["like\tthey\twere\tall\tburned\talive.\u2019 Raavan\tdid\tnot\treact.\tIt\tappeared\tthat\the\twas\tmomentarily\tstaggered\tby\tthe news. \u2018They\twere\tall\tnon-combatants,\u2019\tcontinued\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018They\twere\tnot warriors.\t Killing\t them\t like\t this\t is\t an\t act\t of\t adharma.\t I\t have\t heard\t that\t some\t of our\t soldiers\t were\t so\t disgusted\t by\t Prahast\u2019s\t actions\t that\t they\t have\t deserted\t the army.\tHe\thas\tlost\tnearly\ta\tthird\tof\this\tfive-thousand-strong\tbrigade.\tPrahast\thas come\tback\tto\tLanka\twith\tall\tthe\twealth\tof\tthe\tDevendrars,\thoping\tthat\tmere\tgold will\tstop\tus\tfrom\tpunishing\thim.\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tdown,\tdeep\tin\tthought.\tHis\tright\thand\tinstinctively\treached for\tthe\tpendant\taround\this\tneck. Kumbhakarna\t moved\t to\t kneel\t beside\t his\t brother.\t \u2018Dada,\t you\t have\t to punish\tPrahast.\tWe\tcannot\tallow\tadharma\tlike\tthis.\tAn\texample\thas\tto\tbe\tset.\u2019 Raavan\tremained\tsilent\tfor\tsome\ttime\tbefore\tlooking\tup\tat\tKumbhakarna. \u2018Dada?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tan\texample\thas\tto\tbe\tset,\u2019\tRaavan\tsaid.\t\u2018So,\there\u2019s\twhat\twe\twill\tdo. Prahast\t will\t be\t transferred.\t The\t wealth\t he\t looted\t from\t Mumbadevi\t will\t be confiscated\t and\t added\t to\t the\t Lankan\t treasury.\t And\t we\t will\t send\t out\t raiding parties\tafter\tthe\tdeserters.\tA\tfew\tof\tthem\twill\thave\tto\tbe\tpublicly\texecuted.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tat\this\tbrother\tin\tshock. \u2018Kumbhakarna,\tI\tagree\twith\tyou.\tPrahast\toverdid\tit.\tBut\twe\tcannot\tremove him\tfrom\tthe\tarmy.\tWe\tare\thated\tby\tmost\tof\tthe\tworld.\tWe\tneed\this\truthlessness on\tour\tside.\tAlso,\twe\tsimply\tcannot\tallow\tdesertions.\tIt\twould\tdestroy\tour\tarmy. We\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\tgo\tafter\tthem\tall,\tthat\twould\ttake\ttoo\tmuch\teffort.\tWe\tjust\tneed to\t find\t a\t reasonable\t number,\t maybe\t one\t or\t two\t hundred\t of\t the\t deserters.\t And execute\tthem.\tThat\tshould\tserve\tas\ta\twarning\tfor\tthe\trest.\u2019 \u2018Dada\u2026\tbut\u2026\u2019 \u2018Do\t it,\t Kumbha,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t the\t tone\t of\t his\t voice\t brooking\t no\t further disagreement. The\t king\t of\t Lanka\t turned\t towards\t the\t door\t and\t clapped\t his\t hands.\t The dancers\tcame\trushing\tback\tin,\tsome\tof\tthem\tremoving\ttheir\tblouses\tas\tthey\tran. Kumbhakarna\tknew\tthat\tthe\tmeeting\twas\tover.","Chapter\t23 Eleven\t years\t after\t the\t Battle\t of\t Karachapa,\t Lanka\u2019s\t domination\t of\t global\t trade was\t complete.\tNot\t only\thad\tRaavan\u2019s\tpersonal\twealth\tgrown\tbeyond\tmeasure, but\the\thad\ttransformed\tthe\tsmall\tisland\tkingdom\tinto\ta\tworld\tpower.\tThe\theavy taxes\tlevied\ton\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\twere\tbleeding\tthe\tLand\tof\tthe\tSeven\tRivers\tdry, but\t even\t in\t its\t vastly\t reduced\t state,\t it\t remained\t wealthy.\t There\t was\t plenty\t for Lanka\tto\tcontinue\tto\textract\tfrom. Lanka\t by\t now\t had\t absolute\t control\t over\t the\t trade\t routes\t and\t every\t major port\tin\tthe\tIndian\tOcean.\tConsequently,\tit\tdominated\tthe\tflow\tof\ttrade\tacross\tthe world.\tThe\tkingdom\tglittered\twith\triches\tand\thad\tcome\tto\tbe\tknown\tas\tGolden Lanka\u2014with\tzero\ttaxes,\theavily\tsubsidised\tliving,\tfree\thealthcare\tand\teducation, twenty-four-hour\t water\t supply\t to\t homes\t through\t lead\t pipes,\t sprawling\t public gardens,\tsports\tstadiums,\tconcert\thalls,\tand\tso\ton.\tThere\twere\tno\tpoor\tpeople\tin Raavan\u2019s\tLanka. Raavan\t himself,\t now\t thirty-eight,\t had\t acquired\t a\t God-like\t status\t in\t the kingdom.\t People\t had\t begun\t to\t worship\t his\t likeness\t in\t a\t few\t temples\t that\t had come\t up\t over\t the\t past\t year.\t Only\t his\t mother\t Kaikesi\t dared\t to\t oppose\t this deification:\tshe\thad\tpublicly\tdeclared\tthat\tRaavan\twas\tdishonouring\tthe\tancient Vedic\tways\tby\tencouraging\tsuch\tworship\twhile\the\twas\tstill\talive. On\tthe\tpersonal\tfront,\ttoo,\tthings\thad\tchanged\tfor\tRaavan.\tHe\thad\tfinally given\t in\t to\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t persuasions\t and\t taken\t a\t bride.\t Mandodari\t was\t the pious\t and\t beautiful\t daughter\t of\t a\t minor\t noble\t called\t Maya,\t who\t was\t the landlord\t of\t two\t small\t but\t prosperous\t villages\t in\t central\t India.\t Unfortunately,\t it soon\t became\t clear\t to\t her\t and\t to\t others\t around\t them,\t that\t Raavan\t had\t only married\ther\tto\tspite\tthe\tland\the\tprofessed\tto\thate.\tAs\tthough\the\twanted\tthe\tgreat empire\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t to\t acknowledge\t that\t he\t had\t the\t power\t not\t only\t to defeat\ttheir\tarmies\tand\tseize\ttheir\twealth,\tbut\tto\ttake\taway\ttheir\twomen\ttoo.\tThe","only\tpositive\tconsequence\tof\tthe\till-fated\tunion\twas\tthe\tbirth\tof\ta\tson,\tIndrajit, whom\tRaavan\ttruly\tloved. The\t twenty-nine-year-old\t Kumbhakarna,\t meanwhile,\t had\t become increasingly\tmelancholic.\tHe\tcherished\this\tbrother\tbut\twas\tunhappy\tabout\tsome of\tthe\tthings\tthat\the\twas\tforced\tto\tdo\tbecause\tof\this\tunwavering\tloyalty\tto\thim. Torn\tbetween\this\tlove\tfor\this\tbrother\tand\ta\tdesire\tto\tfollow\this\tdharma,\the\thad begun\tto\tlook\tfor\texcuses\tto\tescape\tLanka\tas\toften\tas\the\tcould.\tHe\ttravelled\tfar and\t wide,\t sometimes\t on\t trade\t missions\t and\t negotiations,\t and\t other\t times\t on military\t expeditions,\t to\t put\t down\t the\t menace\t of\t piracy\t on\t the\t high\t seas.\t He grasped\tat\tany\tlegitimate\treason\tto\tstay\taway\tfrom\tSigiriya. It\t was\t on\t one\t such\t trip\t that\t Kumbhakarna\t found\t himself\t in\t the\t Ethiopian kingdom\t of\t Damat,\t a\t long-standing\t ally\t of\t Lanka.\t For\t as\t long\t as\t anyone\t could remember,\ttrade\tbetween\tthe\tWest\tand\tIndia\thad\tflourished\tvia\tthe\tWestern\tSea, access\t to\t which\t was\t through\t the\t narrow\t Mandab\t strait\t in\t the\t Red\t Sea\t or\t the strait\t of\t Hormuz\t in\t the\t Persian\t Gulf,\t also\t called\t Jam\t Zrayangh\t by\t the\t locals. Any\t Egyptian\t or\t Mesopotamian\t trading\t ship\t had\t to\t enter\t the\t Western\t Sea\t at either\t of\t these\t points\t before\t sailing\t on\t to\t India.\t In\t a\t master\t stroke,\t Raavan\t had conquered\t the\t ports\t of\t Djibouti\t and\t Dubai,\t which\t controlled\t the\t two\t straits. Now,\t ships\t from\t Damat\t and\t other\t kingdoms\t that\t lay\t further\t west\t had\t to\t pay heavy\t Customs\t duties\t at\t either\t of\t these\t two\t ports\t to\t enter\t the\t Western\t Sea\t and the\tmain\tIndian\tOcean\ttrade\troutes. Kumbhakarna\twas\tin\tthe\tkingdom\tto\tmeet\tits\truler\tand\tfix\tthe\ttrade\tquotas and\t Customs\t duties\t for\t the\t next\t year.\t After\t the\t meetings\t were\t done,\t he\t had decided\t to\t stroll\t around\t the\t markets\t of\t the\t city\t of\t Yaha-Aksum,\t the\t capital\t of Damat.\t With\t just\t a\t day\t to\t spare\t before\t he\t left\t for\t Lanka,\t there\t wasn\u2019t\t enough time\tto\texplore\tall\tthe\tsights\tand\tsounds\tof\tthis\tbeautiful\tcity\the\twas\tvisiting\tfor the\tfirst\ttime. Suddenly,\t a\t familiar\t sound\t caught\t his\t attention\u2014a\t drumbeat\t that\t he\t did not\texpect\tto\thear\tso\tfar\tfrom\thome. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. He\tstarted\twalking\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\tsound,\tas\tif\tpulled\tby\tan\tinvisible thread. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. A\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\the\tfound\thimself\tin\tfront\tof\ta\tgraceful\tstone\tstructure that\t looked\t unexpectedly\t like\t an\t Indian\t temple\u2014a\t large\t platform\t made\t of\t red sandstone\t at\t ground\t level\t and\t a\t spire\t shooting\t high\t up\t into\t the\t sky,\t like\t a namaste\tto\tthe\tGods.\tThe\touter\twalls\t were\tdecorated\twith\tbeautifully\tsculpted figures\tof\tcelestial\tnymphs,\trishis,\trishikas,\tkings\tand\tqueens,\tall\tof\twhom\twere","dressed\t Indian-style.\t The\t only\t difference\t was\t that\t their\t faces\t were\t distinctly African. Kumbhakarna\thad\tmet\ta\t few\tpeople\t from\t the\tAfrican\tcontinent\t who\t had settled\t in\t India.\t He\t also\t knew\t of\t some\t rishis\t and\t rishikas\t who\t were\t originally from\tAfrica.\tHowever,\tnothing\thad\tprepared\thim\tfor\ta\ttemple\tdedicated\tto\tLord Rudra\tin\tthe\theart\tof\tYaha-Aksum. As\the\tentered\tthe\ttemple,\tthe\tdrumbeats\tgrew\tlouder. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. Large\tstands\twere\tplaced\tat\tdifferent\tpoints\tin\tthe\tmain\ttemple\thall,\tbefore the\t sanctum\t sanctorum.\t On\t each\t of\t these\t stands\t were\t placed\t three\t massive drums,\tin\ta\trow.\tTall\tmuscular\tmen,\tholding\tlong\tdrumsticks,\tstood\ton\tthe\tsides, beating\t the\t drums\t rhythmically.\t The\t temple\t compound\t was\t filled\t with\t people dancing.\tA\tdance\tof\tsheer,\tecstatic\tabandon. The\t mood\t was\t electric,\t and\t it\t instantly\t infected\t Kumbhakarna.\t His\t body began\t to\t move\t of\t its\t own\t volition,\t and\t soon\t he\t was\t dancing\t as\t well.\t The booming\tecstasy\tof\tLord\tRudra\u2019s\tmusic\tfilled\this\tmind\tand\tsoul. As\t the\t beat\t picked\t up\t pace,\t the\t dancing\t grew\t frenzied.\t The\t temple compound\t was\t alive\t with\t the\t raw\t energy\t of\t Lord\t Rudra\u2019s\t devotees.\t Gradually, the\t tempo\t built\t up\t till\t it\t reached\t a\t crescendo\t and\t ended\t with\t a\t loud\t triumphant cry\tof\t\u2018Jai\tShri\tRudra!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\traised\this\tvoice\tin\tecstasy\tto\tjoin\tthe\tcall\tto\tthe\tLord. Glory\tto\tLord\tRudra! \u2018Jai\tDevi\tIshtar!\u2019 Glory\tto\tGoddess\tIshtar! Kumbhakarna\t looked\t around\t at\t the\t happy\t faces\t around\t him,\t sweaty\t from the\texuberant\tdancing.\tSome\thad\ttears\tof\thappiness\tflowing\tdown\ttheir\tcheeks. Some\t were\t still\t in\t a\t trance.\t Strangers\t hugged,\t wishing\t each\t other\t well. Kumbhakarna\t too\t was\t embraced.\t No\t one\t seemed\t to\t notice\t that\t he\t had deformities,\tthat\the\twas\ta\tNaga. \u2018What\tbrings\tyou\there,\tKumbhakarna?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t turned\t to\t see\t a\t tall,\t distinguished-looking\t man\t with unblemished\t chocolate-coloured\t skin.\t While\t his\t features\t made\t it\t plain\t that\t he was\t a\t local\t from\t Damat,\t he\t was\t dressed\t in\t a\t saffron\t dhoti\t and\t angvastram,\t the colour\t of\t detachment\t and\t monkhood.\t A\t knotted\t tuft\t of\t hair\t at\t the\t top\t of\t his shaven\thead\tannounced\tthat\the\twas\ta\tBrahmin.\tA\tflowing\tsalt-and-pepper\tbeard softened\t his\t face,\t and\t despite\t his\t imposing\t physical\t presence,\t he\t conveyed\t an impression\t of\t tranquillity,\t with\t his\t calm,\t gentle\t eyes.\t He\t was\t clearly\t a\t man\t at peace\twith\thimself. Kumbhakarna\tfrowned.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tseen\tyou\tbefore.\u2019","The\tBrahmin\tsmiled\tand\tnodded. \u2018Yesterday,\tat\tthe\tcourt?\u2019 \u2018Right,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tman.\t\u2018I\twas\tstanding\tat\tthe\tback.\tYou\tare\tobservant.\u2019 \u2018I\ttend\tto\tnotice\timportant\tpeople,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\tsmiling\tpolitely\tand folding\t his\t hands\t in\t a\t respectful\t namaste.\t \u2018But\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t you\t are\t a\t fellow devotee\tof\tLord\tRudra.\tWhat\tis\tyour\tname,\tmy\tfriend?\u2019 The\tman\tsmiled\tand\tresponded\twith\ta\tnamaste.\t\u2018You\tcan\tcall\tme\tM\u2019Bakur, my\tfriend.\u2019 \u2018M\u2019Bakur?\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t was\t surprised.\t \u2018Do\t you\t know,\t there\u2019s\t an\t old Sanskrit\tword\tcalled\tBakur\u2014it\tmeans\ta\twar\ttrumpet.\u2019 \u2018I\t do.\t And,\t in\t our\t language,\t when\t we\t add\t the\t sound\t M\t to\t it,\t it\t means\t a great\twar\ttrumpet.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t smiled\t broadly.\t \u2018Great\t name.\t But\t you\t seem\t to\t be\t a\t man\t of peace.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\thad\tenough\tof\twar.\tAnd\tI\thave\tthe\tscars\tto\tprove\tit.\u2019 \u2018So\tthe\tmighty\tsword\thas\tbeen\tput\tdown\tin\tfavour\tof\ttemple\tdrums?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t laughed\t softly.\t \u2018Dancing\t is\t much\t more\t fun\t than\t fighting, wouldn\u2019t\tyou\tagree?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlaughed\ttoo,\tand\tnodded. \u2018I\t had\t my\t reasons\t for\t becoming\t a\t temple\t priest,\u2019\t said\t M\u2019Bakur.\t \u2018What\t is your\treason\tfor\tbeing\ta\ttrade\tnegotiator\twhen\tyour\theart\tis\tclearly\tnot\tin\tit?\u2019 \u2018Excuse\t me?\t Are\t you\t telling\t me\t I\t am\t not\t good\t at\t it?\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t was not\tsure\twhether\tto\ttake\toffense. \u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tthat.\tI\tjust\tsaid\tyour\theart\tisn\u2019t\tin\tit.\tI\twatched\tthe\tnegotiations yesterday.\t I\t was\t surprised.\t You\t could\t have\t asked\t for\t better\t terms.\t You\t left\t too much\ton\tthe\ttable\tfor\tus.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tremained\tsilent. \u2018It\t seemed\t to\t me\t that\t you\t were\t compensating\t for\t something. Overcompensating,\t perhaps.\t Like\t helping\t us\t would\t take\t some\t load\t off\t your mind.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlooked\taround.\tThe\ttemple\thad\tlargely\tcleared\tout.\tMost\tof the\tdevotees\thad\tleft.\tHe\tlooked\tback\tat\tM\u2019Bakur.\t\u2018Who\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Sit\twith\tme,\tmy\tfriend,\u2019\tsaid\tM\u2019Bakur\tin\ta\tgentle\tvoice. They\t sat\t in\t the\t main\t temple\t hall,\t resting\t their\t backs\t against\t the\t pillars. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\ttowards\tthe\tsanctum\tsanctorum\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tIt\thoused\ta life-size\t idol\t of\t Lord\t Rudra:\t a\t tall,\t muscular\t figure\t with\t long,\t open\t hair\t and\t a flowing\tbeard. Lord\tRudra,\tas\the\thad\tbeen\tin\treal\tlife\u2014magnificent\tand\tfearsome. Kumbhakarna\t folded\t his\t hands\t together\t and\t bowed\t in\t deep\t reverence,\t as","did\tM\u2019Bakur. The\tidol\tof\ta\tGoddess\tplaced\tto\tthe\tright\tside\tof\tLord\tRudra\twas\tnearly\tas tall\t as\t the\t Lord\t himself.\t The\t serene\t face\t had\t African\t features,\t though\t the\t body was\t dressed\t in\t an\t Indian-style\t dhoti,\t blouse\t and\t angvastram.\t An\t egg\t in\t the\t left hand\t and\t a\t long\t sword\t in\t the\t right\t identified\t her\t as\t the\t Goddess\t of\t Love\t and War.\tKumbhakarna\tand\tM\u2019Bakur\tbowed\tto\tthe\tidol\tof\tLady\tIshtar\tas\twell. The\tLankan\tasked\tonce\tagain,\t\u2018Who\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Someone\twho\tcan\thelp\tyou,\u2019\tanswered\tM\u2019Bakur. \u2018Who\tsays\tI\tneed\thelp?\u2019 \u2018Not\t everything\t needs\t to\t be\t said.\t When\t you\t see\t someone\t attempting\t to harm\tthemselves,\tit\tis\tevident\tthat\tthey\tneed\thelp.\tBut\tI\tguess\tyou\u2019re\twondering if\tyou\tcan\ttrust\tme\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tremained\tsilent. M\u2019Bakur\tbowed\tforward\tand\twhispered,\t\u2018I\tam\ta\tfriend\tof\tHanuman.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t at\t him,\t startled.\t Hanuman\t was\t a\t member\t of\t the legendary\tVayuputra\ttribe.\tA\tgentle\tgiant\twith\ta\theart\tof\tgold,\the\twas\talways\ton hand\tto\thelp\tanyone\tin\tneed.\tHe\thad\tsaved\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tlife\tonce,\ta\tlong\ttime ago.\t But\t he\t had\t extracted\t a\t promise\t from\t him\t never\t to\t speak\t of\t it,\t and Kumbhakarna\t had\t honoured\t that\t promise.\t However,\t he\t had\t remained\t forever grateful\t to\t Hanuman,\t and\t had\t always\t looked\t for\t an\t opportunity\t to\t repay\t that debt. Any\tfriend\tof\tHanuman\u2019s\twas\ta\tfriend\tof\this. \u2018Are\tyou\ta\tVayuputra?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. M\u2019Bakur\tnodded.\tYes. \u2018And\tyou\tdon\u2019t\thate\tme?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tlaughed\tsoftly.\t\u2018Why\tshould\tI\thate\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\tmean\u2026\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tsighed.\t\u2018I\tam\u2026\u2019 \u2018Go\ton.\u2019 \u2018Look,\t you\t are\t from\t the\t divine\t Vayuputra\t tribe.\t The\t tribe\t left\t behind\t by Lord\tRudra.\tYou\tare\ttasked\twith\tprotecting\tthe\tholy\tland\tof\tIndia.\tAnd\tI\tam\tthe brother\tof\tthe\tman\twho\tis\tdestroying\tIndia.\u2019 \u2018Destroying\t India!\t Really?\u2019\t asked\t M\u2019Bakur,\t his\t eyes\t widening\t in\t mirth. \u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tyour\tbrother\tis\tall\tthat\tpowerful?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t was\t nonplussed.\t He\t was\t used\t to\t people\t speaking\t of\t his brother\tin\texalted\ttones.\tHe\thad\tnever\theard\tsomeone\tquestion\this\tpower\tor\tthe extent\tof\this\tinfluence.\t\u2018What?\tI\tdon\u2019t\tunderstand.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t smiled.\t \u2018Tell\t me,\t how\t do\t you\t feel\t about\t someone\t destroying India?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\u2026\tit\u2019s\tmy\tland.\tI\tlove\tmy\tmotherland.\u2019","\u2018And\t is\t your\t motherland\t so\t weak\t that\t one\t man\t can\t destroy\t it?\t Or,\t let\t me put\tit\tanother\tway.\tIf\ta\tland\tis\tso\tfragile\tthat\ta\tsingle\tman\tcan\tdestroy\tit,\tdoes\tit even\tdeserve\tto\tsurvive?\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\tsaying?\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\theard\tof\tMatsya\tNyay?\u2019 \u2018Who\t hasn\u2019t?\t The\t bigger\t fish\t will\t always\t eat\t the\t smaller\t fish.\t I\t suppose you\tcould\tcall\tit\tthe\tlaw\tof\tthe\tfish.