Another Chandala youth came forward and said, “We will defend our state. However strong they may be, we still have the chemical weapon with us.”
“But our chemical weapon is almost finished,” said Shatvari.
“Can we not make any more?”
“Not in such a short time. Some of the rare herbs were collected after years of research and cultivation.”
“Then what should we do?”
“We must find out a way, and fast. Let's go to the royal palace”
Rudrasen was pacing in his chamber from end to end. His head was down and hands at the back. After being defeated and humiliated in such a manner by the Chandalas, he found himself unable to face Shatvari and Shatrughna, who were standing in front of him. They had almost forgiven him for his sins but Rudrasen was unable to see them eye-to-eye. He was pondering over why his kingdom was inundated with problems one after another. As if struck by an unending curse. Suddenly, it struck him that it could indeed be a curse.
He spoke as if driven by a strong inner voice, “Only some supernatural power can save us from these problems now.”
“Your Highness, you are losing hope. We have to think rationally to find a solution,” said Neel.
“I am thinking only about a solution,” Rudrasen's voice was serious.
“Solution and that too with supernatural powers?” Udayan was a bit shocked.
“Yes, solution. We will invoke divine powers by worshipping this Yantra,” said Rudrasen.
The mention of the Yantra alerted Shatvari.
“Are you talking about Maharshi Vasudev's Yantra?”
“Yes, the same.”
The name of Maharshi Vasudev and the Yantra also surprised Pallavi.
“So, you know Maharishi Vasudev's Yantra as opposed to all that you told me that day father?”
“My dear, I lied to you that day. Please forgive me if possibly you can. Maybe I am getting punishments for my sins.”
“What sins are you talking about father?”
“Let me tell you the whole story today in front of everybody. Maharshi Vasudev was a Siddha—a divine saint. After many years of worship, he attained superhuman powers using which he created a Yantra that could provide unlimited powers to its worshipper. When I heard about that Yantra I wanted to have that as soon as I could. But Maharshi, however, found out about my intentions and he hid the Yantra. I continued to search for it and soon discovered where it was.”
“So, did you get it?” asked Pallavi.
“Yes, I attained the Yantra but incidentally a cardinal sin happened through me. I killed Maharshi accidentally while capturing the Yantra.”
“What? You killed a divine saint?”
“Yes, it happened with my own hands and I regretted as soon as it happened. I tried my best to save his life, but he passed away. I was engulfed in remorse and guilt. To pay penance, I took with me Maharshi's only daughter.”
“Maharishi 's daughter? Where is she?”
“You are the daughter of the great Maharishi Vasudev,” Rudrasen stood with his head bowed down. Everyone went quiet and looked in the direction of Pallavi.
Pallavi was taken aback. The person whom she called father her entire life turned out to be her real father's killer. Everything seemed to shatter apart in front of her. It seemed like an unforgiveable lie. Rudrasen's love was not an unconditional love but was his penance. It was his way of paying for his guilt. She burst into tears. She tried to stop herself falling apart but she couldn't. She wanted to run out of the chamber, in fact out of the royal palace, far away from Rudrasen. She tried to stop herself falling apart like this but couldn't and she ran out of the chamber. Rudrasen wanted to go after her, but Shatvari stopped him and asked, “Where is that Yantra now?”
“It has been with me since,” replied Rudrasen.
“So, the time has come to invoke the dormant divine powers from that Yantra. That is the only way to defend our kingdom,” said Shatvari.
“Will you worship the Yantra?” asked Rudrasen.
“Yes, why not. But I am surprised that you went as far as to kill a saint to attain that Yantra but never worshipped to unlock its powers, why?” asked Shatvari.
“Because it's cursed.”
“Cursed?”
“Yes, cursed by Maharishi to keep it beyond the reach of selfish people. Only those can worship the Yantra who are willing to sacrifice their most loved thing or person. Unfortunately, I am not that brave.”
