‘Obviously the victims will nurse hatred in their hearts. Would you expect them to be filled with the milk of human kindness?’ asked Kali, sarcastically.

‘You hate the Meluhans, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘But how do you feel about the founding father of Meluha, Lord Ram?’

Kali was quiet. She held Lord Ram in deep reverence.

‘Why do you revere Lord Ram, but reject the people he left behind?’ asked Gopal.

Sati spoke up on her sister’s behalf. ‘That is because Lord Ram treated even his enemies honourably, quite unlike the present-day Meluhans.’

Shiva observed Sati with quiet satisfaction.

‘A man becomes God when his vision moves beyond the bounds of victors and losers,’ said Sati. ‘Shiva’s message has to live on forever. And that can only happen if both the victors and the losers find validation in him. That he must win is a given. But equally critical is his winning the right way.’

Gopal was quick to support Sati. ‘Honour must beget honour. That is the only way.’

Shiva walked to the balcony and gazed at the massive Kashi Vishwanath temple on the Sacred Avenue, and beyond it at the holy Ganga.

Everyone was poised for his decision.

He turned and whispered, ‘I need some time to think. We will meet again tomorrow.’

Sati looked down. The clear waters of the lake lay below her. The fish swam rapidly, keeping pace with her as she flew over the water, towards the banks in the distance.

She looked up towards a massive black mountain, different in hue from all the surrounding mountains, topped by a white cap of snow. As she drew close, her vision fell upon a yogi on the banks of the lake. He wore a tiger-skin skirt. His long, matted hair had been tied up in a bun. His muscular body was covered by numerous battle scars. A small halo, almost like the sun, shone behind his head. A crescent moon was lodged in his hair while a snake slithered around his neck. A massive trident stood sentinel beside him, half-buried in the ground. The face of the yogi was blurred, though. And then the mists cleared.

‘Shiva!’ said Sati.

Shiva smiled at her.

‘Is this your home? Kailash?’

Shiva nodded, never once taking his eyes off her.

‘We shall come here one day, my love. When it’s all over, we shall live together in your beautiful land.’

Shiva’s smile broadened.

‘Where are Ganesh and Kartik?’

Shiva didn’t answer.

‘Shiva, where are our sons?’

Suddenly, Shiva started ageing. His handsome face was rapidly overrun by wrinkles. His matted hair turned white almost instantaneously. His massive shoulders began to droop, his taut muscles dissolving before Sati’s very eyes.

Sati smiled. ‘Will we grow old together?’

Shiva’s eyes flew wide open. Like he was looking at something that did not make sense.