\u2019 \u2018You\tdo\tknow\tthe\tlaw\tdoes\tnot\tjust\tapply\tto\tfish,\tright?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlaughed.\t\u2018Yes,\tI\tdo.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tabout\tthe\tlaw\tof\tMother\tNature.\tThe\tsurvival\tof\tthe\tfittest.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tand\tit\u2019s\ta\tcruel\tlaw.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\twe\u2019ve\tmoved\taway\tfrom\tit.\tWe\tdon\u2019t kill\tthose\twho\tare\tweaker\tthan\tus.\tWe\tprotect\tthem.\u2019 \u2018That\t is\t the\t human\t code\t of\t conduct,\t but\t nature\t doesn\u2019t\t work\t that\t way. Cruelty\t and\t kindness\t are\t human\t concepts.\t Nature\t prioritises\t balance.\t And balance\tsometimes\tcalls\tfor\ttough\tlove.\u2019 \u2018Tough\tlove?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tlove\tthat\tweakens\tyou,\tand\tthen\tthere\u2019s\tlove\tthat\tprepares\tyou\tfor what\tlies\tahead.\tSometimes\tthat\tlove\tmay\tappear\ttough,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tnecessary.\tIf\tyou are\t a\t parent\t who\t is\t only\t concerned\t with\t the\t here\t and\t now,\t you\t will\t give\t your child\t whatever\t she\t wants,\t because\t you\t want\t to\t see\t a\t smile\t on\t her\t face.\t But\t if you\t are\t a\t parent\t thinking\t of\t your\t child\u2019s\t future,\t you\t will\t realise\t that\t spoiling your\tchild\tis\tthe\tworst\tthing\tyou\tcan\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tif\tyou\tare\ttoo\ttough,\tthe\tchild\twill\tbreak.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tsmiled.\t\u2018And\tthat\tis\tthe\tdifference\tbetween\tnature\tand\tus.\tMother Nature\t doesn\u2019t\t keep\t track\t all\t the\t time,\t she\t lets\t the\t laws\t of\t survival\t take\t over. And\t yes,\t sometimes\t the\t weak\t break\t and\t go\t extinct.\t But\t human\t beings\t are different.\t We\t can\t think\t and\u2026\t well,\t we\t can\t keep\t track.\t We\t can\t modulate\t the tough\tlove\tto\tthe\tright\tlevel;\ttough\tenough\tto\tstrengthen,\tbut\tnot\tso\ttough\tas\tto break.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tthis\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tmy\tbrother,\tor\tme?\u2019 \u2018Have\t you\t ever\t stopped\t to\t consider\t whether,\t like\t the\t play\t of\t Mother Nature,\t there\t are\t some\t larger\t forces\t controlling\t our\t lives\t too?\t That\t possibly, your\tbrother\tis\ta\tpuppet\tin\tthe\thands\tof\tsuch\ta\tforce?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\twas\ttoo\tsurprised\tto\tanswer. M\u2019Bakur\tchanged\ttack\tsuddenly.\t\u2018Have\tyou\tever\tseen\tforest\tfires?\u2019 \u2018I\thave.\u2019 \u2018Are\tthey\tgood\tor\tbad?\u2019 \u2018It\tdepends.\u2019 \u2018Depends\ton\twhat?\u2019","\u2018Depends\ton\twhether\tthe\tfire\tis\tcontrolled\tor\tuncontrolled.\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\t A\t controlled\t forest\t fire\t removes\t all\t the\t deadwood;\t deadwood, beyond\t a\t point,\t can\t turn\t toxic\t and\t destroy\t the\t forest.\t If\t small,\t controlled\t forest fires\tare\tnot\tused\tto\tclear\tthe\tground,\tthe\tchances\tof\ta\tmassive,\tuncontrolled\tfire breaking\t out\t would\t increase.\t And\t an\t uncontrolled\t forest\t fire\t could\t destroy everything.\tThat\u2019s\tnot\tgood,\tright?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tnot\tgood\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\tSo\ta\tsmall\tforest\tfire\tis\tlike\tusing\ta\tsmall\tpoison\tto\tkill\ta\tbigger poison.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tstiffened.\t\u2018My\tbrother\tis\tnot\ta\tpoison.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tsmiled.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tapologise\teither. Kumbhakarna\tgot\tup,\tready\tto\tleave. \u2018We\thaven\u2019t\tfinished,\u2019\tsaid\tM\u2019Bakur. \u2018What\t makes\t you\t think\t you\t are\t so\t much\t better\t than\t my\t brother?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t asked,\t sitting\t down\t again.\t \u2018To\t me,\t your\t casual\t acceptance\t of people\t suffering\t for\t some\t apparent\t \u201clong-term\t good\u201d\t seems\t as\t wrong\t as\t what my\tbrother\tdoes.\u2019 \u2018You\tknow,\tfrom\tMother\tNature\u2019s\tperspective,\tthe\topposite\tof\tright\tis\tnot wrong,\tit\u2019s\tleft.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tjust\tsophistry.\tWhat\tthe\thell\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018I\tmean\tthat\tthere\tis\tno\tone\tright\tway,\tno\tideal\tsolution.\tThe\tworld\tusually suffers\t most\t at\t the\t hands\t of\t those\t who\t believe\t in\t perfection,\t those\t who\t don\u2019t realise\t that\t there\t is\t no\t one\t ideal.\t The\t truly\t wise,\t however,\t realise\t that\t you\t can only\t look\t for\t an\t optimal\t solution,\t not\t an\t ideal\t solution.\t A\t solution\t that\t could help\tmost\tpeople\tis\tworth\tpursuing.\tBecause\tthere\tcan\u2019t\tbe\ta\tsolution\tthat\t will help\t all\t people.\t India\t is\t suffering\t because\t the\t Kshatriyas\t have\t become\t all- powerful,\tand\tin\ttheir\tarrogance,\tthey\thave\tbeen\toppressing\tthe\tShudras\tand\tthe Vaishyas.\t We\t need\t to\t break\t their\t stranglehold\t before\t society\t can\t be\t set\t right again.\tAnd\tthat\tis\tthe\trole\tthat\tRaavan\tis\tplaying.\tHe\tcan\tbreak\tthe\tKshatriyas.\u2019 \u2018Why\t are\t you\t telling\t me\t all\t this?\t I\t could\t go\t and\t tell\t my\t brother\t how\t you are\tusing\thim.\u2019 \u2018And\t you\t expect\t him\t to\t listen\t to\t you?\u2019\t asked\t M\u2019Bakur.\t \u2018Do\t you\t think\t he will\tsuddenly\tturn\tdharmic?\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\texpect\tme\tto\tbelieve\tthat\tyou\tpeople\tare\tdharmic?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t smiled.\t \u2018If\t only\t questions\t on\t dharma\t could\t be\t answered\t so simply.\u2019 \u2018Try\tme.\u2019 \u2018Dharma\tis\tcomplex.\tWe\tcould\tspend\twhole\tlifetimes\tdiscussing\twhat\tit\tis and\t what\t adharma\t is.\t But\t what\t truly\t matters\t is\t whether\t our\t intentions\t are","dharmic\u2014the\toutcome\tis\tbeyond\tour\tcontrol\tand\tcannot\ttherefore\tbe\ta\tmeasure of\tdharma.\u2019 \u2018Intentions?\u2019 \u2018Someone\tmay\ttry\tto\tdo\tgood\tfor\tothers,\tlike\tthe\tVayuputras,\tfor\tinstance, are\ttrying\tto\tdo.\tWill\twe\tactually\tsucceed?\tOnly\ttime\twill\ttell.\tBut\twe\tknow\tthat our\tintentions\tcannot\tbe\tdoubted.\tWe\tare\tthinking\tof\tthe\tgood\tof\tothers,\tand\tnot just\tour\town\tobjectives.\tThat\tis\tthe\tfirst\tstep\ttowards\tdharma.\tWhen\tyou\tignore your\town\tselfish\tinterests\tfor\tthe\tsake\tof\tothers.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t leaned\t forward.\t \u2018Once\t again,\t why\t are\t you\t telling\t me\t all this?\u2019 \u2018Because\tRaavan\u2019s\tdemonic\tnature\tmay\twell\tbe\tused\tfor\tthe\tgreater\tgood. But\twe\twant\this\tsoul\tto\tbe\tsaved\tas\twell.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tfrowned.\t\u2018And\tyou\tthink\tI\tam\tna\u00efve\tenough\tto\tbelieve\tthat the\tVayuputras\tcare\tabout\thim?\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\tWe\tcare\tabout\teveryone.\tWe\tmay\tnot\tbe\table\tto\thelp\teveryone, but\twe\tcare\tabout\teveryone.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tfrom\tme?\u2019 \u2018We\thope\tthat\tyou\twill\thelp\tyour\tbrother.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\tI\thave\tbeen\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018Negotiating\tbad\tdeals\tdoes\tnot\thelp\tyour\tbrother.\u2019 \u2018We\thave\tmore\tmoney\tthan\twe\tcan\tever\tuse.\tI\tmay\tas\twell\tspread\tit\taround a\t bit.\t At\t least\t some\t good\t will\t come\t of\t it.\t Every\t bit\t spent\t in\t charity\t is\t good\t for dharma.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tsmiled.\t\u2018Have\tyou\theard\tof\tLord\tVidur?\u2019 \u2018Of\t course\t I\t have,\u2019\t answered\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018Who\t has\t not\t heard\t of\t the great\tphilosopher,\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\tbrilliant\tmen\tin\thistory?\u2019 \u2018Lord\t Vidur\t said\t that\t there\t are\t two\t ways\t to\t waste\t money.\t One,\t by\t giving charity\tto\tthe\tunworthy.\tSecond,\tby\tnot\tgiving\tcharity\tto\tthe\tworthy.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tbeen\u2026\u2019 \u2018Your\t trade\t concessions\t help\t the\t rulers\t and\t traders\t in\t my\t kingdom.\t They don\u2019t\t need\t charity.\t It\u2019s\t the\t poor\t who\t need\t help.\t Not\t only\t in\t Damat,\t but everywhere.\t Find\t them\t and\t help\t them.\t Help\t them\t in\t the\t name\t of\t your\t brother. Earn\t some\t good\t karma\t for\t him.\t Don\u2019t\t give\t in\t to\t melancholy.\t Find\t purpose.\t I know\tyour\tbrother\tsaved\tyour\tlife\tat\tbirth.\tNow\tit\tis\tyour\tduty\tto\thelp\this\tsoul.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t thoughtful\t as\t he\t listened\t intently\t to\t M\u2019Bakur\u2019s words. \u2018And\t don\u2019t\t give\t up\t on\t him,\u2019\t continued\t M\u2019Bakur.\t \u2018We\t live\t in\t a\t period\t of constant\t change.\t I\t am\t sure\t an\t opportunity\t to\t save\t Raavan\u2019s\t soul\t will\t come again.\tHe\tmay\tbe\ttoo\tignorant\tto\tsee\tit,\tbut\the\twill\tneed\tyou\tto\thelp\thim\twhen","the\ttime\tcomes.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t spoke\t softly,\t his\t eyes\t moist.\t \u2018I\t have\t lost\t my\t brother.\t I\t love him,\tbut\tI\thave\tlost\thim.\tI\thave\tlost\thim\tto\this\tanger.\tTo\this\tpain.\tI\thave\tlost\thim to\this\tgrief\tover\u2026\u2019 \u2018Over\tthe\tdeath\tof\tVedavati,\u2019\tsaid\tM\u2019Bakur.\t\u2018I\tknow.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t stared\t at\t M\u2019Bakur.\t Shocked\t that\t he\t knew\t something\t about Raavan\tthat\twas\tso\tpersonal.\tAnd\ta\tsecret\tfrom\tmost. \u2018Don\u2019t\t forget\t that\t he\t loves\t you\t too.\t You\t and\t his\t son\t Indrajit\t are\t probably the\tonly\tpeople\talive\twhom\the\ttruly\tloves.\u2019 \u2018Indrajit\tloves\thim\tin\treturn.\tPerhaps\teven\tmore\tthan\tI\tdo.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tsmiled.\t\u2018I\tknow.\tBut\the\tis\ta\tlittle\tchild.\tHe\tcannot\thelp\this\tfather, at\t least\t not\t yet.\t So\t it\t becomes\t your\t responsibility\t to\t save\t Raavan.\t That\t is\t your swadharma\tin\tthis\tlife.\tDo\tit\twell.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t this\t money\t makes\t no\t difference\t to\t us.\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t was\t upset\t and angry.\tThe\ttwo\textra\tarms\ton\ttop\tof\this\tshoulders\tstood\tstiff\tand\tstraight. It\thad\tbeen\tseventeen\tyears\tsince\tthe\t Battle\tof\tKarachapa.\tKumbhakarna was\tin\tRaavan\u2019s\tprivate\tchamber.\tAs\tusual,\tthere\twere\tsome\thalf-naked\twomen dancing\tin\tthe\tcentre\tof\tthe\tmassive\troom.\tRaavan\twas\ton\this\treclining\tchair,\this fingers\tidly\tplaying\twith\tthe\thair\tof\tthe\twoman\ton\this\tlap.\tHe\thad\ta\tmarijuana- infused\tchillum\tin\this\tfree\thand. Kumbhakarna\tcould\thave\tperformed\tthe\tact\tof\tcharity\tby\thimself,\twith\this own\tmoney.\tBut\the\twanted\tthis\tspecific\tdonation\tto\tgo\tfrom\tRaavan\u2019s\tpersonal income.\tIt\thad\tto\tbe\tthat\tway. Raavan\ttook\ta\tdeep\tdrag\tof\tthe\tchillum\tand\tstared\tat\tKumbhakarna,\ta\tlazy, inebriated\t smile\t on\t his\t lips.\t He\t spoke\t through\t the\t smoke\t rings.\t \u2018I\t will\t burn\t all my\t money,\t but\t I\t will\t not\t let\t any\t of\t it\t go\t to\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t Even\t if\t it\t is\t for\t a hospital\tin\tVaidyanath.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t around\t the\t chamber.\t The\t women,\t the\t smoke,\t the alcohol,\t the\t marijuana,\t the\t excesses.\t \u2018You\t are\t burning\t your\t money\t already, Dada.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\u2019ve\tearned\tit\u2026\tI\tcan\tdo\twhat\tI\twant\twith\tit.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tturned\tto\tthe\tdancers\tand\tsaid\tsharply,\t\u2018Leave\tus.\u2019 The\t women\t stopped\t dancing,\t but\t didn\u2019t\t leave\t the\t hall.\t They\t stood\t where they\twere,\thalf\tdefiant,\thalf\tafraid,\twaiting\tfor\tRaavan\u2019s\torder. Kumbhakarna\tgestured\tto\tthe\twoman\ton\tRaavan\u2019s\tlap.\t\u2018Get\tout.\u2019 The\twoman\ttried\tto\tget\tup,\tbut\tRaavan\tpulled\ther\troughly\tback\tagainst\this","chest.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tcross\tyour\tlimits,\tKumbhakarna,\u2019\the\tsnapped. Kumbhakarna\tstepped\tforward\tand\tpointed\tat\tthe\tpendant\tthat\thung\taround Raavan\u2019s\t neck.\t \u2018This\t hospital\t was\t a\t promise\t you\t made\t in\t the\t name\t of\t the Kanyakumari,\t Dada.\t We\t took\t on\t her\t karmic\t debts\t at\t her\t cremation\t ceremony. You\tmay\thave\tforgotten\tit,\tbut\tI\thave\tnot.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tget\tthat\thospital\tbuilt.\tIt will\t treat\t patients\t free\t of\t cost\t and\t it\t will\t save\t lives.\t And\t you\t will\t stamp\t this hundi\twith\tyour\tseal.\u2019 Raavan\twas\tsilent.\tThere\twas\tno\texpression\ton\this\tface,\tneither\tanger\tnor remorse,\t not\t even\t grief.\t He\t had\t sought\t refuge\t from\t his\t pain\t in\t drugs,\t alcohol and\tsilly\twomen.\tThe\tprice\tfor\tthat\tasylum\twas\tthe\tsurrender\tof\this\tmind. Kumbhakarna\t stepped\t forward,\t took\t hold\t of\t Raavan\u2019s\t hand\t and\t pressed the\tring\ton\this\tforefinger,\twith\tthe\troyal\tseal,\ton\tthe\tdocument.\tThe\tcharity\twas now\tauthorised\tto\tspend\tRaavan\u2019s\tmoney. Kumbhakarna\t glanced\t at\t the\t woman\t perched\t uncomfortably\t on\t his brother\u2019s\t lap\t and\t said,\t \u2018You\t have\t a\t wife,\t Dada.\t She\t should\t not\t be\t insulted\t like this.\u2019 Raavan\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer. Kumbhakarna\tturned\tand\twalked\tout\tof\tthe\tchamber. The\t woman\t on\t Raavan\u2019s\t lap\t edged\t closer\t to\t him\t and\t caressed\t his\t cheek. With\tan\tair\tof\taffected\tconcern,\tshe\twhispered,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthe\tway\tyour\tbrother speaks\tto\tyou.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t reaction\t was\t swift.\t His\t fist\t shot\t out\t and\t hit\t the\t woman\t hard\t on her\tface.\tBreaking\ther\tnose.\tAs\tshe\ttumbled\tto\tthe\tground,\tscreaming\tin\tpain,\the shouted\tat\tthe\tdancers\tin\tthe\tdistance,\t\u2018Get\tout\tof\there!\tAll\tof\tyou!\u2019\tHe\tpointed at\t the\t sobbing\t woman\t lying\t at\t his\t feet,\t her\t face\t red,\t her\t nose\t streaming\t blood. \u2018And\ttake\tthis\tbitch\twith\tyou!\u2019 As\tthe\twomen\tran\tfrom\this\tchamber,\tRaavan\tfell\tback\tin\this\tchair\tand\theld Vedavati\u2019s\tfingers\ttightly.\tTears\tforced\ttheir\tway\tthrough\this\tclosed\teyes\tand\tran down\this\tcheeks. You\tcan\tbe\tbetter\tthan\tthis.\tAt\tleast\ttry.","Chapter\t24 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t if\t I\t am\t doing\t the\t right\t thing.\t I\t seem\t to\t be\t causing\t him\t a\t lot\t of stress,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018He\tis\tvery\tweak\tthese\tdays.\u2019 It\t had\t been\t a\t few\t months\t since\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t forced\t Raavan\u2019s\t hand over\t building\t a\t charitable\t hospital\t in\t Vaidyanath.\t He\t was\t now\t in\t the\t temple- town,\t checking\t on\t all\t preparations\t before\t construction\t began.\t Money\t had\t been allocated.\tDoctors\thad\tbeen\tidentified\tand\thired.\tThe\tbuilding\twas\tto\tbe\tready\tin a\tfew\tmonths.\tM\u2019Bakur,\twho\thad\tremained\tin\ttouch\twith\tKumbhakarna\tover\tthe years,\twas\talso\tin\tVaidyanath\tto\thelp\twrap\tup\twork. \u2018Your\tbrother\tmay\tbe\tmany\tthings,\u2019\tsaid\tM\u2019Bakur,\t\u2018but\the\tis\tcertainly\tnot weak.\u2019 \u2018The\t truth\t is,\t it\u2019s\t depressing\t to\t see\t him\t these\t days.\t He\t has\t almost surrendered\tto\tdrugs\tand\talcohol.\tHe\u2019s\tnearly\tforty-five\tyears\told,\the\tcan\u2019t\tkeep abusing\t his\t body\t like\t this.\t And\t I\t am\t making\t it\t worse\t with\t all\t the\t stress\t I\t am causing\thim.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\twrong.\tStress\tis\tgood.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tcome\ton,\tM\u2019Bakurji.\tHow\tcan\tstress\tbe\tgood?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t gestured\t to\t a\t small\t stove\t on\t a\t platform\t behind\t them,\t on\t which was\tplaced\ta\tvessel\tfilled\twith\twater.\tCooking\tin\tthis\tboiling\twater\twas\ta\tsimple lunch\tof\teggs\tand\tpotatoes. \u2018You\tsee\tthis\tboiling\twater?\u2019\tM\u2019Bakur\tsaid. \u2018What\tdoes\tthat\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tstress?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. \u2018It\twill\thelp\tyou\tunderstand.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tsighed.\t\u2018Why\tcan\u2019t\tyou\tpeople\tnot\tspeak\tin\triddles?\u2019 \u2018Because\t speaking\t in\t riddles\t is\t fun.\t And\t you\t will\t understand\t a\t thought better\t if\t you\t decode\t it\t through\t a\t riddle.\t As\t someone\t said:\t Parokshpriyaa\t Vai Devaaha.\u2019","The\t saying\t in\t old\t Sanskrit\t roughly\t translated\t to,\t the\t Gods\t like\t indirect speech. \u2018So,\t philosophy\t can\t never\t be\t conveyed\t directly?\u2019\t questioned Kumbhakarna. \u2018It\tcan,\tof\tcourse.\tBut\tit\u2019s\tmuch\tmore\tinteresting\tto\thave\tit\tconveyed\tin\tthe form\tof\ta\tcomplex\triddle.\tDeciphering\tthe\tmessage\tkeeps\tthe\tfun\tof\tphilosophy alive.\tAlso,\tthe\tunderstanding\tthus\tderived\tfeels\tlike\tan\tachievement.\tIf\tthere\tis no\t sense\t of\t achievement\t or\t wonder,\t even\t the\t most\t important\t message\t fails\t to find\tits\ttarget.\u2019 \u2018So,\t I\t am\t expected\t to\t understand\t the\t bigger\t point\t you\u2019re\t trying\t to\t make with\tthis\tboiling\twater?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. \u2018Not\tonly\twill\tyou\tunderstand\tit,\tyou\twill\tarrive\tat\tit\tyourself.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t threw\t up\t his\t hands\t in\t exasperation.\t \u2018All\t right,\t then.\t In answer\tto\tyour\tquestion,\tyes,\tI\tsee\tthe\tboiling\twater.\u2019 \u2018Both,\tthe\teggs\tand\tthe\tpotatoes,\tare\tin\tthe\tsame\twater,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tobviously.