["terrible\tcrime\the\thad\tcommitted. Indians\tbelieved\tthat\tto\tkill\ta\tbaby\twas\ta\thorrific\tsin,\tand\tit\twould\tpollute one\u2019s\tsoul\tfor\tmany\tbirths.\tSukarman\u2019s\tgang\thad\tthought\tthey\twould\tget\taround this\tcommandment\tby\tletting\twild\tanimals\tdo\tthe\tdeed\tfor\tthem. Kumbhakarna\t looked\t at\t Raavan,\t too\t shocked\t for\t words.\t He\t had\t not expected\tsuch\tan\tanswer.\tEven\tfor\tsavages\tlike\tthese,\tthis\tseemed\t abominably cruel. A\t baby\t left\t in\t the\t wild\t for\t wild\t animals\t to\t feast\t on\u2026\t Lord\t Rudra\t have mercy. \u2018Mercy,\u2019\tpleaded\tthe\tman.\t\u2018I\ttold\tyou\tthe\ttruth\u2026\tMercy\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t glanced\t at\t Raavan\t again.\t Raavan\t nodded.\t Kumbhakarna drew\this\tsword\tand\tbeheaded\tthe\tman\tin\tone\tclean\tstrike. The\tdecapitated\thead\tof\tthe\tcriminal\tflew\tin\tthe\tair\tand\thit\tthe\thead\tof\this associate\ttied\tup\tnext\tto\thim.\tHe\tscreamed\tin\tpanic,\tas\ta\tbloody\tfountain\terupted through\tthe\tgaping\tneck,\ton\tto\thim. A\tloud\tflapping\tof\twings\tmade\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tlook\tup.\tA\tkettle of\t vultures\t was\t descending\t on\t the\t village.\t They\t watched\t as\t one\t of\t the\t birds tentatively\t pecked\t at\t one\t of\t the\t dead\t bodies\t that\t lay\t scattered\t about\t on\t the ground.\t On\t discovering\t meat\t that\t was\t still\t warm,\t the\t bird\t squawked\t in\t delight and\tbegan\tfeasting\ton\tit. Raavan\t turned\t his\t attention\t back\t to\t the\t man\t burning\t beside\t him. Uncontrollable\t tears\t of\t rage\t flowed\t from\t his\t eyes\t as\t he\t looked\t at\t the\t now insensate,\talmost\tunrecognisable\tcreature\tslumped\tagainst\this\tbonds.\tHe\tfelt\tno pity,\tno\tremorse.\tOnly\tfury. Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t sat\t on\t the\t ground,\t their\t backs\t against\t the\t wall.\t The five\t dead\t men\t were\t still\t tied\t to\t the\t trees.\t Sukarman,\t barely\t alive,\t had\t been yanked\taway\tfrom\tthe\tdoor\tto\twhich\the\thad\tbeen\tnailed,\tand\ttied\tto\ta\ttree.\tSome of\this\tbloodied\tflesh\tstill\tclung\tto\tthe\tnails.\tHe\thad\tfallen\tunconscious\tunder\tthe slow\tburning\tand\ttorture.\tBut\tRaavan\twas\tcareful\tto\tensure\tthat\tSukarman\tdidn\u2019t die.\t He\t had\t to\t suffer\t as\t much\t pain\t as\t was\t humanly\t possible.\t Pain,\t the\t very memory\tof\twhich\twould\tterrify\this\tsoul\tfor\tseveral\tlifetimes. Meanwhile,\t Raavan\u2019s\t soldiers\t had\t carried\t the\t lifeless\t bodies\t of\t Vedavati and\t Prithvi\t to\t the\t village\t landlord\u2019s\t house.\t They\t had\t to\t be\t washed\t and\t clothed before\tthe\tcremation\tceremonies. By\tnow,\tthe\tvultures\thad\tbeen\tjoined\tby\tother\tcreatures\tof\tthe\twild.\tCrows. Wild\t dogs.\t Hyenas.\t There\t was\t enough\t meat\t for\t everyone.\t The\t animals\t ate","quietly.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t fight\t with\t each\t other.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t make\t too\t much\t noise. They\tknew\tthere\twas\tenough\tfood\tto\tlast\tthem\tfor\tseveral\tdays. It\twas\tan\teerily\tmacabre\tsight.\tWild\tanimals\teverywhere,\tfeasting\tsilently on\t dead\t human\t bodies.\t An\t unconscious\t man\t tied\t to\t a\t tree.\t Soldiers\t with bloodied\t swords\t standing\t to\t attention.\t And\t two\t brothers,\t braving\t their\t broken souls,\t sitting\t outside\t the\t house\t of\t the\t woman\t they\t admired.\t The\t person\t they loved.\tThe\tGoddess\tthey\tworshipped. Raavan\u2019s\t eyes\t were\t bloodshot\t and\t swollen,\t his\t face\t drained\t of\t all expression.\t Kumbhakarna\t took\t his\t brother\u2019s\t bloodied\t hands\t in\t his\t own.\t The blood\tof\tthe\tcriminals\twho\thad\tkilled\tVedavati\thad\tsoaked\ttheir\tlimbs\tbut\tit\thad done\tnothing\tto\tcleanse\ttheir\tgrief.\tWhat\twords\tcould\talleviate\tanguish\tsuch\tas this? At\t last,\t Raavan\t spoke.\t \u2018I\t hate\t this\u2026\u2019\t He\t stopped\t as\t tears\t began\t flowing down\this\tcheeks\tagain. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tat\this\tbrother.\tSilent. Raavan\u2019s\tvoice\temerged,\traw\twith\tgrief\tand\tanger. \u2018I\thate\tthis\tcursed\tland.\u2019","Chapter\t17 Each\t time\t Sukarman\t slipped\t into\t unconsciousness,\t a\t bucket\t of\t water\t drenched his\tface.\tHe\thad\tto\tbe\tkept\tconscious,\tto\texperience\tevery\tmoment\tof\tthe\ttorture. Though\this\tbody\thung\tlimp,\tthe\ttaut\tropes\tkept\thim\tupright\tagainst\tthe\ttree.\tHe had\tbeen\tstripped\tbare\texcept\tfor\this\tloincloth.\tBlood\toozed\tfrom\this\tnumerous lesions\tand\talmost\tevery\tinch\tof\thim\twas\teither\tscorched\tor\tslashed.\tExcept\this face. When\t Sukarman\t finally\t managed\t to\t open\t his\t eyes,\t he\t saw\t the\t Lankan pirate-trader\tstanding\tin\tfront\tof\thim. Raavan. Among\t the\t richest\t men\t in\t the\t world.\t Certainly,\t the\t angriest\t man\t alive.\t A man\t with\t an\t intense\t craving\t for\t vengeance.\t \u2018Why\t didn\u2019t\t you\t just\t take\t the money?\u2019\t Raavan\u2019s\t voice\t was\t a\t mixture\t of\t rage\t and\t desperate\t sadness.\t \u2018Why? Why\tdid\tyou\thave\tto\tkill\ther?\u2019 Hope\t flickered\t in\t some\t corner\t of\t Sukarman\u2019s\t mind.\t He\t thought\t he\t might still\t have\t a\t chance\t to\t explain\t himself.\t And\t the\t thought\t fired\t some\t energy\t into him.\t\u2018I\tdid\ttry\u2026\tI\ttried\tso\thard\u2026\tBut\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\u2026\tlisten.\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tat\tKumbhakarna\tand\tthen\tback\tat\tSukarman. \u2018I\ttold\ther\tthat\tshe\u2019d\tnever\tcared\tabout\tmoney\tbefore\u2026\tso\twhy\tnow?\tBut she\t wouldn\u2019t\t agree\u2026\t she\t was\t being\u2026\t stubborn\u2026\t Even\t that\t husband\t of\t hers suddenly\t grew\t a\t spine\t and\t snubbed\t me.\t She\t asked\t me\t to\t take\t everything\t else they\t owned\u2026\t but\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t give\t me\u2026\t your\t hundi\u2026\t But\t everything\t else they\t owned\t was\t worth\t nothing\u2026\t and\t I\t needed\t to\t settle\t my\t gambling debts\u2026\tMy\tdebtors\twould\thave\tkilled\tme\u2026\tI\ttold\ther\tthat\u2026\tbut\tshe\twas\tbeing so\u2026\tunreasonable,\u2019\the\twheezed. Raavan\tstared\tat\tSukarman\tin\tdisbelief. Sukarman\u2019s\t voice\t was\t barely\t audible\t as\t he\t continued,\t \u2018I\t told\t her\u2026\t that","you\t would\t give\t her\t more\u2026\t that\t you\u2026\t are\t fabulously\t rich\u2026\t wouldn\u2019t care\u2026\t but\t she\t refused\t to\t listen\u2026\t She\t said\t she\t would\t not\t part\t with\t the hundi\u2026\t said\t the\t hundi\t was\t holy\u2026\t it\t had\t been\t given\t by\t someone\t who\t had discovered\tdharma\u2026\tthat\tshe\twould\tnot\tsurrender\tRaavan\u2019s\tchance\tto\tdiscover the\tGod\twithin\thim\u2026\u2019 A\tlow\tmoan\tescaped\tKumbhakarna,\tas\the\tclutched\this\thair\tin\tdespair.\tBut Raavan\tjust\tkept\tstaring\tat\tSukarman,\tunable\tto\trespond. Sukarman\twas\tnot\tdone.\tMisreading\tRaavan\u2019s\tsilence,\the\tmumbled,\t\u2018I\twas trying\tto\treason\twith\ther,\tbut\tone\tof\tthe\tothers\tlost\this\tpatience\u2026\tI\tcan\u2019t\tblame him\u2026\tShe\twas\tbeing\u2026\tstubborn.\u2019 Raavan\t had\t had\t enough.\t He\t lunged\t at\t Sukarman\t and\t unleashed\t a\t vicious upper\tcut\tthat\tcaught\thim\ton\tthe\tchin.\tSukarman\u2019s\thead\tsnapped\tback\tand\thit\tthe trunk\tof\tthe\ttree.\tKumbhakarna\tstepped\tup\tand\tgrabbed\thim\tby\tthe\thair,\tholding his\t head\t steady\t as\t he\t punched\t him\t squarely\t in\t the\t jaw,\t breaking\t it\t with\t an unmistakable\t crack.\t Then\t he\t pushed\t the\t broken\t jaw\t down,\t forcing\t Sukarman\u2019s mouth\topen. Raavan\t picked\t up\t a\t small\t piece\t of\t half-burnt\t coal\t and\t pushed\t it\t into\t the slack\tmouth. Sukarman\u2019s\t body\t convulsed\t as\t the\t red-hot\t coal\t singed\t the\t skin\t of\t his mouth\tbefore\tbeing\tpushed\tdown\this\tthroat.\tKumbhakarna\theld\this\tmouth\topen, while\t some\t of\t the\t Lankan\t soldiers\t rushed\t forward\t with\t more\t pieces\t of\t burning coal.\tRaavan\ttook\t them\t one\tby\t one\tand\tstuffed\t them\tdown\t Sukarman\u2019s\tthroat. He\twas\tusing\this\tbare\thands,\tunheeding\tof\tthe\tpain.\tAs\tmore\tand\tmore\tpieces\tof burning\tcoal\tfound\ttheir\tway\tdown\tSukarman\u2019s\toesophagus,\this\tbody\tflailed\tin agony. He\twas\tbeing\tburnt\talive,\tfrom\tthe\tinside\tout. But\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t would\t not\t stop.\t They\t kept\t forcing\t more coal\tpieces\tinto\tSukarman\u2019s\tdigestive\ttract. After\tsome\ttime,\the\tstopped\tmoving. A\t pungent\t smell\t of\t burnt\t flesh\t permeated\t the\t air.\t Smoke\t was\t coming\t out of\t Sukarman\u2019s\t mouth.\t His\t stomach\t seemed\t aglow.\t As\t though\t his\t insides\t had caught\tfire.\tThe\twretched\tman\twas\tbeing\tcooked\talive. Still,\tthe\tbrothers\tdid\tnot\tstop. Rage\thad\ttaken\tover\ttheir\tsouls\tcompletely. They\thad\tlost\teverything. Their\tGoddess.\tTheir\tworld.\tTheir\tsanity. They\thad\tlost\tit\tall.","Preparations\t for\t the\t ceremony\t were\t complete.\t Two\t large\t pyres\t had\t been prepared.\t The\t bodies\t of\t Vedavati\t and\t Prithvi\t had\t been\t cleaned,\t bathed\t and dressed\tin\tfresh\twhite\tclothes.\tSacred\tVedic\tchants\thad\tbeen\twhispered\tinto\ttheir ears.\t It\t was\t believed\t that\t the\t power\t of\t the\t mantras\t would\t give\t the\t souls\t of\t the departed\tthe\tstrength\tto\tcontinue\ton\ttheir\tjourney. Once\tall\tthis\thad\tbeen\tdone,\tholy\twater\twas\tpoured\tinto\ttheir\tmouths\tand tulsi\t leaves\t placed\t on\t their\t lips.\t Some\t more\t tulsi\t leaves\t were\t bunched\t together and\t placed\t in\t their\t nostrils\t and\t ears.\t Vedavati\u2019s\t hands\t were\t arranged\t on\t her chest,\twith\ther\tthumbs\ttied\ttogether.\tThe\tbig\ttoes\tof\ther\tfeet\thad\talso\tbeen\ttied together.\tThe\tsame\twas\tdone\tfor\tPrithvi.\tIt\twas\tbelieved\tthat\tthis\thelped\tconjoin the\t right\t and\t left\t energy\t channels,\t thus\t ensuring\t the\t movement\t of\t energy\t in\t a circle\twithin\tthe\tbody.\tEarthen\tlamps\twere\tlit\tat\tthe\tprecise\tspots\twhere\tVedavati and\tPrithvi\thad\tbeen\tfound\tdead,\twith\tthe\tflame\tfacing\tsouth,\tin\thonour\tof\tLord Yama,\tthe\tGod\tof\tDeath\tand\tDharma. Through\t all\tof\tthis,\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tremained\toutwardly\t calm. There\t was\t no\t space\t here\t for\t undignified\t crying\t and\t indecorous\t mourning. Dignity.\t Respect.\t Honour.\t That\t was\t what\t the\t Goddess\t deserved.\t The\t great Kanyakumari\twould\tleave\tthis\tearth\tin\tthe\tsame\tmanner\tin\twhich\tshe\thad\tlived. With\tdignity,\trespect\tand\thonour. The\t two\t brothers\t stood\t beside\t Vedavati\u2019s\t unlit\t pyre.\t She\t would\t be cremated\tfirst,\tand\tthen\tPrithvi. Holy\tghee\twas\tbrought\tin\tan\tearthen\tpot.\tKumbhakarna\theld\tthe\tvessel\tas Raavan\t scooped\t out\t dollops\t of\t ghee\t and\t poured\t it\t over\t Vedavati\u2019s\t body.\t As\t he did\tso,\tboth\tthe\tbrothers\tchanted\tfrom\tthe\tGaruda\tPurana.\tWhen\tRaavan\twiped his\t hands\t clean,\t some\t of\t his\t men\t came\t up\t and\t placed\t more\t wooden\t logs\t on Vedavati\u2019s\tbody.\tSoon,\tonly\ther\tface\twas\tvisible. As\t Raavan\t stepped\t back,\t a\t wooden\t log\t was\t brought\t to\t him,\t lit\t with\t holy fire. Kumbhakarna\t gathered\t the\t courage\t to\t look\t at\t Vedavati\u2019s\t face\t one\t final time.\tThe\tpunctures\thad\tbeen\tcovered.\tA\tpatch\thad\tbeen\tput\tover\tthe\thole\twhere her\tleft\teye\thad\tbeen. Her\tface\u2014even\tnow,\tafter\tall\tthat\tshe\thad\tsuffered\u2014was\tcalm\tand\tgentle. Like\tthat\tof\ta\tGoddess.\tKumbhakarna\tstruggled\tto\thold\tback\this\ttears.\tHe\twould not\tbe\tundignified.\tNot\tin\tfront\tof\ther.\tNot\tin\tfront\tof\this\tGoddess. He\t had\t heard\t it\t said\t enough\t times,\t that\t the\t tears\t of\t loved\t ones\t made\t it difficult\t for\t the\t departed\t soul\t to\t leave\t the\t world.\t The\t living\t had\t to\t control\t and suppress\ttheir\tgrief,\tfor\tthe\tgood\tof\tthe\tdead. He\t looked\t at\t Vedavati\u2019s\t still\t body\t waiting\t to\t be\t engulfed\t in\t flames,\t and unexpectedly,\tall\tof\ta\tsudden,\tthe\trage\tleft\thim.","He\tlooked\taround\tin\ta\tdaze,\tas\tthough\twaking\tup\tfrom\ta\tlong\tsleep.\tIn\tthe village\t beyond,\t he\t could\t see\t that\t wild\t animals\t were\t still\t feasting\t on\t the\t dead bodies\t of\t the\t villagers.\t Men\t and\t women\t who\t could\t be\t called\t cowards,\t but\t not criminals.\tHe\tlooked\tback\tat\tVedavati\u2019s\tface\tand\twas\tashamed.\tOf\thimself,\tand of\twhat\the\thad\tdone. He\tknew\tthat\tshe\twould\tbe\tdisappointed\tin\thim\tand\this\tbrother.\tHe\tturned to\tlook\tat\thim\tnow. Raavan\t was\t holding\t the\t log\t with\t the\t holy\t flame\t and\t walking\t up\t to\t the pyre. Kumbhakarna\tstepped\tback. Raavan\t pushed\t the\t log\t into\t the\t pyre,\t setting\t it\t ablaze.\t Letting\t Lord\t Agni, the\tall-purifying\tGod\tof\tFire,\tconsume\tthe\tbody\tof\tthe\tGoddess. Someone\t handed\t Raavan\t an\t earthen\t pot\t filled\t with\t holy\t water.\t He punctured\t it\t and,\t following\t the\t sacred\t tradition,\t started\t walking\t anti-clockwise around\t the\t blazing\t pyre.\t Water\t trickled\t out\t of\t the\t small\t hole\t in\t the\t pot\t as\t he walked.\tHe\tperformed\tthe\tcircumambulation\tthree\ttimes.\tIn\tdoing\tso,\the\twas,\tin effect,\tstating\tto\tthe\tworld\tthat\the\twould\tassume\tthe\tresponsibility\tfor\trepaying Vedavati\u2019s\tdebts.\tNot\tmonetary\tdebts,\tfor\tmoney\twas\tmeaningless\tto\tthe\tsoul\u2014 he\t was\t promising\t to\t repay\t her\t unfinished\t karmic\t debt\t and\t ensuring\t that\t she would\t be\t free\t of\t all\t attachments\t and\t responsibilities\t in\t this\t world.\t Her\t soul could\tthen,\thopefully,\ttravel\ttowards\tmoksha,\tand\tbe\tliberated\tfrom\tthe\tcycle\tof births. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tat\this\tbrother\tas\the\tcircled\tthe\tpyre,\tand\tthen\tat\tthe village\tthey\thad\tdestroyed. There\twas\tmuch\tto\tdo.\tMuch\tto\tatone\tfor. He\thoped\tthey\twouldn\u2019t\tlet\ther\tdown. It\t was\t late\t in\t the\t morning\t the\t next\t day,\t when\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t woke up.\t They\t had\t spent\t the\t night\t on\t the\t banks\t of\t a\t lake\t not\t far\t from\t the\t village. Despite\tthe\texhaustion\tof\tthe\tday,\tthey\thad\tmanaged\tbarely\ta\tfew\thours\tof\tsleep. Both\tthe\tpyres\twere\tstill\tsmouldering,\tthough\tthe\tflames\thad\tdied\tout.\tThe physical\t bodies\t of\t the\t noble\t Kanyakumari\t and\t her\t gentle\t husband\t had\t been reduced,\t mostly,\t to\t ash.\t Twenty\t of\t Raavan\u2019s\t soldiers\t had\t been\t stationed\t at\t the cremation\t ground\t through\t the\t night,\t to\t keep\t away\t any\t wild\t animals\t that\t might choose\tto\tventure\tthere.\tTheir\tfears\twere\tunfounded,\tthough.\tThere\twas\tenough food\tto\tkeep\tthe\tanimals\tin\tthe\tvillage. After\t their\t ritual\t bath,\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t went\t back\t to\t the","cremation\t site.\t A\t few\t ceremonies\t still\t remained\t to\t be\t done.\t They\t began\t with Vedavati\u2019s\tpyre. A\t bucket\t of\t holy\t water\t had\t been\t arranged.\t Tulsi\t leaves\t floated\t on\t its surface.\tRaavan\ttook\ta\tcoconut\tand\tsmashed\tit\ton\tthe\tground.\tIt\tbroke\tvertically, from\t one\t narrow\t end\t to\t the\t other.\t This\t was\t rare\t and\t considered\t auspicious;\t the soul\twould\tcertainly\tfind\tmoksha.\tThe\tcoconut\twater\twas\tadded\tto\tthe\twater\tin the\t bucket.\t The\t solution\t was\t stirred\t by\t hand\t as\t Sanskrit\t hymns\t were\t chanted. When\t this\t was\t done,\t Raavan\t ritually\t drizzled\t the\t holy\t water\t onto\t the smouldering\tpyre,\textinguishing\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tflames. Four\t Lankan\t soldiers\t came\t up\t and\t removed\t the\t ashes\t from\t the\t platform. Kumbhakarna\tand\tRaavan\tbent\tover\tthe\tpile\tand\tpainstakingly\tsifted\tthrough\tit for\tthe\tasti,\tthe\tsmall\tpieces\tof\tbone\tthat\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\treduced\tto\tash\tin\tthe\tpyre. Almost\t everything\t else\t that\t formed\t part\t of\t the\t body\u2014flesh,\t organs,\t muscles\u2014 had\tbeen\tconsumed.\tThe\tashes\twere\tto\tbe\treturned\tto\tMother\tEarth\tin\tan\teasily usable\tform.\tWhat\tremained\tof\tthe\tbones\twould\tbe\timmersed\tin\tthe\tholy\twaters of\tthe\tGanga. Raavan\t knew\t that\t asti\t was\t the\t root\t for\t the\t Sanskrit\t word\t astitva,\t which meant\texistence.\tThese\tbones,\twhich\thad\ttenaciously\trefused\tto\tbe\tconsumed\tby the\tholy\tfire,\tsymbolised\tthe\tremnants\tof\texistence.\tThey\thad\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tthe source\t of\t it\t all,\t to\t the\t Mother\t Goddess,\t in\t the\t form\t of\t the\t flowing,\t nurturing river.\tThey\twould\tmerge\twith\tthe\twater,\tin\tthe\tbosom\tof\tthe\tMother\tGoddess,\tso that\teven\tthe\tresidual\tbits\tof\texistence\tcould\tfind\tpeace. Raavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tcarefully\twashed\teach\tof\tthe\tsmall\tbones,\tthen placed\tthem\tin\tan\tearthen\tpot.\tIt\twas\talmost\timpossible\tto\tdistinguish\twhich\tpart of\t the\t body\t they\t had\t been\t a\t part\t of.\t Then,\t to\t his\t utter\t surprise,\t Raavan\t came upon\t the\t bones\t of\t two\t fingers\t which\t seemed\t almost\t intact.\t The\t flesh,\t the muscles,\tthe\ttendons,\thad\tall\tbeen\tburnt\taway.\tWhat\t survived\twere\tthree\tbone phalanges\t from\t each\t of\t the\t two\t fingers.\t Six\t phalanges\t in\t all.\t Clearly distinguishable. When\t most\t of\t the\t skull\t had\t not\t survived,\t what\t were\t the\t chances\t of\t these phalanges\tsurviving? As\t he\t held\t the\t fragile\t bones\t in\t his\t open\t palm,\t it\t struck\t Raavan\u2014these were\t probably\t the\t vestiges\t of\t the\t hand\t with\t which\t Vedavati\t had\t held\t his\t hand. For\tthe\tfirst\ttime.