["The\tbeat\tand\tthe\trhythm\tpulsated\tthrough\tRaavan\u2019s\tbody.\tHe\tcould\tfeel\tthe waves\t of\t sound\t in\t his\t bones.\t And\t like\t everyone\t else\t in\t this\t throng\t of\t Lord Rudra\u2019s\t devotees,\t he\t too\t was\t compelled\t to\t dance\t to\t the\t tune.\t Even Kumbhakarna,\tthe\tlittle\tbaby,\tshook\this\tarms\texcitedly. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. As\tthe\tmusic\tgained\tin\ttempo,\tmale\tand\tfemale\tdevotees\tsurged\tacross\tthe hall,\t towards\t the\t two-hundred-odd\t bells\t that\t hung\t from\t different\t points.\t They began\tringing\tthem\tnow.\tIn\tperfect\tharmony. Then,\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice,\tthe\tdevout,\tin\ttune\twith\teach\tother,\tbegan\tchanting\ta simple\tdisyllabic\tword.\tA\tword\tof\timmense\tpower. \u2018Maha\u2026\tdev!\u2019 \u2018Maha\u2026\tdev!\u2019 \u2018Maha\u2026\tdev!\u2019 As\t the\t chanting\t gained\t momentum,\t the\t voices\t grew\t louder\t and\t louder.\t In ecstatic\t devotion\t to\t the\t Mahadev.\t The\t Greatest\t God.\t The\t God\t of\t Gods.\t Lord Rudra\thimself. The\tdrums\tkept\tpace\twith\tthe\tchanting. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. Raavan\tlooked\taround\thim.\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin\this\tlife,\the\texperienced\tthe sheer\tjoy\tof\tbeing\ta\tpart\tof\tsomething\tbigger\tthan\thimself.\tHe\twas\ta\tdevotee\tof Lord\t Rudra.\t They\t all\t were.\t And\t there\t was\t no\t differentiation\t here.\t None\t at\t all. Rich\tmen\tdanced\tnext\tto\ttheir\tvisibly\tpoor\tcompatriots.\tStudents\tpirouetted\tnext to\t their\t teachers.\t People\t with\t deformities\t chanted\t beside\t soldiers\t blessed\t with formidably\t fit\t bodies.\t Purist\t priests\t danced\t with\t hedonist\t aghoras.\t Women danced\twith\tmen\tand\ttransgender\tpeople.\tChildren\twith\ttheir\tparents.\tPeople\tof all\tdenominations\tand\tcastes.\tIndians\tand\tnon-Indians. No\tdifferentiation. Freedom. Freedom\tfrom\tjudgement.\tFreedom\tfrom\texpectations.\tFreedom\tfrom\tright and\twrong.\tFreedom\tfrom\tGods\tand\tDemons.\tFreedom\tto\tbe\toneself.\tAnd\trevel in\tthe\tunion\twith\tLord\tRudra. Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. \u2018Maha\u2026\tdev!\u2019 Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa-Dhoom-Dhoom-danaa. \u2018Maha\u2026\tdev!\u2019 The\taarti\tended\ton\ta\thigh,\twith\ta\twild,\tthroaty\tcry\tthat\techoed\tthrough\tall of\tVaidyanath.","\u2018Jai\tShri\tRudra!\u2019 Glory\tto\tLord\tRudra. As\t though\t on\t cue,\t the\t drums\t and\t the\t bells\t fell\t silent.\t Only\t the\t echoes remained,\tlingering\tin\tthe\thushed\tsilence\tof\ta\tdeep\tand\tblissful\tdevotion. The\t aarti\t had\t lasted\t no\t more\t than\t five\t minutes.\t But\t it\t gave\t the\t joy\t of\t a lifetime\tto\tall\tthose\twho\twere\tpresent\tthere.\tRaavan\tglanced\taround\thim.\tThere was\t ecstasy\t on\t every\t face.\t He\t looked\t at\t his\t uncle\t Mareech\t and\t his\t mother Kaikesi.\t Tears\t of\t joy\t were\t flowing\t down\t their\t cheeks.\t Raavan\t felt\t his\t own cheeks\tand\twas\tsurprised\tto\tfind\tthem\tmoist. He\twhispered\tto\thimself,\t\u2018Jai\tShri\tRudra!\u2019 Loud\tvoices\twere\tsuddenly\theard\tfrom\tthe\tcrowd. \u2018Kanyakumari!\u2019 \u2018Kanyakumari!\u2019 At\t the\t end\t of\t the\t aarti,\t it\t was\t customary\t for\t the\t Kanyakumari\t to\t perform the\t first\t traditional\t puja,\t the\t Rudrabhishek\t of\t the\t lingam-yoni.\t The\t Virgin Goddess\thad\tcome\tforward\tto\tfulfil\ther\tduty. Everybody\tlooked\tup.\tCraning\ttheir\tnecks.\tBalancing\ton\ttheir\ttoes\tto\tlook beyond\t those\t in\t front\t of\t them.\t All\t keen\t to\t catch\t a\t glimpse\t of\t their\t living Goddess. But\tnot\tRaavan.\tHe\tkept\this\teyes\ton\tthe\tground.\tHis\tfists\tclenched\ttight. \u2018Is\tthis\ta\tnew\tKanyakumari?\u2019\tasked\tKaikesi. Mareech\t glanced\t at\t his\t sister\t before\t turning\t back\t to\t look\t at\t the Kanyakumari,\t his\t hands\t held\t together\t in\t devotion.\t \u2018Yes.\t I\t am\t told\t the\t previous Kanyakumari\t got\t her\t first\t period\t a\t few\t months\t ago.\t She\t has\t moved\t on\t and\t a new\tKanyakumari\thas\tbeen\trecognised.\u2019 Kaikesi\t swayed\t gently,\t rocking\t baby\t Kumbhakarna\t back\t to\t sleep.\t \u2018I\u2019ve always\twondered\twhat\thappens\tto\tthem\tafterwards.\tWhere\tdo\tthey\tgo?\tWhat\tdo they\tdo?\u2019 Mareech\t shrugged.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know.\t Maybe\t they\t go\t back\t to\t their\t villages once\tthey\tare\tnot\tKanyakumaris\tanymore.\tBut\thow\tcan\tanyone\tfind\tthem?\tVery few\teven\tknow\ttheir\toriginal\tbirth-names.\u2019 Raavan\traised\this\thead\tand\tstared\tat\tthe\tnew\tKanyakumari.\tHatred\tflashed in\this\teyes. For\ta\tbrief,\tinsane\tmoment,\the\tconsidered\tlunging\tforward\tand\tstriking\ther dead.\tThat\twould\tget\trid\tof\ther\tforever.\tBut\the\tbanished\tthe\tthought\tas\tquickly as\tit\thad\toccurred\tto\thim.\tIt\twas\tpointless.\tThey\twould\tsimply\trecognise\tanother girl-child\t as\t the\t Kanyakumari.\t His\t Kanyakumari\t was\t not\t coming\t back.\t He didn\u2019t\tknow\twhere\tshe\twas.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tknow\ther\treal\tname. He\tknew\talmost\tnothing.\tAll\the\tremembered\t were\ther\twords.\tHer\tvoice.","And\ther\tface. Her\tangelic\tface\twas\tburnt\tinto\this\tmind.\tA\tface\tthat\tmade\tall\tthe\tpain\tgo away. The\t thought\t he\t had\t been\t avoiding\t finally\t burst\t through\t to\t his consciousness.\tHe\twas\tnever\tgoing\tto\tsee\ther\tagain.\tShe\twas\tgone\tfrom\this\tlife. Forever. He\tfelt\this\tbreath\tconstricting.\tAs\tthough\the\twas\tsuffocating. He\ttook\this\tmother\u2019s\thand.\t\u2018We\thave\tto\tgo.\u2019 \u2018What?\tWhy?\tThe\tKanyakumari\u2014\u2019 \u2018You\tcan\task\tfor\ther\tblessings\ttomorrow.\tLet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 Raavan\tturned\tand\twalked\taway.","Chapter\t5 \u2018Leave?\u2019\tasked\tMareech,\tsurprised.\t\u2018Why?\u2019 Mareech,\t Kaikesi,\t Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t were\t back\t in\t their\t small room\tin\tthe\tguesthouse. Raavan\u2019s\t voice\t was\t calm.\t \u2018I\t had\t hoped\t we\t could\t find\t a\t cure\t for Kumbhakarna\there.\tBut\tthe\tdoctors\thave\ttold\tus\tthere\tis\tnot\tmuch\tthey\tcan\tdo. So\tthere\u2019s\tno\tpoint\tin\thanging\taround\tanymore.\u2019 \u2018But\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\there\tonly\tto\tfind\ta\tcure\tfor\tKumbhakarna.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tsafe place,\tat\tleast\tfor\tsome\ttime.\u2019 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t want\t to\t just\t be\t safe.\t I\t want\t to\t achieve\t something.\t I\t can\u2019t\t do\t that here.\u2019 Mareech\tsighed,\ta\tlittle\tirritated\twith\tthis\tprecocious\tyoung\tboy.\t\u2018Raavan, you\tare\tnine\tyears\told.\tYou\tare\ta\tchild.\tJust\ttake\tit\teasy\tand\tlet\tthe\tadults\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t not\t a\t child,\u2019\t said\t Raavan\t firmly,\t interrupting\t Mareech.\t \u2018I\t am\t the eldest\tmale\tin\tmy\tfamily.\tI\thave\tresponsibilities.\u2019 Mareech\ttried\thard\tto\tsupress\ta\tsmile.\t\u2018All\tright,\tgreat\telder,\ttell\tme,\twhich place\t do\t you\t think\t would\t be\t better\t than\t Vaidyanath?\t There\t is\t a\t tradition\t of selfless\t charity\t here.\t Your\t mother\t and\t brother\t can\t live\t on\t the\t free\t food\t and lodging\t that\u2019s\t provided\t at\t this\t guesthouse.\t How\t will\t you\t feed\t them\t if\t we\t go elsewhere?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tread\tof\tgreat\tports\tto\tthe\teast\twhich\ttrade\twith\tlands\tlike\tBali\tand Malay.\tWe\tcould\tgo\tthere.\tWe\tcould\twork\tthere.\u2019 \u2018Raavan,\tdon\u2019t\tassume\tthat\tit\twill\tbe\teasy\tto\tfind\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\t have\t already\t decided,\t Uncle,\u2019\t said\t Raavan.\t \u2018I\t have\t spoken\t to\t maa\t as well.\tThe\tquestion\tis,\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tdo?\u2019 Mareech\t looked\t at\t his\t sister\t in\t surprise.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t know\t that\t she\t had already\t acquiesced\t to\t Raavan\u2019s\t demand.\t The\t look\t on\t Kaikesi\u2019s\t face\t was\t a","mixture\t of\t helplessness\t and\t resignation.\t Many\t years\t later,\t Mareech\t would remember\t this\t as\t the\t first\t of\t many\t surrenders.\t The\t moment\t when\t his relationship\t with\t Raavan\t changed.\t The\t moment\t Raavan\t went\t from\t being\t his young\tnephew\tto\this\tfuture\tlord\tand\tcommander. \u2018All\tright,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tgo\tfurther\teast.\u2019 It\thad\tbeen\tfour\tyears\tsince\tRaavan\tand\this\tfamily\tmoved\teast,\tto\ta\tsmall\ttown on\tthe\tshore\tof\tthe\tChilika\tlake. Chilika\twas\ta\tvast\tlagoon,\tamong\tthe\tlargest\tin\tthe\tworld,\textending\tover more\tthan\t1,000\tsq\tkm,\tnorth-east\tto\tsouth-west,\ton\tIndia\u2019s\teastern\tcoast.\tSome of\tthe\tmajor\tdistributaries\tof\tthe\tmighty\tMahanadi\tRiver,\tsuch\tas\tthe\tDaya\tand Luna\t rivers,\t drained\t their\t waters\t into\t the\t lake.\t Fifty\t other\t minor\t rivers\t fed\t the Chilika\t besides.\t During\t the\t monsoon,\t the\t heavy\t downpour\t caused\t the\t lake\t to swell\teven\tmore. A\t first-time\t visitor\t to\t the\t kingdom\t of\t Kalinga,\t settled\t around\t the\t delta\t of the\tMahanadi,\tcould\tbe\tforgiven\tfor\tassuming\tthat\tthe\tfertile\tland,\tabundance\tof fresh\t water\t and\t a\t regular\t bountiful\t monsoon\t were\t responsible\t for\t its\t immense prosperity.\t In\t reality,\t while\t agriculture\t was\t indeed\t a\t munificent\t source\t of\t the kingdom\u2019s\triches,\tits\toverflowing\tcoffers\twere\tthe\tresult\tof\tbrisk\ttrade\twith\tother regions,\tnear\tand\tfar. And\tthe\tcentre\tof\tthis\ttrade\twas\tthe\tChilika\tlake. Given\tits\tdimensions,\tChilika\tallowed\tfor\tthe\tconstruction\tof\tseveral\tports along\t its\t shores.\t The\t deep\t draught\t of\t the\t lake\t meant\t even\t the\t biggest\t seafaring ships\t could\t sail\t into\t it\t comfortably.\t Several\t islands\t in\t the\t lake,\t most\t of\t them close\t to\t its\t seaward\t side,\t served\t as\t minor\t ports\t for\t smaller\t ships,\t thus\t dividing the\theavy\ttraffic\tof\tvessels.\tMost\tcrucially,\tthe\tlake\u2019s\teastern\tboundaries,\twhich separated\t it\t from\t the\t Eastern\t Sea,\t were\t marked\t by\t a\t series\t of\t sand\t flats.\t These worked\t as\t breakwaters\t to\t stop\t the\t stormy\t sea\t from\t intruding\t into\t Chilika, making\tthe\tlake\twaters\ta\tcalm\trefuge\tfor\tships.\tTwo\topenings\tin\tthese\tsand\tflats, the\t broader\t one\t at\t the\t northern\t end\t and\t a\t narrow\t one\t at\t the\t southern\t end, allowed\tships\tto\tsail\tinto\tthe\tlake.\tFurthermore,\tfrom\tChilika,\tone\tcould\tsail\tup the\t Mahanadi\t to\t the\t kingdom\t of\t South\t Kosala\t and\t then\t travel\t northwards\t into the\theartlands\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu. Chilika\t provided\t a\t safe\t and\t secure\t harbour,\t and\t afforded\t easy\t access\t to\t a rich\thinterland.\tIn\tfact,\tthe\trichest\thinterland\tin\tthe\tworld. At\t any\t point\t in\t time,\t there\t were\t at\t least\t a\t few\t hundred\t ships,\t large\t and small,\t anchored\t in\t the\t lake.\t And\t a\t smaller\t number\t of\t ships\t waiting\t to\t berth.","Cargo\t was\t constantly\t being\t loaded\t or\t taken\t off\t vessels.\t Traders\t could\t be\t heard negotiating\taggressively,\twhile\tCustoms\tofficials\ttried\tto\textract\tthe\ttax\trevenues due\tto\tthe\tstate.\tSailors\twere\troutinely\tspotted\tmaking\ttheir\tway\tto\tthe\tshore,\ton their\tday\toff,\tlooking\tfor\twine\tand\twomen.\tTavern\towners\tand\twomen\ttried\ttheir best\t to\t attract\t as\t many\t sailors\t as\t possible.\t Meanwhile,\t soldiers\t on\t duty\t worked to\tmaintain\tsome\tsemblance\tof\torder\tamidst\tthe\tchaos. What\t made\t Chilika\t a\t favourite\t among\t traders\t was\t that,\t unlike\t in\t other parts\tof\tIndia,\ttrading\tactivities\twere\tnot\tunduly\trestricted\there. Over\t the\t past\t few\t decades,\t in\t many\t parts\t of\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu,\t ordinary people\t as\t well\t as\t the\t ruling\t families\t had\t turned\t against\t the\t trading\t caste\t of Vaishyas\ton\taccount\tof\twhat\twas\tperceived\tto\tbe\tlarge-scale\tcorruption.\tSevere restrictions\t had\t been\t placed\t on\t trading\t activities.\t Traders\t needed\t licenses\t at every\tstage,\tand\tthese\thad\tto\tbe\tprocured\tfrom\tnon-Vaishya\tadministrators.\tAs\tit turned\tout,\tfar\tfrom\tending\tcorruption,\tan\telement\tof\tbribery\u2014large\tamounts\tat that\u2014was\t added\t to\t the\t process.\t On\t top\t of\t that,\t the\t administrators,\t in\t their arrogance,\tdid\tnot\tthink\tthey\twere\tdoing\tanything\twrong\tin\tleeching\tbribes\tfrom the\ttraders.\tThey\tlooked\tat\tit\tas\ta\tway\tof\tpunishing\tthe\t\u2018thieves\u2019. Of\tcourse,\tany\twise\tperson\twould\tknow\tthat\tto\tblame\tan\tentire\tcommunity for\t the\t faults\t of\t a\t few\t was\t to\t take\t an\t extremely\t myopic\t view\t of\t things.\t Every society\t needs\t entrepreneurs\t and\t merchants\t as\t much\t as\t it\t needs\t intellectuals, warriors\t and\t artisans.\t And\t an\t imbalance\t in\t the\t structure,\t favouring\t a\t particular class,\tends\tup\tcreating\tproblems.\tUnfortunately,\tthere\twas\ta\tshortage\tof\twisdom in\tthe\truling\tclass\tin\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tand\tthe\ttrading\tcommunity\tcontinued\tto\tbe persecuted. Eventually,\t traders\t from\t across\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t got\t together\t under\t the leadership\tof\tKubaer,\tthe\twily\tbusinessman-ruler\tof\tLanka.\tKubaer\tstruck\ta\tdeal with\tthe\temperor\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu,\tand\tits\tsubordinate\tkingdoms,\tby\twhich\the took\t over\t all\t their\t trading\t activities\t and\t paid\t the\t empire\t a\t large\t share\t of\t the profits.\t However,\t this\t did\t nothing\t to\t make\t the\t traders\u2019\t lives\t easier.\t Kubaer\u2019s method\tof\tmaximising\this\tprofits\twas\tto\tsqueeze\ttheir\tmargins.\tBy\tallying\twith him,\t the\t traders,\t it\t turned\t out,\t had\t merely\t jumped\t from\t the\t frying\t pan\t into\t the fire. The\t only\t kingdom\t in\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu\t that\t had\t refused\t to\t join\t up\t with Kubaer\t so\t far\t was\t Kalinga.\t Therefore,\t while\t trading\t had\t become\t difficult\t in most\t parts\tof\tthe\t country,\tit\thad\tintensified\tin\t Chilika.\tThe\tport\twas\tunder\tthe control\tof\tthe\tking\tof\tKalinga,\twho\truled\tfrom\this\tcapital,\tCuttack,\tover\teighty kilometres\t north\t of\t the\t lake.\t \u2018Cuttack\u2019\t literally\t meant\t military\t cantonment\t or royal\t camp,\t the\t name\t resonant\t of\t the\t warrior\t past\t of\t the\t Kalingans.\t But\t over many\tcenturies,\tthe\tpeople\tthere\thad\tgrown\tinto\ta\tnon-violent\tand\tpeace-loving","community,\t whose\t interests\t lay\t in\t trading\t and\t in\t cultural\t and\t intellectual pursuits.\tThis\talso\tmade\tthe\tKalinga\tkings\trelatively\tliberal\tin\ttheir\tapproach\tto the\t vexed\t issue\t of\t state\t controls.\t As\t a\t result,\t several\t Vaishya\t families\t chose\t to settle\tin\tKalinga\tand\tply\ttheir\ttrade\tthere. But\tthings\twere\tslowly\tchanging.\tThe\tanti-Vaishya\tmood\tin\tthe\trest\tof\tthe country\t had\t begun\t to\t seep\t through\t to\t Kalinga.\t Everyone\t wanted\t to\t ingratiate themselves\t with\t Dashrath,\t the\t powerful\t king\t of\t Ayodhya,\t who\t was\t also\t the emperor\tand\toverlord\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu.\tAnd\tit\twas\twell\tknown\tthat\tthe\tmood in\t Ayodhya\t was\t anti-Vaishya.\t Furthermore,\t the\t mighty\t kingdom\t of\t South Kosala,\t in\t the\t upper\t parts\t of\t the\t Mahanadi,\t not\t far\t from\t Kalinga,\t had\t recently forged\ta\tstrong\talliance\twith\tAyodhya\tthrough\tmarriage.\tPrincess\tKaushalya\thad become\tthe\tfirst\twife\tof\tEmperor\tDashrath. Influenced\t by\t its\t powerful\t relatives,\t South\t Kosala\t too\t had\t started\t placing severe\t restrictions\t on\t trade.\t Kalinga,\t sensing\t the\t shift\t in\t its\t immediate neighbourhood,\t had\t started\t realigning\t itself\t too.\t A\t Naharin\t administrator\t from the\t lands\t to\t the\t north-west\t of\t Babylon,\t in\t Mesopotamia,\t was\t brought\t in\t as\t the governor\tof\tChilika\tto\t\u2018discipline\u2019\tthe\twayward\ttraders.