‘I’m not sure, Bhadra. I haven’t made up my mind as yet.’

‘Then tell me what you do know.’

It was Shiva’s turn to remain silent now.

‘I’m going back to Meluha, Shiva. Had you asked me a month back, I would have said this would be the safest journey possible. A lot has changed since then. You have to tell me the truth. I deserve that.’

Shiva sat them down and revealed everything he had discovered during the course of the last few days.

‘And you killed the rhino all by yourself?’ asked an impressed Anandmayi, her face suffused with a broad smile.

‘Yes, Your Highness,’ said Kartik, stoic and expressionless as usual.

Anandmayi, Ayurvati and Kartik were settled comfortably on soft cushions in the dining room. Kshatriya in word and deed, Anandmayi and Kartik partook of the delicious rhinoceros meat. The Brahmin Ayurvati restricted herself to roti, dal and vegetables.

‘Have you decided to stop smiling altogether?’ asked Anandmayi. ‘Or is this just temporary?’

Kartik looked up at Anandmayi, a hint of a smile on his face. ‘Smiling takes more effort than it’s worth, Your Highness.’

Ayurvati shook her head. ‘You are just a child, Kartik. Don’t trouble yourself so much. You need to enjoy your childhood.’

Kartik turned to the Meluhan chief physician. ‘My brother Ganesh is a great man, Ayurvatiji. He has so much to contribute to society, to the country. And yet, he was almost eaten alive by dumb beasts because he was trying to save me.’

Ayurvati reached across and patted Kartik.

‘I will never be so helpless again,’ swore Kartik. ‘I will not be the cause of my family’s misery.’

The door swung open. Parvateshwar and Bhagirath walked in.

Just by looking at them, Anandmayi could tell that they had discovered what she feared. ‘Was it Meluha?’

Ayurvati winced. She could not imagine her great country’s name being dragged into a vile conspiracy like the attack on the Neelkanth’s convoy at the outskirts of Panchavati. And yet, after what she had discovered of Emperor Daksha’s perfidy during Sati’s pregnancy at Maika, she would not be surprised if Meluhan ships had carried out this dastardly act.

‘It’s worse,’ sighed Bhagirath as he sat down.

Parvateshwar sat next to Anandmayi and held her hand. He looked at Ayurvati, his pained expression bearing witness to his stark misery. The general prized his country, his Meluha, as Lord Ram’s ultimate legacy. It was the custodian of Ram Rajya. How could this great country’s emperor have committed a dastardly act such as this?

‘Even worse?’ prompted Anandmayi.

‘Yes. It seems Swadweep is in on the conspiracy as well.’

Anandmayi was stunned. ‘What?!’

‘It’s either only Ayodhya or all of Swadweep. I cannot be sure if other kingdoms of Swadweep are following Ayodhya’s lead. But Ayodhya is certainly involved.’

Anandmayi looked at Parvateshwar. He nodded, confirming Bhagirath’s words.

‘Lord Rudra, be merciful,’ said Anandmayi. ‘What is wrong with father?’