\tJust\ta\tfew\tdays\tago.\tShe\thad\tnever\ttouched\thim\tagain. He\twould\tnever\tsee\ther\tagain.\tBut\the\tcould\tstill\thold\ther\thand. Raavan\tcouldn\u2019t\tcontrol\thimself\tanymore. He\twept\tas\the\ttouched\tthe\tbones\tto\this\tforehead,\tlike\tthey\twere\thallowed relics\tof\tthe\tmost\tdivine\tGoddess.\tAnd\tthen\the\tkissed\tthem\tlightly. She\thad\tleft\tthese\tfor\thim.","He\tknew,\tthen,\tthat\the\twould\tsurvive.\tThat\the\twould\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tlive\tthe rest\tof\this\tlife.\tFor\the\tknew\tthat\the\tcould\thold\ther\thand\tany\ttime\the\twished\tto. She\t had\t left\t these\t for\t him\t as\t a\t crutch.\t So\t that\t he\t could\t walk\t through\t the agony\tthat\the\tknew\tthe\trest\tof\this\tlife\twould\tbe.\tWith\ther\thand\tas\tsupport. With\ther\thand\tto\thold. Raavan\t turned\t the\t urn\t over\t and\t let\t Vedavati\u2019s\t remains\t slip\t into\t the\t holy\t river. Further\tdown,\tKumbhakarna\tdid\tthe\tsame\tfor\tPrithvi. It\t had\t been\t three\t days\t since\t the\t cremation.\t The\t brothers\t had\t ridden\t out towards\t the\t river\t with\t all\t their\t soldiers,\t picking\t up\t young\t Samichi\t on\t the\t way. Despite\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t repeated\t pleas,\t Raavan\t had\t refused\t to\t conduct\t funeral ceremonies\tfor\tthe\tvillagers\tof\tTodee\tand\thad\tleft\ttheir\tdead\tbodies\twhere\tthey were.\t As\t rotting\t food\t for\t wild\t animals.\t He\t had\t no\t qualms\t about\t condemning their\tsouls\tto\tsuffering\tfor\tall\teternity. Raavan\t watched\t closely\t as\t the\t earthly\t remains\t of\t Vedavati\t disappeared into\tthe\tholy\triver.\tThe\tasti\twere\ta\tpart\tof\tthe\tMother\tnow. But\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t surrendered\t all\t of\t it.\t He\t had\t kept\t the\t finger\t phalanges,\t the remnants\tof\tVedavati\u2019s\thand.\tThey\thung\taround\this\tneck\tnow,\tbunched\ttogether to\tform\tan\tunlikely\tpendant. He\tstarted\tup\tthe\tsteps\tof\tthe\triver\tghats,\twith\tthe\turn\tstill\tin\this\thand. \u2018Dada,\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna,\t stepping\t out\t of\t the\t water.\t \u2018You\t have\t to\t drop the\turn\tinto\tthe\triver\ttoo.\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tdown\tat\tthe\turn\u2014empty\tand\tbereft.\tAs\tthough\tit,\ttoo,\twas in\tmourning. \u2018Dada\u2026\u2019 Raavan\t did\t not\t respond.\t He\t looked\t around\t him.\t At\t the\t holy\t Ganga,\t the verdant\tbanks,\tthe\tdense\tforest\tcover\u2026\tat\tthe\tland\tof\tIndia.\tThe\tland\tblessed\tby the\tGods. He\tclosed\this\teyes.\tA\tfeeling\tof\tdisgust\tovercame\thim. A\tcountry\tthat\tcannot\thonour\tits\theroes\tdoesn\u2019t\tdeserve\tto\tsurvive. \u2018Dada\u2026\tthe\turn\u2026\u2019\tKumbhakarna\treminded\thim. To\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t surprise,\t Raavan\t turned\t and\t started\t walking\t back towards\tthe\tshore. \u2018Dada?\u2019 Raavan\t reached\t the\t river\t bank,\t bent\t down,\t and\t picked\t up\t some\t soil\u2014the earth\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\u2014and\t put\t it\t in\t the\t urn.\t Then\t he\t started\t walking\t back into\tthe\triver,\tat\ta\tfurious\tpace,\tlike\ta\tman\tpossessed.","\u2018Dada,\twhat\tare\tyou\tdoing?\u2019 Raavan\t bent\t and\t dipped\t the\t urn\t in\t the\t water,\t so\t that\t the\t soil\t was\t washed away.\tLike\the\twas\timmersing\tthe\tasti\tof\tthe\tland\titself. \u2018Dada?\u2019\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tvoice\tconveyed\this\tmounting\tanxiety. Raavan\tfilled\tthe\turn\twith\twater\tand\tpoured\tit\tover\this\thead.\tLike\tthe\tritual bath\tat\tthe\tend\tof\ta\tfuneral\tceremony. \u2018No,\t Dada!\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t rushed\t forward,\t frantic\t to\t stop\t Raavan.\t But\t he was\ttoo\tlate. Raavan\tbroke\tthe\turn\ton\this\tarms\tand\tlet\tthe\tpieces\tfall\tinto\tthe\triver.\tThen he\t turned\t towards\t Kumbhakarna,\t eyes\t blazing\t and\t fists\t clenched\t tight.\t Rage poured\tout\tof\tevery\tcell\tof\this\tbody.\tHe\tgritted\this\tteeth\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018This\tcountry is\tdead\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tlisten\tto\tme\u2026\u2019 \u2018Control\tthe\tmonster,\tdid\tshe\tsay?\u2019 \u2018Dada,\twhat\tare\tyou\tsaying?\tListen\tto\tme\u2026\u2019 \u2018I\twill\tunleash\tthe\tmonster!\tI\twill\tdestroy\tthis\tland!\u2019","Chapter\t18 \u2018Magnificent\tpiece,\tDada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. Two\tlong\tyears\thad\tpassed\tsince\tVedavati\u2019s\tdeath. Twenty-four-year-old\t Raavan\t had\t been\t playing\t a\t raga\t dedicated\t to\t the Devi,\t the\t Goddess.\t Most\t of\t the\t ragas\t created\t in\t honour\t of\t the\t Goddess celebrated\t her\t motherly\t embodiment.\t There\t were\t others\t dedicated\t to\t her manifestation\t as\t a\t lover,\t a\t daughter,\t an\t artist\t and\t so\t on,\t but\t very\t few\t were dedicated\t to\t the\t warrior\t Goddess.\t The\t raga\t Raavan\t had\t composed\t captured\t the essence\tof\tthis\tform\u2014fierce,\tangry,\tand\twild.\tLike\tnature\tin\tall\tits\ttempestuous and\tuncontrollable\tglory. He\tcalled\tthe\tRaga\tVaashi\tSantaapani.\tThe\troar\tof\tthe\tfurious\tGoddess. \u2018I\thave\tyet\tto\thear\tanother\tpiece\tthat\u2019s\tas\tpowerful,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018In fact,\tI\tthink\tit\u2019s\tthe\tmost\tbeautiful\traga\tI\thave\theard\tin\tmy\tlife.\u2019 Raavan\t nodded\t absentmindedly.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t care\t too\t much\t for\t the compliment. \u2018Even\t the\t word\t Vaashi\t is\t so\t appropriate,\t Dada.\t The\t sound\t of\t a\t blazing flame\u2014isn\u2019t\tthat\tits\toriginal\tmeaning?\tI\tdoubt\tyou\tcan\tget\tmore\tevocative\tthan that.\u2019 \u2018Hmm.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\ttouched\this\tbrother\ton\tthe\tshoulder\talmost\ttentatively.\t\u2018You know,\tthey\tsay\tgrief\tand\ttragedy\toften\tbring\tout\tthe\tbest\tin\tan\tartist.\u2019 Raavan\t looked\t at\t his\t brother\t in\t irritation.\t \u2018And\t who\t are\t these\t \u201cthey\u201d? Whoever\t they\t may\t be,\t they\t are\t morons!\t Nobody\t goes\t looking\t for\t tragedy. Nobody\twants\tto\texperience\tgrief\tjust\tto\tbe\table\tto\tcreate\tart.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t realised\t his\t brother\t was\t not\t in\t the\t mood\t for\t this conversation.\tHe\ttried\tto\tchange\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018I\tam\thappy\tthat\twork\tis\tconsuming more\tand\tmore\tof\tyour\ttime,\tDada.\tDrowning\toneself\tin\twork\tis\tthe\tbest\tway\tto","push\tnegative\tthoughts\taway.\u2019 Raavan\t truly\t had\t been\t busy.\t Over\t the\t previous\t year\t and\t a\t half,\t he\t had leveraged\t his\t vast\t wealth\t and\t control\t over\t the\t only\t credible\t armed\t force\t in Lanka,\t to\t inveigle\t himself\t closer\t to\t the\t Lankan\t throne.\t Kubaer,\t the\t ruler\t of Lanka,\t had\t come\t to\t depend\t on\t him\t to\t provide\t security\t for\t his\t trading\t ships. Many\t other\t traders\t had\t taken\t to\t paying\t for\t the\t services\t of\t Raavan\u2019s\t security forces.\tAnd\tsince,\tunknown\tto\tmost,\tRaavan\tcontrolled\tboth\tthe\tpirates\tand\tthe militia,\t whenever\t someone\t hired\t his\t men\t for\t protection,\t the\t pirate\t attacks\t on their\t ships\t stopped.\t Raavan\u2019s\t wealth\t and\t resources\t had\t grown\t exponentially,\t as had\t his\t clout\t and\t reputation.\t He\t was\t now\t on\t the\t verge\t of\t being\t formally appointed\t as\t the\t head\t of\t the\t Trading\t Security\t Force\t of\t Lanka.\t His\t plan\t was simple:\tto\tget\this\tprivate\tmilitia\tappointed\tas\tthe\tofficial\tLankan\tSecurity\tForce. Not\t only\t would\t the\t cost\t of\t maintaining\t and\t arming\t his\t soldiers\t fall\t to\t the Lankan\t treasury,\t the\t soldiers\t would\t remain\t loyal\t to\t Raavan,\t even\t after\t their transfer.\t Over\t time,\t he\t would\t expand\t the\t force\t to\t make\t it\t as\t large\t and\t well- equipped\tas\ta\tregular\tarmy.\tAn\tarmy\ttrained\tto\ttake\ton\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tempire. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Work\tis\ta\tgood\tdistraction.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t smiled,\t glad\t to\t get\t a\t few\t words\t out\t of\t his\t brother.\t But\t he wasn\u2019t\tprepared\tfor\twhat\tcame\tnext. \u2018This\tsilly\tfemale\tnotion\tmaa\thas,\tthat\ttalking\tabout\tproblems\tcan\thelp\tone come\tto\tterms\twith\tgrief,\tis\tutter\tnonsense.\tThe\tmasculine\tway\tis\tbetter.\tDrown yourself\t in\t work.\t Suppress\t the\t grief.\t Don\u2019t\t think\t about\t it\t and\t don\u2019t\t let\t it\t come out.\t Let\t it\t remain\t trapped\t in\t some\t deep,\t dark\t dungeon\t of\t your\t heart,\t even\t if\t it festers\tthere.\tAnd\twhen\tyou\tare\told\tand\ttired,\thave\ta\tnice\tfatal\theart-attack,\tand it\u2019s\tall\tover,\u2019\tRaavan\tfinished. Kumbhakarna\t thought\t it\t wise\t to\t not\t say\t anything.\t It\t was\t obvious.\t Let alone\tsuppress\this\tgrief,\tRaavan\tremained\tcrushed\tby\tit.\tHe\thad\tthrown\thimself into\t work\t with\t the\t single-minded\t ambition\t of\t bringing\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t down, but\tnothing\tseemed\tto\tgive\thim\tpleasure\tanymore.\tKumbhakarna\thad\tthought\the would\ttactfully\tbroach\tthe\tsuggestion\this\tmother\thad\tmade,\tof\tan\tearly\tmarriage. But\tperhaps\tthis\twas\tnot\tthe\tright\ttime\tto\tspeak\tof\tit. Kubaer\t looked\t extremely\t nervous.\t \u2018Raavan,\t I\t am\t not\t sure\t it\u2019s\t advisable\t to\t take on\tthe\tmost\tpowerful\tempire\tin\tthe\tworld.\u2019 Four\tyears\thad\tpassed\tsince\tVedavati\u2019s\tdeath. Kubaer\tand\tRaavan\twere\tin\tthe\tLankan\truler\u2019s\tprivate\toffice.\tRaavan\tand Kumbhakarna\t had\t moved\t to\t Sigiriya\t some\t time\t back,\t leaving\t their\t mother\t in","Gokarna.\t As\t soon\t as\t he\t had\t been\t appointed\t head\t of\t Lanka\u2019s\t Trading\t Security Force,\t Raavan\t had\t started\t making\t preparations\t to\t move\t closer\t to\t the\t Lankan throne.\tHe\thad\tbought\ta\thuge\tmansion\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tKubaer\u2019s\tpalace. Since\t moving\t to\t the\t Lankan\t capital,\t Raavan\t had\t also\t started\t working\t on his\tplan\tto\ttrigger\ta\twar\tagainst\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\tHe\tneeded\ta\tplausible\treason\tto provoke\tthe\tempire\tinto\tattacking\tthe\tsmall\tisland\tkingdom,\tand\the\tknew\twhat\tit could\t be.\t As\t a\t first\t step,\t he\t proposed\t reducing\t the\t share\t of\t the\t profits\t that\t the Sapt\t Sindhuans\t appropriated\t from\t cross-border\t trade.\t After\t months\t of persuasion,\t he\t had\t finally\t managed\t to\t engage\t Kubaer\t in\t a\t discussion\t on\t the matter.\t Kubaer,\t a\t prudent\t sixty-nine-year-old\t compared\t to\t Raavan\u2019s\t impetuous twenty-six,\t was\t not\t a\t warrior;\t he\t was\t a\t businessman\t who\t valued\t pragmatism. He\tprivileged\tprofit\tover\tpride\tand\tthought\tcaution\twas\ta\tnecessary\tquality.\tHis skill\tlay\tin\tcharming\tand\tnegotiating\ta\tbeneficial\tdeal,\tnot\tinviting\ttrouble. \u2018I\u2019ve\tsaid\tit\tbefore\tand\tI\u2019ll\tsay\tit\tagain:\tWhy\tshould\twe\tgive\tup\tnine-tenths of\tour\tprofits\tto\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan.\t\u2018Why\tshould\twe\tdo\tall\tthe\thard work\tand\tlet\tthem\ttake\tmost\tof\tour\tmoney?\u2019 \u2018We\t are\t not\t actually\t giving\t them\t ninety\t per\t cent,\t Raavan,\u2019\t said\t Kubaer with\t a\t sly\t smile.\t \u2018Our\t accounts\t are\t creative.\t We\t overstate\t our\t costs.\t In\t actual fact,\tthey\tdon\u2019t\tget\tmore\tthan\tseventy\tper\tcent.\u2019 Raavan\thad\talready\tanticipated\tKubaer\u2019s\tcomeback,\tbut\the\tdecided\tto\tplay along.\t He\t would\t not\t make\t the\t mistake\t of\t underestimating\t the\t chief-trader\t of Lanka,\t like\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhuans\t did,\t solely\t because\t of\t his\t physical\t appearance. Kubaer\u2019s\tround,\tcherubic\tface\tand\tsmooth\tcomplexion\tbelied\this\tadvanced\tage. But\the\twas\tso\tobese\tthat\the\twaddled\tponderously,\tlike\ta\tduck.\tHe\tusually\twore brightly\t coloured\t clothes;\t today,\t it\t was\t a\t shocking\t blue\t dhoti\t and\t a\t yellow angvastram,\t and\t his\t body\t was\t bedecked\t with\t ornate\t jewellery.\t His\t effeminate mannerisms\tand\tlife\tof\texcess\thad\tmade\thim\tan\tobject\tof\tridicule\tfor\tthe\twarrior class.\tBut\tRaavan\tknew\tthe\teffete\texterior\thid\ta\tsharp,\truthless\tmind,\tdevoted\tto one\tcause\talone:\tprofit. \u2018But\teven\tseventy\tper\tcent\tis\ttoo\thigh!\u2019\the\tcountered. \u2018Thirty\t per\t cent\t is\t good\t enough\t for\t me.\t I\t save\t a\t considerable\t part\t of\t it, while\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tsquanders\taway\tmost\tof\tits\tshare.\tSo\tmy\twealth\tis\tgreater than\ttheirs.\tAnd\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhy\tthey\tdon\u2019t\tsave\tanything?\u2019\tKubaer\tasked. \u2018Forget\t about\t their\t savings,\t Great\t One.\t Why\t should\t we\t care\t about\t how much\tmoney\tAyodhya\tor\tits\tsubordinate\tkingdoms\thave?\tWe\tshould\tcare\tabout our\t own\t wealth.\t If\t we\t reduce\t their\t commissions,\t we\t will\t have\t more\t profit\t for ourselves.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer\tmy\tquestion.\tI\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\twhy\twe\thave\thigher\tsavings than\tthey\tdo,\teven\tthough\twe\tearn\tless.\tIt\u2019s\tbecause\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\twastes\ta\tlot","of\t money\t on\t unnecessary\t wars.\t We\t don\u2019t.\t War\t is\t bad\t for\t business,\t it\u2019s\t bad\t for profits\t and\t wealth.\t If\t we\t reduce\t the\t commissions,\t they\t will\t certainly\t attack\t us. We\twill\tthen\tbe\tforced\tto\tmobilise\tour\tarmy\tand\tspend\tmoney,\tno,\twaste\tmoney, on\ta\tsilly\twar.\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\u2014\u2019 Raavan\tinterrupted\tKubaer.\t\u2018What\tif\tI\tagree\tto\tfund\tour\twar\teffort?\u2019 Kubaer\tfrowned\twith\tsuspicion.\t\u2018The\tentire\twar?\u2019 \u2018Everything.\tYou\twon\u2019t\thave\tto\tspend\ta\tsingle\tcoin.\tI\u2019ll\tpay\tfor\tit\tall.\u2019 Kubaer\thad\tthe\tnatural\tmistrust\tof\tan\tastute\ttrader\tfor\ta\tdeal\tthat\tsounded too\tgood\tto\tbe\ttrue.\tRaavan,\the\tknew,\twas\ttoo\tshrewd\tto\tdo\tsomething\tonly\tfor glory.\t\u2018And\twhy,\tpray,\twould\tyou\thelp\tme\tat\tall?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Because\tyou\twill\tthen\tshare\thalf\tthe\tincreased\tcommissions\twith\tme.\u2019 Kubaer\t smiled.\t Any\t kind\t of\t selfish\t interest,\t he\t understood\t and\t respected. Experience\t had\t taught\t him\t that\t the\t best\t business\t deals\t were\t struck\t when\t both parties\twere\thonest\tabout\ttheir\town\tinterests.\t\u2018So,\tlet\tme\tmake\tsure\tI\tunderstand this.\tYou\tcan\u2019t\tdeclare\twar\twithout\tmy\tapproval.\tAnd\tyou\tthink\tthis\twar\twill\tbe profitable.\u2019 \u2018Yes\tto\tboth.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tguarantee\tis\tthere\tof\tvictory?\u2019 \u2018None.\t But\t is\t there\t any\t guarantee\t that\t our\t ships\t will\t not\t sink\t in\t the\t sea when\twe\tsend\tthem\tout\tto\ttrade?\tWe\testimate\tthe\tprobabilities\tand\ttake\tthe\tbest bet.\tA\tcalculated\tbet.\tWe\tare\ttraders.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\twe\tdo.\u2019 \u2018All\tthat\tis\tvery\twell,\tbut\twhat\tif\twe\tlose?\u2019 \u2018Then\tyou\tshould\tdo\tthe\tpragmatic\tthing.\u2019 \u2018If\t we\t lose\t the\t battle,\u2019\t said\t Kubaer,\t choosing\t his\t words\t carefully,\t \u2018the pragmatic\tthing\twould\tbe\tto\ttell\tthe\tSapt\tSindhuans\tthat\tthis\twas\tall\tyour\tidea.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tright.\tThat\twould\tindeed\tbe\tthe\tpragmatic\tthing\tto\tdo.\tIf\twe\tfail, let\tme\ttake\tthe\tblame.\tIt\u2019s\tmy\tidea,\tafter\tall.\tKeep\tyourself,\tand\tthe\tother\ttraders of\tLanka,\tsafe.\tBut\tif\twe\twin,\tI\tget\thalf\tthe\tincreased\tcommissions.\u2019 Kubaer\tsmiled.\t\u2018All\tright,\tRaavan.\tYou\twill\thave\tyour\twar.\tJust\tmake\tsure I\tdon\u2019t\tmake\ta\tloss.\tNothing\tspoils\tmy\tday\tlike\tan\tunanticipated\tloss.\u2019 \u2018Honourable\tOne,\thave\tI\tever\tlet\tyou\tdown?\u2019\tRaavan\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile. Kumbhakarna\t was\t worried.\t \u2018Dada,\t we\t may\t be\t over-reaching\t with\t this.\u2026\t Are we\tbiting\toff\tmore\tthan\twe\tcan\tchew?\u2019 The\tbrothers\twere\tat\thome\tin\tSigiriya,\tthe\tcapital\tof\tLanka. \u2018We\t are\t not,\t Kumbha,\u2019\t said\t Raavan.\t \u2018We\u2019ll\t bite\t it\t all.\t We\u2019ll\t chew\t it\t all. We\u2019ll\tdigest\tit\tall.\u2019","\u2018Dada,\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\trulers\tdo\tnothing\texcept\tfight\twars.\tWe\tare\ttraders. Our\tsoldiers\tare\tessentially\tpirates.\tThey\tfight\tfor\tmoney,\t and\tmoney\talone.\tIf there\t is\t no\t profit\t in\t sight,\t they\t will\t abandon\t the\t battle.\t But\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu soldiers\t actually\t celebrate\t \u201cmartyrdom\u201d\t in\t battle.\t They\t die\t for\t bizarre\t causes like\thonour\tand\tglory.\tHow\tare\twe\tsupposed\tto\tdefeat\tsuch\tmorons?\u2019 \u2018Through\tgood\ttactics.\u2019 \u2018I\tthink\tyou\u2026\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tam\tnot\tbeing\toverconfident.\u2019 \u2018But\teven\tif\twe\tcan\tdefeat\tthem,\thow\tare\twe\tgoing\tto\tturn\ta\tprofit\tfrom\tit? The\tcost\tof\tthe\tcampaign\twill\tbe\ttoo\thigh.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\t worry.\t Once\t we\t win,\t we\t will\t start\t taking\t ninety\t per\t cent\t of\t the profits,\tif\tnot\tmore.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t nearly\t choked\t on\t the\t wine\t he\t was\t drinking.