\tNobody\tknew\tthe\tman\u2019s original\t name,\t but\t he\t had\t taken\t on\t an\t Indian\t one:\t Krakachabahu,\t the\t one\t with \u2018arms\tlike\ta\tsaw\u2019.\tRegrettably,\this\tstyle\tof\tadministration\twas\tas\trepugnant\tas\this name.\tHowever,\tthe\tKalinga\tking,\tfar\taway\tin\this\tcapital\tcity,\tleft\tKrakachabahu to\trun\tChilika\tby\thimself. Soon,\t traders\t in\t Kalinga\t began\t suffering\t the\t same\t tax\t terrorism\t and countless\t regulations\t that\t their\t fellow\t traders\t endured\t in\t the\t other\t kingdoms\t of the\tSapt\tSindhu.\tIf\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tdo\tbusiness\teven\tin\tChilika,\twhere\tcould\tthey? Despondent,\t some\t decided\t to\t give\t up\t trading\t altogether,\t but\t the\t majority laboured\ton,\tfor\tit\twas\tthe\tonly\tprofession\tthey\thad\tany\texperience\tin.\tHowever, the\t feeling\t was\t gathering\t strength\t that\t they\t had\t to\t look\t for\t ways\t to\t bypass Krakachabahu\u2019s\toppressive\trestrictions. It\t wasn\u2019t\t long,\t then,\t before\t smuggled\t goods\t began\t to\t find\t their\t way\t from the\tSapt\tSindhu\tto\tthe\toutside\tworld.\tThere\twas\tvery\tlittle\tthat\tIndians\trequired from\t foreign\t lands\t since\t they\t had\t plenty\t of\t home-grown\t produce\t to\t live\t on. Even\t if\t something\t was\t smuggled\t in,\t it\t could\t get\t confiscated\t in\t any\t of\t the kingdoms\tof\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu\tif\tit\tlacked\tthe\tcustomary\tpermits.\tUnderstandably then,\tthe\tsmuggling\tmarket\twas\tgeared\tmore\ttowards\texports.\tThe\tSapt\tSindhu produced\t many\t goods\t that\t the\t world\t wanted.\t Smuggling\t them\t out\t became\t a convenient\tway\tto\tavoid\thefty\texport\tduties\tand\tmake\tgood\tprofits. A\t three-tier\t smuggling\t system\t evolved\t over\t time.\t The\t first\t tier\t involved transporting\tmanufactured\tproducts\tfrom\tdifferent\tkingdoms\tin\tthe\tSapt\tSindhu to\tChilika.\tThis\twas\trelatively\tsimple\tbecause\tmany\tof\tthese\tgoods\tcould\teasily","be\tmixed\twith\tlegal\texports.\tIt\twas\talso\tthe\tleast\trisky\u2014and\tthe\tleast\tprofitable \u2014of\t the\t tiers.\t The\t second-tier\t operators\t used\t small\t cutter-boats\t to\t run\t the gauntlet\t of\t Krakachabahu\u2019s\t tax-boats\t in\t Chilika\t before\t escaping\t into\t the\t sea, either\t undetected\t or\t after\t bribing\t the\t Customs\t officers.\t The\t third\t tier\t came\t into effect\t in\t the\t Eastern\t Sea,\t where\t large\t seafaring\t ships,\t anchored\t many\t nautical miles\tsouth\tof\tChilika\tand\thidden\tamong\tother\tships\twaiting\tto\tsail\tinto\tharbour, picked\tup\tgoods\tfrom\tthe\tcutter-boats\tand\tsailed\toff\tinto\tdistant\tforeign\tlands. Now,\t the\tsecond\t tier\tclearly\tconstituted\tthe\triskiest\tpart\t of\tthe\t operation. And\tyet,\tsince\tit\twas\tmainly\tdone\tby\tyoung\tsmugglers\tin\tsmall\tboats,\twho\twere desperate\tto\tmake\tends\tmeet,\tthe\tcream\tof\tthe\tprofits\twas\tskimmed\tby\tthe\tthird tier:\t the\t owners\t of\t the\t large\t seafaring\t ships.\t They\t negotiated\t prices\t down\t by playing\t one\t against\t the\t other,\t while\t they\t themselves\t charged\t the\t full\t and\t legal, duty-paid\tprice\tin\tforeign\tmarkets\tlike\tArabia,\tMalay\tor\tCambodia. When\t they\t had\t first\t moved\t here,\t Raavan\t and\t Mareech\t had\t taken\t up employment\t as\t dock\t workers.\t They\t survived\t the\t hard\t toil\t for\t some\t time,\t but eventually,\t encouraged\t by\t the\t opportunities\t on\t offer,\t Raavan\t had\t hired\t a\t small cutter-boat\t and\t progressed\t to\t second-tier\t smuggling.\t He\t had\t quickly\t made\t a name\t for\t himself\t as\t a\t smart\t lad\t and\t a\t talented\t sailor\t who\t was\t willing\t to\t take risks\t and\t sneak\t out\t goods\t in\t the\t most\t adverse\t conditions.\t It\t was\t not\t a\t surprise, therefore,\t when\t he\t was\t approached\t by\t a\t smuggler\t called\t Akampana,\t who specialised\tin\tthe\tthird\ttier. Normally,\tsmugglers\tin\tthe\tthird\ttier\twere\tcapable\tseafarers,\traking\tin\thuge profits.\t Akampana,\t however,\t was\t a\t bit\t of\t a\t misfit\t in\t that\t category.\t His\t was among\t the\t least\t profitable\t third-tier\t operations.\t He\t was\t notorious\t for\t delaying payments\tto\this\tcrew\tor\tnot\tpaying\tthem\tat\tall.\tIt\thad\treached\ta\tpoint\twhere\tmen simply\trefused\tto\twork\tfor\thim.\tBut\the\tdid\thave\ta\tmajor\tasset\u2014his\town\tship.\tA large\tone.\tOne\tthat\twas\tcapable\tof\tsailing\ton\tthe\thigh\tseas. The\tonly\tway\ta\tsmuggler\tin\tthe\tsecond\ttier\tcould\tgraduate\tto\tthe\tprofitable third\ttier\twas\tby\towning\tor\tworking\ton\ta\tseafaring\tship.\tKnowing\tthis,\tRaavan agreed\tto\tmeet\tAkampana. The\t next\t day,\t Raavan\t and\t Mareech,\t along\t with\t their\t regular\t crew\t of\t five cutthroats,\t sailed\t out\t in\t their\t cutter-boat\t to\t a\t small,\t hidden\t lagoon\t south\t of Chilika,\twhere\tAkampana\u2019s\thouse\twas\tlocated. Raavan\tordered\this\tcrew\tto\trow\tthe\tboat\tclose\tto\tAkampana\u2019s\tship,\twhich was\tanchored\tnot\ttoo\tfar\tfrom\tthe\tshore. \u2018By\t the\t great\t Lord\t Varun,\u2019\t exclaimed\t Mareech,\t invoking\t the\t name\t of\t the God\t of\t Water\t and\t the\t Seas\t in\t his\t surprise.\t \u2018Does\t this\t Akampana\t not\t do\t any maintenance\twork\ton\this\tship\tat\tall?\u2019 One\t of\t the\t ways\t to\t classify\t ships\t was\t by\t the\t number\t of\t masts\t they","possessed.\t Most\t seafaring\t ships\t that\t came\t to\t Chilika\t had\t three\t masts.\t So\t did Akampana\u2019s.\t But\t the\t sorry\t state\t of\t the\t vessel\t was\t quite\t obvious.\t The\t rigging, including\t the\t sails,\t looked\t worn\t and\t incapable\t of\t drawing\t wind\t effectively.\t In fact,\tthe\tsails\thadn\u2019t\teven\tbeen\tfurled\tup\tto\tprevent\tdamage\tfrom\tsudden\tgusts\tof wind,\twhich\twere\tquite\tcommon\tin\tthe\tarea.\tThe\tmasts\twere\tclearly\tin\tdesperate need\tof\tfresh\twoodwork.\tThe\tcrow\u2019s\tnest\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\tmain\tmast\thad\tmost\tof\tits floorboards\t missing.\t The\t tar\t on\t the\t ship\u2019s\t hull,\t crucial\t for\t keeping\t the\t vessel waterproof\tand\tpreventing\tleakages,\tneeded\trecoating. \u2018I\t thought\t Akampana\u2019s\t ship\t had\t a\t reputation\t for\t speed,\u2019\t Raavan\t said, equally\tsurprised. \u2018So\tdid\tI,\u2019\tsaid\tMareech.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsure\tyou\twant\tto\twork\twith\tthis\tman?\u2019 Raavan\t stared\t at\t the\t ship,\t lost\t in\t thought.\t Then,\t abruptly,\t he\t threw\t his angvastram\taside.\t\u2018Stay\there.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\tdoing?\u2019\tasked\tMareech. Before\t he\t could\t finish,\t Raavan\t had\t slipped\t into\t the\t water\t and\t was swimming\ttowards\tthe\tship.\tWhen\the\tgot\tto\tit,\the\tstopped\tand\tfloated\talongside, carefully\t examining\t the\t hull.\t He\t then\t dived\t underwater\t to\t look\t at\t the\t part\t just below\twater.\tHe\tcame\tback\tup\tand\tswam\tthe\tlength\tof\tthe\tship,\tthis\ttime\tnot\tjust looking\tat\tit\tbut\tfeeling\tit\twith\this\tfingers,\tdisappearing\tunderwater\tand\tcoming up\tevery\tfew\tminutes\tto\ttake\ta\tbreath\tbefore\tgoing\tback\tin\tagain.\tOn\tMareech\u2019s orders,\tthe\tcutter-boat\tfollowed,\tcircling\tthe\tship\tand\tkeeping\tabreast\tof\tRaavan. When\t Raavan\t finally\t swam\t up\t to\t the\t surface\t and\t climbed\t onto\t the\t boat, Mareech\tlooked\tat\thim\tquestioningly. \u2018There\u2019s\tsomething\todd\tabout\tthis\tship,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan. \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018Not\t one\t barnacle.\t Not\t one\t mussel.\t No\t shipworms.\t The\t hull\t is\t as\t smooth as\tit\tmust\thave\tbeen\ton\tthe\tday\tit\twas\tmade.\u2019 Biofouling\twas\ta\thazard\tas\told\tas\tsailing\titself.\tThe\twooden\tbase\tof\tships provided\t a\t ready\t breeding\t ground\t for\t barnacles\t and\t other\t sea\t creatures.\t They clung\t to\t the\t wet\t surface,\t multiplying\t and\t growing\t to\t cover\t much\t of\t the\t hull below\t water.\t Some\t ships\t were\t so\t badly\t infested\t that\t it\t was\t impossible\t to\t even see\tthe\twooden\tsurface\tbelow\tthe\twaterline. These\t bumpy\t masses\t of\t barnacles\t drastically\t reduced\t the\t speed\t of\t a\t ship. Another\tperil\twas\tthe\tinfestation\tof\tshipworms,\ta\ttype\tof\tclam\tthat\tgrew\tas\tlong as\t two\t feet.\t These\t creatures\t bored\t holes\t into\t the\t wooden\t hull,\t causing\t slow, long-term\tdamage.\tIt\twas\twith\tgood\treason\tthat\tthey\twere\tcalled\tthe\ttermites\tof the\t sea.\t Raavan\t had\t never\t seen\t a\t seafaring\t ship,\t the\t hull\t of\t which\t was\t not infested\t with\t these\t creatures.\t But\t Akampana\u2019s\t ship\t was,\t strangely,\t completely devoid\tof\tthem.","Raavan\t knew\t that\t the\t best\t way\t to\t clean\t the\t hull\t was\t in\t a\t dry\t dock\t where the\tships\twere\trested\ton\ta\tdry\tplatform\tso\tthat\tworkers\tcould\tscrape\toff\tthe\tsea creatures\tand\trepair\tor\treplace\tthe\twood.\tBut\tit\twas\timpossible\tfor\tsmugglers\tto get\t access\t to\t a\t dry\t dock.\t So\t what\t they\t usually\t did\t was\t careen\t the\t ship\u2014 essentially,\tground\tit\ton\ta\tbeach\tat\thigh\ttide\tand\tturn\tit\ton\tits\tside.\tThis\tallowed the\thull\tto\tcome\tup\tabove\tthe\twater\tso\tthat\tit\tcould\tbe\tcleaned,\tand\tthe\told\twood repaired\tor\treplaced. As\t if\t on\t cue,\t Mareech\t spoke\t up.\t \u2018Maybe\t they\t careened\t the\t ship\t and cleaned\tthe\thull?\u2019 Raavan\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018Uncle,\tif\tAkampana\thasn\u2019t\thad\tthe\tsense\tto\ttie\tup the\tsails\tto\tprevent\taccidental\tdamage,\tdo\tyou\tthink\the\twould\thave\tgone\tto\tthe trouble,\tand\tthe\texpense,\tof\tcareening\tthe\tship?\u2019 Mareech\tnodded.\t\u2018Valid\tpoint.\u2019 Raavan\t considered\t the\t facts\t before\t him.\t With\t no\t biofouling,\t Akampana\u2019s ship\t could\t travel\t at\t nearly\t twice\t the\t speed\t of\t other\t ships.\t A\t huge\t competitive advantage. He\tmade\tup\this\tmind. \u2018I\t cannot\t pay\t all\t of\t you\t a\t salary,\u2019\t said\t Akampana,\t \u2018but\t I\t can\t give\t you\t a\t small share\tof\tthe\tprofits\tthat\twe\tmake.\u2019 Raavan\t and\t Mareech\t had\t left\t their\t motley\t team\t at\t a\t distance,\t out\t of earshot.\tIt\twould\tmake\tnegotiation\teasier.\tThe\tthree\tmen\tsat\ton\twooden\tchairs\tin an\t unkempt\t garden\t that\t had\t clearly\t seen\t better\t days.\t In\t the\t same\t compound stood\t Akampana\u2019s\t large,\t crumbling\t mansion.\t The\t house\t was\t located\t not\t far from\t the\t shore,\t so\t Akampana\u2019s\t ship\t was\t clearly\t visible\t from\t where\t they\t were seated. As\t soon\t as\t Mareech\t heard\t what\t Akampana\t was\t offering,\t he\t looked askance\t at\t Raavan,\t waiting\t for\t his\t nephew\t to\t refuse\t the\t ridiculous\t offer.\t But Raavan\tremained\tsilent,\this\texpression\tinscrutable. Akampana,\ta\tslim\tman\tof\taverage\theight,\tshifted\tuneasily.\tHe\ttouched\this forehead,\tunknowingly\tsmudging\tthe\ttilak,\tthe\tlong,\tblack\tmark\tdrawn\tacross\tit. Finally\the\tbroke\tthe\tsilence. \u2018Listen,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018we\tcan\twork\tout\tsomething\tfor\tliving\texpenses\tbut\u2014\u2019 An\tangry\tfemale\tvoice\tinterrupted\thim.\t\u2018What\tthe\thell\tis\tgoing\ton\there?\u2019 They\tturned\tto\tsee\ta\ttall,\tsharp-featured\twoman\tmarching\ttowards\tthem. \u2018Are\t you\t trying\t to\t hire\t a\t crew\t again,\t Akampana?\u2019\t asked\t the\t woman,\t her exasperation\tevident\tto\teveryone.","Akampana\t was\t visibly\t nervous.\t \u2018We\t have\t to\t do\t some\t business\t to\t earn money,\tdear\twife.\tThese\tpeople\u2014\u2019 \u2018Business?\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tto\tdo\tbusiness!\tYou\tkeep\tmaking\tlosses.\tI am\tnot\tgiving\tyou\tany\tmore\tmoney.\tI\tam\tnot\tselling\tany\tmore\tof\tmy\tjewellery. Just\tsell\tthat\tdamned\tship!\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\u2014\u2019 \u2018You\t are\t a\t moron!\u2019\t shouted\t the\t woman.\t \u2018You\t will\t be\t better\t off\t if\t you realise\tthat\tand\tstay\twithin\tyour\tlimits.\u2019 \u2018But\twe\tneed\u2014\u2019 \u2018No\tbuts!\tJust\tsell\tthat\tcursed\tship!\tI\tcould\thave\tgone\twith\tKrakachabahu, you\tknow\tthat.\tHe\twas\tinterested\tin\tme.\tI\trejected\tthe\taffections\tof\tthe\tgovernor of\tChilika\tand\tstuck\tby\tyou.\tBut\tI\thave\thad\tenough\tof\tyour\tfoolishness.\tJust\tsell that\tship!\u2019 Akampana\t looked\t away\t in\t embarrassment.\t But\t his\t silence\t only\t appeared to\tinfuriate\this\twife\tfurther.\tHer\ttone\tbecame\teven\tmore\taggressive.\t\u2018What\tis\tthe matter\twith\tyou?\tYou\tknow\tI\tam\tspeaking\tthe\ttruth,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Of\t course,\u2019\t simpered\t Akampana.\t \u2018How\t could\t I\t think\t otherwise,\t dear wife?\u2019 The\t woman\t shook\t her\t head,\t glared\t at\t Raavan\t and\t Mareech,\t then\t turned and\tstomped\toff. Akampana\t watched\t the\t retreating\t back\t of\t his\t wife,\t an\t expression\t of intense\t loathing\t on\t his\t face.\t Then\t he\t checked\t himself,\t conscious\t of\t being\t in company.\tHe\tcleared\this\tthroat\tand\tturned\tto\tMareech,\ta\tweak\tsmile\ton\this\tface. It\twas\tMareech\u2019s\tturn\tto\tlook\taway,\tembarrassed. But\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\taffected\tat\tall.\t\u2018Here\u2019s\twhat\twe\u2019ll\tdo,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tas if\tthey\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tinterrupted.\t\u2018We\u2019ll\ttake\tthe\tship,\trepair\tit\tat\tour\town\tcost,\tand start\t sailing\t it.\t You\t are\t welcome\t to\t join\t us\t if\t you\t wish.\t And\t the\t profits\t will\t be shared,\tninety\u2013ten.\u2019 Akampana\tbrightened.\t\u2018Ninety\tseems\tfair.\u2019 Raavan\t regarded\t Akampana\t with\t lazy\t nonchalance.\t \u2018Ninety\t for\t me.\t Ten for\tyou.\u2019 \u2018What?\tBut\u2026\tbut\tit\u2019s\tmy\tship.\u2019 Raavan\tgot\tup.\t\u2018And\tit\tcan\tcontinue\tto\trot\there.\u2019 \u2018Listen,\tI\tdon\u2019t\u2014\u2019 \u2018And\tI\u2019ll\talso\ttake\tcare\tof\tyour\twife\tfor\tyou.\u2019 Even\tMareech,\twho\thad\tgot\tused\tto\this\tthirteen-year-old\tnephew\u2019s\truthless ways\tover\tthe\tlast\tfew\tyears,\tlooked\tat\tRaavan\tin\tshock. Akampana\tglanced\tnervously\tin\tthe\tdirection\this\twife\thad\tgone,\tand\tthen at\tRaavan.\t\u2018What\u2026\twhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019","\u2018I\u2019ll\tdo\twhat\tyou\tare\ttoo\tscared\tto\teven\tthink\tabout.\u2019 Akampana\tswallowed\tvisibly.\tBut\tit\twas\tobvious\tfrom\this\texpression\tthat he\twas\tinterested. \u2018It\u2019s\ta\tdeal,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan\tfirmly.","Chapter\t6 In\tthe\ttwo\tyears\tsince\tRaavan,\tnow\tfifteen,\thad\ttaken\tover\tAkampana\u2019s\tship,\the had\talready\tturned\tit\tinto\ta\thugely\tprofitable\tenterprise.\tAfter\trepairing\tthe\tship, he\thad\trun\tmany\tsuccessful\tsmuggling\tmissions,\tsupplying\tgoods\tfar\tand\twide, and\traking\tin\trevenues. Since\tthe\tnorth\tIndian\tports\twere\tbecoming\tmore\tand\tmore\tresistant\tto\tfree and\teasy\ttrade,\tLanka\thad\temerged\tas\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\tdynamic\tentrep\u00f4ts\tin\tthe Indian\t Ocean\t rim.\t Raavan\t had\t made\t frequent\t trips\t to\t the\t island\t in\t the\t past twelve\tmonths.\tOn\tone\tof\tthese,\the\thad\tdiscovered\tthat\tKubaer,\tthe\ttrader-king of\tLanka,\twas\this\tguru-brother\u2014a\tdisciple\tof\this\tfather,\tVishrava.\tBut\tthis\twas not\t something\t Raavan\t mentioned\t to\t anyone\t in\t Lanka.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t want\t any\t help from\this\tfather\u2014not\tfrom\tthe\tperson,\tnot\teven\tfrom\tthe\tname. As\t his\t business\t grew,\t Raavan\t decided\t to\t make\t the\t main\t port\t of\t Lanka, Gokarna\u2014literally,\t the\t cow\u2019s\t ear\u2014his\t base.\t The\t city\t was\t conveniently\t located in\tthe\tnorth-east\tof\tthe\tisland.\tIt\thad\ta\tnatural\tharbour,\twith\ta\tdeep\tbay\tand\tland jutting\t out\t on\t the\t seaward\t side,\t acting\t as\t natural\t breakwaters.\t It\t was\t in\t a position,\t therefore,\t to\t receive\t and\t safely\t anchor\t ships\t during\t any\t season\t in\t the year.\tA\tcrucial\tadvantage. The\tMahaweli\tGanga,\tthe\tlongest\triver\tin\tLanka,\tflowed\tinto\tthe\tGokarna bay\t at\t its\t southern\t end.\t This\t was\t useful,\t for\t it\t offered\t a\t navigable\t channel\t for ships\t to\t sail\t deep\t into\t the\t heartland\t of\t the\t island.