traders and business people and finally the Shudras who are the farmers and workers. And one
caste cannot do another caste’s job.’
‘Hang on,’ said Shiva. ‘That means that since you are a warrior, you would not be allowed to
trade at the marketplace?’
‘Yes.’
‘Bloody stupid! How would you get me my marijuana? After all that is the only thing you are
useful for!’
Shiva leaned back to avoid the playful blow from Bhadra. ‘All right, all right. Take it easy!’ he
laughed. Stretching out, he grabbed the chillum from Bhadra and took another deep drag.
We’re talking about everything except what we should be talking about.
Shiva became serious again. ‘But seriously, strange as they are, what should I do?’
‘What are you thinking of doing?’
Shiva looked away, as if contemplating the roses in the far corner of the garden. ‘I don’t
want to run away once again.’
‘What?’ asked Bhadra, not hearing Shiva’s tormented whisper clearly.
‘I said,’ repeated Shiva loudly, ‘I can’t bear the guilt of running away once again.’
‘That wasn’t your fault...’
‘YES IT WAS!’
Bhadra fell silent. There was nothing that could be said. Covering his eyes, Shiva sighed
once again. ‘Yes, it was...’
Bhadra put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, pressing it gently, letting the terrible moment
pass. Shiva turned his face. ‘I’m asking for advice, my friend. What should I do? If they need
my help, I can’t turn away from them. At the same time, how can I leave our tribe all by
themselves out here? What should I do?’
Bhadra continued to hold Shiva’s shoulder. He breathed deeply. He could think of an answer.
It may have been the correct answer for Shiva, his friend. But was it the correct answer for
Shiva, the leader!
‘You have to find that wisdom yourself, Shiva. That is the tradition.’
‘O the hell with you!’
Shiva threw the chillum back at Bhadra and stormed away.
In was only a few days later that a minor caravan consisting of Shiva, Nandi and three
soldiers was scheduled to leave Srinagar. The small party would ensure that they moved
quickly through the realm and reached Devagiri as soon as possible. Governor Chenardhwaj
was anxious for Shiva to be recognised quickly by the empire as the true Neelkanth. He wanted
to go down in history as the governor who found the Lord.
Shiva had been made ‘presentable’ for the emperor. His hair had been oiled and
smoothened. Lines of expensive clothes, attractive ear-rings, necklaces and other jewellery
were brought to adorn his muscular frame. His fair face had been scrubbed clean with special
Ayurvedic herbs to remove years of dead skin & decay. A cravat had been fabricated out of
cotton to cover his glowing blue throat. Beads had been cleverly darned on to the cravat to
make it look like the traditional necklaces that Meluhan men wore while on religious exercises.