by Kevin Missal
Kripa was quiet. He seemed to be at peace. “Tell your lass to stop worrying about me.” He patted Padma who was tearing up, trying not to make a scene.
“She’s not anyone’s lass.” Kalki clenched his fist, touching the burn he had received while shielding Padma from the attack.
In his peaceful days at Shambala, he had never thought he would be facing so much turmoil in the time to come. He had never imagined that he would be battered with burns and scars and bruises, only to end up losing the people he truly loved . . . and hated.
“You got that right, mate.” Kripa coughed. He was growing weak by the second.
“How can an Endowed die?” Kalki asked. “They are Immortals, right?”
“I wish I knew, mate. This has never happened to an Immortal. I had heard something about them dying if their heads were cut off. But death just by bloodloss? Maybe there was something in their arrows . . . I guess I’ll never know. Maybe you should ask Bhargav Ram when you see him. He is older than me . . . He might know something.”
He gave a sad smile to Kalki. Kalki just looked away.
“I know you are angry with me. We couldn’t complete the conversation we were having earlier in the forest.”
“That’s all right. I know enough.”
Kalki tried hard not to show that he resented Kripa for killing his father. After all, Kripa was on his deathbed.
“No you don’t, mate. You think you do, but you don’t. Avatars often are full of themselves; believe me, I’ve seen one before you. You think you know the world, but you have only experienced a speck of it.”
“What do I not know?”
“Uh . . . I know it was my mistake for the Mleccha thing. Hiring them. I specifically told them not to hurt anyone but . . .” he shook his head, “Mate, it’s more complicated. I had to test you.”
“Of course, you had to,” Kalki responded in a sarcastic tone.
Kripa blinked slowly. “I know you think I chose you as an Avatar because I was tired of waiting for one to come up. Not really. That is not true. As I have told you, I tried to stop the coming of this new Age before it even began. As was instructed by Lord Govind, I tried to close up the caves and burn the Somas as much as I could, but I failed miserably. And after my repeated failings, I stayed in your village, Shambala. I thought there was no other way to stop the Age. And then I learnt about you. Your mother was sick during pregnancy. Your father was worried. He had heard about the legend of Somas from someone and went to the caves—”
“And he got it, I know.”
Kripa shook his head. “No, he didn’t. I kind of lied to you before. I told you he got it before I stopped him. But he couldn’t because I stopped him from taking it. At the time, I didn’t know why he had wanted to take it. I was safeguarding that cave. He got angry and left. He even fought with me, though I beat him to a pulp, mate.” He sniggered. “The point is, a few days after you were born, you were weak, frail. You were too small for a baby and too thin. Your father realized you won’t live for long . . . so he . . .”
“What did he do?” A shiver ran down his spine.
“He left you in the jungle.” Kripa sighed. “I saw it happen. I had wandered into the jungle after a drunken brawl I had had. You looked emaciated. Such a small, fish-eyed infant you were.”
My father left me?
“What did you do then?”
“What any man would do, mate,” he smiled, “I tried to save you, took you to the shamans, but they said you couldn’t be helped. And I knew I had to help you in some way or the other, so I did what Lord Govind specifically told me not to do. I gave you the Somas. You were small and gulped it right away. And you regained your strength slowly. I then gave you back to your father and told him about the consequences of my actions.”
Kalki could feel his eyes stinging.
“So no, I didn’t choose you as an Avatar because I had no choice. You didn’t become an Avatar because of destiny.”
I became an Avatar because of an old, drunken, and a . . . caring man?
Kalki was dumbstruck. He wiped the onslaught of tears from his eyes. He couldn’t help it. Kripa tried to sit up a little, and groaned in pain. It was too much to bear, and he was sweating profusely.
“So Bajrang is wrong, just so you know.”
“Why did you do it? You, in a way, started this Age . . .”
“Out of a simple act of kindness?” He nodded. “Yeah, I did. But at that time, when you were an infant, I didn’t see it that way. I saw a baby who was about to die.”