\t The\t river\t had\t been\t named many\t years\t ago\t by\t Guru\t Vishwamitra\u2014the\t chief\t of\t the\t Malayaputra\t tribe, which\t had\t been\t left\t behind\t by\t the\t previous\t Vishnu,\t Lord\t Parshu\t Ram.\t Perhaps the\t venerable\t rishi\t wished\t to\t honour\t the\t river\t that\t flowed\t beside\t his\t own hometown,\tKannauj,\tby\tnaming\tthis\tone\tthe\tGreat\tSandy\tGanga. Guru\tVishwamitra\twas\theld\tin\thigh\testeem\tin\tLanka,\tnot\tonly\tbecause\the was\ta\tgreat\trishi,\tbut\talso\tbecause\the\thad\thelped\tsettle\tthe\tisland\tand\tturn\tit\tfrom","a\trural\tbackwater\tinto\tone\tof\tthe\tpowerhouses\ton\tthe\tIndian\tOcean\ttrade\troutes. There\t was\t a\ttime\t when\tLanka\t was\tonly\t known\tfor\tbeing\t the\t surviving\t part\tof the\t great\t submerged\t land\t of\t Sangamtamil\u2014one\t of\t the\t two\t antediluvian fatherlands\t of\t Vedic\t India.\t People\t used\t to\t travel\t from\t across\t the\t Indian subcontinent\tto\tpray\tat\tthe\truins\tof\tthe\tancient\ttemples\tbuilt\tby\ttheir\tforefathers. But\tall\tthat\thad\tchanged.\tNow,\tthey\tcame\there\tto\tgrow\trich.\tAnd\tmost\tof\tthose who\thad\tarrived\trecently\twere\tfrom\tKalinga. As\t things\t stood,\t most\t Lankans\t were\t happy\t with\t Kubaer\u2019s\t rule.\t And\t the trader-king\t and\t his\t people\t continued\t to\t accord\t the\t greatest\t respect\t to Vishwamitra.\t For\t it\t was\t he\t who\t had,\t more\t than\t a\t century\t ago,\t helped\t King Trishanku\tKaashyap\testablish\tthe\tgreat\tLankan\tcapital\tcity\tof\tSigiriya,\tand\twhile very\t few\t mourned\t the\t deposition\t of\t the\t increasingly\t unpopular\t monarch\t some years\tlater,\tVishwamitra\tremained\tdear\tto\tthem. Raavan\t had\t never\t travelled\t inland\t to\t Sigiriya,\t which\t was\t a\t hundred kilometres\tsouth-west\tof\tGokarna.\tHe\thad,\thowever,\tpurchased\ta\tbeautiful\thouse in\tGokarna,\tclose\tto\tthe\tgreat\tKoneshwaram\ttemple,\tdedicated\tto\tLord\tRudra.\tIt had\tbeen\tbuilt\tin\tancient\ttimes,\ton\ta\tpromontory\toff\tthe\tnorthern\tpart\tof\tthe\tbay that\tjutted\tout\tinto\tthe\tIndian\tOcean.\tKaikesi\tvisited\tthe\ttemple\tevery\tday,\twith the\tsix-year-old\tKumbhakarna\tin\ttow.\tRaavan\u2019s\tlittle\tbrother\twas\tstill\ttoo\tyoung to\tbe\tsailing\twith\thim. On\tthat\tparticular\tday,\tKaikesi\twas\tvisiting\tthe\tKoneshwaram\ttemple\twith a\t sense\t of\t purpose.\t She\t knew\t that\t Vishwamitra\t was\t in\t the\t city,\t en\t route\t to Sigiriya.\tMany\tyears\tago,\tshe\thad\tmet\tboth\tVishwamitra\tand\this\tright-hand\tman Arishtanemi,\t at\t Vishrava\u2019s\t ashram.\t While\t the\t meeting\t with\t Vishwamitra\t had been\t all\t too\t brief,\t she\t had\t spent\t considerable\t time\t with\t Arishtanemi\t and\t had even\tstarted\tthinking\tof\thim\tas\ther\tbrother.\tShe\thad\tused\ther\tinfluence\twith\thim to\t wrangle\t a\t meeting\t with\t Vishwamitra.\t The\t fact\t that\t Kaikesi\u2019s\t own\t family, especially\ther\tgrandfather,\thad\tonce\tbeen\ta\tclose\tfriend\tof\tVishwamitra\u2019s\tfather, King\tGaadhi,\twas\tnot\tmentioned.\tWith\tgood\treason. \u2018Please\t don\u2019t\t tell\t anyone\t that\t I\t used\t my\t husband\u2019s\t name\t to\t arrange\t this meeting,\u2019\t Kaikesi\t pleaded\t with\t Arishtanemi,\t as\t she\t led\t Kumbhakarna\t by\t the hand. Arishtanemi\t nodded.\t He\t knew\t of\t the\t strained\t relationship\t between Vishrava\tand\this\tfirst\twife\u2019s\tchildren.\tEspecially\tnow\tthat\tVishrava\thad\tmarried again,\t bringing\t home\t a\t foreigner\t from\t Knossos\t as\t his\t wife.\t \u2018Don\u2019t\t worry.\t I won\u2019t.\u2019 Kaikesi\tsmiled.\t\u2018Thank\tyou,\tbrother.\u2019 Arishtanemi\t led\t them\t into\t the\t guesthouse\t attached\t to\t the\t Koneshwaram temple,\twhere\tVishwamitra\twas\tstaying.\t\u2018Wait\there\tfor\ta\tminute.\u2019","Kaikesi\twas\tconfused.\t\u2018But\u2026\u2019 \u2018Just\tdo\tas\tI\ttell\tyou,\u2019\tArishtanemi\tsaid,\tbefore\tdisappearing\tinside. Standing\toutside\tthe\tdoor,\tKaikesi\tcould\thear\tsnatches\tof\tthe\tconversation. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto\tdo\tall\tthis,\tArishtanemi.\tYou\tshould\u2014\u2019 Kaikesi\twalked\tin,\tpulling\tKumbhakarna\talong. A\tgigantic,\tbarrel-chested\tman\twas\tsitting\ton\tthe\tfloor\tin\tthe\tlotus\tposition. Vishwamitra.\t He\t looked\t up\t as\t he\t heard\t Kaikesi\t walk\t in.\t He\t recognised\t her\t as Vishrava\u2019s\twife.\tAnd\tthe\tgranddaughter\tof\this\tfather\u2019s\tclosest\tadvisor. He\tmade\tno\tattempt\tto\thide\this\tirritation.\t\u2018Listen\tKaikesi,\tyour\tgrandfather caused\tenough\ttrouble\tafter\tmy\tfather\u2019s\tdeath\tand\tI\tam\tnot\u2014\u2019 Vishwamitra\tstopped\tmid-sentence\tas\the\tspotted\tthe\tchild\tstanding\tnext\tto Kaikesi,\tholding\ther\thand.\tThe\tsix-year-old\twas\tbig\tfor\this\tage\tand\tcould\teasily pass\t off\t for\t a\t ten-year-old.\t He\t was\t also\t extraordinarily\t hairy.\t The\t rishi\t noticed the\tcrude\toutgrowths\tfrom\this\tshoulders\tand\tears,\twhich\tclearly\testablished\tthat he\t was\t a\t Naga.\t Only\t a\t doting\t mother\t would\t find\t a\t child\t as\t ugly\t as Kumbhakarna\t beautiful.\t But\t Vishwamitra\t had\t a\t big\t heart.\t Especially\t for\t those whom\t he\t perceived\t to\t be\t disadvantaged.\t His\t face\t creased\t in\t a\t smile.\t \u2018What\t a lovely\tchild.\u2019 Kaikesi\tlooked\tat\tKumbhakarna\twith\tpride\tin\ther\teyes.\t\u2018He\tis.\u2019 Vishwamitra\tbeckoned\tto\tthe\tboy.\t\u2018Come\there,\tchild.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t nervously\t slid\t behind\t his\t mother,\t clutching\t the\t end\t of\t her angvastram. \u2018His\tname\tis\tKumbhakarna,\tnoble\tMaharishi,\u2019\tsaid\tKaikesi\trespectfully. Vishwamitra\t bent\t sideways\t to\t catch\t the\t child\u2019s\t eye.\t \u2018Come\t here, Kumbhakarna.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t took\t a\t quick\t peek\t at\t the\t rishi.\t Then\t retreated\t behind\t his mother. Vishwamitra\t laughed\t softly.\t He\t turned\t to\t Arishtanemi\t and\t pointed\t at\t a plate.\t His\t previous\t visitors\t had\t left\t some\t homemade\t sweets\t for\t him. Arishtanemi\tbrought\tthe\tplate\tto\tthe\tmaharishi. \u2018I\thave\tsome\tladdoos,\tKumbhakarna,\u2019\tsaid\tVishwamitra\twith\ta\tsmile,\tas\the chose\tone\tand\theld\tit\tout. At\t the\t mention\t of\t his\t favourite\t sweet,\t Kumbhakarna\t stepped\t forward hesitantly.\t He\t looked\t up\t at\t his\t mother.\t She\t smiled\t and\t nodded.\t He\t ran\t to\t the maharishi\tand\tgrabbed\tthe\tladdoo.\tVishwamitra\tlaughed\tand\theld\tKumbhakarna affectionately,\tthen\tmade\thim\tsit\tby\this\tside. Kaikesi,\tnot\tnervous\tany\tlonger,\twent\tdown\ton\ther\tknees\tbefore\tthe\tseated Vishwamitra. \u2018Great\t Malayaputra,\u2019\t said\t Kaikesi,\t \u2018I\t wanted\t to\t request\u2026\t my\t son","Kumbhakarna\u2026\tHe\tis\u2026\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tknow.\tSometimes\tthe\toutgrowths\tbleed\ta\tlot.\tIt\u2019s\tpainful.\tAnd\tit\tcan be\tfatal\tif\tnot\tcontrolled,\u2019\tVishwamitra\tsaid,\tlooking\tstraight\tinto\tKaikesi\u2019s\teyes. The\t great\t sages\t of\t yore\t had\t the\t power\t to\t read\t a\t person\u2019s\t thoughts\t merely\t by looking\t closely\t at\t their\t eyes.\t Vishwamitra,\t one\t of\t the\t greatest\t modern\t sages, also\thad\tthis\tcapability. \u2018You\tknow\teverything,\tGuruji.\tCan\tyou\thelp\thim?\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tcure\tit\tcompletely.\tThat\twould\tbe\timpossible.\tBut\tI\tcan\treduce\tthe bleeding.\tAnd\tI\tcan\tcertainly\tkeep\tthis\tadorable\tchild\talive.\u2019 Tears\tof\trelief\tfilled\tKaikesi\u2019s\teyes\tas\tshe\tbrought\ther\thead\tdown\tto\trest\ton Vishwamitra\u2019s\tfeet.\t\u2018Thank\tyou,\tthank\tyou.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t touched\t Kaikesi\t on\t the\t shoulder\t and\t bade\t her\t rise.\t \u2018But\t he has\t to\t take\t my\t medicines\t every\t day.\t He\t can\t never\t stop.\t Never.\t Or\t death\t will start\tclosing\tin.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tGuruji.\tI\twill\tnever\u2014\u2019 \u2018They\t are\t rare\t medicines.\t And\t difficult\t to\t obtain.\t Arishtanemi\t here\t will ensure\t that\t you\t get\t them\t regularly.\t Make\t sure\t you\t keep\t the\t medicines\t away from\tbright\tlight\tand\theat.\tAnd\tuse\tthem\texactly\tas\tArishtanemi\ttells\tyou\tto.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tThank\tyou,\tGuruji.\tHow\tcan\tI\tever\trepay\tyou?\u2019 \u2018You\tcan\ttell\tyour\tgrandfather\tto\tapologise\tto\tme\tfor\twhat\the\tdid\tall\tthose years\tago.\u2019 Kaikesi\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tto\tsay.\tHer\tgrandfather\t was\t no\tmore.\tShe\tsaid nervously,\t\u2018Guruji,\tmy\tgrandfather\u2026\the\u2026\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\tdead?\u2019\tasked\tVishwamitra,\tsurprised.\t\u2018Oh!\u2019 \u2018Guruji,\u2019\tsaid\tKaikesi,\tthe\ttears\tflowing\tfreely\tagain. \u2018In\tthe\tname\tof\tLord\tParshu\tRam,\tstop\tcrying\tand\tspeak.\u2019 \u2018Noble\tMaharishiji\t\u2026\u2019 Vishwamitra\t looked\t into\t Kaikesi\u2019s\t eyes.\t \u2018Someone\t else\t has\t the\t same condition?\u2019 Kaikesi\twiped\ther\ttears\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Nothing\tcan\tbe\thidden\tfrom\tyou,\tGuruji. My\tother\tson,\tRaavan\u2026\tHe\tis\talso\ta\tNaga.\u2019 Vishwamitra\texhaled\tsoftly.\tHe\tsmelt\tan\topportunity\there.\t Raavan\twas\ta Naga\ttoo? \u2018He\u2019s\ta\u2026\the\u2019s\ta\u2026\u2019 Vishwamitra\tcut\tin.\t\u2018I\tknow\the\tis\ta\tsmuggler.\u2019 Kaikesi\t looked\t at\t Arishtanemi\t anxiously\t and\t then\t back\t at\t Vishwamitra. Tears\t poured\t down\t her\t cheeks.\t \u2018We\t went\t through\t some\t very\t difficult\t times, Guruji.\tHe\u2026\the\tdid\twhat\the\thad\tto.\tHe\u2019s\tmy\tson,\tGuruji\u2026\tI\tcan\task\thim\tto\tstop the\u2026\u2019","Vishwamitra\tsat\tquietly,\this\tmind\tracing. From\t what\t I\u2019ve\t heard,\t Raavan\t is\t already\t gaining\t a\t reputation.\t He\t is young,\tbut\table\tto\tacquire\tand\tinspire\tfollowers.\tEfficient.\tIntelligent.\tCruel,\ttoo. A\t potential\t warrior.\t He\t could\t serve\t my\t purpose.\t He\t could\t serve\t the\t purpose\t of Mother\tIndia. Kaikesi\t was\t still\t crying.\t \u2018The\t growth\t on\t his\t navel\t has\t started\t bleeding, great\tMalayaputra.\tHe\twill\tdie\tlike\tthis.\tPlease\thelp\thim.\tHe\tis\tnot\ta\tbad\tperson. Circumstances\thave\tforced\thim\tto\tbecome\twhat\the\tis.\u2019 If\this\toutgrowths\tbleed,\the\twill\talways\tneed\tmy\tmedicines\tto\tstay\talive.\tHe will\tbe\tunder\tmy\tcontrol.\tAlways. \u2018Please,\t Guruji.\u2019\t Kaikesi\t prostrated\t herself\t at\t Vishwamitra\u2019s\t feet\t again. \u2018Please\thelp\tus.\tWe\tare\tboth\tfrom\tKannauj,\tyou\tand\tI.\tPlease.\tHelp\tme.\tHelp\tmy son.\u2019 Vishwamitra\tsmiled.\t\u2018It\thas\tbeen\tdifficult.\tI\tknow.\u2019 Kaikesi\tsobbed\tsilently,\tstill\tcrouched\tat\tthe\tmaharishi\u2019s\tfeet. Vishwamitra\tplaced\ta\tbenevolent\thand\ton\ther\thead.\t\u2018I\twill\thave\tmedicines sent\t every\t month\t for\t the\t both\t of\t them.\t I\t will\t keep\t them\t alive.\t As\t long\t as\t I\t can and\tmust,\u2019\the\tsaid. As\t soon\t as\t Kaikesi\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t left,\t Arishtanemi\t turned\t to\t Vishwamitra. He\tlooked\tpuzzled. \u2018Guruji,\u2019\t he\t said\t carefully.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t understand\t why\t you\t want\t to\t help Raavan.\tKumbhakarna\tis\ta\tchild.\tHe\tneeds\tyour\thelp.\tBut\tRaavan?\tI\thave\theard stories\t of\t his\t ruthlessness.\t His\t cruelty.\t And\t he\t is\t not\t even\t an\t adult\t yet.\t He\t will only\tget\tworse.\u2019 Vishwamitra\t smiled.\t \u2018Yes,\t he\t is\t cruel.\t And\t you\t are\t right,\t he\t will\t only\t get worse.\u2019 Arishtanemi\t looked\t even\t more\t confused.\t \u2018Then\t why\t do\t you\t want\t to\t help him,\tGuruji?\u2019 \u2018Arishtanemi,\t the\t Vishnu\t will\t rise\t during\t my\t tenure\t as\t Chief\t of\t the Malayaputras.\u2019 The\t Malayaputras,\t the\t tribe\t left\t behind\t by\t the\t previous\t Vishnu,\t Lord Parshu\tRam,\thad\ttwo\tmissions\tto\tfulfil.\tThe\tfirst\twas\tto\thelp\tthe\tnext\tMahadev, the\tDestroyer\tof\tEvil,\twhenever\the\tor\tshe\tarose.\tAnd\tthe\tsecond\twas\tto\tidentify from\t their\t midst\t the\t next\t Vishnu,\t the\t Propagator\t of\t Good,\t when\t the\t time\t was right. Arishtanemi\t looked\t shocked.\t \u2018Guruji,\t umm\u2026\t I\t don\u2019t\t mean\t to\t question","your\tjudgement,\tbut\tI\u2019m\tnot\tsure\tRaavan\u2026\tyou\tknow\u2026\tthe\trole\tof\tthe\tVishnu is\tvery\u2026\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tcrazy,\tArishtanemi?\tDo\tyou\tthink\tI\twould\tever\tconsider\tRaavan for\tthe\trole\tof\tVishnu?\u2019 Arishtanemi\t gave\t a\t short\t nervous\t laugh,\t clearly\t relieved.\t \u2018I\t knew\t it couldn\u2019t\tbe\tthat\u2026\tI\twas\tjust\u2026\u2019 \u2018Listen\tto\tme\tcarefully.\tIf\tyou\ttake\taway\tall\tthe\ttraditions\tand\tthe\thoopla, then\twho,\tor\twhat,\tis\tthe\tVishnu\tto\tan\tordinary\tIndian?\u2019 Arishtanemi\tremained\tsilent.\tHe\thad\ta\tfeeling\tthat\twhatever\the\tsaid\twould be\tthe\twrong\tanswer. Vishwamitra\t explained,\t \u2018A\t Vishnu\t is\t basically\t a\t hero.\t A\t hero\t that\t others willingly\t follow.\t And\t they\t follow\t the\t Vishnu\t simply\t because\t they\t trust\t their hero.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tdoes\tthat\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tRaavan,\tGuruji?\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tevery\thero\tneed,\tArishtanemi?\u2019 \u2018A\tmission?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\ttoo.\tBut\tbesides\ta\tmission?\u2019 Arishtanemi\tsmiled,\tas\the\tfinally\tunderstood.\t\u2018A\tvillain.\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\tWe\tneed\tthe\tright\tvillain\tto\tact\tas\tthe\tfoil\tfor\tour\thero.\tOnly\tthen will\tpeople\tsee\tthe\thero\tas\ttheir\tsaviour,\tas\tthe\tVishnu.\tAnd\tonly\tthen\twill\tthey follow\t the\t Vishnu\t along\t the\t path\t that\t we\t have\t determined.\t A\t path\t that\t will revive\tthe\tgreatness\tof\tthis\tland.\tThat\twill\tallow\tit\tto\ttake\tits\trightful\tplace\tonce again\tin\tthe\tworld.\tThat\twill\tremove\tpoverty\tand\thunger.\tEnd\tinjustice.\tEnd\tthe oppression\t of\t the\t lower\t castes,\t the\t poor\t and\t the\t disabled.\t That\t will\t make\t the present-day\tIndians\tworthy\tof\ttheir\tgreat\tancestors.\u2019 \u2018I\tunderstand\tnow,\tGuruji,\u2019\tsaid\tArishtanemi,\tbowing\this\thead.\t\u2018If\tall\tI\u2019ve heard\tof\tRaavan\tis\tcorrect,\the\thas\tthe\tpotential\tto\tbe\ta\tgood\tvillain.\u2019 \u2018A\tperfect\tvillain.\tFor\tnot\tonly\twill\the\tbe\ta\tbelievable\tvillain,\the\twill\talso always\tbe\tunder\tour\tcontrol,\u2019\tVishwamitra\tsaid. \u2018Yes.\tWithout\tour\tmedicines\tfrom\tAgastyakootam,\the\twill\tdie.\u2019 Agastyakootam\twas\tthe\tsecret\tcapital\tof\tthe\tMalayaputras,\thidden\tdeep\tin the\thills,\tin\tthe\tsacred\tland\tof\tKerala. Vishwamitra\t nodded,\t as\t if\t confirming\t the\t plans\t to\t himself.\t \u2018We\t will\t help Raavan\t rise.\t And\t when\t the\t time\t is\t right,\t we\t will\t destroy\t him.\t For\t the\t good\t of Mother\tIndia.\u2019 \u2018For\tthe\tgood\tof\tMother\tIndia,\u2019\tArishtanemi\techoed. Vishwamitra\u2019s\t expression\t changed\t as\t his\t mind\t harked\t back\t to\t the\t past. When\the\tspoke\tagain,\tit\twas\twith\tbarely\tsuppressed\trage.\t\u2018That\u2026\tthat\tman\twill not\tstop\tme\tfrom\tfulfilling\tmy\tdestiny.\u2019","Arishtanemi\t knew\t who\t Vishwamitra\t was\t talking\t about:\t his\t childhood friend\tturned\tmortal\tenemy,\tVashishtha.\tBut\the\tknew\tbetter\tthan\tto\trespond.\tHe stood\tquietly,\twaiting\tfor\tthe\twave\tto\tpass. \u2018Dada!\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t screamed\t excitedly,\t running\t down\t the\t stairs.\t His\t elder brother\twas\twalking\tinto\tthe\thouse\taccompanied\tby\tAkampana\tand\tMareech. The\t massive\t profits\t Raavan\t had\t made\t over\t the\t last\t few\t years\t had\t turned the\t seventeen-year-old\t into\t one\t of\t the\t wealthiest\t traders\t in\t Lanka.\t But\t his success\thad\tonly\t made\thim\thungry\tfor\tmore.\tHe\tspent\tmost\tof\this\ttime\tout\tat sea,\tworking\thard.\tAs\ta\tresult,\tvisits\tto\this\tlavish\tnew\tmansion,\tperched\ton\tone of\t the\t hills\t that\t surrounded\t Gokarna,\t were\t rare.\t And\t these\t rare\t visits\t were\t a source\tof\tdelight\tfor\this\teight-year-old\tbrother,\tKumbhakarna. \u2018Dada!