THE CURSE OF BRAHMA (30 page)

Mandki looked confused. She shook her head.

‘It was Airawat,’ Devki said slowly.

Mandki looked surprised, ‘What was he doing in the king’s room at that hour?’ she wondered aloud. Devki nodded and continued. ‘It isn’t just what he was doing there at that hour. What happened later was more intriguing. After he left, I saw Father pacing in his room. He seemed very agitated, as if something bad had happened or he was expecting it to happen.’

Mandki looked at Devki. All of this sounded rather odd.

Devki continued, ‘In a few minutes, I saw Airawat return with another man. I couldn’t see this man’s features as his face was covered with a cloak. It looked like he was taking pains to hide his identity. What surprised me the most was that Father bent down to touch this man’s feet as soon as he entered his room. The man blessed Father and took a seat. Father drew the curtains after that and I wasn’t able to see anything further. Airawat left the room after a couple of minutes. I stayed in the balcony to see if the other man would come out, but after waiting for a long time, I gave up and went to bed.’

‘This is bizarre,’ Mandki muttered. ‘Why didn’t Airawat tell me about this today?’

Devki smiled. ‘He wouldn’t. You know how loyal he is to my father. And since Father hasn’t told me or anyone else about it, he would have obviously asked Airawat to keep silent on this.’

‘Well, it would seem that your father is sharing this with Vasudev too,’ Mandki said in an even tone.

Devki slapped her forehead, ‘Of course!’ she exclaimed. ‘No wonder Vasudev is taking so long. It must be something really serious then,’ she said with a worried expression on her face.

‘Don’t worry. At least Vasudev will tell you about it when he returns from the meeting,’ Mandki said trying to cheer up her friend.

Devki snorted, ‘You don’t know Vasudev then. He would never allow his love for me come in the way of his duty. And if my father tells him it is confidential, Vasudev will die before divulging any secrets, even to me.’

Mandki smiled wanly. She was already used to Airawat’s penchant for keeping state secrets and she understood Vasudev was no different. ‘I just hope everything is fine,’ she said.

‘It will be,’ Devki assured her. But while she sought to comfort Mandki, she knew deep down that something was happening; something that neither she nor anyone else may have control over. She prayed fervently that her premonitions were wrong. But even as she prayed, she felt the cold finger of fear run down her spine.

‘Wow, so Jarasandha too knows about the asuras entering our world,’ Vasudev exclaimed.

‘And his story seems to match the one they gave Ugrasena when they were captured by the Madhuvan border security,’ Narada said completing Vasudev’s thought.

‘I wonder how much Jarasandha really knows,’ Ugrasena said quietly. ‘Is it that he too has been fooled by the asuras or does he actually know more than whatever little he told Kansa and me?’

Narada took charge of the discussion. ‘Let’s not bother ourselves yet about what Jarasandha knows. I will find that out through my sources. Right now, we need to focus more on how to tackle the issue I have told you and Vasudev about.’

Vasudev sighed. He had come to Madhuvan to spend a couple of days in peace with Devki. It didn’t look like he would get any time with her now. What Narada had shared with Ugrasena last night, and with him now, required immediate attention.

There was a knock on the door, and Airawat entered the room. Vasudev glanced at Ugrasena, who nodded, ‘I had sent for Airawat. I think you are going to need his help.’

Vasudev smiled. It would be interesting to have Airawat by his side. He genuinely liked the quiet man. He knew there was a ton of substance behind the calm exterior.

As Ugrasena motioned for Airawat to take a seat, Narada spoke. ‘Vasudev, why don’t you share with Airawat what I have told you and Ugrasena.’

Vasudev hesitated. Protocol suggested that the king of Madhuvan should share the plan with Airawat, since he was a soldier of Madhuvan.

Ugrasena realized Vasudev’s dilemma, and tried to make him comfortable, ‘Vasudev, you have to lead the action on this one. It’s best that you are the one to share the plan with Airawat.’