Kalki glanced at Padma. She was as surprised as Kalki was. And with that, she walked out of the room, unable to bear it. Kalki had been wrong all this time about Kripa. He might have been a strange old man but he had been like a father to Kalki. He had been watching over him since he was a baby. And his real father had left him to die.
“Why didn’t you tell me this? Why did you lie to me?”
“And let you despise your father? Jeez no, mate. That’s not me.” He paused, shaking his head. “I must tell you though that I did give you the Soma to make you powerful, to keep you alive, but remember that an Avatar is made of the deeds he commits, either good or bad; that is what defines him as a hero,” he said, pointing at the symbol on Kalki’s chest. “Well, you were just a young boy from Shambala who thought he was an Avatar. But this brands you with absolute confidence that not only should we believe in you, but the gods do too. You are the only one capable of becoming this Age’s saviour.”
“But you believed in me before Lord Vishnu did? That’s why you followed me when I grew up, you saw me, you checked if I had the traits to become an Avatar, to become Dharm.”
He nodded weakly. “I . . . uh . . . I thought you had it in you, when you and Bala saved a girl from the tavern, and you helped her . . . I don’t know if you remember, but I was there. I saw how frantically you were searching for a house for her, asking around who she was, where she belonged. You helped the girl as if she was your own. That day I understood that you are a kind man. And a Dharm is not just made of strength, but of kindness as well.”
“You said I was Lord Vishnu himself but . . . I mean an incarnation. I’m only a foot soldier, destined to do his bidding.”
“Mate, there are multiple versions of this prophecy. I had forgotten some of them. Some said Lord Vishnu shall take birth again in their Avatar’s body, others said Lord Vishnu shall choose his finest warrior and make him an Avatar and that this Avatar would be a soldier who Lord Vishnu believes in. There are so many theories about it, but it doesn’t matter, you know. What matters is, you are here, and you are strong, and you have the symbol of Srivatsa on your chest.”
He always believed in me.
“I might sound contradictory in what I say now and what I had said before, but everything that I just said is true.” He chuckled and took deep breaths. “I’m a confused man, after all. I’m a drunkard, yes. I’ve done horrible things in this world, I’ve become a . . . a . . . I lost my brother-in-law and my sister during the Mahayudh.”
“What happened to them?”
“You are better off not knowing, mate,” he winked, “but I do know one thing. I am sorry that I lied to you. After seeing this symbol,” he placed his hand on Kalki’s chest, “I thought, mate, that . . . that Soma can only work on Dharm and Adharm and it’ll make other normal people mad. But then again, you were a regular person too, at one point.”
“This symbol means that Lord Vishnu has chosen me as an Avatar. But if I wasn’t the Avatar till now, how was I able to Channel and speak to other Avatars?”
“It was the power of your belief, mate. You were completely convinced that you were an Avatar. That kind of confidence is extremely potent. That, coupled with the power of the Somas, enabled you to connect with the others.”
Kripa coughed violently. Speaking so much was taking a toll on his already diminished strength. But he still went on.
“I think Somas give you the capacity of strength, of enormity, of
invincibility but your deeds shape their nature, their purpose and that makes you Dharm or Adharm. I wanted to travel with you till th-the . . .” His hand turned cold even before it left the warmth of Kalki’s chest. He had closed his eyes as his laborious breathing finally stopped, after an age of agony.
And he was no more.
Believe in yourself.
Kalki looked away, batting his eyelids to stop himself from crying again. He glanced at Ratna and Smrit who didn’t shed a tear, but patted Kalki on the back with a sign of respect. Kalki couldn’t believe Kripa was gone.
“Old man, may you drink suras in the heavens too.” Kalki smiled faintly, brushing his fingers through the frail, white hair of his guru, his friend, and his father till the end.
Padma was standing near Vanarvata when Kalki walked towards her. The cherry leaves withered and descended, floating in the sky. The white flakes were moving and there was light snowfall. It was a beautiful day for a man to have breathed his last. Kalki’s heart felt heavy after the revelations.
He was still in denial.
Kalki stood behind Padma, hoping to ask her how Kripa had gotten his wound, but Padma wrapped her arms around him. She hugged him tightly and said, “A Vanar was taking me into a tent but Kripa came in between to stop him, and that is when he got slashed.”
