Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  The mentor stepped back and went outside the cave. While Meghvarna came near to Chandraketu, 'Don't worry, I'll help you in this case.'

  'But why Prince Sarvdaman will give her sister's hand to me. I am just an ordinary Gandharva.' Chandraketu was upset.

  'Don't worry, Chandraketu. Let's go to Hastinapur, I will try to convince him. But before that, I want to know what Sunanda feels for you?' Megvarna asked Chandraketu.

  'I don't know, Meghvarna. But our marriage was fixed by our parents since childhood. I am also very eager to know her feelings, and for that I need to see her.' Chandraketu was turning anxious.

  'Don't worry, Chandraketu. Let's proceed towards Hastinapur.'Meghvarna stood up from the rock.

  While the mentor of Meghvarna and Chandraketu was riding on his horse. Suddenly an arrow with tremendous speed arrived and embedded in the ground. A letter was bounded with that arrow. The mentor of bandits stepped down from his horse and moved towards that arrow. He pulled out that arrow from the ground and opened that letter.

  'Meet me near the river in the jungle.' That was the message.

  That masked man rolled that letter and ascended on his horse. He pulled the rein of his horse and proceeded towards his destination.

  Soon he reached near the river of the jungle. He stepped down from his horse, opened the cloth through which covered his face and washed his face with the river water. At the very next moment, he heard some footsteps.

  He turned towards that person and asked, 'So what's the update, Prince Digvijay?'

  'Now you are the only ray of hope for Vidarbh, Mahabali Akhand.' Prince of Vidarbh lied down on his knees.

  The mentor who was actually Mahabali Akhand stood up and came nearer to Digvijay and brought him up, 'What happened? Why you are saying like this?'

  'King Jaivardhan is frustrated because of this defeat. He is going to call Demon Lord Durbheeksh for his help.' Digvijay informed Mahabali Akhand.

  Mahabali Akhand thought something for a while, 'Well this is a serious issue, a very serious issue. Meghvarna is still not capable of fighting him. Now you only have to handle this situation.'

  'But how?' Digvijay questioned.

  'You have to take advantage of your face, which is exactly same as like your father. You know what I mean.' Mahabali Akhand smiled.

  Digvijay thought something for a while and smiled back, 'I got it Mahabali.'

  'Go on.' Mahabali Akhand turned back.

  'Wait Mahabali.' Digvijay tried to stop him.

  'What happened?'

  'I have some doubts in my mind.' Digvijay stared at Mahabali Akhand.

  'Doubts, What type of doubts?' Mahabali Akhand stared at Digvijay.

  'Who is Meghvarna? And who were the warriors we fought in the battlefield? Their skills and strength was unbelievable. I know you especially trained them all. But who were the leaders who completely dominated in the battlefield.' Digvijay was eager to know.

  'They were the warriors whom I was waiting for. The leader of bandits was Meghvarna, 'the grandson of the legendary warrior King Tejasvi', that means your elder brother. And the second one who defeated you was my grandson 'Chandraketu'. I have been training these warriors since ten years. I met them both, when Durbheeksh attacked the community of Gandharvas ten years before.'

  'Y….You mean that the leader of bandit is my elder brother, Meghvarna is my elder brother.' Digvijay was stunned.

  'Control your emotions, Digvijay. They both didn't know their actual identity. They haven't seen my face yet, and they should not get to know their actual identity until they are capable enough to defeat Demon Lord Durbheeksh.'

  'It means they don't know who you are. Then why you revealed your secret in front of me?' Digvijay was turning eager.

  'Yes, I revealed my secret in front of you because it was necessary to convince you to stand against your father. Now you are one of them who knows that King Tejasvi is no more. If Meghvarna and Chandraketu gets to know the truth, they will ask where is King Tejasvi. Because the name of my brother Tejasvi is still on tip of the tongue of Vidarbh's people. Each and every person of Vidarbh is in hope that one day King Tejasvi will return to defeat Jaivardhan and will bring peace in Kingdom of Vidarbh. So it should not be revealed that King Tejasvi is dead, because this news could destroy that ray of hope. Also if Meghvarna gets to know the reality, I don't how he will react. His nature is completely unpredictable, may be he will rush to fight with the Demon Lord Durbheeksh, and still he is not capable enough to fight with him. So it's better to keep this secret unrevealed.' Mahabali Akhand explained him the whole situation.

  Digvijay stared at Mahabali Akhand, there were tears in his eyes, 'What type of situation is this? My brothers were in front of my eyes, but I cannot meet them. So that warrior who defeated me was your grandson Chandraketu, whose muscular strength is a boon.'

  'Yes of course, you know the whole story.'

