'Ah…, my name is Surjan. And I am a villager of Vidarbh.' Durbheeksh introduced himself using his old name.
'Ok fine, right now an important meeting is going on inside. As soon as our mentor will come out, I will take you to meet our leader. He will take the final decision, if you can join our team or not.' That guard told Durbheeksh.
'Sure, I'll wait.' Durbheeksh agreed to wait.
Soon Mahabali Akhand came out of the cave. The guard bandits lied down on his knees, Durbheeksh also followed them, so that Akhand could not see his face. Soon Akhand disappeared in the dense forest.
'Shall we go now?' Surjan (Durbheeksh) asked.
'No, first of all I have to give this information to our leader.' That guard bandit enters in the cave.
While Meghvarna and Chandraketu were discussing their plan to visit Hastinapur. The guard arrived and informed Meghvarna, 'My lord, one villager has arrived. His name is Surjan, who saved my life from a tiger, and wants to join our gang.'
Meghvarna stood up, 'How could a villager reach our location?'
Chandraketu interfered, 'It could be dangerous for us. Bring him in.'
Both Chandraketu and Meghvarna covered their faces. While the guard bandit brings Surjan inside the cave. Meghvarna stared at Surjan.
'Your personality is impressive, Surjan. But how come you reached here?' Meghvarna asked Surjan.
Surjan thought something for a while, 'Ah…, actually I was chasing you all since the war. I followed the footsteps of the bandits and finally reached here.' Surjan tried to make stories.
'And you want that we should believe you? We never leave any footprints from at least two miles from this location. ' Chandraketu stared at Surjan.
'Yes, actually that was the reason due to which I am so late. If there were clear footprints, I might have reached much earlier. And two miles is not a big distance.' Surjan continued lying.
Meghvarna was quite convinced, 'Ok fine, I am convinced. So what's your special ability?'
'Well, I am a good swordsman.' Surjan replied.
'Then take this sword, and come in the arena.' Meghvarna pulled out a sword and gives it to Surjan.
'Sure, my lord.'
Soon Surjan was in the arena. There were many warriors practicing in that arena. While Meghvarna signaled towards a warrior, 'He is one of fierce warrior of our gang. Do you have guts to fight with him?'
'I would love to do this.' Surjan tightened his grip on the sword.
While Chandraketu was staring at him doubtfully. Surjan rushed towards that swordsman and started fighting with him.
'He doesn't have strength to stand in front of me even for moments, but I cannot defeat him so soon. It could create doubt in their minds.' Surjan thought while fighting with that warrior.
Finally, after half of a prahar, when Surjan thought that it is a right time, he attacked on his opponent's shoulder to disarm him.
'Well done, Surjan, Well done. He was one among the capable warrior of our gang. But now I want to test your limit. So let's fight, Surjan.' Meghvarna pulled out a sword and stepped towards Surjan.
'Sure, my lord.' Surjan rushed towards Meghvarna.
The fierce duel started again. Surjan (Durbheeksh) was quite overconfident, but soon Meghvarna punched on his chest, he was pushed five steps back. Surjan was completely astonished.
He thought while staring at Meghvarna, 'After years, I have met a warrior like this. A warrior who really have capacity to compete with me. I appreciate you Mahabali Akhand, what a warrior you have prepared to stand against me.'
'What you are thinking, Surjan? The duel is still not over.' Meghvarna tried to break his silence.
'Of course, my lord.' Surjan rushed back with double speed. This time, Meghvarna was completely astonished to see Surjan's strength and speed.
The duel lasted till three prahars. Soon Surjan noticed that Chandraketu was staring at him with doubtful eyes.
'Now it's time for the defeat. Otherwise, it can create doubts on me.' Surjan thought and gets intentional defeat from Meghvarna. His sword falls on the ground.
Meghvarna felt quite relaxed, he washed his face with the water from the pitcher. After that, he came near to Surjan, 'I am really very impressed, Surjan. No one among these warriors have capability to stand in front of me even half of a prahar. And you survived three prahars, it's very impressive.'
Thereafter, Meghvarna uncovered his face, 'Welcome to our gang. I am your leader, Meghvarna.'
'Thanks, my lord.'
But Chandraketu was still staring at Surjan with some doubts in his minds, 'I don't believe this, how could Meghvarna take this decision so fast.'
While Meghvarna encouraged his new member, 'Your strength and capability are amazing, Surjan. We need a warrior like you, who can handle our gang in my absence. Now come and meet my friend, Chandraketu.'
Chandraketu also uncovered his face, and came nearer to Surjan. He shakes hand with Surjan and introduced himself, 'I am Chandraketu, the leader of Gandharvas.'
