‘All I am asking is for you to understand that just like you have to serve your purpose, I must serve mine. Your soul will not allow you to rest till you have destroyed Evil. My soul will not allow me to rest till I have done all that I can to protect Meluha.’

Shiva ran his hands over his face, trying desperately to maintain his calm. ‘Do you think I am wrong, Parvateshwar?’

‘Please, My Lord. How can I ever think that? You would never do anything that is wrong.’

‘Then can you please explain the strange workings of your mind? You will not walk with me, although you admit that my path is right. Instead, you insist on walking on a path which leads to your death. In the name of Lord Rudra, why?’

‘Svadharma nidhanam shreyaha para dharmo bhayaavahah,’ said Parvateshwar. ‘Death in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s path, for that is truly dangerous.’

Shiva stared hard at Parvateshwar for what seemed like an eternity, then turned around and bellowed.

‘Nandi! Bhadra! Parshuram!’

They rushed in.

‘General Parvateshwar will continue to remain our prisoner,’ said Shiva.

‘As you command, My Lord,’ said Nandi, saluting Shiva.

‘And Nandi, the General will not be chained.’

Chapter 18: Honour or Victory?

Chapter 18

Honour or Victory?

‘I say that we have no choice,’ said Kali. ‘I agree we cannot kill him, but he must remain our prisoner here till the end of the war.’

Shiva and his family, along with Gopal, were assembled in the Neelkanth’s private chambers at the Kashi palace.

Ganesh glanced at a seething Sati and decided to hold his counsel.

Kartik, however, had no such compunctions. ‘I agree with mausi.’

Shiva looked at Kartik.

‘I know that it is a difficult decision,’ continued Kartik. ‘Parvateshwarji has behaved with absolute honour. He was not privy to any of our strategy discussions. He could have escaped on multiple occasions, but did not. He waited till you returned so he could take your permission to leave. But you’re the Neelkanth, baba. You have the responsibility for India on your shoulders. Sometimes, for the sake of the larger good, one has to do things that may not appear right at the time. Perhaps, a laudable end can justify some questionable means.’

Sati glared at her younger son. ‘Kartik, how can you think that a great end justifies questionable means?’

‘Maa, can we accept a world where the Somras continues to thrive?’

‘Of course we can’t,’ said Sati. ‘But do you think that this struggle is only about the Somras?’

Ganesh finally spoke up. ‘Of course it is, maa.’