Chapter 2 Agastya #2
She finished reading the letter, rolled it, and hugged it closer to her heart before asking, “How are you?”
Her voice made me lower my gaze, and I intertwined my fingers and shook my head.
“Something happened,” I stated, and she took my hand in hers.
“What?”
I lifted my gaze to meet hers.
“Since you’re going to be my wife, I think you should know that…” I gulped nervously.
“What?”
“Um… three weeks ago, I found out that one of our attendants was taken captive for self-demolition following her husband’s death,”
“Oh,” she said with wide eyes.
“You saved her, right?” She asked, and I nodded again.
“I did, but...” I drawled, comprehending how to say it. “… to protect her, I had to pretend... that I’m marrying her and...”
“Ohhh,” she looked at me, astonished.
“You married her?” She asked, and I opened my mouth to explain.
“Not entirely…” I exclaimed. “I mean, I applied my blood... in the parting of her hair so her people wouldn’t burn her alive, giving her a chance to live.”
She stared at me in shock, and I waited blankly for her response.
She shifted her gaze from me, gulping nervously. “You know... none of our kingdoms can find out about this,”
I nodded and palmed my face. “I really had no option, Rashmika. Nothing else came to mind,” I tried to explain.
“So, that means I’m going to be your second wife…?” she asked, and I bit my lips nervously and was confused.
“Our alliance was arranged first, but the ritual took place with her first... I don’t know who is first and who is second,” I said, and she chuckled.
“Wow, you’re lucky. You’re going to have two people in your life,” she said, giving me a side-eye.
“And not someone real,” I added, looking down with a deep inhale, remembering how my life would be until I die in some war or battle. Empty.
She smiled at me and caressed my hand.
“I hope you’re not angry about it,” I asked, and she shook her head.
“I’m glad you saved her.” She said, smiling weakly. “How’s she doing? Is she alright after that?” she asked, and I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
“Not really. I think she’s having nightmares, and she’s not smiling as she used to,” I said.
“Oh, smiling?” she immediately responded. “You’re noticing her?” She teased, and I shook my head.
“I don’t have to pay attention to her. She’s always around. She’s close to Bhabhi-sa. I’ve seen her for the past four years, standing next to her. They’re good friends,” I added, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
“You need to look after her,” she said, and I shook my head.
“I can’t. Everything will go wrong. I can’t ruin us,” I said, and she smiled at me.
“You know we can’t be ruined,”
I chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, I know that,”
When the door opened, I saw the attendants walking in with huge platters. They set the lunch before us, and I turned to her.
“I’m starving,” I said, and she looked at me, furrowing her brows.
“So, what's her name?”
A subtle smile that I didn’t understand stretched my lips at the question.
“I wouldn’t know.” I tried to explain, “I never asked,” but she looked at me in disbelief.
“Didn’t you hear anyone call her name?” She asked, and I frowned.
“Where’s the jealousy?” I teased. “Act like you’re going to be my wife.”
She chuckled, nudging me. “You wish.”
I laughed lightly, focusing on my lunch.
?????
After meeting Rashmika, I left the Mehrangarh fort with Eklavya. We climbed the mountain to see what was happening on the other side.
“I don’t understand how we will get the black stone for the same powder?” Eklavya asked as I pushed aside the tall, wild grass to take another step forward.
“The soil of Mehrangarh has black stones underneath, and they have been exporting that for many years without anyone’s knowledge,” I explained. “How did a small princely state become so wealthy under the same king’s rule in five decades, especially without support?”
The forest was dense, and we both wanted to get through it before sunset; otherwise, we wouldn’t make it back.
“I believe they’re hiding something important,” Eklavya said, and I looked at him.
“Not just one thing, but many. They are exploiting the mountain ranges, and Mehrangarh is the kingdom from where people hear that something is wrong with the borders and that someone is trying to attack us,” I said.
He lowered his gaze for a moment before saying, “That could mean two things: either they are completely right, or they are using this to distract attention from themselves,” he said, and I nodded.
“Yes, I believe there may also be a third possibility.”
“What?” he asked.
I took a deep breath, moved the grass aside and climbed higher up the mountain.
“Mehrangarh has allied with them and is reinforcing their position. If an attack occurs, it’ll probably be closest to the enemy.
This could endanger all the northern Indira.
They haven’t always been this friendly toward us,” I said.
“We should inform Ranaji about this,” he immediately replied.
