part0077

Kalki was standing in the midst of a wasteland. Horror seized him as he realized the wasteland was similar to one that reminded him of Mahayudh: acres of deserted fields, sprawling with bloody corpses, crimson pools of semi-dried blood, dull smoky skies and shattered chariots. Horrible as it was, Kalki found sympathy and synchronicity with his grief. This was a place of sadness, he thought.

“Most wars are fought out of overindulgence of desires,” a smooth voice spoke from his behind him.

Kalki turned to see a strange man, with a flute and a yellow head-cover. It had a peacock feather jauntily sticking out on one end. He walked casually, with no marks and bruises on his body.

“What is this?” Kalki asked Lord Govind, one of his Avatars, the last of the Ancients.

“What it exactly represents.” Govind did not smile, even though there was a hint of sardonic humour on his face. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Kalki didn’t realise why he was seeing Govind when he concentrated to go back and practice subconsciously with Lord Raghav. But Kalki didn’t mean to ask Lord Govind.

“Why have I been brought here?”

“For this outcome is to come again.” Govind swivelled his head towards the carnage, and there was a flash of irritation in his eyes, before it died away. “And you will be there.”

Kalki paused. “What am I supposed to do?”

Govind walked over to the other side, without answering Kalki’s question. Kalki realized that Govind was kneeling down next to a corpse, which turned out was alive and in need of water. Out of thin air, Govind manifested water and Kalki saw how exactly he did it. The blood that was spilt, coiled in mid-air, as Govind closed his eyes, chanted till the ball of blood turned to a ball of water. With a swirling mass of mud from the ground, he created a jug and poured the water inside. He then tilted the man’s head and made him drink it. And then the man turned into a corpse as well, his feet and arms growing cold and numb.

Govind closed the man’s eyes and turned to face Kalki. “What we don’t realise is that that ego can make us feel better, but helping can make us inspire others.”

He stood up, looking at Kalki. “What should you do when the time comes? You should wait and you should learn. Never hasten your actions on a course, otherwise you will stumble. Whatever happens, happens for the best. For now, it may sound ludicrous, but years later, you will agree it was time well spent, each and every moment.”

“What if they kill me before I reach my destination?”

Govind walked to Kalki, squaring up to him as he faced him. “You need to be quick, remember that.” And with a sharp flick of his hand, Govind punched him. Kalki was astonished for a moment before he realized what Govind had just done.

“Also, you need to be smart. Words are mightier than swords, remember that. Use them wisely and you’ll be a better warrior than you already are.”

Kalki nodded. It was odd, standing in the empty wasteland with a man who was just a projection of his mind. He was saying what Kalki wanted him to say. It was how it worked. Sure, the images had a sense of coherence associated with the actual history, but they were elevated and enhanced by Kalki.

And then, just like that, he was sucked into a void, jerked hard, his back straining as he realized he had hit the granite floor, staring at the pit hole of Indragarh’s prison. Kalki was glad the person in the next cell had been able to escape, although it made him jealous. Where were Arjan, Kripa and Bala? He was depending on them, but nothing had happened till now.

And while he began to trail his long nails over the ground, trying to get rid of the boredom, he heard the sound of the sandals that had caused him so much worry. He saw, in front of the iron grills, none other than Durukti, looking at him wildly, but without any guards with her. The one who stood at the gates was dismissed by Durukti.

“My lady, we have been instructed by Lord Kali to not move regardless of anything,” one of them said.

Durukti said, “Do you know me?”

“Uh, yes, my lady.”

“Then you know I can cut your head off for speaking before me. Leave right now, for I must speak to the prisoner alone.”

The Naga shrivelled with fear and with a slight nod, he made way outside. Durukti sat at the opposite side of his cell, her lips looking full, her eyes wide and blossoming and her face much paler than usual. Durukti was afraid. Kalki could see she was trying to hide her anger and fear.

Kalki, regardless of the history between them till now, slowly staggered over to her side, trying to catch her gaze, which she refused to meet.

“I apologize for everything,” she began, afraid to even move her lips properly.

“It’s all right.” Kalki couldn’t hold a grudge against her any more than he could hold it against his brother. Everyone had a path and everyone made choices and it wasn’t her fault that her choice had led to such consequences. We all are heroes and we all are evil, in one way or the other. Durukti had tried so hard to avoid the war, but with every step, Kalki had tampered with and humiliated her and yet here she was, apologizing to him.

