The Secret of the Nagas (43 page)

Ganesh finally emerged from his sleepy cocoon after a long, long time without the immediate need to slip back into its safety. He could hear the soft pitter-patter of raindrops.

He loved the monsoon. The heavenly whiff of a rejuvenated earth. The melody of falling rain.

He turned his head slightly to his left. It was enough to wake Sati. She immediately rose from her bed at the far end of the room and walked up to Ganesh. She pulled a chair up close and rested her hand on her son’s.

‘How are you, my son?’

Ganesh smiled softly. He turned his head a little more.

Sati smiled and ran her fingers across her son’s face. She knew he liked that.

‘Krittika?’

‘She’s much better,’ said Sati. ‘She wasn’t as badly injured as you. In fact she was out of the ayuralay very quickly. Just two weeks.’

‘How long...?’

‘How long have you been here?’

Ganesh nodded in reply.

‘Sixty days. In and out of consciousness.’

‘Rains...’

‘The monsoon is almost over. The moisture led to complications, slowing down your healing process.’

Ganesh took a deep breath. He was tired.

‘Go to sleep,’ said Sati. ‘Ayurvati ji says you are well on the road to recovery. You will be out of here soon.’

Ganesh smiled and went back to sleep.

Ganesh was woken up abruptly by Ayurvati, who was staring at him pointedly.

‘How long have I been sleeping?’

‘Since the last time you were awake? A few hours. I sent your mother home. She needs to rest.’

Ganesh nodded.

Ayurvati picked some paste she had kneaded. ‘Open your mouth.’

Ganesh winced at the foul smelling paste. ‘What is this, Ayurvati ji?’

‘It will make the pain go away.’

‘But I don’t feel any pain.’

‘You will when I apply the ointment. So open your mouth and keep it under your tongue.’

Ayurvati waited for the medicine to take effect. Then she opened the dressing on Ganesh’s chest. His wound had healed dramatically. Flesh had filled up and some scar tissue had formed.

‘The skin will smoothen out,’ said an aloof Ayurvati.

‘I’m a warrior,’ smiled Ganesh. ‘Scars are more welcome than smooth skin.’

Ayurvati stared at Ganesh, impassive. Then she picked up a bowl.

Ganesh held his breath as Ayurvati started applying the ointment. Despite the anaesthetic, the ointment still stung. She finished applying the paste quickly and covered the wound again with a bandage of neem leaves.

Ayurvati was quick, efficient and sure, qualities that Ganesh admired deeply.

The Lord of the People took a deep breath, gathering some strength. ‘I didn’t think I would survive. Your reputation is truly deserved, Ayurvati ji.’

Ayurvati frowned. ‘Where did you hear of me?’

‘I was injured in Icchawar as well. And Maa told me that you could have healed me twice as fast. She said that you are the best doctor in the world.’

Ayurvati raised her eyebrows. ‘You have a silver tongue. Capable of making anyone smile. Just like the Lord Neelkanth. It’s sad you don’t have his untainted heart.’

Ganesh kept quiet.

‘I admired Brahaspati. He was not just a good man, but a fount of knowledge. The world suffered when he died before his time.’

Ganesh did not respond, his sad eyes looking deep into the doctor’s eyes.

‘Now, let me look at that arm,’ said Ayurvati.

She yanked his bandage open. Hard enough to make it sting, but soft enough to not cause any serious damage.

Ganesh didn’t flinch.

The next day, Ganesh woke up to find his mother and aunt in the room, whispering.

‘Maa, Mausi,’ whispered Ganesh.

Both the sisters turned to him with a smile.

‘Do you want something to eat or drink?’ asked Sati.

‘Yes, Maa. But can I also go for a walk today? I’ve been sleeping for sixty days. This is terrible.’

Kali smiled. ‘I’ll speak with Ayurvati. For now, stay put.’

As Kali left to find Ayurvati, Sati pulled her chair closer to Ganesh.

‘I’ve got
parathas
for you,’ said Sati, opening a small ivory box that she was carrying.

Ganesh beamed. He absolutely loved the stuffed
flat breads
his mother made. But his smile vanished just as quickly when he remembered that so did his step-father, Shiva.

Sati rose to find the mouth rinse Ayurvati had prescribed for Ganesh before he could eat.

‘Has father returned to your quarters, Maa?’

Sati looked back from the medicine cabinet. ‘Now you don’t worry about these things.’

‘Has he started speaking to you at least?’

‘You needn’t worry about this,’ said Sati as she walked back to Ganesh.

