‘You always received maa’s love on a platter, from the day you were born. That’s why you don’t value it!’

‘Dada...’

‘Ask me about the value of a mother’s love... Ask me how much you hanker for it when you don’t have it!’

‘Dada, I loved her too. You know I...’

‘Did you see her body, Kartik?’

‘Dada...’

‘Did you? Have you looked at her body?’

‘Dada, of course, I have...’

‘There are fifty-one wounds on her! I counted them, Kartik! Fifty-one!’

‘I know...’

Furious tears were pouring down Ganesh’s face. ‘Those bastards must have continued hacking at her even after she was dead!’

‘Dada, listen...’

Ganesh’s body was shaking with anger now. ‘Didn’t you feel any rage when you saw your mother’s mutilated body?’

‘Of course I did, dada, but...’

‘But?! What but can there be? She was attacked by many of those Somras-worshipping demons simultaneously! It is our duty to avenge her! Our duty! It is the least we can do for the best mother in the world!’

‘Dada, she was the best mother... But she taught us to always put the world before ourselves.’

Ganesh didn’t say anything. His long floppy nose had stiffened, like it did on the rare occasions when he was enraged.

Kartik spoke softly. ‘Dada, if we were any other family I would give in to my rage... But we are not.’

Ganesh looked away, too livid to even respond.

‘We are the family of the Neelkanth,’ said Kartik. ‘We have a responsibility to the world.’

‘Responsibility to the world?! My parents are my world!’

Kartik fell silent.

Ganesh pointed his finger threateningly towards Kartik. ‘Not one of those Somras-worshipping bastards will get out of here alive.’

‘Dada...’

‘Every single one of them will be killed; even if I have to kill them myself.’

Kartik fell silent.

Gopal sighed as he looked at Kali, Ganesh and Kartik. There was too much anger. He couldn’t figure out a way to save the Somras scientists from Ganesh and Kali’s rage. But at least he had managed to take the conversation away from the dangerous talk of using the Pashupatiastra. And maybe there was still hope that, over the next few hours, he would convince the Neelkanth’s family of the necessity of saving the Somras scientists.