Airawat maintained a poker face as he waited for Vasudev to tell him what was going on. He had known since last night that something was amiss. But he hadn’t wanted to question his king till he was told what to do. The soldier in him, however, was ready for anything that spelled trouble for his motherland.

Vasudev started in a low voice that gained strength as he continued. He told Airawat about the asuras entering Mrityulok and how Ugrasena and Atharva had let the ones they had captured go free. Airawat raised his eyebrows only once at that, but almost immediately controlled his reaction at the mention of his king’s kindness towards the captured asuras.

Vasudev paused for a moment. He had told Airawat everything. Except what Narada had shared with Ugrasena and him. He wanted to ask for Airawat’s thoughts on whatever he had been told till now before he went any further. ‘Any questions so far Airawat?’ he asked.

Airawat shook his head. The warrior in him told him the main part of the story was yet to come.

Vasudev persisted. ‘I am sure you must have some questions.’

Airawat sighed. ‘Prince, it is a fact that I do not hold any love for the asuras. In the past, they have done enough harm to mortals. And most of their previous endeavours have been aimed at hurting the people of Mrityulok. However, in the last couple of centuries, there doesn’t seem to have been any incident where they have openly done anything to injure us.’

Vasudev made an encouraging motion for Airawat to continue.

Airawat looked towards Ugrasena, ‘Therefore, if the king let those asuras go, I don’t think he did anything wrong. They were clearly being persecuted by their own kind and had nowhere to go. By allowing innocent asuras to settle down in our land, the king has merely demonstrated that people of Mrityulok don’t turn their back on anyone who needs our help.’ He paused, ‘However, I am sure that there is something more than what you have already told me; something which may make me change whatever feelings I just shared with you.’

Vasudev grinned despite the seriousness of the situation. He was sure now that Ugrasena had chosen the right man to work with him on this. Airawat was nobody’s fool; his mind was razor sharp and his ability to interpret a problem was uncanny.

He addressed Airawat directly and this time his voice was firm and clear, ‘You are right. There is more than I have told you already, and it is going to make you change your feelings about the asuras.’ Airawat tensed involuntarily as Vasudev continued.

‘The asuras who were captured by the king lied to him. They were honest in that they were not the first asuras to enter Mrityulok illegally. But they lied when they said that only a few hundred of them have breached our borders over the last few years.’

‘How many have come in?’ Airawat couldn’t help asking.

‘They number in the thousands, and they have spread out all over the kingdoms of Mrityulok. They are everywhere, disguised as mortals, engaged in different kinds of work and trade,’ Vasudev answered in a soft voice.

Airawat had a horrified expression on his face. ‘This is incredulous!’ he exclaimed. ‘What is their purpose?’ he managed to ask finally.

‘Maharishi Narada tells us that all the asuras who have entered Mrityulok so far are trained assassins. They have been under training in Pataal Lok for the past hundred years, or perhaps even more than that. It is quite possible that they have been entering through various border kingdoms into Mrityulok for the past several years, in small numbers. Their documents and ID papers are done to perfection and from what we know, the only time they were found out was when a Madhuvan border guard recognized their language and their documents were subjected to more than a routine check.’

Airawat’s face was pale as he spoke. ‘Why would Pataal Lok send so many assassins into our land? This is bizarre.’

‘Think! Why does anyone send spies into a country Airawat?’ Vasudev asked in a quiet voice. ‘Because they want to keep a tab on that country’s activities,’ Airawat answered almost immediately. ‘Correct. But that can be done with a handful of spies. Why would someone send in thousands of spies, who also happen to be trained as assassins?’ prompted Vasudev.

‘By Vishnu!’ exclaimed Airawat as the full realization of the asuras’ plans dawned on him. ‘They want to create anarchy within all the kingdoms of Mrityulok.’ His voice faltered towards the end of the sentence.

‘Yes, and they are waiting for the right moment to do just that,’ Vasudev completed the thought that had begun to take shape in Airawat’s mind.

