The Secret of the Nagas

by Amish Tripathi

  Veerbhadra, meanwhile, had found Krittika and spun her in his arms. An ecstatic yet embarrassed Krittika tried to free herself, blushing as she asked her husband to restrain his public display of affection.

  Athithigva also stepped forward and sought Shiva’s blessings. Having completed the formalities, the Neelkanth turned, searching for his family. ‘Where is my family, Your Highness?’

  ‘Baba!’

  Shiva turned with a broad smile. Kartik was running towards him. As he lifted his son into his arms, Shiva said, ‘By the holy lake, you have grown really fast, Kartik.’

  ‘I missed you!’ whispered Kartik, holding his father tight.

  ‘I missed you too,’ said Shiva. His pleasure at seeing his son turned into surprise as he recognised the mouth-watering smell of ripened mangoes. ‘Who has been giving you mangoes so late in the season?’

  Just then Sati appeared in front of Shiva. A smiling Shiva held Kartik to his right and wrapped his left arm around Sati, holding his world close to him, oblivious to the thousands staring at them. ‘I’ve missed you both so much.’

  ‘And we missed you,’ smiled Sati, pulling her head back to glance at her husband.

  Shiva pulled her close again, eyes closed, taking pleasure in his family’s loving touch, his wife and son resting their heads on his shoulders. ‘Let’s go home.’

  The carriage was moving slowly down Kashi’s Sacred Avenue. The Emperor of Ayodhya and the King of Kashi followed in their carriages while the brigade that had travelled with Shiva marched behind. Citizens had lined the streets, to get their first glimpse of their Lord after more than two–and–a–half years. Shiva sat comfortably, Sati next to him and Kartik on his lap, waving to the crowds.

  Both Shiva and Sati spoke simultaneously. ‘I have something to tell...’

  Shiva started laughing. ‘You first.’

  ‘No. No. You first,’ said Sati.

  ‘I insist. You first.’

  Sati swallowed. ‘What have you found out about the Nagas, Shiva?’

  ‘Surprising things actually. Maybe I have misjudged them. We need to find out more about them. Maybe they are not all bad. Maybe they just have a few bad apples amongst them, like in all communities.’

  Sati sighed deeply, finding some release for the tension coiled inside her like a snake.

  ‘What happened?’ asked Shiva, staring hard at his wife.

  ‘Umm, there is something that I have also discovered recently. Something very surprising. Something that was kept hidden from me until now. It is about the Nagas.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I found... that...’

  Shiva was surprised to see Sati so nervous. ‘What’s the matter, darling?’

  ‘I found out that I’m related to them.’

  ‘What?!’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How can that be? Your father hates the Nagas!’

  ‘It could be guilt more than hatred.’

  ‘Guilt?’

  ‘I was not born alone.’

  Shiva frowned.

  ‘A twin was born along with me. I have a sister.’

  Shiva was shocked. ‘Where is she? Who kidnapped her? How did this happen in Meluha?’

  ‘She was not kidnapped,’ whispered Sati. ‘She was abandoned.’

  ‘Abandoned?’ Shiva stared at his wife, at a loss for words.

  ‘Yes, she was born a Naga.’

  Shiva held Sati’s hand. ‘Where did you find her? Is she all right?’

  Sati looked up at Shiva, her eyes moist. ‘I didn’t find her. She found me. She saved my life.’

  Shiva smiled, not at all surprised to hear yet another tale of Naga heroism and generosity. ‘What’s her name?’

  ‘Kali. Queen Kali.’

  ‘Queen?’

  ‘Yes, the Queen of the Nagas.’

  Shiva’s eyes widened in surprise. Kali may be the one who would help him find Brahaspati’s killer. Maybe that’s why fate had conspired to bring them together. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Here in Kashi. Outside our palace. Waiting to meet you. Waiting for you to accept her.’

  Shiva smiled, shaking his head and pulling Sati close to him. ‘She’s your family. That makes her my family. Where’s the question of my not accepting her?’

  Sati smiled slightly, resting her head on Shiva’s shoulders. ‘But she is not the only Naga waiting for your acceptance.’

  Shiva frowned.

  ‘Another, even more tragic secret, was kept from me,’ said Sati.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I was told ninety years back that my first child was stillborn. As still as a statue.’

  Shiva nodded, as though sensing where this conversation was headed, holding his wife’s hand tighter.