Shatvari drew back a step and got lost in thoughts. She only had Shatrughna. She couldn't even give her a healthy childhood. All his life he roamed like a Chandala in Shamshan amidst the stench of rotten corpses and flesh picking dogs. Now when his life had a hope and glimmer for betterment how can she think of sacrificing him?
Shatrughna grasped his mother's internal conflict. He came forward and said, “You don't worry about me, mother. I will happily lay down my life to save my motherland any time. It will be a matter of pride and honour for both of us. You have spent your entire life to attain that Yantra for the betterment of our society. Now you have the opportunity. And at what a small cost. Please do not hesitate even for a minute. Observe your Dharma!”
Shatvari tightly embraced her son. Her eyes were wet, but she held the tears inside lest they should make her look weak. She held him as if this was the last time being spent with him.
“I am ready. Get me the Yantra,” Shatvari looked at Rudrasen with a resolute focus.
Chapter 35
“Chandalas have made peace with King Rudrasen. Their chief Shatvari is going to worship a Yantra to invoke divine powers,” one of the spies informed Indrajit.
“This is an alarming news. This can ruin our plans. We have to stop this from happening at any cost,” thundered Indrajit.
“But how, Commander?”
“We will attack Sripur as soon as possible. We will rob them of any time to prepare for that Yantra worship. Let's go to Kashi and order our armies to commence the attack.”
All men pulled the reins of their horses and galloped away, but they were unaware of two sets of ears listening to their plan. They were Vaishali and Aniruddha.
“Oh...did you hear that Aniruddha?” asked Vaishali.
“Yes, they are going to attack us in a matter of days. We will have to stop them anyhow.”
“But how can we stop an army?” Aniruddha was visibly shocked.
“Wait...let me think...there is a person who can help us.”
“Who?”
“Come with me,” Vaishali took Aniruddha's hand and walked away.
“How do you expect a recluse like me to stop a giant North Kosala army?” Damodar was perplexed by Vaishali's request.
“Maybe not yourself directly, but you know a person who surely can,” replied Vaishali.
“Who?”
“Amodini.”
Just the mention of her name startled Damodar. He looked away deep into the jungle.
“How do you know about Amodini?”
“I heard all the conversation between you and Aniruddha's father, Seth Ambarish. After hearing your sad tale, I was curious to know more about you and your wife. When I probed further, I found out that there was a courtesan named Amodini behind all this. Being a courtesan myself, I wanted to know more about her, and I found that after severing bonds with you she went to North Kosala's capital city Kashi. There, too, her beauty's fragrance reached the royal gardens sooner than she had expected. King Prasannjeet fell for her beauty. All these years she has ruled the hearts of not only the king but the lords and mighty knights in Kashi. She garners respect as much as a queen in that kingdom. If she wants, she can stall this war.”
“But why would she listen to me after all these years and after all that has happened between us?”
“I hope she still has soft feelings for you. She will definitely help you.”
“If you say so, I will try. If I can be of any use in stopping this inhuman war, I will do anything to achieve that.”
/> Amodini's beauty was as amorous as it had been earlier. Fresh and keen buds on a spring morning. She had conquered the effects of age.
“I always knew Acharya ji that you will become a yogi once you go away from me. Welcome to my parlour!” Amodini stood up and walked towards Damodar as soon as he entered her theatre.
“Amodini, I am not an Acharya or a Yogi today. I have come as a beggar at your doorstep. I have come hoping to get something from you.”
“I poured all my youth in your heart; you just could not handle it. Ask for anything that I can give you.”
“As you might have come to know Amodini that North Kosala is going to attack South Kosala. Millions of innocent lives will be lost. You can help stop it.”
“You have really turned a Yogi; I am sure now. I hoped that you'd ask for some share of unspent love finally.”
“Amodini this is not the time for your taking things lightly. We must think about it seriously. I hope you still remember your bonds with South Kosala and Sripur. I am sure you don't want to see it ruined by your present masters.”
