THE CURSE OF BRAHMA (28 page)

The banyan is so much like the kshatriya race
, mused Vasudev.
A king lovingly brings up several Princes and then the heirs fight amongst themselves in order to survive and win the crown; at times not just destroying themselves but also the source of their existence
. Vasudev sighed. He had seen numerous examples where aggressive and blindly ambitious princes had destroyed everything their forefathers had built. In some unfortunate cases, a son would wantonly kill his father in order to usurp the throne. Vasudev shuddered. Patricide was the most shameful act a person could commit, and yet so many warriors did it every now and then. He was glad there was no case of pitrhanta (patricide) in his family or in Devki’s clan. In fact, Kansa loved his father Ugrasena just as much as Vasudev loved his own father, Surasena.

He shook his head to shake off the depressing thought of patricide from his mind. He glanced at the overhead sun to make out the hour of the day. Dusk would be at hand in another hour. Devki would possibly take that much more time to get ready. He smiled at the thought. He loved the fact that she was always excited about meeting him, enough to take the trouble of getting dressed for him; even though he loved her in her simplest attire, devoid of any make-up.

Let me make something nice for her
, he thought with the sudden enthusiasm of a child. The philosopher-warrior unhooked his scabbard and kept it gently, with the enclosed sword, on the ground. He didn’t want any encumbrance as he bent down to find what he was looking for.

He searched for the freshest-looking leaves. The banyan tree leaves were large, leathery, glossy green and elliptical in shape. The leaf bud is normally covered by two large scales. However, as the leaf develops the scales fall off. The young leaves left behind have an attractive reddish tinge and are extremely soft to touch. Vasudev finally selected four large red leaves and clubbed them together to form a kind of funnel. He took out a small curved knife from his inner pocket and gently grazed it in a downward motion against the bark of the tree. A thin layer of the bark was stripped off and acted as a natural rope with which he tied the four leaves so that they would hold together like a bouquet. Then he searched for the best lilies in the garden and plucked out a dozen of the most beautiful white flowers. The stem of the lilies was dug into the surface of the banyan leaves, with just the flowers showing on top of the red leaves. In a moment, a beautiful bouquet of flowers mounted on the attractive banyan leaves was ready. Vasudev raised the gift he had prepared for Devki at eye level in order to admire his handiwork.
She will love this one
, he decided with relish, his teeth gleaming in a smug smile.

‘So, the foremost warrior of Bateshwar has turned into a gardener, I see!’ The voice was loud and full of mischief. Startled, Vasudev turned around and was mortified to see Devki accompanied with her attendants, laughing uncontrollably at the sight of him holding up the flowers. His face turned deep red, and he swore under his breath. Devki was quick to notice his discomfiture.

Dismissing her attendants, she went up to him. ‘My warrior prince,’ she cooed lovingly. ‘I always knew no one could wield a sword like you. But you never told me you had this talent too.’ She smiled as she raised herself on her toes to kiss Vausdev on his lips. Vasudev was slightly taken aback. She had never displayed affection in public before this day, even though they had had their share of intimate moments in private. Vasudev returned Devki’s kiss tentatively at first. And then lost in the fervour of her emotions, he allowed his own restraint to relax too. They kissed passionately for what seemed to be a lifetime, but were in fact, just few moments. Finally, Devki pulled gently away from Vasudev’s tight embrace. ‘Easy, my love, easy!’ She smiled as she looked up into the eyes of the only man she had ever loved. ‘There will be time enough for this after we are married.’

Vasudev sighed as he relaxed his hold on Devki. He loved her in a way that was difficult for anyone to comprehend. She was the one thing that made complete sense in his life. Marrying Rohini had been the most difficult decision for him, and he would not have been able to do it if Devki herself hadn’t coaxed him to do it for reasons that were beyond both their control. But while he had the highest regard for Rohini, his love was entirely reserved for his childhood beloved, Devki—the woman who made his life seem complete in every way.

‘I can’t wait to be married, my love,’ he said, his voice heavy with a strange amalgamation of desire and deep affection.

Devki giggled. ‘I know you can’t. All you men are the same!’ Vasudev’s face fell, and he gave Devki a hurt look.

‘Oh, come on,’ Devki was instantly repentant. ‘I was only playing with you. I can’t wait to be married either. I have waited so long that it feels when the day comes, I won’t know how to react.’

Vasudev impulsively took her in his arms, ‘Don’t worry. You will do fine. Just be yourself. I love you that way!’ He kissed her lightly on her forehead.

There was a coughing sound behind them. ‘Can you two lovebirds leave each other at all?’ Mandki was grinning from ear to ear.

Devki glared at her friend. She rarely got any time with Vasudev, and he had come to Madhuvan for the first time after their marriage date was fixed. And here was Mandki, interrupting even those few precious moments of her time with him.

Vasudev, however, was chivalrous as always. He bowed slightly to Mandki and smiled at her. ‘How’s your soldier doing, Mandki? I heard he got hurt in that fight with the asuras.’

Mandki struggled to hold back her emotions as she remembered holding Airawat while he lay unconscious, his left hand cut off by one of the demons he was fighting with. And then later, when he regained consciousness in the hospital. She had looked into his eyes and sensed the sadness there.

Devki realized her normally stoic friend would break down any moment and she went up to Mandki and hugged her close. Vasudev looked kindly at her. ‘He is a tough man, that soldier of yours. Losing his arm is not going to keep him down. I believe King Ugrasena has retained him as his cavalry commander. That was a sensible decision. He is still the best man in the Madhuvan army.’

‘He…he said you spoke to him in the morning. Thank you. It was very kind of you,’ Mandki murmured.

‘You don’t need to thank me,’ Vasudev laughed. ‘I was trying to see if I could persuade him to join the Bateshwar army as our cavalry commander. But he is too loyal to Devki’s father to leave.’

