by Kevin Missal
Kalki looked at the mountains. Bhargav Ram was waiting for him there.
“Close your eyes, boy. There’s something you need to see.”
Kalki hesitated a little, but closed his eyes. Bajrang held his hand.
For a while nothing happened until Kalki realized his hand was burning. Soon, he could feel his body moving like gel and withering away. He opened his eyes to find himself in the snow again. He was in a camp. Around him were large tents, roasted beefs, fires, Vanars in dark fur combating each other. Some were having their supper, some were sleeping, and some were teasing the dancing Apsaras. Lord Bajrang and Kalki stood in a corner and watched.
“Don’t worry,” Bajrang said, patting Kalki on the shoulder. “No one can see us.”
This is unbelievable.
Bajrang and Kalki walked around the tents. In the distance they could see a frozen river. Some of General Taar’s men were looking at the barricades that Bajrang’s men had put up on the other side of this river. Now, they reached the largest tent of the camp, inside which stood a tall Vanar. His fur was as dark as coal, he had big eyes and a big mouth. The Vanar was pacing inside his tent, worried. Manavs and Rakshas surrounded him.
The big, dark-skinned Vanar spoke to another brown-skinned Vanar, “Aruna, where are the captives?”
“Should I bring them to you, General?
“Yes.”
He is General Taar! He looked devious. Soon, Kalki saw Padma and Kripa come out from one of the tents, looking haggard. Their faces and arms had bruises.
Taar walked and stood close to Kripa, his thick, bushy brows arching. “What are Manavs doing in Bajrang’s camp?”
Kripa didn’t say anything. Taar flared his nostrils in anger.
“Who is the man who injured so many of my men?”
He was referring to Kalki.
Kripa glared at Taar, and then he smirked. Taar howled and punched his gut. “We don’t have time for this. ARUNA!”
His right hand man came forward in a hurry. “Yes, my lord?”
“What the hell am I supposed to do with an old man and a girl? Go find out something useful about what’s going on in Bajrang’s camp.”
Taar was being impractical again. Gently, Aruna reminded him that they had to battle with Bajrang’s army in a few hours. “It would be wise to let the men prepare for battle right now.” Kalki’s heart skipped a beat and he could feel Bajrang’s heart leaping as well.
“Don’t tell me what to do, you idiot.” Taar sat down and looked at the people around him. He had a devious smile on his face. “What are we waiting for? Let’s attack now.”
“What should we do about the prisoners?” asked Aruna.
Taar turned around, looking at the docile faces of Kripa and Padma. “Rape her and kill him. What else?”
Kalki flared his nostrils. He moved to hit Taar but Bajrang stopped him. “He cannot see you and you cannot touch him.”
“We should go back and prepare ourselves.”
“Are we at war?”
Bajrang nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
This won’t end well. We’ll have to constantly watch our backs.
It had been announced to the public that Lord Kuvera, the king of Yakshas had been killed by Lady Urvashi in self defence. But the Yakshas suspected foul play. They were protesting. Some had even tried to assassinate Urvashi.
She had created a mess, and Arjan was trying to clean it up.
But for Arjan, the worst was yet to come.
How long will I have to guide this unpredictable, dangerous queen? I only stayed because Rudra asked me to.
“We should leave.” Arjan clasped Rudra’s cheeks, carefully gazing at him. “We are not safe here.”
Rudra shook his head. “I know what she did was wrong but I cannot let her be defeated by Ramras. Believe me, he’s worse than her.
Ramras was proving to be a bigger problem than Arjan had anticipated. He was a despicable man who drank and whored, but his influence in the council had grown tremendously. He, like the other rich people, had been happy serving Kali. Though Kali had tried to help his citizens, his reign had only seen the rich getting richer and the poor perishing even more. When Urvashi had taken the city, the nobles as well as the citizens had grown afraid, uncertain about how this little girl would rule their city. This fear had been fanned by Ramras who never stopped reminding the ministers that she had murdered the King of Yakshas in broad daylight.
“And if we leave now, we will be considered fugitives. We have pledged ourselves to the crown.”
