CHAPTER 19

Love Realised

There was an air of celebration in Devagiri when the royal caravan arrived three weeks
later. Kanakhala, who had arrived in Devagiri earlier, ensured that all the preparations for the
most-eagerly awaited wedding in a millennium had been accomplished. Her arrangements, as
always, had been impeccable.
The various wedding ceremonies and celebrations had been spread over seven days, each
day with an exuberant variety of events. By the usually sober Suryavanshi standards, the city
had been decorated extravagantly. Colourful banners hung proudly from the city walls,
splashing festive beauty on the sober grey exteriors. The roads had been freshly tiled in the
sacred blue colour. All the restaurants and shops served their customers free of charge for the
seven days of revelry, subsidised at state expense. All the buildings had been freshly painted at
government cost to make Devagiri appear like a city that had settled the previous day.
A massive channel had been rapidly dug along the far side of the Saraswati where a part of
the river had been diverted. The channel was in the open in some parts and went underground
in others. Filters injected a red dye into the water as soon as it entered the channel and
removed it just as efficiently when the water flowed back into the river. The channel formed a
giant Swastika, an ancient symbol which literally translates to ‘that which is associated with
well-being’ or very simply, a lucky charm. From any of the three city platforms, a Meluhan could
look in reverence at the enormous impression of the revered Swastika in the royal red
Suryavanshi colour formed by the flow of the holy Saraswati. Some of the protective giant
spikes around the entry drawbridges of the three platforms had been cleared. In their stead,
giant rangolis, visible from miles away, had been drawn to welcome all into the capital.
Kanakhala had wanted to clear all the spikes surrounding Devagiri, but Parvateshwar had
vetoed it, citing security reasons.
Elite families from across the empire had been invited to attend the festivities. People of
distinction ranging from governors to scientists, generals to artists and even sanyasis had
trooped into Devagiri to celebrate the momentous occasion. Ambassadors of eminent
countries, such as Mesopotamia and Egypt, had been given permits for a rare visit to the
capital of Meluha. Jhooleshwar had cannily used the distinctive honour granted to ambassadors
to wrangle some additional trade quotas. Brahaspati had come down from Mount Mandar with
his retinue. Only a skeletal security staff of Arishtanemi soldiers had been left behind at the
mountain. It was the first time in history that seven days would elapse at Mount Mandar without
any experiments!
The first day had two pujas organised in the name of Lord Indra and Lord Agni. They were
the main gods for the people of India and their blessings were sought before any event. And an
event as momentous as the wedding of the millennium could only begin with their sanction. This