“That has been the pity; you always thought I am only a non-serious courtesan. Anyway, tell me what I must do to help you in this regard?”
“You will have to persuade your king to stall this war.”
“I can try.”
“That will be such a great favour, Amodini.”
“I hope this time you remember to pay it back. You have a bad habit of forgetting.”
Damodar and Amodini smiled at each other and for a moment they both forgot the years that had created vast vacuums between them.
“I am pouring one more for you, your Highness,” asked Amodini while sitting arms in arms with the king, Prasannjeet. He was a middle-aged man tall, of a robust constitution, royal countenance and a beard cut in sleek fashion.
“You are trying to sedate me with alcohol today. Leave some work left for your eyes,” replied the king softly caressing Amodini's face.
“My eyes have long ago stopped intoxicating you Rajan. Else why would I need to serve you wine?”
“Is that so? I will stop drinking wine from now on if you say so,” King Prasannjeet moved close enough towards Amodini's face and felt the warmth and moistness of her lips.
“Not possible. I know you...you won't be able to live without wine even for a day.”
“If you want, take my word for it. I can make a vow,” king pulled Amodini closer towards him.
“Let it be…leave it. What would I get from making you quit wine? Neither am I your wife nor is wine your mistress.”
“Then what are you after? ask.”
“Will you?”
“'You don't trust a king's words?”
“Have another cup of wine.”
“This is what you want?”
“No, but I know what I want, you won't be able to grant while remaining sober.”
“I have given you my word. Whatever is within my power, I will sacrifice on your feet.”
“Don't get excited I am not going to ask for the stars from the sky. Too old for that,” said Amodini and cast a playful look at the king and then continued in a sombre tone, “I want from you a promise, your Highness that you will not initiate an attack on South Kosala.”
King Prasannjeet leaned back and looked at her with expressions of surprise.
“What are you saying? You shouldn't interfere in political decisions. I beg you.”
“See this is what I meant. It'll be impossible for you to keep your word.”
“Don't play with my emotions like this. Ask anything— unlimited riches, prosperity, and abundance of all kinds. If you want, I will win and surrender South Kosala at your feet.”
“What would I do with a torn apart and destroyed South Kosala? I have old bonds with South Kosala and Sripur. The city where my anklets echoed in the past will turn into a theatre of deathly moans and cries. I cannot see the destruction of lives into rotten corpses and lands into cemeteries. Your Highness, I have given you my entire youth. Can you not grant me this wish?”
Silence prevailed between the two.
“Give me some time to think. Such decisions cannot be taken in hurry and in moments of excitement,” his head was bowed low, worry lines emerged on the forehead and he was engrossed in a dilemma.
“Time is of the essence, my King. Please do remember this.”
“Our respected and brave king has lost his mind. That courtesan has played with his good sense,” said Indrajit to the chief minister of North Kosala. With clenched fists and acute signs of desperation on his face he added, “We have been preparing and waiting for this opportunity for years. Now when we have a clear path, he is tied up in the love of a court dancer.”
“But it's a royal order and we must obey it,” replied the chief minister.
“Whose order? Our king's or that dancer's?”
“Commander, she is not just a dancer. She garners a lot of respect in the kingdom.”
“But her act will not garner any respect from me or any other self-respecting citizen. She is going to destroy us all.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“We cannot stall this attack. What will we tell our army and soldiers—that our king's mistress thinks otherwise? That our king has become a coward to win his mistress's love.”
“So, you are suggesting to not follow the king's command?”
“A weak and coward king fixated only on his emotions of lust and selfishness has no right to command my army. My army is with me. This attack will happen at all cost.”
“Think hard and think seriously on it, Commander. You might have to regret this, if at all you get the chance to do that.”
“It would be our king who will be regretting, not me. All I am doing is to correct his mistake. I am going to launch an invasion on South Kosala. If anyone tried to stop us, the army will revolt.”