“There’s no crown. There’s a just a whiny girl who does what she wants without thinking.”
In order to stop the protests, and save her life, Urvashi had passed a law. Now, it was illegal for Yakshas to live in Indragarh. The Yaksha minister in the council, Gumukha had voiced his outrage at this.
“There will be consequences to what you did! You shall be punished! The Yakshas shall retort,” Gumukha shouted at the top of his voice, pointing his cane at Urvashi.
Ramras patted him on his shoulder to calm him down. He then looked at Urvashi. “Lady Urvashi, you shouldn’t have done that. The Yakshas are creating problems in the city.”
“He killed my father. He deserved it.”
“You could have taken him to the court,” Ramras protested. “Why did you take the law in your own hands?”
“I am the law and justice. I am your queen.”
“Yes, you have the authority to do what you want,” Ramras turned to leave. “Until you are the queen,” he added under his breath. Gumukha followed Ramras outside. Just as they were about to turn the corner, Ramras stopped. He looked at Urvashi and said, “The Yakshas are a proud tribe and they feel slighted. We should discuss what is to be done about them in our next council meeting.”
“I didn’t mean to send them away. I have no qualms with the Yakshas as people. I had passed the law to stop the riots. If you promise me there won’t be any riots, I’ll withdraw it, until the council votes for the ruler.”
With a pleasant smile, Ramras glanced at Gumukha. Gumukha didn’t say anything, but just nodded meekly.
Arjan knew what Ramras had been hinting at. He will defeat Urvashi and bring back the Yakshas in the city. It was the day of the council meeting. Councilmen were going to decide who was fit to rule Indragarh.
Urvashi, Arjan, and Rudra stepped inside the council chamber. There was a huge round table surrounded by wooden chairs occupied by the councilmen. Windows were lined on one side of the room but the drapes had been closed. Manav guards had been stationed at the entrance. Gumukha sat at the back beside other Yaksha noblemen. He and Ramras were glancing at each other.
Urvashi sat opposite Ramras. “Let’s begin. Lord Ramras can speak first.”
Ramras stood up. Rudra fidgeted nervously in his seat, but Arjan clasped his hand in his. They both smiled.
“I know you hate him. But you’ve got me now,” Arjan whispered.
“Many of you might not know me well. Unlike Lady Urvashi, I’m not royalty. But I plan to herald this place and its people into better, stronger times. I will set up more temples. Tax rate will be lowered. More gurukuls will be set up. Women will receive equal pay in the government. And I also plan to increase Indragarh’s export and import business with other cities.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” a minister asked.
“I plan to change Agnigarh from a living settlement to a working area. And all the civilians will shift to Indragarh. To tackle population control, Manavs shall be employed to build houses. And in my plan, the Yakshas headed by Gumukha will play a major role. In fact, as we speak, the son of Lord Kuvera, the heir of Alakpur, Nalakuvera is on his way to Indragarh and we shall have a treaty with him so we could use the Yaksha workforce. We all know the Tribals are faster when it comes to menial jobs.”
Arjan remembered that Lord Kuvera had mentioned that his son was coming to Indragarh. Though he hadn’t anticipated that Ramras would have already gotten
in touch with him.
Ramras’ speech is filled with empty promises. And if he is going to employ Manavs, why would the Yakshas play a key role? He is just doing this to please Gumukha.
“We have already talked to him. He has been kind enough to forgive us for his father’s murder.”
I get it now. He plans to please the Yakshas by bringing Lord Kuvera’s son in the city.
“But he wants me to be the king. If I am elected, he will come to us in peace.”
Urvashi coughed. And with a smile, she asked, “And what if I become the queen? What shall he do?”
Ramras sighed. “He’ll attack the city.”
Everyone gasped in horror. Urvashi looked bored, as if it didn’t matter to her if the city was attacked.
“This is outrageous! Then, we have no choice but to make you the king or face the wrath of the Yaksha prince,” one of the councilmen said.
“What is the point of this discussion if it has been decided already?”