\t \u2018Ninety\t per cent!\tFor\tus?\u2019 Raavan\tfrowned.\t\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t we\t can\t enforce\t a\t treaty\t like\t that.\t It\t will\t be\t too\t much for\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t kings\t to\t swallow.\t They\t will\t have\t no\t choice\t but\t to\t keep\t on fighting.\tThe\tensuing\trebellions\twill\tdestroy\tthem,\tbut\tthey\twill\twear\tus\tout\ttoo. And\t we\t simply\t don\u2019t\t have\t enough\t soldiers\t to\t control\t all\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu kingdoms\tand\ttheir\tpeople\tin\tpeacetime.\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ll\tbreak\ttheir\tspirit\tin\tone\tmajor\tbattle.\tDestroy\ttheir\tentire\tarmy.\tI\tam not\t interested\t in\t imposing\t our\t rules\t on\t their\t citizens,\t so\t where\t is\t the\t need\t to control\tthem?\tWe\u2019ll\tonly\timpose\tour\ttrade\tconditions\ton\tthem.\tAnd\tslowly\tsuck them\tdry.\u2019 \u2018But,\t Dada,\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna,\t \u2018a\t commission\t this\t big\t will\t destroy\t the Sapt\tSindhu\teconomy\tover\ttime.\tWe\twould\tend\tup\tkilling\tthe\tgolden\tgoose\tthat feeds\tus.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\texpression\tgave\tlittle\taway\tas\this\teyes\tmet\tKumbhakarna\u2019s. \u2018Precisely,\u2019\the\tsaid. Burly\t soldiers\t rowed\t the\t large\t boat\t in\t quick\t strokes\t towards\t the\t shore.\t Raavan sat\t in\t front,\t his\t right\t hand\t on\t the\t gunwale.\t Kumbhakarna\t sat\t behind\t him, observing\this\tflexed\tarms,\tthe\tmassive\ttriceps\tthat\twere\tvisibly\ttense. Dada\tis\tupset. Raavan\t looked\t straight\t ahead,\t towards\t the\t Sapt\tSindhu\u2014the\t Land\t of\t the Seven\tRivers. Kumbhakarna\t looked\t to\t his\t left,\t at\t Kubaer\u2019s\t boat\t being\t rowed","rhythmically\ttowards\tthe\tshore\tby\tten\tsailors. It\t had\t only\t been\t a\t year\t since\t Raavan\t had\t convinced\t Kubaer\t to\t wage\t war against\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\tEvents\thad\tproceeded\trapidly\tafter\tthat. Within\ta\tmatter\tof\tmonths,\tRaavan\thad\tmobilised\tand\ttrained\this\tarmy.\tHe had\t also\t brought\t in\t mercenaries\t from\t around\t the\t world,\t promising\t them\t a\t rich share\tof\tthe\tspoils. Once\t the\t Lankan\t army\t was\t ready,\t Kubaer\t had\t sent\t an\t official communication\tto\tthe\temperor\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu,\tDashrath.\tWhen\this\tmessage reached\t Ayodhya,\t the\t capital\t city\t from\t where\t Dashrath\t ruled\t all\t the\t northern parts\tof\tthe\tIndian\tsubcontinent,\tit\timmediately\tset\tteeth\ton\tedge. The\t old-elite\t royal\t families\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu,\t with\t their\t disdain\t for\t the trader-class\t Vaishyas,\t considered\t the\t effete\t Kubaer\t an\t upstart.\t They\t just\t about tolerated\this\texistence.\tTo\treceive\ta\t\u2018royal\tcommunication\u2019\tfrom\tthe\ttrader-ruler of\t Lanka\t was\t seen\t as\t an\t affront.\t Traders\t were\t not\t supposed\t to\t send\t royal communications\tto\temperors\tof\tancient\timperial\tdynasties.\tThey\twere\tsupposed to\t send\t humble,\t grovelling\t petitions.\t And\t as\t if\t that\t wasn\u2019t\t outrageous\t enough, the\t demand\t to\t reduce\t the\t empire\u2019s\t commissions\t on\t profits\t was\t seen\t as\t an intolerable\tinsult\tto\tKshatriya\tpride.\tSuch\ta\tdishonour\tcould\tnot\tbe\tstomached. Dashrath\t had\t immediately\t rallied\t all\t of\t his\t subordinate\t kings\t across\t the land\tand\tmobilised\tan\tarmy.\tThe\tplan\twas\tfor\this\ttroops\tto\tmarch\tto\tKarachapa, one\t of\t Kubaer\u2019s\t biggest\t trading\t hubs,\t on\t the\t west\t coast\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu. Dashrath\tplanned\tto\tdestroy\tthe\tKarachapa\tfort\tand\ttrading\twarehouses.\tHe\thad assumed\tthat\tthis\twould\tbe\tenough\tto\tbring\tKubaer\tto\this\tsenses.\tIf\tnot,\tsome\tof the\t other\t ports\t held\t by\t Kubaer\t would\t also\t be\t destroyed,\t and\t ultimately,\t Lanka itself\twould\tcome\tunder\tsiege. Raavan\t had\t anticipated\t that\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhuans\t would\t take\t exception\t to Kubaer\u2019s\tmessage\tand\tmarch\tout\tto\twar\timmediately.\tHis\town\ttroops\twere\tin\ta state\t of\t readiness.\t His\t specially\t designed\t ships,\t buffed\t with\t the\t enigmatic\t cave material,\t were\t prepared\t for\t battle.\t As\t soon\t as\t he\t received\t intelligence\t of\t the Sapt\tSindhu\tarmy\tmobilising,\tand\tthe\tdirection\tof\ttheir\tmarch,\tthe\tships\tset\tsail, moving\tquickly\tup\tthe\twestern\tcoast\tof\tpeninsular\tIndia,\tto\tarrive\tat\tKarachapa. There\t were\t too\t many\t ships\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t navy\t for\t even\t the\t massive Karachapa\tport\tto\taccommodate.\tBesides,\tRaavan\tknew\tthe\tSapt\tSindhuans\thad spies\t within\t Karachapa\t and\t the\t last\t thing\t he\t wanted\t was\t to\t generate\t curiosity about\t the\t radically\t different\t designs\t of\t his\t ships.\t They\t were\t a\t part\t of\t his\t battle plan,\this\tsecret\tweapon.\tSo\tmost\tof\tthe\tships\twere\tanchored\toffshore. Later\tin\tthe\tday,\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tboarded\ta\trowboat\tand\theaded up\t to\t the\t beach\t of\t Karachapa.\t The\t rowboat\t hit\t the\t sand\t with\t a\t lurch\t and\t four soldiers\tjumped\toff,\tinto\tthe\tshallow\twaters,\tand\tpulled\tthe\tboat\tonto\tthe\tbeach.","Raavan\tremained\timmobile.\tLooking\tstraight\tahead. Kumbhakarna\tcould\tfeel\this\tbreath\tquickening.\tThey\twere\treturning\tto\tthe Sapt\t Sindhu\t after\t five\t years.\t The\t last\t time\t they\t were\t here,\t they\t had\t immersed Vedavati\u2019s\tashes\tin\tthe\tholy\tGanga. It\tis\tsaid,\tand\trightly,\tthat\twhatever\tthe\tmemories\tassociated\twith\tthe\tpast, every\tperson\u2019s\theart\tbeats\tfaster\twhen\tthey\treturn\tto\tthe\tland\tof\ttheir\troots.\tThe pain\t of\t separation,\t and\t the\t joy\t of\t homecoming,\t are\t universal.\t And\t nothing\t can compare\t to\t the\t sheer\t relief\t of\t returning\t to\t the\t lap\t of\t your\t mother,\t the\t most comfortable\tplace\tin\tthe\tworld. Kumbhakarna\tjumped\toff\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tboat\twas\tout\tof\tthe\twater.\tHe\tbent down\t and\t picked\t up\t some\t wet\t sand,\t the\t soil\t of\t his\t motherland,\t and\t with\t great veneration,\tbrought\tit\tto\this\tforehead.\tHe\ttouched\tit\tto\tboth\this\teyes\tand\tkissed it.\tAs\the\tplaced\tthe\tsand\tback\ton\tthe\tground\twith\tutmost\trespect,\the\twhispered, \u2018Jai\tMaa.\u2019 Glory\tto\tthe\tMother. He\tsaw\tRaavan,\twho\thad\tgone\tslightly\tahead\tof\thim,\tbend\tdown\tto\tpick\tup some\tsand\ttoo.\tKumbhakarna\tsmiled. Perhaps\treturning\tto\tthe\tmotherland\thas\tfinally\tthawed\this\theart. Kumbhakarna\t watched\t as\t Raavan\t brought\t his\t hand\t closer\t to\t his\t face\t and stared\tat\tthe\tsand\tin\tit\tfor\twhat\tseemed\tlike\tan\teternity.\tHe\thesitated\tto\tgo\tcloser. Perhaps\the\tshould\tlet\this\tbrother\thave\tthis\tmoment\tto\thimself. He\t felt\t a\t vast\t sense\t of\t relief\t that\t the\t past\t was\t finally\t behind\t them.\t His elder\tbrother\thad\tbeen\tthrough\tso\tmuch,\traged\tagainst\tthe\tworld\tfor\tso\tlong,\tbut it\t seemed\t he\t was\t finally\t ready\t to\t welcome\t some\t peace\t within.\t This\t war\t would be\tfought,\tof\tcourse.\tIt\thad\tto\tbe\tdone.\tFor\tprofit.\tBut,\tat\tleast,\treturning\tto\tthe motherland\t had\t alleviated\t some\t of\t Raavan\u2019s\t deep-seated\t sorrow.\t Or\t so Kumbhakarna\tthought. Raavan\t opened\t the\t palm\t that\t cradled\t the\t sand,\t bringing\t it\t closer\t to\t his mouth.\t Then,\t slowly,\t deliberately,\t he\t hawked\t and\t spat\t into\t it.\t His\t entire\t body seemed\t to\t convulse\t in\t rage\t as\t he\t flung\t the\t sand\t to\t the\t ground\t and\t crushed\t it under\this\tfoot. \u2018Fuck\tthis\tland.\u2019","Chapter\t19 \u2018Shouldn\u2019t\twe\tbe\tgoing\tover\tto\ttheir\tcamp?\u2019\tasked\tKubaer\tnervously. Dashrath,\t the\t overlord\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu,\t had\t marched\t right\t across\t his sprawling\t empire,\t from\t Ayodhya,\t its\t capital,\t to\t Karachapa.\t Within\t just\t a\t few hours\tof\this\tarrival,\the\thad\tsent\ta\tterse\tmessage\tto\tKubaer,\tsummoning\thim\tfor\ta discussion\ton\tthe\tterms\tof\tceasefire. In\t the\t early\t years\t of\t his\t reign,\t Dashrath\t had\t built\t on\t the\t powerful\t legacy he\thad\tinherited\tfrom\this\tfather,\tAja.\tRulers\tin\tvarious\tparts\tof\tIndia\thad\teither been\t deposed\t or\t made\t to\t pay\t tribute\t and\t accept\t his\t suzerainty,\t thus\t making Dashrath\tthe\tChakravarti\tSamrat,\tor\tthe\tUniversal\tEmperor. \u2018We\tare\tnot\tgoing\tto\this\tcamp,\tnoble\tChief-Trader,\u2019\treplied\tRaavan,\ttrying hard\tto\tkeep\this\tirritation\tin\tcheck.\t\u2018The\tAyodhyan\twill\tsee\tit\tas\tour\tweakness.\tIf we\thave\tto\tmeet,\tit\thas\tto\tbe\ton\tneutral\tground\u2014neither\ttheir\tcamp,\tnor\tours.\u2019 \u2018But\u2026\t\u2019 \u2018No\tbuts.\tWe\thave\tcome\tto\tfight,\tnot\tto\tsurrender.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t approach\t had\t been\t clear\t from\t the\t start.\t Over\t the\t last\t week,\t he had\t ordered\t his\t troops\t to\t destroy\t all\t the\t villages\t in\t a\t fifty-kilometre\t radius around\t Karachapa.\t Standing\t crops\t had\t been\t burnt\t down.\t Harvested\t grain\t and livestock\t had\t been\t confiscated\t and\t commandeered\t as\t food\t for\t the\t Lankan soldiers.\tWells\thad\tbeen\tpoisoned\twith\tthe\tcarcasses\tof\tdead\tanimals. A\tscorched\tearth\tpolicy. The\t Lankan\t army\t would\t be\t well\t fed\t and\t rested\t within\t the\t Karachapa walls.\t However,\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t army,\t camped\t outside\t the\t city,\t would\t find\t it difficult\t to\t feed\t their\t five\t hundred\t thousand\t soldiers,\t given\t the\t ravaged countryside.\tTheir\tnumerical\tadvantage\twould\tturn\tinto\ta\tliability. \u2018But\t what\t if\t Emperor\t Dashrath\t doesn\u2019t\t retreat\t despite\t the\t food\t shortage?\u2019 asked\tKubaer,\tanxiously.\t\u2018What\tif\the\tattacks\timmediately?\u2019","Raavan\t smiled.\t \u2018I\t am\t counting\t on\t you,\t great\t Chief-Trader,\t to\t provoke Dashrath\tto\tdo\tprecisely\tthat.\tI\twill\ttake\tcare\tof\tthe\trest.\u2019 \u2018Emperor\tDashrath,\u2019\tcorrected\tKubaer. Raavan\t preferred\t to\t speak\t only\t the\t man\u2019s\t name.\t No\t unnecessary\t respect towards\tan\tenemy.\t\u2018Just\tDashrath,\u2019\the\tsaid\tquietly. Dashrath\twas\tin\tno\tmood\tfor\textended\tparleys. \u2018I\torder\tyou\tto\trestore\tour\tcommission\tto\tthe\tvery\tfair\tnine-tenths\tof\tyour profits\tand,\tin\treturn,\tI\tassure\tyou\tI\twill\tlet\tyou\tlive,\u2019\the\tsaid\tfirmly. After\texchanging\tsome\tterse\tmessages,\tthe\tadversaries\thad\tfinally\tdecided to\t meet\t on\t neutral\t ground.\t The\t chosen\t site\t was\t a\t beach,\t midway\t between Dashrath\u2019s\tmilitary\tcamp\tand\tthe\tKarachapa\tfort.\tThe\temperor\twas\taccompanied by\t his\t father-in-law\t King\t Ashwapati,\t his\t general\t Mrigasya\t and\t a\t bodyguard platoon\t of\t twenty\t soldiers.\t Kubaer\t had\t arrived\t with\t Raavan\t and\t twenty bodyguards. The\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t warriors\t could\t scarcely\t conceal\t their\t contempt\t as\t the obese\tKubaer\twaddled\tlaboriously\tinto\tthe\ttent.\tThe\tchief\ttrader\thad\tdisregarded Raavan\u2019s\tadvice\tto\twear\tsober\tclothes\tand\thad\tdressed,\tinstead,\tin\ta\tbright\tgreen dhoti\tand\ta\tpink\tangvastram.\tThe\tjewellery\the\twore\twas\tflashier\tthan\tusual.\tHe had\t reasoned\t that\t a\t display\t of\t his\t fine\t taste\t would\t earn\t him\t the\t appreciation\t of the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t leaders.\t What\t it\t did\t was\t to\t convince\t his\t opponents\t that\t they were\tdealing\twith\tan\teffete\tVaishya;\ta\tpeacock\twho\tknew\tlittle\tof\twarfare. \u2018Your\tHighness\u2026\u2019\tsaid\tKubaer\ttimidly,\t\u2018I\tthink\tit\tmight\tbe\ta\tlittle\tdifficult to\t keep\t the\t commissions\t fixed\t at\t that\t level.\t Our\t costs\t have\t gone\t up\t and\t the trading\tmargins\tare\tnot\twhat\tthey\u2014\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\t try\t your\t disgusting\t negotiating\t tactics\t with\t me!\u2019\t shouted\t Dashrath as\t he\t banged\t his\t hand\t on\t the\t table\t for\t effect.\t \u2018I\t am\t not\t a\t trader!\t I\t am\t an emperor!\tCivilised\tpeople\tunderstand\tthe\tdifference.\u2019 Raavan\t clenched\t his\t fists\t under\t the\t table.\t Kubaer\t was\t not\t following\t any part\tof\this\tadvice,\teither\tin\tdemeanour\tor\tin\tspeech. Dashrath\t leaned\t forward\t and\t said\t with\t controlled\t vehemence,\t \u2018I\t can\t be merciful.\tI\tcan\tforgive\tmistakes.\tBut\tyou\tneed\tto\tstop\tthis\tnonsense\tand\tdo\tas\tI say.\u2019 Kubaer\tshifted\tuneasily\ton\this\tchair\tand\tglanced\tat\tthe\timpassive\tRaavan, who\tsat\tto\this\tright.\tEven\tseated,\tRaavan\u2019s\theight\tand\trippling\tmusculature\twere surprising\t to\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhuans.\t They\t had\t not\t expected\t to\t find\t a\t warrior\t like this\t amidst\t what\t they\t derisively\t called\t a\t trader\u2019s\t protection\t force.\t Raavan\u2019s","battle-worn,\t swarthy\t skin\t was\t pockmarked\t as\t a\t result\t of\t a\t childhood\t encounter with\t disease.\t His\t thick\t beard,\t accompanied\t by\t a\t handlebar\t moustache,\t only added\t to\t his\t menacing\t appearance.\t His\t attire\t was\t unremarkable\t and\t sober, consisting\tof\ta\twhite\tdhoti\tand\ta\tcream\tangvastram.\tHis\theadgear\twas\tdesigned to\t add\t to\t his\t intimidating\t presence,\t with\t two\t threatening\t six-inch-long\t horns reaching\tout\tfrom\tthe\ttop\ton\teither\tside.\tThe\tmessage\twas\tclear:\tRaavan\twas\tno mere\tsoldier;\the\twas\ta\tbull\tamong\tmen. The\t Sapt\t Sindhuans\t kept\t glancing\t at\t the\t well-built\t Lankan\t general\t sitting amongst\t them,\t expecting\t him\t to\t say\t something.\t But\t Raavan\t sat\t still,\t offering neither\topinions\tnor\tobjections. Kubaer\tturned\tback\tto\tDashrath.\t\u2018But,\tYour\tHighness,\twe\tare\tfacing\tmany problems,\tand\tour\tinvested\tcapital\tis\u2014\u2019 \u2018You\t are\t trying\t my\t patience\t now,\t Kubaer!\u2019\t Dashrath\t snapped.\t \u2018You\t are irritating\tthe\temperor\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu!\u2019 \u2018But,\tmy\tlord\u2026\u2019 \u2018Look,\tif\tyou\tdo\tnot\tcontinue\tto\tpay\tour\trightful\tcommissions,\tbelieve\tme, you\t will\t all\t be\t dead\t by\t this\t time\t tomorrow.\t I\t will\t first\t defeat\t your\t miserable army,\tthen\ttravel\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthat\tcursed\tisland\tof\tyours\tand\tburn\tyour\tcity\tto the\tground.\u2019 \u2018But\tthere\tare\tproblems\twith\tour\tships,\tand\tlabour\tcosts\thave\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tcare\tabout\tyour\tproblems!\u2019\tDashrath\twas\tshouting\tnow. \u2018You\twill,\tafter\ttomorrow,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan\tsoftly. The\temperor\thad\tlost\this\ttemper.\tThe\ttime\twas\tright. Dashrath\t swung\t around\t to\t look\t sharply\t at\t Raavan.\t \u2018How\t dare\t you\t speak out\tof\u2014\u2019 \u2018How\tdare\tyou,\tDashrath?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan,\this\tvoice\tclear\tand\tringing. Dashrath,\tAshwapati\tand\tMrigasya\tsat\tin\tstunned\tsilence,\tshocked\tthat\tthis mere\tsidekick\tof\ta\ttrader\tshould\thave\tthe\ttemerity\tto\taddress\tthe\temperor\tof\tthe Sapt\tSindhu\tby\this\tname. Raavan\t suppressed\t a\t smile.\t They\t were\t behaving\t exactly\t as\t he\t had expected.\tThese\tpeople\tare\tso\teasy\tto\tplay.\tTheir\tegos\twill\tbe\ttheir\tundoing. The\ttime\thad\tcome\tto\ttwist\tthe\tknife. \u2018How\tdare\tyou\timagine\tthat\tyou\tcan\teven\tcome\tclose\tto\tdefeating\tan\tarmy that\tI\tlead?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan\twith\ta\thalf-sneer\ton\this\tlips. Dashrath\tstood\tup\tangrily,\tand\this\tchair\twent\tflying\tback\twith\ta\tclatter.\tHe thrust\t a\t finger\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t direction.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t be\t looking\t for\t you\t on\t the\t battlefield tomorrow,\tyou\tupstart!\u2019 Slowly\t and\t menacingly,\t Raavan\t rose\t from\t his\t chair,\t with\t his\t fist\t closed tight\t around\t the\t pendant\t that\t hung\t from\t a\t gold\t chain\t around\t his\t neck.\t Holding","her\thand\tgave\thim\tstrength.\tIt\twas\talso\ta\tconstant\treminder\tof\twhy\the\twas\tdoing all\tthis. As\t Raavan\u2019s\t fist\t unclenched,\t Dashrath\t stared\t at\t the\t pendant.\t It\t was obvious\tthat\tthe\temperor\twas\thorrified\tby\twhat\the\tsaw.\tHe\tprobably\tthought\tthe Lankan\tto\tbe\ta\tmonster\twho\tvandalised\tthe\tbodies\tof\this\tenemies. Let\t Dashrath\t believe\t I\t am\t a\t cannibalistic\t beast.\t It\t will\t be\t a\t competitive advantage\tin\tbattle. \u2018I\t assure\t you,\t I\u2019ll\t be\t waiting,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t with\t a\t hint\t of\t amusement lacing\this\tvoice,\tas\the\twatched\tDashrath\tgape\tat\thim.\t\u2018I\tlook\tforward\tto\tdrinking your\tblood.\u2019 That\u2019s\tenough.\tLet\thim\tstew\tin\this\tanger. Raavan\t turned\t around\t and\t strode\t out\t of\t the\t tent.\t Kubaer\t wobbled\t out hurriedly\tbehind\thim,\tfollowed\tby\tthe\tLankan\tbodyguards. \u2018You\tweren\u2019t\table\tto\tsleep\teither?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. Raavan\tturned\ttowards\this\tbrother\tand\tsmiled,\tletting\tgo\tof\tthe\tpendant\tin his\thand. It\t was\t the\t fifth\t hour\t of\t the\t fourth\t prahar\u2014just\t an\t hour\t before\t midnight. Raavan\t had\t been\t standing\t on\t the\t ramparts\t of\t the\t Karachapa\t fort,\t looking towards\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tcamp\tand\tthe\tmany\tfires\tlit\tthere.