She turned, finally letting Kalki see her face soaked with tears. “Is he gone?”
Kalki nodded.
She burst out sobbing as she embraced Kalki. He was dumbstruck. But he too wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for saving me that time.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You are warm,” she said, nuzzling his neck.
“Thank you.” Kalki blushed.
“I’m sorry about Arjan, Kalki.”
Kalki shook his head, patting her head, running his fingers in her hair. “Don’t be. He’s alive.”
“What?” Her excitement shot out.
“Yep.” He smiled back. “And I’m sorry I blamed you for Arjan’s disappearance.”
“I’m sorry I ever doubted that you were not the Avatar.”
Kalki remembered how he had fought with Padma and Kripa in the forest. He was so guilt-ridden. The woman who cares for him and the man who had watched out for him . . . And he had been so rude.
“Are you leaving then?” Padma moved back, wiping the tears.
Kalki thought for a moment as he swivelled his head to see the frantic Vanars. He looked at the women calming down their babies. He saw the men gearing for battle. All these people might be killed by the tyrant General Taar—a monster created by Lord Bajrang himself. He even saw Kara bidding farewell to her eight-year-old. All these Vanars, they believed in Lord Bajrang and now because of that, they might die. Lord Bajrang, no matter what, will not fight in this war, will not be part of this crusade, will not fight for his people.
“I always thought,” Kalki began thoughtfully musing as he saw the sunset in the horizon, beyond the terrains of Vanarvata, “that being Dharm or an Avatar is about having strength. My goal was always about fighting the big bad evil Kali and abdicating him from his throne.”
“Isn’t that your destiny? To bring order to these lands?”
He shook his head. Looking at the Vanar huts, he wondered what would happen if Taar conquered them all. “Being a Dharm is a choice.”
“A choice for what?” she asked.
“A choice to be a better person,” he sighed. “I don’t think I am leaving, Padma. I’m staying right here.”
The eagle was bigger than any winged creature she had ever seen.
But then, it wasn’t an eagle. Manasa knew it was Tarakshya’s vehicle. Unlike the flying chariots she had seen till then, Manasa could see that Tarakshya’s vehicle was different. It was huge. Instead of having wings on the sides, a golden eagle had been fashioned in the front and with its wings the chariot soared in the air. Tarakshya’s servants stood in the corners. At the back of the chariot was a huge tail from where the Somas were being burnt and crackled, igniting it to launch it in the air.
Manasa was standing in the meadows. Tarakshya landed his bird on the ground and stepped out of the chariot graciously. Tarakshya hadn’t changed much since the last time Manasa had seen him. His eyes were still smeared with kohl, his thin face was absurdly white because of the powder he had used, and he still had a long, conical beard. His golden skin glimmered in the sunlight. Though she knew he had painted himself to look golden.
With his head held high, he came down from the chariot and walked towards Manasa. He was wearing a flowing robe which was being carried by his men. Guards, majestic like him, surrounded him as soon as he stepped on the ground.
“What is it?” he spoke dryly. “Manasa, we have known each other for a while. Your brother wasn’t the friendly kind. You have some nerve coming up here . . . meeting me.” He sighed at the end as if he was already exhausted.
Tarakshya was exactly what one might call a spoilt, rich king, but he was also disciplined and knew how to utilize his kingly power.
“Your kingdom is in danger.”
“Hmmm . . .” Tarakshya starting humming a melody. “And what makes you say that? Am I in danger from your troupes?” he said, signalling at the guards standing behind Manasa, only a handful of them.
“No, Kadru is planning to do something sinister that would affect your kingdom.”
“Kadru? When one snake enters, the other bites. What’s with the Nagas and their politics? I didn’t even know till now that you were alive. I thought you had been eaten by the fishes of the North. But no! You are very much . . .” he sighed, panting. “You are very much alive, I can see. Now tell me, why should I believe Vasuki’s sister?”
“Because I’m telling the truth. You must not let them enter.”
“Enter? They are already inside.”
Manasa gritted her teeth, lightly stamping her foot on the ground.
