'Yes, because I know my both disciple very well. It's not him, this is not the nature of Prince Jaivardhan. He can never disrespect his father.' Sage Shankracharya assured Tejasvi.
Vikrant also supported him, 'I agree with the clan mentor, my lord. I can't even think that Jaivardhan could behave like this. It seems that, it's not Jaivardhan.'
King Tejasvi was quite convinced, 'Yes, I think you all are right. I was also surprised with his sudden change in behavior. Vikrant, you go and find out the reality. I am sure, that this is a conspiracy of that wretch demon's mentor Bhairavnath.'
'Sure, my lord.' Vikrant was about to proceed.
'Just wait, Vikrant.' Tejasvi stopped him.
'What happened, my lord?'
King Tejasvi came nearer to Vikrant, 'You have heard lot of things recently. Don't you want to ask any question?'
Vikrant smiled, 'I trust you, my lord. You are still my father, and I have full faith on you. I want to know about Mahabali Akhand, but it's not the right time. Right now I am concerned about Jaivardhan. I have to leave now.'
But before Vikrant could leave, a messenger arrives in the court. He was a demon. Tejasvi was astonished seeing him, 'A demon, for what you have come here?'
'I am just a messenger, my lord.' That demon said calmly.
Tejasvi stared at that demon for a moment, 'Ok fine, you do the work for what you have come for.'
That demon gives a letter to Tejasvi, 'This is the message from your son Jaivardhan.'
'Message of my son?' Tejasvi was astonished.
Sage Shankracharya tried to calm him down, 'Don't panic, my lord. Let me see.'
The Sage takes the letter and started reading it.
'I was knowing that, you will not fulfill my wish. So I had prepared my army earlier. I am giving you one day time, either you appoint me as the crown prince of Vidarbh or be ready for the war for tomorrow.' From Jaivardhan.
Tejasvi was furious listening this, 'Just go and tell him, that we are ready for the war. This war will begin with the rise of sun tomorrow.'
'Sure, my lord.' That messenger left.
Sage Shankracharya was astonished, 'I am so surprised, my lord. How could you take this decision without thinking anything?'
Tejasvi stared at Sage Shankracharya, 'Don't worry. I have not taken this decision without thinking anything. Jaivardhan has given us time, we will have to find the truth within this time. So the time is limited, we have to work fast. Vikrant and you will prepare the army for war. And I will go and find the truth.'
'What you are having in your mind, my lord?' Shankracharya stared at King Tejasvi.
'Don't worry, Sage. Believe me, I'll return on time.'
King Tejasvi left. Thereafter, he reached a secret place and chanted some mantras. Now he impersonated himself as Jaivardhan. Thereafter, he ascends on a horse and proceeded in search of enemy camp.
While Durbheeksh and Shatrughan were roaming in the forest. King Tejasvi was passing from that area. Durbheeksh saw him, he thought that he was Jaivardhan.
'Prince Jaivardhan.' Durbheeksh called him.
Tejasvi stopped listening this, he turned towards Durbheeksh.
Both Durbheeksh and Shatrughan stepped towards him.
'You said, this night you will manage and prepare the army of southern side. So what are you doing here?' Durbheeksh questioned staring at him considering him as Jaivardhan.
Tejasvi was still staring at him.
'What happened? Why you are silent? Do you have any other plan? I must tell you, I am your army chief, so there should not be any deceit in this war.'
Listening this Tejasvi stepped down from his horse, and turned into is actual form.
Both Durbheeksh and Shatrughan were astonished.
'Who are you? And why you came to us in form of Jaivardhan?' Durbheeksh was furious.
'I am Tejasvi, King of Vidarbh.' Tejasvi said in heavy voice.
Durbheeksh stared at Tejasvi for a while, 'Tejasvi, King of Vidarbh clan. I am quite surprised to see, the warrior about whom I have heard lot of stories, is roaming like this impersonating his enemy.'
'Jaivardhan is not my enemy, he is my son. And I want to know what conspiracy is going on here, why my son revolted against me?'
'Jaivardhan is your son ( I know very well, but I can't say in front of Shatrughan )?' Durbheeksh pretended to be astonished.
'Yes, he is my son.' Tejasvi was quite sad.
Durbheeksh was silent for a while, he stared at Tejasvi, 'Your son Jaivardhan is under control of a demon. An evil spirit named Subaahu has entered in his body, and completely dominated over his soul.'
Tejasvi was stunned listening this. He was in deep shock. While Shatrughan was also in shock listening this.
Thereafter, Tejasvi stared at Durbheeksh, 'You were saying that you are the army chief of Jaivardhan. Then why did you told me the truth?'
'Just because I want a fair war. I have told you the truth, I don't want you to be in a dilemma while fighting this war.' Durbheeksh replied.