\u2019\t yelled\t Kumbhakarna\t again,\t rushing\t into\t the\t large\t courtyard\t that formed\t the\t centre\t of\t the\t mansion,\t straight\t towards\t Raavan.\t His\t belly\t jiggled\t as he\tsprinted. Raavan\t dropped\t the\t gifts\t he\t was\t carrying\t and\t spread\t his\t arms,\t laughing, \u2018Slow\tdown,\tKumbha!\tYou\tare\ttoo\tbig\tfor\tthese\tgames\tnow!\u2019 But\tKumbhakarna\twas\ttoo\texcited\tto\tlisten.\tHe\tmay\thave\tbeen\tonly\teight but\the\twas\talready\tas\tbig\tas\ta\tfifteen-year-old.\tThe\ttwo\textra\tarms\ton\ttop\tof\this shoulders\t shook\t wildly,\t as\t they\t always\t did\t when\t he\t was\t excited.\t With\t his unusually\thirsute\tbody,\the\tresembled\ta\tsmall\tbear. As\t Kumbhakarna\t jumped\t into\t his\t brother\u2019s\t arms,\t the\t impact\t caused Raavan\tto\tstagger.\tKumbhakarna\tgiggled\thappily. Raavan\tswung\this\tbrother\taround,\tlaughing.\tFor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tthe\tever- present\tpain\tin\this\tnavel\twas\tgone. Kaikesi\t emerged\t from\t the\t kitchen\t in\t the\t far\t corner\t of\t the\t ground\t floor. From\ther\tbloodshot\teyes,\tit\twas\tclear\tthat\tshe\thad\tbeen\tcrying.\t\u2018Raavan.\u2019 Raavan\tset\tKumbhakarna\tdown\tand\tlooked\tat\ther,\this\texpression\tchanging to\tone\tof\tresignation.\tThe\tpain\tin\this\tnavel\twas\tback.\t\u2018What\tis\tit,\tMaa?\u2019 \u2018Nothing.\u2019 Raavan\trolled\this\teyes.\t\u2018Maa,\twhat\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tneed\tto\task,\tthen\tyou\tare\tnot\ta\tgood\tson.\u2019 \u2018Well,\t then,\t I\t am\t not\t a\t good\t son,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t always\t on\t edge\t with\t his compulsively\t gloomy\t mother.\t \u2018I\u2019m\t only\t going\t to\t ask\t you\t one\t more\t time.\t What is\tthe\tproblem?\u2019 \u2018You\thave\tcome\thome\tafter\tfour\tmonths,\tRaavan.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\twant\tto\tspend time\twith\tyour\tfamily?\tWhy\tdo\tI\thave\tto\tkeep\tdemanding\tthis?\tIs\tmoney\tall\tthat","matters\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\t can\t spend\t all\t my\t time\t with\t you\t and\t we\t can\t live\t in\t a\t hovel,\t dying\t of hunger.\tOr\tI\tcan\twork\tand\tkeep\tall\tof\tyou\tin\tcomfort.\tI\thave\tmade\tmy\tchoice.\u2019 Mareech\t and\t Akampana\t shuffled\t their\t feet\t uncomfortably.\t These\t testy exchanges\tbetween\tKaikesi\tand\tRaavan\twere\tbecoming\tmore\tfrequent. Kaikesi\t was\t on\t the\t verge\t of\t reminding\t her\t ungrateful\t son\t that\t it\t was because\t of\t her,\t and\t the\t medicines\t she\t had\t obtained\t by\t pleading\t with Vishwamitra,\tthat\the\twas\tstill\talive.\tBut\tshe\tthought\tbetter\tof\tit.\tRaavan\tnow\thad an\tindependent\trelationship\twith\tVishwamitra.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\treally\tneed\ther. Despite\this\tyoung\tage,\tKumbhakarna\thad\talready\tbegun\tto\tassume\tthe\trole of\t peacemaker\t between\t his\t beloved\t mother\t and\t brother.\t Now,\t gauging\t the tension\t in\t the\t air,\t he\t spoke\t up.\t \u2018Dada,\t you\t promised\t to\t show\t me\t your\t secret chamber!\u2019 Raavan\t looked\t at\t his\t younger\t brother\t with\t a\t smile.\t \u2018But\t what\t about\t your gifts?\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t not\t interested\t in\t the\t gifts!\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018I\t want\t to\t see\t your chamber.\tYou\tpromised!\u2019 The\troom\tthat\tKumbhakarna\twas\tso\teager\tto\tsee\twas\ton\tthe\ttopmost\tfloor of\tRaavan\u2019s\tmansion.\tOff\tlimits\tto\teveryone\telse,\tthe\troom\tremained\tperpetually locked,\t with\t Raavan\t possessing\t the\t only\t set\t of\t keys.\t Even\t the\t windows\t were barricaded.\tDuring\this\tshort\ttrips\tto\tGokarna,\tRaavan\tspent\thours\tby\thimself\tin the\tsecret\tchamber.\tNobody\telse\twas\tallowed\tin.\tNobody. But\tthe\tlast\ttime\the\thad\tcome\thome,\tKumbhakarna\thad\tmanaged\tto\texact\ta promise\t from\t Raavan\t that\t he\t would\t be\t allowed\t into\t the\t chamber.\t There\t was almost\tnothing\tRaavan\tcould\trefuse\this\tnot-so-little\tbrother. Raavan\tsmiled\tbroadly\tas\the\ttook\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\thand\tin\this\town.\t\u2018Come, Kumbha.\t Let\u2019s\t go.\u2019\t As\t he\t was\t walking\t away,\t he\t pointed\t to\t where\t he\t had dropped\tthe\tpackages.\t\u2018Maa,\tyour\tgift\tis\tsomewhere\tin\tthere.\tTake\tit.\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\t secret\t chamber\t was\t much\t larger\t than\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t imagined. And\t darker.\t He\t coughed\t softly\t as\t the\t dust\t that\t had\t settled\t over\t the\t room\t in\t the past\tfew\tmonths\tflew\taround,\tassaulting\this\tnostrils. \u2018Wait\there,\tKumbha,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan,\tas\the\tdropped\tthe\tkeys\tin\ta\tbowl\tplaced on\t a\t side\t table.\t Torch\t in\t hand,\t he\t walked\t around,\t lighting\t all\t the\t other\t torches placed\t in\t the\t room.\t Large\t polished\t copper\t plates\t ran\t the\t length\t of\t the\t walls. They\treflected\tthe\tlight\tof\tthe\ttorches,\tilluminating\tevery\tcorner\tof\tthe\troom. \u2018Wow\u2026\u2019\t whispered\t Kumbhakarna,\t delighted\t that\t he\t was\t now\t privy\t to\t a","part\tof\this\tbrother\u2019s\tlife\tthat\tnobody\telse\twas,\tnot\teven\ttheir\tmother.\tHe\tturned around\tand\tclosed\tthe\tdoor,\tpushing\tthe\tlatch\tin. \u2018Do\tyou\tlike\tit?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan. Kumbhakarna\t nodded,\t walking\t around\t in\t amazement,\t trying\t to\t soak\t it\t all in. A\tmajestic\tRudra\tVeena\twas\tpropped\tup\tagainst\ta\twall.\tKumbhakarna\thad heard\t the\t celestial\t sound\t of\t the\t instrument\t through\t closed\t doors,\t each\t time Raavan\t visited.\t Arranged\t in\t a\t row\t along\t the\t wall\t were\t other\t instruments\u2014a tabla,\tdhol,\tdamru,\tthavil,\tsitar,\tchikara,\tshehnai,\tflute,\tchenda\tand\tmany\tothers. Kumbhakarna\thad\theard\this\tbrother\tplay\tall\tof\tthem. \u2018What\u2019s\tthat,\tDada?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna,\tpointing\tat\tan\tinstrument\the\thad never\tseen\tbefore,\tor\teven\tread\tabout. The\t double-stringed\t musical\t instrument\t was\t kept\t on\t a\t gold-plated\t stand. Its\tbow\twas\tattached\tto\ta\tclip\ton\tthe\tside. \u2018That\tis\tsomething\tI\tinvented.\tI\tcall\tit\tthe\tHatha.\u2019 \u2018Hatha?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018What\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u2019 Raavan\t ruffled\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t hair\t and\t smiled\t before\t looking\t away. \u2018Hatha\u2019,\tin\told\tSanskrit,\tmeant\ta\tman\tstricken\twith\tdespair. \u2018I\u2019ll\t tell\t you\t some\t other\t time,\u2019\t Raavan\t said,\t as\t the\t dull\t pain\t in\t his\t navel surged\tagain. \u2018But\t if\t you\t have\t invented\t it,\t it\t should\t be\t named\t after\t you,\t Dada!\u2019\t said Kumbhakarna. Raavan\t looked\t thoughtful\t for\t a\t moment.\t His\t brother\u2019s\t suggestion\t was appropriate\tin\tmore\tways\tthan\tone,\tconsidering\tthe\tinstrument\u2019s\tplaintive\tsound often\t reminded\t him\t of\t his\t own\t despair.\t \u2018Yes.\t You\t are\t right.\t I\u2019ll\t call\t it\t the Raavanhatha\tfrom\tnow\ton.\u2019 \u2018Will\tyou\tplay\tit\tfor\tme,\tDada?\u2019 \u2018Some\tother\ttime,\tKumbha.\tI\tpromise.\u2019 Raavan\t had\t created\t the\t instrument\t in\t memory\t of\t the\t Kanyakumari. Playing\tit\twould\tonly\tremind\thim\tof\ther. Kumbhakarna\tsquinted\tat\tthe\tfar\twall.\t\u2018Are\tthose\tpaintings?\u2019 Raavan\treached\tfor\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\thand.\tHe\twanted\tto\tlead\thim\tout\tof\tthe chamber.\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t ready\t for\t this.\t Not\t yet.\t But\t then,\t for\t some\t reason\t he couldn\u2019t\t understand,\t he\t restrained\t himself.\t He\t had\t held\t on\t to\t his\t pain\t for\t too long,\t all\t alone.\t He\t realised\t that,\t deep\t in\t his\t heart,\t he\t wanted\t Kumbhakarna\t to know.\t He\t wanted\t to\t share\t his\t pain\t with\t his\t brother.\t He\t wanted\t to\t share\t his hopes. Tears\twelled\tup\tunbidden\tin\tRaavan\u2019s\teyes. Kumbhakarna\tran\ttowards\tthe\tpaintings.","Raavan\twalked\tslowly\tbehind\thim,\ttaking\tthe\topportunity\tto\twipe\this\teyes. And\ttake\ta\tdeep\tbreath.\tThat\talways\thelped. Kumbhakarna\tstared\tat\tthe\tpainting\ton\tthe\tfar\tleft. It\t was\t that\t of\t a\t girl.\t A\t girl\t no\t older\t than\t eleven\t or\t twelve.\t A\t round\t face. Fair-skinned.\tHigh\tcheekbones\tand\ta\tsharp,\tsmall\tnose.\tLong\tblack\thair,\ttied\tin a\t braid.\t Dark,\t piercing,\t wide-set\t eyes\t and\t almost\t creaseless\t eyelids.\t Her\t body was\tclad\tdemurely\tin\ta\tlong\tred\tdhoti,\tblouse\tand\tangvastram. Divine.\tDistant.\tAwe-inspiring. To\tKumbhakarna,\tshe\tlooked\tlike\tthe\tMother\tGoddess. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tat\this\tbrother.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tpaint\tthis,\tDada?\u2019 Raavan\twas\ttoo\tchoked\tup\tto\tspeak.\tHe\tnodded. \u2018Who\tis\tshe?\u2019 Raavan\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath.\t\u2018She\tis\tthe\tKan\u2026\tKan\u2026\tKanyakumari.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t observed\t the\t painting\t closely.\t Even\t to\t his\t young\t eyes,\t the display\tof\tdevotion,\tof\tworship\tand\tlove,\twas\tobvious\tin\tevery\tbrushstroke. He\tglanced\tagain\tat\this\tbrother\u2019s\tsad\tface,\tthen\tturned\tback\tto\tthe\tpainting. That\twas\twhen\the\tnoticed\tthe\tother\tpainting,\tto\tthe\tright\tof\tthe\tone\the\thad\tbeen studying. It\t was\t the\t same\t girl.\t Everything\t appeared\t to\t be\t the\t same.\t Except\t for\t the colour\tof\ther\tclothes.\tThey\twere\twhite. He\tturned\tback\tto\this\tbrother.\t\u2018She\tlooks\tolder\there.\u2019 Raavan\tnodded.\t\u2018Yes.\tExactly\tone\tyear\tolder.\u2019 Slowly,\t Kumbhakarna\t walked\t along\t the\t wall,\t looking\t at\t the\t paintings. Each\t subsequent\t one\t depicted\t the\t same\t girl,\t only\t slightly\t older.\t Her\t breasts filled\tout.\tHer\thips\tgot\tcurvier.\tShe\tseemed\tto\tgrow\ta\tlittle\ttaller. When\t he\t reached\t the\t tenth\t painting,\t Kumbhakarna\t stopped\t and\t stood quietly\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime.\tIt\twas\tthe\tlast\tin\tthe\tseries.\tThe\tgirl\twas\tnow\ta\twoman. Perhaps\ttwenty-one\tor\ttwenty-two\tyears\told.\tHer\tclothes\twere\ta\tsoft\tviolet:\tthe most\t expensive\t dye\t in\t the\t world\t and\t the\t colour\t favoured\t by\t royalty.\t She\t was tall.\tStriking.\tLong\thair.\tFull,\tfeminine\tbody.\tUncommonly\tattractive. There\t was\t something\t otherworldly\t about\t her\t beauty.\t Her\t face.\t Her\t eyes. Her\texpression.\tShe\tlooked\tlike\ta\tGoddess.\tThe\tMother\tGoddess. \u2018Does\tshe\tpose\tfor\tyou\tevery\tyear?\u2019\tasked\tKumbhakarna,\tconfused. Raavan\t pointed\t to\t the\t first\t painting,\t of\t the\t adolescent\t girl.\t \u2018That\t was\t the last\ttime\tI\tsaw\ther.\u2019 \u2018So\thow\tdid\tyou\tpaint\tthese?\u2019 \u2018I\tsee\ther\tgrowing\tolder\tin\tmy\tmind.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tpaint\ther,\tDada?\u2019 \u2018Looking\tat\ther\tmakes\tthe\tpain\tgo\taway,\tKumbha\u2026\u2019","\u2018What\u2019s\ther\tname?\u2019 \u2018I\t told\t you.\u2019\t Raavan\t closed\t his\t eyes\t and\t took\t a\t deep\t breath\t to\t steady himself.\t\u2018Ka\u2026\tKanyakumari.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tjust\ta\ttitle,\tDada.\tEven\tI\tknow\tthat.\tThere\tare\tmany\tKanyakumaris. And\t she\t is\t probably\t not\t a\t Kanyakumari\t anymore\t if\t she\t is\t a\t grown\t woman. What\u2019s\ther\treal\tname?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Which\ttribe\tis\tshe\tfrom?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Where\tis\tshe\tnow?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\u2019s\theart\tgrew\theavy.\tTears\twelled\tup\tin\this\teyes.\tHe\twalked up\tto\tRaavan\tand\tembraced\thim.\t\u2018We\twill\tfind\ther,\tDada.\u2019 The\ttears\twere\tflowing\tdown\tRaavan\u2019s\tcheeks\tnow.\tThere\twas\tno\tstopping them.\tHe\theld\this\tbrother\ttight.\tThe\tpain\tin\this\tnavel\twas\texcruciating. \u2018We\twill\tfind\ther,\tDada,\twe\twill!\tI\tpromise.\u2019","Chapter\t7 \u2018It\u2019s\t good\t to\t be\t home!\u2019\t said\t Kumbhakarna,\t his\t extra\t arms\t shaking\t slightly,\t as they\t always\t did\t when\t he\t was\t excited.\t Though\t he\t was\t only\t ten,\t his\t voice\t had already\tbegun\tto\tchange. Two\t years\t had\t passed\t since\t Raavan\t had\t allowed\t his\t younger\t brother\t into his\t secret\t chamber.\t They\t were\t now\t on\t their\t way\t back\t from\t a\t short\t trip\t to\t the Nicobar\t Islands,\t an\t important\t port\t en\t route\t to\t South-east\t Asia.\t It\t was Kumbhakarna\u2019s\tfirst\ttrade\tvoyage\tever,\tand\tRaavan\thad\twanted\tto\tensure\tthat\tit wasn\u2019t\ttoo\tlong\tand\tuncomfortable. Raavan\tsighed.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tcoming\thome.\tI\tprefer\tthe\tsea.\u2019 \u2018But\thome\tis\thome,\tDada.\u2019 \u2018And\t maa\t is\t maa\u2026\t I\t can\u2019t\t handle\t her\t constant\t crying.\t It\u2019s\t like\t she produces\ttears\tat\twill,\tjust\tto\tirritate\tme.\tOne\tof\tthese\tdays,\tI\u2019ll\u2026\u2019 Raavan\tstopped\tspeaking\tas\the\tsaw\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\texpression\tchange.\tHe knew\tthat\tas\tmuch\tas\this\tyounger\tbrother\tloved\thim,\the\tdid\tnot\tappreciate\tthese rants\tagainst\ttheir\tmother. \u2018All\tright,\tall\tright,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tpatting\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tshoulder.\t\u2018You\tknow\tI won\u2019t\tdo\tanything\tdrastic.\tBut\tyou\thandle\ther\ttears\tthis\ttime.\u2019 The\t ship\t was\t slowing\t down\t gradually\t as\t it\t reached\t the\t mouth\t of\t the harbour.\t The\t brothers\t watched\t while\t the\t helmsman\t steered\t towards\t their allocated\tberth.\tAs\tthey\tpassed\tother\tships\ton\ttheir\tway\tin,\theads\tturned\tto\tstare at\t the\t by\t now\t legendary\t ship\t as\t it\t prepared\t to\t dock.\t Its\t blinding\t speed\t on\t the high\tseas\thad\tgiven\tRaavan\ta\thuge\tcompetitive\tadvantage\tin\tthe\tcutthroat\tworld of\t smuggling.\t With\t his\t fast\t growing\t profits,\t he\t had\t already\t built\t a\t fleet\t of\t five ships. Raavan\t was\t conscious\t of\t being\t watched.\t He\t rather\t enjoyed\t the\t attention. But\t he\t continued\t to\t look\t straight\t ahead,\t pretending\t not\t to\t notice\t the\t admiring,","and\t jealous,\t eyes\t gawking\t at\t him.\t He\t would\t not\t preen\t in\t front\t of\t others.\t That would\t be\t a\t sign\t of\t weakness.\t And\t nineteen-year-old\t Raavan\t did\t not\t believe\t in letting\this\tweaknesses\tshow. The\ttrader-prince,\tthey\tcalled\thim.\tHe\tliked\tthat. \u2018Dada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna,\tnudging\tRaavan\tto\tdraw\this\tattention. Raavan\t turned.\t Akampana\t was\t standing\t at\t the\t port,\t waiting\t for\t them, clearly\texcited\tabout\tsomething. \u2018Looks\t like\t the\t dandy\t has\t some\t news\t for\t us,\u2019\t Raavan\t said,\t preparing\t to disembark. \u2018Raavan,\tI\u2019ve\tfound\tthe\tsecret!\tI\u2019ve\tfound\tthe\u2026\u2019 \u2018Quiet!\u2019\tRaavan\tsaid\tseverely,\ttapping\thim\ton\tthe\thead. Akampana\tstopped\tspeaking,\tlooking\tsuitably\tchastened. They\t were\t still\t in\t the\t port\t area,\t surrounded\t by\t people.\t Raavan\t knew\t that the\tsuccess\tof\tany\ttrading\toperation\tdepended\ton\treliable\tinformation\tabout\tthe commodities\t and\t goods\t that\t various\t ships\t were\t carrying,\t and\t the\t destinations they\twere\theaded\tfor.\tIt\twas\tcritical\tto\thold\ton\tto\tone\u2019s\ttrade\tsecrets. He\t continued\t walking,\t as\t his\t bodyguards\t pushed\t people\t out\t of\t the\t way, clearing\this\tpath.\tAkampana\tfell\tinto\tstep\tbehind\thim,\tsmoothing\this\thair\tdown. A\tfew\tstrands\tof\thair\thad\tescaped\ttheir\tcoiffure\tearlier,\twhen\tRaavan\thad\ttapped him\t on\t the\t head.\t He\t turned\t to\t his\t assistant,\t who\t was\t walking\t alongside,\t for\t a towel.\tSome\tof\tthe\tperfumed\thair\toil\thad\tcome\toff\ton\this\thands. \u2018Now,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Start\ttalking.\u2019 They\t were\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t private\t chamber\t in\t his\t well-appointed\t mansion. Raavan\t was\t leafing\t through\t the\t many\t messages\t that\t had\t arrived\t for\t him\t while he\twas\taway.\tMareech\tand\tAkampana\tsat\tacross\tfrom\thim,\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\ta large\tdesk.