Padma had thought of leaving for Vedanta’s fort, but she left for Ratri’s house instead, hoping to catch her so-called accomplices. She still wanted time to think over the actions she would be executing. The sad part was that she knew Urvashi, at least by face. She had seen her roam in the bazaar, flanked by her coterie of friends and guards. And this little knowledge made the action of trying to hurt her, a little more personal.
When she had entered, she saw Ratri with Kumar discussing something, while Bala walked up to her, patting her and perhaps asking for her forgiveness.
Padma retreated to the far end of the corridor, where she met Kripa, who was savouring a mug of sura, grinning at Padma.
“You look quite glad,” Padma couldn’t help but smile. The man was ridiculous but had the tendency of making her chuckle.
“Just enjoying the little things in life, lass,” Kripa said. “And drinks are something you get so little of, but you enjoy them so much.” He looked sneakily at Padma. “Aren’t you packing? We leave in a while, at midnight or after that, perhaps.”
Leaving? She had never thought of it. She had work here. She had to remain here for now. But then after taking her revenge, she had no idea what she’d do.
“I’ll be staying here in the city.”
Kripa narrowed his eyes. “You mad, lass? You are the best thing that has happened to us, mind you. I mean, you were the one who found us that chariot and dug two holes in it to put the stones in it to ignite. You knew all of it.”
Padma grinned bashfully. “You all need to survive without me. I know it’ll be hard, but I think it is necessary. And also, speaking of packing, you don’t seem to worry about that yourself.”
“I don’t believe in materialism, girl,” he grinned, sipping his drink.
Padma laughed, leaving him there, as she made way to her room to pack up for her one last duty, only to be interrupted by another familiar face—Arjan. Tall and muscular, though not as much as Kalki. His scar had almost healed, now just looking like an angry red welt across his face. But every time he smiled, one could gauge his innocence from the lost, bygone days.
“Where do you plan to go?” he asked quietly.
“Does it matter? I helped you. You should worry about that.”
Arjan had a smile dancing over his lips. He was glad to be able to save Kalki, the so-called saviour. But she didn’t care to know much about that. She didn’t believe in the horseshit.
“I heard you talking to Kripa. You don’t want to leave with us.”
“Ratri isn’t as well. Why are you so worried about me? Why aren’t you asking her to leave as well?”
“Because,” he paused. “If Ratri leaves, it’ll be a problem and eyes will turn towards her. And also, you are a valuable member. Come with us.”
“And what do I get in return?”
Arjan had no answer. He pursed his lips and lowered his eyes. “Not everything in life can be bartered in value terms, Padma.”
Padma almost felt ridiculous for asking something in return, as she packed her sack with the zinc explosives Kripa had managed to make from the remaining Soma. He had asked her to use them only when absolutely necessary. She knew what she had to do with them.
“I don’t know what you will do with the explosives and I have no right to ask you, but I just want you to know we can wait till you do your job or whatever it is. We can wait till then.”
“Kali might find you till then.”
“He doesn’t care two hoots about Ratri. She’s just a librarian to him, at the end of the day.”
Padma paused. “My name is Padmavati.” She didn’t know why she told him her full name. It was something she hadn’t even shared with Ratri. Perhaps it was his soft, delicate eyes, and the way he spoke with respect and intellect. She had some affinity towards him, unlike others whom she couldn’t stand being with.
Arjan arched his brows. “That’s a Dakshini name.”
She nodded. “I’m from the South, yes.”
“Do you know much about your heritage?”
The thought crossed her mind, of telling him, but she remained quiet. “We migrated, me and my brothers, during the Pact between North and South against the Tribals.” Those were the dark times as well, when her brothers had been forced to stem Vedanta’s madness.
“I ask you to come because he needs someone like you to keep him in check. You are a smart mouth sometimes, but generally a clever woman.”
Padma sighed. “Where do you all intend to go?”
“North, towards Dandhaka, and from there to Mahendragiri.”
“That’s the snowy region.”
“Yes.”
She hated the snow. Grimacing, she nodded. “I’ll see to it. Why but?”
“We weren’t joking about Kalki being the saviour. He really is. You saw him.”
Padma had, seeing how Kalki was able to adroitly manage the iron chains around him, aside from the nerve-wracking fight against Martanja. But still, there must be some logical explanation, and she sought it.
“I’ll see to it, Arjan.”
Arjan patted her back and made his way outside, before turning back to look at her one last time. “What you have, the explosives, I know you must have a mission. But from what little I’ve seen, it’s a horrible thing. And by the Gods, it shouldn’t be used often. I know that you’ll be using it for some purpose that you find right. My father was murdered by a Mleccha and I hated them until I met Dattatreya. I never thought I would have pitied a man like him, but I did. I even pitied the woman, Durukti, who had invaded our land.”
He smiled to himself. “It’s easy to hate, but difficult to forgive. If more folks did the latter, I’m sure we would live in a more peaceful world.” And he left the room after that. With a heavy heart, Padma took the bag and slung it on her shoulders. She didn’t know what to feel right now. She contemplated settling down. She had to think and react. Think and react. Think and…