The Naga was staring at the ceiling, guilt gnawing at his heart. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Did he...’

‘Yes he did,’ replied Sati. ‘Shiva came to check on you every day. But I don’t think he’ll be coming from today.’

Ganesh smiled sadly and bit his lip.

Sati patted him on the head. ‘Everything will become all right when it is meant to become all right.’

‘I wish I could explain what happened at Mount Mandar. I wish I could explain why it happened. I don’t know if he would forgive me. But at least he would understand.’

‘Kali has told me a little bit. I understand somewhat. But Brahaspati ji? He was a great man. The world lost something when he died. Even I cannot understand completely. And Shiva loved him like a brother. How can we expect him to understand?’

Ganesh looked at Sati with sad eyes.

‘But you saved Kartik’s life,’ said Sati. ‘You saved me. I know that’s worth a lot to Shiva. Give him time. He will come around.’

Ganesh remained silent, clearly sceptical.

The next day, with Ayurvati’s permission, Ganesh left his ayuralay room to take a short walk in the garden next door to Athithigva’s grand palace. Ganesh walked slowly, leaning on Kali’s shoulder, with a walking stick taking the bulk of his weight. He had wanted to walk alone, but Kali would hear none of it. As they reached the garden, they heard the loud sounds of clashing steel.

Ganesh narrowed his eyes. ‘Someone’s practicing. Practicing hard!’

Kali smiled. She knew Ganesh liked nothing better than seeing warriors practice. ‘Let’s go.’

The Naga Queen helped Ganesh to the central area of the garden. Ganesh was, meanwhile, commenting on the quality of the practise, based on the sounds he heard. ‘Quick moves. These are steel swords, not meant for practice. Accomplished warriors duel over there.’

Kali simply helped Ganesh through the fence gate.

As they entered, Ganesh recoiled. Kali strengthened her hold on him. ‘Relax. He is not in danger.’

At a distance, Kartik was engaged in a furious duel with Parvateshwar. He was moving at a speed that shocked Ganesh. The three-year-old may have been the size of a seven-year-old, but he was still significantly smaller than the gargantuan Parvateshwar. The Meluhan General was swinging hard with his sword. But Kartik was using his size to devastating effect. He bent low, forcing Parvateshwar to sweep lower with his sword, an action that most skilled swordsmen were not good at. Nobody trained to battle midgets. Kartik also had the ability to jab and swing with shattering speed and accuracy, swinging up at Parvateshwar at an angle that any grown man would have found impossible to defend. In just a few minutes, Kartik had already stopped short of three deathly blows at the Meluhan General, all in the lower torso area.

Ganesh stood gaping.

‘He’s been practicing every day since you were injured,’ said Kali.

Ganesh was even more amazed by something he had seen only a handful of warriors do. ‘Kartik uses two swords simultaneously.’

‘Yes,’ smiled Kali. ‘He doesn’t use a shield. He strikes with his left hand also. The boy says that offence is better than defence!’

Ganesh heard Sati’s voice speak out loudly. ‘Stop!’

He turned to see his mother rise from a ledge at the corner.

‘Sorry to disturb you,
Pitratulya,’
said Sati to Parvateshwar, the man she respected
like a father
. ‘But perhaps Kartik may want to meet his dada.’

Parvateshwar looked up at Ganesh. The Meluhan General did not acknowledge Sati’s older son, not even a curt nod. He simply stepped back.

Kartik smiled at seeing Ganesh ambling slowly towards him. Ganesh was shocked at the change in Kartik. His eyes didn’t have the innocent look of a little boy anymore. They had steel in them. Pure, unadulterated steel.

‘You fight very well, brother,’ said Ganesh. ‘I didn’t know.’

Kartik hugged his brother, holding him tight. The embrace hurt Ganesh’s wounds, but he didn’t flinch or pull back.

The boy stepped back. ‘You will never again fight alone, dada. Never.’

Ganesh smiled and embraced his little brother once again, his eyes moist.

The Naga noticed that Sati and Kali were silent. He looked up to see Parvateshwar turning towards the gate. Parvateshwar banged his right fist on his chest and bowed low, executing the Meluhan military salute. Ganesh turned in the direction Parvateshwar was facing.

At the gate stood Shiva. Arms crossed across his chest. Expression blank. His hair windswept and clothes fluttering in the breeze. Staring at Ganesh.

Ganesh, with Kartik still in his embrace, bowed low in respect to the Neelkanth. When he straightened up, Shiva was gone.