THIRTY-FOUR
Anirudh was furious. ‘You said “once again”.’
Kalanayaka shot a bitter look at Kalki through his tears.
Anirudh rolled his eyes and repeated, ‘“I have been betrayed by the gods once again.” That’s what you said, correct? I’m asking you why you said “once again”? When have the gods betrayed you before?’ He paused, realizing that it was the wrong question. ‘Why do you say that the gods have betrayed you? What makes you think so?’
Kalanayaka took a deep breath and simply glared at Kalki, as if he would never answer any of his questions. But the words just tumbled from his mouth. ‘The first time the gods betrayed me was when I was just a little boy …’ The sorcerer went on to narrate his experiences as an abandoned child, roaming the streets as a beggar and getting beaten up and mistreated by the shelter home owner. ‘Children are supposed to be God’s gift … they have a special place in his heart, right? How I cried … I cried every day, begging the gods to show some kindness, put us out of our misery. We were innocents … Why didn’t you protect us? Why were we left at the mercy of that man, who always took from us and never gave us even an ounce of love?’
Anirudh looked at Kalanayaka’s pitiful face, scratched his forehead and wondered about the role of God in the affairs of men. Greed. One of the terrible sins that consume this world …
He turned to Kalanayaka. ‘It wasn’t God who betrayed you, but man. I blessed man with enough knowledge for him to be able to differentiate between good and evil. But if man wishes to succumb to greed, I can’t stop him. I won’t stop him … Not until he crosses the limit.’
At this, rage bubbled inside Kalanayaka.
‘And I won’t protect you … I can understand why you are angry with me. But I won’t shoulder the blame for the acts of man.’
Kalanayaka flailed about, his face contorting with anger as Anirudh went on.
‘Also, I won’t forgive you …’
‘You won’t forgive me?’
Kalki glowered as he answered. ‘Even though you are blessed with knowledge, you fail to use it. Look at yourself! You have become so evil that you don’t even recognize the difference between right and wrong.’
Kalanayaka spat, ‘I do know what is right and what is wrong. I learnt it a long time ago.’
Anirudh’s blood boiled upon hearing those words. ‘Do you?’ he yelled. ‘Is sacrificing animals the right thing to do? Answer me!’ The sky crackled with lightning, and thunder resounded through the woods. It had suddenly become dark.
Kalanayaka blurted, fear evident in his voice, ‘I-I s-sacrificed animals to satiate Goddess Kali. If that’s what it takes to appease her, then I will perform not one, but a thousand sacrifices!’
Anirudh gnashed his teeth. Charged with fury, he effortlessly generated a ball of energy and clasped Kalanayaka’s throat with an invisible hand. Almost choking him, Anirudh let go in the nick of time. The sorcerer was still alive, gasping and sputtering and struggling for air. Despite his struggle, Kalanayaka’s eyes never left Kalki’s.
Anirudh asked in a cold voice, ‘Did Goddess Kali tell you that she wanted sacrifices to be made in her name? Has any god ever told man that they need sacrifices to be satiated?’
Kalanayaka remained silent, but he slowly shook his head, as if pressed to answer by an invisible force.
‘Sacrificing animals is man’s own assumption about what the gods want. Man was never asked to do so …’ Anirudh paused. ‘Do you know of Ravana, the king of Lanka?’
Kalanayaka murmured yes. He knew all there was to know about the rakshasa king.
‘Then you must be aware that Ravana once tried to sacrifice his head to Lord Brahma. His tenth head, if I am correct. And that Brahma stopped him before he could do so?’
Kalanayaka nodded, curious to find out where this was heading.
‘Lord Brahma cared so much about living beings that he forbade Ravana from sacrificing his head. So can you imagine how the gods must feel about the slaughter of innocent animals under the false pretext of devotees receiving benediction?’
Anirudh hopped off the boulder and walked up to Kalanayaka. ‘You sacrificed animals to Goddess Kali?’ he asked stonily. ‘Did she tell you that she would support you if you offered up helpless souls to her?’
Kalanayaka blinked at Kalki, doubt flashing in his eyes.
‘You just assumed that she would. And when I defeated you today, you thought Goddess Kali had betrayed you?’
The sorcerer remained silent.
