Nearly fifty furious Suryavanshi soldiers charged into the park. They fell upon the two big cats. The weakened animals did not stand a chance and were soon killed.

Through his rapidly fading vision, Ganesh thought he saw a handsome figure rushing towards him, bloodied sword held to the side. His throat, an iridescent blue. Behind the man, he could barely make out the blurred vision of a bronzed woman racing towards him. A warrior Princess, the blood of the liger splattered all over her.

The Naga smiled, delighted to be the bearer of good news to two of the most important people in his world.

‘Don’t worry... baba,’ whispered Ganesh to his father. ‘Your son is safe... He is hidden... behind me.’

Saying so, Ganesh collapsed. Unconscious.

Chapter 20

Never Alone, My Brother

Ganesh thought he should feel pain. But there was nothing.

He opened his eyes. He could barely distinguish the formidable Ayurvati next to his body.

He shifted his eyes down towards his ravaged body; skin torn asunder, flesh ripped out, blood congealed all over, arm bone sticking out, a gaping hole in his chest, ribs cracked and visible.

Bhoomidevi be merciful. I don’t stand a chance.

Ganesh returned to darkness.

A sharp sting on his chest. His eyes opened slowly. Barely.

Through the slits, he could see Ayurvati changing his dressing.

He could feel again.

A good thing, right?

He slipped into his dream world once again.

A soft caress. Then the hand moved away. A sleeping Ganesh moved his head. He wanted the hand back. It returned to his face, stroking it gently.

Ganesh opened his eyes slightly. Sati was sitting next to him, leaning over, her eyes swollen, red.

Maa.

But Sati didn’t respond. Maybe she hadn’t heard him.

Ganesh could see outside the window behind Sati. It was raining.

The monsoons? How long have I been unconscious?

Ganesh saw a man leaning next to the window, against the wall. A strong man, whose normally mischievous eyes were expressionless. A man with a blue throat. A man staring intensely at him. Trying to figure him out.

Sleep snatched Ganesh away yet again.

A warm touch on his arm. Someone was gently applying the ointment on him.

The Naga opened his eyes slowly. And was surprised to see the hand applying the medicine so tenderly was not soft and feminine, but strong and masculine.

He turned his eyes slowly to see the kindly doctor. The torso was powerful and muscled. But the neck! It was different. It radiated a divine blue light.

Ganesh was stunned. A gasp escaped his mouth.

The hand applying the medicine froze. Ganesh could feel a pair of eyes boring into him. And then the Neelkanth rose and left the room.

Ganesh shut his eyes again.

Ganesh finally emerged from his sleepy cocoon after a long, long time without the immediate need to slip back into its safety. He could hear the soft pitter-patter of raindrops.

He loved the monsoon. The heavenly whiff of a rejuvenated earth. The melody of falling rain.

He turned his head slightly to his left. It was enough to wake Sati. She immediately rose from her bed at the far end of the room and walked up to Ganesh. She pulled a chair up close and rested her hand on her son’s.

‘How are you, my son?’

Ganesh smiled softly. He turned his head a little more.

Sati smiled and ran her fingers across her son’s face. She knew he liked that.

‘Krittika?’

‘She’s much better,’ said Sati. ‘She wasn’t as badly injured as you. In fact she was out of the ayuralay very quickly. Just two weeks.’

‘How long...?’

‘How long have you been here?’

Ganesh nodded in reply.

‘Sixty days. In and out of consciousness.’

‘Rains...’

‘The monsoon is almost over. The moisture led to complications, slowing down your healing process.’

Ganesh took a deep breath. He was tired.

‘Go to sleep,’ said Sati. ‘Ayurvati ji says you are well on the road to recovery. You will be out of here soon.’

Ganesh smiled and went back to sleep.

Ganesh was woken up abruptly by Ayurvati, who was staring at him pointedly.

‘How long have I been sleeping?’

‘Since the last time you were awake? A few hours. I sent your mother home. She needs to rest.’

Ganesh nodded.

Ayurvati picked some paste she had kneaded. ‘Open your mouth.’

Ganesh winced at the foul smelling paste. ‘What is this, Ayurvati ji?’

‘It will make the pain go away.’

‘But I don’t feel any pain.’

‘You will when I apply the ointment. So open your mouth and keep it under your tongue.’

Ayurvati waited for the medicine to take effect. Then she opened the dressing on Ganesh’s chest. His wound had healed dramatically. Flesh had filled up and some scar tissue had formed.

‘The skin will smoothen out,’ said an aloof Ayurvati.

‘I’m a warrior,’ smiled Ganesh. ‘Scars are more welcome than smooth skin.’

Ayurvati stared at Ganesh, impassive. Then she picked up a bowl.

Ganesh held his breath as Ayurvati started applying the ointment. Despite the anaesthetic, the ointment still stung. She finished applying the paste quickly and covered the wound again with a bandage of neem leaves.

Ayurvati was quick, efficient and sure, qualities that Ganesh admired deeply.

The Lord of the People took a deep breath, gathering some strength. ‘I didn’t think I would survive. Your reputation is truly deserved, Ayurvati ji.’

Ayurvati frowned. ‘Where did you hear of me?’

‘I was injured in Icchawar as well. And Maa told me that you could have healed me twice as fast. She said that you are the best doctor in the world.’

Ayurvati raised her eyebrows. ‘You have a silver tongue. Capable of making anyone smile. Just like the Lord Neelkanth. It’s sad you don’t have his untainted heart.’

Ganesh kept quiet.

‘I admired Brahaspati. He was not just a good man, but a fount of knowledge. The world suffered when he died before his time.’

Ganesh did not respond, his sad eyes looking deep into the doctor’s eyes.

‘Now, let me look at that arm,’ said Ayurvati.

She yanked his bandage open. Hard enough to make it sting, but soft enough to not cause any serious damage.

Ganesh didn’t flinch.

The next day, Ganesh woke up to find his mother and aunt in the room, whispering.

‘Maa, Mausi,’ whispered Ganesh.

Both the sisters turned to him with a smile.

‘Do you want something to eat or drink?’ asked Sati.

‘Yes, Maa. But can I also go for a walk today? I’ve been sleeping for sixty days. This is terrible.’

Kali smiled. ‘I’ll speak with Ayurvati. For now, stay put.’

As Kali left to find Ayurvati, Sati pulled her chair closer to Ganesh.

‘I’ve got parathas for you,’ said Sati, opening a small ivory box that she was carrying.

Ganesh beamed. He absolutely loved the stuffed flat breads his mother made. But his smile vanished just as quickly when he remembered that so did his step-father, Shiva.

Sati rose to find the mouth rinse Ayurvati had prescribed for Ganesh before he could eat.