The Secret of the Nagas (40 page)

‘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 into 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...’