\tKumbhakarna\twas\tsitting\tby\tthe\twindow,\tdrinking\tlemon\tjuice. \u2018I\u2019m\t sorry,\t Raavan,\u2019\t said\t Akampana\t nervously.\t \u2018I\t shouldn\u2019t\t have\t spoken up\tat\tthe\tport\tand\tit\u2014\u2019 \u2018Yeah,\t yeah,\u2019\t Raavan\t interrupted,\t waving\t his\t hand\t dismissively\t without looking\tup.\t\u2018Get\tto\tthe\tpoint.\tI\tdon\u2019t\thave\tall\tday.\u2019 Akampana\tleaned\tforward.\tThe\texcitement\tin\this\tvoice\twas\tpalpable.\t\u2018I\u2019ve found\tit.\tI\tknow\twhat\tthe\tsecret\tis.\u2019 Raavan\tput\tthe\tpapyrus\tscroll\tdown\tand\tpicked\tup\ta\tquill.\tHe\tdipped\tit\tin","the\tinkpot\tand\tstarted\twriting\ta\tnote\ton\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tmessage\the\twas\treading. \u2018You\tknow\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\triddles.\tSpeak\tplainly.\tWhat\thave\tyou\tfound?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tinformation\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor.\tFrom\tone\tof\tthe\tdescendants of\tKing\tTrishanku\tKaashyap.\u2019 Raavan\t stopped\t writing.\t He\t replaced\t the\t quill\t in\t its\t hold,\t leaned\t back\t in his\tchair\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Continue.\u2019 \u2018You\tdo\tknow\tthat\tTrishanku\tKaashyap\u2019s\tbody\twas\tnever\tfound\tafter\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\tknow\tTrishanku\u2019s\tentire\tstory.\tDon\u2019t\tgive\tme\ta\thistory\tlesson.\tGet\tto\tthe point,\u2019\tRaavan\tsnapped. Trishanku\t Kaashyap\t was\t the\t first\t king\t of\t Lanka\t in\t the\t modern\t age.\t His kingdom\t had\t been\t established\t with\t the\t help\t of\t Vishwamitra.\t But\t over\t time,\t his subjects\t had\t wearied\t of\t Trishanku\u2019s\t violent\t and\t selfish\t ways,\t and\t he\t had\t been deposed.\t Even\t Vishwamitra,\t realising\t his\t mistake\t in\t supporting\t Trishanku,\t had helped\tthe\tpeople\u2019s\trebellion. Mareech\tasked\tthe\tquestion\tthat\twas\ton\teveryone\u2019s\tmind.\t\u2018Have\tyou\tfound the\tsecret?\u2019 \u2018Yes!\u2019\tsaid\tAkampana\ttriumphantly. The\t secret\t in\t question\t related\t to\t Raavan\u2019s\t main\t ship,\t once\t owned\t by Akampana.\t Despite\t the\t remarkably\t inept\t way\t in\t which\t Akampana\t had\t handled it,\tthe\tship\thad\tnever\tsuffered\tany\tbiofouling\tand\thad\tcontinued\tto\ttravel\tat\ttwice the\t speed\t of\t other\t ships.\t Akampana\t himself\t did\t not\t know\t what\t made\t his\t ship special.\tAll\the\tknew\twas\tthat\tit\thad\tonce\tbelonged\tto\ta\tdescendant\tof\tTrishanku Kaashyap. \u2018There\t is\t a\t special\t material\t that\t has\t to\t be\t ground\t and\t mixed\t with\t oil\u2014an oil\t from\t Mesopotamia\u2014and\t rubbed\t on\t the\t hull\t once\t every\t twenty\t years,\u2019\t said Akampana.\t \u2018It\t keeps\t barnacles\t and\t other\t sea\t creatures\t away.\t It\u2019s\t as\t simple\t as that.\u2019 Raavan\t leaned\t forward.\t \u2018And\t where\t does\t one\t find\t this\t special\t material, Akampana?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\twith\tyour\tfriends.\tThe\tMalayaputras.\tThey\tcall\tit\tthe\tcave\tmaterial\tfor some\treason.\u2019 \u2018I\tguess\tthat\u2019s\tbecause\tthey\tfound\tit\tin\ta\tcave,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan\tsarcastically. \u2018Perhaps\tyou\tare\tright,\u2019\tsaid\tAkampana,\toblivious\tas\tusual. Raavan\t rolled\t his\t eyes\t and\t turned\t to\t Mareech.\t \u2018Fix\t a\t meeting\t with\t them. Quickly.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tneed\tthe\tcave\tmaterial,\tRaavan?\u2019\tasked\tVishwamitra.","By\t a\t strange\t coincidence,\t Vishwamitra\t and\t Arishtanemi\t had\t arrived\t in Gokarna\t that\t very\t week,\t en\t route\t to\t Sigiriya.\t Raavan\t had\t lost\t no\t time\t in\t going to\t meet\t them.\t But\t he\t had\t insisted\t on\t going\t alone.\t Without\t Akampana,\t or\t even Mareech. \u2018I\thave\tsome\tplans\tfor\ttrading\twith\tit,\tGuruji,\u2019\tanswered\tRaavan,\this\thead bowed.\tHe\twas\talways\tpolite\tand\tdeferential\twith\tVishwamitra. \u2018Are\t you\t planning\t to\t cut\t us\t out\t and\t sell\t directly\t to\t Kubaer?\t Are\t you planning\tto\treduce\tour\tprofits?\u2019 Raavan\t knew\t that\t the\t Malayaputras\t sold\t the\t cave\t material\t directly\t to Kubaer.\tHe\thad\tbeen\ttold\tby\tAkampana\tthat\tthe\tmaterial,\twhatever\tit\twas,\twas poisonous\tfor\thumans.\tAnd\tthat\tit\twas\trefined\tand\tused\tas\ta\tmixture\tin\tthe\tfuel for\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan,\t the\t legendary\t flying\t vehicle\t owned\t by\t Kubaer.\t The other\tingredients\tused\tfor\tthe\tfuel\tmixture\twere\talmost\tas\tcostly.\tWhich\twas\tone of\tthe\treasons\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan\twas\tused\tso\trarely,\tand\twhy\tsimilar\tvimaans had\tnot\tbeen\tbuilt.\tThey\twere\tsimply\ttoo\texpensive\tto\trun. Raavan\twas\tprepared\tfor\tthe\tquestion.\tHe\tlooked\tup\tand\tfolded\this\thands together\t in\t a\t namaste.\t \u2018No,\t Guruji.\t Would\t I\t ever\t do\t that\t to\t the\t mighty Malayaputras?\t But\t having\t said\t that,\t Chief-Trader\t Kubaer\t isn\u2019t\t buying\t the material\t from\t you\t anymore\t because\t it\u2019s\t too\t expensive.\t As\t you\t know,\t he\t has even\tstopped\tusing\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan.\u2019 \u2018So\tare\tyou\tplanning\tto\tbuy\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan\tand\tuse\tit\tyourself?\u2019 Raavan\t had\t guessed\t that\t the\t Malayaputras\t were\t not\t aware\t that\t the\t cave material\thelped\tprevent\tbiofouling\ton\tships\tor\tthey\twould\thave\tbeen\tusing\tit\ton their\town\tvessels.\tListening\tto\tVishwamitra\tnow,\the\tbecame\tcertain\tof\tthis.\tIf\tall went\twell,\the\twould\tbe\tthe\tonly\tone\twith\tthe\tcompetitive\tadvantage\tof\tsuperfast ships. \u2018Leasing\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan\t is\t an\t option\t as\t well,\t Guruji.\t Chief-trader Kubaer\tnever\tsays\tno\tto\tan\topportunity\tfor\tmaking\tprofits,\tdoes\the?\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\ta\tlittle\tbit\tof\tthis\tand\ta\tlittle\tbit\tof\tthat.\u2019 Although\tusing\tthe\tvimaan\tfor\ttrade\twould\tbe\ta\tlosing\tproposition\tbecause of\t the\t exorbitant\t running\t cost,\t Raavan\t did\t actually\t plan\t to\t use\t it.\t After\t all,\t he had\t to\t convince\t the\t ever-vigilant\t Malayaputras\t that\t he\t was\t buying\t the\t cave material\tonly\tfor\tthe\tpurpose\tof\tflying\tthe\tvimaan.\tOn\tprospecting\ttrips\tmaybe. Or\teven\tholidays! Vishwamitra\tlooked\tintently\tat\tRaavan,\ttrying\tto\tread\this\tmind.\tBut\the\thit a\tblank\twall.\tRaavan\thad\tby\tnow\tlearnt\tthe\ttechnique\tof\tblocking\teven\tthe\tmost powerful\trishi\tfrom\treading\this\tmind. \u2018All\tright,\u2019\tsaid\tVishwamitra.\t\u2018You\twill\thave\tto\tpay\tfive\thundred\tthousand","gold\t coins\t per\t consignment.\t And\t you\t will\t have\t to\t take\t at\t least\t three consignments\ta\tyear.\u2019 It\t was\t a\t ridiculous\t price.\t Way\t beyond\t what\t Kubaer\t paid.\t And\t the insistence\ton\ta\tminimum\tpurchase\twas\tunheard\tof. But\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\tflinch.\tHe\thad\tdone\this\tcalculations\talready.\t\u2018I\tagree\tto the\tprice,\tGuruji.\tBut\tI\tcannot\tagree\tto\tthe\tminimum\tnumber\tof\tconsignments.\tI don\u2019t\t know\t how\t often\t I\t will\t use\t the\t vimaan.\t I\t will\t try\t my\t best\t to\t buy\t three consignments\tevery\tyear.\tBut\tthere\tmay\tbe\tsome\tyears\twhen\tI\tam\tunable\tto\tdo so.\tI\tshould\tnot\tbe\tpenalised\tfor\tthat.\u2019 Vishwamitra\tnodded.\t\u2018All\tright.\u2019 Standing\t beside\t them,\t Arishtanemi\t could\t not\t believe\t his\t ears.\t Five hundred\t thousand\t gold\t coins\t per\t consignment!\t With\t that\t much\t money,\t the Malayaputras\tcould\tbegin\tthe\tsearch\tfor\tdaivi\tastra\tmaterial\tin\tearnest.\tThe\tdaivi astras\twere\tweapons\tof\tmass\tdestruction,\twhose\tuse\thad\tbeen\tseverely\trestricted by\t the\t previous\t Mahadev,\t Lord\t Rudra.\t He\t had\t decreed\t that\t they\t could\t not\t be deployed\twithout\tthe\tpermission\tof\tthe\tVayuputras,\tthe\ttribe\tleft\tbehind\tby\tLord Rudra.\t But\t Vishwamitra\t had\t plans\t of\t his\t own.\t He\t wanted\t the\t Vishnu\t to\t rise\t in his\ttime.\tFor\tthat\tto\thappen,\tand\tto\tmanage\tthe\tcourse\tof\tevents,\the\thad\tto\thave independent\tcontrol\tof\tthe\tdaivi\tastras.\tThis\tdeal\t with\tRaavan\twould\tgive\thim the\tfunds\tto\tseek\tout\tand\tquarry\tthe\tmaterial\trequired\tfor\tthe\tmanufacture\tof\tthe divine\t weapons.\t Arishtanemi\t could\t not\t help\t but\t smile\t at\t the\t irony:\t it\t was\t the pirate\tRaavan\twho\twould\tfree\tthem\tfrom\ttheir\tdependency\ton\tthe\tVayuputras. \u2018Thank\t you\t so\t much,\t Guruji,\u2019\t said\t Raavan,\t bending\t to\t touch\t the maharishi\u2019s\tfeet. \u2018Ayushman\tBhava,\u2019\tsaid\tVishwamitra,\tblessing\tRaavan\twith\ta\tlong\tlife. \u2018I\twonder\twhat\the\tis\tplanning\tto\tdo,\tGuruji,\u2019\tsaid\tArishtanemi. \u2018I\u2019m\tconfused\ttoo,\u2019\tsaid\tVishwamitra.\t\u2018The\tonly\tuse\tfor\tthe\tcave\tmaterial, other\tthan\tas\tfuel\tfor\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan,\tis\tas\ta\tpoison.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut\tfor\tall\tpractical\tpurposes,\tit\u2019s\ta\tpretty\tuseless\tpoison.\u2019 Arishtanemi\t was\t right.\t The\t cave\t material\t was\t a\t very\t slow-acting\t poison. One\twould\thave\tto\tadminister\tit\tregularly\tto\tthe\tvictim,\tfor\tmany\tweeks,\tfor\tit\tto have\t any\t effect.\t And\t when\t it\t was\t refined\t into\t a\t potent\t poison,\t it\t emanated\t a distinctively\tfoul\tsmell,\twhich\trather\tdefeated\tthe\tpurpose.\tThe\tintended\tvictim would\tsmell\tit\tfrom\tmiles\taway! \u2018Maybe\t he\t wants\t to\t be\t the\t only\t one\t in\t the\t world\t with\t a\t flying\t machine, even\tif\tit\tbankrupts\thim.\tI\thad\tthought\tRaavan\twould\tserve\tour\tpurpose.\tThat\the","could\t grow\t into\t a\t worthy\t villain.\t But\t it\t looks\t like\t he\u2019s\t surrendered\t to\t mere vanity,\u2019\tVishwamitra\tsaid,\tlooking\tdisappointed. \u2018He\t can\t still\t serve\t our\t purpose,\t Guruji.\t With\t that\t much\t gold\t at\t our disposal,\twe\tcan\tbegin\tour\tsearch\tfor\tthe\tdaivi\tastra\tmaterials\tin\tearnest.\u2019 \u2018True.\tBut\tgetting\tthe\tcave\tmaterial\tis\tdifficult.\u2019 \u2018Please\t don\u2019t\t worry\t about\t that,\t Guruji,\u2019\t said\t Arishtanemi.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t ensure\t that we\tget\tall\tthe\tmaterial\twe\tneed.\u2019 \u2018Raavan,\thave\tyou\tgone\tmad?\u2019\tMareech\tblurted.\tA\tsteely\tlook\tfrom\this\tnephew forced\t him\t to\t control\t himself\t and\t check\t his\t tone.\t \u2018Listen\t to\t me,\t Raavan,\t we have\t worked\t hard\u2026\t you\t have\t worked\t hard\t to\t build\t up\t all\t we\t have\t now.\t Five hundred\tthousand\tgold\tcoins\tper\tconsignment\tis\ttoo\tmuch.\tWe\tcan\tnever\u2014\u2019 \u2018My\t numbers\t are\t never\t wrong.\t I\t calculate\t that\t if\t we\t can\t build\t a\t fleet\t of two\t hundred\t ships\t as\t soon\t as\t possible,\t and\t run\t them\t continuously\t on\t the\t main trade\t routes\u2014spice,\t cotton,\t ivory,\t metal\t and\t diamond\u2014we\t will\t recover\t our investment\tin\tthree\tyears.\tAfter\tthat,\tit\u2019s\tpure\tprofit.\u2019 \u2018Two\thundred\tships?\tRaavan,\tI\tlike\tyour\tconfidence,\tand\tI\u2019ve\talways\thad faith\tin\tyour\tvision.\tBut\tthis\tkind\tof\tscale\tis\tunimaginable.\tAnd\tunmanageable. The\trisks\tare\ttoo\thigh.\u2019 \u2018On\tthe\tcontrary,\tscaling\tit\tup\twill\treduce\tour\trisk.\u2019 \u2018But\t Raavan,\t no\t trader\t has\t ever\t owned\t a\t fleet\t of\t two\t hundred\t ships.\t It\u2019s unheard\tof!\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tbecause\tthere\thas\tnever\tbeen\ta\ttrader\tcalled\tRaavan\tbefore\tthis.\u2019 Akampana\ttried\tto\tbutt\tin.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsure\twe\tcannot\tnegotiate\tfurther\twith the\t Malayaputras?\t Guru\t Vishwamitra\t and\t his\t followers\t live\t very\t frugal\t lives.\t I don\u2019t\tsee\twhat\tthey\tneed\tso\tmuch\tmoney\tfor.\tMaybe\tthere\tis\tstill\tsome\troom\tfor negotiation\u2026\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t not\t going\t back\t on\t a\t deal\t that\t I\u2019ve\t signed\t already,\u2019\t said\t Raavan firmly. \u2018Perhaps\t we\t can\t expand\t slowly,\t then?\t Start\t with\t say,\t twenty\t ships.\t One consignment\t of\t cave\t material\t is\t enough\t for\t that.\t We\t can\t see\t how\t it\t works\t and \u2014\u2019 Raavan\tcut\tin.\t\u2018No.\tWe\twill\tbegin\twith\ttwo\thundred.\u2019 \u2018But,\t Raavan,\u2019\t said\t Akampana,\t nervously\t fiddling\t with\t his\t many\t finger rings.\t \u2018Building\t two\t hundred\t ships\t means\t we\t will\t need\t ten\t consignments.\t That means\twe\twill\tneed\tto\tpay\tfive\tmillion\tgold\tcoins.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\tcorrect.\u2019","\u2018Raavan,\tlisten\tto\tme,\u2019\tsaid\tMareech.\t\u2018Five\tmillion\tgold\tcoins\tis\tmore\tthan the\t annual\t revenue\t of\t most\t kingdoms\t in\t the\t Sapt\t Sindhu.\t We\t will\t have\t to mortgage\teverything\twe\thave\tto\traise\tthat\tkind\tof\tmoney.\u2019 \u2018Then\twe\tshould\tdo\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Dada,\u2019\tinterrupted\tKumbhakarna. Raavan\tturned\tto\this\tyounger\tbrother.\t\u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tan\tidea.\u2019 \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018People\ttalk\tfreely\tin\tfront\tof\tme\tbecause\tthey\tthink\tI\tam\tonly\ta\tchild\tand \u2014\u2019 \u2018Please\tget\tto\tthe\tpoint\tquickly,\tKumbhakarna.\tYou\tknow\tRaavan\tdoes\tnot like\t long-winded\t answers,\u2019\t Akampana\t interjected.\t He\t looked\t at\t Raavan\t for confirmation,\tbut\twithered\ton\treceiving\tan\tangry\tglare.\tRaavan\thad\tall\tthe\ttime in\tthe\tworld\tfor\tKumbhakarna. \u2018We\tmay\tnot\tneed\tto\tborrow\tthe\tmoney,\u2019\tcontinued\tKumbhakarna\tcalmly. \u2018We\tcan\tjust\tsteal\tit.\u2019 Raavan\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u2018Not\t a\t good\t idea.\t We\u2019ll\t have\t to\t hit\t too\t many targets\tto\traise\tfive\tmillion.\tAnd\teach\ttime\twe\thit\ta\tplace,\tthe\trisk\twill\tincrease.\u2019 \u2018Not\treally,\tDada.\tAll\twe\tneed\tto\tdo\tis\thit\tone\tbig\ttarget.\u2019 \u2018We\tcan\u2019t\ttarget\troyal\ttreasuries,\tKumbha.\tThe\tsecurity\tis\ttoo\ttight.\u2019 \u2018I\twasn\u2019t\ttalking\tabout\ta\troyal\ttreasury.\u2019 \u2018There\t is\t someone\t in\t India,\t other\t than\t a\t king,\t who\t has\t five\t million\t gold coins?\u2019\tRaavan\traised\tan\teyebrow,\tintrigued. \u2018Krakachabahu,\tthe\tgovernor\tof\tChilika.\u2019 Mareech\tnearly\tchoked\ton\tthe\tcardamom-flavoured\tmilk\the\twas\tdrinking. \u2018Krakachabahu?\t How\t can\t we\t steal\t from\t him?\t The\t entire\t Kalinga\t fleet\t will\t be after\tus.\tWe\twill\tnot\thave\ta\tsafe\tharbour\tanywhere\tin\tthe\tIndian\tOcean.\u2019 \u2018But\tUncle,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna\tpolitely,\t\u2018this\tis\tmoney\tthat\tKrakachabahu has\tstolen\tfrom\tthe\tking\tof\tKalinga.\tHe\thas\tbeen\ttaking\ta\tcut\tfrom\tthe\tCustoms revenue\t for\t years.\t He\t keeps\t the\t money\t hidden\t in\t an\t underground\t vault\t in\t his palace.\tHe\twill\tnever\tbe\table\tto\tadmit\tthat\the\thad\tit\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace.\tThat\u2019s\tthe beauty\tof\tstealing\tfrom\ta\tthief;\the\tcannot\tcomplain.\u2019 \u2018Hmm\u2026\u2019\tRaavan\u2019s\teyes\tsparkled. \u2018I\u2019ve\t also\t heard\t that\t a\t lot\t of\t his\t wealth\t is\t conveniently\t in\t the\t form\t of precious\tstones.\tSmall,\tlightweight,\tand\teasy\tto\tsteal.\tAnd\tthey\tcan\tbe\tconverted to\tgold\tat\tany\tport\tin\tthe\tIndian\tOcean.\u2019 Raavan\tturned\tto\tMareech\tand\tAkampana,\ta\tproud\tsmile\ton\this\tface.\t\u2018My brother!\u2019 \u2018But\t Raavan,\u2019\t said\t Akampana,\t \u2018we\t can\u2019t\t just\t walk\t into\t Krakachabahu\u2019s","palace.\tIt\u2019s\tone\tof\tthe\tbest-guarded\tresidences\tin\tIndia.\tAnd\tmost\tof\tthe\tguards are\tfrom\this\tnative\tland,\tNahar.\u2019 Mareech,\twho\thad\tbegun\tto\twarm\tto\tthe\tidea,\tcountered\tAkampana.\t\u2018Yes, but\tthe\tchief\tof\tthe\tpalace\tguards\tis\tPrahast.\u2019 Raavan\tsmiled\tas\tsoon\tas\the\theard\tthe\tname.\t\u2018He\towes\tme\tone.\u2019 \u2018Exactly,\u2019\t said\t Mareech.\t \u2018You\t saved\t his\t life\t once.\t And\t he\t has\t always wanted\t to\t work\t with\t you.