Everyone started shouting. So there are people who believe Urvashi should rule. Ramras awkwardly sat back in his chair and Urvashi stood up to speak.
“We won’t scamper. We are not cowards. If Nalakuvera wants war, we shall give him war.” She directed his attention to Gumukha. “I might be a little young to rule. Not the most favourable contender here. But I am royalty. I defeated Kali. While the rich became richer during his reign, the poor were plagued by problems. He wasn’t a perfect ruler and I wouldn’t be as well. But I know one thing. I have plans that could make this city great again.” She paused, glancing at Arjan. “I really can. We shouldn’t give in to Yakshas’ threats. I will follow every rule that my father followed and soon, we will witness the Golden Age of Indragarh, OUR DAYS OF GLORY! But I won’t run away from the Tribals. I’ll lend my support to them, but if they don’t cooperate I shall not hesitate to cut them.”
“All the rules by Vedanta?” one minister said, nodding his head. “They were good!”
“Yes, all rules and regulations followed by my father shall be implemented except the Tribal program. I have no issues with including them with us, if they don’t create any problems. And if they do, we’ll deal with them then.”
“You let the prisoners out. There were many who had been thrown in because of sodomy. What will you do about that? Sodomy brings ugliness and unhealthiness to the society,” a minister added.
Arjan held his breath. This is not happening.
Urvashi sighed. “I know and I agree. Those who practise sodomy shall be imprisoned.”
And Arjan’s blood ran cold as he shared a worried glance with Rudra.
The ministers though were satisfied in bringing back these conservative laws. Urvashi had officially won over all the noblemen and the ministers.
“And if we select you,” Gumukha asked, “what would you do about Nalakuvera who stands outside the city doors?”
“I will extend a hand in friendship.”
“And if he doesn’t take it?”
Urvashi grinned. “I shall let him know then that every Yaksha that is there in this city shall be cut open till he surrenders. And I’ll start with you, Lord Gumukha.”
Flabbergasted, Gumukha stood up from his seat. He was about to head towards Urvashi but his fellow ministers stopped him. Unlike Kali, who had tried to keep the Tribals happy, Urvashi was keeping the Tribals in check, though not disqualifying them totally.
Urvashi sat back and and looked at Arjan. Arjan hesitatingly gave her a thumbs up. The voting started as Urvashi bit her nails, nervous. Arjan and Rudra didn’t want Urvashi to win.
Urvashi came and stood beside Arjan.
“How was it?”
“You promised something about recapturing the prisoners,” Rudra said.
“Only a few of them. How does it matter?”
“But they helped you—”
“And now I’ll have the guards of the crown to help me, the army on my side. The prisoners were a temporary solution. But do not worry, you two won’t be going anywhere since both of you are my thinktank.” She winked and then seated herself comfortably on her chair.
Rudra and Arjan clasped their hands in each other’s.
The spokesperson had completed counting the paper stashes given by each member of the council. He stood at the pedestal to announce the results. Arjan was trying to study his expression. Both Ramras and Urvashi were inexperienced rulers, but at least Ramras won’t put Arjan and Rudra in prison.
“Going by the results . . .”
Don’t be Urvashi.
Don’t be Urvashi.
Arjan’s eyes were shut and he could feel the sweat in his palms, the hair at the back of his neck standing up.
“The new ruler of Indragarh, the capital of Udaiyas, the sole power of Keekatpur is Queen Urvashi, the youngest queen in the history of this country.”
And with that, Arjan could picture his doom.
Damn.
Kali had just travelled back in time.
Or at least, his consciousness had.
He was standing in the midst of the jungle with King Parikshit aiming an arrow at him before a guard stepped up to him and told him to put it down.
“He’s just a boy,” the guard said.
But I’ve grown.
Kali turned and realized that King Parikshit and his guards weren’t looking at him. In fact, they didn’t even know the older Kali was standing there. Instead he saw his younger version on the ground, clutching his small, cherub-faced sister, Durukti. He felt goosebumps. It was eerie watching himself—fair-skinned, with golden eyes and long wavy hair.
