
arrival.<br />
‘Brahaspati...’ said Kanakhala, as she tried to call <strong>the</strong> chief scientist back into <strong>the</strong> here and<br />
now.<br />
‘Huh!’<br />
‘Can you tell me how <strong>the</strong> Somras works, Brahaspati?’ asked Shiva again.<br />
‘Of course,’ said Brahaspati, as his eyes refocused on <strong>the</strong> people in front <strong>of</strong> him. Noticing<br />
Nandi he asked, ‘Is it alright to speak in front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> captain?’<br />
‘Nandi has been my friend through my time in Meluha,’ said Shiva. ‘I hope it is alright if he<br />
stays here.’<br />
Nandi felt touched that his Lord still trusted him so openly. Nandi swore once again, on pain<br />
<strong>of</strong> death, to never lie to his Lord.<br />
‘Whatever you say, Shiva,’ said Brahaspati, smiling warmly.<br />
Shiva noticed that Brahaspati was not submissive or excessively deferential on discovering<br />
that he was <strong>the</strong> Neelkanth. Just like Parvateshwar, Brahaspati called Shiva by his name and not<br />
‘My Lord’. However, Shiva felt that while Parvateshwar’s attitude was driven by a distrusting<br />
surliness, Brahaspati’s was driven perhaps by an assured affability.<br />
‘Thank you,’ smiled Shiva. ‘So, how does <strong>the</strong> Somras work?’<br />
The royal procession moved slowly on <strong>the</strong> road to Mount Mandar. There was a pilot guard<br />
<strong>of</strong> one hundred and sixty cavalrymen who rode before <strong>the</strong> five royal carriages in columns <strong>of</strong> four<br />
abreast. A rearguard <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r one hundred and sixty rode behind <strong>the</strong> royal carriages, in a