\t The\t fact\t that\t he\t is\t greedy\t and\t ruthless\t makes\t him perfect\tfor\tthe\tjob.\u2019 \u2018Let\u2019s\tstart\tthe\tpreparations.\tWe\tsail\tto\tChilika\tin\ta\tmonth.\u2019","Chapter\t8 \u2018The\tplan\tlooks\tgood,\tDada,\u2019\tsaid\tKumbhakarna. Two\t weeks\t had\t passed\t since\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t suggested\t looting Krakachabahu\u2019s\t treasure.\t The\t brothers\t were\t reviewing\t their\t strategy,\t late\t in\t the evening,\t in\t Raavan\u2019s\t wood-lined\t personal\t library,\t with\t its\t collection\t of thousands\tof\tmanuscripts. Knowledge\twas\thighly\tprized\tin\tIndia.\tSmall\tmanuscript\tcollections\twere not\t uncommon\t in\t homes,\t though\t only\t universities\t and\t temples\t had\t large,\t well- stocked\tlibraries.\tIt\twas\tsaid,\twith\treasonable\tconfidence,\tthat\tno\tindividual\thad more\t manuscripts\t in\t his\t private\t collection\t than\t Raavan.\t What\t is\t more,\t he\t had actually\tread\tmost\tof\tthem. \u2018I\tcame\tup\twith\tit,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan.\t\u2018Of\tcourse\tit\u2019s\tgood!\u2019 \u2018Maybe,\tbut\tI\tcame\tup\twith\tour\ttarget!\u2019 \u2018Okay,\t okay,\u2019\t Raavan\t said,\t laughing.\t \u2018You\t are\t the\t king\t of\t everything, Kumbha.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t bowed\t theatrically\t and\t laughed\t along.\t \u2018I\t want\t to\t read something\tinteresting,\tDada.\tAnything\tyou\u2019d\trecommend?\u2019 Raavan\tlooked\taround\this\thuge\tlibrary.\tHe\twas\textremely\tpossessive\tabout his\tmanuscripts.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tallow\tanyone\tto\tborrow\tthem.\tExcept\tKumbhakarna. There\t were\t very\t few\t things\t that\t he\t refused\t Kumbhakarna.\t \u2018How\t about\t I\t read you\ta\tpoem\tinstead?\u2019 \u2018A\tpoem?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Composed\tby\twhom?\u2019 Raavan\tremained\tsilent.\tHe\tlooked\talmost\tembarrassed. Kumbhakarna\traised\this\teyebrows.\t\u2018By\tyou,\tDada?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019","\u2018By\t the\t great\t Goddess\t Saraswati,\t how\t did\t this\t miracle\t happen?\t I\t had\t no idea\tyou\tcomposed\tpoetry!\u2019 \u2018Will\tyou\tkeep\tquiet\tand\tlisten?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse!\u2019 Raavan\t picked\t up\t a\t scroll,\t looking\t nervous\t and\t excited\t at\t the\t same\t time. He\t cleared\t his\t throat,\t then\t said,\t \u2018It\u2019s\t called\t \u201cThe\t Ballad\t of\t the\t Sun\t and\t the Earth\u201d.\u2019 \u2018How\teloquent!\tI\tlike\tit\talready.\u2019 \u2018Shut\tup\tand\tlisten,\tKumbha.\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\t I\u2019ll\t try\t to\t be\t serious.\t Poetry\t is\t no\t joking\t matter\t after\t all.\u2019 Kumbhakarna\tsmiled\timpishly. \u2018Well,\tit\u2019s\ta\tstory\tas\tmuch\tas\tit\u2019s\ta\tpoem.\tNow,\tlisten: \u2018The\tBallad\tof\tthe\tSun\tand\tthe\tEarth The\tClouds\trush\tto\tthe\tMountain\u2026\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t interrupted.\t \u2018What\t are\t the\t clouds\t and\t the\t mountain\t doing there?\tI\tthought\tthis\twas\tabout\tthe\tsun\tand\tthe\tearth.\u2019 Raavan\t glared\t at\t Kumbhakarna,\t who\t immediately\t put\t his\t hands\t together contritely. \u2018No\tinterruptions,\tI\tam\twarning\tyou,\u2019\tRaavan\tsaid.\tHe\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath and\tstarted\tagain. The\tBallad\tof\tthe\tSun\tand\tthe\tEarth The\tClouds\trush\tto\tthe\tMountain, they\tcaress\thim\tgently, they\tfight\tfor\this\tattention, they\trise\tto\tkiss\this\tlips. The\tClouds\tbelieve\tthe\tMountain\tis\tsmitten, that\the\tstands\tso\thigh\tto\tnot\tlet\tthem\tpass, that\the\tstands\tuncomfortably\tstill,\twith\trishi-like\trepose, because\the\twaits\tfor\ttheir\treturn\tevery\tyear. There\u2019s\tno\tdoubt\tin\ttheir\tmind: The\tMountain\tloves\tthem. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tthey\u2019ll\tnever\tknow that\tthe\tMountain\tdoesn\u2019t\tcare\tfor\tthem, he\tonly\twants\tthe\tnourishing\train\tthey\tcarry, he\tdoesn\u2019t\tnudge\tthem\tup\tto\tkiss\tthem,","he\tdoes\tit\tto\tbreak\tthem\tand\tget\twhat\the\twants, and\tby\tthe\ttime\tthey\tunderstand, it\u2019s\ttoo\tlate. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tno\tCloud\tsurvives\tto\twarn\tthe\tothers. The\tRiver\trushes\tto\tthe\tSea, her\tinstincts\ttell\ther\tthis\tis\ther\tdestiny. She\u2019s\tgrown\tup\ton\tstories\tof\tlove, on\ttales\tof\tblind\tand\tillogical\tpassion, and\tshe\u2019s\tin\ttoo\tmuch\tof\ta\thurry\tto\tmeet her\tlover,\tto\tfeel\trather\tthan\tthink. But\twhen\tshe\tsees\tthe\tSea, his\timmensity,\tdepth,\tpower, she\thesitates\tand\tmeanders. But\ther\tinnate\tromanticism\twins, And\tshe\tflows\thappily\tinto\this\tarms. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tshe\u2019ll\tnever\tknow that\tthe\tSea\tdoesn\u2019t\tlove\ther, that\tthe\tSea\tis\ttoo\tlost\tin\this\town\tgrandiosity to\teven\tnotice\tthe\tRiver. That\ther\tloving\tembrace\tdoesn\u2019t\tchange\tthe\tSea, that\tthe\twater\tshe\treceived\tas\ta\tgift\tfrom\tthe\tSea was\tactually\tgiven\tto\ther\tby\ta\tphilanthropic\tSun. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tby\tthe\ttime\tthe\tRiver\trealises\tthe\ttruth, She\u2019s\talready\tlost\ther\tidentity. And\tthen\tthere\u2019s\tthe\tEarth. Unlike\tthe\tothers,\tshe\tthinks\tmore\tthan\tfeels, Her\tmind\tis\tmore\tpowerful\tthan\ther\theart, She\tsees\tthe\tSun, Luminous\tand\tspirited,\talone\tand\tmagnificent, Has\tso\tmuch\tand\tis\tso\twasteful\twith\tit. The\tEarth,\tbeing\tsmart, Uses\tthe\tSun\u2019s\twasted\tenergy, Nourishes\therself\tand\tgrows,","in\tcharacter,\tin\tmind,\tbody\tand\tspirit. She\tmarvels\tat\ther\town\tbrilliance and\twhat\tshe\u2019s\tdone\twith\ther\tlife. She\tfears\tthe\tSun\tand\this\timmense\tpower, and\tdetests\tthe\tway\the\tlavishes\this\tGod-given\tgifts. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tshe\u2019ll\tnever\tknow\tthat\tthe\tSun\tcould\thave\tleft, Yet\the\tstands\tthere\tall\talone,\tso\tthat\the\tcan\tgive\tto\tthe\tEarth. He\tburns\thimself,\tso\tshe\tmay\tbenefit\tfrom\tit, He\twants\tto\tcome\tcloser,\tbut\the\tknows\the\tcan\u2019t, He\tknows\this\tpassion\tis\tso\tstrong\tthat\the\u2019ll\thurt\ther, So\the\tstands\tapart\tand\tadmires\this\tLady. It\u2019s\tsad\tthat\tno\tone\u2019s\taround\tto\ttell\tthe\tEarth Tell\ther\tjust\thow\tmuch\tthe\tSun\tloves\ther. Raavan\tput\tthe\tscroll\taway\tand\twaited\tfor\this\tbrother\u2019s\tresponse. Kumbhakarna\tlooked\tcontemplative. \u2018Dada,\tthat\twas\tpowerful,\u2019\the\tsaid\tafter\ta\tmoment. Raavan\tsmiled.\t\u2018Do\tyou\treally\tlike\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\tlove\tit!\tTrust\tme,\tDada,\tthere\twill\tcome\ta\ttime\twhen\teven\tthe\tMahadevs and\tthe\tVishnus\twill\tquote\tthis\tpoem!\u2019 Raavan\tlaughed.\t\u2018You\treally\tdo\tlove\tme\ta\tlot,\tkid\tbrother\u2026\u2019 \u2018That\tI\tdo!\t But\tseriously,\tDada,\tyou\t can\tplay\t music,\tyou\tsing,\tyou\twrite poetry,\t you\t are\t a\t warrior,\t you\t are\t wealthy,\t you\t are\t well-read,\t you\t are\t super- intelligent.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tone\tlike\tyou\tin\tthe\twhole\twide\tworld!\u2019 Raavan\t puffed\t out\t his\t chest\t exaggeratedly.\t \u2018Quite\t right.\t There\t is\t nobody like\tme!\u2019 They\tburst\tout\tlaughing. A\t month\t had\t passed\t since\t the\t decision\t to\t rob\t Krakachabahu\t had\t been\t made. Raavan\t and\t his\t crew\t were\t to\t sail\t out\t of\t the\t Gokarna\t port\t the\t following\t day. Considering\t the\t speed\t at\t which\t the\t ship\t could\t sail,\t they\t expected\t to\t be\t in Chilika\t within\t a\t few\t days.\t Akampana,\t Mareech\t and\t a\t hundred\t soldiers\t would accompany\thim.\tKumbhakarna\thad\tinsisted\ton\ttagging\talong\ttoo,\tand\tafter\ta\tfew unconvincing\tattempts\tat\tdissuading\thim,\tRaavan\thad\trelented. Mareech\tand\tAkampana\thad\talready\tstruck\ta\tdeal\twith\tPrahast.\tHe\twould","first\t help\t Raavan\t steal\t Krakachabahu\u2019s\t treasure,\t and\t then\t leave\t Chilika\t with them.\t Most\t opportunely,\t Krakachabahu\t had\t recently\t sailed\t out\t to\t his\t homeland Nahar,\t situated\t in\t between\t the\t Tigris\t and\t Euphrates\t rivers.\t Half\t a\t world\t away from\tChilika. The\t night\t before\t the\t proposed\t heist,\t Raavan\t decided\t to\t visit\t his\t favourite courtesan,\t Dadimikali,\t the\t most\t expensive\t courtesan\t in\t the\t most\t elite\t pleasure house\tin\tGokarna.\tOnly\tthe\tbest\twould\tdo\tfor\thim! He\tlay\ton\tthe\tbed\tnow,\ta\tsheet\tpulled\tup\tto\this\twaist.\tDadimikali\twas\tlying on\t her\t stomach,\t her\t head\t resting\t on\t Raavan\u2019s\t thighs.\t Nude\t as\t the\t day\t she\t was born.\tShe\twas\tlithe\tof\tbody\tand\tslim,\twith\tcurves\tin\tall\tthe\tright\tplaces. \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t think\t I\u2019ll\t be\t able\t to\t walk\t properly\t tomorrow,\u2019\t she\t giggled.\t She turned\ttowards\tRaavan\tand\tfelt\ther\tway\tup.\t\u2018But\tit\tlooks\tlike\tyou\tare\tready\tfor more.\u2019 Raavan\tstretched\this\tarms\tand\tcracked\this\tknuckles.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\tcan take\tit.\u2019 Dadimikali\tgazed\tat\this\tface\tlovingly.\t\u2018You\tknow\tI\tcan\ttake\tanything\tfrom you.\u2019 Raavan\t looked\t away.\t Bored.\t Dadimikali\u2019s\t affection\t was\t becoming increasingly\tcloying.\tHis\tmind\twandered\tto\tthe\tdog\the\thad\tkilled\ta\tfew\tmonths back.\tThe\tone\tthat\thad\tkept\tfollowing\thim\taround. Mangy,\tpathetic-looking\tcreature.\tDisgusting.\tIt\tneeded\tto\tbe\tput\tout\tof\tits misery. \u2018Raavan?\u2019 Raavan\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer.\tHe\tfocused\ton\this\tbreathing.\tA\tlong-dormant\tanimal was\tslowly\tbeginning\tto\tstir\tinside\thim. \u2018Raavan,\u2019\twhispered\tDadimikali.\t\u2018I\tthink\tI\tlove\tyou.\u2019 Raavan\tcould\tfeel\tthe\tanimal\tinside\thim\tawaken. Dadimikali\t edged\t up\t and\t pressed\t her\t naked\t breasts\t against\t him.\t Love poured\tout\tof\ther\teyes.\t\u2018You\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\ttell\tme\tyou\tlove\tme.\tI\tunderstand.\tI just\twant\tyou\tto\tknow\tthat\tI\tlove\tyou.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\tstaring\tat?\u2019\tgrowled\tRaavan. He\t knew\t his\t swarthy\t skin\t was\t attractive\t to\t most\t women.\t But\t the pockmarks\ton\this\tface\talways\tmade\thim\tfeel\tself-conscious.\tHe\twas\tgrowing\ta beard\tand\ta\tmoustache\tto\thide\tas\tmany\tof\tthe\tmarks\tas\the\tcould. Dadimikali\tkept\tgazing\tat\thim.\t\u2018I\u2019m\tlooking\tat\tyour\tbeautiful\tface\u2026\u2019 She\tmoved\tcloser,\tpouting\ther\tlips\tin\treadiness\tfor\ta\tkiss.\tRaavan\tgrabbed her\tby\tthe\thair\tand\tyanked\ther\thead\tback. \u2018Which\tpart\tof\tmy\tface\tare\tyou\tstaring\tat?\u2019\the\tdemanded. Dadimikali\tknew\tthat\tRaavan\tsometimes\tliked\tthings\trough.\tShe\tlay\tback","on\tthe\tbed\twith\ther\thands\tclasped\tbehind\ther\thead.\tSurrendering\tcompletely.\t\u2018I am\tyour\tslave.\tDo\twhat\tyou\twant\twith\tme.\u2019 Raavan\twas\tgripped\tby\tdesire.\tThe\tdesire\tto\tknow\twhat\tit\twould\tfeel\tlike to\tpeel\tthe\tbeautiful\tskin\toff\tDadimikali\u2019s\tface\tand\tsee\tthe\tpink\tflesh\tunderneath. To\tslice\tthrough\tit.\tHacking\tat\tthe\ttissue\tand\tarteries.\tReaching\tthe\tbone.\tSawing through\tthe\tbone.\tHe\tfelt\this\tbreath\tquicken\twith\texcitement.\tThe\tanimal\tinside him\twas\troaring\tnow. Oblivious\t to\t the\t reason\t for\t Raavan\u2019s\t excitement,\t Dadimikali\t edged\t closer once\tagain.\tShe\tkissed\tRaavan\tgently.\tOffering\therself\tto\thim.\tSubmissively. He\t bit\t down\t on\t her\t lips.\t Hard.\t Drawing\t blood.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t cry\t out.\t She remained\tstill.\tWaiting\tfor\tRaavan\tto\tdo\tmore. Raavan\u2019s\t breath\t quickened.\t His\t body\t urged\t him\t to\t finish\t what\t he\t had started.\tHe\tfelt\tintoxicated.\tThen,\tfrom\tthe\tdeep\trecesses\tof\this\tmind,\the\theard\ta soft\tvoice. Dada\u2026 Kumbhakarna\u2019s\tvoice.\tFilled\twith\tinnocence.\tAnd\tfear. No.\tNot\ther.\tI\tcan\u2019t\tkeep\tit\tquiet\there.\tKumbhakarna\twill\tfind\tout\u2026 But\tthe\tanimal\tinside\tgrowled\tlouder. I\thave\tthe\tmoney\tto\tkeep\tit\tquiet. He\tlooked\tinto\tDadimikali\u2019s\ttrusting\teyes.\tHer\tpuckered\tlips.\tHer\theaving chest. She\twants\tit.\tShe\u2019s\tasking\tfor\tit.\tShe\u2019s\tpathetic.\tDisgusting.\tShe\tneeds\tto\tbe put\tout\tof\ther\tmisery. He\t wrapped\t his\t arms\t tightly\t around\t her.\t Crushing\t her.\t She\t whimpered slightly.\tBut\tdid\tnot\tcomplain. \u2018I\tam\tyours.\tDo\twhat\tyou\twill\twith\tme\u2026\u2019 Suddenly,\tRaavan\theard\tthe\tfamiliar,\tcalm\tvoice\tin\this\thead. You\tcan\tbe\tbetter\tthan\tthis. The\tvoice\tof\tthe\tKanyakumari.\tThe\tvoice\tof\ta\tliving\tGoddess. His\tnavel\tthrobbed,\tthe\tpain\tintensifying. Raavan\t pushed\t Dadimikali\t away\t and\t leapt\t off\t the\t bed.\t She\t reached\t for him,\ttrying\tto\tstop\thim\tfrom\tleaving.\t\u2018What\thappened?\tWhat\tdid\tI\tsay?\u2019 \u2018Get\taway\tfrom\tme!\u2019\the\thissed. Tears\twelled\tup\tin\ther\teyes.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tleave\tme\u2026\tplease\u2026\u2019 Raavan\tturned\tand\tslapped\ther\tacross\tthe\tface.\tSavagely.\tAs\tshe\tfell\tback on\tthe\tbed,\the\tpicked\tup\this\tclothes\tand\tstormed\tout\tof\tthe\troom.","Raavan\t and\t Kumbhakarna\t stood\t on\t the\t upper\t deck\t of\t the\t ship,\t admiring\t the view.\tThey\thad\tjust\tsailed\tinto\tChilika\tlake.\tMareech\tand\tAkampana\twere\ton\tthe lower\t deck,\t supervising\t the\t progress\t of\t the\t vessel\t towards\t the\t small\t island\t of Nalaban,\tin\tthe\tcentre\tof\tthe\tlake. The\t entire\t island\t had\t been\t reserved\t for\t Krakachabahu\u2019s\t use.\t His\t palace was\ton\tthe\ttop\tof\ta\thill,\tright\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tisland.\tThe\thill\twas\tman-made, created\tfrom\tthe\tearth\tthat\thad\tbeen\tdredged\tup\tfrom\tChilika\tlake\tto\tincrease\tthe depth\tof\tthe\twater\tso\tlarge\tships\tcould\tenter.\tMuch\tof\tthe\tland\taround\tthe\thouse had\t been\t left\t undisturbed.\t Wild\t and\t lush.\t Nalaban\t was\t also\t a\t bio\t hotspot, welcoming\t large\t numbers\t of\t varied\t species\t of\t birds\t during\t their\t winter migration. Krakachabahu\twas\tperceived\tto\tbe\ta\tsimple\tman,\tdedicated\tto\this\tjob.\tHis apparent\t respect\t for\t Mother\t Nature\t and\t the\t simple\t gubernatorial\t palace\t helped him\t maintain\t appearances\t with\t the\t king\t of\t Kalinga,\t and\t hide\t his\t thieving.\t The truth\twas\tthat\the\tplanned\tto\ttake\this\tillicit\tskimming\tof\tthe\tKalinga\trevenues\tand leave\t soon.\t He\t had\t stashed\t away\t enough\t money,\t and\t he\t intended\t to\t use\t it\t to raise\t an\t army\t to\t conquer\t Nahar.\t His\t long-term\t plan\t was\t to\t rule\t his\t home country. But\t he\t didn\u2019t\t know\t that\t his\t plan\t was\t about\t to\t be\t upended\t by\t an\t upstart trader\tfrom\tLanka. \u2018You\tremember\tmy\tinstructions,\tright?\u2019\tRaavan\tasked\this\tbrother. \u2018I\tdo,\tDada,\tbut\tcan\u2019t\tI\tcome\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\tyou\tcan\u2019t.\tWe\u2019ve\tdiscussed\tthis\talready.\tNow\trepeat\tmy\tinstructions.\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ll\tsail\tto\tthe\tsecondary\twharf\ton\tthe\tisland\tand\tpresent\tour\tmanifest\tas a\ttrading\tship\tfrom\tThailand.\tAll\tof\tyou\twill\tgo\tin\tcarrying\tempty\tchests,\twhich you\twill\tfill\twith\tKrakachabahu\u2019s\tgold\tand\tprecious\tstones.\tThen\tyou\twill\tcarry them\tback\tto\tthe\tship.\u2019 Raavan\t laughed\t and\t ruffled\t Kumbhakarna\u2019s\t hair.\t \u2018Kumbha,\t that\u2019s\t what\t I need\tto\tdo.\tTell\tme\twhat\tyou\tare\tsupposed\tto\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tthat,\tyeah\u2026\tSo,\tI\u2019ll\tbe\twaiting\tat\tthe\twharf\tfor\tyou.\tIn\tcase\tI\tsee\tany sign\t of\t trouble,\t I\u2019ll\t sound\t the\t ship\u2019s\t horn\t and\t sail\t out.\t I\u2019ll\t wait\t for\t you\t at\t the main\twharf\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tisland.\tAnd\tyou\u2019ll\tmeet\tme\tthere.\u2019 The\t main\t wharf\t had\t been\t damaged\t a\t few\t months\t ago,\t when\t a\t craft\t lost control\tof\tits\tsteering\tand\trudder\tmechanism,\tand\tcrashed\tinto\t it.\tIt\twas\tunder repair\tnow\tand\tall\ttraffic\thad\tbeen\tdirected\tto\tthe\tsecondary\twharf. \u2018That\u2019s\tcorrect.\tNow,\tI\tam\tleaving\tsome\tmen\there\twith\tyou.\tBut\tyou\twill not\t attempt\t to\t be\t unnecessarily\t brave\t if\t there\t is\t trouble.