Veerini looked at her husband. ‘If only you would listen to me a bit more.’

Daksha breathed deeply. ‘If Lord Bhrigu ever finds out...’

‘Would you rather your children were dead?’

Daksha sighed. He would do anything to ensure Sati’s safety. He shook his head. ‘No!’

‘Then thank the Parmatma that our plan worked. And never breathe a word of this to anyone. Ever!’

Daksha nodded. He took the letter from Veerini and set it aflame, holding it by the edge for as long as possible, to ensure that every part of it had charred beyond recognition.

Chapter 3

The Kings Have Chosen

‘Do you believe Brahaspati?’ asked Shiva.

Night had fallen on the Panchavati guest colony just outside the main city. Injured and fatigued, Shiva’s entourage had retired to their quarters for a well-deserved rest.

Sati and Shiva were in their chambers, having just returned from the city. They had not spoken to a soul about what they’d learnt at the Panchavati school. They had not even told the Suryavanshis that Brahaspati, their beloved chief scientist, was still alive. They were to meet him again the next day.

‘Well, I don’t think Brahaspatiji is lying,’ said Sati. ‘I do remember that more than two decades ago, Lord Bhrigu had spent many months in Devagiri, which was highly unusual for the Raj guru. He is a rare sight in Meluha, since he usually chooses to spend his time meditating in his Himalayan cave.’

‘Aren’t Raj gurus supposed to stay in the royal palace and guide the king?’

‘Not someone like Lord Bhrigu. He helped my father get elected as emperor because he believed my father would be good for Meluha. Beyond that Lord Bhrigu has had no interest in the day-to-day governance of Meluha. He is a simple man, rarely seen in the so-called powerful circles.’

‘So he spent a lot of time in Devagiri. That may have been unusual, but what about the other things that Brahaspati said?’

‘Well, Lord Bhrigu, my father and Brahaspatiji were indeed away for many months. It had been announced as an important trade trip; but I can’t imagine Lord Bhrigu or Brahaspatiji being interested in trade. Perhaps they were in Pariha at the time. And yes, the talented and lovely Taraji, who worked at Mount Mandar and had been sent to Pariha for a project, did disappear suddenly. It was announced that she had taken sanyas. Renouncing public life is very common in Meluha. But what Brahaspatiji revealed today was something else altogether.’

‘So you believe Brahaspati speaks the truth?’

‘All I’m saying is that Brahaspatiji may believe this to be the truth. But is it actually so or is he mistaken? This decision of yours can change the course of history. What you do now will have repercussions for generations to come. It is a momentous occasion, a big battle. You have to be completely sure.’

‘I must speak with the Vasudevs.’