  Digvijay was silent. Mahabali Akhand tried to convince him, 'Now you should leave, Digvijay. Jaivardhan might have got the clue that someone is delivering his secret information to his enemies. He might be searching for that traitor. So you should leave and proceed for your work, you will meet your brothers soon.'

  'Sure, Mahabali.' Digvijay joined his handsand turned back towards his horse.

  But before going, he turned back and asked, 'I have never seen the face of my elder. How will I recognize them?'

  'You need not to, Digvijay. Right now you do your job. You'll meet them at appropriate time.' Mahabali Akhand said in heavy voice.

  'As you wish, Mahabali.' Digvijay ascended on his horse and proceeded towards his destination.

  Mahabali Akhand was staring at him.

  Meanwhile Jaivardhan reached Patallok to meet Demon Lord Durbheeksh.

  'He lied down on his knees in front of the Demon Lord.'

  'Stand up King Jaivardhan. You are a King, this doesn't suits you.' Said Demon Lord Durbheeksh who was on the higher throne.

  Jaivardhan (Subaahu) stood up from floor and joined his hands.

  'What forced you to come here, Jaivardhan?' Durbheeksh asked Jaivardhan.

  'The army of Gandharvas and bandits defeated us. I need your help now.'

  'What?' Durbheeksh was shocked, he stood up from his throne and stepped towards Jaivardhan.

  'Army of bandits and Gandharvas defeated the army of Vidarbh? Is it a joke or what?' Durbheeksh was still in shock.

  'I don't know how, but the strength and skills of all those ten thousand warriors were much better than our army. I failed to defeat that leader of bandits in a duel. His face was covered, I couldn't see his face. But the strength and speed of his arrows were shocking.' Jaivardhan explained.

  Durbheeksh thought something for a while, 'First explain me the whole scenario. And that means each and every scene and their strategies of that war.'

  Jaivardhan continued explaining him the whole war scenes to the Demon Lord Durbheeksh.

  Durbheeksh thought something for a while, 'I know about Suchimukh vyuha, but Swastika vyuha, never heard about it. I have read many granthas, but I never heard about this vyuha. It is something very rare, very very rare. If I am not wrong, perhaps King Tejasvi has returned back.'

  Jaivardhan was shocked listening this, 'What? What you are saying?'

  'There are only three warriors in this Aaryavart who could compete you in archery. Me, Mahabali Akhand and Tejasvi. So you only think, who could be these warriors? I think Mahabali Akhand has faced Digvijay and you faced Tejasvi.' Durbheeksh tried to guess.

  'But how this is possible? I don't think Tejasvi is alive. The way he was injured in that war, it's almost impossible for him to survive.'

  'The word almost is enough to create doubts, Jaivardhan. I don't know if my guess is right or not. But you only think, who else could stand in front of you?' Durbheeksh smiled.

  'It might be. But why you are smiling?' Jaivardhan was quite astonished.

  'I was waiting for the warriors like Mahabali Akhand and Tejasvi
since years. I have fought with Garunas, Vanaras and Rikkshas (Bears), but only the king of bears 'Jambvant' was having capability to stand in front of me. I remember very well, the duel between me and Jambvant lasted till two days, but I couldn't defeat him. But that's not important right now. If my guess is right, it will be great opportunity for me to fight again with Tejasvi and Akhand. Since years I am searching for an enemy who could compete me, I think the time has come.'

  'What is in your mind? What you are going to do?' Jaivardhan stared at Durbheeksh.

  'Just wait and watch, Jaivardhan. I will handle this situation in my way. Now your job is to find that traitor who is revealing all the secrets to those enemies, rest is my responsibility.'

  'As you wish, Demon Lord. I should go now. I know you can handle this situation in a better way.' Jaivardhan joined his hands and left.

  Durbheeksh continued staring at him, while Prince Digvijay was listening all these conversation from behind a pole. Both Durbheeksh and Jaivardhan failed to notice him.

  'I have to find out, what's there in Durbheeksh's mind.' Digvijay thought.

  Digvijay was waiting for the appropriate time to execute his plan. Durbheeksh went out of his palace and ascended on his horse. Digvijay was behind the tree, and was staring at him.

  Suddenly Durbheeksh thought something, stepped down from his horse and went back inside his palace.

  'Now is the opportunity.' Digvijay thought and came in front of the gate of the palace.

  When Durbheeksh returned back, he found Digvijay in front of him dressed up as Jaivardhan.

  'Jaivardhan, what you are doing here? You should go and find that traitor as soon as possible.' Durbheeksh was quite astonished.

  'Ah.., actually I forgot to tell you the location of those bandits and Gandharvas.' Digvijay was trying misguide him.

  'It means you know their location, then why you didn't tell me before?' Durbheeksh asked Digvijay astonishingly.

  'Actually, I forgot to tell you.'

  Durbheeksh stared at him furiously, 'How can you be so irresponsible, Jaivardhan?'