\tThe\tnight\twas\tquiet, and\tthe\tsounds\tof\tconversation\tand\tlaughter\tcarried\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthe\tfort. \u2018Looks\tlike\tthe\tenemy\tisn\u2019t\tsleeping\teither,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. Kumbhakarna\t laughed.\t \u2018These\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t Kshatriyas\t think\t war\t is\t a party.\u2019 Raavan\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath.\t\u2018By\tthis\ttime\ttomorrow,\twe\twill\town\tthe\tSapt Sindhu.\u2019 \u2018Technically,\twon\u2019t\tit\tbe\tKubaer\twho\towns\tit?\u2019 \u2018And\twho\tthe\thell\tdo\tyou\tthink\towns\tthat\tfat\tslob?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t burst\t out\t laughing,\t and\t a\t moment\t later,\t Raavan\t joined\t in. Kumbhakarna\tput\tan\tarm\taround\this\tbrother. \u2018You\tshould\tlaugh\tmore,\tDada,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018She\twould\thave\tliked\tthat.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\tright\thand\tinstinctively\tsought\tthe\tpendant\tagain.\t\u2018The\tbest\tway to\t honour\t her\t is\t to\t destroy\t the\t army\t that\t defends\t the\t filthy\t society\t that\t killed her.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t remained\t silent.\t He\t knew\t there\t was\t no\t point\t in\t saying anything\tto\tRaavan\tabout\tthis. Raavan\tstared\tat\tthe\tinky\tblack\tsea.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tthem,\tbut\the\tknew\this","ships\t were\t there,\t anchored\t more\t than\t two\t kilometres\t from\t shore.\t Those\t ships, with\ttheir\tunusually\tbroad\tbow\tsections,\twere\tcrucial\tto\this\tbattle\tplans. \u2018The\tships\tare\tto\tremain\twhere\tthey\tare,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\teven\twant the\trowboats\tto\tbe\tlowered.\u2019 \u2018Obviously,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. Raavan\t liked\t how\t his\t brother\t always\t seemed\t to\t read\t his\t mind.\t With\t the Lankan\t ships\t far\t away,\t and\t the\t rowboats\t still\t aboard,\t the\t Ayodhyans\t would assume\t that\t the\t vessels\t would\t have\t no\t role\t to\t play\t in\t the\t battle.\t Even\t if\t there was\ta\treserve\tforce\ton\tboard\tthose\tships,\tit\twould\tnot\tbe\tpossible\tto\tbring\tthem into\tcombat\tquickly\tenough. And\tthat\u2019s\thow\tthe\ttrap\twould\tbe\tset. \u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tthey\twill\tfall\tfor\tit?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. \u2018They\t have\t taken\t every\t bait\t so\t far,\t haven\u2019t\t they?\t I\t have\t faith\t in\t their arrogance.\tTheir\tassumption\tthat\twe\tare\tstupid\ttraders\tand\tincapable\tof\tbattle\tis what\t will\t cause\t them\t to\t make\t mistakes\t tomorrow.\t Also,\t remember\t they\t have five\t hundred\t thousand\t soldiers.\t We\t have\t a\t little\t over\t fifty\t thousand\t in\t the\t city. The\todds\tmust\tlook\tvery\tgood\tto\tthem.\tAnd\tpeople\tdo\treckless\tthings\twhen\tthey think\tthe\todds\tare\tin\ttheir\tfavour.\u2019 \u2018But\tunless\tthe\temperor\tcommits\tthem\tto\tan\tattack\tformation\ton\tthe\tbeach, our\tships\twill\tbe\tuseless.\u2019 \u2018Precisely,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t turning\t to\t look\t at\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018That\u2019s\t what\t I wanted\tto\ttalk\tto\tyou\tabout.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tdo\tit,\tDada.\tI\u2019ll\tlead\tsome\tof\tthe\tbattalions\toutside\tthe\tcity\twalls\tand offer\tthem\u2014us\u2014up\tas\tbait.\tAnd\twhen\tthe\tAyodhyans\tcharge\tat\tus,\tyou\tcan\tdo the\trest\twith\tthe\tships.\u2019 \u2018You\tknow\talmost\texactly\thow\tmy\tmind\tworks,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\tsmiling. Kumbhakarna\tgrinned.\t\u2018Almost?\tI\talways\tknow\twhat\tyou\tare\tthinking.\u2019 \u2018Not\tentirely.\tWe\u2019ll\tfollow\tthe\tbattle\tplan\tthat\tyou\tjust\tlaid\tout.\tExcept,\tI\u2019ll be\tthe\tbait.\tAnd\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tleading\tthe\tships.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\twas\taghast.\t\u2018No,\tDada!\u2019 \u2018Kumbha\u2026\u2019 \u2018No!\u2019 \u2018You\u2019ve\tsaid\tto\tme\toften\tenough,\tthat\tyou\u2019ll\tdo\tanything\tfor\tme.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\twill.\tI\u2019ll\tput\tmy\tlife\tat\trisk.\tAnd\tyou\u2019ll\twin\tthe\tbattle.\u2019 \u2018Kumbha,\tI\u2019m\tasking\tyou\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfar\tmore\tdifficult.\tI\twant\tyou\tto allow\tme\tto\tput\tmy\town\tlife\tat\trisk.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tnot\tpossible,\tDada.\u2019 \u2018Kumbha,\tlisten\tto\tme\u2026\u2019 \u2018No!\u2019","\u2018Kumbha,\t that\t arrogant\t fool\t Dashrath\t hates\t me.\t I\t am\t the\t one\t who\t can drive\thim\tto\tact\trashly.\tI\thave\tto\tbe\there.\u2019 \u2018Then\tI\u2019ll\tstay\twith\tyou.\tLet\tUncle\tMareech\tlead\tthe\tships.\u2019 \u2018My\tlife\twill\tbe\tat\trisk,\tKumbha.\tYou\tare\tthe\tonly\tone\tI\tcan\ttrust\tto\thave my\tback.\u2019 \u2018Dada\u2026\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\twill\tensure\tthat\tI\tdon\u2019t\tdie.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t raised\t his\t hand\t to\t cover\t Raavan\u2019s\t mouth.\t \u2018Shhh!\t Maa\t has told\t you\t not\t to\t speak\t of\t your\t own\t death.\t Just\t because\t the\t Almighty\t has\t given you\ta\tmouth\tdoesn\u2019t\tmean\tyou\thave\tto\tuse\tit\tto\tsay\tstupid\tthings!\u2019 \u2018Then\tmake\tsure\tthat\tI\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\tspeak\tof\tit\tagain.\tLead\tthe\tships.\u2019 \u2018Dada!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\twas\texasperated. \u2018It\u2019s\t an\t order,\t Kumbha.\t I\t can\t trust\t only\t you.\t You\t have\t to\t do\t this\t for\t me. You\thave\tto\tensure\tthat\tthe\tships\tsail\tin\ton\ttime.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tclasped\tRaavan\u2019s\thands\ttightly,\tnot\tsaying\tanything. \u2018We\t will\t win\t tomorrow,\u2019\t said\t Raavan.\t \u2018And\t then\t our\t era\t will\t begin. History\twill\tnever\tforget\tthe\tnames\tof\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna.\u2019 The\tnext\tday,\tby\tthe\tfourth\thour\tof\tthe\tsecond\tprahar,\tRaavan\twas\tbattle-ready. Mounted\ton\this\twarhorse,\tand\twaiting\tat\tthe\tfrontline. Much\tto\tthe\tshock\tof\this\tenemies,\tand\teven\tsome\tof\this\town\tfollowers,\the had\t surrendered\t the\t immense\t defensive\t benefits\t of\t staying\t behind\t the\t well- designed\tfort\twalls.\tInstead,\the\thad\tarranged\tabout\tfifty\tthousand\tsoldiers\u2014most of\t his\t army\u2014in\t standard\t chaturanga\t formation\t outside\t the\t fort\t walls,\t on\t the beach. The\t Lankans\t now\t had\t their\t enemy\t to\t the\t front\t and\t the\t fort\t walls\t behind them.\tPresenting\ta\tseemingly\tsoft\ttarget\tto\tDashrath\tand\this\tarmy. A\tLankan\tbait\tfor\tthe\twarriors\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu. And\tthe\tbait\thad\tbeen\ttaken. The\temperor\tof\tAyodhya\thad\tarranged\this\tarmy\talong\tthe\tbeach,\tin\ta\tsuchi vyuha,\t the\t needle\t formation.\t Dashrath\t knew\t that\t charging\t the\t fort\t from\t the landward\t side\t was\t not\t an\t option.\t Raavan\u2019s\t hordes\t had\t planted\t dense\t thorny bushes\t all\t around\t the\t fort,\t except\t along\t the\t wall\t that\t ran\t beside\t the\t beach. Dashrath\u2019s\t army\t could\t have\t cleared\t the\t bushes\t and\t created\t a\t path\t to\t reach\t the fort,\tbut\tthat\twould\thave\ttaken\tweeks.\tWith\t the\tLankan\tarmy\thaving\tscorched the\tland\taround\tKarachapa,\tand\tthe\tresultant\tabsence\tof\tfood\tand\twater\toutside the\tfort,\tthe\toption\twas\tsimply\tnot\tviable.\tThe\tarmy\thad\tto\tattack\tbefore\tthey\tran","out\tof\trations. Dashrath\t should\t have\t stopped\t to\t consider\t why\t Raavan\t had\t blocked\t all possible\toptions\tof\tengagement\texcept\tfor\tthe\tone\talong\tthe\tbeach.\tThe\tking\tof Ayodhya\t had\t never\t lost\t a\t battle\t in\t his\t illustrious\t military\t career.\t His\t strategic instincts\tshould\thave\talerted\thim.\tBut\tRaavan\u2019s\tinsulting\twords\tthe\tprevious\tday still\tplayed\ton\this\tmind,\tand\the\thad\tlet\this\tpride\tget\tthe\tbetter\tof\this\tjudgement. The\t beach\t was\t wide\t by\t most\t standards,\t but\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t enough\t for\t a\t large army\u2014hence\tDashrath\u2019s\ttactical\tdecision\tto\tform\ta\tsuchi\tvyuha.\tThe\tbest\tof\this troops\twould\ttake\tposition\talongside\thim,\tat\tthe\tfront\tof\tthe\tformation,\twhile\tthe rest\t of\t the\t army\t would\t fall\t into\t a\t long\t column\t behind\t them.\t They\t intended\t a rolling\t charge,\t whereby\t the\t first\t lines\t would\t strike\t the\t Lankan\t ranks,\t and\t after twenty\t minutes\t or\t so\t of\t battle,\t slip\t back,\t allowing\t the\t next\t line\t of\t warriors\t to charge\tin.\tIt\twould\tbe\tan\tunrelenting\tsurge\tof\tbattle-hardened\tsoldiers\taiming\tto scatter\tand\tdecimate\tthe\tenemy\ttroops\tof\tLanka. Ashwapati,\t the\t king\t of\t Kekaya\t and\t Dashrath\u2019s\t father-in-law,\t had misgivings\t about\t this\t strategy.\t He\t had\t pointed\t out\t that\t only\t a\t few\t tens\t of thousands\tof\ttheir\tsoldiers\twould\tbe\tengaged\tin\tbattle\tat\tany\tpoint\tof\ttime,\twhile most\t of\t the\t others\t waited\t at\t the\t back.\t By\t forcing\t the\t battle\t along\t the\t narrow beach\t rather\t than\t a\t large\t battleground,\t Raavan\t had\t negated\t the\t huge\t numerical advantage\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tarmy.\tBut\tAshwapati\u2019s\tconcerns\thad\tbeen\tbrushed aside\tby\ta\tconfident\tDashrath. To\t Dashrath\u2019s\t mind,\t the\t Lankans\t were\t traders\t who\t were\t incapable\t of sophisticated\t battle\t tactics.\t The\t apparently\t stupid\t move\t of\t positioning\t the\t army outside\tthe\tfort\twalls\thad\tonly\tconvinced\thim\tthat\tRaavan\tand\this\ttroops\thad\tno understanding\tof\twhat\tthey\twere\tdoing. Far\t away,\t at\t the\t other\t end\t of\t the\t beach,\t Raavan\t looked\t to\t his\t right,\t to where\this\tships\tlay\tat\tanchor\tmore\tthan\ttwo\tkilometres\tout\tat\tsea.\tThe\trowboats were\tnot\tvisible.\tKumbhakarna\twas\tfollowing\this\tinstructions\tperfectly. Raavan\tturned\this\tgaze\tback\tto\tthe\tSapt\tSindhuans. His\tarrogant\tand\toverconfident\tenemies\thad\tnot\teven\tsent\tspy\tboats\tout\tto investigate\t the\t broad\t bow\t sections\t of\t his\t ships.\t They\t really\t should\t have\t done that. A\tsmile\tplayed\ton\this\tlips.\tBloody\tfools. Raavan\t flexed\t his\t shoulders\t and\t arms.\t The\t most\t irritating\t part\t of\t battle was\t the\t waiting.\t Waiting\t for\t the\t other\t side\t to\t charge.\t You\t couldn\u2019t\t allow yourself\t to\t be\t distracted\t and\t you\t couldn\u2019t\t waste\t energy\t either.\t He\t had\t warned his\t troops\t not\t to\t tire\t themselves\t out\t by\t screaming\t obscenities\t at\t the\t enemy\t or chanting\twar\tcries.\tThey\thad\tbeen\tordered\tto\twait\tsilently. Clearly,\tDashrath\thad\tgiven\tno\tsuch\tinstructions\tto\this\tsoldiers.\tThey\twere","roaring\t their\t war\t cries,\t their\t voices\t rising\t and\t falling\t in\t a\t frenzy.\t Charging themselves\ton\tadrenaline.\tAnd\ttiring\tthemselves\tout\tin\tthe\tbargain. Raavan\t had\t worn\t his\t trademark\t battle\t helmet\t with\t its\t six-inch\t horns sticking\t out\t threateningly\t from\t the\t sides.\t It\t was\t a\t challenge\t to\t his\t enemies;\t to Dashrath. I\tam\there.\tCome\tand\tget\tme. Dashrath,\t meanwhile,\t was\t on\t his\t well-trained\t and\t imposing-looking\t war horse,\t surveying\t his\t amassed\t troops.\t He\t ran\t his\t eyes\t over\t them\t confidently. They\t were\t a\t rowdy,\t raucous\t bunch,\t with\t their\t swords\t already\t drawn,\t eager\t for battle.\t The\t horses,\t too,\t seemed\t to\t have\t succumbed\t to\t the\t excitement\t of\t the moment,\t making\t the\t soldiers\t pull\t hard\t at\t their\t reins,\t to\t hold\t them\t in\t check. Dashrath\t could\t almost\t smell\t the\t blood\t that\t would\t soon\t be\t shed;\t the\t massacre that\twould\tlead\tto\tvictory! He\tsquinted\tas\the\tobserved\tthe\tLankans\tand\ttheir\tcommander\tup\tahead\tin the\tdistance.\tHe\tfelt\ta\tjab\tof\tanger\tas\the\tremembered\tRaavan\u2019s\twords\tfrom\ttheir last\t meeting.\t The\t upstart\t trader\t would\t soon\t feel\t his\t wrath.\t He\t drew\t his\t sword and\t held\t it\t aloft,\t and\t then\t bellowed\t the\t unmistakable\t war\t cry\t of\t his\t kingdom, Kosala,\tand\tits\tcapital\tcity,\tAyodhya.\t\u2018Ayodhyatah\tVijetaarah!\u2019 The\tconquerors\tfrom\tthe\tunconquerable\tcity! Not\t everyone\t in\t his\t army\t was\t a\t citizen\t of\t Ayodhya,\t and\t yet\t they\t were proud\t to\t fight\t under\t the\t great\t Kosala\t banner.\t They\t echoed\t their\t emperor\u2019s\t war cry.\t\u2018Ayodhyatah\tVijetaarah!\u2019 Dashrath\troared\tas\the\tbrought\this\tsword\tdown\tand\tspurred\this\thorse.\t\u2018Kill them\tall!\tNo\tmercy!\u2019 \u2018No\t mercy!\u2019\t echoed\t the\t riders\t of\t the\t first\t charge,\t taking\t off\t behind\t their fearless\tlord. Riding\thard,\triding\tfearlessly,\triding\tto\ttheir\town\tdestruction. As\t Dashrath\t and\t his\t finest\t warriors\t charged\t down\t the\t beach\t towards\t the Lankans,\tRaavan\u2019s\ttroops\tremained\timmobile.\tWhen\tthe\tenemy\tcavalry\twas\tjust a\tfew\t hundred\tmetres\taway,\tRaavan\tunexpectedly\tturned\this\thorse\taround\tand retreated\tfrom\tthe\tfrontlines,\teven\tas\this\tsoldiers\theld\tfirm. Raavan\u2019s\t strategy\t was\t clear\u2014what\t was\t important\t was\t victory,\t not\t a display\tof\tmanhood\tand\tcourage.\tFor\tDashrath,\thowever,\tbrought\tup\tin\tthe\tways of\t the\t Kshatriyas,\t personal\t bravery\t was\t the\t most\t important\t trait\t of\t a\t general. Raavan\u2019s\t apparent\t cowardice\t infuriated\t him.\t He\t kicked\t his\t horse\t to\t a\t gallop, intending\tto\tmow\tdown\tthe\tLankan\tfrontline\tand\tquickly\treach\tRaavan.\tAnd\tthe Ayodhyans\tfollowed\ttheir\tlord,\tracing\thard. This\twas\texactly\twhat\tRaavan\thad\thoped\tfor.\tThe\tLankan\tfrontline\tswung into\t action.\t The\t soldiers\t suddenly\t dropped\t their\t swords\t and\t picked\t up","unnaturally\t long\t spears,\t almost\t twenty\t feet\t in\t length,\t which\t had\t been\t lying\t at their\tfeet.\tMade\tof\twood\tand\tmetal,\tthey\twere\tso\theavy\tthat\tit\ttook\ttwo\tmen\tto pick\t one\t up.\t The\t soldiers\t pointed\t these\t spears,\t tipped\t with\t sharp\t copper\t heads, directly\tat\tDashrath\u2019s\toncoming\tcavalry. The\t mounted\t soldiers\t could\t not\t rein\t in\t their\t horses\t in\t time,\t and\t rode headlong\t into\t the\t spears,\t which\t tore\t into\t the\t unprepared\t beasts.\t Their\t riders were\tthrown\tforward\twhile\tthe\thorses\tcollapsed\tunder\tthem.\tEven\tas\tthe\tcharge of\tDashrath\u2019s\tcavalry\twas\thalted\tin\tits\ttracks,\tLankan\tarchers\temerged,\thigh\ton the\t walls\t of\t the\t Karachapa\t fort.\t They\t started\t shooting\t a\t continuous\t stream\t of arrows\t in\t a\t long\t arc\t from\t the\t heights\t of\t the\t fort\t ramparts,\t into\t the\t dense formation\tof\tDashrath\u2019s\ttroops\tat\tthe\tback,\tshredding\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tlines. Many\tof\tDashrath\u2019s\twarriors,\twho\thad\tbeen\tflung\toff\ttheir\timpaled\thorses, stumbled\tup\tto\tengage\tin\tfierce\thand-to-hand\tbattle\twith\tthe\tenemy.\tTheir\tking led\tthe\tway\tas\the\tswung\this\tsword\tferociously,\tkilling\tall\twho\tdared\tto\tcome\tin his\tpath.\tBut\tall\taround\thim,\the\tcould\tsee\tthe\tdevastation\tbeing\t wrought\tupon his\t soldiers,\t who\t rapidly\t fell\t under\t the\t barrage\t of\t Lankan\t arrows\t and\t superbly trained\t swordsmen.\t Minutes\t later,\t Dashrath\t gestured\t to\t his\t flag\t bearer,\t who raised\t his\t flag\t high\t in\t response.\t It\t was\t the\t signal\t for\t the\t soldiers\t at\t the\t back\t to join\tthe\tcharge,\tin\tsupport\tof\tthe\tfirst\tline. This\twas\tthe\tmoment\tRaavan\thad\tbeen\twaiting\tfor. On\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\torders,\tthe\tLankan\tships\tabruptly\tweighed\tanchor.\tBig ships\t always\t stay\t offshore,\t unless\t there\t is\t a\t proper\t harbour\t available.\t Naval warriors\tare\ttransported\tto\tthe\tbeaches\tin\tsmall\trowboats.\tBut\tKumbhakarna\tdid not\tlower\tthe\trowboats.\tHe\tordered\tthe\tships\tthemselves\tto\tspeed\tto\tthe\tbeach! The\tsailors,\twho\thad\tbeen\ton\tfull\talert,\textended\toars\tand\tbegan\tto\trow\trapidly to\t the\t shore.\t The\t ships\u2019\t sails\t were\t up\t at\t full\t mast\t to\t help\t them\t catch\t the\t wind. Within\tminutes,\tarrows\twere\tbeing\tfired\tfrom\tthe\tdecks\tinto\tthe\tdensely\tpacked forces\t under\t Dashrath\u2019s\t command.\t The\t Lankan\t archers\t on\t the\t ships\t ripped through\tthe\tmassed\tranks\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhuans. No\t one\t in\t Dashrath\u2019s\t army\t had\t factored\t in\t the\t possibility\t of\t the\t enemy ships\t beaching\t with\t speed;\t ordinarily,\t it\t would\t have\t cracked\t their\t hulls.\t What they\t didn\u2019t\t know\t was\t that\t these\t were\t amphibious\t crafts\t with\t specially constructed\thulls\tthat\tcould\tabsorb\tthe\tshock\tof\tgrounding.\tEven\tas\tthe\tlanding crafts\tstormed\tonto\tthe\tbeach\t with\ttremendous\tvelocity,\tthe\tbroad\tbows\tof\tthe hulls\t rolled\t out\t from\t the\t top.\t These\t were\t no\t ordinary\t bows\t of\t a\t standard\t hull. They\t were\t attached\t to\t the\t bottom\t of\t the\t hull\t by\t huge\t hinges,\t and\t they\t simply rolled\t out\t onto\t the\t sand\t like\t a\t landing\t ramp.\t This\t opened\t a\t gangway\t from\t the belly\t of\t the\t ships\t straight\t onto\t the\t beach.\t Cavalrymen\t mounted\t on disproportionately\t large\t horses\t imported\t from\t the\t West\t thundered\t out\t of\t the","ships\t and\t straight\t onto\t the\t beach,\t mercilessly\t slicing\t through\t the\t men\t who blocked\ttheir\tpath. The\t Sapt\t Sindhuans\t were\t now\t battling\t at\t both\t ends\u2014at\t the\t frontlines against\t Raavan\u2019s\t soldiers\t at\t the\t Karachapa\t fort\t walls,\t and\t at\t the\t rear,\t with\t the unexpected\tattackers\tfrom\tthe\tships,\tled\tby\tKumbhakarna. The\t trained\t instinct\t of\t a\t skilled\t warrior\t seemed\t to\t warn\t Dashrath\t that something\tterrible\twas\tensuing\tat\tthe\trear\tguard.