\tI\tcan\tsee\tthat.\u2019 \u2018So,\tthey\tare\tboth\tbeing\tcooked\tin\twater\tboiled\tto\tthe\tsame\ttemperature,\tin the\tsame\tatmosphere,\tand\tin\tthe\tsame\tvessel\tthat\tis\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\tsame\tfire?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018What\twill\thappen\tto\tthe\tegg\tin\tthis\tboiling\twater?\u2019 \u2018It\twill\tbecome\ta\tboiled\tegg.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tlaughed.\t\u2018That\tmuch\tis\tobvious.\tWhat\tI\twant\tto\tknow\tis,\thow\tis the\tboiled\tegg\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\toriginal\tegg?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tharder.\u2019 \u2018Absolutely!\tNow,\tconsider\tthe\tpotatoes.\tHow\twill\tthey\tfare\tin\tthe\twater?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tsmiled.\t\u2018They\twill\tbecome\tsofter.\u2019 \u2018You\tsee?\tThe\tsame\tboiling\twater,\tthe\tsame\tvessel,\tthe\tsame\ttemperature, yet\tthe\teggs\tharden\tand\tthe\tpotatoes\tsoften.\u2019 \u2018So\tthe\tboiling\twater\tis\tlike\tstress.\tDifferent\tpeople\treact\tto\tit\tdifferently.\tIt hardens\tsome\tand\tsoftens\tothers.\tIs\tthat\tyour\tpoint?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tthe\tobvious\tpoint,\tbut\tthink\tabout\tit\ta\tbit\tmore.\tWhat\tis\tthe\tegg\tlike before\tthe\tstress\tof\tthe\tboiling\twater\thits\tit?\u2019 \u2018It\thas\ta\ttough\tshell,\tbut\tthe\tinside\tis\tliquid.\u2019 \u2018So\tthe\tegg\tis\thard\ton\tthe\toutside\tbut\tsoft\tinside.\tAnd\tthe\tboiling\twater,\tthe stress,\tmakes\tit\thard\tinside\tas\twell,\tdoes\tit\tnot?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Now\tconsider\tthe\tpotato.\tHow\twould\tyou\tdescribe\tit?\u2019 \u2018It\thas\ta\tflimsy\tpeel\u2014so,\tsoft\ton\tthe\toutside\tand\thard\ton\tthe\tinside.\u2019 \u2018People\trespond\tto\tstress\tin\tmuch\tthe\tsame\tway.\tThose\twho\tare\tsoft\ton\tthe","inside\tbecome\tharder\twith\tthe\tright\tamount\tof\tstress,\tand\tthose\twho\tare\thard\ton the\tinside\tbecome\tsofter.\tIf\tyou\tthink\tabout\tit\tthis\tway,\tthen\tthe\tright\tamount\tof stress\tbecomes\tnecessary\tto\tbalance\tyour\tcharacter.\tToo\tmuch\tstress\tis\tnot\tgood \u2014it\tmay\tbreak\tyou.\tBut\tno\tstress\tis\tnot\tgood\teither.\tYou\tneed\tthe\tright\tamount of\tstress\tto\tbalance\tyour\tcharacter\tand\tmake\tyou\tgrow.\u2019 \u2018So,\tare\tyou\tsaying\tthat\tthe\tstress\tI\u2019m\tcausing\tmy\tbrother\twill\ttoughen\thim up\tagain?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018I\tam\tnot\ttalking\tabout\tyour\tbrother.\tI\tam\ttalking about\tyou.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tfrowned,\ttaken\taback. \u2018There\t are\t people\t across\t the\t world\t with\t biases\t against\t your\t kind,\t the Nagas.\tYou\thave\ta\thard,\tscary\texterior.\tBut\tinside,\tyou\tare\tgentle\tand\tsensitive. You\tare\tone\tof\tthe\tfinest\tmen\tI\thave\thad\tthe\tpleasure\tof\tknowing.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t didn\u2019t\t say\t anything,\t though\t he\t flushed\t with\t pleasure\t at\t the unexpected\tcompliment. M\u2019Bakur\t continued,\t \u2018The\t truth\t is\t that\t you\t are\t the\t one\t who\t is\t feeling\t the stress\tof\twhat\u2019s\thappening\tto\tyour\telder\tbrother.\tThe\tstress\tis\ttoughening\tyou\tup. It\u2019s\tpreparing\tyou\tto\tface\twhat\twill\tcome.\u2019 \u2018What\twill\tcome?\u2019 \u2018The\tVishnu.\u2019 \u2018The\tVishnu?\u2019 \u2018The\t seventh\t Vishnu\t will\t come.\t It\t will\t be\t a\t tough\t time\t for\t those\t on\t the path\tof\tadharma.\tThe\tresponsibility\tof\tguiding\tand\tbringing\tyour\tbrother\u2019s\tsoul on\tto\tthe\tright\tpath\twill\tbe\tyours,\tKumbhakarna.\tYou\twill\talso\thave\tto\tsave\tthe innocents\tof\tLanka.\tYou\twill\tneed\tto\tbe\ttougher.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\theard\tnothing\tabout\ta\tVishnu\tcoming\u2026\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\tsmiled.\t\u2018Only\tfools\treact\tto\ta\tfire\twhen\tit\tis\tupon\tthem.\tThe\twise see\tit\tcoming\tmany\tyears\tbefore\tit\u2019s\teven\tbeen\tlit.\u2019 \u2018But\twhy\twill\tthe\tVishnu\tgo\tafter\tmy\tbrother?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t looked\t at\t Kumbhakarna,\t his\t eyebrows\t raised\t at\t the\t obviously stupid\tquestion. Kumbhakarna\t retreated\t quickly,\t a\t little\t shamefaced.\t \u2018Who\t is\t this\t Vishnu? What\tis\this\tor\ther\tname?\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\thesitated\tfor\ta\tsplit\tsecond\tbefore\the\treplied,\t\u2018The\tanswer\tis\tnot clear.\u2019 M\u2019Bakur\t knew\t he\t could\t not\t tell\t Kumbhakarna\t the\t truth,\t but\t he\t wasn\u2019t lying\teither.\tAt\tleast,\tnot\ttechnically.","\u2018You\t called\t for\t me,\t Dada?\u2019\t asked\t Kumbhakarna\t loudly,\t standing\t at\t the\t door\t of the\tchamber. Twenty\tyears\thad\tpassed\tsince\tthe\tBattle\tof\tKarachapa.\tThe\tprevious\tyear had\t witnessed\t a\t change\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t attitude.\t The\t forty-seven-year-old\t had worked\tconsciously\tto\tsubdue\this\taddictions.\tHe\thad\tstarted\ttaking\tcontrol\tof\this business\t once\t again.\t He\t would\t even\t occasionally\t inquire\t about\t the\t hospital\t in Vaidyanath,\tthough\the\thad\tnever\tvisited\tit. Kumbhakarna\tassumed\this\tbrother\thad\tbeen\tshaken\tout\tof\this\tapathy\tand self-indulgence\t by\t the\t tragedy\t that\t had\t suddenly\t befallen\t Sigiriya\t a\t few\t years back.\tA\tmysterious\tplague\thad\ttaken\tthe\tcity\tin\ta\tvice-like\tgrip\tand\tall\tattempts to\t end\t it\t had\t failed.\t Strangely,\t its\t effects\t were\t most\t evident\t amongst\t children. Babies\twere\tbeing\tborn\tprematurely,\tand\tmany\thad\tdied\tduring\tchildbirth.\tThose who\tsurvived\twere\tgrowing\tup\twith\tlearning\tdisabilities,\tloss\tof\tappetite,\talmost constant\t abdominal\t pain,\t sluggishness\t and\t fatigue.\t Some\t experienced\t hearing loss\tand\thad\tfrequent\tconvulsions\tor\tseizures.\tAdults\tweren\u2019t\tfree\tof\tpain\teither. Many\t of\t them\t suffered\t debilitating\t joint\t and\t muscle\t pains\t and\t crushing headaches.\t Large\t numbers\t of\t pregnant\t women\t suffered\t miscarriages\t and stillbirths\tand\tmany\thad\tdied\tduring\tlabour. While\t the\t physical\t symptoms\t caused\t widespread\t distress,\t even\t more harmful\twas\tthe\tlowering\tof\tmorale\tacross\tthe\tland.\tThe\tfinest\tdoctors\tin\tLanka were\t unable\t to\t understand\t the\t cause\t of\t the\t plague,\t let\t alone\t find\t a\t cure\t for\t it. With\t almost\t the\t entire\t population\t suffering\t in\t some\t way\t or\t the\t other,\t rumours had\tstarted\tup\tabout\tsome\tkind\tof\ta\tcurse\tthat\thad\tfallen\ton\tSigiriya. What\tworried\tRaavan\tthe\tmost\tabout\tthe\tplague\twas\tthe\tweakening\tof\this army.\t He\t could\t have\t strengthened\t the\t Lankan\t forces\t by\t recalling\t a\t few battalions\t from\t the\t various\t trading\t outposts\t across\t the\t Indian\t Ocean,\t but\t that would\t have\t left\t those\t ports\t defenceless.\t Also,\t it\t would\t have\t alerted\t Lanka\u2019s enemies\tto\tthe\tfact\tthat\tall\twas\tnot\twell\tin\tthe\tisland\tkingdom,\tand\tthat,\tin\tturn, would\thave\tstoked\trebellions. While\t Raavan\t applied\t himself\t to\t the\t task\t of\t supplementing\t the\t city\u2019s defences\twithout\tword\tgetting\tout\tto\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu,\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tapproach to\tthe\tproblem\twas\tto\tinvest\tmore\tmoney\tin\tresearch\tand\tthe\ttraining\tof\tdoctors and\t nurses.\t He\t was\t thinking\t about\t this\t now\t as\t he\t waited\t for\t his\t brother\t to respond. Then\the\theard\tRaavan\u2019s\tvoice.\t\u2018Yes,\tKumbha.\tCome\ton\tin.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t entered\t Raavan\u2019s\t secret\t chamber,\t where\t many\t of\t his\t elder brother\u2019s\t favourite\t musical\t instruments\t and\t some\t of\t his\t most\t treasured manuscripts,\t numbering\t in\t the\t thousands,\t were\t stored.\t Most\t importantly,\t his precious\tpaintings\tof\tthe\tKanyakumari\twere\tkept\tthere.","\u2018Why\tis\tthe\tlighting\tso\tlow?\u2019\tHe\tasked. Raavan\t pointed\t to\t the\t torches\t on\t the\t wall.\t \u2018You\t can\t fire\t them\t up\t now.\t I needed\tsoft\tdiffused\tlight\tto\tcomplete\tthis\tlast\tpart.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlit\tthe\ttorches\tand\treached\this\tbrother\u2019s\tside\tto\tsee\twhat\the had\tbeen\tworking\ton.\tHe\tgaped\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tthe\tcanvas. Raavan\tasked,\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t stopped\t himself\t from\t saying\t the\t words\t that\t came\t to\t his mind.\tScary\tand\tmagnificent\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime. It\t was\t a\t painting\t of\t Vedavati,\t but\t not\t the\t Vedavati\t he\t had\t known.\t In\t the painting,\tshe\twas\tthe\tsame\tage\tshe\thad\tbeen\twhen\tshe\tdied,\tbut\tthat\twas\twhere the\t resemblance\t ended.\t This\t woman\t was\t strong\t and\t powerful,\t her\t body muscular\tand\tsinewy.\tShe\twas\tmuch\ttaller\tthan\tshe\thad\tbeen\tin\treal\tlife.\tThough Raavan\t had\t not\t meddled\t with\t her\t proportions,\t her\t curves\t looked\t less pronounced\tbecause\tof\tthe\tmore\tathletic\tframe.\tThe\tcumulative\timpact\tof\tall\tof Raavan\u2019s\t changes\t meant\t she\t looked\t less\t nurturing\t and\t more\t fierce,\t like\t a warrior\tprincess.\tShe\twas\triding\ta\tmagnificent\thorse,\ther\topen\thair\tflying\tin\tall directions.\tOne\thand\theld\ta\tbloodied\tsword\tthat\twas\traised\thigh,\tready\tto\tstrike again.\t In\t front\t of\t her,\t on\t the\t muddy\t ground,\t on\t their\t knees,\t were\t many\t of\t the kings\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t They\t looked\t desperate\t and\t fearful.\t Some\t had\t their mouths\t open\t in\t a\t scream.\t A\t few\t had\t been\t beheaded\t already,\t while\t the\t others were\tclearly\tpleading\tfor\tmercy.\tIn\tthe\tbackground,\tfar\tin\tthe\tdistance,\twere\tthe common\t people\u2014the\t Indians\u2014poor\t and\t worn\t out,\t but\t exuberantly\t cheering their\tGoddess\tas\tshe\tmassacred\ttheir\toppressors. Scary\tand\tmagnificent\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime. \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan\tagain. \u2018It\u2019s\u2026\t it\u2019s\t spectacular,\t Dada!\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\t to\t say,\u2019\t Kumbhakarna stuttered. \u2018I\t am\t glad\t you\t think\t so,\u2019\t said\t Raavan.\t \u2018This\t is\t how\t the\t world\t should remember\ther.\tThis\tis\thow\tthe\tworld\twill\tremember\ther.\u2019 But\tthis\tis\tnot\thow\tshe\twas. Kumbhakarna\tkept\this\tthoughts\tto\thimself. \u2018Look\tat\ther\tface.\tI\thave\tpainted\ther\texactly\tas\tshe\twas\twhen\twe\tlast\tmet.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tDada.\tIt\u2019s\tamazing\tthat\tyou\tstill\tremember\ther\tso\tclearly,\teven\tafter twenty\tyears\tand\tmore.\u2019 \u2018How\tcan\ta\tsoul\tforget\tthe\treason\tfor\tits\texistence?\u2019 Before\tKumbhakarna\tcould\trespond,\tRaavan\tturned\tand\tpicked\tup\ta\tletter, his\teyes\tsparkling\twith\texcitement.\t\u2018Look\tat\tthis.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\ttook\tthe\tletter\tand\tread\tit\tquickly.\t\u2018What\tdoes\tthis\tmean?\u2019 \u2018What\t does\t it\t mean?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan.\t \u2018Are\t you\t blind?\t Read\t it\t again.\t It\u2019s","clear\tas\tcrystal.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\u2026\u2019 \u2018But\twhat?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t an\t invitation\t from\t the\t kingdom\t of\t Mithila\t to\t attend\t Princess\t Sita\u2019s swayamvar.\u2019 Mithila\t was\t a\t kingdom\t in\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t whose\t best\t days\t were\t well behind\t it.\t It\t had\t been\t a\t wealthy\t river-port\t town\t once,\t settled\t near\t the\t Gandaki River.\t But\t the\t change\t in\t the\t course\t of\t the\t river\t many\t years\t ago,\t due\t to\t an earthquake,\thad\tvastly\treduced\tthe\ttown\u2019s\tprosperity,\tand\tpower.\tHowever,\teven in\t its\t diminished\t state,\t Mithila\t commanded\t respect\t across\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t It was\t a\t city\t loved\t by\t the\t rishis\t and\t rishikas,\t and\t at\t least\t in\t spiritual\t and intellectual\tterms,\tit\tremained\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\tvenerated\tkingdoms\tin\tIndia. \u2018Exactly.\u2019 \u2018But\twhy\twould\u2026\u2019 \u2018Why\twould\tI\tgo?\u2019 \u2018This\t is\t a\t trap,\t Dada.\t You\t know\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t royals\t hate\t you.\t Why would\tthey\tinvite\tyou?\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tgo.\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tsurprised.\t\u2018I\tthought\tyou\twanted\tme\tto\ttry\tand\tmake\tpeace with\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t at\t the\t painting\t of\t Vedavati\t briefly\t before\t turning back\tto\tRaavan. \u2018I\tbegan\tthat\tpainting\tmany\tmonths\tago.\tI\tam\twilling\tto\tmake\ta\tfresh\tstart,\u2019 Ravan\t said.\t \u2018This\t invitation\t has\t made\t me\t think\t that\t maybe\t we\t can\t actually\t get along\t with\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhuans.\t Maybe\t our\t wealth\t can\t be\t used\t for\t some\t good too.\tThe\tquestion\tis,\tare\tyou\twith\tme?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t remembered\t M\u2019Bakur\u2019s\t words\t from\t more\t than\t eight\t years ago.\t I\t am\t sure\t an\t opportunity\t to\t save\t Raavan\u2019s\t soul\t will\t come\t again\u2026\t he\t will need\tyou\tto\thelp\thim\twhen\tthe\ttime\tcomes. He\tstepped\tup\tto\tembrace\tRaavan.\t\u2018Of\tcourse\tI\tam\twith\tyou,\tDada!\u2019 If\t we\t can\t walk\t away\t from\t adharma,\t the\t Vishnu\t will\t have\t no\t reason\t to attack\tus. Akampana\t was\t confused.\t \u2018But\t Iraiva,\t I\t don\u2019t\t understand.\t Mithila? They\u2019re\u2026\t they\u2019re\t nobodies.\t They\u2019re\t only\t respected\t as\t intellectuals\t and philosophers.\tThey\thave\tno\treal\tpower.\u2019 Akampana\u2019s\t true\t lord,\t Raavan,\t would\t normally\t have\t told\t him\t to\t shut\t up and\tdo\tas\the\twas\ttold.\tBut\tmen\tof\tconsequence,\tmen\twho\tdo\tbig\tdeeds,\tusually","have\t a\t weakness:\t they\t like\t to\t speak\t of\t their\t big\t deeds.\t They\t like\t to\t hear\t how great\tthey\tare,\tif\tnot\tin\twords,\tthen\twith\ta\tlook\tof\tadmiration\tin\tthe\teyes\tof\ttheir acolytes.\t Raavan\t was\t no\t different.\t He\t normally\t spoke\t of\t his\t plans\t only\t to Kumbhakarna.\t Indrajit\t was\t still\t too\t young,\t and\t Raavan\t had\t little\t respect\t for anyone\telse.\tBut\tlately,\tcommunication\tbetween\tthe\tbrothers\thad\tbeen\tstrained. Kumbhakarna\u2019s\tconstant\ttalk\tof\tdharma\thad\tbegun\tto\tweary\tRaavan. \u2018You\twill\tswear\tto\tnever\tspeak\tof\tthis\tto\tanyone,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. Akampana\t immediately\t made\t a\t pathetic\t attempt\t at\t the\t standard\t Lankan salute.\t\u2018Of\tcourse,\tIraiva.\u2019 \u2018Not\teven\tto\tKumbhakarna.\u2019 Akampana\u2019s\tchest\tswelled\twith\tpride.\tAt\tlast,\this\ttrue\tlord\thad\trealised\this value.\t He\t was\t placing\t greater\t trust\t in\t him\t than\t in\t his\t own\t blood.\t \u2018Wouldn\u2019t dream\tof\tit,\tIraiva.\tI\tswear.\tI\tswear\ton\tthe\tgreat\tLord\tJagannath.\u2019 \u2018So\there\tis\twhat\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tdo.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tI\twin\tthe\tswayamvar,\tI\twill take\t over\t Mithila\t and\t have\t King\t Janak\t follow\t my\t commands.\t I\t will\t force\t him, and\t his\t rishi\t council,\t to\t acknowledge\t me\t as\t a\t living\t God.\t Mithila\t may\t be powerless\t in\t temporal\t matters,\t but\t when\t it\t comes\t to\t spiritual\t matters,\t it\t is among\tthe\tmost\trespected,\tperhaps\teven\trivalling\tKashi.\tOnly\tthe\tland\talong\tthe Saraswati\t River\t commands\t greater\t reverence.\t If\t Mithila\t starts\t worshipping\t me as\ta\tGod,\tthen\tmany\tother\tSapt\tSindhu\tkingdoms\twill\tfollow\tits\texample.\tThey will\t build\t temples\t to\t me\t while\t I\t am\t still\t alive.\t Then,\t and\t only\t then,\t can\t I\t be assured\tof\timmortality.\u2019 There\t was\t another\t aspect\t to\t the\t swayamvar\t that\t excited\t Raavan.\t His marriage\t to\t Princess\t Sita\t would\t be\t the\t ultimate\t humiliation\t for\t the\t Sapt Sindhuans;\tit\twould\tshow\tthem\tthat\the\twas\tcapable\tof\ttaking\tnot\tonly\ttheir\tports and\t wealth,\t but\t also\t their\t women.\t He\t had\t married\t Mandodari\t for\t similar reasons.\t But\t Mandodari\t was\t the\t daughter\t of\t a\t mere\t landlord.\t Sita\t was\t the daughter\t of\t a\t king\u2014a\t true\t princess.\t The\t thought\t of\t snubbing\t the\t royals\t by marrying\t one\t of\t them\t gave\t Raavan\t immense\t satisfaction.\t But\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t say this\t to\t Akampana.\t Loyal\t servant\t though\t he\t was,\t Raavan\t couldn\u2019t\t possibly discuss\this\tpersonal\tlife\twith\thim. The\tloyal\tservant,\tmeanwhile,\twas\tstill\treeling\twith\tshock.\t\u2018But\tIraiva,\tdo you\tthink\tthat\tthey\twill\u2026\u2019 \u2018They\twill.\u2019 \u2018Who\t am\t I\t to\t disagree\t with\t you,\t great\t Iraiva?\t But,\t I\t mean\u2026\t the\t Sapt Sindhu\t people\t are\t stubborn.\t They\t are\t not\t as\t open-minded\t as\t we\t Lankans\t are. Even\t the\t Vishnus\t and\t the\t Mahadevs\t did\t not\t have\t temples\t built\t to\t them\t while they\twere\talive.\u2019 Raavan\tleaned\tforward,\this\tface\tclose\tto\tAkampana\u2019s.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsaying\tthat","I\tam\tless\tthan\ta\tVishnu\tor\ta\tMahadev?\u2019 \u2018I\t wouldn\u2019t\t dare\t suggest\t it,\t noble\t Iraiva!\t You\t are\t greater\t than\t them,\t of course.\t But\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t if\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhuans\t will\t see\t this\t obvious\t truth. Sometimes\t people\t refuse\t to\t acknowledge\t that\t the\t Sun\t God\t has\t risen\t even though\tit\tis\tmidday!