Tejasvi stared at Durbheeksh, 'Who are you? I am very eager to know about you.'
'My name is Surjan. And tomorrow, I will be the biggest barrier between you and victory.'
Tejasvi smiled at Durbheeksh, 'So you are the leader of demon's army. But looking at you, it seems that you are a prince of any kingdom. I must say you, you are still a kid. So it's my suggestion, that you should firstly train yourself properly. Because in a war, only strength doesn't matter. It is a matter of experience too.'
Before Durbheeksh could reply, Shatrughan interfered in between, 'What he is saying, Surjan? You are going to lead the demon's army?'
Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan, but was still silent.
'Why you are not replying? Tell me, are you going to fight for demons?' Shatrughan pinched him again.
'I am… compelled to do so, Shatrughan. I am bounded because of my words, I have to participate in this war. But still there is time for you, you can leave this war zone.' Durbheeksh tried to convince Shatrughan.
'You know that I cannot do that. I cannot leave you in this situation.' Shatrughan said.
Seeing this King Tejasvi interfered in between, 'It seems that you both are very close friends. I want to know, why you have opted for the demon's side?'
'Prince Jaivardhan saved my life once, that's why I have to support him.' Durbheeksh replied.
'Ok fine, that's your decision. I'll not interfere in that, let's meet in war with the rise of sun. I also want to see your skills tomorrow. Right now I have some another work, so I have to leave now.' Tejasvi turned back and stepped towards his horse.
He turned towards Durbheeksh once again, 'Nice to meet you Surjan. It will be pleasure fighting with you.'
Durbheeksh continued staring at Tejasvi, who was moving towards the dense forest, he thought in his mind, 'You are not like your father, Vikramajit. I expect a fair duel from you.'
While Tejasvi reached back his palace. Sage Shankracharya was waiting for him.
'What happened, my lord? Did you get any information?' Sage asked him.
'Your guess was right, Sage. The evil spirit of that wretch Subaahu has captured and dominated over the soul of my son. We have no option other than war, we have to capture Jaivardhan. Thereafter, we will find the way how to free the body of Jaivardhan from that evil spirit Subaahu.' Tejasvi explained his plan.
'Ok fine, my lord. It means, the war is on.'
'Yes Sage, we have to be prepared for the war tomorrow.' Tejasvi pulled out a sword from his sheath.
'Sun is about to rise. So bring our army outside the gate of the palace.' King Tejasvi ordered.
On his order, Vikrant came nearer to Tejasvi, 'The army is prepared, my lord. Within half of a prahar, they all will be gathered outside the gate of the palace.'
'Great job Vikrant. Let's go now. We have to finish this war as soon as possible.' Tejasvi stepped back.
'Now where are you going, my lord?' Sage Shankracharya asked him.
&n
bsp; 'I'll be right back, Sage. You all go outside the place, and be ready for the war. I'll meet you there.' King Tejasvi stepped back and went inside a secret room.
In his room, the divine VijayDhanush was in front of him. He came nearer to that divine bow. He joined his hands in front of that bow.
'Earlier, I was not knowing the glory of this bow. The warrior who holds this bow could never be defeated. Today I am going to use you after years, because I have to fight with my son, I need your support today, because I can't kill my son. He is also a skilled archer, so I have to dominate over him.'
Tejasvi lied down on his knees in front of that divine bow. Thereafter, he lifted up that divine VijayDhanush, 'Har Har Mahadev…'
With the rise of sun, army of Vidarbh and the demon's army were in front of each other.
Vikrant came near Tejasvi, 'My lord, our prime target is Jaivardhan. According to our strategy, you will target Jaivardhan. And we will take care of the rest of our opponent's army.'
Tejasvi stared at Vikrant, 'Don't take your enemy lightly, Vikrant. There are two more warriors in the opponent army. According to my guess, they are around twenty years old, one of them could be dangerous for us. So you should take special care of him, his name is Surjan. I have seen his confidence, so be aware of him.'
'You don't worry, I'll take care of him.' Vikrant replied confidently.
Then King Tejasvi looked over Virat (the army chief of Vidarbh), 'Army chief, it's time to begin the war.'
'Sure, my lord.' Virat puffed his conch shell.
While the opponet's army chief Surjan (Durbheeksh) also puffed his shell to reply back.
King Tejasvi pulled the ropes of the divine VijayDhanush. This sound was hilarious for the opponents, Surjan himself was stunned listening that sound. This huge sound was sufficient to create terror among opponent's army.
Seeing this, Durbheeksh also pulled the rope of his bow. It also produced a huge sound, almost equivalent to the sound produced by VijayDhanush. This raised the confidence level of the demon's army.