\tAs\the\tstrained\tto\tlook\tbeyond the\t sea\t of\t battling\t humanity,\t he\t detected\t a\t sudden\t movement\t to\t his\t left\t and raised\this\tshield\tjust\tin\ttime\tto\tblock\ta\tvicious\tblow\tfrom\ta\tLankan\tsoldier.\tWith a\t ferocious\t roar,\t the\t king\t of\t Ayodhya\t swung\t brutally\t at\t his\t attacker,\t his\t sword slicing\tthrough\ta\tchink\tin\tthe\tarmour.\tThe\tLankan\tfell\tback,\tas\this\tabdomen\twas ripped\t open\t and\t blood\t spurted\t out,\t accompanied\t by\t slick\t pink\t intestines\t that tumbled\t out\t in\t a\t rush.\t Dashrath\t turned\t away\t and\t looked\t behind\t him,\t to\t his troops\tin\tthe\trear\tformations. \u2018No!\u2019\the\tyelled. A\t scenario\t he\t had\t never\t foreseen\t was\t playing\t out\t in\t front\t of\t his\t eyes. Caught\tin\tthe\tvicious\tpincer\tattack\tof\tthe\tarchers\tand\tthe\tfoot\tsoldiers\tat\tthe\tfort walls\tin\tfront,\tand\tthe\tfierce\tLankan\tcavalry\tfrom\tthe\tbeached\tships\tat\tthe\tback, the\tspirit\tof\t his\tall-conquering\t army\twas\tcollapsing\trapidly.\tDashrath\tstared\tin disbelief\tas\tsome\tof\this\tmen\tbroke\tranks\tand\tbegan\tto\tretreat. \u2018No!\u2019\the\tthundered.\t\u2018Fight!\tFight!\tWe\tare\tAyodhya!\tThe\tUnconquerables!\u2019 Meanwhile,\t with\t everything\t going\t exactly\t as\t he\t had\t expected,\t Raavan kicked\t his\t horse\t into\t a\t canter\t and\t led\t some\t of\t his\t men\t down\t the\t beach\t on\t the left,\tskirting\tthe\tsea.\tIt\twas\tthe\tonly\tflank\tthat\twas\topen\tto\tcounter-attack\tby\tthe Ayodhyans.\t Accompanied\t by\t his\t well-trained\t cavalry,\t Raavan\t hacked\t his\t way through\t the\t outer\t infantry\t lines\t before\t they\t could\t regroup.\t He\t had\t to\t hold\t his position\tat\tthe\tfort\twalls\twhile\tKumbhakarna\tmassacred\tthe\trear\tlines. Raavan\t wasn\u2019t\t interested\t in\t killing\t Dashrath.\t That\t didn\u2019t\t matter\t at\t this point.\t His\t focus\t was\t on\t victory.\t And\t to\t achieve\t that,\t he\t had\t to\t break\t this\t last remaining\tholdout\tof\tthe\tAyodhyans. Slowly\tbut\tsurely,\themmed\tin\tby\tthe\tsoldiers\tat\tthe\tfort\twalls,\tthe\tattackers led\tby\tKumbhakarna\tat\tthe\trear,\tand\tthe\tcrushing\tattack\tby\tRaavan\u2019s\tmen\talong the\tflanks,\tDashrath\u2019s\tarmy\tfell\tinto\tdisarray.\tPanic\tset\tin\tamong\tthe\tranks.\tAnd before\tlong,\ta\tfull\tdisorderly\tretreat\tbegan. This\twas\tnot\ta\tbattle\tanymore.\tIt\twas\ta\tmassacre. But\tRaavan\tdid\tnot\tstop.\tHe\tdid\tnot\torder\ta\tceasefire.\tHe\tdid\tnot\tallow\this troops\tto\tshow\tmercy. His\t orders\t were\t clear\t and\t he\t shouted\t them\t aloud:\t \u2018Kill\t them\t all!\t No mercy!\tKill\tthem\tall!\u2019","And\this\tsoldiers\tobeyed.","Chapter\t20 Raavan\ttapped\this\tempty\twine\tgoblet\treflectively.\tAn\tattendant\tat\tthe\tother\tend of\t the\t chamber\t began\t making\t his\t way\t forward,\t but\t slowed\t as\t he\t noticed Kumbhakarna\trising\tfrom\this\tseat\tto\tattend\tto\this\tbrother. Kumbhakarna\t refilled\t the\t goblet\t before\t pouring\t some\t wine\t for\t himself. Then\the\tlooked\tup\tand\tsignalled\tto\tthe\tattendant\tto\tleave.\tThe\tman\tsaluted\tand withdrew\tfrom\tthe\troom. It\thad\tbeen\tfive\tmonths\tsince\tthe\trout\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tarmy\tin\tthe\tBattle of\tKarachapa.\tDashrath\thad\tbarely\tsurvived,\tsaved\tby\tthe\tbravery\tof\this\tsecond wife,\tKaikeyi,\tthe\tdaughter\tof\tthe\tking\tof\tKekaya,\tAshwapati. \u2018Do\t you\t think\t we\t should\t have\t killed\t the\t emperor?\u2019\t asked\t Kumbhakarna, taking\ta\tsip\tof\twine\tand\tsettling\tback\tin\this\tcomfortable\tchair. \u2018I\t did\t consider\t it,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t shaking\t his\t head.\t \u2018But\t I\t think\t it\u2019s\t better this\tway.\tA\t quick\t death\ton\tthe\tbattlefield\twould\thave\tbeen\ta\tblessing\tfor\thim. The\thumiliation\tof\tthe\tdefeat\twill\textinguish\this\tspirit\tlittle\tby\tlittle.\tThe\tmilitary failure,\t and\t the\t treaty\t we\t have\t imposed,\t will\t destroy\t his\t mental\t peace.\t With\t an unstable\t and\t insecure\t leader,\t the\t morale\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t is\t unlikely\t to recover.\t They\t are\t not\t going\t to\t give\t us\t any\t trouble\t as\t we\t slowly\t squeeze\t the empire\tdry.\tIf\twe\thad\tkilled\tDashrath,\twe\twould\thave\tturned\thim\tinto\ta\tmartyr. And\tmartyrs\tcan\tbe\tdangerous.\tThey\tcan\ttrigger\trebellions.\u2019 \u2018So\tyou\tthink\tthe\tbravery\tof\tQueen\tKaikeyi\thas\tactually\thelped\tus.\u2019 \u2018She\twasn\u2019t\ttrying\tto\thelp\tus,\tshe\twas\tonly\ttrying\tto\tsave\ther\thusband.\tBut she\t is\t a\t brave\t woman.\t And\t I\t have\t no\t doubt\t she\t will\t be\t treated\t poorly\t by\t her ungrateful\tsubjects.\tThey\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tto\thonour\ttheir\theroes.\u2019 \u2018Apparently,\tEmperor\tDashrath\tand\this\tfirst\tqueen\tKaushalya\twere\tblessed with\ta\tson\tthe\tday\twe\tdefeated\thim\tin\tKarachapa.\tThey\tcall\thim\tRam.\u2019 \u2018After\tthe\tVishnu?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan,\tlaughing\tsoftly\tin\tderision.\tRam\twas\tthe","birth\t name\tof\tthe\tsixth\tVishnu,\tmore\t commonly\tknown\tas\tParshu\t Ram.\t\u2018They must\thave\thigh\texpectations\tof\tthat\tbaby!\u2019 \u2018The\t funny\t thing\t is,\t they\t blame\t the\t poor\t child\t for\t their\t defeat\t in Karachapa.\tApparently,\the\tbrought\tthem\tbad\tluck.\u2019 \u2018So\t our\t victory\t had\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t my\t brilliant\t war\t strategies?\t It\t was all\tbecause\tsome\tqueen\twent\tinto\tlabour\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime?!\u2019\tRaavan\tlaughed. Kumbhakarna\tgrinned\tback\tat\thim. \u2018You\tshould\tlaugh\tmore\toften,\tDada,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Vedavatiji\twould\thave\tliked you\tto.\u2019 \u2018Stop\ttelling\tme\tthat\tagain\tand\tagain.\u2019 \u2018But\tit\u2019s\tthe\ttruth.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tit\u2019s\tthe\ttruth?\tDid\ther\tsoul\tcome\tand\tinform\tyou?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u2018Dada,\t you\t will\t not\t be\t healed\t till\t you\t are able\tto\tthink\tof\ther\twith\ta\tsmile\ton\tyour\tface.\tIf\tyou\tfeel\tsadness\tand\tanger\teach time\tyou\tremember\ther,\tyou\u2019ll\tturn\ta\tbeautiful\tmemory\tinto\tpoison.\tIt\u2019s\tbeen\tso many\tyears.\tYou\thave\tto\tlearn\tto\tmove\ton.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tsaying\tI\tshould\tforget\thow\tshe\tdied?\tThat\tI\tshould\tlive\tin\ta\tstate of\tfoolish\toblivion?\u2019\tRaavan\tsnapped. Kumbhakarna\tremained\tcalm.\t\u2018I\tdid\tnot\tsay\tthat.\tHow\tis\tit\tpossible\tfor\tus to\t forget\t how\t she\t died?\t But\t that\u2019s\t not\t the\t only\t memory\t of\t her\t we\t have,\t right? It\u2019s\t one\t of\t the\t many\t memories\t she\t left\t behind.\t Spend\t time\t with\t those\t other memories\t too.\t The\t happy\t times\t you\t had\t with\t her.\t Then\t you\t will\t not\t drown\t in sadness\twhenever\tyou\tthink\tof\ther.\u2019 \u2018Maybe\tI\tlike\tthe\tsadness.\tIt\tcomforts\tme.\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tspend\tenough\ttime\twith\tanything,\tyou\tstart\tliking\tit,\teven\tsadness.\u2019 Raavan\t shook\t his\t head.\t Clearly,\t there\t was\t to\t be\t no\t more\t conversation\t on the\tsubject. Kumbhakarna\tfell\tsilent. \u2018Anyway,\t when\t is\t the\t first\t instalment\t of\t the\t war\t reparations\t reaching Sigiriya?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan. \u2018In\ta\tfew\tweeks,\tDada.\tIn\ta\tfew\tweeks,\tLanka\twill\tgo\tfrom\tmerely\trich\tto fantastically\twealthy.\tPerhaps\tthe\twealthiest\tkingdom\tin\tthe\tworld.\u2019 Before\t the\t Battle\t of\t Karachapa,\t Lanka\t was\t entitled\t to\t retain\t only\t ten\t per cent\tof\tthe\tprofits\tfrom\tits\ttrade\twith\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\tNinety\tper\tcent\tbelonged to\tAyodhya,\tthe\trepresentative\tof\tthe\tempire.\tAyodhya\twould,\tin\tturn,\tshare\tthis commission\t with\t its\t subordinate\t kingdoms.\t After\t the\t battle,\t Raavan\t had unilaterally\tslashed\tAyodhya\u2019s\tcommission\tto\tjust\tnine\tper\tcent,\tkeeping\tthe\trest for\tLanka.\tIn\taddition,\the\thad\tdrastically\treduced\tthe\tprices\tof\tall\tmanufactured goods\t purchased\t from\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t If\t that\t wasn\u2019t\t enough,\t he\t had\t also","ordered\tAyodhya\tto\treturn,\twith\tretrospective\teffect,\tthe\tsurplus\tamount\tthat\tthe kingdoms\t had\t been\t paid\t over\t the\t previous\t three\t years,\t going\t by\t the\t new calculation\u2014as\t war\t reparations.\t Raavan\t knew\t that\t this\t sweeping\t reduction\t in commissions\t would\t pauperise\t the\t empire\t over\t time,\t while\t making\t Lanka extremely\t prosperous.\t Of\t course,\t since\t he\t was\t going\t to\t keep\t half\t the\t increased Lankan\tprofits,\the\twould\tsoon\tbe\tstupendously\trich\tas\twell.\tAnd\tpowerful. \u2018What\tnext,\tDada?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. Raavan\t walked\t over\t to\t a\t large\t window\t in\t the\t chamber\t and\t looked\t out\t at the\t verdant\t gardens\t beyond.\t His\t mansion\t in\t Sigiriya\t was\t a\t short\t distance\t from the\t giant\t monolithic\t rock\t that\t housed\t the\t palace\t of\t Kubaer\u2014chief-trader\t of Lanka\tand\tthe\trichest\tman\tin\tthe\tworld. Kubaer\t may\t not\t have\t known\t too\t much\t about\t warfare,\t but\t he\t did understand\tthe\tneed\tto\tprotect\this\timmense\twealth.\tOver\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdecades,\the had\t vastly\t improved\t the\t defensive\t systems\t of\t the\t city.\t Sigiriya\t was\t surrounded by\t rolling\t boulder-strewn\t hills.\t Each\t of\t the\t tall\t boulders\t had\t structures\t built\t on their\t flat\t tops,\t to\t house\t soldiers\t who\t could\t fight\t off\t any\t trespassers\t from\t an unassailable\t height.\t This\t was\t in\t addition\t to\t the\t sturdy\t walls\t and\t moats\t that surrounded\tthe\tcity. But\tKubaer\tdid\tnot\tconcern\thimself\tonly\twith\tsecurity.\tDespite\this\tgarish taste\tin\tclothes\tand\tjewellery,\the\thad\ta\tsurprisingly\tfine\teye\tfor\tarchitecture.\tAnd he\thad\tturned\twhat\twas\talready\tan\tachingly\tbeautiful\tcity\tinto\ta\ttruly\texquisite symbol\tof\tgrace\tand\telegance. The\t city,\t built\t on\t a\t large\t plateau,\t was\t adorned\t with\t stunning\t gardens\t and public\t walkways.\t Beautifully\t landscaped\t lawns,\t irrigated\t by\t waterways\t and underground\t channels,\t dotted\t the\t outskirts,\t while\t tall,\t evergreen\t trees\t spread their\t branches\t on\t either\t side\t of\t the\t main\t roads.\t Even\t the\t many\t boulders\t within the\t city\t had\t been\t incorporated\t into\t what\t the\t Sigiriyans\t called\t boulder\t gardens, with\t intricate\t fountains\t adding\t to\t their\t grace\t and\t beauty.\t There\t were\t tastefully designed\t halls\t for\t public\t functions,\t libraries,\t amphitheatres,\t lakes\t for\t boating, and\teverything\telse\tthat\twas\trequired\tfor\tcivilised\tliving.\tLanka\twas\ta\tpart\tof\tthe larger\t Vedic\t world\t and\t many\t temples\t to\t different\t Vedic\t Gods\t graced\t various parts\t of\t the\t city.\t The\t largest\t of\t the\t temples,\t of\t course,\t was\t dedicated\t to\t Lord Parshu\t Ram,\t the\t sixth\t Vishnu\t and\t the\t founder\t of\t the\t Malayaputra\t tribe.\t This temple\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tand\tconsecrated\tby\tthe\tgreat\tRishi\tVishwamitra\thimself. Raavan,\t however,\t was\t not\t swayed\t by\t all\t of\t Sigiriya\u2019s\t fineries.\t His attention\t was\t focused\t on\t the\t monolith\t called\t Lion\u2019s\t Rock,\t which\t rose\t a\t sheer two\thundred\tmetres\tfrom\tthe\tsurrounding\tcountryside.\tThe\tcity\twas\tnamed\tafter this\trock;\tSigiriya\tharked\tback\tto\tthe\tSanskrit\tSinhagiri\tor\tLion\u2019s\tHill.\tAt\tthe\ttop of\tthe\tmonolith\twas\tthe\tmassive\tpalace\tof\tKubaer.\tIt\trepresented\tthe\ttriumph\tof","human\timagination\tover\tnature\u2019s\tbounty.\tColossal,\tand\tyet\tdelicately\trefined. At\tthe\tbase\tof\tthe\tmonolith\twere\troughly\tconcentric\tterraced\tgardens\tthat showcased\t the\t skilful\t use\t of\t water-proofed\t brick\t walls.\t Each\t of\t these\t gardens rose\ta\tlittle\thigher\tthan\tthe\tone\tnext\tto\tit,\tand\ta\twinding\troad\tled\tup\tto\tthe\trock, through\tlush\tparks\tspeckled\twith\tfountains.\tThe\tpathway\tfrom\tthe\tnorthern\tside led\t up\t to\t one\t of\t the\t most\t stunning\t architectural\t achievements\t of\t Sigiriya:\t The Lion\tGate. The\tLion\tGate\twas\tcalled\tso\tbecause\tthere\tactually\twas\ta\tgargantuan\tlion\u2019s head\tcarved\thigh\tabove\tthe\tentrance.\tThe\tgate\tstood\tbetween\tthe\tlion\u2019s\ttwo\tfront paws,\t each\t the\t height\t of\t an\t average\t man,\t while\t the\t massive\t head\t reared\t up, visible\tto\tall\tthe\tcitizens\tof\tSigiriya\tfrom\tfar\tand\twide.\tThe\tmonolith\titself\twas shaped\t like\t the\t body\t of\t a\t colossal\t lion,\t seated\t in\t regal\t splendour,\t its\t head surveying\tits\tterritory\tfrom\thigh\tabove. It\twas\ta\tmagnificent\tsight. On\ttop\tof\tthe\tmonolith,\tacross\tan\tarea\tspread\tover\ttwo\tsquare\tkilometres, stood\t the\t massive\t palace\t complex\t of\t Kubaer,\t complete\t with\t pools,\t gardens, private\t chambers,\t courts,\t offices,\t and\t unimaginable\t luxuries\t designed\t to\t please the\trichest\tman\tin\tthe\tworld. \u2018What\tis\tnext\tis\tthat\twe\ttake\tcontrol\tof\tthat,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\tpointing\ttowards Lion\u2019s\tRock. \u2018What!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tcouldn\u2019t\tconceal\this\tshock.\t\u2018Isn\u2019t\tit\ttoo\tearly\tto\tget rid\tof\tKubaer,\tDada?\tWe\tare\tstill\tnot\tstrong\tenough\tand\u2026\u2019 Raavan\tfrowned.\t\u2018Not\tthat,\u2019\the\tclarified.\t\u2018That.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tfollowed\tthe\tpointing\tfinger\tmore\tclosely\tthis\ttime.\tRaavan was\t pointing\t towards\t Lion\u2019s\t Rock,\t but\t not\t at\t Kubaer\u2019s\t palace.\t The\t steps\t going up\t from\t the\t Lion\t Gate\t led\t to\t a\t mid-level\t terrace,\t about\t one\t hundred\t metres lower\tthan\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tmonolith.\tThe\tpathway\tcarved\tinto\tthe\trock\tand\tleading to\tthe\tterrace\thad\ta\twall\talongside\tit\tthat\twas\tmade\tof\tevenly\tcut\tbricks\tcovered with\tpolished\twhite\tplaster.\tSo\thighly\tpolished\tthat\tanyone\twalking\tby\tcould\tsee their\t reflection\t in\t it.\t It\t was\t called,\t rather\t unimaginatively,\t the\t Mirror\t Wall. Beyond\tthe\tMirror\tWall,\tthe\trock\twas\tdesigned\tto\tlook\tlike\ta\tcloth\tsaddle\tfor\tthe massive\t lion\t that\t the\t monolith\t represented.\t The\t saddle\t was\t covered\t with gorgeous\tfrescoes\tdepicting\t beautiful\twomen.\tNobody\tknew\twho\tthese\t figures represented.\tThey\thad\tbeen\tpainted\tduring\tTrishanku\tKaashyap\u2019s\ttime,\tand\thad been\t lovingly\t maintained.\t Beyond\t the\t frescoes,\t the\t pathway\t led\t to\t the\t lower- level\tpalaces,\tbehind\tlavish\tgardens,\tponds,\tmoats\tand\tramparts\twhich\tprotected the\tupper-citadel,\twhere\tKubaer\u2019s\tpersonal\tpalace\tstood. It\twas\tthese\tlower-level\tpalaces\tthat\tRaavan\twas\tpointing\tat. \u2018Meghdoot?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna.","The\tlower-level\tpalaces\thoused\tsome\tof\tthe\tconcubines\tand\tyounger\twives of\t Kubaer.\t But\t one\t of\t these\t palaces\t was\t the\t home\t of\t Meghdoot,\t the\t prime minister,\t who\t was\t in\t charge\t of\t revenues,\t taxes,\t Customs\t and\t general administration.\t Raavan,\t being\t the\t general\t in\t command\t of\t the\t Lankan\t army\t and the\tpolice\twas,\teffectively,\tthe\thead\tof\tall\tthe\tmuscle\tpower.\tMeghdoot\twas\thead of\tall\tthe\tmoney.\tTogether,\tthey\tran\tthe\tkingdom\tfor\tKubaer.\tIf\tRaavan\twere\tto add\tMeghdoot\u2019s\tportfolio\tto\this\town,\the\twould\teffectively\thave\tmore\tpower\tthan the\tchief-trader.\tAfter\tthat,\treplacing\thim\twould\tonly\tbe\ta\tmatter\tof\ttime.\tA\tsoft coup. Kumbhakarna\t was\t careful\t with\t his\t words,\t even\t though\t they\t were\t alone. \u2018You\tdo\trealise\tthat\twe\twould\thave\tto\u2014\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t do,\u2019\t interrupted\t Raavan.\t \u2018But\t it\t must\t look\t like\t an\t accident. Otherwise\tit\twill\tbe\tdifficult\tfor\tme\tto\ttake\tover.\u2019 \u2018Hmm\u2026\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\ta\tdifficult\ttask.\tWe\tcan\u2019t\thave\ta\tthug\tdo\tit.\tWe\tneed\tan\tartist.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tfind\tsomeone,\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tsaid\tthoughtfully. It\t had\t been\t a\t month\t since\t Raavan\t had\t ordered\t the\t assassination\t of\t Meghdoot, the\t prime\t minister\t of\t Lanka,\t but\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t been\t unable\t to\t find\t a\t way forward.\t He\t had\t finally\t turned\t to\t their\t uncle\t for\t help.\t And\t today,\t Mareech\t had informed\thim\tthat\tthe\tman\tfor\tthe\tjob\thad\tbeen\tfound. Eager\tto\tupdate\this\tbrother\twith\tthis\tnews,\tKumbhakarna\twent\tlooking\tfor him,\t but\t he\t was\t nowhere\t to\t be\t found.\t Finally,\t he\t went\t down\t to\t the\t secret chamber\thidden\taway\tin\tthe\tdeep\tinteriors\tof\tthe\tpalace.\tNo\tone\tapart\tfrom\tthe two\t brothers\t was\t permitted\t entry\t here,\t just\t like\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t private\t chamber\t in Gokarna. As\tsoon\tas\the\twalked\tin,\tKumbhakarna\tturned\tand\tlocked\tthe\tdoor\tbehind him.\tA\tsingle\ttorch\thad\tbeen\tlit.