“But he is an Asura! Look at his eyes,” commented Parikshit. “They should be burned down. They spread curses.”
Kali realized this was the time when Asuras were said to be a stinking, horrifying race who were despicable to look at. They were being pulled and pushed down, killed and beheaded for being who they were. Kali recalled how it had all started after the Breaking. Rumours about the Asuras had started spreading. People said that Asuras had caused the Breaking through their magic. Obviously, Kali knew that Asuras didn’t dabble in magic extensively, not more so than Vidhyadharas, but people had chosen to believe the rumours. As a result, Asuras in Illavarti had been taken down, raped, and murdered. It didn’t matter to Manavs what their gender or age was. And then the killings stopped for a while when Parikshit became king. He was a benevolent king, heir to the throne of Udaiyas. He had controlled the Northern cities from Indragarh.
“Fine.” Parikshit nodded. “Make use of him somehow.”
The guard nodded. He was a young man and looked fierce though recognizable. Kali looked at the guard as he helped the younger Kali and Durukti up and took them back to the kingdom.
Kali realized why he was recognizable. He didn’t have the grey beard he had now, but was young and captivating—he was none other than Koko.
Earlier, the majority of the provinces in North were ruled by Parikshit in the Kuru Kingdom. The country had not been divided like the present time.
The scene changed. The present scene dissolved and Kali was standing in the street. Parikshit was walking in front of Kali with his guards. Younger Kali stood beside him. He was carrying a sword and a shield.
Kali remembered how he used to be Parikshit’s squire, his aid. Parikshit would ask Kali to do menial jobs. Along with Parikshit, stood his son Janmejaya, a teenager. Parikshit was showing him around the city. The people were nodding at Parikshit, bowing to him.
And then out of nowhere an assassin appeared with a sword to attack Parikshit. Before Koko could do anything, younger Kali jumped in front deflecting the attack from the Naga assassin and then stabbed him. Parikshit looked at his aid and was surprised. Their relations with the Nagas had turned sour. It was not the first time that an assassination attempt had been made at the king.
Kali remembered how this was one of his proudest moments since he had saved the king. Parikshit went the younger Kali—who was growing with a strong, muscula
r body—and said, “I owe you one, Kali.”
Koko was embarrassed but the younger Kali patted him on the back. “Big brother, I hope you don’t mind that I did your job,” he said. Parikshit and Janmejaya began walking ahead.
The scene ended.
Now, Kali was in the king’s court. These scenes were just marking the important details of his past.
He saw Janmejaya, now a bit older than he was in the previous scene. He looked scrawny. Standing close to the throne, he was yelling at his father. Parikshit, who now looked old and weak, sat on his throne.
“You cannot let Kali lead. An Asura shouldn’t be allowed to lead the army, Father!”
“How does it matter? He’s a good boy.” The old man coughed.
Kali had no idea about this conversation. He always thought Janmejaya hadn’t liked Kali because he had been like a son to Parikshit and there was this inherent jealousy emanating from him. Kali had thought that Janmejaya had just wanted his father’s attention. But Janmejaya had hated Kali because he had believed him to be a stereotypical Asura.
“We are losing to Nagas—”
“We are losing to Nagas because we did not employ Kali’s intellect till now. He has a sharp mind and he’s a genius. He has studied all the ancient ways of war tactics.”
“That Asura has blinded you!” he yelled. “He has used some magic on you and it’s making you trust him.”
Parikshit laughed at the idiosyncratic objection made by Janmejaya. “You are weak, child, and you are stubborn. I’m having second doubts about whether I should make you my heir or not to the Kuru . . .”
The scene instantly changed to a room that belonged to Parikshit. A small goblet had been kept beside the bed. Kali watched Janmejaya sneaking in. He poured some liquid inside the goblet of wine.
No.
Kali couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He began to shout at Janmejaya. “Don’t you dare!”
The scene changed and showed Kali a painful memory. Parikshit was on his deathbed and Kali was sitting next to him.
“My dear friend, you have been like my own son,” the coughing, dying king said. “It was a privilege knowing you.”