“I should have listened. Kali has gone mad. He had never hit me, even though I have not been the perfect sister most of the times, and yet a few days back, he managed to do the same. He has never taken a rash decision, such as harming a village boy like you for no purpose, and yet he’s doing it. He has got a twisted sense of reasoning behind it and there is no method to his madness.”

Kalki, as far as he could fathom from whatever had happened between him and Kali, felt Kali was threatened by Kalki. And by threat, it seemed it was emotional and physical in nature. Someone must have warned him about Kalki. And on the basis of insane threats, Kali was taking the desperate actions of repelling Kalki. Soma was taking its toll over his head perhaps, or perhaps he was taking too much and being subject to all sorts of delusions.

“Don’t worry.” He tried to pat her arm, but it clanged against the bars and caused a small spark of noise. He pulled his hands back, regrettably. “He’s taking me to the trial.”

“I know,” she said, disapprovingly, nodding her head. “I suppose we need to do something about it.” She paused. “I apologize for everything. I apologize for coming to your village, hurting you, breaking all your homes. I shouldn’t have done that. I can’t forgive myself, much as I want to. I hate myself for doing that. I was thinking of protecting my brother, that was my goal. And I didn’t care. I can’t believe I let my love for my brother, overpower me. It was all wrong. I know. I apologize for thinking that I was… uh…I would exhibit you for entertainment. I wouldn’t have. I was mocking you. Why? There are times when people do horrible things to someone, but they don’t mean it. They just want a reaction perhaps, and that’s what I wanted from you. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have left you there.” She paused, sniffling. “He thinks I like you. And that’s true. I liked you, but not in a romantic sense. I liked your passion, your integrity, your caring nature towards your people. It reminded me of all the things I want to see in a person, but something it is hard to see, since no such person truly exists. Everyone is selfish. You weren’t. You cared. You actually did. I thought what if this boy was on my side? How many wonders could we have achieved? Even in the realm of searching for selflessness, I was being selfish. What a hypocrite I am!”

Kalki didn’t say anything for a while.

Kalki swallowed a lump, trying to choose the right words. “It’s all right; whatever happened, it happened. But I need to escape, Durukti.”

“I know. I know you do.” Durukti turned, wiping her tears and facing him.

“Do you have any ideas?”

For a moment, Durukti hesitated, but then nodded. “Yes.” She stood up, before proceeding to unlock the door that held him inside the cage. As it was opened, Kalki realized he had to have his chains opened as well, but Durukti had bought a mini axe with her, with which she began to break off the chains. She struggled with it; her feeble hands were not up for the task.

“Let me do it,” Kalki said. Time was of the essence and Durukti was delaying.

She shot him a look of faux contempt. “Never condescend the one who frees you: they have the power of keeping you inside, as well.”

Kalki grinned as she finally broke the chains. Once it was loosened, Kalki himself tore the other parts of the chain and then grabbed the manacle around his neck, pulling it apart. Kalki turned to face Durukti. Her pale cheeks had dried tears, her kohl was smeared, but she was impressed by Kalki’s strength.

It was over, and for the first time in the longest time, Kalki felt his ankles and his wrists were truly free. He began to massage them, as a grin swiped over his face.

“We must leave now, before something happens,” Durukti said.

As she was about to move for the door, Kalki grabbed her hands and pulled her to himself, embracing her tightly. For a moment, her body froze by what Kalki had just done, but then it warmed up, and careless hands ran across his topless back. Kalki liked her touch, but he knew it was the same touch that had murdered his Lakshmi. Kalki pulled himself back, struggling to pull up a smile as she looked flustered herself.

“Thank you.” There was a sense of acute and heartfelt acknowledgement on his part.

Durukti nodded in return and began to move from the cage. Inmates began to rattle their cages, yelling and scowling at Kalki, who has been freed before even undergoing a trial. It was fun walking on his legs rather than being forced and dragged across the ground.

Shoving the grill gates aside, Durukti took Kalki to the field where the Nagas were standing as guards. Dodging them, Durukti had managed to take him out in the open, right next to the door, when she froze in horror.

Kalki realise why, when he peered down the alley. In front of them, fitted with torches, battle armour, axes and spears, Kalki saw Martanja. He didn’t look the same like the last time. His eye defect had been healed miraculously, and he seemed to radiate vitality. He saw Martanja take a sip from a vial, which Kalki realized, held Soma.