\tHis\tbrother\twas\tinside. The\tfirst\tthing\the\tsaw\tin\tthe\tsemi-darkness\twas\ta\tgold-plated\tRaavanhatha. It\t lay\t on\t the\t ground,\t broken,\t its\t strings\t ripped\t apart.\t In\t the\t deathly\t quiet\t of\t the chamber,\the\tthought\the\theard\tthe\tsound\tof\tsomeone\tcrying. As\t his\t eyes\t adjusted\t to\t the\t darkness,\t Kumbhakarna\t saw\t Raavan\t slumped on\t a\t tall\t wooden\t stool,\t his\t back\t to\t the\t door.\t His\t head\t was\t in\t his\t hands\t and\t his entire\t body\t shook\t as\t he\t cried.\t Deep,\t anguished\t sobs\t wrenched\t from\t the\t depths of\tsorrow\tand\tdespair. In\tfront\tof\tRaavan\tstood\tan\teasel.\tOn\tit,\ta\tvaguely\tfamiliar\timage\thad\tbeen scratched\tout\twith\trough,\tangry\tstrokes\tthat\tnearly\tconcealed\tits\toutlines.\tIt\ttook","a\tmoment\tfor\tKumbhakarna\tto\tdecode\tthe\tdrawing,\tbut\tthen\the\tsaw\tthat\tit\twas an\t unfinished\t profile\t of\t Vedavati.\t Pregnant,\t her\t form\t full\t and\t voluptuous.\t The outlines\t sketched\t and\t ready\t for\t the\t colours\t to\t be\t filled\t in.\t The\t eyes\t were\t half drawn\u2014and\tthat\u2019s\twhere\tRaavan\tseemed\tto\thave\tgiven\tup. Kumbhakarna\t knew\t that\t Raavan\t had\t stopped\t painting\t Vedavati\t since\t that day\tof\tthe\tgruesome\tkillings.\tUntil\tthen,\tshe\thad\tgrown\tolder\tin\this\timagination, gradually,\tyear\tafter\tyear.\tAnd\the\thad\tbeen\table\tto\tsee\ther\tin\this\tmind\u2019s\teye,\tin fine\tdetail,\talmost\tas\tthough\tshe\tstood\tbeside\thim\twhile\the\tpainted.\tBut\tafter\ther death,\tthe\twill\tto\tpaint\thad\tdied\ttoo,\tand\tnow,\twhen\the\tsought\tto\tcapture\ther\ton canvas\t again,\t it\t seemed\t that\t the\t blessing,\t the\t power\t of\t creative\t vision,\t had vanished. Kumbhakarna\twas\taware\tthat\teven\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tfully\tcomprehend\tthe\trage and\t resentment\t his\t brother\t felt.\t Only\t an\t artist\t can\t understand\t the\t despair\t of being\t abandoned\t by\t his\t muse,\t his\t lifelong\t inspiration.\t Only\t someone\t who\t has loved\t can\t know\t the\t immeasurable\t agony\t of\t losing\t the\t object\t of\t one\u2019s\t passion. Only\ta\tdevout\tbeliever\twho\thas\ttouched\tthe\tDivine\tcan\tknow\tthe\tsoul-emptying misery\tof\this\tGoddess\tbeing\ttaken\tfrom\thim. Kumbhakarna\twalked\tover\tto\tRaavan\tquietly. He\t knelt\t beside\t his\t elder\t brother\t and\t put\t an\t arm\t around\t him.\t Raavan turned\t and\t buried\t his\t face\t in\t his\t brother \u2019s\t shoulder,\t weeping\t as\t though\t nothing could\tcomfort\thim\tagain,\tever. They\t held\t each\t other\t for\t a\t long\t while,\t not\t saying\t anything.\t Their\t shared grief\tdrowned\teverything\telse\tout\u2014all\tthoughts,\tall\twords. It\t was\t Raavan\t who\t broke\t the\t silence.\t \u2018I\t need\t control\u2026\t of Lanka\u2026\tquickly.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tDada.\u2019 \u2018I\t need\t to\t destroy\u2026\t I\t need\t to\u2026\t those\t bastards\u2026\t Sapt\t Sindhu\u2026\t destroy completely\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tremained\tsilent. Raavan\t controlled\t himself\t with\t some\t effort,\t then\t said,\t \u2018Get\t me\t that assassin.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tDada.\u2019 \u2018Quickly.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\twill.\u2019 When\tyou\tfill\ta\tclogged\tdrain\twith\tmore\twater\tthan\tit\tcan\thold,\tit\u2019s\tbound to\t overflow\t and\t contaminate\t everything\t around\t it.\t When\t grief\t overwhelms someone,\twhen\tthey\tare\tenraged\tat\twhat\tfate\thas\tdone\tto\tthem,\ttheir\tfury\toften overflows\tand\tis\tinflicted\tupon\tthe\tworld. That\u2019s\tthe\tonly\tway\tin\twhich\tthey\tcan\tcope\twith\ttheir\town\tlife\u2014a\tlife\tthat","holds\tno\tmeaning\tanymore. \u2018Are\tyou\tsure?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan,\this\texpression\tquizzical. Raavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\thad\ttravelled\tto\tGokarna\tfor\tthis\tmeeting.\tThey didn\u2019t\twant\tto\trisk\tanyone\tin\tSigiriya\tgetting\teven\ta\twhiff\tof\ttheir\tplan. Mareech\tand\tAkampana\thad\tjust\tentered\tthe\thouse\tthrough\ta\tside\tentrance, hidden\tfrom\tview.\tThey\twere\taccompanied\tby\ta\tyoung,\twiry\tman. Mareech\t said\t to\t Raavan,\t his\t voice\t soft\t but\t confident,\t \u2018Trust\t me.\t I\t have seen\t some\t of\t his\t work\t myself.\t He\t is\t exceptional.\t Right\t up\t there\t with\t the Vishkanyas.\u2019 The\tVishkanyas,\tor\tpoison-bearing\twomen,\twere\trenowned\tassassins.\tThey were\traised\tfrom\ta\tvery\tyoung\tage\tto\tbe\tkillers,\twith\tsmall\tdoses\tof\tpoison\tbeing administered\t to\t them\t daily.\t Eventually\t they\t became\t immune\t to\t the\t poison.\t But even\ta\tkiss\tfrom\tthem\twas\tknown\tto\tbe\tfatal.\tAnd\tif\ttheir\tpoison\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tyou, their\tweapons\twould.\tThey\twere\tthe\tdeadliest\tkillers\tthe\tworld\thad\tever\tknown. \u2018Right\tup\tthere\twith\tthe\tVishkanyas?\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tdid\tnot\ttry\tto\thide\this scepticism,\t as\t he\t looked\t at\t the\t man\t who\t stood\t next\t to\t Akampana.\t \u2018Really, Uncle,\tthere\thas\tto\tbe\tsome\tlimit\tto\texaggeration.\u2019 Mareech\t looked\t at\t the\t potential\t assassin.\t He\t could\t see\t why\t they\t did\t not think\t much\t of\t him.\t Of\t small\t build,\t with\t long\t curly\t hair\t and\t dimples\t on\t both cheeks,\t he\t exuded\t a\t genial\t charm.\t There\t was\t not\t a\t scar\t in\t sight.\t More\t than\t a cold-blooded\tassassin,\the\tlooked\tlike\ta\tno-good\tphilanderer\twho\tknew\tonly\thow to\tseduce\twomen. \u2018Who\u2019s\t next\t on\t the\t list?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan,\t irritated\t that\t he\t had\t come\t all\t the way\tto\tGokarna\tto\tmeet\tsomeone\twho\twas\tevidently\tunfit\tfor\tthe\tjob. Mareech\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer.\tHe\tturned\tto\tthe\tassassin\tand\tnodded. The\tlithe\tbody\tmoved\twith\tlightning\tspeed,\treaching\tbehind\tAkampana\tin a\t flash.\t Before\t the\t dandy\t trader\t could\t even\t react,\t a\t finger\t had\t jabbed\t him\t hard and\t precisely\t on\t a\t pressure\t point\t at\t the\t back\t of\t his\t neck.\t Instantly,\t Akampana was\t paralysed\t from\t the\t neck\t down.\t The\t attacker\t grabbed\t him\t by\t the\t shoulders and\tgently\tlet\thim\tslide\tdown\tto\tthe\tground. Akampana\t was\t able\t to\t move\t his\t head,\t just\t about.\t His\t eyes\t swivelled\t left and\t right\t in\t panic.\t \u2018I\t can\u2019t\t feel\t anything!\t I\t can\u2019t\t feel\t anything!\t Help\t me!\t Oh Lord\tIndra!\u2019\tHe\tcalled\tout\tto\tRaavan.\t\u2018Iraiva!\tIraiva!\tPlease\thelp!\u2019 But\this\t\u2018true\tlord\u2019\twas\tlaughing.\tPositively\tsurprised\tby\twhat\the\thad\tseen. He\tturned\tto\this\tbrother.\t\u2018This\tchap\tisn\u2019t\tbad,\tKumbha!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t wasn\u2019t\t amused,\t however.\t He\t said\t to\t Mareech,\t who\t was","laughing\talong\twith\tRaavan,\t\u2018Uncle,\ttell\thim\tto\tlet\tAkampanaji\tgo\tat\tonce.\tThis is\tnot\tright.\tHe\tis\tone\tof\tus.\u2019 Akampana\t was\t still\t jabbering\t in\t terror.\t \u2018Lord\t Raavan!\t Iraiva!\t Don\u2019t\t kill me!\tPlease!\tI\thaven\u2019t\tdone\tanything!\u2019 Raavan\tcontrolled\this\tmirth\tand\tasked\tMareech,\t\u2018Uncle,\tthis\tis\treversible, right?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t my\t lord.\u2019\t The\t cause\t of\t all\t the\t anxiety\t answered\t Raavan\t directly.\t \u2018I can\trelease\tthe\thold.\tBut,\tif\tI\thave\tto,\tI\tcan\talso\tkill\thim\tpeacefully\twhile\the\tis still\tparalysed.\u2019 Hearing\tthis,\tAkampana\tmoaned\tagain\tin\tpanic,\t\u2018Iraiva!\tHelp!\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tshut\tup,\tAkampana!\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\tbefore\tturning\tto\tthe\tassassin\twith keen\tinterest.\t\u2018So\tdoes\tthe\tvictim\tfeel\tanything?\u2019 \u2018Not\t when\t I\t work\t this\t particular\t pressure\t point.\t There\t are\t others\t that\t will leave\thim\tparalysed\tbut\tfeeling\tthe\tpain.\u2019 Raavan\tdidn\u2019t\tconceal\tthe\tfact\tthat\the\twas\timpressed.\t\u2018What\tis\tthis\tman\u2019s name,\tUncle?\u2019 \u2018His\tvery\tname\tmeans\tdeath,\u2019\tsaid\tMareech.\t\u2018Mara.\u2019 Raavan\tturned\tback\tto\tthe\tyoung\tman.\t\u2018All\tright,\tMara.\tYou\tare\thired.\u2019 \u2018Iraiva!\u2019\tscreamed\tAkampana.\t\u2018Release\tme!\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tat\tAkampana\tand\tthen\tat\tMara.\t\u2018Can\tyou\trelease\this\tbody but\tparalyse\this\ttongue?\u2019 Everyone\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\tEven\tAkampana\tsmiled\tweakly. Kumbhakarna\t was\t still\t not\t amused.\t The\t two\t extra\t arms\t on\t top\t of\t his shoulders\twere\tstiff.\tHe\tturned\tto\this\telder\tbrother,\tdisapproval\twrit\tlarge\ton\this face.\t\u2018Dada\u2026\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tall\tright,\u2019\tRaavan\tsaid. He\tgestured\tto\tMara.\t\u2018Release\thim.\u2019","Chapter\t21 \u2018Not\tbad,\u2019\tsaid\tVishwamitra,\tclearly\timpressed.\t\u2018Not\tbad\tat\tall.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t and\t Arishtanemi\t were\t in\t Agastyakootam,\t the\t hidden\t capital of\tthe\tMalayaputras.\tIt\thad\tbeen\ta\tyear\tsince\tthe\tBattle\tof\tKarachapa. \u2018Yes,\t Raavan\t truly\t is\t turning\t out\t to\t be\t the\t perfect\t villain,\u2019\t said Arishtanemi.\t \u2018There\t is\t no\t person\t more\t hated\t in\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t than\t him.\t Not only\t did\t he\t defeat\t the\t empire\t comprehensively,\t he\t has\t imposed\t such\t an extortionate\ttreaty\ton\tthem\tthat\tthey\twill\tsoon\tgo\tfrom\tbeing\tthe\twealthiest\tland in\tthe\tworld\tto\tamong\tthe\tpoorest.\u2019 \u2018When\t I\t heard\t of\t the\t conditions\t he\t had\t proposed,\t I\t assumed\t Raavan\t was asking\t for\t an\t outrageous\t cut\t so\t that\t when\t he\t finally\t settled\t for\t less,\t his magnanimity\t would\t be\t lauded.\t Clearly,\t that\t is\t not\t what\t he\t had\t in\t mind.\t He\t is actually\tramming\tthe\tterms\tof\tthe\ttreaty\tdown\ttheir\tthroats.\tAyodhya\thas\tnever been\tso\tweak.\tWhich\tmeans\tthat\tfinally,\tthat\u2026\tthat\u2026\tspineless\tabomination\tof a\t man\t has\t been\t shown\t his\t place.\u2019\t Vishwamitra\t couldn\u2019t\t bring\t himself\t to\t speak the\tname\the\tdespised\tabove\tall. Arishtanemi\t knew\t his\t guru\t was\t referring\t to\t Vashishtha,\t the\t raj\tguru,\t the royal\tsage\tof\tthe\tAyodhya\tcourt\tand\tchief\tadviser\tof\tthe\troyal\tfamily.\tAs\talways, the\tmere\tthought\tof\tVashishtha\twas\tenough\tto\tagitate\tVishwamitra. Arishtanemi\t smoothly\t changed\t the\t subject.\t \u2018Yes,\t Ayodhya\t is\t weaker\t now than\tit\thas\tever\tbeen.\tAnd\tthe\tway\tRaavan\tforced\tKubaer\u2019s\thand\twas\tmasterly, for\t the\t chief-trader\t himself\t would\t never\t have\t pushed\t the\t treaty\t and\t the\t war reparations\t to\t this\t extent.\t He\t may\t be\t greedy,\t but\t he\t is\t also\t a\t coward.\t And\t let\u2019s not\tforget,\tthe\tassassination\tof\tMeghdoot\twas\ta\tdeft\ttouch,\timpeccably\ttimed.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tsure\tabout\tthat?\u2019\tasked\tVishwamitra,\tforgetting\tabout\tVashishtha for\t the\t moment.\t \u2018Because\t I\t have\t heard\t conflicting\t reports.\t There\t are\t enough people\t who\t believe\t that\t his\t death\t was\t caused\t by\t drowning\u2014accidental","drowning.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tsure,\tGuruji.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tdrown.\tHe\twas\tdrowned.\u2019 \u2018But\u2014\u2019 \u2018It\twas\tbeautifully\tplanned.\tEveryone\tknew\tthat\tMeghdoot\twas\trehearsing for\t his\t role\t as\t the\t doomed\t poet\t Kalidas,\t in\t his\t favourite\t play,\t Jalsandesh.\t And we\tall\tknow\thow\tthat\tfamous\tlake\tscene\tplayed\tout.\u2019 \u2018But\tI\theard\ta\twine\tglass\tand\ta\tdecanter\twere\tfound\tnext\tto\tthe\tpool\twhere he\tdrowned.\u2019 \u2018Also\ta\tpart\tof\tthe\tsetup.\tMeghdoot\twas\ta\tcolourful\tcharacter\twho\tliked\this wine\tand\twomen,\tso\tit\tmade\tsense\tto\tplace\ta\tglass\tof\twine\tthere.\tA\tred\therring, if\t there\t ever\t was\t one.\t Besides,\t there\t was\t no\t sign\t of\t injury\t on\t Meghdoot.\t No signs\tof\tany\tstruggle.\tThe\tpost-mortem\tshowed\tthere\twas\twater\tin\this\tlungs.\tHe died\tby\tdrowning.\tEverything\tfits\ttoo\twell\tto\tbe\ttrue,\tGuruji.\tThere\tis\tno\treason for\tanyone\tto\tsuspect\tanything.\u2019 \u2018So,\tyou\tthink\tit\twas\ttoo\tperfect?\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\t Real\t life\t is\t messy.\t Nothing\t is\t ever\t perfect,\t but\t this\t death\t was. That\u2019s\twhat\tgot\tme\tsuspicious,\tand\tI\tdecided\tto\tinvestigate.\u2019 \u2018So,\twho\tis\tthe\tperson\tbehind\tthis?\u2019 \u2018Someone\tcalled\tMara.\tThat\u2019s\tobviously\tnot\this\treal\tname.\tWhich\tmother would\tname\ther\tchild\t\u201cdeath\u201d?\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanything\tabout\this\tbackground\tyet, but\twherever\the\tcame\tfrom,\the\tis\ta\tgenius.\tI\tsuspect\the\tis\tyoung\tand\tstill\thoning his\tcraft.\tThere\tare\tthings\the\tneeds\tto\twork\ton.\u2019 \u2018Such\tas?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t for\t one,\t he\t is\t not\t secretive\t enough.\t He\t has\t shown\t his\t face\t to\t too many\tpeople.\tHe\tis\tgood,\tbut\the\tcan\tbe\ttrained\tto\timprove.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\twhat\tyou\tintend\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018I\tdo\tbelieve\tMara\tcould\tbe\ta\tuseful\tasset\tfor\tus,\tGuruji.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tleave\tthat\tto\tyou.\tDo\twhat\tyou\thave\tto.\tI\tam\tmore\tinterested\tin\twhat Raavan\tis\tgoing\tto\tdo\tnext.\tWhen\tdo\tyou\tthink\the\twill\ttake\tKubaer\tout?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\twill,\tfor\tnow.\tWith\tMeghdoot\tgone,\the\tcontrols\tboth\tthe revenue\tdepartment\tand\tthe\tmilitary\tdirectly\u2014the\tfirst\tLankan\tminister\tto\tdo\tso. He\t has,\t in\t fact,\t already\t started\t excluding\t Kubaer\t from\t sabhas,\t saying\t that\t the voice\t of\t the\t chief-trader\t is\t too\t pure\t to\t be\t heard\t in\t these\t petty\t administration meetings.\tHe\tis,\tfor\tall\tpractical\tpurposes,\talready\tthe\tking\tof\tLanka.\tThere\tis\tno need\tfor\thim\tto\tupset\tthe\tbalance\tby\toverthrowing\tKubaer.\u2019 \u2018Hmm\u2026\t clever\t move.\t But\t I\t am\t a\t bit\t sceptical\t about\t the\t wisdom\t of enforcing\t such\t ridiculous\t terms\t on\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t He\t will\t end\t up\t killing\t the golden\tgoose\tthat\tfeeds\thim.\u2019 \u2018Is\t that\t relevant,\t Guruji?\t We\t have\t him\t exactly\t where\t we\t need\t him.\t He\t is","setting\t himself\t up\t to\t be\t the\t perfect\t villain.\t All\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t will\t grow\t to dread\thim.\tWe\tshould\tstart\tsearching\tfor\ta\tVishnu\tnow.\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tBut\twe\tcan\u2019t\tlose\tsight\tof\tRaavan\u2019s\tmotives\teither.\tWe\tneed\tto know\t what\u2019s\t going\t on\t in\t his\t mind\t so\t that\t we\t can\t control\t him\t better.\t It\t is important\t to\t understand\t exactly\t what\t is\t pushing\t him\t to\t take\t this\t position\t on Ayodhya.\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t it\u2019s\t just\t his\t lust\t for\t money\t and\t power.\t He\t seems\t to\t be driven\tby\ta\tsort\tof\tunbridled,\talmost\tunhinged\trage.\tBecause\this\tactions\tdefy\tall logic\u2014of\tbusiness\tand\tpolitics.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tfind\tout,\tGuruji.\u2019 \u2018Also,\t let\u2019s\t start\t charging\t him\t more\t for\t the\t cave\t material\t and\t the medicines.\u2019 Arishtanemi\tchuckled.\t\u2018Yes,\tGuruji.\tI\twas\tthinking\tthat\ttoo.\tWe\u2019ll\tcertainly put\tthe\tmoney\tto\tbetter\tuse\tthan\the\twill.\u2019 Raavan\tflung\topen\tthe\tdoor\tto\tthe\t ship\u2019s\tcabin\tand\t walked\tbriskly\tin,\this\tface sweaty\tand\tflushed. Kumbhakarna,\t looking\t similarly\t exhausted,\t followed\t his\t brother.\t There were\t two\t Lankan\t soldiers\t with\t him.\t As\t he\t entered\t the\t cabin,\t he\t stopped\t the soldiers\toutside.\t\u2018Keep\tyour\tswords\tdrawn\tand\tstay\tvigilant.\tDon\u2019t\tallow\tanyone else\tin.\u2019 Raavan\t had\t already\t poured\t two\t goblets\t of\t wine\t for\t them.\t He\t handed\t one to\this\tyounger\tbrother. \u2018Thanks,\tDada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\tregarding\tthe\tbloodstained\tgoblet\tfor\ta moment\tbefore\tdraining\tthe\twine\tin\tone\tgulp.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tlike\tgood\twine after\tthe\texertions\tof\ta\tbattle. Raavan\tdowned\this\tglass\tjust\tas\tefficiently.\tHe\twas\tstill\ttrying\tto\tcatch\this breath. It\thad\tbeen\ttwo\tyears\tsince\tthe\tBattle\tof\tKarachapa.\tWith\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu having\tcapitulated\tcompletely,\tmoney\twas\tpouring\tinto\tLanka\tat\ta\tfurious\tpace. Raavan\twas\tnow\tthe\tprime\tminister\tof\tthe\tisland\tkingdom\tand\tthe\tgeneral\tof\tthe Lankan\tarmy,\tmaking\thim\tthe\tmost\tpowerful\tman\tin\tthe\tland.\tKubaer\thad\tbeen reduced\tto\ta\truler\tin\tname\tonly. Mareech\t and\t Akampana\t ran\t the\t twenty-nine-year-old\t Raavan\u2019s\t business empire\t under\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t able\t supervision.\t Mareech\t had\t been\t tasked\t with expanding\tthe\tbusiness\tas\tfar\tand\twide\tas\tpossible\tand\tdominating\tglobal\ttrade. He\t had\t already\t appointed\t \u2018approved\t key\t traders\u2019\t in\t every\t kingdom\t of\t the\t Sapt Sindhu.\tAll\ttrade\twith\tthe\tempire\twas\tdone\tonly\tthrough\tthese\tappointees.