Surjan was furious listening the name of Gandharvas, his eyes were filled with flames for a moment. He tightened his grip on the sword.
'What happened? Why you are silent?' Chandraketu wants to break his silence.
'Ah.., nothing. Nothing important actually.' Surjan tried to hide his expressions.
'Ok fine, Surjan. I have a job for you.' Meghvarna kept his hand on his shoulder.
'And what's that?' Surjan asked.
'I and Chandraketu are going to Hastinapur. I was looking for a warrior like you, who could take care of my group of bandits in our absence. And I think you are suitable for this task.'
'Ya, sure (now the demon lord will take care of these bandits, what else I would have to do).' Surjan replied and thought in his mind.
'So let's go, Chandraketu. We have to reach Hastinapur to meet Sunanda.'
'Sure, Meghvarna. Let's go.'
Meghvarna and Chandraketu went outside the cave. Meghvarna stepped towards his horse, but Chandraketu stopped him, 'How can you do this, Meghvarna?'
'What happened, Chandraketu? Why you are saying like this?' Meghvarna stared at Chandraketu.
'How can you recruit a stranger in our gang, without concerning with our mentor? And even how could we trust that villager? You didn't even asked him, where he has come from, his background. And you only think, how could an ordinary villager be so capable of competing with you?' Chandraketu confronted Meghvarna.
Meghvarna turned furious listening this, 'The strength and capability doesn't depends on the birth of a person. Just look at me, and even look at you. I don't know who I am, and you also belong to the community of Gandharvas. But we are capable enough to defeat the royal people of Vidarbh. So don't put question on anyone's birth.'
'We are trained by our mentor, Meghvarna, who is the most capable warrior of this era.'
'Huhh…, the most capable warrior, who is afraid of facing Demon Lord Durbheeksh. Now Surjan will prove that he is not the only mentor who can train warrior like us. I will enhance his skills, and I will prove that I am much better than him.'
'Still you cannot defeat him, Meghvarna.' Chandraketu taunted Meghvarna.
'Soon that day will also come, when I will defeat him. And I will prove that we don't need him. Till now that scene often comes in front of my eyes when that person stabbed my father. I am tolerating him, just because of my promise that I made to my father. So what if he was not my real father, but he treated me as like his son.' Meghvarna was furious.
'Calm down, Meghvarna. I understand your pain, but he is training you so that you can stand against Durbheeksh.'
'I know, I have to stand against Durbheeksh. But it's only for your revenge, Chandraketu. Not for him. So now let's go to Hastinapur, it's time to meet Sunanda.' Meghvarna ascended on his horse.
'I will say once again, it's not right to trust a stranger so soon.' Chandraketu stared at Meghvarna.
'Come on, Chandraketu. Let's go.' Meghvarna ignored his words and moved for
ward with his horse.
Chandraketu also ascended on his horse, and was compelled to follow his friend.
While Durbheeksh (Surjan) listened to all this conversation from behind a tree.
'Well, that's interesting, that's actually very interesting. I appreciate Mahabali Akhand, to create a warrior like this. Now I want to know each and everything about you, Meghvarna and Chandraketu. You are unaware of your identity, Meghvarna. But I will find your reality. After years, I have met a warrior whose swords swings as speedy winds, who has strength of hills in his arms and the courage of a lion. And I think you are much more capable, if you have been chosen to stand against me. I am incomplete without you, Meghvarna. You are the one whom I was waiting for. So now either you will be my best friend, or worst enemy. Now I have a reason to stay here, so I will stay here. Although you are a traitor, but I am very thankful to you, Digvijay. Just because of you, I got a chance to meet the warriors like Meghvarna and Chandraketu. So for some days, I have to be Surjan.' Surjan returned back to the cave.
While Meghvarna and Chandraketu reached Hastinapur. They were about to enter the gate of the palace.
The guard of the palace tried to stop him, 'Stop. Who are you? And what do you want?'
'We have not come here for any quarrel. Inform your Prince Sarvdaman, that his friend Meghvarna wants to meet him.' Meghvarna said politely.
'Firstly show me your face. Then only I will inform our Prince.' The guard said.
'Ok fine.' Meghvarna and Chandraketu uncovered their faces.
The guard looked over their faces throughly, after that he went inside the palace. Soon Sarvdaman came outside of the palace. He was delighted to see Meghvarna in front of him.
'How come you are here, Meghvarna?' Sarvdaman asked.
'Actually, I have come here for a very important work.' Meghvarna said.
'Ok, Ok fine. Firstly come with me in the palace.' Sarvdaman took both of them inside the palace.
Soon all the three were in Prince Sarvdaman's room.