  ‘That was a lie,’ sobbed Sati. ‘He...’

  ‘He was alive?!’

  ‘He is still alive!’

  Shiva’s jaw dropped in shock. ‘You mean... I have another son?’

  Sati stared up at Shiva, smiling through her tears.

  ‘By the Holy Lake! I have another son!’

  Sati nodded, happy at Shiva’s joy.

  ‘Bhadra! Drive quickly. My son waits for me!’

  Chapter 19

  Rage of the Blue Lord

  Shiva’s carriage quickly turned into the gates of Athithigva’s palace. As it sped along the road around the central garden, an excited Shiva lifted Kartik into his arms and reached for the door. He was off as soon as the vehicle stopped, setting Kartik on the ground, holding his hand and walking quickly ahead. Sati followed.

  Shiva stopped in his tracks as he saw Kali, holding a puja thali, a prayer tray, with a ceremonial lamp and flowers.

  ‘What the...!’

  Standing in front of Shiva was a splitting image of Sati. Her eyes, face, build — everything. Except that her skin was a jet black to Sati’s bronze. Her hair open, unlike Sati who usually restrained her flowing tresses. The woman was wearing royal clothing and ornaments, a cream and red coloured angvastram covered her entire torso. Then he noticed the two extra hands on her shoulders.

  A nervous Kali continued to stare at Shiva, unsure. Much to her surprise, Shiva stepped forward and embraced her gently, careful not to disturb the puja thali.

  ‘What a pleasure it is to meet you,’ said Shiva, smiling broadly.

  Kali smiled tentatively, shocked by Shiva’s warm gesture, clearly at a loss for words.

  Shiva tapped the puja thali. ‘I think you are supposed to move this around my face six or seven times in order to welcome me home.’

  Kali laughed. ‘I’m sorry. Just that I have been very nervous.’

  ‘Nothing to be nervous about,’ grinned Shiva. ‘Just circle the thali around, shower flowers on me and be sure not to drop the lamp. Burns are damn painful!’

  Kali laughed and completed the ceremony, applying a red tilak on Shiva’s forehead.

  ‘And now,’ said Shiva. ‘Where’s my other son?’

  Kali stepped aside. Shiva saw Ganesh in the distance, atop the stairs leading to Athithigva’s main palace.

  ‘That’s my dada!’ beamed Kartik at his father.

  Shiva smiled at Kartik. ‘Let’s go meet him.’

  Holding Kartik’s hand, Shiva walked up the flight of stairs, with Sati and Kali in tow. Everyone else waited quietly at the bottom, giving the family its own private moment.

  Ganesh, in a red dhoti and white angvastram, was standing at the entryway of his mother’s wing of the palace, almost like a guard. As Shiva reached him, Ganesh bent to touch his father’s feet.

  Shiva touched Ganesh’s head gently, held his shoulders and pulled the Naga up to embrace him, blessing him with a long life. ‘Ayushman bhav, my...’

  Shiva suddenly stopped as he stared hard at Ganesh’s calm, almond-shaped eyes. His hands were rigid on Ganesh’s shoulders, eyes narrowed hard.

  Ganesh shut his eyes and cursed his fate silently. He knew he had been recognised.

  Shiva’s eyes continued to bore in
to Ganesh.

  Sati, looking surprised, whispered, ‘What’s the matter, Shiva?’

  Shiva ignored her. He continued to stare at Ganesh with repressed rage. He reached for his pouch. ‘I have something that belongs to you.’

  Ganesh kept quiet, continuing to stare at Shiva, his eyes melancholic. He didn’t need to look in order to know what Shiva was bringing out of his pouch. The bracelet, whose clasp had been destroyed, belonged to him. He had lost it at Mount Mandar. It was frayed at the edges by flames that had tried to consume it. The embroidered symbol of Aum, in the center, was unblemished. But it wasn’t a normal Aum symbol. The representation of the ancient holy word had been constructed from snakes. The serpent Aum!

  Ganesh quietly took his bracelet from Shiva’s hand.

  Sati looked on with disbelieving eyes. ‘Shiva! What is going on?’

  Furious rage was pouring out of Shiva’s eyes.

  ‘Shiva...,’ repeated Sati, as she touched her husband’s shoulder anxiously.

  Shiva flinched at Sati’s touch. ‘Your son killed my brother,’ he growled.

