forward. A jump timed to perfection.
The Naga at the distance had released the agnibaan or the fire arrow, one of the legendary
poisoned arrows of their people. The venom on its tip burned its victim’s body from the inside,
causing a slow, painful death that would scar the soul for many births. The arrow had been set
straight at Shiva’s neck. It sped unerringly on its deadly mission. However, the Naga had not
calculated the possibility of someone obstructing its path.
Sati twisted her body in mid-air as she leapt in front of Shiva. The arrow slammed into her
chest with brutal force, propelling her airborne body backward. She fell to Shiva’s left, limp and
motionless. A stunned Shiva stared at Sati’s prone body, his heart shattering.
The destroyer of evil roared in fury. He charged at the Naga like a wild elephant on the brink
of insanity, his sword raised. The Naga was momentarily staggered by the fearsome sight of
the charging Neelkanth. But to his credit, he rallied. He swiftly drew another arrow from his
quiver, loaded it and let it fly. Shiva swung his sword to deflect the arrow, barely missing a step
or decreasing his manic speed. The increasingly panic struck Naga loaded another arrow and
shot again. Shiva swung his sword once more, deflecting the arrow easily, picking up more
speed. The Naga reached back to draw another arrow. But it was too late. With a fierce yell,
Shiva leapt high as he neared the Naga. He swung his sword viciously, decapitating the Naga
with one swing of his sword. The Naga’s lifeless body fell in a heap as his severed head flew
with the mighty blow, while his still pumping heart spewed blood through the gaping neck.
The Neelkanth’s vengeance was not quenched. Screaming, Shiva bent and kept hacking at
the Naga’s inert body, ruthlessly slashing it to bits. No assertion of reason, no articulation of
sanity could have penetrated Shiva’s enraged mind. Except for a soft, muffled, injured voice that
was barely audible in the din of battle, except to him.
‘Shiva...’
He turned back to look at Sati lying in the distance, her head raised slightly.
‘Sati!’
He sped towards her, bellowing, ‘Parvateshwar! Get Ayurvati! Sati has fallen!’
Ayurvati had already seen Sati’s injured body. The Chandravanshis were retreating in haste.
Ayurvati ran towards Sati, as did Parvateshwar on hearing Shiva’s call. Shiva reached her first.
She was motionless, but alive. She was breathing heavily as the arrow had pierced her left
lung, flooding her innards with her blood. She couldn’t speak as the force of the blow had made
the blood gush from her mouth. But she continued to stare at Shiva. Her face had a strange
smile, almost serene. She kept opening her mouth as if trying to say something. Shiva
desperately wanted to hold her, but he kept his hands locked together as he tried frantically to
control his tears.
‘O Lord Brahma!’ cried Ayurvati as she reached Sati and recognised the arrow. ‘Mastrak!
Dhruvini! Get a stretcher. Now!’
Parvateshwar, Ayurvati, Mastrak and Dhruvini carried Sati to one of the village houses with
Shiva following closely Ayurvati’s other assistants had already begun cleaning the hut and
setting the instruments for the surgery.
‘Wait outside, my Lord,’ said Ayurvati to Shiva, raising her hand.
Shiva wanted to follow Ayurvati into the hut, but Parvateshwar held him back by touching his
shoulder. ‘Ayurvati is one of the best doctors in the world, Shiva. Let her do her job.’
Shiva turned to look at Parvateshwar, who was doing an admirable job of controlling his
emotions. But it took one look in his eyes for Shiva to know that Parvateshwar was as afraid
singke
(singke)
#1