\u2019\tAkampana\tsaid\twith\tan\tunctuous\tsmile. \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto\tworry\tabout\tthat.\tThey\twill\tsee\tthe\ttruth\tfor\twhat\tit\tis. Trust\tme.\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t sure\t you\t are\t right,\t Iraiva.\t Why\t else\t would\t they\t think\t of\t inviting you?\u2019 \u2018They\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tof\tit.\tI\tgot\tthem\tto\tdo\tit.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019\tAkampana\twas\timpressed. \u2018Yes.\tKushadhwaj,\tthe\tking\tof\tSankashya,\tis\tthe\tbrother\tof\tKing\tJanak\tof Mithila.\tHe\tis\tdeep\tin\tdebt\tto\tLanka.\tHis\tbusiness\taffairs\thave\tbeen\ta\tmess\tsince his\tprime\tminister,\tSulochan,\tdied\tsuddenly\tof\ta\theart\tattack\tsome\tyears\tago.\tWe forgave\tmuch\tof\this\tdebt\tand\the\tarranged\tthe\tinvitation.\u2019 \u2018That\twas\tvery\twell\thandled,\tgreat\tIraiva.\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\tpleased\twith\tAkampana\u2019s\tcompliment.\t\u2018Yes,\tI\tdid\thandle\tit well.\u2019 \u2018By\tthe\tway,\twe\thave\tsomeone\tin\tMithila\ttoo,\tmy\tlord.\u2019 Raavan\t had\t official\t trade\t representatives\t in\t every\t kingdom\t of\t the\t Sapt Sindhu.\t But\t that\t was\t not\t all.\t He\t had\t also\t established\t a\t secret\t spy\t network throughout\tthe\tkingdoms.\tThese\tspies\tand\tloyalists\tworked\tfor\thim\tundercover, quietly\tensuring\tthat\this\tagendas\twere\teffectively\tpursued. \u2018I\t didn\u2019t\t think\t Mithila\t was\t important\t enough\t for\t us\t to\t have\t someone stationed\tthere,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018But\tI\tsuppose\tit\twill\tserve\tus\twell.\tWho\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t we\t haven\u2019t\t been\t actively\t managing\t her\t for\t years.\t As\t you\t say,\t my lord,\tMithila\tis\tnot\ta\tvery\timportant\tkingdom,\tand\twe\tdon\u2019t\tdo\tmuch\ttrade\twith it.\t But\t our\t spy\t is\t quite\t high\t up\t in\t the\t kingdom\u2019s\t administration\u2014the\t chief\t of police\tand\tprotocol\tin\tMithila.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\the?\u2019 \u2018She,\tmy\tlord.\tHer\tname\tis\tSamichi.\u2019 Raavan\t froze\t at\t the\t mention\t of\t the\t girl.\t He\t had\t not\t wanted\t to\t associate with\tanyone,\texcept\tKumbhakarna,\twho\thad\tbeen\twith\thim\twhen\tVedavati\twas killed.\t Their\t presence\t only\t reminded\t him\t of\t that\t terrible\t day.\t All\t the\t Lankan soldiers\twho\thad\taccompanied\thim\tto\tTodee\thad\tbeen\tsent\tto\tnondescript\tposts where\the\twould\tnever\thave\tto\tsee\tthem\tagain.\tHearing\tSamichi\u2019s\tname\tbrought back\tmemories\tand\treminded\thim\tyet\tagain\tof\this\tfailure\tto\tprotect\tVedavati. \u2018You\tspeak\tto\ther\tand\tmake\tsure\teverything\tis\tarranged\tin\tmy\tfavour,\u2019\the said.","\u2018Of\tcourse,\tIraiva.\u2019 \u2018Nothing\tmust\tgo\twrong.\u2019 \u2018Absolutely,\tIraiva.\u2019 \u2018And\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tsee\tor\tmeet\tSamichi\twhen\tI\tam\tthere.\tIs\tthat\tclear?\u2019 Akampana\t was\t confused,\t but\t he\t readily\t agreed.\t \u2018Whatever\t you\t say, Iraiva.\u2019 The\t Pushpak\t Vimaan\t hovered\t in\t the\t air\t for\t some\t time,\t as\t its\t rotors\t decelerated slowly.\t Then,\t very\t gently,\t it\t descended\t to\t the\t ground.\t Raavan\t had\t excellent pilots\tworking\tfor\thim. As\tthe\tdoors\tslid\topen,\tRaavan\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tinnards\tof\this\tlegendary flying\t craft,\t followed\t by\t Kumbhakarna.\t Vali,\t the\t king\t of\t Kishkindha\t and\t scion of\tthe\tlegendary\tVaanar\tdynasty,\tstood\tat\ta\tsafe\tdistance,\this\tentire\tcourt\tin\ttow. Raavan\u2019s\tcorps\tof\tten\tthousand\tsoldiers\thad\talready\tleft\tfor\tMithila,\tsailing up\tthe\teast\tcoast\tof\tIndia\tand\tthen\tup\tthe\tGanga.\tThey\twould\tmarch\tonward\tto Janak\u2019s\t kingdom\t after\t disembarking\t from\t their\t ships,\t and\t wait\t for\t Raavan\t to arrive.\tSince\tthere\twere\tenough\tdays\tin\tbetween,\tRaavan\thad\tdecided\tto\tstop\tat Kishkindha\ton\this\tway\tto\tMithila. Strewn\t with\t massive\t boulders\t and\t rocky\t hills,\t the\t terrain\t of\t Kishkindha resembled\t a\t moonscape.\t The\t mighty\t Tungabhadra,\t flowing\t north-east, meandered\t through\t this\t surreal\t land\t before\t merging\t with\t the\t Krishna\t River\t up north.\tIn\tconsonance\twith\tthe\tnature-\tand\tidol-worshipping\tways\tof\tmost\tof\tthe Vedic\tpeople,\tgreat\ttemples\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tin\tmany\tparts\tof\tthe\tcity,\tvenerating the\t sacred\t Tungabhadra,\t the\t land\t around\t it,\t and\t the\t ancient\t Gods.\t Each\t district of\t Kishkindha\t was\t built\t around\t a\t temple,\t which\t was\t surrounded\t by\t markets, amphitheatres,\tlibraries,\tparks\tand\thouses.\tVali\twas\ta\twise\tand\tstrong\truler.\tHis land\t was\t prosperous\t and\t his\t people\t happy.\t And\t his\t reputation\t for\t bravery, honour\tand\tdignified\tconduct\thad\tspread\tfar\tand\twide. \u2018Something\t is\t wrong,\u2019\t whispered\t Kumbhakarna,\t as\t they\t walked\t towards their\twaiting\thosts. There\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\ttraditional\tVedic\twelcome\tthey\thad\texpected.\tNo bedecked\t elephants,\t no\t ornamented\t cows,\t and\t no\t holy\t men\t holding\t ceremonial prayer\t plates.\t Not\t only\t that,\t the\t welcoming\t party\t was\t shrouded\t in\t an uncomfortable\tsilence\u2014there\twas\tno\tmusic\tor\tsounds\tof\tchanting. Vali\t stood\t quietly\t at\t the\t head,\t his\t hands\t folded\t in\t a\t polite\t namaste.\t The king\t of\t Kishkindha\t was\t a\t fair,\t unusually\t hirsute\t and\t extraordinarily\t muscular man\tof\tmedium\theight.\tHe\twas\tdressed\tin\tfull\tceremonial\tattire,\tbut\the\tseemed","distracted. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsee\tSugreev,\u2019\twhispered\tRaavan\tto\tKumbhakarna. Sugreev\t was\t Vali\u2019s\t younger\t half-brother,\t and\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t opinion,\t an effete\tmoron.\tMost\tpeople\tagreed\twith\tRaavan\u2019s\tlow\topinion\tof\tthe\tman,\tseeing in\tSugreev\tthe\tspoilt,\tindolent\tsibling\tof\ta\tgreat\tking,\tone\twho\tcould\tnot\tmatch the\t accomplishments\t of\t his\t over-achieving\t elder\t brother\t and\t managed\t his insecurities\t by\t drinking\t and\t gambling.\t Sugreev\t had\t committed\t enough indiscretions\t to\t deserve\t being\t kicked\t out\t of\t the\t kingdom,\t but\t the\t protection\t of their\tmother,\tAruni,\thad\tensured\tthat\tVali\thad\tnot\texpelled\this\tyounger\tbrother. \u2018Neither\tdo\tI,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna\tsoftly. Raavan\tsmiled,\tsensing\tan\topportunity. Kishkindha\thad\ta\tmatrilineal\tsociety.\tThe\tascendency\tto\tthe\tthrone\tdid\tnot\tpass from\t father\t to\t son,\t but\t from\t mother\t to\t daughter.\t The\t husband\t of\t the\t daughter succeeded\t the\t husband\t of\t the\t mother\t as\t king.\t But\t Lady\t Aruni,\t headstrong\t and powerful,\t had\t broken\t with\t tradition\t and\t made\t her\t capable\t elder\t son\t the\t king. She\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t blessed\t with\t a\t daughter,\t and\t rather\t than\t letting\t the\t royal\t line pass\t to\t her\t younger\t sister\u2019s\t female\t descendants\t as\t tradition\t dictated,\t she\t had decided\tto\tkeep\tthe\tthrone\twithin\ther\timmediate\tfamily. Raavan\twas\tfamiliar\twith\tthis\thistory,\tbut\tthat\twas\tnot\twhat\tinterested\thim right\tnow,\tas\the\tsat\tbeside\tVali\tin\tthe\tguest\twing\tof\tthe\tKishkindha\troyal\tpalace. No\tone\telse,\texcept\tKumbhakarna,\twas\taround,\tnot\teven\tVali\u2019s\tbodyguards. Raavan\u2019s\t expression\t was\t carefully\t calibrated\t to\t show\t concern.\t \u2018You\t look distracted,\t King\t Vali.\t I\t hope\t the\t share\t of\t Customs\t duties\t being\t given\t to\t you\t is not\ttoo\tlow?\tMy\tmen\tcan\tbe\ta\tlittle\tgreedy\tat\ttimes,\u2019\the\tsaid. Vali\tsmiled\twanly.\t\u2018Your\tpeople\tknow\tthat\tI\tcannot\tbe\tpushed\taround.\tI\tam Vali.\u2019 Raavan\tlaughed\theartily.\t\u2018You\u2019re\tthe\tman,\tmy\tfriend.\u2019 Vali\t looked\t at\t Raavan,\t a\t sad\t expression\t on\t his\t face.\t Though\t he\t remained silent,\this\tbereft\teyes\tseemed\tto\tconvey\ta\tmessage.\tMan?\tMe? Raavan\t was\t now\t confident\t that\t the\t information\t he\t had\t received\t this morning\tfrom\this\tspies\twas\tcorrect.\tBut\the\thad\tto\tbe\tcertain\tbefore\the\tmade\this move. \u2018My\t friend,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Where\t is\t Angad?\t I\t don\u2019t\t see\t him\t anywhere.\t I\t hope he\tis\twell?\u2019 Angad\t was\t Vali\u2019s\t five-year-old\t son\t and\t the\t apple\t of\t his\t eye.\t The\t tough, stern\t and\t distant\t Vali,\t more\t respected\t than\t loved,\t was\t a\t different\t man\t when\t he","was\t with\t his\t only\t son.\t He\t played\t and\t laughed\t with\t him,\t and\t indulged\t him\t any chance\the\tgot.\tEven\toccasionally\tbecoming\ta\thorse\tfor\tAngad\tto\tride\taround\ton. Since\tAngad\u2019s\tbirth,\tKishkindha\u2019s\tcitizens,\tand\teven\tthe\troyal\tfamily,\thad\tcome to\tsee\ta\tcasual,\tfun-loving\tside\tto\tVali. \u2018Yes\u2026\tAngad\u2026\the\u2019s\u2026\u2019\tVali\tstopped\tspeaking,\this\tface\ta\tpicture\tof\tagony, his\tvoice\tchoked. Raavan\t was\t now\t certain\t his\t information\t was\t correct.\t He\t controlled\t his breathing.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tallow\this\texcitement\tto\tshow. Later.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tover\tKishkindha\tlater.\tAfter\tI\u2019ve\ttaken\tMithila. Kumbhakarna,\t on\t the\t other\t hand,\t was\t shocked\t at\t the\t distraught\t look\t on Vali\u2019s\t face.\t He\t had\t never\t seen\t the\t mighty\t Kishkindha\t king\t like\t this.\t \u2018Great king,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\t\u2018is\teverything\tall\tright?\u2019 Vali\tsuddenly\tgot\tup\tand\tstood\tin\tfront\tof\tthem,\this\thands\tclasped\ttogether. \u2018Forgive\tme,\tmy\tfriends.\tI\u2026\tI\tmust\tgo.\tI\twill\tcome\tback\tin\ta\twhile.\u2019 Raavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\talso\trose\timmediately. \u2018Of\tcourse,\tVali,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\this\tface\ta\tpicture\tof\tconcern.\t\u2018Please\tlet\tus know\tif\tthere\tis\tanything\twe\tcan\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tWe\u2019ll\tspeak\tlater.\u2019\tSaying\tthis,\tVali\trushed\tout\tof\tthe\tchamber. Kumbhakarna\t stared\t at\t Vali\u2019s\t retreating\t form\t and\t then\t turned\t to\t his\t elder brother\tin\tbewilderment.\t\u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\trealise\tKing\tVali\twas\tso\tclose\tto\this\tmother.\u2019 Vali\u2019s\tmother\tAruni\thad\tpassed\taway\tjust\ta\tmonth\tago,\tafter\ta\tbrief\tillness. \u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tabout\this\tmother,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. Kumbhakarna\t looked\t surprised.\t \u2018Then\t what\t is\t it?\t He\t looks\t almost\t frail. I\u2019ve\tnever\tknown\thim\tto\tbow\tdown\tto\tany\t misfortune.\tSomething\tis\tworrying him.\u2019 Raavan\t cast\t a\t quick\t glance\t at\t the\t doorway,\t making\t sure\t that\t they\t were, indeed,\t alone.\t \u2018What\t we\t are\t speaking\t of\t will\t remain\t between\t us.\t Strictly between\tus.\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna\timmediately.\t\u2018What\tis\tthis\tabout?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tabout\tAngad.\u2019 \u2018Angad?\tHas\tsomething\thappened\tto\tthat\tlovely\tchild?\u2019 \u2018Nothing\thas\thappened\tto\thim\tyet.\tWhat\tmatters\tis\twhat\thappened\tbefore he\twas\tborn.\u2019 \u2018Before\the\twas\tborn?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tAre\tyou\tfamiliar\twith\tthe\ttradition\tof\tniyoga?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\twas\ttaken\taback.\tNiyoga\twas\tan\tancient\ttradition\tby\twhich a\twoman,\twhose\thusband\twas\tincapable\tof\tproducing\ta\tchild,\tcould\trequest\tand appoint\t another\t man\t to\t impregnate\t her.\t For\t various\t reasons,\t this\t man\t was usually\ta\trishi.","For\tone\tthing,\tmost\trishis\twere\trevered\tfor\ttheir\thigh\tintellectual\tprowess, a\t quality\t they\t would\t hopefully\t pass\t on\t to\t their\t offspring.\t More\t importantly, since\t most\t rishis\t were\t wandering\t mendicants,\t it\t was\t almost\t certain\t that\t they would\tnot\tlay\tclaim\tto\tthe\tchild.\tAccording\tto\tthe\tlaw,\tany\tchild\tproduced\tas\ta result\tof\ta\tunion\tsanctioned\tby\tniyoga\twould\tbe\tconsidered\tthe\tlegitimate\tchild of\tthe\twoman\tand\ther\thusband;\tthe\tbiological\tfather\tcould\tnot\tclaim\tfatherhood and\twould\thave\tto\tremain\tanonymous. \u2018From\t what\t my\t spies\t tell\t me,\u2019\t continued\t Raavan,\t \u2018Vali\t was\t once\t very seriously\tinjured\twhile\ttrying\tto\tsave\tSugreev.\tThis\thappened\tmany\tyears\tback, during\t a\t hunt.\t The\t side\t effect\t of\t the\t medicines\t that\t saved\t his\t life\t was\t that\t he couldn\u2019t\thave\tchildren.\tThis\twas,\tfor\tobvious\treasons,\tkept\tsecret.\u2019 \u2018That\tuseless\tbrother\tof\this,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna\tin\tdisgust.\t\u2018So,\tyou\tmean King\tVali\u2019s\twife\tTara\tdecided\tto\u2026\u2019 \u2018Not\t Tara,\u2019\t Raavan\t interrupted\t him.\t \u2018It\t was\t apparently\t his\t mother.\t The Queen\t Mother\t decided\t that\t Vali\u2019s\t child\t should\t rule\t Kishkindha\t after\t him.\t And turned\tto\tniyoga\tfor\ta\tsolution.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018What\tdifference\tdoes\tit\tmake\tif\tAngad\tis not\t his\t biological\t son?\t The\t rules\t are\t clear.\t Since\t King\t Vali\t is\t Queen\t Tara\u2019s husband,\the\twill\tbe\tconsidered\tthe\tfather\tof\ther\tson,\teven\tif\tthe\tchild\twas\tsired by\tsomeone\telse.\tAnd\tAngad\tis\ta\twonderful\tboy.\tHe\twill\tmake\ta\tgreat\truler\tone day.\tI\tcan\tsee,\teven\tat\tthis\tyoung\tage,\tthat\the\thas\this\tnoble\tfather\u2019s\tspirit,\tdrive and\tintelligence.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tit\u2019s\ta\tlittle\tmore\tcomplicated\tthan\tthat.\u2019 \u2018How\tso?\u2019 \u2018You\tknow\twhat\tAruni\twas\tlike.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\theard\tstories,\tyes,\tof\tthe\tQueen\tMother\u2019s\theadstrong\tways\u2026\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tin\tany\tcase,\tI\tthink\twhen\tpeople\tare\tclose\tto\tdeath,\tthey\tstart\tthinking about\ttheir\tsouls.\tThey\twant\tto\trepent\tfor\ttheir\tsins\tand\t\u201cspeak\tthe\ttruth\u201d.\u2019 \u2018What\ttruth\tdid\tshe\ttell\tKing\tVali?\u2019 \u2018Apparently,\twhen\tAruni\tdecided\tthat\ta\tniyoga\twas\tnecessary\tfor\tthe\tsake of\tan\tunbroken\tlineage,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\ttake\tVali\u2019s\twife\tto\ta\trishi.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat\tdid\tshe\tdo?\u2019 \u2018She\t wanted\t to\t ensure\t that\t it\t was\t her\t bloodline\t that\t continued\t to\t rule.\t So she\u2026\u2019 \u2018Oh\tmy\tGod!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\texclaimed,\tas\tthe\ttruth\thit\thome. Sugreev. Kumbhakarna\theld\this\thead,\tfeeling\tVali\u2019s\tpain.\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\teven\timagine\thow distraught\t he\t must\t be.\t Angad\t is\t his\t pride\t and\t joy.\t And\t now\u2026\t to\t know\t the truth\u2026\tthat\tit\u2019s\tSugreev\u2019s\tcowardly\tblood\tthat\truns\tin\tAngad\u2019s\tveins\u2026\u2019","\u2018Exactly,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. \u2018Does\tAngad\tknow?\u2019 \u2018As\tfar\tas\tI\tknow,\the\tdoes\tnot.\u2019 \u2018So\tthe\tQueen\tMother\ttold\tKing\tVali\tthis?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tOn\ther\tdeathbed,\tapparently.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tshe\tjust\tremain\tquiet\tabout\tit?\u2019 \u2018Guilt?\tShe\tmust\thave\tknown\tthat\tshe\tdid\tnot\tdo\tright\tby\tVali\tand\twanted to\tconfess\tto\thim\tbefore\ther\tdeath.\u2019 \u2018How\t incredibly\t selfish!\t To\t cleanse\t her\t own\t soul\t of\t bad\t karma,\t she confessed\tto\ther\tson\tand\tgifted\thim\ta\tlifetime\tof\ttrauma.\u2019 \u2018You\tknow\thow\tselfish\tmothers\tcan\tbe\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t ignored\t the\t barb.\t \u2018Did\t King\t Vali\t confront\t that\t coward, Sugreev?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t and\t he\t confessed\t to\t it,\t said\t he\t had\t no\t choice\t in\t the\t matter.\t That\t he had\tonly\tcomplied\twith\ttheir\tmother\u2019s\torder.\u2019 \u2018Bullshit!\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018I\t am\t sure\t Sugreev\t was\t delighted\t at\t the prospect\tof\this\tchild\tascending\tthe\tthrone\tsomeday.\u2019 \u2018Vali\tthrew\tSugreev\tout\tof\tthe\tkingdom\twhen\the\tfound\tout\tthe\ttruth,\u2019\tsaid Raavan.\t\u2018I\twould\thave\tkilled\thim!\u2019 \u2018Lord\tRudra\thave\tmercy!\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018What\ta\tmess.\u2019 Raavan\t sympathised\t with\t Vali,\t but\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t feeling\t pleased\t about the\tgood\tfortune\tthat\thad\tfallen\tinto\this\tlap.\tHe\tcould\tnow\tuse\tthe\tfight\tbetween Sugreev\tand\tVali\tto\twipe\tout\tthe\tVaanar\tdynasty\tand\tbring\twealthy\tKishkindha under\t the\t Lankan\t yoke.\t Vali\u2019s\t army\t would\t become\t his\t to\t command\t and\t could then\tbe\tused\tfor\tthe\tdefence\tof\tLanka,\tif\the\tso\twished. He\tbreathed\ta\tsigh\tof\trelief.\tHe\tmight\tfinally\thave\tfound\ta\tsolution\tto\tthe problem\t he\t had\t been\t struggling\t with\t for\t so\t long:\t the\t depleting\t strength\t of\t his forces\tin\tLanka. But\t he\t didn\u2019t\t think\t Kumbhakarna\t would\t approve\t of\t his\t plan.\t He\t would have\tto\thandle\tthis\talone.","Chapter\t25 The\t Pushpak\t Vimaan\t flew\t smoothly,\t thousands\t of\t feet\t above\t the\t holy\t land\t of India,\t travelling\t from\t Kishkindha\t to\t Mithila.\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t were seated\t in\t comfortable\t chairs,\t strapped\t in\t for\t safety.\t They\t would\t land\t in\t Mithila soon,\tin\ttime\tfor\tRaavan\tto\tattend\tPrincess\tSita\u2019s\tswayamvar. At\tthe\tmoment,\tthough,\ttheir\tminds\twere\tnot\ton\tMithila,\tor\tSita. \u2018Celibacy,\tKumbha?