  'I am sorry, my lord. It was my mistake.' Digvijay apologized.

  'Ok fine, tell me the location. I am eager to meet those Gandharvas again.'

  Digvijay continued explaining him the location. After that, Durbheeksh ascended on his horse, and proceeded towards his destination.

  Digvijay was smiling, 'Now you will only roam around the hills of Aaryavart, Durbheeksh.'

  Durbheeksh continued riding his horse, suddenly he pulled the rein of his horse and thought, 'Earlier, Jaivardhan had told me that he has not seen the face of that warrior. And to bring him out he need to attack those villages, so how come he got to know their location so soon? This is not possible. I think that was a deceit. I have to return back, this was to misguide me. But why Jaivardhan is misguiding me?'

  Durbheeksh changed his direction and rushed towards his palace with as much speed as he can. Soon he reached the gate of his palace and rushed towards the guard of the gate.

  'In which direction Jaivardhan has gone, tell me.' Durbheeksh was eager to know.

  That guard raised his finger in the direction in which Digvijay has gone. Durbheeksh pulled the rein of his horse, and doubles the speed of his horse to chase Digvijay. Within a prahar, he saw Digvijay riding his horse. Durbheeksh decided to keep his eyes on him, he was alert enough that he should not get noticed by Digvijay.

  Soon Digvijay pulled the rein of his horse to stop near a river. Durbheeksh also stopped.

  While Digvijay stepped down from his horse, and moved towards a river. Durbheeksh was astonished seeing his face.

  'The clothes are same, but where is his beard. He looks same as like Jaivardhan. But no, he is not Jaivardhan. He is someone else.' Durbheeksh followed him.

  Digvijay raised his bow, and shoots an arrow with a letter bounded in it. Durbheeksh was staring at his activities. Digvijay waited for some time near the river. After sometime, a masked man came near to the river.

  Durbheeksh was stunned when that masked man uncovered his face.

  'Mahabali Akhand…., Why he is meeting him? Who is this youngman who look same as like Jaivardhan? What is going on here? I have to find out.' Durbheeksh came nearer and tried to listen their conversation.

  'As you said, I have misguided Durbheeksh in get up of my father. He will be busy in finding those bandits and Gandharvas in the mountains at least for two months. Now what's our next plan?' Digvijay asked.

  Durbheeksh was furious listening this, but he controlled himself. He continued listening them.

  'We don't have any further plan, Digvijay. Right now, I have to train those two warriors. They are still amateur. I need much more time to train them, so that they can stand against Durbheeksh. I have to go now. You keep your eyes on Vidarbh's clan, and keep me updating.' Akhand turned back and stepped towards his horse.

  While Durbheeksh listened to all those conversation, 'This means, that the son of Jaivardhan is the real traitor who is leaking all the secret information of Vidarbh. But what about those two warriors about whom Mahabali Akhand was talking. I have to find out. Right now, I have to leave Digvijay and have to chase Mahabali Akhand, to get the complete information. It's really very interesting to know the warriors getting trained to stand against me.'

  Meanwhile Akhand pulled the rein of his horse and rushed towards a definite direction.

  'Right now, I should leave Digvijay. It's time to chase Mahabali Akhand. He is only the path to solve all the mystery. If Tejasvi is alive, I am very eager to meet him again.' Durbheeksh also ascended on his horse and begin chasing Akhand.

  Durbheeksh kept chasing Mahabali Akhand, making sure that he should not get noticed by Akhand. After the journey of few days, Mahabali Akhand stopped his horse near a cave.

  Soon he stepped down from his horse, and enters in a cave. There were guard bandits on the door of the cave.

  'I have to enter that cave any how. And for that, I have to change my getup.' Durbheeksh thought something for a while. Thereafter, he dressed up like a common villager.

  After sometime, he saw a tiger who was all set to attack one of the guard bandit.

  'This is the chance.' The tiger roared, and the guard falls on the ground. But before that tiger could attack that guard, Durbheeksh rubbed two stones and putted those grass on fire. The tiger rushed away.

  The guard bandit was shocked because of this sudden attack. He stood up from the ground and came nearer to Durbheeksh who was in a getup of an ordinary villager, 'Thanks for the help.'

  'You all have helped the people of Vidarbh, keeping your lives on stake. Can't we do one little thing to help you?' Durbheeksh replied.

  'You are an interesting person. Thanks once again.' That guard came back to his postion.

  'But I want to say…..' Durbheeksh murmured.

  'What happened? Do you want anything?' That guard bandit asked.

  'Actually, from childhood I am fond of archery and fencing of swords. I have come here to join your gang, so as to contribute a little in this great cause.' There was something running in Durbheeksh's mind.

  That guard stared at Durbheeksh, 'What's your name?'