certainly a man worthy of being the Neelkanth.
Nandi entered Shiva’s room carrying a saffron cloth with the word ‘Ram’ stamped across
every inch of it. He requested Shiva to wrap it around his shoulders. As Shiva complied, Nandi
muttered a quick short prayer for a safe journey to Devagiri.
‘Our horses wait outside, my Lord. We can leave when you are ready,’ said Nandi.
‘Nandi,’ said an exasperated Shiva. ‘How many times must I tell you? My name is Shiva. I
am your friend, not your Lord’
‘Oh no, my Lord,’ gasped Nandi. ‘You are the Neelkanth. You are the Lord. How can I take
your name?’
Shiva rolled his eyes, shook his head slightiy and turned towards the door. ‘I give up! Can
we leave now?’
‘Of course, my Lord.’
They stepped outside to see three mounted soldiers waiting patiently, while tethered close
to them were three more horses. One each for Shiva and Nandi, while the third was assigned
for carrying their provisions. The well-organised Meluhan Empire had rest houses and provision
stores spread across all major travel routes. As long as there were enough provisions for just
one day, a traveller carrying Meluhan coins could comfortably keep buying fresh provisions to
last a journey of months.
Nandi’s horse had been tethered next to a small platform. The platform had steps leading up
to it from the other side. Clearly, this was convenient infrastructure for obese riders who found
it a little cumbersome to climb onto a horse. Shiva looked at Nandi’s enormous form, then at his
unfortunate horse and then back at Nandi.
‘Aren’t there any laws in Meluha against cruelty to animals?’ asked Shiva with the most
sincere of expressions.
‘Oh yes, my Lord. Very strict laws. In Meluha ALL life is precious. In fact there are strict
guidelines as to when and how animals can be slaughtered and...’
Suddenly Nandi stopped speaking. Shiva’s joke had finally breached Nandi’s slow wit. They
both burst out laughing as Shiva slapped Nandi hard on his back.
Shiva’s entourage followed the course of the Jhelum which had resumed its thunderous roar
as it crashed down the lower Himalayas. Once on the magnificent flat plains, the turbulent river
calmed down once again and flowed smoothly on. Smooth enough for the group to get on one
of the many public transport barges to sail quickly down to the town of Brihateshpuram.
From there on, they went east by a well laid and marked road through Punjab, the heart of
the empire’s northern reaches. Punjab literally meant the land of the five rivers. The land of the
Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Beas. The four eastern rivers aspired to grasp the grand
Indus, which flowed farthest to the west. They succeeded spectacularly, after convoluted
journeys on the rich plains of Punjab. The Indus itself found comfort and succour in the