“My fellow soldiers, that moment of destiny for which we have waited for innumerable years has finally arrived. South Kosala's forces have been battered by the Chandalas' revolt. This is the opportunity to break them down and conquer them. Is my army ready for the invasion?” Indrajit asked his army.
“Yes, we are.” everyone roared in unison.
“What are we waiting for then? Let's proceed and post our victory flags in South Kosala. Victory is ours,” Indrajit was pumped up and raring to go.
“Stop. Wait a moment,” a female voice came from behind Indrajit. It was Amodini. She came forward and stood between the army and Indrajit.
“Has your commander told you that your king has ordered to stop this attack? I am sure not. Your commander is revolting against your king,” said Amodini.
“So, our king can't even come and face his army now? He sends a woman to convey his message,” said Indrajit.
“I am sure that you have lost all respect for your king, but please do use a proper language when you are addressing a king of this huge army. His Highness is not well. The news of his most trusted commander going rogue has shocked him deeply.”
“This is all because of you. You have turned a lion into a coward sheep. But I will not let my soldiers go the same way.”
“What you are going to do is also not an act of courage. You are going to attack on a weakened army still counting the corpses of its dead soldiers.”
“I call upon my army to not pay any attention to sweet talks of this dancer. We all know that there is a difference between a war and the job of dancing. She has entrapped our king and making him dance to her tunes. She wants us to do the same and destroy our kingdom.”
“Commander don't be so arrogant. You might not be, but North Kosala's army is still loyal to its king.”
“Which king—the one whose own loyalty has shifted from his people to a courtesan?”
“Commander…” Amodini shouted at the top of her voice. The army was now in a strange dilemma. On one hand, there was their commander asking them to commence and on the other, stood a royal courtesan bearing their king's m
essage to stop the war. The army had prepared for years for this opportunity. Any message that asked them to stall their progression seemed cowardly interference. A large part of the army moved on with Indrajit.
Amodini was left with a small column of loyal soldiers who watched their peers move along with their revolting commander.
Chapter 36
The Yantra was made of an unknown metal and it emitted soft divine white light. Shatvari sat in front of the Yantra in Siddhasana posture to worship it and invoke her dormant powers. She was slowly reciting some mantras in low voice with her eyes fixed at the Yantra. Chandala army waited outside for her ritual to complete. A small unit headed by Mekal's commander Ranveer was posted at Sripur's Brahma Gate. The remaining South Kosala soldiers guarded other entrances. They all awaited the North Kosala attack with nervousness.
Indrajit's army had already reached the outskirts of Sripur and they gathered outside the Brahma Gate for final strategic instructions. Seated on a white horse, Indrajit turned towards his army and said, “Surround the fort from all around. We will attack all the gates simultaneously. Attack.”
The thunderous order to attack rushed North Kosala army into a ravenous flurry. They pounced towards the gates and a full-fledged attack was in motion. Mekal and South Kosala soldiers were far too less in numbers to pose any threat to the marching North Kosala invaders. They romped their way through the weak resistance and entered Sripur. Peaceful scenes turned to chaos and brutal madness. People hid in their houses and prayed to their dearest gods. Chandalas still waited for Shatvari's ritual to complete. The attackers were at the top of their confidence and marched on forward towards the royal forte of king Rudrasen.
Suddenly, they were attacked from behind and that took them by surprise. The ray of hope came in the form of the loyal North Kosala soldiers led by Amodini charging on a white elegant horse. Her majestic form and her loyal will to support her king filled her battalion zealous fervour and confidence. They were being led by an angelic diva and they felt no less than divine soldiers of justice. They baffled their revolting peers. The invading North Kosala army was surrounded from front by the South Kosala soldiers and from behind they confronted the loyal soldiers of their own king. A fierce battle was intensified.
Revenge of the Chandalas Page 23
