beginning of the third prahar, by which time the ceremony should be over.’
Shiva clenched his fist. He frantically wanted to wring Tarak’s neck but he controlled himself
with superhuman effort. Within minutes Sati was out of the guest-house, along with Krittika and
five personal bodyguards. Shiva turned to look at Nandi and Veerbhadra, both of whom rose to
join Sati. They understood that Shiva wanted them to ensure that she was safe outside the city.
‘It is disgusting that you did not realise this yourself,’ Tarak said scornfully to Sati. What kind
of a princess are you? Don’t you respect the law?’
Sati looked at Tarak. Her face calm. She refused to be drawn into a debate and waited
patiently for her guards to prepare the horses.
‘I don’t understand what a vikarma woman is doing travelling with the convoy of the
Neelkanth. She is polluting the entire journey,’ raged Tarak.
‘Enough!’ intervened Shiva. ‘Princess Sati is leaving with dignity. Stop your diatribe right
now.’
‘I will not!’ screeched Tarak. What kind of a leader are you? You are challenging Lord Ram’s
laws.’
‘Tarak!’ yelled Jhooleshwar. ‘The Lord Neelkanth has the right to challenge the law. If you
value your life, you will not defy his authority’
‘I am a Meluhan,’ shrieked Tarak. ‘It is my right to challenge anyone breaking the law. A
dhobi, a mere washerman, challenged Lord Ram. It was his greatness that he acceded to the
man’s objection and renounced his wife. I would urge the Neelkanth to learn from Lord Ram’s
example and use his brains for making decisions.’
‘ENOUGH TARAK!’ erupted Sati.
The entire congregation was stunned into silence by Tarak’s remark. But not Sati.
Something inside her snapped. She had tolerated too many insults for too long. And she had
endured them with quiet dignity. But this time, this man had insulted Shiva. Her Shiva, she finally
acknowledged to herself.
‘I invoke the right of Agnipariksha’ said Sati, back in control.
The stunned onlookers could not believe their ears. A trial by fire!
This was getting worse and worse. Under Agnipariksha, an unfairly injured soul could
challenge their tormentor to a duel. It was called Agnipariksha as combat would take place
within a ring of fire. There was no escape from the ring. The duellists had to keep fighting till
one person surrendered or died. An Agnipariksha was extremely rare these days. And for a
woman to invoke the right was almost unheard of.
‘There is no reason for this, my lady,’ pleaded Jhooleshwar. Just like his subjects, he was
terrified that Princess Sati might be killed in his city. For the gargantuan Tarak would certainly
slay her. The Emperor ’s wrath would be terrible. Turning to Tarak, Jhooleshwar ordered, ‘You
will not accept this challenge.’
‘And be called a coward?’
‘You want to prove your bravery?’ spoke Parvateshwar for the first time. ‘Then fight me. I
will act as Sati’s second for the challenge.’
‘Only I have the right to appoint a second,pitratulya’ said Sati, reverentially referring to
Parvateshwar as being ‘like a father’. Turning to Tarak, she said, ‘I am appointing no second.
You will fight with me.’
‘You will do no such thing Tarak,’ Brahaspati objected this time.
‘Tarak, the only reason you wouldn’t want to fight is if you are afraid of being killed,’ said
singke
(singke)
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