‘Am I right?’ Kalki asked, squatting down to face Kalanayaka, his voice a whisper.
Kalanayaka was taken aback. He raised his eyes to meet Kalki’s fiery gaze. It sent shivers down his spine. In fact, he felt like his whole body had been dipped in freezing cold water. Hesitantly, he mumbled a yes.
Anirudh said, ‘Goddess Kali didn’t betray you, Kalanayaka. Your actions betrayed you. You betrayed yourself! How can you be so foolish? You killed her creation and offered it up to her—and for that you want her favour? You offered up innocent animals in the hope of becoming powerful enough to kill me. Do you think it worked? Could it have worked?’
The sorcerer’s eyes had been opened, and he wordlessly hung his head in shame.
‘It’s not just you, Kalanayaka. Crores of people live with the misconception that offering sacrifices to the gods will appease them. They just don’t get it! They are slaughtering the child as a sacrifice to their parent. Don’t you see how ridiculous that is?’
Kalanayaka nodded, but didn’t dare look up. Anirudh lifted Kalanayaka’s chin and forced him to look into his face for what seemed like aeons to the sorcerer. Then Anirudh got up and, stepping back, levitated the boulder towards Kalanayaka.
Dweepa had drifted back to consciousness by now. He watched the scene before his eyes. He was certain that Kalki was about to kill Kalanayaka with the rock. He could not let that happen! Summoning the last ounce of strength in his body, the sage pushed Kalanayaka deeper into the earth. He conjured up a huge fire at the spot where Kalanayaka had been, but left the sorcerer unscathed, cocooning him in a protective shield. Then he yanked the boulder out of Anirudh’s control and set it down on the blaze. Underground, Kalanayaka lay senseless.
Now that his rage had dwindled, Anirudh was aghast at what had just happened. He stumbled backwards, unaware that Dweepa had only created the illusion of Kalanayaka’s death. Wha-at happened? How … how did this happen?
Having staged Kalanayaka’s demise, Dweepa feebly called out, ‘Kalki …’ before slipping into unconsciousness.
Hearing the sage’s hoarse voice, Anirudh recovered from his shock and rushed over. He shook Dweepa and tried to rouse him. But the sage didn’t respond. Anirudh hurriedly scooped him up and carried him into the safety of the house.
A few feet away, from behind a tree, a cloaked man had been watching all that had just transpired in the woods. He was upset that Kalanayaka had been burnt alive inside the pit. Rather, he was shocked. He couldn’t fathom how Kalki—an avatar who couldn’t boast of any powers yet—had been able to defend himself and attack Kalanayaka! He thought it wise to return to his palace and mull over his next move.
Kalki might gain all his powers soon. He is much more prepared than we had known.
Furious with himself for having underestimated Kalki, he walked away from Dweepa’s hut, his red robes fluttering behind him in the evening breeze.
THIRTY-FIVE
After helping Dweepa lie down on the bed, Anirudh sprinkled some water on the sage’s face and shook him gently. A few agonizing moments later, Dweepa regained consciousness, relief written all over his face. He couldn’t believe they had escaped unscathed from Kalanayaka’s clutches—that they were both alive!
By the time Anirudh had finished telling Dweepa about all that had happened in the woods, the sage was looking at his student in amazement. While he was truly impressed with how Bhoomidevi had come to Anirudh’s aid and how he was able to harness energy, Dweep
a was unspeakably proud of the way Anirudh had dealt with the sorcerer. The sage was happy that he had discovered so much about his Kalki self on his own! But when his student recalled Kalanayaka’s mysterious death, Dweepa feigned astonishment and concern.
Anirudh had gone silent. He was frowning as he breathed deeply and scratched between his brows. Dweepa recognized these signs. He is perturbed about something …
‘What is it, Anirudh?’
Anirudh looked up at Dweepa reluctantly, twiddling his thumbs.
‘Tell me …’
Anirudh sighed heavily, steeling himself. ‘I believe Kalanayaka’s death isn’t a mystery after all. I made it happen.’
Dweepa’s brows narrowed, though he was a little relieved. ‘How so?’
‘Well, I did wish for it to happen, didn’t I? What if the wish got realized?’
Dweepa smiled at his lord’s innocence. ‘Wishing and willing it to happen are two very different things, Anirudh.’