\t You\t will\t sail\t out\t and meet\tme\tat\tthe\tmain\twharf,\tthe\tdamaged\tone.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tDada.\u2019","Raavan\tbent\tcloser\tto\tKumbhakarna.\t\u2018Promise\tme\tthat\tyou\twill\tsail\taway and\tnot\tdo\tanything\tfoolish.\u2019 \u2018Have\t I\t ever\t disobeyed\t your\t instructions,\t Dada?\u2019\t asked\t Kumbhakarna, looking\thurt. \u2018Often,\u2019\tsaid\tRaavan\tsardonically.\t\u2018Go\ton,\tpromise\tme.\tSwear\tin\tthe\tname of\tLord\tRudra.\u2019 \u2018Dada!\tI\tcan\u2019t\ttake\tLord\tRudra\u2019s\tname\tso\tcasually.\u2019 \u2018Swear!\u2019 \u2018Fine!\tI\tswear\tin\tthe\tname\tof\tLord\tRudra.\tI\u2019ll\tsail\taway\tat\tthe\tfirst\tsign\tof trouble\tand\tmeet\tyou\tat\tthe\tmain\twharf.\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 \u2018By\tthe\tgreat\tLord\tIndra!\u2019\texclaimed\tRaavan,\tturning\tthe\tflawless\tpink\tdiamond around\t in\t his\t hand.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t hard\t to\t believe\t this\t little\t rock\t is\t worth\t four\t hundred thousand\tgold\tcoins.\u2019 The\t colour\t of\t a\t diamond\t significantly\t determined\t its\t value.\t If\t a\t white diamond\texhibited\ta\tyellow\thue,\tits\tprice\twent\tdown.\tIf\tit\texhibited\ta\tpink\thue,\ta much\trarer\tphenomenon,\tits\tprice\tshot\tup. Mareech\tstepped\tcloser\tto\tadmire\tthe\tprecious\tstone.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tlittle\tby\tany stretch\tof\tthe\timagination,\tRaavan.\tIt\u2019s\tthe\tbiggest\tdiamond\tI\thave\tever\tseen.\u2019 Akampana\tstood\tto\tone\tside,\tlooking\taround\tnervously. \u2018Doesn\u2019t\t it\t look\t like\t it\u2019s\t bleeding\t from\t the\t inside?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan, enchanted.\t\u2018I\twonder\thow\tit\tgot\tthis\tpink\thue.\u2019 Nobody\tknew\thow\tor\twhy\ta\tdiamond\tacquired\tits\tcolour.\tSome\tsaid\tit\twas because\tof\tthe\tpressure\texerted\ton\tthe\tstone\tover\tmany\tmillennia.\tOthers\topined that\tthe\tenormous\tforces\tunleashed\tby\tearthquakes\tcaused\ta\tdiamond\u2019s\tcolour\tto change.\t A\t few\t even\t considered\t a\t pink\t diamond\t to\t be\t unlucky.\t A\t carrier\t of\t bad karma. \u2018Would\tyou\tknow?\u2019\tasked\tRaavan,\tshowing\tthe\tdiamond\tto\tAkampana. \u2018Raavan,\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatter\thow\tit\tbecame\tpink.\tAs\tlong\tas\tit\tis\tpink.\tLet\u2019s leave.\tPlease.\u2019 Raavan\tlaughed\tsoftly.\t\u2018Always\tso\tnervous,\tAkampana.\u2019 He\tstepped\tback\tfrom\tthe\ttiny,\tsecret\tchamber\tthat\thad\tbeen\tartfully\tbuilt into\t the\t thick\t wall.\t He\t looked\t at\t Prahast,\t standing\t at\t the\t far\t end\t of\t the\t room. Prahast\u2019s\t loyal\t soldiers\t were\t positioned\t alongside\t him,\t their\t swords\t drawn. Dripping\twith\tblood.\tIn\tfront\tof\tthem\twere\tthree\teunuchs\ton\ttheir\tknees.\tPart\tof Governor\t Krakachabahu\u2019s\t Naharin\t security\t team.\t They\t bore\t the\t wounds\t of\t the","gruesome\t torture\t they\t had\t been\t subjected\t to,\t until\t they\t revealed\t the\t location\t of the\tsecret\tchamber\twhere\tthe\tprecious\tstones\twere\tkept. Raavan\t nodded\t at\t Prahast.\t The\t men\t immediately\t swung\t their\t swords\t and decapitated\t the\t three\t eunuchs.\t Raavan\u2019s\t instructions\t had\t been\t clear.\t No\t eye- witnesses\t were\t to\t be\t left\t behind\t to\t identify\t the\t perpetrators\t of\t the\t robbery. Everyone\t in\t the\t palace\u2014the\t security\t staff,\t the\t maids,\t the\t cooks,\t the\t helpers\u2014 had\tbeen\tkilled.\tIn\tcold\tblood. Prahast\thad\tmanaged\tto\tcorrupt\thalf\tthe\tsecurity\tforce,\twith\tloyalty\tearned over\t many\t years\t and\t large\t amounts\t of\t gold\t promised\t over\t the\t previous\t week. His\t men\t had\t launched\t a\t surprise\t attack\t on\t the\t other\t Naharins\t in\t the\t palace. Swift\tand\tclean. Nobody\toutside\thad\tan\tinkling\tof\tthe\tmassacre\tthat\thad\ttaken\tplace\twithin the\t palace.\t In\t an\t attempt\t to\t mislead\t Krakachabahu,\t dead\t bodies\t had\t been brought\t into\t the\t palace\t earlier.\t Their\t faces\t had\t been\t smashed\t in\t to\t prevent identification.\tTo\tconvince\tthe\tNaharin\tgovernor\tof\tChilika\tthat\tPrahast\tand\tthe others\tin\this\tsecurity\tforce\thad\talso\tbeen\tkilled\tduring\tthe\trobbery. It\twas\ta\tbrutal\tplan.\tBut\talso\tefficient\tand\tpractical.\tLike\tRaavan\thimself. On\tPrahast\u2019s\tadvice,\tRaavan\thad\tdecided\tagainst\tkilling\tthe\tworkers\twhom they\t had\t seen\t repairing\t the\t damaged\t wharf,\t at\t some\t distance\t from\t the governor\u2019s\tresidence.\tTo\tkill\tthem\tin\tthe\topen\twas\tto\trisk\texposure.\tIn\tany\tcase, the\t workers\t were\t never\t allowed\t near\t the\t palace\t or\t the\t secondary\t wharf.\t So\t the chances\tof\tthem\tidentifying\tRaavan\tand\this\tgang\twere\tnext\tto\tnone. Raavan\u2019s\tmen\thad\talready\tcarried\tthe\tgold\tout\tof\tthe\tpalace\tin\tlarge\tchests. These\t were\t being\t loaded\t on\t the\t ship\t right\t now.\t He\t had\t stayed\t behind,\t with Mareech,\t Akampana\t and\t a\t few\t others\t to\t gather\t the\t precious\t stones.\t For\t just these\tstones\twere\tworth\ta\tlittle\tover\ttwo\tmillion\tgold\tcoins. Raavan\t stepped\t forward\t and\t stared\t at\t the\t decapitated\t bodies\t of\t the\t three Naharin\t eunuchs.\t As\t the\t blood\t continued\t to\t leak\t out\t of\t their\t gaping\t necks,\t he stood\tstill,\talmost\thypnotised.\tDrawn\tto\tthe\tbloody\tspectacle\tbefore\thim. He\tbent\tforward.\tTrying\tto\tdistinguish\tthe\tdifferent\tarteries\tthrough\twhich the\t thick\t red\t fluid\t was\t gushing\t out.\t The\t bodies\t were\t lifeless.\t But\t their\t hearts didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t know\t that\t yet.\t They\t were\t still\t pumping.\t Weakly.\t But\t still despatching\tblood\tto\theads\tthat\tweren\u2019t\tthere\tanymore. Akampana\ttouched\tRaavan\u2019s\tarm.\t\u2018Raavan\u2026\u2019 Raavan\tsnapped\tout\tof\this\treverie\tand\tslipped\tthe\tstone\tin\this\thand\tinto\tthe pouch\t tied\t to\t his\t cummerbund,\t where\t it\t clinked\t against\t the\t others.\t He\t took\t a deep\tbreath\tand\tlooked\tat\tthe\tothers.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 Just\tthen,\tthe\tship\u2019s\thorn\tsounded.\tLoud.\tInsistent. \u2018Run!\u2019\tshouted\tRaavan.","Everyone\t reacted\t immediately.\t They\t knew\t what\t they\t had\t to\t do.\t The\t plan was\t clear.\t They\t had\t to\t rush\t to\t their\t horses\t and\t ride\t like\t the\t wind\t to\t the\t main wharf.\tKumbhakarna\twould\tbe\twaiting\tfor\tthem\tthere,\tin\tRaavan\u2019s\tship. \u2018Hyaah!\u2019 Raavan\t and\t his\t men\t rode\t their\t horses\t hard.\t Ten\t of\t them.\t Mareech\t in\t the lead.\t Raavan\t bringing\t up\t the\t rear-guard.\t They\t were\t riding\t downhill,\t fast\t and furious. \u2018To\tthe\tright!\u2019\tshouted\tMareech,\tpointing. A\tfork\tin\tthe\troad\twas\tcoming\tup.\tThe\troad\tto\tthe\tright\tled\tdownhill\tto\tthe damaged\twharf.\tThe\tother\tone\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\tsecondary\twharf,\twhich\twas visible\t in\t the\t far\t distance.\t Where\t Raavan\u2019s\t ship\t should\t have\t been.\t But\t it\t was missing.\t From\t high\t up\t on\t the\t hill,\t they\t could\t see\t another\t large\t ship\t moored there.\t It\t had\t just\t cruised\t in,\t for\t the\t sails\t were\t still\t up.\t So\t was\t the\t flag.\t It\t was Krakachabahu\u2019s\tvessel.\tHe\thad\treturned\tearly. \u2018Faster!\u2019\tshouted\tRaavan. He\tcould\tsee\triders\tracing\tout\tof\tthe\tsecondary\twharf.\tRiding\tup\tthe\tmain road.\t Up\t the\t hill.\t Towards\t them.\t Perhaps\t Krakachabahu\t had\t sensed\t something was\twrong. \u2018To\tthe\tother\twharf!\u2019\tscreeched\tAkampana.\tHe\twas\triding\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof the\tgroup.\tNervous\tas\ta\tcat\ton\ta\thot\tmetal\troof. The\t horses\t swerved\t onto\t the\t road\t to\t the\t right.\t It\t was\t about\t a\t five-minute ride\tdownhill\tto\tthe\twharf.\tRaavan\tcould\tsee\ta\tforward\tscout\trider\tgalloping\tup the\tstraight\troad,\ttowards\tthem.\tKrakachabahu\u2019s\tman. Raavan\t pulled\t his\t knife\t out\t of\t its\t scabbard,\t took\t the\t reins\t of\t his\t horse\t in his\tmouth,\tand\tfocused\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tHolding\this\tbreath,\the\tflung\tthe\tblade\tat the\t rider.\t It\t rammed\t into\t the\t man\u2019s\t throat.\t As\t he\t fell\t from\t his\t horse,\t Raavan swerved\tto\tthe\tright,\triding\thard\tbehind\this\tmen. \u2018Hyaah!\u2019 As\tthey\tthundered\tdown\tthe\troad\ttowards\tthe\tdamaged\twharf,\tthrough\tthe dense\t forest\t vegetation,\t Raavan\t could\t see\t the\t road\t more\t clearly.\t It\t was\t now\t a straight\t ride\t to\t the\t wharf,\t which\t meant\t they\t would\t be\t easy\t targets\t for Krakachabahu\u2019s\tmounted\tarchers.\tAnd\the\twas\tright\tat\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tline.\tThe first\ttarget. Damn! Thinking\t quickly,\t he\t yanked\t the\t string\t that\t crisscrossed\t his\t shoulder\t and pulled\t the\t shield\t tied\t on\t his\t back\t upwards.\t He\t could\t survive\t an\t arrow\t in\t his","back.\tNot\tone\tthat\tpierced\this\tthroat. The\t wharf\t was\t just\t a\t little\t way\t ahead.\t The\t road\t was\t getting\t narrower. Much\t of\t it\t was\t taken\t up\t by\t the\t scaffolding\t built\t for\t port\t repairs.\t A\t few\t men were\ton\tthe\tscaffolding,\twhile\tothers\tstood\taround\ton\tthe\troad. The\thorsemen\tthundered\tahead. \u2018Move!\u2019\tscreamed\tMareech,\tas\the\thurtled\tpast. The\tworkers\trushed\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthe\tway,\tin\ta\tsudden\tstate\tof\tpanic.\tOne of\t the\t more\t unfortunate\t ones\t came\t under\t Akampana\u2019s\t horse.\t The\t riders\t didn\u2019t slow\tdown.\tThe\tman\twas\trun\tover\trepeatedly\tby\tthe\tmany\thorses\tthat\tfollowed Akampana\u2019s.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tRaavan\tpassed,\the\thad\tbeen\tpummelled\tto\ta\tpulp. Since\t there\t were\t no\t posts\t to\t tie\t the\t ship\t to,\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t had\t the sailors\t drop\t anchor.\t Keeping\t the\t ship\t as\t close\t as\t he\t could\t to\t the\t edge\t of\t the wharf,\twith\tthe\thelp\tof\tgrappling\thooks.\tThe\tstrongest\tamongst\tthe\tsailors\thung close\tto\tthe\tanchor\tline,\ta\tlarge\taxe\tin\this\thands,\tready\tto\tstrike\tand\tcut\tthe\tthick rope\tas\tsoon\tas\tRaavan\tand\tthe\tothers\twere\ton\tboard. There\t was\t a\t wide\t gap\t between\t the\t wharf\u2019s\t edge\t and\t the\t ship.\t But\t the Lankan\t horses\t had\t been\t trained\t to\t jump\t high\t and\t far.\t Precisely\t for\t scenarios where\ta\tquick\tescape\twas\tnecessary.\tSuch\tas\tnow. Mareech\tdid\tnot\tslow\tdown\tas\the\tgalloped\tthrough\tthe\tdamaged\twharf. \u2018Hyaah!\u2019 He\t whipped\t his\t horse\t to\t a\t frenzy,\t causing\t it\t to\t gallop\t harder.\t Faster\t and faster.\tRight\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\twharf,\the\tscreamed,\t\u2018DASHA!\u2019 Dasha\t was\t the\t old\t Sanskrit\t word\t for\t the\t number\t ten.\t Nobody\t knew\t why Raavan\thad\tinsisted\ton\tthis\tparticular\tword\twhen\tthe\thorses\twere\tbeing\ttrained, but\this\tmen\thad\tobeyed\thim\tunquestioningly,\tas\tusual. Mareech\u2019s\thorse\tknew\tthe\tcommand\twell,\tand\tleapt\tforward.\tHigh\tand\tfar. He\t landed\t neatly\t onto\t the\t ship\u2019s\t deck.\t Mareech\t thundered\t on\t for\t a\t few\t feet more,\tclearing\tthe\tway\tfor\tthe\tothers\tbehind\thim. One\tafter\tthe\tother,\tthe\triders\tleapt\tonto\tthe\tship.\tOne\tof\tPrahast\u2019s\tNaharin soldiers\t timed\t his\t jump\t wrong.\t His\t horse\t fell\t short\t and\t dropped\t into\t the\t water. The\t man\t banged\t his\t head\t hard\t against\t the\t shipboards,\t breaking\t his\t neck.\t He died\tinstantly.\tNobody\tstopped\tto\tlook\tat\thim.\tThey\thad\tno\ttime. \u2018Come\ton!\u2019\tscreamed\tMareech.\tHe\twas\tstanding\t by\tthe\tbalustrade\tof\tthe ship\t now,\t having\t dismounted\t from\t his\t horse.\t Prahast\t came\t speeding\t forward, timing\t his\t jump\t perfectly,\t and\t landed\t safely\t on\t the\t ship.\t Raavan\t was\t next.\t The last\tof\tthem. Krakachabahu\tand\this\tmen\twere\tclosing\tin.\tJust\ttwo\thundred\tmetres\taway. \u2018Come\ton,\tDada!\u2019\tscreamed\tKumbhakarna. One\t of\t Krakachabahu\u2019s\t archers\t took\t his\t horse\u2019s\t reins\t into\t his\t mouth,","positioned\this\triding\tbow\tin\tfront\tof\this\tchest,\tand\treleased\tan\tarrow. It\twas\ta\tlucky\tshot.\tAt\ta\tfast-moving\ttarget. The\tarrow\tslammed\tinto\tthe\thorse\u2019s\tdigital\tflexor\ttendons\ton\tthe\tlower\tpart of\this\tright\thind\tleg.\tSevering\tit\tcleanly.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tlike\ta\tbig\twound.\tThere was\t hardly\t any\t blood.\t But\t it\t was\t debilitating\t for\t the\t galloping\t beast.\t The\t right leg,\t useless\t and\t incapable\t of\t bearing\t weight,\t collapsed.\t And\t the\t horse,\t because of\tthe\tfearsome\tspeed\tit\twas\tmoving\tat,\tfell\thard,\tits\thead\thitting\tthe\tground,\tits neck\ttwisting\tat\tan\tunnatural\tangle. Raavan,\t alert\t as\t ever,\t had\t already\t untangled\t himself\t from\t the\t stirrups. Smoothly\tdismounting\tas\tthe\thorse\tfell\tto\tthe\tground,\the\trolled\taway\tfrom\tit\tand was\t back\t on\t his\t feet\t almost\t instantly.\t He\t ran\t forward\t in\t the\t same\t smooth motion. \u2018Dada!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\u2019s\tvoice\twas\tfilled\twith\tanxiety\tand\tfear. Everyone\taround\thim\thad\tthe\tsame\tthought. Raavan\tis\tnot\tgoing\tto\tmake\tit. Mareech\tlooked\tat\tKumbhakarna\tand\tthen\tback\tat\tRaavan.\t\u2018Lord\tRudra\tbe merciful\u2026\u2019 There\twas\tno\tway\ta\tman\tcould\tjump\tover\tthe\tgap\tthat\tmost\tof\tthe\thorses had\tstrained\tto\tbridge. But\tthis\twas\tno\tordinary\tman.\tThis\twas\tRaavan. He\t sprinted\t down\t the\t wharf.\t Dashing\t ahead,\t towards\t the\t edge.\t Towards the\tport\tcrane\tmeant\tfor\tloading\tcargo\ton\tships.\tIt\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tused\tin\tmonths.\tIt was\tabout\tto\tbe\tput\tto\tuse\tin\tan\tunexpected\tway. Krakachabahu\u2019s\t men\t were\t still\t raining\t arrows\t at\t him.\t Some\t flew\t past Raavan.\tOthers\tmissed\thim\tby\ta\twhisker.\tBut\tnone\thit\ttheir\ttarget. As\t he\t neared\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t wharf,\t Raavan\t leapt\t high\t and\t grabbed\t the hook\tblock\tof\tthe\tcrane.\tOne\tleg\tscissored\tout\tto\tkick\tthe\twinch.\tHis\ttiming\twas perfect.\t The\t winch\t wound\t out\t quickly,\t allowing\t the\t hoist\t rope\t to\t spool\t out. Holding\t on\t to\t the\t hook,\t Raavan\t soared\t over\t the\t water,\t towards\t the\t ship,\t as arrows\tflew\taround\thim. Kumbhakarna\t and\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t crew\t stood\t rooted\t to\t their\t spots. Transfixed\tby\tthis\tadrenaline-charged\tdisplay\tof\tathleticism. As\tsoon\tas\the\twas\tat\ta\tsuitable\theight,\tRaavan\tgathered\tmomentum,\tswung his\tbody\tforward,\tand\tlet\tgo\tof\tthe\thook.\tHe\tsoared\thigh\tin\tthe\tair,\tthen\tdropped easily\tonto\tthe\tship\u2019s\tdeck.\tHe\trolled\tsmoothly\tto\tbreak\this\tfall\tand\twas\tback\ton his\tfeet\timmediately. His\tmen\tstood\taround\thim,\tawestruck.\tSilent. \u2018Let\u2019s\tgo!\u2019\tRaavan\tshouted. Kumbhakarna\tturned\tto\tthe\tman\tat\tthe\tanchor\trope.\t\u2018Cut\tit!\u2019","The\tsailor\tswung\tthe\taxe,\tand\tin\tone\tmighty\tblow,\tsevered\tthe\tthick\trope. The\tgrappling\thooks\twere\trapidly\treleased. \u2018Row\tnow!\tQuickly!\u2019\tordered\tKumbhakarna. On\t command,\t the\t pace\t setters\t in\t the\t galley\t deck\t below\t started\t beating their\t drums.\t The\t men\t began\t rowing\t in\t tandem.\t The\t ship\t lumbered\t ahead. Pulling\tout\tof\tthe\twharf. Krakachabahu\u2019s\tmen\tcontinued\tto\tshoot\tarrows\tat\tthem. \u2018Get\tdown!\u2019\tshouted\tRaavan. The\tmen\twent\tdown\ton\ttheir\tknees,\ttaking\tcover\tbehind\tthe\tbalustrades. \u2018Faster!\u2019\tordered\tKumbhakarna.\tThe\tpace\tsetters\tpounded\tup\tthe\tbeat\tand the\trowers\tpicked\tup\ttheir\tpace. \u2018Unfurl\tsails!\u2019 One\t of\t the\t sailors,\t who\t had\t been\t hiding\t behind\t the\t tabernacle,\t started turning\t the\t winch.\t This\t was\t an\t engineering\t innovation\t that\t Raavan\t had perfected.\tIt\tallowed\tone\tof\tthe\tsails\tto\tbe\tunfurled\trapidly,\twith\tthe\tguidance\tof a\twinch\trigged\ton\tthe\tdeck.\tThe\tsail\tstarted\tspreading\tout\tquickly.\tIt\twould\tcatch the\twind\tsoon. As\t the\t ship\t pulled\t away,\t Raavan\t could\t hear\t the\t angry\t shouts\t of Krakachabahu\u2019s\t men\t in\t the\t distance.