brought it to his lips and kissed it lovingly. He looked up at Daksha and whispered, ‘I will never
let go of her. Never.’
A stunned Sati stared at Shiva. She had dared to love over the last week, but had not dared
to hope. And now her wildest dream was coming true. She was going to be his wife.
An overjoyed Daksha hugged Shiva tightly and softly said, ‘My Lord!’
Veerini was sobbing uncontrollably. The unfairness done to Sati all her life had been set
right. She looked up at Daksha, almost willing to forgive him. Ayurvati and Kanakhala entered
the room and congratulated the Emperor, the Queen, Shiva and Sati. Nandi, Krittika and
Veerbhadra, who had heard the entire conversation, expressed their joy. Parvateshwar stood
rooted near the door, furious at such disregard for Lord Ram’s way.
Shiva, at long last, regained control of himself. Firmly gripping Sati’s hand, he looked at
Daksha, ‘But your Highness, I have a condition.’
‘Yes, my Lord.’
‘The vikarma law...’
‘It doesn’t need to be changed, my Lord,’ said Daksha. ‘If you decide to marry my daughter,
then the law cannot stop you.’
‘All the same,’ said Shiva. ‘That law must be changed.’
‘Of course, it will be my Lord,’ said a beaming Daksha. Turning towards Kanakhala, he
continued, ‘Make a proclamation to be signed by the Neelkanth, saying that from now on any
noble woman who gives birth to a still-born child will not be classified as vikarma.’
‘No, your Highness,’ interrupted Shiva. ‘That is not what I asked. I want the entire vikarma
law scrapped. Nobody will be a vikarma from now on. Bad fate can strike anyone. It is
ridiculous to blame their past lives for it.’
Parvateshwar looked at Shiva in surprise. Though he did not like even a comma being
changed in any of Lord Ram’s laws, he appreciated that Shiva was remaining true to a
fundamental cannon of Lord Ram’s principles — the same law applies to everybody, equally
and fairly, without exceptions.
Daksha however looked at Shiva in shock. This was unexpected. Like all Meluhans, he too
was superstitious about the vikarma. His displeasure was not with the vikarma law itself but
with his daughter being classified as one. But he quickly recovered and said, ‘Of course, my
Lord. The proclamation will state that the entire vikarma law has been scrapped. Once you sign
it, it will become law.’
‘Thank you, your Highness,’ smiled Shiva.
‘My daughter ’s happy days are starting again,’ exulted Daksha, turning to Kanakhala. ‘I want
a grand ceremony at Devagiri when we return. A wedding the likes of which the world has not
seen before. The most magnificent wedding ever. Call in the best organisers in the land. I want
no expense spared.’
Daksha turned to look at Shiva for affirmation. Shiva looked at Sati to admire her joyous
smile and glorious dimples. Turning towards Daksha, he said, ‘All I want, your Highness, is to
get married to Sati. I wouldn’t mind the simplest ceremony in the world or the most magnificent.
As long as all of you, Brahaspati and the Gunas are present, I will be happy’
‘Excellent!’ rejoiced Daksha.
singke
(singke)
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