\u2019\tsneered\tRaavan.\t\u2018Seriously?\tWomen\twere\tcreated\tfor one\tpurpose\talone.\tAnd\tyou\twould\tdeny\tthem\tthat\tpurpose\tby\tturning\tcelibate?\u2019 \u2018Seriously,\t Dada,\t why\t are\t you\t so\t disrespectful\t towards\t women?\u2019\t asked Kumbhakarna.\tHe\tknew\the\thad\tannoyed\this\telder\tbrother\tby\tannouncing\tthat\the would\t undertake\t the\t forty-one-day\t oath\t that\t would\t allow\t him\t to\t travel\t to Shabarimala,\tthe\tsacred\tLord\tAyyappa\ttemple\tin\tthe\tdeep\tsouth\tof\tIndia.\tRaavan saw\t this\t as\t yet\t another\t sign\t that\t his\t brother\t was\t moving\t away\t from\t him\t and towards\ta\tstrictly\tdharmic\tway\tof\tlife. \u2018Would\t you\t rather\t I\t respect\t them,\t dear\t brother?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan,\t laughing. \u2018Trust\tme,\twomen\tare\tnot\tlooking\tfor\trespect\tor\thonour.\tThey\twant\tsomeone\tto pay\t their\t bills\t and\t to\t give\t them\t protection.\t In\t return,\t they\t are\t prepared\t to\t give love,\tor\tsomething\tresembling\tit!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tyou\tare\tabout\tto\tget\tmarried\tfor\tthe\tsecond\ttime.\tI\treally\tthink\tyou need\tto\tupdate\tyour\tviews\ton\twomen.\u2019 \u2018Listen,\tKumbha,\tI\thave\tmore\twomen\tin\ta\tfortnight\tthan\tyou\thave\thad\tin your\t entire\t life.\t I\t know\t how\t they\t think.\t They\t may\t say\t they\t like\t nice,\t sensitive men.\t But\t remember,\t women\t never\t say\t what\t they\t mean.\t In\t reality,\t they\t dismiss the\tgentle,\tdomesticated\tsort\tof\tmen\tas\tweak\tand\tunreliable.\tThey\twant\treal\tmen \u2014tough,\tstrong\tmen.\u2019 \u2018Our\tdharma\tsays\tthat\ta\treal\tman\tis\tone\twho\trespects\twomen.\u2019 \u2018So\t a\t real\t man\t is\t one\t who\t surrenders\t himself\t and\t becomes\t a\t doormat\t for","women?\u2019 \u2018I\tnever\tsaid\tthat.\tA\treal\tman\tis\tone\twho\trespects\thimself\tand\ttreats\tothers with\trespect\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Bullshit.\t I\t can\t tell\t you\t from\t personal\t experience,\t four\t women\t don\u2019t\t add up\tto\tthe\tworth\tof\tone\tman.\tIn\tfact,\teven\tfour\thundred\twomen\tdo\tnot\tadd\tup\tto the\tworth\tof\tone\tman.\u2019 \u2018What\tnonsense!\tDo\tyou\teven\thear\tyourself,\tDada?\u2019 \u2018All\tthe\ttime.\tAnd\tI\tdon\u2019t\thear\tanything\twrong!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t took\t a\t deep\t breath\t to\t control\t his\t irritation.\t \u2018Forget\t it.\t Your views\t cannot\t shake\t my\t beliefs\t or\t the\t vows\t that\t I\t will\t undertake\t for\t Lord Ayyappa.\u2019 \u2018How\t does\t your\t being\t celibate\t please\t a\t God?\u2019\t sniggered\t Raavan,\t clearly trying\tto\tannoy\tKumbhakarna. \u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tonly\tabout\tcelibacy,\tDada,\u2019\tKumbhakarna\texplained\tpatiently.\t\u2018By taking\t the\t vow,\t I\t am\t pledging\t my\t loyalty\t to\t Lord\t Ayyappa,\t the\t son\t of\t the previous\t Mahadev,\t Lord\t Rudra,\t and\t the\t Vishnu,\t Lady\t Mohini.\t Though\t Lord Ayyappa\t is\t worshipped\t across\t the\t land\t in\t thousands\t of\t temples,\t the\t vratham applies\tonly\tto\tthe\ttemple\tof\tShabarimala.\tA\tsmall\tforest-dwelling\tcommunity\tin that\tregion,\tled\tby\tShabari,\tthe\tLady\tof\tthe\tForest,\tmaintains\tthe\ttemple.\tAnd\tfor all\tdevotees,\tthe\trules\tare\tclearly\tlaid\tout.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tticked\toff\tthe\trules\ton\this\tfingers:\t\u2018We\twill\tnot\teat\tmeat\tor consume\t alcohol\t during\t the\t period\t of\t the\t forty-one-day\t vratham.\t We\t will\t sleep on\t the\t floor.\tWe\twill\tnot\thurt\tanyone,\t either\tphysically\tor\t with\tour\t words.\tWe will\tstay\taway\tfrom\tall\tsocial\tfunctions.\tThe\tpoint\tis\tto\tlive\tsimply\tand\tfocus\ton high\tthinking.\u2019 \u2018All\tthat\tsounds\tvery\tnoble.\tBut\ttell\tme\tsomething,\tyou\tkeep\ttalking\tabout how\t much\t you\t respect\t women.\t You\t do\t know\t that\t women\t are\t not\t allowed\t into the\tShabarimala\ttemple?\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tdisrespectful\tto\tthem?\u2019 \u2018Women\t are\t allowed!\t Of\t course\t they\t are.\t Only\t women\t who\t are\t in\t the reproductive\t stage\t of\t their\t life\t are\t not\t allowed\t in\t this\t particular\t temple. Basically,\twomen\twho\tare\tcapable\tof\tmenstruating\tare\tforbidden\tentry.\u2019 \u2018Aha!\tSo\tyou\tthink\treproduction\tis\timpure?\tAnd\tmenstruating\twomen\twill contaminate\t the\t temple?\t Do\t you\t know\t that\t in\t the\t Kamakhya\t temple\t in\t north- east\tIndia,\tmenstrual\tblood\tis\tconsidered\tsacred\tand\tworshipped?\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tmisunderstanding\tme\ton\tpurpose,\tDada.\tThe\tban\ton\tmenstruating women\t has\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t menstrual\t blood\t being\t impure.\t How\t can\t any Indian\tthink\tthat?\tIt\u2019s\tabout\tthe\tpath\tof\tsanyas,\tof\trenunciation.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tcontinued,\t\u2018As\tyou\tknow,\tpractically\tall\tthe\ttemples\tin\tIndia follow\t the\t gruhasta\t route,\t the\t path\t of\t the\t householder.\t The\t rituals\t in\t these","temples\t are\t built\t around\t the\t worldly\t life,\t celebrating\t relationships\t like\t that between\t a\t husband\t and\t wife,\t or\t a\t parent\t and\t child,\t or\t a\t lord\t and\t his\t subjects. The\t renunciates\t or\t sanyasis\t have\t temples\t too,\t many\t of\t them\t being\t rock-cut caves\t in\t remote\t mountainous\t regions;\t non-sanyasis\t are\t not\t allowed\t entry\t into these.\t The\t only\t way\t of\t entering\t a\t sanyasi\t temple\t is\t by\t giving\t up\t all\t worldly attachments,\trenouncing\tone\u2019s\tfamily\tand\tmaterial\tbelongings,\tand\tpermanently joining\ta\tsanyasi\torder.\u2019 Raavan\t pretended\t to\t be\t alarmed.\t \u2018Are\t you\t becoming\t a\t sanyasi?\t Are\t you going\tto\tleave\tme?\tWhat\tthe\thell!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tlaughed.\t\u2018Dada,\tlisten\tto\tme.\tThe\tShabarimala\ttemple\tis\tnot for\tthose\twho\thave\ttaken\tpermanent\tsanyas.\tWe\tjust\thave\tto\tbe\tsanyasis\tfor\tthe forty-one\t days\t of\t the\t vratham.\t It\t essentially\t gives\t us\t a\t short\t experience\t of\t the life\t of\t a\t sanyasi.\t If\t you\t understand\t this,\t then\t all\t the\t vows\t I\t mentioned\t earlier make\t sense.\t For\t these\t forty-one\t days,\t we\t have\t to\t stay\t away\t from\t all\t the pleasures\tand\tcomforts\tof\tlife,\tas\twell\tas\textreme\temotions.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tthe\trule against\tconsumption\tof\tintoxicants\tor\tmeat,\tand\tsex.\tThe\ttemple\tis\tdedicated\tto the\t male\t sanyasi\t route,\t women\t in\t their\t reproductive\t phase\t are\t not\t allowed\t in, but\t young\t girls\t and\t older\t women\t are\t welcome.\t Similarly,\t there\t are\t temples dedicated\t to\t the\t female\t sanyasi\t path,\t where\t adult\t men\t are\t not\t allowed,\t like\t the Kumari\tAmman\ttemple.\tThere\tare\ttemples\tfor\tthe\tsanyas\tof\ttransgender\tpeople too.\t Misunderstandings\t arise\t because\t you\t worldly\t people\t don\u2019t\t know\t enough about\tour\tsanyasi\tways.\u2019 \u2018Okay,\t okay,\t I\t give\t up,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t holding\t his\t hands\t up\t in\t mock surrender.\t\u2018Go\tfor\tyour\tpilgrimage.\tWhen\tis\tit?\tIn\ta\tfew\tmonths?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t smiled\t and\t murmured,\t \u2018Swamiye\t Sharanam Ayyappa.\u2019 We\tfind\trefuge\tat\tthe\tfeet\tof\tLord\tAyyappa. While\t he\t may\t have\t been\t mocking\t his\t younger\t brother,\t Raavan\t was\t not about\tto\tdisrespect\tLord\tAyyappa.\tThe\tforest\tLord\twas,\tafter\tall,\tthe\tson\tof\tLord Rudra\t and\t Lady\t Mohini.\t He\t was\t considered\t to\t be\t one\t of\t the\t greatest\t warriors that\tever\tlived. He\trepeated\tafter\tKumbhakarna,\t\u2018Swamiye\tSharanam\tAyyappa.\u2019 Before\tRaavan\tcould\tsay\tanything\tmore,\ta\tloud\tannouncement\twas\theard. \u2018We\tare\tabout\tto\tland.\tPlease\tcheck\tyour\tstraps.\u2019 Raavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tdouble-checked\tthe\tstraps\twith\twhich\tthey\twere secured\tto\ttheir\tchairs.\tThe\thundred\tsoldiers\twithin\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan\tdid\tthe same. Raavan\tlooked\tdown\tat\tMithila,\tthe\tcity\tfor\tthe\tsons\tof\tthe\tsoil,\tthrough\tthe portholes.\tFrom\tup\tin\tthe\tair,\tMithila\tlooked\tvery\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tother\tlarge","Indian\t cities,\t which\t were\t mostly\t located\t on\t the\t banks\t of\t rivers.\t Mithila\t had originally\t been\t a\t river-port\t town,\t but\t after\t the\t Gandaki\t River\t had\t changed course\t to\t flow\t westward\t a\t few\t decades\t ago,\t the\t fate\t of\t Mithila\t had\t altered dramatically.\t From\t being\t counted\t among\t the\t great\t cities\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu,\t it had\twitnessed\ta\tspeedy\tdecline.\tIt\twas\tnow\tfar\tpoorer\tthan\tthe\tother\tcities\tof\tthe empire,\twhich\twere\tthemselves\tbeing\trapidly\timpoverished\tby\tRaavan.\tSo\tmuch so\tthat\tRaavan\thad\tdismissed\this\tappointed\tsub-traders\tin\tMithila.\tThere\tsimply wasn\u2019t\tenough\twork\tfor\tthem. \u2018It\u2019s\t rare\t to\t see\t such\t a\t dense\t forest\t coming\t almost\t all\t the\t way\t up\t to\t the city,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. Being\t a\t fertile,\t marshy\t plain\t that\t received\t plentiful\t monsoonal\t rain,\t the land\taround\tMithila\twas\textremely\tproductive.\tSince\tthe\tfarmers\tof\tMithila\thad not\t cleared\t too\t much\t land,\t the\t forest\t had\t used\t the\t bounty\t of\t nature\t to\t create\t a dense\tborder\tall\taround\tthe\tcity. \u2018Look\tat\tthe\tmoat,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\tsurprised. From\tthe\tair,\tthey\tcould\tsee\ta\tbody\tof\twater\taround\tthe\tfort\tthat\tmust\thave served\t as\t a\t defensive\t moat\t once,\t with\t crocodiles\t in\t it\t for\t preventive\t security. Now,\tit\twas\ta\tlake\tto\tdraw\twater\tfrom. The\t lake\t circumscribed\t the\t entire\t city\t within\t itself\t so\t effectively\t that Mithila\t was\t like\t an\t island.\t Giant\t wheels\t drew\t water\t from\t the\t lake,\t which\t was carried\t into\t the\t city\t through\t pipes.\t Steps\t had\t been\t built\t on\t the\t banks\t for\t easy access\tto\tthe\twater. \u2018They\t don\u2019t\t have\t a\t proper\t defensive\t moat\t anymore!\u2019\t said\t Raavan, astonished. \u2018I\tthink\tit\u2019s\ta\tsmart\tmove.\tThey\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tone.\tWhy\twould\tanyone\tattack Mithila?\t There\t is\t no\t money\t to\t be\t looted\t here.\t And\t they\t freely\t distribute\t their only\ttreasure:\ttheir\tknowledge.\u2019 \u2018Hmm\u2026\tyou\u2019re\tright.\u2019 As\tthe\tbrothers\tlooked\tat\tthe\tmoat\taround\tthe\tfort,\tthey\tobserved\tan\tinner wall,\tabout\ta\tkilometer\tinside\tthe\tmain\tfort\twall.\tThe\tarea\tbetween\tthe\touter\tand the\t inner\t fort\t walls\t was\t neatly\t partitioned\t into\t plots\t of\t agricultural\t land.\t The food\tcrops\tappeared\tready\tfor\tharvest. Raavan\t was\t impressed.\t \u2018Good\t idea.\t At\t least\t someone\t in\t Mithila\t has military\tsense.\u2019 Growing\t crops\t within\t the\t fort\t walls\t would\t secure\t the\t food\t supply\t during any\tsiege.\tAlso,\tsince\tthere\twas\tno\thuman\thabitation\tthere,\tthis\tarea\twould\tbe\ta killing\t field\t for\t anyone\t who\t managed\t to\t breach\t the\t outer\t wall.\t An\t attacking force\twould\tlose\ttoo\tmany\tmen\tin\tthe\teffort\tto\treach\tthe\tinner\twall,\twithout\tany hope\tof\ta\tquick\tretreat.","Kumbhakarna\t agreed\t with\t his\t elder\t brother.\t \u2018Yes,\t it\u2019s\t a\t brilliant\t military design;\ttwo\tfort\twalls\twith\tuninhabited\tland\tin\tbetween.\tWe\tshould\ttry\tit\ttoo.\u2019 As\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan\t hovered\t over\t the\t ground\t for\t a\t little\t while,\t they could\t see\t one\t of\t the\t main\t gates\t of\t Mithila.\t There\t were\t no\t coat\t of\t arms emblazoned\tacross\tthe\tgate,\tunlike\tin\tmost\tforts\tin\tIndia. Instead,\tan\timage\tof\tLady\tSaraswati,\tthe\tGoddess\tof\tKnowledge,\thad\tbeen carved\tinto\tthe\ttop\thalf\tof\tthe\tgate. There\t was\t a\t couplet\t inscribed\t below\t the\t image,\t but\t it\t was\t not\t readable from\tthis\tdistance. \u2018I\twonder\twhat\tthe\tcouplet\tsays,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. \u2018I\tremember\tAkampanaji\ttelling\tme\tabout\tit,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. \u2018Swagruhe\tPujyate\tMurkhaha; Swagraame\tPujyate\tPrabhuhu; Swadeshe\tPujyate\tRaja; Vidvaansarvatra\tPujyate.\u2019 A\tfool\tis\tworshipped\tin\this\thome. A\tchief\tis\tworshipped\tin\this\tvillage. A\tking\tis\tworshipped\tin\this\tkingdom. A\tknowledgeable\tperson\tis\tworshipped\teverywhere. Raavan\tsmiled.\tTruly,\ta\tcity\tdedicated\tto\tknowledge.\tTruly,\ta\tcity\tbeloved of\tthe\trishis.\tTruly,\ta\tcity\tthat\twould\tserve\this\tpurpose\twell. Small,\t circular\t metal\t screens\t descended\t over\t the\t portholes,\t blocking\t the view. \u2018We\u2019re\tlanding,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. As\t the\t thunderous\t sound\t of\t its\t rotors\t dipped,\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan\t slowly descended\t to\t the\t ground.\t It\t touched\t down\t in\t the\t space\t earmarked\t for\t it,\t far outside\t the\t outer\t fort\t wall,\t in\t the\t clearing\t ahead\t of\t the\t forest\t line.\t Raavan\u2019s bodyguard\t corps\t of\t over\t ten\t thousand\t soldiers\t had\t already\t gathered\t there,\t in orderly\tformation. Raavan\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath.\t\u2018Time\tfor\taction.\u2019 \u2018Something\tis\tnot\tright,\tDada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tleave.\u2019 Raavan\thad\tset\tup\tcamp\toutside\tMithila.\tSafer\tto\tbe\tthere,\tsurrounded\tby his\t soldiers,\t than\t within\t the\t city\t walls\t of\t a\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t kingdom.\t A\t kingdom","that\the\thad,\tthrough\this\ttrade\tpolicies,\timpoverished. \u2018But\tKing\tKushadhwaj\tinvited\tme\thimself!\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\toutraged.\tHe\thad been\t waiting\t for\t Kumbhakarna\t and\t his\t aides\t to\t return\t from\t their\t visit\t to\t the royal\tcourt\tin\tMithila,\twhere\tthey\thad\tgone\tto\tannounce\this\tarrival. \u2018I\tknow,\tbut\the\twas\tquiet\tthroughout.\tSo\twas\tKing\tJanak.\u2019 \u2018Then\twho\tthe\thell\twas\tspeaking?\u2019 \u2018Guru\tVishwamitra.\u2019 \u2018What\t in\t Lord\t Indra\u2019s\t name\t is\t Guruji\t doing\t here?\t There\t is\t no\t debate during\ta\tswayamvar\tceremony!\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\the\tis\tdoing\there,\tbut\tI\tcan\ttell\tyou\tthat\the\tseemed\tto\tbe making\tall\tthe\tdecisions.\tAnd\tI\twas\tnot\teven\tallowed\tto\tmeet\tPrincess\tSita.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tthis\tmean?\u2019\tRaavan\twas\tgetting\tmore\tand\tmore\tagitated.\t\u2018I\tam Lanka.\t Ruler\t of\t the\t most\t powerful\t kingdom\t in\t the\t world.\t The\t richest\t land\t on earth.\tI\thave\tdone\tMithila\ta\tfavour\tby\tagreeing\tto\tcome\there\tto\twin\tthe\thand\tof Sita.\tHow\tcan\tthey\ttreat\tme\tthis\tway?\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tlet\u2019s\tjust\tleave.\tThe\tSapt\tSindhuans\twill\tnever\taccept\tus.\tYou\ttried. You\tdid\tit\twith\ta\tclean\theart.\tYou\twanted\tto\tmake\ta\tfresh\tstart.\tBut\tthese\tpeople won\u2019t\t let\t that\t happen.\t To\t hell\t with\t this\t \u201cAryavarta\u201d.\t Let\t us\t be\t happy\t in\t Lanka, in\tour\town\tcorner\tof\tIndia.\tLet\u2019s\tleave.\u2019 \u2018And\tlet\tthe\tentire\tworld\tknow\tI\twas\thumiliated?\tSo\tthat\tany\tinsignificant bastard\tcan\trebel\tagainst\tme\ttomorrow?\tNever.\tI\twill\tnot\tleave!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\t listen\t to\t me.\t Guru\t Vishwamitra\t was\t trying\t to\t tell\t me,\t without actually\tsaying\tso,\tthat\tyou\twould\tnot\tbe\twelcome\tat\tthe\tswayamvar.\tEach\ttime I\tlooked\tat\tKing\tKushadhwaj,\the\twas\tbusy\texamining\tthe\tfloor.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\ta word.\tNone\tof\tthis\tbodes\twell.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\ttell\tthem\tthat\twe\twere\tinvited\tby\tthat\tfool\tKushadhwaj?\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\t the\t point,\t Dada?\t He\t did\t not\t want\t to\t acknowledge\t us.\t We\t are\t not welcome\there.\tLet\u2019s\tjust\tleave.\u2019 \u2018No,\twe\twill\tnot!\u2019 \u2018Dada\u2026\u2019 \u2018Raavan\twill\tnot\tbe\tinsulted\tthis\tway!\tLanka\twill\tnot\tbe\tinsulted\tthis\tway! I\t don\u2019t\t care\t what\t they\t think.\t I\t will\t go\t to\t the\t swayamvar\t and\t I\t will\t win.\t I\t will leave\twith\tSita,\teven\tif\tI\tjust\tthrow\ther\tinto\tthe\tdungeons\tof\tSigiriya\tafterwards. I\twill\twin\tthis\tswayamvar.\tI\twill\tredeem\tmy\thonour!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthat\u2014\u2019 \u2018Kumbhakarna!\tMy\tdecision\tis\tfinal!\u2019","On\t the\t day\t of\t the\t swayamvar,\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t left\t their\t camp, accompanied\t by\t thirty\t soldiers.\t Fifteen\t marched\t ahead\t of\t them\t and\t fifteen behind.\tThe\tsoldiers\twere\tdressed\tin\ttheir\tceremonial\tbest,\tas\tthe\trepresentatives of\t the\t richest\t kingdom\t in\t the\t world\t ought\t to\t be.\t They\t carried\t the\t standard\t of Lanka:\tblack\tflags,\twith\tthe\thead\tof\ta\troaring\tlion\temerging\tfrom\ta\tbackground of\tfiery\tflames. Given\t that\t they\t were\t not\t welcome\t at\t the\t swayamvar,\t Kumbhakarna\t had arranged\t for\t a\t battalion\t of\t a\t thousand\t soldiers,\t armed\t to\t the\t teeth,\t to\t follow Raavan\t and\t his\t bodyguards.\t They\t were\t to\t wait\t outside\t the\t venue\t of\t the swayamvar.\t Kumbhakarna\t wanted\t to\t play\t it\t safe,\t but\t without\t provoking\t the Malayaputras. The\t Lankans\t crossed\t the\t pontoon\t bridge\t over\t the\t lake\t and\t marched through\t the\t open\t gates\t of\t the\t outer\t wall,\t and\t then\t past\t the\t inner\t wall.