'Who's that warrior? Is he Jaivardhan?' Vikrant was astonished.
'No, Vikrant. I know Subaahu has captured his body, he can use his skills. But the courage, I don't think that he can match with courage of my son, Jaivardhan.' Tejasvi said proudly.
Listening this, Virat commanded his troops, 'It's the time to attack. Move forward..….'
While Durbheeksh also commanded his troops, 'Attack……'
Both the army clashed. It was the beginning of one more fierce war.
Tejasvi was having only one motive, he was in search of Jaivardhan. Soon his eyes turned towards a red flag, this flag was of the leader of the opponent.
'He might be Jaivardhan. Charioteer, chase that flag.' Tejasvi ordered his charioteer.
The charioteer begins chasing that flag. The guess was right, soon Jaivardhan was in front of him.
Jaivardhan (Subaahu) looked at Tejasvi and smiled, 'So finally, you arrived here in front of me father.'
'Stop calling me father, you wretch. I know very well Subaahu, that you have captured my son's body.' Tejasvi shouted at Jaivardhan.
Jaivardhan was stunned listening this.
'What happened Subaahu? Are you surprised, how do I know the reality?' Jaivardhan pinched him.
Jaivardhan (Subaahu) smiled again, 'Well it's better that you know the truth. Then I must tell you the complete truth. I got a boon according to which, the body I would enter, I can use his all skills and capacity. I know very well, that your son Jaivardhan is as capable archer as you are. So be ready for a fierce duel.'
Tejasvi smiled, 'Of course you can use the skills of my son. But the courage, how will you gain such courage as like my son? That comes through the soul of a person, and your evil spirit can never match the courage of my son. So be alert.'
Tejasvi raised his bow, and shoots an arrow towards Jaivardhan.
That arrow injured the shoulder of his opponent.
'What happened Subaahu? Are you scared?' Tejasvi taunted him.
Jaivardhan (Subaahu) stared at Tejasvi. He shoots an arrow to reply him, but that arrow was destroyed by Tejasvi within a moment.
Jaivardhan started the rain of arrows, Tejasvi defends successfully. This duel lasted till half of a prahar. The chariot of Jaivardhan was destroyed, and he was on the ground.
'Now, it's time to capture you. Thereafter, I will pull out your evil spirit from my son's body.' Tejasvi raised his bow and evocated for the divine weapon Naagpaash.
He shoots the arrow to capture Jaivardhan. But before that weapon could reach Jaivardhan, an arrow came and destroyed the Naagpaash.
Tejasvi was completely astonished, 'Who's that warrior? How dare he interfered in between?'
'I am the one.' This was Durbheeksh, ascended on his chariot.
Tejasvi stared at Durbheeksh and warned him, 'You are just a kid. So stay away from this duel.'
'I am the army chief, and it's my duty to protect my leader. Jaivardhan, you go from here.' Durbheeksh raised his bow, stretches it's rope and left it with tremendous speed.
King Tejasvi was astonished listening that tremendous sound of his bow. While Jaivardhan laughed at Tejasvi, 'He is the wall of defense for me. Now come on, capture me if you can.'
Tejasvi stared at Durbheeksh, 'Let me see, how much your wall of defense can survive in front of my VijayDhanush.'
Tejasvi raised his bow and started shooting the arrows towards Durbheeksh. While Durbheeksh replied back with all his strength.
Tejasvi was astonished to see the strength and speed of his arrows.
This duel was becoming harder for Tejasvi. While Virat and Vikrant were busy in destroying the demon's army.
In the meantime, army chief Virat noticed the situation in which Tejasvi was trapped. He turned towards Vikrant, 'Prince Vikrant, King Tejasvi is engaged in a war with a warrior. Jaivardhan is disarmed, it's a great chance to capture him.'
'Sure chief, I am getting your plan.' Vikrant pulled the rein of his horse and proceeded towards Jaivardhan.
But before he could reach Jaivardhan, Shatrughan crossed his path with the sword in his hand. Shatrughan throws the sword and cuts the rein of his horse. Vikrant lost the control over his horse and falls on the ground. Thereafter, he stood up from the ground and came nearer to Shatrughan, but seeing his innocent face vikrant didn't find right to attack on him.
'Leave my path. You are just a kid, you cannot stop me.'
Shatrughan smiled at Vikrant and kept his sword on his neck, 'I am sorry to say, titan. You cannot go without defeating me.'
Vikrant pulled out a sword from the sheath, 'Let's see, how much time you can stand in front of me.'
Both the sword collided. Vikrant disarmed and pushed Shatrughan back on the ground.
'It seems that you don't want mess with me anymore. So now just stay here, you cannot match my strength.' Vikrant stepped towards Jaivardhan.
Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh Page 20