Anirudh looked unsatisfied with this answer.
‘Consider the facts: When you were training here earlier, you wished the energy would transform. But did it? No. Today you believed … you willed the energy to transform, and it worked! Just wishing for something doesn’t make it happen. It’s your will that matters. So it’s safe to say that you didn’t kill Kalanayaka, Anirudh. You didn’t bury him underground, you didn’t set the pit on fire. And you didn’t set the boulder down on the pit.’
Anirudh shook his head.
‘That’s settled, then. You didn’t kill Kalanayaka.’
‘Then who did? How did he die?’ Anirudh asked, his tone heavy with doubt.
‘I shall answer that question soon, Anirudh. At the moment, I am more worried about the attack itself. This place is a secret! You are a secret! How did Kalanayaka track us? How did he know you are Kalki?’ he spat, limping away to the puja room. ‘Allow me to gather my thoughts.’
Anirudh gazed at Dweepa’s retreating figure, still thinking about the enigma of the sorcerer’s death. Something about the whole situation was bothering him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. ‘What about Kalanayaka’s body?’
‘I’ll take care of it. You need not worry,’ Dweepa called.
Anirudh nodded, though his teacher’s answers hadn’t put him at ease. But he trusted Dweepa, so he decided not to pursue the matter further.
Anirudh and Dweepa were looking up at the endless night sky from the porch. The stars were twinkling a little brighter than usual.
‘Sage, why did you tell me to play the flute in the underwater chamber?’
Dweepa answered, ‘The lock on that slab was a very special one, I could tell. It did not require a key. The way to open such locks is air pressure, which has to be regulated at the correct frequency.’
Anirudh nodded slowly, trying to understand the concept.
‘In Lord Krishna’s times, such locks did exist, but were rarely used. So I deduced that the same mechanism was guarding the slab. And the key had to be Lord Krishna’s flute—the melody you played on it. It was the right frequency.’ Dweepa paused, appreciating the steps his lord had taken to protect the Kaustubha locket. ‘Really, a brilliant way to safeguard something so precious!’
As he absorbed this information, Anirudh, too, smiled at the ingenuity of the locking mechanism. It was like an ancient biometric system! ‘Is the Kaustubha really that precious?’ he asked.
‘Oh yes, it is,’ Dweepa said. ‘I would have never guessed that it was the Kaustubha that Lord Krishna had hidden! For he was never said to be in possession of the jewel. The Kaustubha was a ratna worn by Lord Vishnu. But it was not handed down to any of his avatars. Perhaps you are the only exception!’
‘But what is the significance of the Kaustubha? Why am I to treasure it?’
‘As mentioned in Lord Krishna’s note, you are to protect the Kaustubha because it’s the key to a terrible weapon … though I don’t know what that is,’ he said before Anirudh could ask. ‘So this key should not fall into the wrong hands. About the Kaustubha’s significance, I will tell you what I know. The Kaustubha emerged from Ksheera Sagar during the Samudra Manthan—the churning of the ocean of milk for amrit, the nectar of immortality. This jewel represents the purity of mind and consciousness. But it’s so mesmerizing that it is said to make its bearer greedy. Thus the gem was given to Lord Vishnu. It is said that he is the only one who can wear it without letting his mind become corrupted with desire.’
Anirudh listening intently, fascinated by the power of the ratna.
‘That’s why I didn’t expect the circular locket to be the Kaustubha. It’s too important, and risky, to be brought to earth. And hiding it here for these many centuries? I can hardly believe that it has been safe all these years! I would suggest that you always wear it around your neck … just like Lord Krishna advised. It will be safe with you.’
Anirudh stole another glance at the moon, his fingers curling around the locket resting on his chest.
THIRTY-SIX
Anirudh found himself standing in front of Dweepa’s house. It was late afternoon. Looking around, he spotted no one.
‘I am glad to see that you believed in yourself …’ came a melodic voice.
Anirudh swiftly turned to face the lady behind him. She was in the familiar tattered green saree. The once calm blue eyes were now just pale and sad.
‘Bhoomidevi!’ Anirudh whispered.
The goddess bowed to him, and Anirudh reciprocated.
‘I knew you would be able to defeat Kalanayaka, my lord,’ Bhoomidevi said.