\t The soldiers\tbehind\tRaavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\tblew\ton\ttheir\tconch\tshells,\tattracting as\tmuch\tattention\tas\tthey\tcould. Most\t of\t the\t citizens\t of\t Mithila\t were\t headed\t to\t the\t swayamvar,\t or\t had already\tgot\tthere.\tThe\tfew\twho\tremained\tin\tthe\tcity\tcame\tout\tof\ttheir\thouses\tto stare\tat\tthe\tprocession.\tThe\tprocession\tof\tthe\trichest\tand\tmost\tpowerful\tman\tin the\tworld.\tFaced\twith\tthe\tpomp\tand\tgrandeur\tof\tthe\tLankan\tparty,\tthe\tpeaceful inhabitants\t of\t Mithila\t withdrew.\t They\t did\t not\t want\t to\t offend\t or\t aggravate\t the Lankans\tin\tany\tway. Raavan\tkept\this\teyes\ton\tthe\tpath\tahead,\this\tposture\tthat\tof\ta\tking\treturning victorious\tfrom\tbattle.\tHe\trefused\tto\teven\tglance\tat\tthe\tmeek\tcitizens\tof\tMithila. The\t swayamvar\t had\t been\t organised\t in\t the\t Hall\t of\t Dharma,\t inside\t the palace\tcomplex,\tinstead\tof\tat\tthe\troyal\tcourt.\tThe\tbuilding\thad\tbeen\tdonated\tby King\tJanak\tto\tthe\tMithila\tUniversity\tand\t the\thall\tregularly\thosted\tdebates\tand discussions\t on\t various\t esoteric\t topics\u2014the\t illusion\t of\t this\t physical\t world,\t the nature\tof\tthe\tsoul,\tthe\tsource\tof\tCreation,\tthe\tvalue\tand\tbeauty\tof\tidol-worship, the\t philosophical\t clarity\t of\t atheism\u2026\t King\t Janak\t was\t a\t philosopher-king\t who focused\t all\t his\t kingdom\u2019s\t resources\t on\t matters\t of\t spiritual\t and\t intellectual interest. The\tcircular\thall\twas\tcrowned\t with\ta\tlarge,\telegant\tdome.\tIts\twalls\twere decorated\t with\t portraits\t of\t the\t greatest\t rishis\t and\t rishikas\t from\t times\t past.\t In some\tways,\tthe\tcircular\tdesign\tembodied\tKing\tJanak\u2019s\tapproach\tto\tgovernance: a\t respectful\t regard\t for\t all\t points\t of\t view.\t During\t debates,\t everyone\t sat\t at\t the same\tlevel,\tas\tequals,\twithout\ta\tregulating\t\u2018head\u2019,\tdeliberating\tissues\topenly\tand without\tfear. For\tthe\tpurpose\tof\tthe\tswayamvar,\ttemporary\tthree-tiered\tspectator\tstands had\t been\t erected\t near\t the\t entrance\t to\t the\t hall.\t At\t the\t other\t end,\t on\t a\t wooden","platform,\t was\t placed\t the\t king\u2019s\t throne.\t A\t statue\t of\t the\t great\t King\t Mithi,\t the founder\t of\t Mithila,\t stood\t on\t a\t raised\t pedestal\t behind\t the\t throne.\t Two\t thrones, only\tmarginally\tless\tgrand,\twere\tplaced\tto\tthe\tleft\tand\tright\tof\tthe\tking\u2019s\tthrone. A\t circle\t of\t comfortable\t seats\t lined\t the\t middle\t section\t of\t the\t great\t hall,\t where kings\tand\tprinces\t\u2013\tthe\tpotential\tsuitors\t\u2013\twere\tseated. Accompanied\tby\tthe\tloud\tcacophony\tof\tLankan\tconch\tshells,\tRaavan\tand Kumbhakarna\t made\t their\t grand\t entry\t along\t with\t their\t entourage\t of\t thirty bodyguard.\tThe\tbattalion\tof\tone\tthousand\tsoldiers\twaited\toutside\tthe\thall.\tOut\tof sight,\tbut\tclose\tat\thand.\tReady\tto\tcharge\tto\tthe\taid\tof\ttheir\tking\tif\tsummoned. Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t walked\t ahead,\t looking\t around\t at\t the arrangements. The\t upper\t levels\t of\t the\t three-tiered\t spectator\t stands\t were\t packed\t with ordinary\t citizens,\t while\t the\t nobility\t and\t the\t rich\t merchants\t occupied\t the\t first platform.\t The\t contestants\t sat\t in\t a\t circle,\t on\t comfortable\t chairs,\t in\t the\t middle section\tof\tthe\thall.\tEvery\tseat\twas\toccupied.\tPrincess\tSita\twould\tbe\table\tto\tsee all\tthat\twas\tgoing\ton\twithout\tbeing\tvisible\therself,\tas\tshe\thad\tdecided\tto\tmake\tit a\tgupt\tswayamvar. In\t the\t centre\t of\t the\t hall,\t placed\t ceremoniously\t on\t a\t table\t top,\t was\t an unstrung\tbow.\tThe\tlegendary\tPinaka,\tthe\tbow\tof\tLord\tRudra\tHimself.\tA\tnumber of\t arrows\t were\t placed\t beside\t it.\t Next\t to\t the\t table,\t at\t ground\t level,\t was\t a\t large copper-plated\t basin.\t Competitors\t were\t required\t to\t first\t pick\t up\t the\t bow\t and string\t it,\t which\t itself\t was\t no\t mean\t task.\t They\t would\t then\t have\t to\t move\t to\t the basin,\twhich\twas\tfilled\twith\twater,\twith\tmore\ttrickling\tin\tsteadily\tfrom\tthe\ttop. This\t created\t gentle\t ripples\t within\t the\t bowl,\t spreading\t out\t from\t the\t centre towards\tthe\tedge.\tTo\tmake\tthings\tmore\tdifficult,\tand\tunpredictable,\tthe\tdrops\tof water\twere\treleased\tat\tirregular\tintervals. A\t hilsa\t fish\t was\t nailed\t to\t a\t wheel,\t which\t was\t fixed\t to\t an\t axle\t that\t was suspended\t from\t the\t top\t of\t the\t dome,\t a\t hundred\t metres\t above\t the\t ground.\t The wheel\trevolved\tat\ta\tconstant\tspeed.\tThe\tcontestants\twere\trequired\tto\tlook\tat\tthe reflection\tof\tthe\tfish\tin\tthe\tunstill\twater\tbelow,\tand\tuse\tthe\tbow\tto\tfire\tan\tarrow into\tthe\teye\tof\tthe\tfish.\tThe\tfirst\tto\tsucceed\twould\twin\tthe\thand\tof\tthe\tbride. Raavan\t did\t not\t pause\t to\t look\t at\t the\t task\t set\t for\t the\t potential\t suitors. Neither\t did\t he\t appear\t to\t notice\t that\t his\t entry\t into\t the\t hall\t had\t interrupted\t the speech\tof\tthe\tgreat\tMalayaputra,\tGuru\tVishwamitra.\tThis\twas\tan\tunprecedented insult\tto\tthe\tmaharishi.\tBut\tRaavan\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\tcare.\tFor\tsomething\telse\thad caught\this\tattention.\tEvery\tseat\tin\tthe\tcompetitors\u2019\tcircle\twas\toccupied. They\thaven\u2019t\treserved\ta\tplace\tfor\tme!\tThe\tbloody\tbastards! Raavan\u2019s\tentourage\tmoved\tto\tthe\tcentre\tof\tthe\thall\tand\thalted\tnext\tto\tLord Rudra\u2019s\t bow.\t The\t lead\t bodyguard\t made\t a\t loud\t announcement.\t \u2018The\t King\t of","Kings,\tthe\tEmperor\tof\tEmperors,\tthe\tRuler\tof\tthe\tThree\tWorlds,\tthe\tBeloved\tof the\tGods,\tLord\tRaavan!\u2019 Raavan\tturned\ttowards\ta\tminor\tking\twho\twas\tsitting\tclosest\tto\tthe\tPinaka, grunted\t softly,\t and\t gestured\t with\t his\t head.\t The\t terrified\t man\t rose\t without question\t and\t scurried\t away\t to\t stand\t behind\t another\t competitor.\t Raavan\t walked towards\tthe\tchair,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tsit.\tHe\tplanted\this\tright\tfoot\ton\tthe\tseat\tand\trested his\t hand\t on\t his\t knee.\t Kumbhakarna\t and\t his\t men\t fell\t in\t line\t behind\t him.\t Then, almost\t lazily,\t Raavan\t turned\t his\t gaze\t to\t the\t other\t end\t of\t the\t hall,\t where\t the thrones\twere\tplaced. Maharishi\tVishwamitra\twas\tseated\ton\tthe\troyal\tthrone\tof\tMithila,\tthe\tone customarily\treserved\tfor\tthe\tking.\tThe\tpresent\tking\tof\tMithila,\tJanak,\tsat\ton\tthe smaller\t throne\t to\t the\t right\t of\t the\t great\t maharishi,\t while\t the\t king\u2019s\t younger brother,\tKushadhwaj,\tsat\tto\tthe\tleft\tof\tVishwamitra. Raavan\t spoke\t loudly\t to\t Vishwamitra\t in\t the\t distance.\t \u2018Continue,\t great Malayaputra.\u2019 Raavan\t did\t not\t even\t deem\t it\t fit\t to\t apologise\t for\t the\t great\t insult\t of interrupting\tthe\tchief\tof\tthe\tMalayaputras\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\this\tspeech. Vishwamitra\t was\t furious.\t He\t had\t never\t been\t treated\t so\t disrespectfully. \u2018Raavan\u2026\u2019\the\tgrowled. Raavan\tstared\tback\tat\thim\twith\tcomplete\tinsouciance. Vishwamitra\t managed\t to\t rein\t in\t his\t temper;\t he\t had\t an\t important\t task\t at hand.\tHe\twould\tdeal\twith\tRaavan\tlater.\t\u2018Princess\tSita\thas\tdecreed\tthe\tsequence in\twhich\tthe\tgreat\tkings\tand\tprinces\twill\tcompete.\u2019 Raavan\t took\t his\t foot\t off\t the\t chair\t and\t began\t to\t walk\t towards\t the\t Pinaka while\tVishwamitra\twas\tstill\tspeaking.\tThe\tchief\tof\tthe\tMalayaputras\tcompleted his\tannouncement\tjust\tas\tRaavan\twas\tabout\tto\treach\tfor\tthe\tbow.\t\u2018The\tfirst\tman to\tcompete\tis\tnot\tyou,\tRaavan.\tIt\tis\tRam,\tthe\tprince\tof\tAyodhya.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t hand\t stopped\t a\t few\t inches\t from\t the\t bow.\t He\t looked\t at Vishwamitra\t and\t then\t turned\t around\t to\t see\t who\t had\t responded\t to\t the\t sage.\t He saw\t a\t young\t man,\t around\t twenty\t years\t of\t age,\t dressed\t in\t the\t simple\t white clothes\tof\ta\thermit.\tBehind\thim\tstood\tanother\tyoung,\tthough\tgigantic\tman,\tnext to\twhom\twas\tArishtanemi.\tRaavan\tglared\tfirst\tat\tArishtanemi,\tand\tthen\tat\tRam. If\tlooks\tcould\tkill,\tRaavan\twould\thave\tcertainly\tfelled\ta\tfew\ttoday. This\tis\tthat\tlittle\tkid\tborn\tin\tAyodhya\ton\tthe\tday\tI\tdefeated\this\tfather!\tAnd Vishwamitra\t has\t the\t gall\t to\t put\t this\t child\t up\t against\t me?\t Against\t the\t king\t of Lanka?\tAgainst\tthe\truler\tof\tthe\tworld? Raavan\tturned\tto\tface\tVishwamitra,\this\tfingers\twrapped\taround\tVedavati\u2019s finger-bone\t pendant\t that\t hung\t around\t his\t neck.\t He\t needed\t her.\t He\t needed\t her voice.\t But\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t hear\t anything.\t Even\t she\t had\t abandoned\t him\t during\t this","great\thumiliation. Raavan\tgrowled\tin\ta\tloud\tand\tbooming\tvoice,\t\u2018I\thave\tbeen\tinsulted!\u2019 Kumbhakarna,\t who\t stood\t behind\t Raavan\u2019s\t chair,\t was\t shaking\t his\t head imperceptibly.\tClearly\tunhappy. \u2018Why\t was\t I\t invited\t at\t all\t if\t you\t planned\t to\t make\t unskilled\t boys\t compete ahead\tof\tme?!\u2019\tRaavan\u2019s\tbody\twas\tshaking\twith\tfury. Janak\t looked\t at\t Kushadhwaj\t with\t irritation\t before\t turning\t to\t Raavan\t and interjecting\t weakly,\t \u2018These\t are\t the\t rules\t of\t the\t swayamvar,\t Great\t King\t of Lanka\u2026\u2019 A\tvoice\tthat\tsounded\tmore\tlike\tthe\trumble\tof\tthunder\twas\tfinally\theard.\tIt was\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018Enough\t of\t this\t nonsense!\u2019\t He\t turned\t towards\t Raavan. \u2018Dada,\tlet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 Raavan\t suddenly\t bent\t and\t picked\t up\t the\t Pinaka.\t Before\t anyone\t could react,\the\thad\tstrung\tit\tand\tnocked\tan\tarrow\ton\tthe\tstring.\tMost\tpeople\tcould\tnot even\tlift\tthe\tmighty\tPinaka\teasily.\tYet\tRaavan,\tin\ta\tsupreme\tdisplay\tof\tstrength and\tskill,\thad\tsmoothly\tpicked\tit\tup,\tstrung\tthe\tbow\tand\tnocked\tan\tarrow\tbefore anyone\t could\t react.\t The\t speed\t and\t dexterity\t with\t which\t he\t moved\t was\t mind- numbing.\tEven\tmore\tremarkable\twas\tthe\ttarget\tof\this\tarrow. Everyone\t sat\t paralysed\t as\t Raavan\t pointed\t the\t arrow\t directly\t at Vishwamitra,\tthe\tgreat\tmaharishi\tand\tthe\tchief\tof\tthe\tlegendary\tMalayaputras. The\t Malayaputras\t were\t the\t tribe\t left\t behind\t by\t the\t previous\t Vishnu.\t So their\t chief\t was,\t in\t a\t way,\t a\t representative\t of\t the\t Vishnu.\t For\t someone\t to\t even say\t a\t rude\t word\t against\t the\t chief\t Malayaputra\t was\t unprecedented.\t But\t for someone,\teven\ta\tman\tas\tpowerful\tas\tRaavan,\tto\tpoint\tan\tarrow\tat\tVishwamitra? It\twas\tunthinkable. The\t crowd\t gasped\t collectively\t in\t horror\t as\t Vishwamitra\t stood\t up,\t threw his\tangvastram\taside,\tand\tbanged\this\tchest\twith\this\tclosed\tfist.\t\u2018Shoot,\tRaavan!\u2019 Everyone\twas\tstunned\tby\tthe\twarrior-like\tbehaviour\tof\tthe\tgreat\tmaharishi. Such\t raw\t courage\t in\t a\t man\t of\t knowledge\t was\t rare.\t But\t then,\t Vishwamitra\t had been\ta\twarrior\tonce. The\tsage\u2019s\tvoice\tresounded\tin\tthe\tgreat\thall.\t\u2018Come\ton!\tShoot,\tif\tyou\thave the\tguts!\u2019 I\t should\t shoot\t him.\t The\t pompous\t nutcase\u2026\t But\t the\t medicines\u2026\t For Kumbhakarna\u2026\tFor\tme\u2026 Raavan\tshifted\this\taim\tever\tso\tslightly\tand\treleased\tthe\tarrow.\tIt\tslammed into\t the\t statue\t of\t King\t Mithi\t behind\t Vishwamitra,\t breaking\t off\t the\t nose\t of\t the ancient\tking. The\tking\tof\tLanka\tlooked\taround.\tHe\thad\tinsulted\tthe\tfounder\tof\tthe\tcity. The\tancient\tking\twas\trespected\tand\tidolised\tby\tall.\tHis\tmemory\tremained\tsacred","even\t today.\t Raavan\t expected\t at\t least\t some\t Mithilans\t to\t respond\t with\t righteous rage. Come\ton!\tFight\tfor\tKing\tMithi\u2019s\thonour.\tGive\tme\tan\texcuse\tto\torder\tall\tmy soldiers\tin\tand\tmassacre\tall\tof\tyou! But\t no\t Mithilan\t stood\t up.\t Shamefully,\t swallowing\t their\t pride,\t they remained\t seated\t even\t at\t the\t public\t insult\t to\t the\t memory\t of\t the\t founder\t of\t their kingdom. Cowards! Raavan\t dismissed\t Janak\t with\t a\t wave\t of\t his\t hand\t as\t he\t glared\t at Kushadhwaj.\tHe\tthrew\tthe\tbow\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tbegan\tto\twalk\ttowards\tthe\tdoor, followed\tby\this\tguards. In\t all\t this\t commotion,\t Kumbhakarna\t stepped\t up\t to\t the\t table,\t quickly unstrung\t the\t Pinaka,\t and\t reverentially\t brought\t the\t bow\t to\t his\t head\t with\t both hands. My\t apologies,\t great\t Lord\t Rudra.\t My\t brother\t did\t not\t mean\t any\t insult\t to your\t sacred\t bow.\t He\t has\t surrendered\t to\t his\t emotions.\t Please\t don\u2019t\t hold\t this against\thim. With\t utmost\t respect\t and\t dignity,\t Kumbhakarna\t placed\t Lord\t Rudra\u2019s\t bow, the\tPinaka,\tback\ton\tthe\ttable.\tThen\the\tturned\taround\tand\tbriskly\twalked\tout\tof the\thall,\tfollowing\ta\tseething\tRaavan.","Chapter\t26 \u2018How\tdare\tthey!\u2019\tRaavan\twas\tpacing\tup\tand\tdown\tinside\tthe\tstationary\tPushpak Vimaan.\t\u2018How\tdare\tthey?\tI\tam\tLanka!\tI\tam\ttheir\tlord!\tHow\tdare\tthey?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t tried\t to\t calm\t him.\t \u2018Let\t it\t be,\t Dada.\t I\t told\t you\t what\t to expect.\tLet\u2019s\tjust\tleave.\u2019 \u2018Leave?\tLeave?\tAre\tyou\tcrazy,\tKumbhakarna?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tknew\tthat\tif\this\telder\tbrother\twas\tcalling\thim\tby\this\tproper name\tinstead\tof\t\u2018Kumbha\u2019,\the\twas\tin\tno\tmood\tto\tlisten\tto\tany\tbrotherly\tadvice about\tstaying\tcalm. \u2018These\tpathetic\tlosers\thave\tinsulted\tme,\u2019\tRaavan\thissed,\this\tfists\tclenching and\tunclenching.\t\u2018They\thave\thumiliated\tme\tin\tpublic.\tThey\twill\tpay\tthe\tprice!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tsaid,\this\ttone\teven.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tintend\tto\tdo?\u2019 Raavan\t pointed\t towards\t Mithila.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t burn\t the\t city\t to\t the\t ground!\t I\u2019ll\t kill everyone\tin\tit!\tI\u2019ll\tgrind\tthis\tcity\tof\tthe\tsons\tof\tthe\tsoil\tinto\tthe\tsoil!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\twhy\tpunish\tinnocent\tcivilians\tfor\tthe\tcrimes\tof\ttheir\tleaders?\u2019 \u2018If\t civilians\t don\u2019t\t rebel\t against\t the\t crimes\t of\t their\t leaders,\t then\t they\t are criminals\ttoo!\u2019 \u2018But\tDada\u2014\u2019 \u2018No\tbuts!\tI\tsaid\tthey\tare\tcriminals\ttoo!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t changed\t tack,\t trying\t to\t appeal\t to\t reason\t rather\t than compassion.\t\u2018Dada,\tthe\tcrown-prince\tof\tAyodhya\tis\tin\tthere.\tApparently,\the\twon the\tswayamvar\tfor\tPrincess\tSita\u2019s\thand.\tHe\twill\tnot\tabandon\this\twife\tand\tescape Mithila.\t My\t intel\t also\t tells\t me\t that,\t over\t the\t last\t few\t years,\t Prince\t Ram\t has become\tEmperor\tDashrath\u2019s\tfavourite\tson.\tIf\twe\tend\tup\tkilling\thim,\tthe\temperor will\talmost\tcertainly\tdeclare\twar\ton\tus.\tAnd\tif\tthe\temperor\tcalls\tfor\twar,\ttreaty obligations\twill\tforce\tother\tkingdoms\tto\tjoin\ttoo.\tYou\tknow\twe\tcannot\tafford\tto fight\ta\twar\tright\tnow.\tIt\u2019s\tonly\tour\treputation\tthat\tkeeps\tus\tsafe.\u2019","Raavan\t cursed.\t Kumbhakarna\t was\t right.\t The\t plague\t had\t weakened\t the Lankan\tarmy.\tAn\tall-out\twar\twas\tout\tof\tthe\tquestion. But\t Raavan\u2019s\t anger\t would\t not\t be\t pacified\t easily.\t \u2018Whatever\t it\t is,\t we\t are not\tleaving,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Dada,\tI\t was\t told\t by\tAkampana,\twho\thad\tit\tfrom\tSamichi,\tthat\tthere\tare nearly\tfour\tthousand\tpolicemen\tand\tpolicewomen\tin\tMithila.\tThey\twill\tbe\table to\tput\tup\ta\tfight.\u2019 \u2018But\twe\thave\tten\tthousand\tLankan\twarriors.\u2019 \u2018Even\t a\t five-to-two\t advantage\t will\t be\t negated\t by\t their\t defensive\t double walls.\tYou\tknow\tthat.\u2019 Raavan\twas\tnot\tready\tto\tgive\tup.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\theard\tthat\tthere\u2019s\ta\tsecret\ttunnel\ton the\t eastern\t side\t of\t that\t inner\t wall.\t We\t can\t send\t a\t small\t force\t to\t enter\t the\t city through\t the\t tunnel.\t Once\t our\t soldiers\t overpower\t the\t guards\t at\t the\t gateway\t and fling\tthe\tmain\tcity\tgates\topen,\tthe\tarmy\tcan\ttake\tover.\tWe\twill\tmassacre\tthem!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\thad\talso\theard\tabout\tthe\tsecret\ttunnel\tfrom\tAkampana,\twho had\t sourced\t the\t information\t from\t Samichi.\t Akampana\t had\t told\t Kumbhakarna that\twhile\tagreeing\tto\tlead\tthem\tthrough\tthe\tsecret\ttunnel,\tSamichi\thad\texacted\ta promise\t from\t the\t Lankan\t that\t Princess\t Sita\t would\t not\t be\t harmed\t during\t the attack.\t This\t was\t a\t bizarre\t demand\t from\t someone\t who\t had\t sworn\t loyalty\t to Raavan\t and\t Lanka.\t Maybe\t all\t the\t talk\t of\t a\t secret\t tunnel\t was\t a\t trap. Kumbhakarna\tdoubted\tSamichi\u2019s\tloyalty.\tClearly,\tRaavan\tdid\tnot. \u2018Prepare\tfor\tan\tattack,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Dada,\tI\tstill\tthink\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\tsaid,\tprepare\tfor\tan\tattack!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t took\t a\t deep\t breath,\t bowed\t his\t head\t and\t whispered unhappily,\t\u2018Yes,\tDada.\u2019 It\twas\tlate\tat\tnight,\tthe\tfourth\thour\tof\tthe\tfourth\tprahar.\tTorches\tlined\tthe\tLankan camp.\t Raavan\u2019s\t bodyguards\t had\t been\t working\t feverishly\t through\t the\t evening, chopping\tdown\ttrees\tin\tthe\tforest\tand\tbuilding\trowboats\tto\tcarry\tthem\tacross\tthe moat.\t Simply\t marching\t across\t was\t out\t of\t the\t question\t since\t the\t Mithilans\t had destroyed\tthe\tpontoon\tbridge. Raavan\t was\t standing\t beside\t the\t lake,\t looking\t across\t the\t water\t to\t the\t fort walls.