I quickly whiffed. “No, we can’t. Rani-sa is pregnant, and we’re still recovering from our year-old debts and destruction.
He would want to handle the situation through war, which would put everything at stake.
Once there’s a slight rift between us, Mehrangarh will become alert.
They should think we’re unaware of everything,” I explained.
“But how can we, just the two of us, stop it?” he asked, and I smiled at him.
“Just wait and see.”
The sun’s rays struck our eyes as we continued climbing and discussing everything. It took us a long time, and the sun was nearly down to the horizon when we finally sat at the peak of the tall mountain.
I extended my hand, and Eklavya handed me the glasses that allowed me to see objects clearly, even from a distance.
Because of the changing weather, my breathing had become heavier, so I stretched the long tube with the lens to my eyes, keeping one closed.
Everything blurred momentarily, and then I focused on the translucent image of black tents spread over acres of land.
My heart raced, and I looked at Eklavya.
I quickly placed the lens back in front of my eyes, and the view swept the mountain beneath my feet.
“Fuck! Motherfuckers!” The curses slipped out unintentionally, and I heard Eklavya ask, “What happened? Is everything alright?”
I glanced at him and handed him the golden object.
He held it up to his eyes.
“It’s huge,” he remarked, and I nodded.
“Not just huge, but close to us,” I said, noticing his face pale.
“We have little time. We should tell Ranaji about this,” he insisted, but I shook my head.
“No, he will be a father in a few days. I can’t do that,” I said, taking the object and looking again. The tents were enormous, and something caught my eye.
“I don’t understand one thing. There are three powerful kingdoms in southern Indira and many princely states, all united by Bhai-sa and King Abhinandan’s efforts over the last three years.
We have over two hundred thousand soldiers and resources, while they have only about fifty thousand.
They will wear out from all this travelling, and our soldiers will be ready to take their hearts out. Why are they even trying?” I said.
Suddenly, Eklavya exclaimed, “Or maybe there’s a bigger picture we’re missing.”
I lowered the lens and looked at him. “Like Mehrangarh as their ally?” I shook my head slowly.
“Mehrangarh is rich in wealth, but it lacks powerful leadership. Soldiers don’t kill kings; kings kill kings,” I asserted, and we both stared at each other in contemplation.
Suddenly, something struck me.
“Explosives.” My heart raced, and I stared at him in disbelief.
“Eklavya, Mehrangarh is going to help that army with that powder. That’s why they have piles of that black and yellow stone and soil; the powder burns differently.
It creates sparks and turns flames blue and orange,” I explained, and he furrowed his brow.
“But how can that spark kill someone? I mean, how is it different from actual fire?” he asked, and I shook my head.
“That’s the one thing I don’t know,” I replied. “We need to figure out what they are making and how. Otherwise, we’re done for.”
He nodded. “But right now, we should head back. It’s getting dark,”
I glanced at the sky, which was slowly turning a deeper shade of dark blue, adorned with layers of twinkling stars.
“We won’t make it in time. It’s far,” I replied, as he touched my shoulder.
“There’s a temple nearby. We should wait there,” he suggested, and we both began walking down the mountain.
The trees surrounded us; it was dark, and the scent of wet soil filled the air. The sounds of insects and lurking predators echoed not far away.
“There,” Eklavya said, and I looked at the small cave carved into the mountain.
We both quickened our pace toward it. By the time we entered the cave, it had grown dark.
Thankfully, fire torches illuminated the space, and we inhaled deeply, trying to fight the dropping temperature as we walked deeper inside.
A priest sat with long, matted hair cascading down to the floor. He faced away from us, and I watched him chant prayers to the Shivling16.
“Pranaam, Panditji17,” I intoned, joining my hands and lowering myself to sit behind him alongside Eklavya, bending our heads to touch our foreheads to the ground in the holy presence of Mahadev18.
Silence lingered until he completed his chant and slowly turned to us. While his face may not have been friendly, his aura was comforting. I could feel the depth of his spirituality and devotion.
“Raah bhatak gaye ho,” “Lost your way.” he said, and I gulped nervously as I struggled to respond.
“Um, no, but it’s dark now, so we are searching for a place to spend the night,”
He shook his head and looked at me with a meaningful gaze.
“Nahi, tum jeewan ki raah bhatak gaye ho,” “No, you have lost your way of life,” he said, and I felt a slight shiver run down my spine.
I tried to ask, “What do you mean?”