closed in on the women’s boat and diving underwater charged at the craft, rocking it with its
massive body. The tiny vessel tilted and capsized, throwing the women into the Beas.
Screams of terror rent the air as the women fought to stay afloat. The crocodile had moved
too far ahead in its dash. Turning around, it swam towards the struggling women. The delay of
those crucial seconds proved fateful for the women. The rescue boat arrived between the
crocodile and them. Turning towards Vishwadyumna, the hooded figure ordered, ‘Save the
women.’
Before Vishwadyumna could react, he had flung his robe aside and dived into the river. With
his knife held tight between his teeth, he swam towards the advancing crocodile.
Vishwadyumna pulled one of the women into the boat. She had already lost consciousness.
Turning to the other woman, he reassured, ‘I am coming back soon.’
Vishwadyumna turned and paddled vigorously towards the bank. On the way he passed
some of his other soldiers. ‘Row quickly. The Lord’s life is in danger.’
The other soldiers paddled towards the area where the hooded figure had dived into the
river. The water had turned red with blood from the battle raging under water. The soldiers said
a silent prayer to Lord Varun, the god of the water and the seas, hoping that the blood did not
belong to their Lord.
One of the soldiers was about to jump into the water with his sword when the hooded figure
emerged onto the surface, soaked in blood. It was that of the crocodile. He swam forcefully
towards the other woman who was on the verge of losing consciousness. Reaching her in the
nick of time, he pulled her head out of the water. Meanwhile, two of the Chandravanshi soldiers
dived off their coracle.
‘My Lord, please get into the boat,’ said one of them. ‘We will swim ashore.’
‘Help the woman first,’ replied the hooded figure.
The soldiers pulled the unconscious woman on to the coracle. The hooded figure then
carefully climbed aboard and rowed towards the shore. By the time the hooded figure reached
the river bank, the other woman had been revived by Vishwadyumna. She sat disoriented at the
rapid chain of events.
‘Are you alright?’ Vishwadyumna asked the woman.
In answer, the woman looked beyond Vishwadyumna and screamed. Vishwadyumna turned
around. On the river bank, the hooded figure was coming ashore carrying the other woman’s
limp body. His clothes were glued to his massive body. To the disoriented woman, the
crocodile’s blood all over his clothes, seemed like that of her friend.
‘What have you done, you beast?’ shrieked the woman.
The Naga looked up abruptly. His eyes showed mild surprise. He, however, refrained from
saying anything. He gently laid the unconscious woman on the ground. As he did so, the mask
on his face came undone. The woman next to Vishwadyumna stared at him with horror.
‘Naga!’ she screeched.
Before Vishwadyumna could react, she leapt to her feet and fled screaming, ‘Help! Help! A
Naga is eating my friend!’
The Naga looked at the fleeing woman with melancholic eyes. He shut the windows to his
tormented soul and shook his head slightly. Vishwadyumna meanwhile turned to see his Lord’s
face for the first time in years. He immediately lowered his gaze, but not before he had seen
the rare emotion of intense pain and sorrow in his Lord’s normally expressionless eyes.
Seething in anger, Vishwadyumna drew his sword, swearing to slay the ungrateful wench he
singke
(singke)
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