\tHe\twore\tarmour\tthat\tcovered\this\ttorso.\tTwo\tswords\tand\tthree\tknives\thung from\t his\t waist.\t Two\t smaller\t knives\t were\t hidden\t in\t his\t shoes.\t An\t arrow-filled quiver\twas\ttied\tto\this\tshoulders,\tacross\this\tback.\tHe\theld\ta\tbow\tin\this\tleft\thand. Raavan\twas\tready\tfor\tbattle.","Standing\tnext\tto\tthe\tking\tof\tLanka\twas\tKumbhakarna.\tHe\thad\teven\tmore weapons\ton\this\tperson\tthan\tRaavan,\tsince\tthe\textra\tarms\ton\ttop\tof\this\tshoulders were\talso\tcapable\tof\tflinging\tknives. Their\tsoldiers\twere\tarmed\tand\tready\ttoo.\tTen\tthousand\tLankans\tstood\tat\ta distance,\tclose\tto\tthe\tboats\u2014on\tfull\talert,\tand\twith\ta\treputation\tto\tprotect. Raavan\tlowered\tthe\tscope\the\twas\tlooking\tthrough.\t\u2018They\thave\tnobody\ton the\touter\twalls.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t pulled\t up\t his\t own\t scope\t and\t looked\t through\t it,\t examining the\twalls\tthoroughly.\t\u2018Hmm.\tThat\tmakes\tsense.\tThey\twant\tus\tto\tscale\tthe\touter wall.\tMost\tof\ttheir\tsoldiers\tare\ton\tthe\tramparts\tof\tthe\tinner\twalls.\tWhile\twe\tare rushing\t towards\t the\t inner\t walls,\t they\t will\t fire\t arrows\t on\t us\t and\t hope\t to\t kill\t as many\tof\tour\tsoldiers\tas\tpossible\tin\tthat\tzone\tof\tdeath.\u2019 Raavan\t sniggered.\t \u2018Somebody\t in\t that\t namby-pamby\t city\t of\t intellectuals has\t battle\t sense,\t but\t not\t enough\t to\t match\t ours.\t We\t won\u2019t\t be\t climbing\t over\t the inner\twalls.\tWe\u2019ll\tbe\tracing\tthrough\tthe\topen\tgates.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tnodded. \u2018When\tare\twe\tlikely\tto\tget\tnews?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan. Kumbhakarna\tcontinued\tto\tstare\tat\tthe\tfort\tas\the\treplied,\t\u2018The\tfact\tthat\twe haven\u2019t\tgot\tnews\ttill\tnow\tdoes\tnot\tbode\twell.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tcare.\tWe\tare\tnot\tretreating.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tturned\tto\this\telder\tbrother.\t\u2018I\tknow,\tDada.\u2019 Just\t then,\t Akampana\t came\t rushing\t towards\t them.\t \u2018Iraiva!\t Iraiva!\t It\t was\t a trap!\u2019 \u2018Softly,\tyou\tfool!\u2019\thissed\tRaavan. \u2018What\thappened?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna. \u2018The\t secret\t tunnel\t had\t already\t collapsed\t onto\t itself,\t great\t Iraiva.\t Even worse,\t that\t traitor\t Jatayu\t and\t his\t Malayaputras\t were\t on\t top\t of\t the\t wall,\t firing arrows\tat\tus.\tWe\tlost\thalf\tthe\tplatoon.\tTen\tof\tthe\tmen\tescaped\tsomehow\tto\tgive me\t the\t news.\t Perhaps\t Samichi\t has\t been\t discovered\t and\t forced\t to\t reveal\t our battle\tstrategy\tto\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Or\tSamichi\tlied\tto\tus,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. \u2018It\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatter,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018We\tare\tstill\tattacking.\u2019 \u2018Dada\u2026\u2019 \u2018I\thave\ta\tbackup\tplan.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t towards\t the\t boats.\t Large\t wooden\t contraptions\t were being\tloaded\ton\tto\tthem.\t\u2018What\u2019s\tthat?\u2019 \u2018My\tbackup\tplan,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 The\tsoldiers\tbegan\tto\tpush\ttheir\tboats\tinto\tthe\tmoat.\tIt\twould\ttake\thalf\tan hour\tfor\tall\tthe\tten\tthousand\tsoldiers\tto\tcross\tthe\tlake\tand\tassemble\ton\tthe\tother","side\tof\tthe\twater,\toutside\tthe\tfort. The\tBattle\tof\tMithila\thad\tbegun. The\tLankans\torganised\tthemselves\toutside\tthe\touter\twalls\twith\tgreat\tefficiency. Since\t there\t was\t no\t resistance\u2014no\t Mithilan\t soldiers\t on\t the\t ramparts shooting\t arrows\t at\t them\t or\t pouring\t down\t boiling\t oil\u2014they\t could\t move\t about freely. Kumbhakarna,\t meanwhile,\t was\t staring\t in\t wonder\t at\t Raavan\u2019s\t innovation \u2014his\tbackup\tplan. \u2018This\tis\tbrilliant,\tDada.\tIt\tjust\tmight\twork,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. \u2018It\twill\twork!\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. \u2018You\u2019re\tthe\tman!\tYou\tstill\thave\tit.\u2019 \u2018I\tnever\tlost\tit!\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. The\t object\t of\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t admiration,\t a\t device\t Raavan\t had\t invented, was\tsimple\tin\tdesign\tand\tdevastating\tin\tits\tpotential\tto\tdestroy.\tIt\tconsisted\tof\ta large\tstand\twith\tan\tenormous\tbow,\talmost\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\tman,\tfixed\tat\tthe\tfar\tend, horizontal\tto\tthe\tground.\tThe\tbow\twas\tfastened\tto\tan\taxle\tat\tthe\tcentre,\twith\tan extremely\tthick\tbowstring\tattached\tto\tit.\tA\trough\tseat\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tat\tthe\tother end\tof\tthe\tstand,\twhere\tthe\tarcher\twould\tsit.\tThe\tjob\tof\tthe\tarcher\twas\tto\tload\tan enormous\t arrow,\t almost\t the\t size\t of\t a\t small\t spear,\t onto\t the\t bow,\t then\t pull\t the bowstring\t back\t with\t both\t hands\t and\t let\t it\t fly.\t A\t system\t of\t gears\t and\t pulleys allowed\t the\t stand\t to\t be\t adjusted\t so\t that\t the\t direction\t and\t angle\t of\t the\t arrow could\tbe\tcontrolled. There\t were\t a\t thousand\t of\t these\t stands,\t with\t one\t thousand\t bows\t mounted on\tthem. Essentially,\t Raavan\t had\t adopted\t the\t standard\t tactic\t of\t an\t attacking\t army firing\tarrows\tat\tsoldiers\ton\ta\tfort\twall\tand\tturbo-charged\tit. They\talready\tknew,\tthanks\tto\tSamichi\u2019s\tinformation,\tthat\tthe\t\u2018soldiers\u2019\ton the\tMithila\tside\twere\tmere\tpolice\tpersonnel,\tnot\twarriors.\tThey\twould\tnot\thave metallic\tshields,\tonly\twooden\tones.\tShields\tthat\twere\tgood\tenough\tto\tstop\ta\thail of\t arrows\t but\t were\t certainly\t not\t sturdy\t enough\t to\t stop\t missiles\t the\t size\t of spears. \u2018They\t won\u2019t\t know\t what\t hit\t them,\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t said.\t \u2018They\u2019ll\t keep wondering\thow\twe\tare\tmanaging\tto\treach\tthem\twith\tspears\tthrown\tfrom\toutside the\touter\twalls.\tThey\u2019ll\twonder\tif\twe\thave\tmonsters\tand\tgiants\tin\tour\tarmy!\u2019 Raavan\t grinned,\t the\t bloodlust\t rising\t in\t him.\t Nothing\t got\t his\t heartbeat going\t like\t the\t heat\t of\t battle.\t \u2018They\t won\u2019t\t have\t time\t to\t wonder.\t They\u2019ll\t be\t too","busy\tdying.\u2019 \u2018Should\tI\torder\tthe\tattack?\u2019 Raavan\t looked\t around.\t Long\t ladders\t had\t been\t set\t up\t against\t the\t outer walls\t of\t the\t fort.\t Spotters\t had\t been\t stationed\t on\t top\t of\t the\t ladders,\t each\t with\t a scope,\t to\t focus\t on\t the\t inner\t walls\t of\t Mithila\t and\t report\t the\t destruction\t that would\tfollow\t shortly.\t Raavan\t expected\t the\t Mithilan\t soldiers\t to\t flee\t as\t soon\t as the\tattack\tof\tthe\tspears\tbegan.\tBut\ta\tgood\tgeneral\ttrusts\thard\tdata\tmore\tthan\this expectations.\t Unlikely\t though\t it\t was,\t there\t was\t still\t the\t chance\t that\t a\t few courageous\t Mithilans\t would\t put\t up\t a\t fight.\t Once\t he\t received\t confirmation\t that there\twere\tno\tMithilan\tdefenders\tin\tsight\tanywhere\tnear\tthe\tinner\tfort\twall,\tthe Lankan\tsoldiers\twould\tscale\tthe\touter\twalls\tand\tcharge. Raavan\tlooked\tat\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tbegin\tthe\tmassacre.\u2019 Since\t this\t was\t a\t charge\t at\t night,\t orders\t could\t not\t be\t conveyed\t through flags.\t Kumbhakarna\t turned\t to\t his\t herald\t and\t nodded.\t The\t herald\t immediately raised\t a\t conch\t shell\t and\t blew\t into\t it.\t The\t signal\t rolled\t out,\t the\t length\t and\t the breaks\t in\t the\t sound\t conveying\t Raavan\u2019s\t message\t to\t the\t soldiers.\t The\t other heralds\tacross\tthe\tLankan\tlines\trepeated\tthe\tsignal. The\tarchers\tbegan\tputting\tarrows\tto\tthe\tmassive\tbows.\tAfter\ta\tbrief\tpause, the\tconch\tshells\tsignalled\tagain\tand\ta\tfusillade\tof\tLankan\tspears\twas\treleased.\tA thousand\t missiles\t flew\t together\t on\t their\t deadly\t journey\t towards\t a\t city\t built\t for knowledge\t and\t not\t war.\t The\t Mithilans\t cowered\t behind\t their\t wooden\t shields. Shields\tthat\twere\tutterly\tinadequate\tfor\tblocking\tthe\tspears\tcoming\ttheir\tway. Raavan\tand\tKumbhakarna\twaited\tfor\ta\tsign\tfrom\tthe\tlookouts.\tA\tmoment later,\teach\tof\tthem\tcould\tbe\tseen\traising\ta\tclosed\tfist,\talmost\tin\tunison. A\t loud\t cheer\t went\t up\t from\t the\t Lankans\t on\t the\t ground\t below. \u2018Bharatadhipa\tLanka!\u2019 Lanka,\tthe\tLord\tof\tIndia!\tOr\tmore\taccurately,\tLanka,\tthe\truler\tof\tIndia! \u2018Direct\t hit!\u2019\t roared\t Raavan.\t The\t spears\t had\t torn\t into\t the\t Mithilan\t ranks amassed\tat\tthe\tinner\tfort\twall.\t\u2018No\ttime\tto\twaste!\tFire\tone\tmore\tvolley.\u2019 The\tarchers\tbent\tto\ttheir\ttask\timmediately.\tIt\twould\ttake\ta\tfew\tminutes\tfor all\tthe\tbows\tto\tbe\tready. \u2018We\t cannot\t fire\t once\t our\t men\t scale\t the\t outer\t wall,\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna. \u2018We\tmay\thit\tour\town\tsoldiers\twhile\tthey\tare\trunning\ttowards\tthe\tinner\twall.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\twhy\tI\twant\tanother\tround\tof\tspears\tfired,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018I\twant\tthe Mithilans\tin\tretreat\tbefore\twe\tcharge.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t up\t at\t the\t lookouts.\t Almost\t all\t of\t them\t had\t both hands\tabove\ttheir\theads\tin\ta\tswinging\tmotion. \u2018Look,\tDada!\tWe\tmay\tnot\thave\tto\tfire\tanother\tround,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. \u2018They\tare\tin\tretreat\talready.\u2019","Raavan\t grunted\t in\t disgust.\t \u2018Bloody\t cowards.\t Can\u2019t\t even\t withstand\t one volley!\u2019 \u2018Should\twe\tcharge?\u2019 \u2018No.\tFire\tanother\tround\tfor\tsafety\u2019s\tsake.\u2019 The\t lookouts\t were\t now\t holding\t their\t arms\t over\t their\t heads,\t crossed together.\tThe\tMithilans\twere\tin\tfull\tretreat. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tat\tRaavan\tas\tanother\tbooming,\tominous\twhoosh\twas heard.\t A\t thousand\t more\t spears\t sprang\t out\t of\t the\t bows\t and\t flew\t towards\t the inner\tramparts,\tripping\tinto\tthe\tstragglers\tamong\tthe\tfleeing\tMithilans. At\tleast\tone\tthousand\tof\tthe\tfour\tthousand\tMithilan\twarriors\twere\tdowned in\tthose\tdevastating\tfew\tminutes.\tWithout\ta\tsingle\tLankan\tlife\tbeing\tlost. The\t lookouts\t were\t now\t clapping\t their\t open\t palms\t together\t above\t their heads.\t The\t signal\t was\t clear.\t There\t were\t no\t Mithilans\t on\t top\t of\t the\t inner\t wall anymore.\tThey\twere\teither\tdead\tor\thad\trun\taway. \u2018Charge!\u2019\troared\tRaavan. The\t heralds\t announced\t the\t orders\t down\t the\t line,\t and\t the\t Lankans\t began scaling\t the\t outer\t wall,\t roaring\t their\t battle\t cries.\t Weapons\t drawn.\t Ready\t to\t kill. Ready\tto\tdestroy\tthe\thapless\tresidents\tof\tMithila. They\twere\tin\tfor\ta\tsurprise. Mithila\twas\ta\tpoor\tcity,\tand\tthe\tlittle\twealth\tit\thad\twas\tdistributed\tunfairly. The\trich\twere\ttoo\trich.\tAnd\tthe\tpoor,\ttoo\tpoor. As\ta\tconsequence\tof\tthis,\tthe\trich\tlived\tin\tluxurious\tmansions\tin\tthe\theart of\tthe\tcity,\twhile\tthe\tpoor\tlived\tin\tdecrepit\tslums\tand\thovels\tclose\tto\tthe\twalls\tof the\tfort.\tSita,\tthe\tprincess\tof\tMithila\tand\tits\tprime\tminister,\thad\tnot\tbeen\table\tto countenance\tsuch\tinjustice.\tSo\tshe\thad\traised\tmoney,\tthrough\ttaxes\tand\tsupport from\t outsiders,\t to\t redevelop\t the\t slums.\t Since\t there\t wasn\u2019t\t enough\t land\t to construct\t large\t houses\t for\t all\t the\t slum-dwellers,\t she\t had\t come\t up\t with\t an ingenious\t solution\u2014a\t four-storied\t honeycomb\t structure,\t which\t extended\t right up\tto\tthe\tinner\tfort\twalls. Because\tof\tits\tshape,\tthis\tmassive\tbuilding\tthat\thad\treplaced\tthe\tslum\twas called\t the\t Bees\t Quarter.\t Many\t of\t the\t former\t slum-dwellers\t had\t punched windows\t through\t the\t walls\t of\t the\t fort,\t which\t were\t also\t now\t the\t walls\t of\t their homes.\t Sita\t had\t not\t stopped\t them.\t Considering\t the\t minor\t status\t of\t Mithila within\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t power\t structure,\t security\t had\t never\t been\t as\t paramount for\ther\tas\tthe\tupliftment\tof\tthe\tpoorer\tcitizens. The\twindows\tin\tthe\twalls\thad\tbeen\ttemporarily\tsealed\tfor\tthe\tswayamvar, with\t wood-panel\t barricades.\t But\t now,\t the\t Mithilans\t had\t quickly\t broken\t and removed\t these\t barricades,\t giving\t them\t a\t clear\t view\t of\t the\t empty\t grounds between\t the\t two\t fort\t walls\u2014and\t an\t easy\t outlet\t for\t shooting\t arrows\t at\t the","Lankans\t who\t came\t rushing\t from\t the\t outer\t fort\t wall\t towards\t them.\t Since\t the Mithilans\twere\tinside\tthe\tBees\tQuarter,\tthe\troof\tprotected\tthem\tfrom\tany\tfurther missile\t attacks.\t Basically,\t a\t makeshift\t improvisation\t in\t urban\t engineering\t had turned\tinto\tan\timmense\tstrategic\tadvantage\tduring\tbattle! The\t Lankans,\t unaware\t of\t the\t danger\t that\t awaited\t them,\t were\t charging forward\tin\ta\tfrenzy.\tThey\tran\ttowards\tthe\tinner\twall,\tcarrying\tladders.\tReady\tto scale\t the\t second\t wall,\t weapons\t in\t hand,\t and\t ravage\t the\t hapless\t citizens\t of Mithila.\tThey\texpected\tno\tresistance. \u2018Kill\t them\t all!\u2019\t thundered\t Raavan,\t running\t shoulder-to-shoulder\t with\t his soldiers,\tbloodlust\tin\this\teyes.\t\u2018No\tmercy!\tNo\tmercy!\u2019 In\tthe\ttremendous\tdin\tthat\tthe\tLankans\twere\tmaking,\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\thear\ta loud\tcommand\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tFrom\twithin\tthe\tBees\tQuarter.\tAn\torder\tbellowed by\tSita\tand\ther\thusband,\tRam.\t\u2018Fire!\u2019 To\tthe\tshock\tof\tthe\tcharging\tLankans,\tarrows\tsuddenly\tcame\training\tdown on\tthem.\tRaavan\tlooked\tup\tat\tthe\tinner\tramparts\tbefore\trealising\tthat\tthe\tarrows were\t being\t shot\t from\t the\t windows\t lower\t down,\t within\t the\t wall.\t Windows\t they did\tnot\teven\tknow\texisted. The\t Lankans\t were\t caught\t off-guard\t as\t the\t arrows\t cut\t through\t their\t lines. The\t losses\t were\t heavy,\t with\t almost\t every\t missile\t finding\t a\t mark,\t since\t the soldiers\thad\tbeen\thurtling\tforward\tin\tdense\tformations.\tIn\tthe\tconfusion,\tpart\tof the\tcharge\tstalled,\twith\tsome\tof\tRaavan\u2019s\tmen\trunning\thelter-skelter\tto\tavoid\tthe projectiles\t aimed\t at\t them,\t while\t others\t cowered\t behind\t their\t shields.\t The Mithilans\tshot\ttheir\tarrows\twithout\trespite,\tkilling\tas\tmany\tof\tthe\tenemy\tas\tthey could. The\t soldiers\t around\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t pulled\t their\t shields forward,\tprotecting\tthe\tbrothers. \u2018Retreat,\tDada!\u2019\tshouted\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018We\tare\tin\ta\tdeath\tzone.\u2019 \u2018Never!\u2019\t roared\t Raavan.\t \u2018All\t we\t need\t to\t do\t is\t scale\t the\t inner\t wall.\t Our army\twill\tfinish\tthem\toff!\tA\tfew\tmore\tminutes!\u2019 \u2018Dada!\tIn\ta\tfew\tmore\tminutes,\tyou\twill\tnot\thave\tan\tarmy\tleft!\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tcould\tsee\tthat\tRaavan\twas\tseething.\tHe\talso\tknew\the\tcould not\t give\t the\t order\t to\t retreat\t without\t Raavan\u2019s\t permission.\t \u2018Dada,\t they\t are shooting\tus\tdown\tlike\tfish\tin\ta\tbarrel!\tGive\tthe\torder!\u2019 Behind\t the\t protective\t barrier\t of\t shields,\t Raavan\t looked\t around.\t At\t his loyal\tsoldiers\tfalling\tall\taround\thim,\tcut\tdown\truthlessly. The\tking\tof\tLanka\tnodded,\tthe\tmovement\tbarely\tvisible\tin\tthe\tdarkness. Kumbhakarna\tturned\tto\this\therald.\t\u2018Retreat!\u2019 The\t conch\t shells\t were\t sounded,\t and\t their\t tune\t was\t picked\t up\t by\t heralds across\tthe\tLankan\tline.\tBut\tthis\ttime,\tthey\tplayed\ta\tdifferent\tstrain.\tAt\tthe\tsignal,","the\tLankans\tturned\tand\tran,\tretreating\tas\trapidly\tas\tthey\thad\tarrived. A\tloud\tcheer\twent\tup\tfrom\tthe\tMithilans\tin\tthe\tBees\tQuarter. The\tfirst\tLankan\tattack\thad\tbeen\trepelled.","Chapter\t27 It\twas\tthe\tfifth\thour\tof\tthe\tfirst\tprahar\tthe\tfollowing\tday. The\t sense\t of\t shock\t in\t the\t Lankan\t camp\t was\t greater\t than\t the\t actual devastation.\t They\t had\t expected\t an\t easy\t victory\t against\t the\t apparently\t peace- loving\tMithilans.\tWhat\tthey\thad\tnot\texpected\twas\ta\tstrong\tcounter-attack. Raavan\thad\tinitially\tbeen\tincensed\tat\tthe\tprevious\tnight\u2019s\toutcome,\tbut\ton reflection,\the\trealised\tthe\todds\twere\tstill\tin\ttheir\tfavour.\tThe\tLankans\thad\tlost\ta thousand\t men\t the\t previous\t night.\t But\t so\t had\t the\t Mithilans,\t according\t to\t the intelligence\tfrom\tSamichi.\tThe\tloss\tof\ta\tthousand\tsoldiers\tweighed\ta\tlot\tmore\ton the\tsmaller\tMithilan\tforce.\tWhile\tPrincess\tSita\u2019s\tarmy\twas\tnow\tmade\tup\tof\tthree thousand\t irregular\t soldiers\t drawn\t from\t the\t police\t force,\t the\t Lankans\t still\t had nine\t thousand\t battle-hardened\t veterans.\t Furthermore,\t they\t had\t received\t word from\t Samichi\t that\t the\t ordinary\t citizens\t of\t Mithila\t were\t horrified\t at\t the devastation\t wrought\t by\t the\t Lankans\t the\t previous\t night.\t Morale\t was\t at\t an\t all- time\t low\t and\t Princess\t Sita\t was\t trying\t hard\t to\t rally\t her\t citizens\t to\t fight,\t but\t it seemed\tunlikely\tthat\tshe\twould\tsucceed. The\t more\t he\t thought\t about\t it,\t the\t more\t Raavan\t was\t convinced\t that\t his forces\t still\t had\t the\t strength\t to\t conquer\t and\t destroy\t the\t city\t of\t King\t Mithi.\t And now,\tmore\tthan\tever,\tit\twas\ta\tmatter\tof\tprestige. The\t Lankans\t had\t been\t hard\t at\t work\t all\t night.\t The\t injured\t were\t being treated\t inside\t makeshift\t hospital\t tents,\t while\t parts\t of\t the\t forest\t were\t being cleared\tat\ta\trapid\tpace.