“And you think my kingdom is in grave danger? I have entertained you for long enough because I pity you. But now I must leave and fend for my guests. This is a glorious day,” he panted, “to be happy that we are all a single community.”
“She’s going to betray you.”
Manasa wanted to show off the Shard from the Eye of Brahma, but she refrained. Tarakshya was someone who lived in excess and if he got hold of the Shard when he already had Amrit, who knows what he will do. But then, what choice did she have?
“All right, let me talk to them, I can prove it to—”
He shook his head.
Manasa was getting desperate. She tried to make another attempt to convince Tarakshya but before she could say anything, she felt a tremor!
The ground shook.
Manasa’s gaze shot up to see the bridge and the colossal iron-barricaded castle standing over multiple solid pillars. But there was one problem—from underneath the pillars, Manasa could see smoke emanating. And the next moment, the pillars were enveloped in fire.
The castle is falling!
Tarakshya gasped. “What in the name of flying Garuda is happening?”
“My lord!” A guard approached Tarakshya and said, “Someone must have brought inflammables to the cave.”
“Oh dear,” Tarakshya moaned. “Oh dear,” he said, shaking his head.
Manasa took this opportunity to convince Tarakshya again. “Lord Tarakshya! This is Kadru’s work. Let me stop her. I want to be the one who catches her red-handed. She’s doing this because she doesn’t want any partnership with the Suparns. All she cares about are the Somas and now she has the plants. Don’t you understand? I’m trying to save you.”
Tarakshaya matched Manasa’s gaze. “Why are you trying to help me? You know I killed your brother’s family.”
“Because I believe that the past doesn’t matter. What matters is now . And I want to forge good relations with you, unlike my brother. I promise you that, and I can prove my worth to you by stopping Kadru before she
destroys your people and your kingdom.”
Tarakshya thought for a moment, humming to himself. Manasa grunted, leaving the king of Suparns and moving towards the vehicle and jumping on it.
“What do you think you are doing?”
“Your people are going to die. We need to act now. Are you coming with me or not? Either way, I won’t let thousands of Suparns die just because you take too much time to think.”
Tarakshya sighed, sitting inside the vehicle. “I better hope you don’t betray me, snake.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t, my dear.” She cheekily grinned. “I know who are my enemies and who are not.”
They had to leave.
When Urvashi had reintroduced the sodomy law, Arjan had realized that he and Rudra were not welcome anymore. After Urvashi had invited Nala to be a part of her council and help her with the treasury, Arjan and Rudra had been sidelined from the administration council. It was evident that Urvashi had realized that there was something going on between Arjan and Rudra. They were always together and she had begun to hear rumours. Once at dinner, Urvashi had suggested that Arjan should have a girl in his life. Arjan had brushed her off saying he didn’t need a girl to make him happy.
But Arjan could feel the paranoia seeping inside his skin. And he didn’t want to lose Rudra like he had lost his brother, his father . . . the thought just gave him goosebumps. It frightened him to the core.
Nala had begun to be a bigger part of Indragarh. Unlike his father, he was in every council meeting and even raised himself to become a councilman. He didn’t need sponsors for elections because he had enough money of his own. And according to the rules of the state, Nala had full right to contest politically and be in Urvashi’s inner council. He didn’t care about what Urvashi had done to his father. He didn’t mind it at all.
All the policies Urvashi had come up with were being enforced stringently. Due to the sodomy law, lots of free prisoners had been thrown back in. In fact, Urvashi had made sure that this act was well-implemented. She had even created the Execution Force to handle the execution of all the policies she had administered upon her people. The Force had fished out a lot of homosexuals—from the cabinet, the council, the mining colonies, and the labour class. In fact, even Ramras had been imprisoned because of it. Urvashi hadn’t bended the rule for a nobleman either. There were other policies as well—stringency on the labour force, heavy taxes, splurging money on the creation of temples and idols—that were keeping the nobles happy but the condition of the civilians was worsening day by day. There was no rebellion because any rebellion would be crushed, not by imprisoning, but killing the rebels. Public execution had been thankfully cancelled, but all the law and power was under Urvashi and if she wanted to kill a man, no one could stop her.