Immortals of Meluha

Shiva pointed his finger menacingly at the serpent in the centre. ‘You dare touch even a hair
on her and I will rip your soul out of...’
‘But I...’ continued the serpent, not even acknowledging Shiva’s threat. ‘I’m saving myself.
I’m saving myself for you.’
Shiva stared at the serpent with impotent rage.
‘I will get you,’ said the serpent as its mouth opened wide, ready to swallow him whole.
Shiva’s eyes suddenly opened wide. He was sweating hard. He looked around, but couldn’t
see a thing. It was extraordinarily dark. He reached out for Sati, to check if she was safe. She
wasn’t there. He was up in a flash, feeling a chill in his heart, almost expecting that the serpents
had escaped his dreams and transformed into reality.
‘Shiva,’ said Sati, looking at him.
She was sitting at the edge of the bed. The tiny military tent they slept in could not afford
the luxury of chairs. This tent had been their travelling home for the last one month as the
Meluhan army marched towards Swadweep.
‘What is it, Sati?’ asked Shiva, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He slipped the offending
bracelet that he held tightly in his hands, back into his pouch.
When had I taken it out?
‘Shiva,’ continued Sati. She had tried to talk about this for the last two weeks. Ever since
she had been sure of the news, but had never found an opportune moment. She always
managed to convince herself that this was minor news and it would not be right for her to
trouble her husband with this, especially when he was going through one of the worst phases of
his life. But it was too late now. He had to learn from her and not somebody else. News like this
did not remain secret in an army camp for long. ‘I have something to tell you.’
‘Yes,’ said Shiva, though his dream still rankled. ‘What is it?’
‘I don’t think I will be able to fight in the war.’
‘What? Why?’ asked a startled Shiva. He knew that cowardice was a word that did not exist
in Sati’s dictionary. Then why was she telling him so? And why now, when the army had already
marched for nearly a month through the dense forests that separated Meluha from Swadweep?
They were already in enemy territory. There was no turning back. ‘Sati, this is not like you.’
‘Umm, Shiva,’ said an embarrassed Sati. Such discussions were always difficult for the
somewhat prudish Suryavanshis. ‘I have my reasons.’
‘Reasons?’ asked Shiva. ‘What...’
Suddenly the reason smacked Shiva like a silent thunderbolt.
‘My god! Are you sure?’
‘Yes,’ said Sati, bashfully.
‘By the Holy Lake! I am going to be a father?’
Seeing the ecstasy on Shiva’s face, Sati felt a pang of guilt that she hadn’t told him before.
‘Wow!’ whooped a thrilled Shiva as he swirled her in his arms. ‘This is the best news I have
heard in a long time!’
Sati smiled warmly and rested her head on his tired but strong shoulders.
‘We will name our daughter after the one who has comforted you through the last two
months, when I have been of no help,’ said Shiva. ‘We will name her Krittika!’
Sati looked up in surprise. She didn’t believe that it was possible to love him even more. But
it was. She smiled. ‘It could be a son, you know’
‘Nah,’ grinned Shiva. ‘It will be a daughter. And I’ll spoil her to high heavens!’