Airawat struggled to control his panic as the thought seeped in completely. Gradually, years of training his mind succeeded in helping him think clearly. ‘The only purpose an enemy has to create anarchy within someone’s country is to keep them so busy handling their internal conflicts that they wouldn’t be ready to face an attack from outside. This would mean that Pataal Lok has plans to launch an attack on Mrityulok. The question is when…when would they do it?’

‘It could happen any time, Airawat,’ Narada finally spoke. ‘Even as we speak now.’ He looked at the grim faces of the people around him and sought to reassure them. ‘But I don’t think it will happen that soon. Before the attack starts, there has to be sufficient chaos in every kingdom. That stage hasn’t been reached yet.’

Vasudev chipped in. ‘My feeling is that they will need more asuras in every kingdom before they can create that scale of mayhem in Mrityulok. This means we can expect a lot more cases of asuras trying to breach borders of various kingdoms to enter Mrityulok. Maharishi Narada has compiled a list of the main kingdoms that have borders with Pataal Lok. This includes kingdoms like Madhuvan, Magadha, Banpur, Yavanas, Hastinapur, Bateshwar and a few others. The maharishi is going to meet up with the kings of all these countries to caution them against the threat. Meanwhile, King Ugrasena is going to step up the security at the Madhuvan borders. If we can control the flow of asura assassins entering Mrityulok, we can indefinitely delay their plans and perhaps even destabilize their intentions completely.’

‘But…’ Airawat started to say something. He was interrupted by Vasudev who hadn’t finished yet.

‘While the maharishi will try destabilizing the asura plan by cautioning the border kingdoms, we need to take care of the other important issue,’ Vasudev paused to clarify his thoughts in his own mind, before continuing, ‘Since we can be certain that Pataal Lok will not attack us until there is significant anarchy on Mrityulok, our focus should be on controlling their efforts at creating that anarchy.’

‘How will we do that?’ Airawat questioned.

Vasudev had anticipated this question. ‘Each of the kingdoms in Mrityulok will need to create a task force whose objective it will be to look out for signs of rebellion or lawlessness in their own country. The moment they observe any activities that could lead to uncontrollable mayhem, they will address it immediately. If we are able to get each country in Mrityulok to build such a task force, and if Maharishi Narada succeeds in getting the border kingdoms to control the entry of any more asuras, we will be in a much stronger position.’

Airawat seemed lost in thought. He spoke at last. ‘It’s a good plan, prince. But whatever you have told me till now is all part of a defensive strategy. The maharishi will caution the border kingdoms, and that is a good way to prevent entry of new assassin teams from Pataal Lok. The task forces in all the kingdoms will keep track of any anarchist activities and that is also a good defensive strategy…but that is all it is…a defensive strategy.’

Vasudev looked closely at Airawat. He wondered if Airawat would say what he hoped.

Airawat took a deep breath. ‘I suggest we do all of that. But we need to take the battle to the asuras. We should be creating a covert operations team in every kingdom that will only have one task—to hunt down the assassin asuras hiding in their respective kingdoms. Let’s take the problem out by its roots!’ Airawat finished with a low growl.

‘Bravo!’ exclaimed Vasudev. ‘That’s exactly what we are going to do Airawat. But I wanted to hear this from you. I am certain you are the right man for this job. I am not sure if the other kingdoms will agree to do this right away, at least not until Maharishi Narada has discussed the whole problem with them. But Madhuvan and Bateshwar will definitely get cracking on this. And you are going to help me build the team for both our kingdoms.’

Airawat seemed to hesitate. Ugrasena and Vasudev exchanged glances.

‘What is it, Airawat? Is there a problem?’ Ugrasena stared at him quizzically.

Airawat still hesitated, and Vasudev spoke up, ‘Speak up man. If there is a problem, I need to know now. I need you with me totally—mind, body and soul. There can be no room for any doubt once we are started.’

Airawat looked apologetically at Ugrasena. He seemed to ignore Vasudev and directed his words at his king. ‘My Lord! Prince Kansa…have you spoken to him about this? He should be here to lead the task force for Madhuvan.’ Airawat bowed his head, dismayed at having questioned his king’s command for the first time in his life.