  Sati was shocked. Disbelieving.

  Shiva spoke again. This time his voice was hard, furious. ‘Your son killed Brahaspati!’

  Kali sprung forward. ‘But it was an...’

  The Queen of the Nagas fell silent at a gesture from Ganesh.

  The Naga continued to look straight at Shiva. Offering no explanations. Waiting for the Neelkanth’s verdict, his punishment.

  Shiva stepped close to Ganesh. Uncomfortably close. Till his fuming breath blew hard on Ganesh. ‘You are my wife’s son. It’s the only reason why I’m not going to kill you.’

  Ganesh lowered his eyes. Hands held in supplication. Refusing to say anything.

  ‘Get out of my house,’ roared Shiva. ‘Get out of this land. Never show your face here again. The next time, I may not be so forgiving.’

  ‘But... But Shiva. He’s my son!’ begged Sati.

  ‘He killed Brahaspati.’

  ‘Shiva...’

  ‘HE KILLED BRAHASPATI!’

  Sati stared blankly, tears flowing down her cheeks. ‘Shiva, he’s my son. I cannot live without him.’

  ‘Then live without me.’

  Sati was stunned. ‘Shiva, please don’t do this. How can you ask me to make this choice?’

  Ganesh finally spoke. ‘Father, I...’

  Shiva interrupted Ganesh angrily. ‘I am not your father!’

  Ganesh bowed his head, took a deep breath and spoke up once again. ‘O Great Mahadev, you are known for your fairness. Your sense of justice. The crime is mine. Don’t punish my mother for my sins.’ Ganesh pulled his knife out, the same knife that Sati had flung at him in Ayodhya. ‘Take my life. But don’t curse my mother with a fate worse than death. She cannot live without you.’

  ‘No!’ screamed Sati as she darted in front of Ganesh. ‘Please, Shiva. He’s my son... He’s my son...’

  Shiva’s anger turned ice cold. ‘Looks like you’ve made your choice.’

  He picked up Kartik.

  ‘Shiva...’ pleaded Sati. ‘Please don’t go. Please...’

  Shiva looked at Sati, his eyes moist, but voice ice cold. ‘This is something I cannot accept, Sati. Brahaspati was like my brother.’

  Shiva walked down the steps, carrying Kartik with him as a shocked Kashi citizenry kept deathly silent.

  ‘Shiva doesn’t know the entire picture. Why didn’t you tell him?’ asked an agitated Kali.

  Kali and Ganesh were sitting in Sati’s chambers in Athithigva’s palace. Sati, torn between her love for her long-lost son and her devotion to her husband, had gone to the Branga building, where Shiva had set up temporary quarters. She was trying to reason with him.

  ‘I can’t. I have given my word, Mausi,’ answered Ganesh, his calm voice hiding the deep sadness within.

  ‘But...’

  ‘No, Mausi. This remains between you and me. There is only one condition under which the secret behind the attack on Mount Mandar can be revealed. I don’t see that happening too soon.’

  ‘But tell your mother at least.’

  ‘A word of honour does not stop at a mother’s door.’

  ‘Didi is suffering. I thought you’d do anything for her.’

  ‘I will. She can live without me but not without the Mahadev. She’s not letting me leave because of her guilt at not being there for me earlier.’

  ‘What are you saying? You will leave? ’

  ‘Yes. In another ten days. Once the Meluhan General and the Chandravanshi Princess’ wedding celebrations are done. Then father can return home.’

  ‘Your mother will not allow this.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. I will leave. I will not be the reason for my parent’s separation.’

  ‘Your Highness,’ said Kanakhala, the Meluhan Prime Minister. ‘It is not advisable for you to leave for Swadweep without a formal invitation. It is against protocol.’

  ‘What nonsense,’ said Daksha. ‘I am the Emperor of India. I can go wherever I please.’

  Kanakhala was a loyal Prime Minister. But she did not want her Emperor to commit any act which would embarrass the Empire. ‘But the terms of the Ayodhya treaty are that Swadweep is only our vassal and has direct control over its own territory. Protocol dictates that we seek their permission. They cannot deny permission. You are their Lord. But it’s a formality that must be completed.’

  ‘No formalities needed. I’m just a father going to meet his favourite daughter!’

  Kanakhala frowned. ‘Your Highness, you have only one daughter.’

