Shiva frowned.

‘Your ultimate goal is to find the Nagas.’

Shiva narrowed his eyes.

‘I know where they live,’ said Parshuram.

Shiva’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘I know my way through the Dandak forests, My Lord,’ continued Parshuram. ‘I know where the Naga city is. I will tell you how to get there.’

Shiva patted Parshuram’s shoulder. ‘Thank you.’

‘But I have one condition, My Lord.’

Shiva frowned.

‘Take me with you,’ whispered Parshuram.

Shiva raised his eyebrows, surprised. ‘But why...’

‘Following you is my life’s duty. Please let me give my wretched life at least a little bit of meaning.’

Shiva nodded. ‘It will be my honour to travel with you, Parshuram.’

It had been three days since the battle of Madhumati. Parvateshwar’s men had located Parshuram’s ship. It was even bigger than the one they had travelled in. Clearly a Branga ship, it even had hull extensions to allow passage through the gates of Branga. The ship must have been captured by Parshuram’s men from one of the unfortunate Branga Kshatriya bands sent to arrest or kill him.

All the soldiers had boarded the ship. Parshuram’s men were not prisoners anymore. They had been allotted comfortable quarters of the same order as the Suryavanshi soldiers who had beaten them.

Shiva had personally seen to the comfort of both Purvaka and Parshuram. Ayurvati had stationed her assistant Mastrak alongside Parshuram, who was still extremely weak from tremendous blood loss.

The ship was sailing comfortably up the Madhumati. When they would reach the Branga river, a fast cutter with one of Parshuram’s men would be sent to guide King Chandraketu in finding the alternative source of the Naga medicine. The man would also inform the rest of Shiva’s men at Brangaridai to leave immediately and rejoin the brigade at the point where the Madhumati broke away from the Branga.

The brigade would then sail back to Kashi. Shiva was desperate to meet Sati and Kartik. He had been missing his family. After that he planned to raise an army and quickly turn South to find the Nagas.

Shiva was standing at the head of the ship, smoking some marijuana with Veerbhadra. Nandi stood next to them. They stared into the swirling waters of the Madhumati.

‘This expedition went better than expected, My Lord,’ said Nandi.

‘That it did,’ smiled Shiva, pointing at the chillum. ‘Unfortunately, the celebration isn’t quite up to the mark.’

Veerbhadra smiled. ‘Let me get to Kashi. They really know how to roll good grass there.’

Shiva laughed aloud. So did Nandi. Shiva offered the chillum to Nandi but the Meluhan Major declined. Shiva shrugged and took another drag, before passing the chillum back to Veerbhadra.

Shiva was distracted as he saw Parvateshwar come up to them, hesitate and turn back.

‘I wonder what he wants to talk about now,’ asked Shiva, frowning.

‘It’s obvious, isn’t it?’ smiled Veerbhadra.

Nandi looked down and smiled, not saying a word.

‘Why don’t you two idiots excuse me for a minute?’ smiled Shiva, as he walked away from his friends.

Parvateshwar was standing at a distance, deep in thought.

‘General? A word, General.’

Parvateshwar immediately turned around and saluted. ‘Your command, My Lord.’

‘Not a command, Parvateshwar. Just a request.’

Parvateshwar frowned.

‘In the name of the Holy Lake,’ said Shiva. ‘For once, listen to your heart.’

‘My Lord?’

‘You know what I am saying. She loves you. You love her. What else is there to think about?’

Parvateshwar turned beet red. ‘Has it been that obvious?’

‘Obvious to everyone, General!’

‘But My Lord, this is wrong.’

‘How? Why? You think Lord Ram purposely designed laws for you to be unhappy?’

‘But my grandfather’s vow...’

‘You have honoured it for long enough. Trust me, even he would want you to stop now.’

Parvateshwar looked down, not saying anything.

‘I remember hearing that one of Lord Ram’s commandments was that laws are not important. What is important is justice. If the purpose of justice is served by breaking a law, then break it.’

‘Lord Ram said that?’ asked Parvateshwar, surprised.

‘I’m sure he must have,’ smiled Shiva. ‘He never wanted his followers to be unhappy. You are not hurting anyone else by being with Anandmayi. You are not hurting the protest begun by your grandfather. You have served that purpose quite enough. Now let your heart serve another purpose.’

‘Are you sure, My Lord?’

‘I’ve never been surer of anything else in my life. In the name of Lord Ram, go to her!’

Shiva slapped Parvateshwar hard on his back.

Parvateshwar had been thinking about this for long. Shiva’s words only helped him gather his dwindling courage. He saluted Shiva and turned. A man on a mission. Ready to take the plunge.

Anandmayi was leaning against the railing astern of the ship, enjoying the strong evening breeze.

‘Your Highness?’

Anandmayi spun around, surprised to find Parvateshwar there, looking sheepish. The Princess of Ayodhya was about to open her mouth, when he corrected himself.

‘I meant Anandmayi,’ whispered Parvateshwar.

Anandmayi stood up in surprise.

‘Yes, General? You wanted something?’ asked Anandmayi, her heart racing.

‘Ummm... Anandmayi... I was thinking...’

‘Yes?’

‘Well, it’s like this... It’s about what we were talking about...’

Anandmayi was aglow, smiling from deep within her heart. ‘Yes, General?’

‘Ummm... I never thought I would face this day. So... Ummm...’

Anandmayi nodded, keeping quiet, letting him take his time. She could figure out exactly what Parvateshwar wanted to say. But she also knew that it would be very difficult for the Meluhan General.

‘My vows and Suryavanshi laws have been the bedrock of my life,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘Unquestionable and unchanging. My destiny, the destination of my life and my role in it, has so far been clearly defined. This predictability is comforting. Rather, had been comforting, for many decades.’

Anandmayi nodded, silent.

‘But,’ said Parvateshwar, ‘the last few years have turned my world upside down. First came the Lord, a living man that I could look up to. A person beyond the laws. I thought this would be the biggest change my simple heart had been forced to handle.’

Anandmayi continued to nod. Trying her best not to frown or laugh, touched to see this proud man baring his heart in what she thought was one of the most wooden attempts at courtship in history. But she was wise enough to know that her Parva had to say his piece or he would never be comfortable with himself or in the life she hoped he was choosing to make with her.

‘But then... most unexpectedly, I also found a woman that I could look up to, could admire and adore. I have reached a crossroads in my life, where my destination is a blur. I do not know where my life is going. The road ahead is unclear. But to my surprise, I find that I am happy with that. Happy, as long as you walk this road with me...’