Devki and Mandki both laughed at this. The clouds of sadness were momentarily dispelled and Mandki seemed to relax somewhat. Then all of a sudden, she remembered why she had come there. ‘Prince, the king requests your presence in his personal chambers. He said it won’t take too much time but it is urgent.’

Vasudev looked uncertainly at Devki. He didn’t want to disrespect Ugrasena’s request but neither did he want to put down Devki. He knew she had been looking forward to spending some private moments with him for a long time.

Devki nodded her head, ‘Go,’ she said. ‘But come back soon. I will be waiting near the lake.’ She seductively fluttered her eyelashes at him, hinting at the possibility of some more play at the end of his meeting with her father. Vasudev grinned and strode off quickly towards the palace.

‘But this is incredulous!’ Vasudev exclaimed. What Ugrasena had just shared with him had astounded him beyond words. ‘Are you sure, tatatulya?’ he persisted, hoping he had perhaps misunderstood Ugrasena. The use of the term tatatulya (meaning ‘like a father’) was sub-conscious and it was the first time Vasudev had used it for Ugrasena.

Ugrasena looked closely at his future son-in-law. He knew he had shocked Vasudev. The prince of Bateshwar looked every bit as alarmed as he himself had been when he first got to know about the truth behind the asuras entering Mrityulok.

‘I am sure!’ Ugrasena replied softly. ‘Narada himself told me about it.’

At the mention of Narada, Vasudev’s face grew grim. He had been hoping Ugrasena’s source might have made a mistake. But knowing Narada, he would have verified everything before sharing his fears with Ugrasena.

Vasudev was lost in thought. Then something struck him. ‘When did Narada tell you about this?’

‘Last night!’ Ugrasena looked at Vasudev’s astonished expression, and said evenly. ‘Yes, he is still here. He appeared dressed as a traveller at the palace gate late last night. The guards were about to shoo him away but he asked for Airawat. He knows from the past that I trust Airawat completely. He had a brief chat with him after which he handed Airawat an enclosed message for me. Even Airawat didn’t know it was the venerable Narada standing at the gate. After I read the message Airawat brought me, I told him who it was, and asked him to bring in Narada without letting anyone else know his identity. I had guessed by then that Narada must have some grave reason for coming in disguise.’

‘I met Airawat today morning. He didn’t mention this to me,’ Vasudev said thoughtfully.

Ugrasena patted his hand. ‘He wouldn’t, Vasudev. He is bound to me and despite knowing your relationship with me, he will still not disclose confidentialities unless he is told to. That is what makes him so trustworthy.’ There was a note of pride in Ugrasena’s voice. He obviously had a soft corner for Airawat.

Vasudev nodded. He had shared the fact with Ugrasena not as a reaction to Airawat’s behaviour but more as a matter-of-fact statement. However, his respect for Airawat went up as he realized just how loyal the man was to his king.

‘Would you like to meet Maharishi Narada?’ Ugrasena suggested. ‘When I told him you were here he was keen to meet you before leaving.’

Vasudev’s face lit up. ‘Of course I would love to meet him, tatatulya.’ A meeting with Narada was always refreshing as the Maharishi was known for his lack of pretentiousness and his straightforward nature.

Ugrasena nodded and went himself to escort Narada from his room. Vasudev waited in Ugrasena’s personal quarters. He had only met Narada once when he was a child and the sage had come to Bateshwar to meet his father, Surasena. He remembered Narada then to have been a young rishi with a great sense of humour. It would be invigorating to meet him again, as an adult this time. Vasudev only hoped that what Narada had to say would be far less serious than what it seemed at the moment. If what Ugrasena had just shared with him was true, then there was grave danger for everyone in Mrityulok.

‘This is wonderful news, Mandki,’ Devki shrieked in delight.

Mandki smiled a little self-consciously, but her happiness was apparent. She had not been certain how Devki would react to her news, and she was glad that her childhood friend was so obviously joyful for her.

‘Does anyone else know? Has Airawat told anyone yet? When did all this happen?’ Devki inundated Mandki with a volley of questions.

‘Whoa, girl, take a break!’ Mandki laughed, putting up the palms of her hands. ‘Let me answer one question at a time,’ she smiled.

‘I don’t have the patience for all this,’ Devki interrupted her. ‘Tell me everything quickly, you naughty woman,’ she playfully teased Mandki.

Mandki sighed. Devki had never had the patience to wait for anything in her life; and definitely not when she was as excited as she was now. She took a deep breath, ‘No one else knows yet,’ she said quietly. ‘I…I proposed to Airawat yesterday!’

‘
What!
’ Devki exclaimed disbelievingly. ‘Why didn’t you wait for him to propose, Mandki?’

Mandki didn’t respond at first and Devki thought for a moment that perhaps she hadn’t heard her question. But then she spoke, a little haltingly at first and then more purposefully as she collected her thoughts. ‘In the beginning I thought I wouldn’t let him know that I love him…have loved him ever since the day he got us both to Madhuvan from your father’s palace. You were a child then Devki, but I was old enough to be in awe of his fine character and his selfless nature. Later, as several young men proposed to me I turned them all down, because I wanted to wait for you to get married first. I used to notice Airawat getting tense every time some young man from the palace decided to propose to me. Every time I would reject their proposal, I would observe Airawat sigh in relief. But he never once proposed on his own. I guess he was waiting for the right time to do that; perhaps after your wedding when he thought I would be open to getting married too. I had decided I would wait for him to come to me, as I knew he would one day soon. I knew he loved me too; I had seen him look at me in a particular way. I would still not have proposed to him or let him know what I had in my heart for him. But then…’ And here Mandki faltered, her lips quivering with suppressed emotion.