\tBy\tthe\tmorning,\tthey\thad\tenough\twood\tfor\ttheir\tneeds. Some\t of\t the\t soldiers\t worked\t in\t groups\t to\t saw\t and\t shape\t the\t hardwood\t into planks.\t Others\t linked\t these\t planks\t into\t giant\t rectangular\t shields\t with\t sturdy handles\ton\tthe\tsides\tas\twell\tas\tat\tthe\tbase.\tEach\tshield\twas\tcapable\tof\tprotecting twenty\tmen. Raavan,\t accompanied\t by\t Kumbhakarna,\t walked\t up\t and\t down\t the\t lines,","supervising\tthe\twork. \u2018The\t tortoise\t shields\t are\t coming\t along\t well,\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna.\t Though he\t had\t not\t been\t enthused\t at\t the\t prospect\t of\t battle\t at\t first,\t Kumbhakarna\t knew that\tleaving\twas\tout\tof\tthe\tquestion.\tIf\tthey\tretreated\tafter\ttheir\tunsuccessful\tfirst attempt,\t news\t would\t spread\t throughout\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t that\t a\t tiny,\t powerless kingdom\t had\t managed\t to\t beat\t back\t the\t mighty\t Lankans\t in\t battle.\t This\t would electrify\tRaavan\u2019s\tenemies.\tIf\tthey\thad\tavoided\tbattle\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace,\tthe\teffect would\tnot\thave\tbeen\tas\tdevastating.\tBut\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate\tnow.\tThey\twould\thave\tto fight\tand\tdefeat\tMithila\tto\tforestall\tother\trebellions. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Tonight,\twe\twill\tcharge\tagain.\tWe\twill\tbreak\tthe\touter walls,\t there\u2019s\t no\t need\t to\t scale\t them.\t In\t any\t case,\t no\t Mithilan\t will\t be\t out\t there. Once\twe\tare\tpast\tthe\touter\twalls,\tprotected\tby\tour\ttortoise\tshields,\twe\u2019ll\tbreach the\t inner\t walls.\t These\t fools\t are\t not\t prepared\t for\t a\t siege.\t We\t underestimated them\tearlier.\tWe\twill\tnot\tmake\tthe\tsame\tmistake\tagain.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t nodded.\t But\t it\t continued\t to\t bother\t him\t that\t Guru Vishwamitra\tand\tsome\tof\this\tMalayaputras\twere\tstill\tinside\tthe\tfort.\tOne\tnever took\tthe\tmighty\tMalayaputras\tlightly.\tNever. Raavan\u2019s\tmind\twas\tstill\ton\tthe\tbattle\tto\tcome.\t\u2018Once\twe\tbreach\ttheir\twalls, we\twill\tdestroy\tthem\tall.\tNobody\tshould\tbe\tleft\talive,\tnot\teven\tthe\tanimals.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tdid\tnot\tsay\tanything. \u2018You\t continue\t checking\t the\t shields,\u2019\t said\t Raavan.\t \u2018I\t want\t to\t read\t the\t spy reports.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tDada.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t walked\t away,\t deep\t in\t thought.\t He\t knew\t they\t had\t to\t fight this\tbattle,\tbut\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tshake\toff\tthe\tsense\tof\tforeboding\tthat\tgripped\thim. He\t was\t moving\t among\t the\t men,\t checking\t the\t tortoise\t shields,\t when\t he heard\t the\t unmistakable\t sound\t of\t an\t arrow\t whizzing\t through\t the\t air.\t He\t ducked instinctively,\t only\t to\t see\t the\t arrow\t slam\t into\t a\t plank\t of\t wood\t at\t his\t feet.\t He looked\tup\tin\tsurprise. Who\t in\t Mithila\t can\t fire\t an\t arrow\t that\t travels\t this\t distance\t with\t such unerring\taccuracy? He\tstared\tat\tthe\twalls.\tAll\the\tcould\tmake\tout\twere\ttwo\tunusually\ttall\tmen standing\t on\t the\t inner\t wall\t ramparts,\t and\t a\t third,\t who\t was\t a\t trifle\t shorter.\t The third\tman\theld\ta\tbow;\the\tseemed\tto\tbe\tlooking\tdirectly\tat\thim. Kumbhakarna\tstepped\tforward\tto\texamine\tthe\tarrow\tthat\thad\tburied\titself in\t the\t wood.\t There\t was\t a\t piece\t of\t parchment\t tied\t to\t its\t shaft.\t He\t tugged\t it\t off, untied\tthe\tnote,\tand\tread\tit\tquickly. Lord\tRudra\thave\tmercy!","\u2018You\t actually\t believe\t they\t will\t do\t this,\t Kumbhakarna?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan,\t snorting with\tdisgust\tas\the\tthrew\tthe\tnote\taway. Kumbhakarna\t had\t come\t running\t to\t Raavan\t and\t taken\t him\t aside\t to\t show him\t the\t note.\t It\t was\t from\t Ram,\t the\t crown-prince\t of\t Ayodhya\t and\t now\t the husband\t of\t Sita,\t the\t princess-prime\t minister\t of\t Mithila.\t The\t short\t note\t warned, very\tclearly,\tthat\tthe\tMalayaputras\thad\tset\tup\tan\tAsuraastra\tmissile\ton\tthe\tinner fort\twalls\tof\tMithila,\tout\tof\treach\tof\tthe\tLankan\tsoldiers.\tAnd\tthat\tif\tthe\tLankans did\t not\t demobilise\t their\t army\t and\t retreat,\t Ram\t would\t fire\t the\t Asuraastra. Raavan\thad\tone\thour\tto\tdecide. \u2018Dada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\t\u2018if\tthey\tfire\tan\tAsuraastra,\tit\tcould\tbe\u2014\u2019 \u2018They\tdon\u2019t\thave\tan\tAsuraastra,\u2019\tinterrupted\tRaavan.\t\u2018They\u2019re\tbluffing.\u2019 The\t Asuraastra\t was\t considered\t by\t many\t to\t be\t a\t daivi\t astra,\t used\t as\t a weapon\tof\tmass\tdestruction.\tLord\tRudra,\tthe\tprevious\tMahadev,\thad\tbanned\tthe unauthorised\t use\t of\t daivi\t astras\t many\t centuries\t ago,\t and\t practically\t everyone obeyed\t his\t diktat.\t Anyone\t who\t broke\t the\t law,\t he\t had\t decreed,\t would\t be punished\t with\t exile\t for\t fourteen\t years.\t Breaking\t the\t law\t for\t the\t second\t time would\t be\t punishable\t by\t death.\t The\t tribe\t left\t behind\t by\t Lord\t Rudra,\t the Vayuputras,\twould\tenforce\tthis\tpunishment\tstrictly. However,\t there\t were\t those\t who\t insisted\t that\t the\t Asuraastra\t was\t not, strictly\t speaking,\t a\t weapon\t of\t mass\t destruction,\t only\t of\t mass\t incapacitation. And\t since\t it\t could\t not\t be\t termed\t a\t daivi\t astra,\t it\t could\t possibly\t escape\t Lord Rudra\u2019s\t ban.\t Raavan\t did\t not\t concern\t himself\t with\t whether\t the\t Asuraastra qualified\t as\t a\t daiva\t astra\t or\t not.\t He\t simply\t refused\t to\t believe\t that\t the Malayaputras\t had\t an\t Asuraastra\t at\t all.\t He\t knew\t it\t was\t extremely\t difficult\t to access\tthe\tcore\tmaterial\tfor\tbuilding\tone\u2014there\twas\tnone\tto\tbe\tgot\tin\tIndia\tfor sure.\t He\t did\t not\t see\t the\t point\t in\t worrying\t about\t a\t weapon\t that\t his\t enemy\t was unlikely\tto\tpossess. \u2018But\tDada,\tthe\tMalayaputras\tdo\thave\u2014\u2019 \u2018Vishwamitra\tis\tbluffing,\tKumbhakarna!\u2019 Shocked\t to\t hear\t Raavan\t refer\t to\t Guru\t Vishwamitra\t by\t his\t name\t alone, Kumbhakarna\tfell\tsilent. Nearly\t three\t hours\t had\t passed\t since\t the\t Lankans\t had\t received\t the\t warning.\t By now,\t even\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t begun\t to\t wonder\t if\t the\t note\t had\t been\t a\t bluff, though\tthe\tvague\tsense\tof\timpending\tdoom\trefused\tto\tleave\thim.","\u2018Are\tyou\tconvinced\tnow,\tKumbha?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan.\t\u2018You\tknow\tI\tam\tnever wrong.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\twished\the\tcould\tshare\this\tbrother\u2019s\tconviction,\tbut\this\town instincts\tsaid\totherwise. \u2018You\t are\t aware\t of\t the\t punishment\t for\t firing\t a\t daivi\t astra,\t right?\u2019\t asked Raavan.\t \u2018Do\t you\t expect\t the\t Malayaputras\t to\t break\t Lord\t Rudra\u2019s\t law?\t Guruji knows\tvery\twell\tthat\teven\tif\twe\tkill\teveryone\telse\tin\tMithila,\twe\twould\tnot\tdare touch\tthem.\tThey\tare\tsafe.\u2019 What\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twas\tthat\tthe\tMalayaputras\twere\tout\tof\toptions. Even\tthough\tthey\twere\tmindful\tof\tLord\tRudra\u2019s\tlaws,\tthey\thad\tto\tprotect\tSita\tat any\tcost. Kumbhakarna\u2019s\tinstincts\twere\tright. \u2018Can\t I\t please\t have\t your\t permission\t to\t step\t out\t now?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan sarcastically. On\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tinsistence,\tRaavan\thad\tgrudgingly\tremained\twithin\tthe parked\t Pushpak\t Vimaan.\t One\t of\t the\t metals\t used\t to\t build\t the\t fuselage\t of\t the vehicle\twas\tlead,\tand\tit\twas\twell-known\tthat\tlead\twas\tan\tinhibitor\tof\tthe\teffects of\t various\t daivi\t astras,\t including\t the\t Asuraastra.\t That\u2019s\t why\t it\t was\t sometimes called\t a\t magic\t metal.\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t been\t keeping\t an\t eye\t on\t the\t section\t of the\tMithila\tfort\tfrom\twhere\tthe\twarning\tarrow\thad\tbeen\tfired.\tAt\tthe\tfirst\tsign\tof trouble,\the\tintended\tto\tclose\tthe\tvimaan\tdoor,\tso\tthat\this\tbrother\twould\tbe\tsafe. Kumbhakarna\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u2018No,\t Dada.\t Please.\t It\u2019s\t my\t job\t to\t protect you.\u2019 \u2018And\tit\u2019s\tmy\tjob\tto\tprotect\tyou\tfrom\tyour\town\tstupidity!\tStep\taside\tnow.\tI need\tto\tgo\tcheck\tif\tthe\tboats\tare\tready\tfor\tthe\tweight\tof\tthe\ttortoise\tshields.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tplease\tlisten\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018In\t the\t name\t of\t Lord\t Rudra,\t have\t you\t gone\t insane,\t Kumbhakarna?\u2019 Raavan\tasked,\texasperated. \u2018Please,\tDada.\tYour\tsafety\tis\tmost\timportant.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tnot\ta\tchild\twho\tneeds\tyour\tprotection!\u2019 \u2018Please\t stay\t here,\t Dada,\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018I\t will\t go\t and\t check\t the boats.\u2019 \u2018Dammit!\u2019 \u2018Dada,\tjust\tthink\tyou\tare\tdoing\tit\tto\thumour\tme.\tI\thave\ta\tbad\tfeeling\u2014\u2019 \u2018We\tcan\u2019t\tmake\tbattle\tplans\tbased\ton\tyour\t\u201cfeelings\u201d!\u2019 \u2018I\tbeg\tof\tyou.\tStay\tin\tthe\tvimaan.\tI\u2019ll\tgo\tand\tcheck\ton\tthe\tboats.\u2019 Raavan\tsat\tback\tangrily.\t\u2018Fine!\u2019","Kumbhakarna\twas\tat\tthe\tlake,\tinstructing\tthe\tLankan\tsoldiers\tto\tload\tthe\ttortoise shields\ton\tthe\tboats.\tHe\tstill\thad\tone\twary\teye\ton\tthe\tfort,\tchecking\tfor\tany\tsign of\tthe\tAsuraastra\tbeing\tfired. He\tturned\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tvimaan\tparked\tsome\tdistance\tbehind\thim\tand\twas relieved\tto\tsee\ta\tscowling\tRaavan\tstanding\tjust\tinside\tthe\tflying\tcraft. Kumbhakarna\t gestured\t for\t Raavan\t to\t remain\t where\t he\t was,\t then\t turned back\tto\twatch\tthe\twork\ton\tthe\tboats. All\tof\ta\tsudden,\tthat\tsense\tof\tforeboding\tinside\thim\tseemed\tto\tstrengthen. Painfully.\tLike\tsomeone\thad\tgrabbed\this\tguts\tand\twas\tsqueezing\tthem\tdry. He\tlooked\ttowards\tthe\tfort.\tTowards\tthe\tsection\tof\tthe\tinner\twall\tthat\thad the\tBees\tQuarter\tabutting\tit.\tHis\teyes\twidened\tin\talarm. What\t Kumbhakarna\t did\t not\t know\t was\t that\t the\t Malayaputras\t had\t finally found\t someone\t to\t trigger\t the\t Asuraastra.\t Someone\t to\t take\t the\t blame,\t and\t the punishment,\tfor\tpossibly\tbreaking\tLord\tRudra\u2019s\tcommandment.\tSomeone\twhose desire\t to\t save\t the\t woman\t he\t loved\t was\t strong\t enough\t to\t make\t him\t break\t the law,\tsomething\the\twould\tnot\tnormally\tconsider\u2014Sita\u2019s\thusband,\tRam. A\t flaming\t arrow\t shot\t by\t Ram\t was\t tearing\t through\t the\t air\t at\t a\t fearsome speed. Lord\tRudra\thave\tmercy. Kumbhakarna\tturned\taround\tinstantly,\tscreaming,\t\u2018Dada!\u2019 He\t charged\t towards\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan,\t running\t as\t hard\t as\t his\t legs would\tallow. Meanwhile,\tat\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tBees\tQuarter,\tthe\tflaming\tarrow\tslammed\tinto a\t small\t red\t square\t on\t the\t Asuraastra\t missile\t tower,\t pushing\t it\t backwards.\t The fire\tfrom\tthe\tarrow\twas\tcaptured\tin\ta\treceptacle\tbehind\tthe\tred\tsquare,\tand\tfrom there\tit\tspread\trapidly\tto\tthe\tfuel\tchamber\tthat\tpowered\tthe\tmissile.\tThere\twas\ta flash\tof\tintense\tlight,\tand\ta\tseries\tof\tsoft\texplosions.\tA\tfew\tseconds\tlater,\theavy flames\tgathered\tnear\tthe\tbase\tof\tthe\ttower. Kumbhakarna\treached\tthe\tvimaan\tand\tleapt\tfor\tthe\tentrance,\tthrowing\this weight\t on\t his\t elder\t brother,\t who\t went\t flying\t backwards\t into\t the\t vimaan. Kumbhakarna\u2019s\tmomentum\tcarried\thim\tinside\tas\twell. But\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tcraft\twas\tstill\topen. The\t Asuraastra\t missile\t took\t off\t and\t flew\t in\t a\t high\t arc\t over\t the\t walls\t of Mithila,\tcovering\tthe\tdistance\tin\ta\tfew\tshort\tseconds.\tThe\tLankan\tsoldiers\ton\tthe outer\t side\t of\t the\t moat-lake\t looked\t up\t in\t surprise\t and\t panic.\t The\t missile\t could mean\tonly\tone\tthing. A\tdaivi\tastra. They\twere\tdoomed.\tThey\tknew\tthat. There\twas\tno\ttime\tto\treact.\tNo\ttime\tto\trun.\tAnd\twhere\twould\tthey\trun\tand","hide? They\twere\tout\tin\tthe\topen.\tEasy\tprey\tfor\tthe\tAsuraastra. Even\twhile\tdevastation\tsped\ttowards\tthem,\tnone\tof\tthe\tLankans\tcould\ttear their\t eyes\t away\t from\t the\t spectacle.\t As\t the\t missile\t flew\t high\t above\t the\t moat- lake,\t there\t was\t a\t small,\t almost\t inaudible\t explosion,\t like\t that\t of\t a\t firecracker meant\tfor\ta\tchild. The\tterror\tin\tthe\tsoldiers\u2019\thearts\twas\tquickly\treplaced\tby\thope. Maybe\tthe\tdaivi\tastra\thad\tfailed. But\tthe\tMalayaputras\tand\tthe\tprinces\tof\tAyodhya,\twho\tstood\tat\tthe\ttop\tof the\tBees\tQuarter,\tknew\tbetter.\tThey\thad\tcovered\ttheir\tears,\tas\tinstructed\tby\tGuru Vishwamitra. The\tassault\tof\tthe\tAsuraastra\thad\tnot\tyet\tbegun. Kumbhakarna,\t meanwhile,\t had\t sprung\t to\t his\t feet,\t even\t as\t Raavan\t lay sprawled\t on\t the\t floor\t of\t the\t vimaan.\t He\t rushed\t to\t the\t door\t and\t hit\t the\t metallic button\ton\tthe\tsidewall\twith\tthe\tfull\tweight\tof\this\tbody.\tThe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tvimaan began\tto\tslide\tshut\tslowly.\tToo\tslowly. The\tdoor\twill\tnot\tclose\tin\ttime. Without\t a\t second\t thought,\t Kumbhakarna\t took\t up\t position.\t Just\t inside\t the vimaan.\tJust\tbehind\tthe\tdoorway.\tAs\tthe\tsliding\tdoor\tmoved\tinto\tplace,\tclosing slowly,\tagonisingly\tslowly. Kumbhakarna.\t Blocking\t the\t still\t open\t part\t of\t the\t doorway\t with\t his gigantic\tform. So\tthat\tthe\teffects\tof\tthe\texplosion\twould\tnot\ttravel\tbeyond\thim. Kumbhakarna.\tReady\tto\tsacrifice\thimself.\tFor\tthe\tman\the\tloved. For\this\tbrother. For\this\tdada. The\tAsuraastra\thovered\tabove\tthe\tLankan\tsoldiers\tfor\ta\tmoment,\tand\tthen exploded\twith\tan\tear-shattering\tsound\tthat\tshook\teven\tthe\twalls\tof\tMithila\tin\tthe distance.\tThe\tLankans\tfelt\ttheir\teardrums\tburst\tpainfully,\tthe\tair\tsucked\tout\tfrom their\tlungs. But\tthis\twas\tonly\ta\tprelude\tto\tthe\tdevastation\tthat\twould\tfollow. An\t eerie\t silence\t followed\t the\t explosion.\t Then\t spectators\t on\t the\t Mithila rooftops\t saw\t a\t bright\t green\t flash\t of\t light\t emerge\t from\t where\t the\t missile\t had splintered.\t It\t burst\t with\t furious\t intensity\t and\t hit\t the\t Lankans\t below\t like\t a\t flash of\tlightning.\tThey\tstayed\trooted,\tstunned\tinto\ta\ttemporary\tparalysis.\tFragments of\tthe\texploded\tmissile\tshowered\tdown\ton\tthem. Kumbhakarna\tsaw\tthe\tflash\tof\tgreen\tlight\tjust\tas\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tPushpak Vimaan\tslid\tshut.\tEven\tas\tthe\tdoor\tsealed\tand\tlocked\tautomatically,\tsaving\tthose inside\t the\t flying\t vehicle\t from\t any\t further\t injury,\t Kumbhakarna\t collapsed,","unconscious. \u2018Kumbhaaaaaaa!\u2019\tRaavan\trushed\tto\this\tyounger\tbrother,\tscreaming. Outside\t the\t vimaan,\t the\t Asuraastra\t was\t still\t not\t done.\t The\t real\t damage was\tyet\tto\tcome. A\t dreadful\t hissing\t sound\t radiated\t out,\t like\t the\t battle-cry\t of\t a\t gigantic snake.\tSimultaneously,\tthe\tfragments\tof\tthe\tmissile\tthat\thad\tfallen\tto\tthe\tground emitted\t demonic\t clouds\t of\t green\t gas,\t which\t spread\t like\t a\t shroud\t over\t the stupefied\tLankans. The\t gas\t was\t the\t actual\t heart\t of\t the\t Asuraastra.\t The\t real\t weapon.\t The explosions\tand\tthe\tparalysing\tgreen\tlight\tprimed\tthe\tvictim.\tThe\tthick\tgreen\tgas was\tthe\tslayer. In\t a\t few\t minutes,\t the\t deathly\t gas\t enveloped\t the\t Lankans,\t who\t lay paralysed\t in\t the\t clearing\t outside\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan.\t It\t would\t put\t them\t in\t a coma\t that\t would\t last\t for\t days,\t if\t not\t weeks.\t It\t would\t kill\t some\t of\t them.\t But\t at the\t moment,\t all\t was\t deceptively\t calm.\t There\t were\t no\t screams\t and\t no\t cries\t for mercy.\t No\t one\t made\t an\t attempt\t to\t escape.\t They\t simply\t lay\t on\t the\t ground, motionless,\t waiting\t for\t the\t fiendish\t astra\t to\t push\t them\t into\t oblivion.\t The\t only sound\t in\t the\t otherwise\t grim\t silence\t was\t the\t hiss\t of\t the\t gas\t spewing\t from\t the missile\tfragments. Inside\t the\t vimaan,\t a\t devastated\t Raavan\t was\t on\t his\t knees,\t holding\t his younger\tbrother\tin\this\tarms.\tTears\tstreamed\tdown\this\tface\tas\the\tshook\tthe\tbody of\this\tparalysed\tbrother\trepeatedly,\ttrying\tto\twake\thim\tup.\t\u2018Kumbha!\tKumbha!\u2019 Some\tthirty\tminutes\thad\tpassed.\tThe\tAsuraastra\thad\tcompleted\tits\tdevastation\tof the\tLankan\ttroops. A\t small,\t skeletal\t crew\t present\t inside\t the\t craft\t had\t escaped.\t One\t of\t them was\t a\t doctor.\t As\t standard\t operating\t procedure,\t the\t vimaan\t was\t always\t manned and\tready\tfor\tflight. The\tdoctor\thad\tmanaged,\twith\tthe\thelp\tof\this\temergency\tkit\tof\tmedicines, to\t release\t Kumbhakarna\t from\t the\t paralytic\t effects\t of\t the\t missile.\t His\t body\t was still\timmobile\tand\this\tbreathing\twas\tragged,\tbut\the\tcould\tmove\this\thead\ta\tlittle. He\t lay\t on\t the\t floor\t of\t the\t vimaan.\t Blood\t seeped\t very\t slowly\t from\t his\t Naga outgrowths.\tHis\thead\twas\ton\this\telder\tbrother\u2019s\tlap. He\ttried\tto\tsay\tsomething,\tbut\this\ttongue\twas\tswollen\tand\this\tspeech\twas slurred\tand\tunintelligible. \u2018Be\tquiet,\u2019\twhispered\tRaavan,\this\tcheeks\twet\twith\ttears.\t\u2018Rest.\tYou\twill\tbe fine.\tI\twon\u2019t\tlet\tanything\thappen\tto\tyou.\u2019"]
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