  ‘Yes. Yes. I know,’ said Daksha, waving his hand dismissively. ‘Look I am leaving in three weeks. You can send a messenger to Swadweep asking for permission. All right?’

  ‘Your Highness, bird couriers are still not set up in Ayodhya. You know how inefficient those people are. And Ayodhya is further than Kashi. So even if the messenger leaves today, he will reach Ayodhya in a little over three months. You will reach Kashi at the same time.’

  Daksha smiled. ‘Yes, I will. Go and make the arrangements for my departure.’

  Kanakhala sighed, bowed and left the chambers.

  The Emperor of Swadweep, Dilipa, had planned grand festivities to celebrate the wedding of his daughter Anandmayi with Parvateshwar. But the unexpected bitterness between the Mahadev and his wife had soured the mood. However, the pujas could not be cancelled. It would be an insult to the gods. While all the parties had been put on hold, the pujas to the elemental gods Agni, Vayu, Prithvi, Varun, Surya and Som were to proceed as planned.

  The puja for the Sun god was being conducted at the Surya temple on the Sacred Avenue, just a little South of Assi Ghat. A grand platform had been erected on the road, directly overlooking the temple. Shiva and Sati were seated next to each other on specific thrones designed for them. Unlike their earlier public appearances, they were sitting stiff and apart. Shiva was not even looking at Sati, righteous anger still radiating from every pore in his body. He had only come for the puja and would return to the Branga residence as soon as it was over.

  Every citizen of Kashi, who had never seen Shiva’s temper, was deeply troubled. But none more than Kartik. He had been pestering both his parents to get back together. Knowing Kartik would get even more insistent if he saw the both of them together, Shiva had told Krittika to take Kartik to the park adjoining the nearby Sankat Mochan temple.

  Next to Shiva on the platform built for the thrones, were Kali, Bhagirath, Dilipa, Athithigva and Ayurvati. Parvateshwar and Anandmayi were at the temple platform, where the Surya Pandit helped them consecrate their love with the purifying blessings of the Sun God.

  To avoid an embarrassing situation, Ganesh had wisely declined his invitation to the puja.

  While all of Kashi was at the puja, Ganesh sat by himself at the Sankat Mochan temple. He had first gone to the adjoining park to meet his little brother for the first time in ten days, carrying a sack full of mangoes. After a lively thirty
minutes, Ganesh had retired to the temple, leaving Kartik to play with Krittika and his five bodyguards. He sat there quietly, gazing at Lord Hanuman, the most ardent devotee of Lord Ram.

  Lord Hanuman was called Sankat Mochan for a reason. People believed he always helped his devotees in a crisis. Ganesh thought that even Lord Hanuman would find it impossible to help him get out of this mess. Neither could he imagine a life without his mother nor could he bear it if he became the reason for his parents living separately. He had decided to leave Kashi the next day. But he knew that he would spend the rest of his life pining for his mother, now that he had experienced her love.

  He smiled as he heard the loud cacophony of Kartik’s boisterous antics in the park.

  The carefree laughter of a soul strongly nourished by his mother’s love.

  Ganesh sighed, knowing such carefree laughter would never be a part of his destiny. He drew out his sword, pulled a smooth stone and started doing what Kshatriyas usually do when they have nothing else to do: Sharpen their blades.

  So lost was Ganesh in his thoughts that he paid heed to his gut instinct quite late. Something strange was happening in the park. He held his breath and listened. And then it hit him. The park had gone absolutely quiet. What had happened to the loud laughter of Kartik, Krittika and his companions?

  Ganesh got up quickly, put his sword into his scabbard and started walking towards the park. And then he heard it. A low growl, followed by a deafening roar. The kill was nigh.

  Lions!

  Ganesh drew his sword and started sprinting. A man was stumbling towards him. One of the Kashi soldiers, who was slashed across his arm. The clear markings of sharp claws.

  ‘How many?’ Ganesh was loud enough for the soldier to hear even at a distance.

  The Kashi soldier did not respond. He just stumbled forward, shell-shocked.

  Ganesh reached him in no time, jolted him hard and repeated again. ‘How many?’

  ‘Thr...ee,’ said the soldier.

  ‘Get the Mahadev!’

  The soldier still looked shocked.

  Ganesh shook him again. ‘Get the Mahadev! Now!’

  The soldier started running towards the Sun temple as Ganesh turned towards the park.