\t Safe\t behind\t the\t balustrade,\t he\t looked\t at Kumbhakarna\tand\tgrinned. Mareech\tclapped\tRaavan\ton\tthe\tshoulder.\t\u2018We\u2019ve\tdone\tit,\tRaavan!\tWe\u2019ve done\tit!\u2019 Raavan\t smiled.\t He\t rose\t to\t his\t feet\t and\t made\t an\t obscene\t gesture\t at Krakachabahu\u2019s\t men\t in\t the\t distance.\t One\t of\t the\t Naharins\t shot\t an\t arrow\t that whizzed\tpast\this\tface. Mareech\tpulled\this\tnephew\tdown.\t\u2018What\tare\tyou\tdoing?\tWe\tare\tnot\tout\tof danger\tyet.\tStay\tdown!\u2019 Raavan\u2019s\tface\twas\tpale,\this\tbody\tstrangely\tstill. \u2018Dada?\u2019\t Kumbhakarna\t said\t worriedly,\t feeling\t Raavan\u2019s\t body\t for\t any wounds. Raavan\t pushed\t Kumbhakarna\t aside\t and\t rose\t to\t his\t feet.\t His\t gaze\t was directed\tat\tthe\tworkers\twho\twere\tcowering\tnear\tthe\tscaffolding.\tAnother\tarrow whizzed\tby.\tBut\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\tduck. Mareech\tpulled\thim\tdown\tagain.\t\u2018What\tis\twrong\twith\tyou?\tStay\tdown!\u2019 Raavan\t fell\t back\t on\t the\t deck\t unsteadily.\t He\t looked\t like\t he\t had\t seen\t a ghost.\tHis\tbreathing\twas\tragged.\tHe\tpushed\tMareech\taway\tand\trose\tagain. This\ttime\tan\tarrow\thit\thim\ton\tthe\tshoulder,\tslamming\tinto\thim\twith\tbrutal force.\tBut\tRaavan\tdidn\u2019t\tflinch.\tHis\teyes\twere\tglued\tto\tthe\tscaffolding. \u2018Dada!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\tscreamed\tin\tpanic,\tpulling\thim\tdown\tagain.","He\tnoticed\tthe\tsudden\ttears\tin\this\telder\tbrother\u2019s\teyes. \u2018Ka\u2026\u2019\tRaavan\twas\tcrying.\t\u2018Kanya\u2026\u2019 This\t time,\t Kumbhakarna\t rose.\t He\t narrowed\t his\t eyes\t and\t looked\t towards the\t fast\t receding\t shore.\t At\t the\t scaffolding.\t At\t the\t workers\t there.\t At\t one\t person in\tparticular,\tstanding\tin\tthe\tcentre. It\twas\ther. He\trecognised\ther\tfrom\tthe\tpaintings. While\t everyone\t else\t was\t cowering,\t she\t stood\t there\t unmoving.\t Upright. Like\tthe\tliving\tGoddess\tthat\tshe\twas.\tThe\tsigns\tof\thard\tphysical\tlabour\tmarked her\t and\t yet\t her\t face\t was\t luminous.\t She\t watched\t the\t ship\t go,\t her\t expression stately\tand\tcalm.\tShe\tradiated\ta\tquiet\tdignity.\tAlmost\tlike\tshe\twas\twilling\tthem to\tstop\tthe\tviolence.\tWith\ther\tmoral\tforce. There\tcould\tbe\tno\tdoubt.\tIt\twas\ther. Mareech\t reached\t out\t and\t pulled\t Kumbhakarna\t down\t as\t another\t arrow whizzed\tby.\tHe\tshouted\tangrily\tat\this\tnephews,\t\u2018What\thas\tgotten\tinto\tyou\tboth?\u2019 Kumbhakarna\t looked\t at\t Raavan.\t He\t said\t what\t Raavan\t couldn\u2019t\t find\t the strength\tto\tsay.\t\u2018The\tKanyakumari\u2026\u2019 As\t if\t energised\t by\t the\t divine\t word,\t Raavan\t broke\t the\t shaft\t of\t the\t arrow buried\tin\this\tshoulder.\tHe\tstood\tup\tagain\tand\tturned\taround.\tReady\tto\tjump\tinto the\tlake.\tReady\tto\tswim\tto\ther. \u2018Raavan!\u2019\tscreamed\tMareech,\tgrabbing\this\tnephew.\t\u2018Stop\tthis\tmadness!\u2019 \u2018Let\t me\t go!\u2019\t Raavan\t cried\t hoarsely,\t struggling\t to\t free\t himself.\t \u2018Let\t me go!\u2019 Everyone\ton\tthe\tship\tstared\tat\ttheir\tleader.\tWondering\twhat\twas\tgoing\ton. Kumbhakarna\theld\tRaavan\ttight.\t\u2018Dada,\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tgo\tback\tnow!\tYou\twill be\tkilled!\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo!\u2019\tRaavan\ttried\tto\tpush\tthe\tothers\taway\tand\tget\tto\this\tfeet. \u2018Dada!\tListen\tto\tme,\tplease.\tYou\twill\tdie\tbefore\tyou\treach\ther!\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo!\u2019 \u2018I\twill\tcome\tback\tfor\ther,\tDada!\tI\twill\tfind\ther!\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo!\u2019\tRaavan\trepeated\tin\tdesperation. Mareech\twas\ttoo\tstunned\tto\treact.\tHe\thad\tnever\tseen\tRaavan\tlike\tthis. \u2018Dada!\u2019\tKumbhakarna\twouldn\u2019t\tlet\tgo\tof\this\tbrother.\t\u2018Please,\ttrust\tme.\tI\u2019ll come\tback\tfor\ther.\tI\u2019ll\tfind\ther.\tI\tgive\tyou\tmy\tword.\tBut\tright\tnow,\tyou\tneed\tto stay\twith\tus.\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo.\u2019\tRaavan\u2019s\tvoice\twas\tragged.\tBroken. \u2018Dada,\tI\twill\tfind\ther.\tI\tpromise.\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo\u2026\u2019 The\tmast\tunfurled\tcompletely\tand\tcaught\tthe\twind.\tThe\tship\tsailed\tout\tand","away\tfrom\tthe\tshore.\tAway\tfrom\tKrakachabahu\u2019s\tarrows. Away\tfrom\ther. Away\tfrom\tthe\tKanyakumari. \u2018Let\tme\tgo\u2026\u2019","Chapter\t9 In\ta\tlittle\tless\tthan\ta\tmonth,\tKumbhakarna\twas\tback\tin\tKalinga.\tAfter\tthe\tdaring robbery\t on\t Nalaban\t Island,\t they\t had\t sailed\t to\t Lanka\t in\t a\t sombre\t mood.\t They had\treached\tGokarna\tin\ta\tday\tand\ta\thalf,\tand\tthe\tprecious\tmerchandise\thad\tbeen quickly\tunloaded\tand\tstored\tin\tthe\tbasement\tof\tRaavan\u2019s\tmansion,\tin\ta\tspecially built\t and\t well-guarded\t chamber,\t with\t multiple\t locks\t for\t additional\t security. Kumbhakarna\t had\t immediately\t set\t about\t preparing\t for\t his\t journey\t back\t to\t the island.\t He\t had\t purchased\t a\t new\t ship,\t one\t that\t could\t not\t be\t traced\t back\t to Raavan\tin\tany\tway.\tHe\thad\talso\thired\ta\tsmall\tcrew\tof\tyoung\tmen\tfrom\tsouthern Africa.\tAll\tof\tthis\thad\tbeen\taccomplished\tin\tthree\tweeks. Then\t Kumbhakarna\tset\toff\tagain,\tsailing\tup\tnorth.\tTowards\tChilika\tlake. Towards\tthe\tKanyakumari. By\tnow,\tnews\thad\tgot\taround\tthat\ta\tband\tof\tNaharins\twho\thad\tplanned\tto follow\tthe\tgovernor\tof\tChilika\tinto\trebellion\thad\tdouble-crossed\thim\tand\ttaken him\t prisoner.\t They\t had\t sailed\t out\t to\t Nahar\t with\t the\t captive\t Krakachabahu, intending\tto\thand\thim\tover\tto\tthe\tking.\tWhen\ta\trebellion\tfails,\tit\tis\tpragmatic\tfor the\trebels\tto\tbetray\ttheir\tleader\tto\tthe\tincumbent\truler\tand\tsave\tat\tleast\ttheir\town hides.\t Without\t the\t money\t that\t Krakachabahu\t had\t amassed\t over\t the\t years,\t the Nahar\trebellion\twas\tas\tgood\tas\tdead. Nevertheless,\t sailing\t directly\t into\t the\t lake\t would\t have\t been\t risky, Kumbhakarna\tknew.\tHe\tmay\tbe\tyoung,\tbut\the\twas\tnot\trash.\tThere\tcould\tstill\tbe some\tloyalists\tof\tKrakachabahu\tin\tChilika. So,\t Kumbhakarna\t sailed\t up\t north,\t beyond\t Chilika,\t intending\t to\t enter Kalinga\tvia\tthe\tmouth\tof\tthe\tMahanadi.\tBut\ton\tthe\tway,\the\tdecided\tto\tstop\tat\tthe famous\t Jagannath\t temple\t in\t Puri,\t which\t lay\t between\t the\t lake\t in\t the\t south\t and the\triver\tto\tthe\tnorth. The\t Jagannath\t temple\t was\t considered\t to\t be\t one\t of\t the\t holiest\t spots\t in","India.\t It\t was\t close\t to\t the\t coast\t and\t clearly\t visible\t from\t the\t sea.\t Kumbhakarna anchored\this\tship\tand\tthen\tset\tout\ton\ta\trowboat\tto\tthe\tshore,\taccompanied\tby\tten African\tguards. The\t temple\t complex,\t consisting\t of\t thirty\t temples,\t was\t built\t on\t an enormous\t stone\t platform\t spread\t over\t ten\t acres.\t The\t central\t temple,\t one\t of\t the tallest\t and\t largest\t in\t India,\t was\t the\t Jagannath\t temple;\t a\t shrine\t dedicated\t to\t the Lord\t of\t the\t Universe.\t The\t Vishnu.\t The\t Vishnu\t before\t all\t other\t Vishnus.\t The Vishnu\twho\twas\tthe\tWitness.\tThe\tSaakshin. Unlike\t most\t idols\t in\t temples,\t which\t were\t made\t of\t stone\t or\t metal,\t the Jagannath\tidol\twas\tmade\tof\twood.\tThe\twood\tof\ta\tneem\ttree,\tto\tbe\tprecise.\tEvery twelve\tyears,\tit\twas\treplaced\twith\ta\tfreshly\tcarved\tone. The\t dark\t idol\t had\t a\t massive\t head,\t emerging\t directly\t from\t the\t chest, without\t a\t discernible\t neck.\t The\t arms\t were\t in\t line\t with\t the\t upper\t lip.\t The\t eyes were\tlarge\tand\tround.\tThe\twaist\twas\twhere\tthe\tform\tended.\tNo\tlegs.\tNo\thands. The\t Saakshin\t Vishnu\t was,\t strictly\t speaking,\t a\t witness.\t The\t rich\t black colour,\tkrishna\t in\t old\t Sanskrit,\t was\t testimony\t to\t its\t provenance,\t that\t this\t God hailed\t from\t before\t the\t beginning\t of\t time.\t Before\t even\t light\t was\t created.\t For before\tlight\twas\tcreated,\tall\twas\tdark.\tAll\twas\tblack. The\tabsence\tof\thands\tsignified\tthat\tHe\twould\tnot\tenact\tany\tkarma\tof\tHis own.\tThe\tabsence\tof\tlegs\tshowed\tthat\tHe\twould\tnot\tmove,\teither\ttowards\tyou\tor away\tfrom\tyou.\tHe\twas\tneutral.\tHe\twould\ttake\tno\tsides\tin\tpetty\thuman\trivalries. He\twas\tbeyond\tpersonal\tlikes\tand\tdislikes. Some\t believed\t that\t it\t was\t inaccurate\t to\t even\t assign\t a\t gender\t to\t the\t God. He\twas\tbeyond\tsuch\tpetty\tdivisions.\tHe\twas\tunity.\tThe\tsource. Most\timportantly,\tHe\thad\tno\teyelids.\tHis\teyes\twere\tforever\topen.\tHe\twas always\twatching. According\t to\t the\t ancients,\t this\t was\t the\t highest\t form\t of\t divinity\t that humans\twere\tcapable\tof\tunderstanding.\tFor\tthe\tSaakshin\tVishnu\twas\tthe\tPrimal Being.\tFloating\tthrough\ttime.\tWitnessing\tit\tall,\tas\tpeople\tlived\ttheir\tlives\tand\tthe universe\tbreathed\tits\tkarma. The\tprayers\tthat\twere\toffered\tto\tHim\twere\talso\tunusual. Devotees\t did\t not\t go\t to\t the\t Jagannath\t temple\t to\t merely\t ask\t for\t His blessings.\t They\t went\t with\t a\t larger\t purpose,\t when\t they\t were\t ready\t to\t carry\t out their\t paramount\t karma.\t To\t ensure\t that\t it\t was\t recorded\t in\t the\t memory\t of\t the Primal\t Being.\t The\t account\t of\t their\t karma\t in\t the\t Saakshin\t Vishnu\u2019s\t memory would\tdecide\twhether\tthe\tdevotee\twould\tget\tfreedom\tfrom\tthe\tcycle\tof\tbirth\tand rebirth. Kumbhakarna\tbelieved\tthat\the\twas\tabout\tto\tembark\ton\tthe\tgreatest\tkarma of\this\tlife.\tHe\twent\tdown\ton\this\tknees\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tgreat\tidol.\tHis\tback\tbent.","His\thead\ttouching\tthe\tfloor.\tChanting.\tAt\tlong\tlast,\the\trose\tand\tsaid\twhat\tevery devotee\tof\tthe\tSaakshin\tVishnu\tsaid\twhen\tfacing\tHim:\t\u2018Witness\tme,\tMy\tLord.\u2019 Witness\tme\tas\tI\tcarry\tout\tthe\tgreatest\tkarma\tof\tmy\tlife. It\t had\t been\t three\t years\t since\t the\t Nalaban\t Island\t robbery.\t Twenty-two-year-old Raavan\thad\tbecome\treclusive\tand\trarely\tventured\tout\tof\tGokarna.\tWhile\the\twas still\tinvolved\tin\tthe\tbusiness\tand\tmade\tthe\tdecisions\ton\tall\tkey\tstrategic\tissues, he\t did\t not\t go\t out\t to\t sea\t or\t travel.\t He\t remained\t in\t Gokarna,\t watching\t the\t sea from\tthe\theights\tof\this\thilltop\tmansion.\tWaiting\tfor\tKumbhakarna. All\t this\t time,\t Kumbhakarna\t had\t been\t sending\t regular\t updates\t from Kalinga.\t The\t dock-repair\t workers\t they\t had\t seen\t the\t Kanyakumari\t with\t had travelled\t westward,\t deeper\t into\t the\t heart\t of\t Kalinga.\t The\t next\t time\t Raavan heard\t from\t Kumbhakarna,\t it\t was\t with\t the\t news\t that\t they\t were\t encamped\t at Vaidyanath,\tclose\tto\tthe\tMayurakshi\tRiver.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\ttoo\tfar\tfrom\tKalinga. In\t the\t meantime,\t Mareech\t had\t started\t managing\t Raavan\u2019s\t vast\t business empire.\t He\t had\t used\t the\t money\t looted\t from\t Krakachabahu\t to\t commission\t the building\t of\t large\t new\t ships.\t The\t best\t ship-builders\t in\t Gokarna\t and\t across\t the land\t had\t their\t entire\t capacity\t blocked\t by\t Raavan\u2019s\t purchase\t orders.\t He\t was taking\t delivery\t of\t five\t or\t six\t ships\t every\t month;\t an\t unprecedented\t happening that\tshocked\tthe\ttrading\tcommunity\tall\tacross\tthe\tIndian\tOcean\trim. Gradually,\t Raavan\t built\t up\t a\t fleet\t of\t two\t hundred\t ships.\t An\t advance payment\t for\t the\t cave\t material\t had\t been\t made\t to\t the\t Malayaputras.\t Raavan\u2019s men\t took\t each\t new\t ship,\t as\t soon\t as\t it\t was\t delivered,\t to\t Unawatuna,\t a\t hidden alcove\ton\tthe\tsouthern\tcoast\tof\tLanka.\tThey\tcareened\tthe\tships\tthere.\tThe\tcave material\t was\t then\t kneaded,\t mixed\t with\t other\t ingredients,\t and\t painstakingly rubbed\ton\tto\teach\tship\u2019s\thull.\tIt\twas\ta\tlong\tand\tlaborious\tprocess.\tAnd\tdone\tin secret\tby\ta\tsmall,\tloyal\tcrew\tthat\twas\tvery\twell\trewarded\tfor\tits\tefforts. As\t Raavan\u2019s\t fleet\t grew,\t so\t did\t its\t reputation\t for\t speedy\t travel. Manufacturers\tand\tartisans\tfound\tit\tprofitable\tto\ttrade\twith\thim.\tThey\tknew\tthat their\tgoods\twould\tbe\tdelivered\tand\tsold\tmuch\tfaster\tif\tthey\twent\tto\tRaavan,\tas compared\tto\tother\ttraders.\tOn\tRaavan\u2019s\tinstructions,\tMareech\talso\tbegan\tto\tuse their\tvastly\tsuperior\tfleet\tto\tapprehend\tand\tloot\tother\tships\talong\tthe\tbusy\ttrade routes\t of\t the\t Indian\t Ocean.\t The\t pirate\t vessels\t would\t appear\t like\t the\t wind, plunder\t and\t kill\t the\t sailors\t on\t the\t target\t ships,\t and\t sink\t them\t to\t ensure\t that\t no trace\t was\t left\t of\t their\t crimes.\t Many\t of\t the\t ships\t they\t destroyed\t belonged\t to Kubaer.\t Because\t of\t the\t lack\t of\t witnesses,\t no\t one\t made\t the\t connection\t with Raavan.\tThey\tbelieved\tthe\tattacks\tto\tbe\tthe\thandiwork\tof\tpirates.","Of\tcourse,\tRaavan\u2019s\tplan\t did\tnot\tend\twith\tmerely\traiding\tother\tships\tfor treasure.\tExploiting\tthe\tgrowing\tfear\tof\tpirate\tattacks\tat\tsea,\the\tstarted\tbuilding his\t own\t mini\t army\t under\t the\t leadership\t of\t Prahast.\t He\t claimed\t it\t was\t a protection\t force\t for\t his\t ships.\t Though\t it\t was\t unusual\t for\t a\t trader\t to\t have\t a standing\t corps\t of\t trained\t soldiers,\t many\t thought\t it\t was\t a\t logical\t way\t to\t protect profits.\t Some\t of\t the\t other\t traders\t started\t hiring\t the\t services\t of\t Raavan\u2019s protection\tforce\ttoo.\tNot\tonly\tdid\tRaavan\tmake\tprofits\tfrom\thiring\tout\this\tforce, his\t soldiers\t also\t became\t a\t source\t of\t information\t for\t him,\t about\t his\t rivals\t and their\ttrading\tplans. Profits\t flowed\t in\t at\t a\t tremendous\t pace.\t Raavan\t was\t already\t among\t the wealthiest\ttraders\tin\tGokarna.\tHe\twould\tsoon\tbe\tone\tof\tthe\twealthiest\ttraders\tin the\t world.\t Wealthy\t enough\t for\t even\t the\t richest\t man\t on\t the\t planet,\t Kubaer,\t to take\tnotice. Aware\tthat\tthey\tcould\tnot\trisk\tthe\tMalayaputras\tfinding\tout\tabout\tthe\treal use\t of\t the\t cave\t material,\t Mareech\t had\t gone\t about\t leasing\t the\t Pushpak\t Vimaan from\tKubaer.\tHe\thad\tnegotiated\tvery\thard\ton\tthe\tprice\tso\tthat\tit\twould\tseem\tlike a\t credible\t deal.\t Kubaer,\t the\t ever-pragmatic\t trader,\t had\t readily\t agreed.\t The vimaan\twas\tso\texpensive\tto\trun\tthat\the\thad\tvirtually\tstopped\tusing\tit.\tAnd,\tlike any\tmachine\tnot\tput\tto\tregular\tuse,\tit\twas\tslowly\trusting\taway.\tFrom\this\tpoint\tof view,\tany\tdeal\twas\tbetter\tthan\tno\tdeal. When\tMareech\ttook\tover\tthe\tPushpak\tVimaan,\tthe\tfirst\tthing\the\tdid\twas\tto strip\t away\t all\t the\t luxuries\t that\t Kubaer\t had\t built\t into\t the\t flying\t craft.\t Out\t went the\tgold-plated\tbed\twith\tits\tsoft\tmattress\tand\tthe\tlarge,\twell-stocked\tkitchen\tfor the\t preparation\t of\t exotic\t food.\t The\t vimaan\t was\t deprived\t of\t everything\t that smacked\t of\t ineffectual\t opulence\t without\t providing\t any\t practical\t value. Removing\t these\t luxuries\t vastly\t reduced\t the\t weight\t of\t the\t craft.\t The\t reduced payload\t meant\t that\t the\t quantities\t of\t cave\t material\t required\t to\t fly\t the\t aircraft came\tdown\tdrastically.\tThis\tslashed\tthe\tcost\tof\trunning\tthe\tcraft. Mareech\talso\tlimited\tthe\tuse\tof\tthe\tvimaan.\tIt\twould\tnow\tbe\tused\tonly\tfor flights\tto\tdistant\tlands.\tTo\tseek\tinformation,\tand\tfor\ttrade\tin\textremely\tvaluable but\tlight\tcargo,\tsuch\tas\tprecious\tstones.\tRaavan\tsometimes\taccompanied\thim\ton these\tflights. It\twas\tone\tsuch\ttrip\tthat\tMareech\thad\tcome\tto\tdiscuss\twith\tRaavan. \u2018Are\t you\t sure\t about\t this\t information?\u2019\t asked\t Raavan\t gruffly,\t as\t he continued\this\tworkout. Mareech\tand\t Raavan\twere\ton\tthe\tfirst-floor\tbalcony\t of\this\tmansion.\tThe house\twas\tsituated\ton\ta\ttall\thill\tthat\tjutted\tinto\tthe\tsea.\tIt\tafforded\tbrilliant\tviews of\t the\t Indian\t Ocean,\t which\t stretched\t as\t far\t as\t the\t eye\t could\t see.\t And\t beyond. Raavan\tcame\there\tevery\tmorning\tto\tperform\tthe\tSurya\tnamaskar,\tsalutations\tto"]
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