‘Please call me Anirudh … I am not a lord.’
She didn’t respond, but looked at him vacantly. ‘I am tired of our children hurting me. But I would … could never hurt them. And this evil man tried to kill you and Sage Dweepa! I couldn’t let that happen. That’s why I wanted you to know that you could vanquish him … Not only him, but you can vanquish any person or force in this world if you just believe that you can,’ Bhoomidevi urged softly.
She stepped closer to Anirudh and stroked his cheek. Tears streamed down her face.
‘You came down to earth for me. And I won’t let anything happen to you, Anirudh.’
Anirudh studied the cuts on her face. The gashes were pitifully deep and bloody. He raised his palm to her face and gently cupped her cheek.
Bhoomidevi closed her eyes, savouring her lord’s tender touch, which took her pain away, even if it was for a moment. She wished that she could remain there forever, with him caressing her wounds. Then she would never feel any pain again. But she knew that was impossible. More tears rolled down her cheeks. The salty droplets aggravated her suffering.
In a voice thick with agony, she pleaded, ‘Avenge me, Anirudh.’
Anirudh’s heart ached for Bhoomidevi’s plight. With moist eyes, he vowed, ‘I will avenge you when the time comes, Devi. I promise.’
Bhoomidevi took his hands in hers and went on. ‘Anirudh, you possess the prakamya siddhi. You can transform energy with just a thought. That’s why you were able to harness energy and use it against Kalanayaka. All it requires is your belief and will, and I am glad that I could help you find it.’
Anirudh looked at his hands clasped in Bhoomidevi’s. He croaked, ‘Thank you, Bhoomidevi.’
She smiled. ‘It’s the least I could do for you, Anirudh.’ Letting go of him, she stepped back. ‘I have to go now.’
Bhoomidevi didn’t want to leave Anirudh’s side, just as he didn’t want her to part from him; he wanted to take care of her and count on her support at all times. They both wept at the thought of separation.
And, in a flash, she vanished, darkening the world around him.
Anirudh’s eyes fluttered open. His face was damp with hot tears and his pillow was soaked. He looked at his hands and remembered the soft caresses of Bhoomidevi.
So it was she who had instilled the belief and determination that he had tried so hard to find in the past! He thanked her under his breath. But Anirudh c
ouldn’t bear to see Bhoomidevi in such a sad state. He sat by the window, his thoughts returning again and again to the pain she was forced to suffer in silence. All because of mankind!
Anirudh couldn’t figure out why he was feeling this way about Bhoomidevi. Whether he was thinking like a husband or a father, or simply a human being—he wasn’t sure. But he resolved to avenge her.
Later that night, making sure Anirudh was fast asleep, Dweepa sneaked out to the courtyard, torch in hand. He walked to the boulder under which he had trapped Kalanayaka. Then, with some difficulty, he moved it aside, revealing the deep hole underneath. By torchlight, he found an unconscious Kalanayaka curled up at the bottom of the pit.
The spell is still working …
The sage knew it was important to keep him in a comatose condition. While Anirudh was under the misconception that Kalanayaka’s power lay in his staff, Dweepa was certain that he was formidable even without it. So the sorcerer had to be prevented from making an escape.
Dweepa levitated the limp body out of the hole and on to level ground. Spotting the two broken pieces of the staff lying a few feet away, he kept them next to Kalanayaka. Then, sitting cross-legged on the dewy grass, he shut his eyes.
Focusing his mind, he conveyed his thoughts to the person listening at the other end: We have retrieved the treasure from the underwater room. But we were attacked by a powerful sorcerer called Kalanayaka. He intended to kill Kalki. But Kalki and I are safe. Kalanayaka has been defeated and is in my custody now. I have charmed him into unconsciousness.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Kalaguru Bhairava was furiously pacing the length of the chamber. Kalarakshasa watched patiently as his adviser walked in circles.
Kalaguru finally came to a halt at the table. ‘Kalanayaka is dead! Kalki killed him! Kalki killed Kalanayaka! That boy! He is just a boy … and that boy finished off our weapon!’ He turned to the wall behind him and punched it. The chamber rang from the blow. ‘Until yesterday, he didn’t possess any power. And today? Today he is spewing fire and hurling boulders on Kalanayaka’s head! How is that possible?’
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