'So what were you saying, Meghvarna? And who is he?' Sarvdaman asked staring at Chandraketu.
'He is my childhood friend, Chandraketu 'the leader of Gandharvas'. I think I haven't told you about him.' Meghvarna said.
'Yes, of course, you haven't. Ah.., leave that. Tell me, what you were talking about?'
'I have come here just because of him.' Meghvarna stared at Chandraketu.
'And what's that?' Sarvdaman asked.
'Come on, Chandraketu. Don't feel shy, just say it.' Meghvaarna smiled staring at Chandraketu.
While Chandraketu stared at Meghvarna angrily, 'If I could talk, then for what would have I brought you here?'
'What's happening?' Sarvdaman was astonished.
Meghvarna laughed, 'Ah…. It's about your sister Sunanda, who is childhood friend of Chandraketu. Ten years before, their parents decided their marriage. But as you know, because of sudden attack on Gandharvas, the parents of Chandraketu died. And all those plans got ruined. Since ten years he was searching for Sunanda, and recently we got to know that she is here with you, and your father has adopted her as your sister. That's why we have arrived here.'
Sarvdaman listened those words of Meghvarna carefully. He stood from the chair and moved towards the window.
'What happened, Sarvdaman?' Meghvarna also stood up.
Sarvdaman stared at Meghvarna, 'It's not in my hand, Meghvarna. Neither mine nor in my father's hand. You have to talk to someone else for this.'
'And who is that?' Meghvarna was quite astonished.
'The elder sister of Sunanda, 'Durdhara'. She has only right to take decision of Sunanda's life, and that was a promise made by father to her.' Sarvdaman explained.
'Ok fine, I hope she will not defy us. As the bond of Sunanda and Chandraketu were decided since childhood. So, how can we meet her?' Meghvarna asked.
'You are taking her very lightly, Meghvarna. Come let's meet her.' Sarvdaman took Meghvarna and Chandraketu to meet Durdhara.
Soon they reached a room, where there was complete darkness.
'What's this? Why there is so much darkness here?' Chandraketu was astonished.
'Keep moving, and be silent. She hates noise.' Savdaman suggested.
'Yes, sure.' Meghvarna agreed.
'Follow me as I am doing.' Sarvdaman lied down on his knees. Meghvana and Chandraketu followed them and lied down on their knees.
'They have come for Sunanda. And this warrior wants to marry her.' Sarvdaman said.
Listening this, one woman stood up from the bed and stepped towards the three warriors. Her face was not visible in that darkness. She came nearer to Chandraketu, 'Who are you? Introduce yourself.'
'I am Chandraketu, the leader of Gandharvas.'
'Chandraketu? That boy with whom Sunanda's marriage was fixed?' Durdhara asked Chandraketu.
'Yes, I am that boy. And I was searching for Sunanda since years.' Chandraketu said.
'Yes, of course. That was the promise made by my parents, and I have fulfill it. You don't worry, I accept you as Sunanda's groom.' Durdhara agreed.
'But…' Chandraketu was hesitating while asking.
'But, what Chandraketu?' Durdhadra asked.
'Actually, before we get married, I want to meet Sunanda. I want to know that what she feels for me.'
Durdhara's tone was filled anger, as no one could see her face, so it could be predicated only through voice, 'It doesn't matter, Chandraketu. The promise made by my parents is much more important than her feelings. And love, what is love? A feeling that gives only pain. So just keep yourself away with this feeling. I will talk to Sunanda as soon as she will return back. You can go now.' Durdhara returned back to her bed.
'Let's go.' Sarvdaman stood up. Meghvarna and Chandraketu followed him and went outside Durdhara's room.
'Why is she so rude?' Meghvarna asked.
'I don't know the reason, but my father said that since ten years she hasn't shown her face to anyone. Even I have not seen her face ever, only my father has seen her. She hates men, and that's why she is still unmarried. That's all I know about her.' Sarvdaman explained.
While Chandraketu interrupted, 'Since ten years, I am searching them. I know that Durbheeksh killed their parents. But what happened after that, now only Sunanda can tell me the actual truth, I want to meet her.'
'Right now, she is not here.' Sarvdaman said.
'So where she is?'
'I don't know. She might have gone to Gandharva village, or any other place.' Sarvdaman said as if he didn't care.
Chandraketu was quite angry listening this, 'How can you be so careless, Prince Sarvdaman? She is your sister.'
Sarvdaman laughed, 'You don't know her, Chandraketu. She has capability of defeating twenty warriors at time. Well when you meet her, you will get to know much more interesting things about her. Just wait and watch. And regarding her security, my soldiers are always there with her. But they cannot come in front of her, because she thinks that she doesn't need any security.'
Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh Page 27
