the immortal of maluha
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pounded him from <strong>the</strong> back. As he fell, Nandi saw a knife buried deep in <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshi’s<br />
back. Looking up, he saw Shiva’s left arm continue down in a smooth arc from <strong>the</strong> release <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> dagger. With his right hand, Shiva brought his sword up to block a vicious cut from<br />
Vishwadyumna. As Nandi stumbled back to his feet, Shiva reached behind to pull his shield in<br />
front again.<br />
The hooded figure knew <strong>the</strong>y were taking too long. The o<strong>the</strong>r Arishtanemi would be back<br />
soon. He tried to go behind Sati, to club her on <strong>the</strong> back <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> head and knock her unconscious<br />
but she was too quick. She moved swifdy to <strong>the</strong> left to face her enemy again. Taking a knife<br />
out <strong>of</strong> her angvastram folds with her left hand, she slashed outwards to cut deep across <strong>the</strong><br />
hooded figure’s immense stomach. The knife sliced through <strong>the</strong> robe but its effect was broken<br />
by <strong>the</strong> armour.<br />
And <strong>the</strong>n with a resounding roar, Bhabravya and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Arishtanemi rushed back to fight<br />
alongside <strong>the</strong>ir mates.<br />
Seeing <strong>the</strong>mselves vastly outnumbered, <strong>the</strong> hooded figure had no choice. He ordered his<br />
soldiers to retreat. Shiva stopped Bhabravya from chasing <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis once again.<br />
‘Let <strong>the</strong>m go, brave Bhabravya,’ said Shiva. ‘We will have o<strong>the</strong>r chances to get <strong>the</strong>m. Right<br />
now <strong>the</strong> primary objective is to protect <strong>the</strong> royal family’<br />
Bhabravya looked at Shiva with admiration for <strong>the</strong> way this foreigner fought, not <strong>the</strong> blue<br />
throat <strong>of</strong> which he was unaware. He nodded politely. ‘It makes sense, foreigner.’<br />
Bhabravya quickly formed <strong>the</strong> Arishtanemi soldiers into a tight perimeter and pulled <strong>the</strong><br />
wounded within. Dead bodies were not touched. At least three Arishtanemi lost <strong>the</strong>ir lives while<br />
nine Chandravanshi bodies lay in <strong>the</strong> clearing. The last one had taken his own life since he was<br />
too wounded to escape. Better to meet one’s maker ra<strong>the</strong>r than fall alive in enemy hands and<br />
reveal secrets. Bhabravya ordered his soldiers to stay low and keep <strong>the</strong>ir shields in front for<br />
protection against any arrows. And <strong>the</strong>y waited so till <strong>the</strong> rescue party arrived.<br />
‘My God,’ cried an anxious Daksha as he hugged Sati tight.<br />
The rescue party <strong>of</strong> five hundred soldiers had reached by <strong>the</strong> fourth hour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second<br />
prahar. Daksha, Brahaspati and Kanakhala had accompanied <strong>the</strong> caravan despite<br />
Parvateshwar’s warnings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> risks. Releasing Sati from his grip, Daksha whispered as a<br />
small tear escaped his eyes, ‘You are not injured, are you?’<br />
‘I am alright fa<strong>the</strong>r,’ said Sati self-consciously. ‘Just a few cuts. Nothing serious.’<br />
‘She fought very bravely,’ said Veerini, as she beamed with pride.<br />
‘I think that is a mo<strong>the</strong>r’s bias,’ said Sati, as her serious expression was restored. Turning<br />
towards Shiva, she continued, ‘It was Shiva who saved <strong>the</strong> day, fa<strong>the</strong>r. He figured out <strong>the</strong> real<br />
plan <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chandravanshis and rallied everyone at <strong>the</strong> crucial moment. It was because <strong>of</strong> him<br />
that we beat <strong>the</strong>m back.’<br />
‘Oh, I think she’s too generous,’ said Shiva.<br />
She’s impressed. Finally!!<br />
‘She isn’t being generous at all, my Lord,’ said a visibly grateful Daksha. ‘You have started<br />
your magic already. We have actually beaten back a terrorist attack. You don’t know how<br />
significant this is for us!’