\tThis","was\t a\t strategic\t move\u2014it\t gave\t the\t Lankans\t greater\t control\t over\t their\t trade\t with the\tSapt\tSindhu,\tand\talso\tallowed\tthem\tto\tbuild\tloyal\tallies\tin\teach\tkingdom. Akampana\u2019s\t task\t was\t to\t ensure\t that\t the\t accounting\t and\t financing\t of\t this vast\tenterprise\u2014the\tbiggest\tbusiness\tcorporation\tin\thistory\u2014was\tclean,\twith\tno scope\tfor\teither\temployees\tor\tassociates\tto\tdrain\tmoney\tout\tthrough\tcorruption. All\t their\t plans\t had\t been\t executed\t smoothly\t so\t far.\t Raavan\t was\t now wealthier\t than\t Kubaer\t and\t had\t begun\t to\t focus\t more\t on\t enjoying\t his\t immense wealth.\tThe\trichest\tman\tin\tthe\tworld\twanted\this\tlifestyle\tto\treflect\this\tnewfound status\u2014the\tfinest\twine\tand\tfood,\tthe\tmost\tbeautiful\twomen,\tmusic\tand\tdance\u2014 only\tthe\tbest\tof\teverything\twould\tdo\tfor\tRaavan.\tHe\tindulged\tin\tall\tthat\tsatiated his\tdesire,\this\tkaama. The\t palaces\t situated\t on\t the\t lower\t levels\t of\t Lion\u2019s\t Rock\t had\t been\t taken over\t soon\t after\t the\t previous\t prime\t minister\u2019s\t unfortunate\t death.\t Raavan\t had evicted\t Meghdoot\u2019s\t family\t and\t Kubaer \u2019s\t junior\t wives\t and\t concubines,\t merging their\tpalaces\tinto\ta\tsweeping,\topulent\testate\tover\twhich\the\tpresided\twith\tall\tthe pomp\tof\ta\truler. He\t had\t also\t begun\t to\t travel\t for\t pleasure\u2014something\t he\t had\t rarely\t done before\u2014accompanied\t by\t Kumbhakarna\t and\t a\t few\t of\t his\t chosen\t concubines.\t It was\t as\t they\t were\t sailing\t peacefully\t over\t calm\t seas\t towards\t the\t Arabian Peninsula\tthat\tone\tof\tthe\tship\u2019s\tofficers\thad\tburst\tinto\tRaavan\u2019s\tcabin,\twith\tthe news\tthat\ta\tpirate\tvessel\thad\tbeen\tspotted\tspeeding\ttowards\tthem.\tThe\tbrothers had\tjust\treturned\tto\tthe\tcabin\tafter\ttaking\tcare\tof\tthe\tunwanted\tdiversion. \u2018Fools!\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Attacking\tus!\tWhat\twere\tthey\tthinking?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\trose\tfrom\this\tchair,\twine\tglass\tin\thand,\ttook\tRaavan\u2019s\tfrom him\t and\t walked\t over\t to\t the\t table.\t He\t put\t them\t down\t before\t cleaning\t his bloodied\t hands\t with\t a\t towel.\t Then\t he\t wiped\t the\t goblets\t clean.\t When\t he\t was done,\the\tpoured\tout\tsome\tmore\twine\tand\twalked\tback\tto\this\tbrother,\tbearing\tthe two\t goblets\t and\t the\t piece\t of\t cloth.\t \u2018Here,\t Dada.\t Use\t this\t to\t wipe\t your\t hands. Lord\tIndra\talone\tknows\twhose\tblood\tthat\tis.\u2019 Raavan\t looked\t down\t at\t his\t bloodied\t hands.\t His\t clothes\t were\t stained\t red too.\t But\t not\t one\t speck\t of\t blood\t on\t his\t expensive\t clothes\t or\t his\t body\t was\t his own.\t There\t was\t not\t a\t cut\t on\t him.\t He\t sniffed\t the\t blood\t on\t his\t hand\t before sticking\tout\this\ttongue\tand\tlicking\tit. \u2018Yuck!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tmade\ta\tface. \u2018Hmmm,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\tthoughtfully.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tan\tinteresting\ttaste.\u2019 Kumbhakarna,\tstill\tlooking\tnauseated,\theld\tthe\tgoblet\taway\tfrom\tRaavan. \u2018You\tneed\tto\tclean\tyour\tmouth\tfirst.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\t just\t wash\t it\t down,\u2019\t Raavan\t said,\t as\t he\t took\t the\t goblet\t from Kumbhakarna\tand\tgulped\tdown\tthe\twine.\tHe\twiped\this\tmouth\twith\tthe\tback\tof","his\t hand,\t smearing\t some\t more\t blood\t on\t his\t face.\t \u2018So,\t what\t were\t we\t talking about?\tBefore\tthose\tbonehead\tpirates\tattacked?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t shook\t his\t head,\t trying\t not\t to\t think\t about\t what\t he\t had\t just witnessed.\t \u2018We\t were\t talking\t about\t meeting\t Vibhishan\t and\t Shurpanakha.\t You promised\tmaa\tyou\twould,\tremember?\u2019 After\t Vishrava\t and\t his\t second\t wife,\t Crataeis,\t had\t passed\t away,\t Kaikesi had\t decided\t to\t adopt\t their\t children,\t Vibhishan\t and\t Shurpanakha.\t The\t two children,\t accompanied\t by\t some\t others\t from\t the\t ashram\t of\t the\t great\t sage Vishrava,\t had\t found\t their\t way\t to\t their\t wealthy\t half-brother\t Raavan\u2019s\t abode\t in Lanka,\t seeking\t refuge.\t They\t had\t not\t anticipated\t the\t reception\t they\t would\t get there.\tRaavan,\tstill\tangry\twith\this\tfather,\thad\tthrown\this\thalf-siblings\tout\tof\this home\t and\t refused\t to\t shelter\t them.\t But\t Kaikesi\t had\t stood\t up\t to\t her\t son\t and insisted\ton\tbringing\tthem\tback,\tsaying\tshe\thad\tresponsibilities\ttowards\tthem. Raavan\tdid\tnot\tapprove\tof\this\tmother\u2019s\tact\tof\tapparent\taltruism.\t\u2018Kumbha, you\t know\t what\t maa\t is\t really\t like.\t Her\t compassion\t is\t all\t fake.\t She\u2019s\t only\t taken them\tin\tto\tshow\tthe\tworld\thow\tvirtuous\tshe\tis.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\twhat\u2019s\twrong\twith\tyou?\tHow\tcan\tyou\tsay\tthat\tabout\tmaa?\u2019 \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tsaid\tanything\tuntrue.\tTell\tme,\twhat\thas\tshe\tdone\tto\tdeserve\tany of\t this?\t What\t sacrifices\t has\t she\t made\t for\t our\t happiness?\t I\t am\t the\t one\t who\t is working\thard\tand\tpaying\tfor\ther\tcomfortable\tlife\tin\tthat\tmagnificent\tmansion.\tI am\tthe\tone\twho\tpays\tfor\tall\tthe\tcharity\tthat\tshe\tdoes\u2014and\tpublicises.\tAnd\tI\tam the\t one\t who\t is\t paying\t for\t those\t useless\t half-siblings\t of\t ours\t whom\t she\t has decided\t to\t adopt\t and\t shower\t with\t attention.\t She\t just\t struts\t around\t exclaiming, \u201cOh,\tlook!\tLook,\thow\tgreat\tI\tam.\u201d\u2019\tRaavan\topened\this\teyes\twide\tand\tmimicked his\t mother\u2019s\t slightly\t high-pitched\t voice.\t \u2018She\u2019s\t a\t fraud.\t Let\t her\t try\t to\t build\t her own\t life\t by\t herself.\t Then\t she\t can\t prance\t around\t the\t world\t teaching\t lessons\t in morality,\tfor\tall\tI\tcare.\tI\tam\ttired\tof\ther\tvirtue\tsignalling.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tI\twish\tyou\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tso\tharsh\ton\ther.\tBesides,\twhat\tdo\tVibhishan and\tShurpanakha\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tany\tof\tthis?\tThey\tare\tlittle\tchildren.\u2019 The\t outgrowths\t on\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t shoulders\t were\t stiff\t and\t straight,\t a clear\tsign\tthat\the\twas\tupset. Raavan\tsighed.\t\u2018You\tare\ttoo\tgenuinely\tkind\tfor\tyour\town\tgood,\tKumbha.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tremained\tsilent. Raavan\tthrew\this\tarms\tup\tin\tsurrender.\t\u2018All\tright,\tall\tright!\tI\u2019ll\tmeet\tthem when\tI\tget\tback\tto\tSigiriya.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tsmiled.\t\u2018That\u2019s\tmy\tboy.\u2019 \u2018Excuse\t me!\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t straightening\t up.\t \u2018What\t do\t you\t mean\t \u201cboy\u201d? Don\u2019t\tforget\tI\tam\tyour\telder\tbrother.\u2019 \u2018Yeah,\tyeah,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\tlaughing.","Raavan\tsmiled\tat\thim.\t\u2018I\tlet\tyou\tget\taway\twith\ttoo\tmuch.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tbecause\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tmanage\twithout\tme.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tmy\tlife\tmanager,\ttell\tme,\twhat\thave\tyou\tdone\tabout\tKubaer?\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ve\t discussed\t this\t already,\t Dada.\t There\u2019s\t no\t need\t to\t try\t and\t remove him.\t He\u2019s\t practically\t your\t prisoner\t in\t any\t case.\t He\t can\u2019t\t step\t out\t of\t his\t upper citadel\twithout\tpassing\tthrough\tour\tlower\tterraces.\tHis\tbodyguards\tare\tour\tmen. We\tcontrol\this\tlife.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tis\tthe\tpoint\tof\thaving\thim\taround\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018Listen\tto\tme,\tDada.\tKubaer\u2019s\tidea\tof\tdoing\taway\twith\ttaxes\twithin\tLanka was\t brilliant.\t We\t don\u2019t\t need\t tax\t revenues\t in\t any\t case,\t with\t the\t flood\t of\t money coming\tin\tfrom\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\tAnd\tby\tproclaiming\tthat\tall\tcitizens\tare\texempt from\tpaying\tany\ttaxes\tat\tall,\the\thas\tbought\tthe\tloyalty\tof\this\tsubjects\tfor\tlife.\u2019 Raavan\tshook\this\thand.\t\u2018No.\tIt\u2019s\tbeen\ttoo\tlong.\tI\twant\tto\tbe\tknown\tas\tthe king\tof\tLanka.\u2019 \u2018Sounds\tto\tme\tlike\tyou\talready\thave\ta\tplan.\u2019 \u2018Obviously.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tam\ttalking\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\t tell\t you\u2026\t but\t only\t after\t we\u2019re\t finished\t with\t these\t guys.\u2019\t Raavan drained\this\tglass\tand\tthrew\tit\taway,\tthen\the\tgot\tup\tand\tstrode\tbriskly\tto\tthe\tdoor. Kumbhakarna\tfollowed\tin\this\tbrother\u2019s\tfootsteps. They\twere\ton\tthe\tmain\tdeck\tof\tthe\tship\tin\tno\ttime.\tIt\twas\ta\tpleasure\tboat, so\t the\t deck\t was\t massive\t and\t grand.\t At\t the\t moment\t though,\t it\t resembled\t a battleground.\t The\t bodies\t of\t the\t pirates\t lay\t all\t over.\t Not\t one\t Lankan\t had\t been killed,\tthough\ta\tfew\thad\tsuffered\tminor\tinjuries.\tNext\tto\tthe\tlarge\tship,\tbobbing in\t the\t sea,\t was\t the\t much\t smaller\t pirate\t craft,\t attached\t to\t Raavan\u2019s\t vessel\t with grappling\t hooks.\t The\t pirates\t had\t assumed\t their\t target\t carried\t some\t rich, chicken-hearted\t businessman\t whose\t crew\t could\t be\t easily\t overpowered.\t They had\t chased\t down\t Raavan\u2019s\t ship\t and\t boarded\t it,\t screaming\t fierce\t battle\t cries. Regrettably\tfor\tthe\tpirates,\tthat\thad\tbeen\tthe\textent\tof\ttheir\tfierceness.\tThey\thad come\t face\t to\t face\t with\t soldiers\t who\t were\t amongst\t the\t finest\t warriors\t in\t the Indian\t Ocean.\t Most\t of\t the\t pirates\t were\t dead\t within\t the\t first\t few\t minutes\t of battle.\t The\t rest,\t many\t of\t them\t grievously\t injured,\t had\t been\t lined\t up\t at\t the\t far end\tof\tthe\tdeck,\tshackled\tand\ton\ttheir\tknees. The\t brothers\t walked\t up\t to\t the\t prisoners,\t their\t loyal\t Lankan\t soldiers\t close behind\t them.\t They\t stopped\t in\t front\t of\t a\t stocky\t young\t man\t who\t was\t on\t his knees,\tblood\tflowing\tfrom\ta\tdeep\tcut\ton\this\tforehead. \u2018So,\tDada,\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tdo\twith\tthese\tmorons?\tShould\twe\tfind\tout who\t they\t work\t for?\t Maybe\t we\t can\t sell\t them\t as\t slaves\t somewhere\t in\t the Mediterranean?\u2019","By\t way\t of\t answer,\t Raavan\t simply\t flexed\t his\t shoulders,\t then\t drew\t his sword\tand\tin\tone\tswift,\tmighty\tblow,\tbeheaded\tthe\tman\tkneeling\tin\tfront\tof\thim. Kumbhakarna\tshrugged.\t\u2018Or\twe\tcould\tdo\tthat.\u2019 The\t Lankans\t followed\t the\t example\t of\t their\t lord\t and\t commander.\t They drew\ttheir\tswords\tand\tput\tevery\tone\tof\tthe\tpirates\tout\tof\ttheir\tmisery.","Chapter\t22 Three\tyears\thad\tpassed\tsince\tthe\tBattle\tof\tKarachapa.\tRaavan\twas\tnow\tthe\tsole ruler\tof\tLanka,\thaving\tgot\trid\tof\tKubaer.\tIt\thad\tbeen\tsurprisingly\teasy. The\t main\t contact\t for\t trade\t in\t Ayodhya\t for\t the\t Lankans\t was\t a\t woman called\t Manthara.\t Over\t the\t years,\t Kubaer\t had\t come\t to\t trust\t her\t implicitly. However,\t a\t message\t from\t Raavan\t asking\t her\t to\t choose\t between\t higher commissions\tfor\tcompliance\ton\tthe\tone\thand,\tand\tsevere\tpunishment\tin\tcase\tof disobedience\t on\t the\t other,\t had\t made\t the\t pragmatic\t Manthara\t switch\t sides\t in\t a hurry.\t On\t Raavan\u2019s\t instructions,\t she\t had\t put\t the\t idea\t in\t Kubaer\u2019s\t head\t that Raavan\t had\t hired\t an\t assassin\t to\t get\t rid\t of\t him.\t This\t was\t not\t the\t truth,\t but Kubaer\t believed\t it.\t To\t nudge\t him\t further\t towards\t the\t edge,\t Manthara\t let\t him know\t that\t his\t former\t prime\t minister,\t Meghdoot,\t had\t not\t died\t by\t accidental drowning\tbut\thad,\tin\tfact,\tbeen\tassassinated\ton\tRaavan\u2019s\torders.\tThis,\tof\tcourse, was\tthe\ttruth. The\tterrified\tKubaer\thad\tquickly\tabdicated\tthe\tthrone,\tpublicly\tannouncing that\the\thad\tnothing\tmore\tto\tachieve.\tHe\tnow\twished\tto\tretire\tto\tDevabhoomi\tin the\tHimalayas,\the\tsaid,\tand\tperhaps\teven\tgo\tfurther,\tto\tKailash.\tHe\twas\tseen\toff in\t Lanka\t with\t the\t respect\t and\t honour\t due\t to\t someone\t who\t was\t on\t his\t way\t to taking\t sanyas.\t But\t ascetism\t was\t far\t from\t Kubaer\u2019s\t mind,\t especially\t since Raavan\thad\tallowed\thim\tto\tleave\twith\tmost\tof\this\tpersonal\twealth,\tas\twell\tas\this wives\t and\t favourite\t concubines.\t He\t had\t even\t allowed\t Kubaer\t the\t use\t of\t the Pushpak\tVimaan\tto\ttravel\tnorth\u2014the\tflying\tvehicle\twas\tnow\tofficially\tRaavan\u2019s property.\t And\t Kubaer\t had\t been\t appropriately\t obsequious\t while\t publicly appreciating\tRaavan\u2019s\tgenerosity. To\t ensure\t that\t there\t were\t no\t counterclaims\t or\t even\t grumbling\t about Raavan\u2019s\t right\t to\t the\t Lankan\t throne,\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t suggested\t that\t Kubaer himself\tcrown\tthe\tnew\tking\tbefore\the\tleft.\tThe\tever-reasonable\ttrader\twas\tonly","too\t willing\t to\t place\t the\t crown\t on\t Raavan\u2019s\t head.\t Once\t a\t ruler\t had\t publicly abdicated\this\tthrone\tin\tfavour\tof\tanother,\tthere\tcould\tbe\tno\tearthly\treason\tfor\tthe latter\tto\tassassinate\thim.\tIt\twas\tonly\tlogical. As\t soon\t as\t he\t became\t the\t undisputed\t king\t of\t Lanka,\t Raavan\t abandoned the\t rather\t tame\t title\t Kubaer\t had\t preferred,\t of\t chief-trader.\t Instead,\t he\t assumed far\tmore\tgrandiose\tones,\tsuch\tas\tthe\tKing\tof\tKings,\tEmperor\tof\tEmperors,\tRuler of\t the\t Three\t Worlds,\t Beloved\t of\t the\t Gods,\t and\t a\t few\t others.\t When Kumbhakarna\tjoked\tabout\tthe\tpompous\tnew\ttitles,\the\twas\ttold\tby\this\tbrother\tto shut\tup. With\t everything\t going\t just\t the\t way\t he\t wanted\t it\t to,\t Raavan\t should\t have been\t happy\t and\t satisfied.\t However,\t right\t at\t this\t moment,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t look particularly\tpleased. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhy\tI\tlet\tyou\ttalk\tme\tinto\tthis,\u2019\the\tsaid. Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t were\t on\t their\t way\t to\t the\t lower-citadel\t palace that\t was\t now\t Kaikesi\u2019s\t abode.\t The\t brothers\t had\t moved\t into\t Kubaer\u2019s magnificent\tpalace\ton\ttop\tof\tLion\u2019s\tRock.\tTo\treach\tthe\tlower\tcitadel,\tthey\thad\tto pass\t through\t the\t large,\t flat\t piece\t of\t ground\t that\t had\t been\t converted\t into\t a landing\t pad\t for\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan.\t They\t were\t followed\t by\t a\t phalanx\t of\t one hundred\t bodyguards,\t who\t maintained\t a\t discreet\t distance\t from\t the\t king\t and\t his brother. \u2018Dada,\t I\t know\t you\t are\t unhappy\t about\t this,\t but\t they\t moved\t into\t their palace\ta\tweek\tago.\tThey\thave\tbeen\tdelaying\tthe\tgrahpravesh\tpuja\tjust\tfor\tyou. You\t know\t delaying\t such\t a\t ceremony\t is\t inauspicious.\t We\t can\u2019t\t keep\t them waiting\tanymore,\u2019\tKumbhakarna\treplied. \u2018She\t has\t deliberately\t brought\t some\t priests\t from\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t for\t the ceremony.\t She\t knows\t that\t will\t irritate\t me.\t When\t will\t you\t understand\t how devious\tour\tmother\tis?\u2019\tRaavan\tsnapped. Kumbhakarna\t thought\t it\t best\t to\t ignore\t his\t elder\t brother\u2019s\t dark\t mood\t and continued\twalking. As\tthey\tneared\tthe\tpalace,\tthey\tcould\tsee\tKaikesi\tstanding\tat\tthe\tentrance, with\t the\t young\t Vibhishan\t and\t Shurpanakha\t hiding\t behind\t her.\t Both\t children were\tunder\tten\tyears\t of\t age,\t and\twere\tterrified\tof\tRaavan.\t The\tpriests\tKaikesi had\tinvited\twere\tstanding\tnext\tto\ther,\tissuing\tinstructions\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice.\tAt\tleast a\t hundred\t maids\t stood\t behind\t them,\t responding\t to\t every\t demand.\t Kaikesi\t was enjoying\tthe\tluxuries\tthat\tcame\twith\ther\tson\u2019s\tgood\tfortune. As\tsoon\tas\tRaavan\twas\twithin\thearing\tdistance,\tKaikesi\tglanced\tat\tthe\tsun and\tdeclared,\t\u2018You\tare\tlate.\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\tleave,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. His\tmother\tpursed\ther\tlips\tand\tmuttered\tsomething\tunder\ther\tbreath.\tThen","she\ttook\tthe\tpuja\tthali\tfrom\tthe\tpriest\tstanding\tnext\tto\ther\tand\tlooped\tit\tin\tsmall circles\t around\t Raavan\u2019s\t face.\t Three\t times.\t As\t Raavan\t stepped\t aside,\t she repeated\tthe\taction\tfor\tKumbhakarna. \u2018Come\tin,\u2019\tshe\tsaid\tgruffly,\twaiting\tfor\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tto\tenter before\ther.\tAs\tRaavan\twas\tabout\tto\tcross\tthe\tthreshold\tinto\tthe\tpalace,\tshe\tsaid loudly,\t\u2018Right\tfoot\tfirst.\u2019 Raavan\tstopped,\tglanced\tat\this\tmother,\tthen\tat\tthe\tpriests\tstanding\tnext\tto her,\tand\tput\this\tleft\tfoot\tforward. \u2018Dada!\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t exhaled\t noisily\t in\t frustration,\t then\t conscientiously and\t carefully\t placed\t his\t right\t foot\t over\t the\t threshold.\t \u2018The\t palace\t looks beautiful,\tMaa,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018You\thave\tdone\ta\twonderful\tjob,\tand\tin\tsuch\tlittle\ttime.\u2019 Kaikesi\tlooked\tat\ther\tson\tand\tsighed,\ttears\twelling\tup\tin\ther\teyes.\t\u2018Forgive me\t for\t being\t so\t emotional,\t my\t son.\t It\u2019s\t just\t that\t it\u2019s\t rare\t for\t me\t to\t receive compliments\tthese\tdays.\tI\tdo\tso\tmuch\tfor\tothers,\tyet\tno\tone\tappreciates\tme.\u2019 Raavan\tturned\taround\tabruptly\tand\tbarked,\t\u2018I\tneed\tto\tleave\tquickly,\tMaa.\tI have\tlots\tof\twork\tto\tdo.\tWhere\tis\tthis\tstupid\tpuja\tsupposed\tto\thappen?\tLet\u2019s\tget it\tover\twith.\u2019 Kaikesi\traised\ther\tvoice\timmediately.\t\u2018Mind\tyour\twords,\tRaavan.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\ta stupid\t puja!\t It\u2019s\t the\t way\t in\t which\t we\t honour\t our\t ancestors\t and\t our\t culture. Don\u2019t\tbe\tdisrespectful!\u2019 Raavan\t stepped\t closer\t to\t his\t mother.\t \u2018You\u2019re\t right.\t It\u2019s\t not\t a\t stupid\t puja. It\u2019s\ta\tvery\tstupid\tpuja.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\thad\thad\tenough\tof\tthis\tchildishness.\t\u2018Stop\tit,\tboth\tof\tyou!\u2019 He\tlooked\taround\tto\tsee\tall\tthe\tmaids\tstudiously\texamining\tthe\tfloor,\twhile\tthe priests\t seemed\t absorbed\t in\t setting\t out\t the\t materials\t for\t the\t puja.\t Only\t young Vibhishan\t and\t Shurpanakha\t looked\t visibly\t petrified.\t Kumbhakarna\t turned\t back to\this\tmother\tand\telder\tbrother.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tdo\tthe\tceremonies\tquickly.\tThen\tyou\twill not\thave\tto\tcause\teach\tother\tany\tmore\tgrief.\u2019 \u2018He\t doesn\u2019t\t need\t me\t to\t cause\t him\t any\t grief,\u2019\t said\t Kaikesi\t bitingly.\t \u2018He\u2019s quite\tcapable\tof\tdoing\tit\tto\thimself.\u2019 Raavan\tturned\tto\ther,\tfists\tclenched\ttight.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean,\tMaa?\u2019 \u2018You\tknow\texactly\twhat\tI\tmean.\u2019 \u2018I\tdare\tyou\tto\tsay\tit\topenly.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t tried\t to\t calm\t tempers\t once\t again.\t \u2018Listen,\t let\u2019s\t do\t this\t puja later.\tWe\u2019ll\tcome\tback.\tLet\u2019s\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t fell\t silent\t as\t Raavan\t raised\t his\t hand.\t He\t stepped\t closer\t to his\tmother,\ttowering\tover\ther.\tThe\tair\tbetween\tthem\tbristled\twith\thostility.\t\u2018Say it,\tMaa.\tWhat\tdid\tyou\tmean?\u2019 Kaikesi\t didn\u2019t\t step\t back.\t The\t source\t of\t all\t her\t wealth\t and\t power\t was\t her","eldest\tson,\tyet\tshe\thad\tgrown\tto\tdespise\thim.\tShe\talso\tknew\tthat\thowever\tangry he\t was,\t Raavan\t would\t never\t harm\t her.\t She\t could\t get\t away\t with\t saying\t almost anything.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tforget\tthat\tI\tam\tyour\tmother.\tI\tknow\tevery\tlittle\tdetail\tof\twhat happens\tin\tyour\tlife.\tAnd\tyou\tknow\twho\tI\tam\ttalking\tabout.\u2019 \u2018Who\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\tSay\tit.\tSay\tit!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tpleaded\twith\tthem\tagain.\t\u2018Maa,\tplease\tdon\u2019t\tsay\tanything.\u2019 He\tturned\tto\tRaavan.\t\u2018Dada,\tlet\u2019s\tgo.\tCome\ton.\u2019 Raavan\tcontinued\tto\tglare\tat\this\tmother,\tmolten\trage\tin\this\teyes.\t\u2018Say\tit!\u2019 \u2018It\twas\tall\tyour\tfault!\tIf\tyou\thad\thonoured\tyour\tmother\tand\tlistened\tto\ther as\t a\t good\t son\t should,\t none\t of\t this\t would\t have\t happened!\t Understand\t that\t the Gods\t punished\t you.\t They\t punished\t someone\t innocent\t because\t of\t you.\t It\t was because\t of\t your\t lack\t of\t dharma\t that\t the\t Kanyakumari,\t the\t noble\t Vedavati,\t was killed!\u2019 \u2018MAA!\u2019\tRaavan\tscreamed\tas\the\treached\tfor\this\tknife. \u2018Stop!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\trushed\tto\tstand\tbetween\tthem,\tpushing\tRaavan\tback and\taway\tfrom\ttheir\tmother.\t\u2018Dada,\tno!\u2019 Raavan\twas\tout\tof\tcontrol\tnow.\tHe\tstabbed\tthe\tknife\tin\tthe\tair\tas\the\traged at\t his\t mother.\t \u2018You\t bitch!\t You\t can\u2019t\t survive\t a\t day\t without\t my\t protection!\t And you\t dare\t to\t take\t her\t name!\t You\t dare\t to\t insult\t the\t Kanyakumari!\t You\t dare\t to insult\tVed\u2026\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t voice\t continued\t to\t resonate\t through\t the\t corridors\t as Kumbhakarna\talmost\tdragged\this\tbrother\tout\tof\tthe\tpalace. \u2018Love?\u2019\tasked\tVishwamitra,\tgenuinely\tsurprised. Following\t the\t great\t maharishi\u2019s\t orders,\t Arishtanemi\t had\t investigated\t the likely\t cause\t of\t Raavan\u2019s\t attitude\t towards\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t And\t he\t had,\t by chance,\tstumbled\ton\tthe\ttruth. \u2018Yes.\tApparently,\the\twas\tin\tlove\twith\ta\tKanyakumari.\u2019 \u2018Which\tKanyakumari?\u2019 \u2018Vedavati.\u2019 Vishwamitra\tnarrowed\this\teyes\tand\tlooked\tat\this\tlieutenant.\t\u2018Arishtanemi, how\t am\t I\t supposed\t to\t know\t which\t Kanyakumari\t that\t is?\t You\t think\t I\t know\t all their\tbirth-names?\tWhich\ttemple?\tAnd\tfor\twhat\tperiod?\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\t Guruji.\t She\t was\t the\t Kanyakumari\t of\t Vaidyanath.\t And\t this\t was\t a long\ttime\tago.\tProbably\ttwo\tdecades\tat\tleast.\u2019 \u2018So\the\tmet\ther\twhen\the\twas\ta\tchild?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tbelieve\tso.\u2019","\u2018But\t we\t never\t saw\t her\t with\t him,\t did\t we?\t Not\t since\t we\t began\t tracking him.\u2019 \u2018Apparently\t they\t met\t in\t his\t father\u2019s\t ashram\t and\t didn\u2019t\t see\t each\t other\t for many\tyears\tafter.\tThen\tthey\tmet\tagain,\tperhaps\teight\tor\tnine\tyears\tago.\tI\u2019m\tnot entirely\tsure\tof\tthe\ttime.\u2019 \u2018So\t you\t are\t saying\t he\t was\t in\t love\t with\t her\t all\t this\t time,\t through\t his childhood?\tEven\tthough\the\tdidn\u2019t\tmeet\ther\tfor\tseveral\tyears?\u2019 \u2018Apparently\tso.\u2019 \u2018What\tsense\tdoes\tthat\tmake?\u2019 \u2018It\tmakes\tno\tsense,\tbut\tthat\u2019s\twhat\thappened.\tIn\tany\tcase,\twhen\the\tfound her\tagain,\twith\this\tbrother\u2019s\thelp,\tshe\twas\tmarried\tto\tsomeone\telse.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t leaned\t back\t as\t the\t realisation\t hit\t him.\t \u2018Lord\t Parshu\t Ram\t be merciful!\t Is\t this\t the\t former\t Kanyakumari\t who\t was\t killed\t in\t her\t own\t village? What\twas\tthe\tname\tof\tthat\tplace\u2026\tTodee?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tGuruji.\u2019 \u2018Her\thusband\twas\talso\tkilled,\twasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tentire\tvillage\twas\texterminated?\tBrutally?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tNobody\treally\tknows\twhat\thappened,\tsince\tthere\twere\tno\tsurvivors. Some\tpeople\tfrom\ta\tneighbouring\tvillage\tdiscovered\tthe\tbodies\ta\tfew\tdays\tlater. They\tchased\tthe\twild\tanimals\taway\tand\tperformed\tthe\tfuneral\tceremonies\tfor\tall the\tdead\tvillagers\tof\tTodee.\u2019 \u2018But\t I\t remember\t hearing\t that\t the\t corpses\t of\t the\t Kanyakumari\t and\t her husband\thad\tbeen\tcremated\twith\tfull\tVedic\thonours.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tI\theard\tas\twell.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tonly\tone\tinterpretation\tpossible\tthen,\u2019\tVishwamitra\tsaid. Arishtanemi\tnodded.\t\u2018I\twas\tthinking\tthe\t same\tthing,\tGuruji.\tRaavan\twas attracted\tto\tVedavati,\tbut\tby\tthe\ttime\the\tfound\ther,\tshe\twas\tmarried\tto\tsomeone else.\t She\t must\t have\t refused\t to\t leave\t her\t husband\t for\t him,\t and\t enraged\t at\t her rejection,\tRaavan\tkilled\ther\tand\ther\thusband.\tPerhaps\the\ttried\tto\trape\ther\u2026\twe will\t never\t know\t the\t complete\t truth.\t To\t wipe\t out\t any\t evidence\t of\t his\t crime,\t he must\thave\tmassacred\tthe\tentire\tvillage.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t was\t too\t appalled\t to\t speak.\t He\u2019d\t had\t a\t long\t life\u2014there\t were some\t who\t thought\t he\t was\t at\t least\t a\t hundred\t and\t fifty\t years\t old\u2014and\t had\t seen some\t terrible\t things\t in\t his\t time.\t The\t world\t had\t never\t been\t a\t kind\t place,\t but savagery\t of\t this\t magnitude\t was\t beyond\t his\t imagination.\t Not\t since\t the\t reign\t of Trishanku\tKaashyap\tcould\the\tremember\thearing\tof\tanything\tlike\tit. \u2018Well,\tGuruji,\u2019\tsaid\tArishtanemi,\t\u2018we\twanted\ta\tvillain,\tand\twe\u2019ve\tgot\tone. A\tmonstrous\tone\tat\tthat.\u2019","\u2018Kumbhakarna\t could\t not\t have\t been\t involved\t in\t this,\t surely,\u2019\t Vishwamitra said.\tHe\thad\talways\thad\ta\tsoft\tspot\tfor\tthe\tlittle\tNaga\tboy\twho\thad\tcome\tto\tsee him\twith\this\tmother\tmany\tyears\tago. \u2018I\tcannot\tbe\tsure,\tGuruji.\tBut\the\tis\tcompletely\tunder\tRaavan\u2019s\tthumb.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t clasped\t his\t hands\t under\t his\t chin,\t deep\t in\t thought.\t Then\t he took\t a\t deep\t breath\t and\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u2018I\t met\t that\t Kanyakumari\t once,\t the Kanyakumari\t from\t Vaidyanath\u2026\t I\t remember\t her.\t She\t was\t still\t a\t child\t then. Joyous,\t and\t kind\t to\t everyone,\t even\t animals.\t How\t a\t person\t treats\t those\t weaker than\tthem\tis\ta\tgood\tindicator\tof\ttheir\tcharacter.\tYes,\tI\tremember\ther\u2026\tShe\tcould mimic\t the\t sound\t of\t a\t hill\t myna\t almost\t accurately.\t And\t she\t mimicked\t me\t as well.\u2019\t Vishwamitra\tsmiled\tas\the\tsaid\t this.\t\u2018A\twonderful\tgirl,\tpure\tof\tmind\tand heart\u2026\ta\ttruly\tnoble\tsoul.\tShe\tdid\tnot\tdeserve\tto\tdie\tthe\tway\tshe\tdid.\u2019 \u2018We\t have\t to\t create\t an\t India\t where\t such\t purity\t and\t nobility\t are\t respected once\tagain,\tGuruji.\u2019 There\t was\t a\t brief\t silence,\t then\t Vishwamitra\t said\t decisively,\t \u2018We\t have\t to find\t the\t Vishnu\t now.\t Yes,\t we\t have\t to\u2026\t We\t have\t to\t revive\t our\t great\t land.\t We have\tto\tmake\tit\tworthy\tof\tour\tancestors\tonce\tagain.\u2019 \u2018We\t have\t the\t villain\t we\t were\t looking\t for,\u2019\t said\t Arishtanemi.\t \u2018Now,\t we need\tto\tquickly\tidentify\tthe\tnoble\tVishnu\twho\twill\ttake\tour\tplan\tto\tfruition.\u2019 Master\t and\t disciple\t looked\t at\t each\t other,\t they\t eyes\t alive\t with\t a\t sense\t of mission. \u2018Dada!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tvoice\twas\tlow\tand\tuneven.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbe\tstruggling with\this\temotions. It\thad\tbeen\tfive\tyears\tsince\tthe\tBattle\tof\tKarachapa.\tRaavan\thad\tbeen\tthe ruler\t of\t Lanka\t for\t more\t than\t two\t years\t now.\t The\t royal\t family\u2019s\t problems\t had spilled\tout\tinto\tthe\topen,\twith\tKaikesi\ttelling\talmost\tanyone\twho\twould\tlisten\tto her\tthat\tRaavan\twas\tnot\ther\tson\tanymore,\tand\tshe\tdid\tnot\twish\tto\tbe\tassociated with\t him.\t Instead,\t she\t said,\t Vibhishan\t and\t Shurpanakha\t were\t to\t be\t treated\t like her\town\tchildren. It\twas\tobvious\tto\teveryone\tthat\tKaikesi\u2019s\tstatus\tin\tLanka\u2014all\tthe\tluxuries she\t enjoyed,\t the\t charities\t she\t funded,\t the\t honour\t she\t was\t accorded,\t and\t the power\t she\t wielded\u2014was\t founded\t on\t her\t identity\t as\t Raavan\u2019s\t mother.\t But\t no one\thad\tthe\tcourage\tto\tsay\tthis\tto\ther\tface.\tIn\tfact,\tmany\tfed\ther\tinsecurities\tto get\tfavours\tfor\tthemselves\tin\treturn. But\tof\tone\tthing\tthere\twas\tno\tdoubt:\tthere\twas\tonly\tone\ttrue\tpower\tcentre in\tLanka,\tindeed\tin\tthe\tentire\tIndian\tsubcontinent,\tif\tnot\tthe\tworld,\tand\tthat\twas","Raavan.\t And\t no\t one\t dared\t to\t confront\t Raavan.\t On\t the\t contrary,\t they\t rushed\t to obey\this\tevery\tcommand\tand\tfollowed\tevery\tinstruction\tunquestioningly.\tSome went\ta\tstep\tfurther\tin\tthe\thope\tof\twinning\this\tapproval.\tIt\twas\tone\tsuch\texcess that\twas\ttormenting\tKumbhakarna\tgreatly. \u2018What\t is\t it,\t Kumbha?\u2019\t sighed\t Raavan.\t \u2018Just\t manage\t whatever\t needs\t to\t be managed.\u2019 \u2018There\t is\t nothing\t left\t to\t be\t managed,\t Dada.\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t tone\t was unfailingly\tpolite,\tas\tit\talways\twas\twhen\the\tspoke\tto\this\tbrother\tin\tpublic,\tbut\the was\tvisibly\tdistraught. Raavan\t stared\t at\t Kumbhakarna\t for\t a\t moment,\t and\t then\t nodded\t to\t the dainty\t woman\t sitting\t on\t his\t lap.\t She\t got\t up,\t picked\t up\t her\t blouse\t in\t a\t single, languid\tmovement,\tand\tleft.\tThe\tother\tdancers\tin\tthe\tchamber\tfollowed\tsuit. \u2018So\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018You\tmust\tremove\tPrahast\tfrom\tthe\tarmy.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t forces\t were\t divided\t into\t two\t contingents.\t One\t of\t them,\t led\t by officers\t who\t had\t been\t given\t the\t title\t of\t MahiRaavan,\t were\t responsible\t for\t the territories\t on\t land.\t The\t other\t group,\t commanded\t by\t officers\t called\t AhiRaavan, managed\tthe\tseas\tand\tthe\tports.\tAmong\tthe\tAhiRaavans\twas\tPrahast,\twho,\tsince betraying\tthe\tgovernor\tof\tChilika,\thad\tbecome\tan\tofficer\tin\tRaavan\u2019s\tarmy\tand was\tgreatly\tfeared\tfor\this\tbrutality. \u2018Kumbha,\t if\t we\t need\t to\t control\t the\t seas,\t we\t need\t ruthless\t officers\t like Prahast.\t Are\t you\t forgetting\t that\t it\u2019s\t thanks\t to\t him\t that\t we\t captured Krakachabahu\u2019s\twealth\tmany\tyears\tago?\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tthere\tis\ta\tdifference\tbetween\truthlessness\tand\tadharma.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tbe\timmature,\tKumbha!\tThere\tis\tnothing\tcalled\tdharma\tor\tadharma. There\t is\t only\t success\t and\t failure.\t And\t I\t refuse\t to\t be\t a\t failure,\t ever.\t I\t am Raavan.\u2019 \u2018And\t I\t am\t Kumbhakarna,\t Dada.\t Nobody\t in\t this\t world\t loves\t you\t as\t I\t do. And\tmy\tjob\tis\tto\tstop\tyou\tfrom\tcommitting\ta\tgreat\tsin.\u2019 \u2018The\t only\t real\t sin\t is\t to\t be\t poor\t and\t powerless,\t as\t we\t once\t were.\t Do\t you remember\t how\t helpless\t we\t were\t in\t our\t childhood?\t We\t will\t never\t go\t back\t to those\tdays.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t how\t much\t more\t wealth\t and\t power\t do\t we\t need?\t You\t are\t the wealthiest\t man\t in\t the\t world.\t You\t are\t the\t most\t powerful\t man\t in\t the\t world.\t You don\u2019t\tneed\tmore.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t do.\t You\t say\t I\t am\t the\t wealthiest\t man\t in\t the\t world.\t Well,\t I\t cannot rest\t till\t I\t am\t the\t richest\t man\t in\t history.\t And\t once\t I\t achieve\t that,\t who\t knows,\t I may\twant\tto\tbecome\twealthier\tand\tmore\tpowerful\tthan\tthe\tGods!\tMaybe\tthat\u2019s not\t a\t bad\t idea,\t actually.\t The\t citizens\t of\t Lanka\t should\t learn\t to\t worship\t me\t as\t a","God.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t if\t you\t want\t to\t be\t a\t God,\t then\t consider\t how\t a\t God\t would\t behave. Would\the\tallow\tthe\tkind\tof\tcrimes\tthat\tPrahast\thas\tcommitted?\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tbe\tthe\tjudge\tof\thow\tI\tshould\tbehave.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t what\t Prahast\t has\t done\t in\t Mumbadevi\t is\t beyond\t evil!\u2019\t said Kumbhakarna. \u2018Once\tagain,\tlet\tme\tbe\tthe\tjudge\tof\tthat.\tWhat\tdid\the\tdo?\u2019 The\t Mumbadevi\t port\t was\t situated\t on\t the\t western\t coast\t of\t India,\t at\t a strategic\t point\t on\t the\t sea\t route\t between\t the\t Indus\u2013Saraswati\t coast\t and\t Lanka. Raavan\t wanted\t absolute\t control\t over\t trade\t in\t the\t Indian\t Ocean\u2014the\t hub\t of global\ttrade.\tWhoever\tdominated\tthis\tocean\twould\tdominate\tthe\tworld. He\t had\t managed\t to\t gain\t control\t over\t most\t of\t the\t major\t ports\t across\t the Indian\tsubcontinent\tand\tthe\tcoasts\tof\tArabia,\tAfrica\tand\tSouth-east\tAsia.\tIn\tall of\tthese\tplaces,\the\thad\tmanaged\tto\tenforce\this\tusurious\tCustoms\tduties.\tHe\thad also,\tthrough\this\tally,\tKing\tVali\tin\tKishkindha,\tput\trestrictions\ton\tthe\tland\ttrade routes\t south\t of\t the\t Narmada\t River.\t He\t now\t had\t the\t most\t prosperous\t region\t in the\tworld,\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu,\tin\ta\tvice-like\tgrip.\tAnd\the\tsqueezed\tit\tfor\triches\tfor himself\tand\tfor\tLanka. Mumbadevi\t alone\t stubbornly\t refused\t to\t charge\t high\t Customs\t duties\t or turn\t away\t any\t sailor\t who\t sought\t refuge\t there.\t The\t Devendrars,\t the\t ruling community\tof\tMumbadevi,\tbelieved\tthat\tcommerce\thad\tto\tgo\thand-in-hand\twith service,\t and\t they\t would\t not\t veer\t from\t doing\t their\t duty,\t their\t dharma.\t Raavan had\t decided\t he\t had\t to\t stop\t this\t for\t the\t good\t of\t his\t business.\t There\t could\t be\t no challenge\tto\this\tvice-like\tgrip:\tnot\tonly\twould\tit\tmean\ta\tloss\tof\trevenue,\tit\twould also\tweaken\this\timage\tas\tthe\tall-powerful\tking\tof\tLanka. \u2018He\thas\ttaken\tcontrol\tof\tthe\tMumbadevi\tport,\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tbegan. \u2018So?\t I\t ordered\t him\t to\t take\t control\t of\t the\t port.\t Are\t you\t questioning\t my orders?\u2019 \u2018No,\t Dada!\t I\t am\t not\t questioning\t your\t orders.\t I\t am\t questioning\t your subordinate\u2019s\tmethods.\u2019 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t care\t about\t the\t methods.\t He\t was\t supposed\t to\t deliver\t results.\t If\t he has,\tthen\tthat\u2019s\tgood\tenough\tfor\tme.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tall\tof\tMumbadevi\tis\tdestroyed.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tWe\tcan\tuse\tthe\tSalsette\tIsland\tclose\tby\tas\ta\tport.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t was\t shocked.\t \u2018Dada,\t did\t you\t hear\t what\t I\t just\t said?\t Forget about\tSalsette.\tAll\tof\tMumbadevi\tis\tdestroyed.\tEvery\tsingle\tDevendrar\tis\tdead. Their\tpalace\thas\tbeen\tburned\tto\tthe\tground,\ttheir\thouses\tlie\tdemolished.\tNo\tone has\t survived\u2014men,\t women,\t children.\t Their\t bodies\t were\t piled\t high\t on\t a\t mass pyre.\t The\t half-charred\t body\t of\t the\t kindly\t King\t Indran\t was\t also\t found.\t It\t looks"]
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