up to you.
As Daksha spoke once again, Shiva refocused his attention on him.
‘The problems that we are facing were prophesied, my Lord,’ continued Daksha. ‘Lord Ram
had himself said that any philosophy, no matter how perfect, works only for a finite period. That
is the law of nature and cannot be avoided. But what the legends also tell us is that when the
problems become insurmountable for ordinary men, the Neelkanth will appear. And that he will
destroy the evil Chandravanshis and restore the forces of good. My Lord, you are the
Neelkanth. You can save us. You can complete the unfinished task of Lord Ram. You must lead
us and help us defeat the Chandravanshis. You must rally the Swadweepans around to the side
of good. Otherwise I fear that this beautiful country that we have, the near perfect society of
Meluha, will be destroyed in years of endless war. Will you help us my Lord? Will you lead us?’
Shiva was confused. ‘But I didn’t understand, your Highness? What exactly would I do?’
‘I don’t know, my Lord. We only know our destination and that you will be our leader. The
path we take is up to you.’
They want me to destroy the entire way of life of eighty million people by myself! Are they
mad?
Shiva spoke carefully. ‘I empathise with your people and their hardships, your Highness. But
to be quite honest, I don’t really understand how one man like me can make a difference.’
‘If that man is you my Lord,’ said Daksha, his moist eyes opened wide in devotion and faith,
‘he can change the entire universe.’
‘I am not so sure of that, your Highness,’ said Shiva with a weak smile. ‘Why will my being
present make such a difference? I am no miracle worker. I cannot snap my fingers and cause
bolts of lightning to descend on the Chandravanshis.’
‘It is your presence itself that will make the difference, my Lord. I invite you to travel through
the empire. See the effect your blue throat has on the people. Once my people believe that
they can do it, they will be able to do it!’
‘You are the Neelkanth, my Lord,’ added Kanakhala. The people have faith in the bearer of
the blue throat. They will have faith in you. ‘Will you help us, my Lord?’
Will you run away once again?
‘But how do you know that my blue throat makes me the genuine Neelkanth?’ asked Shiva.
‘For all you know, there may be many Meluhans with a blue throat waiting to be discovered!’
‘No, my Lord,’ said Daksha. ‘It cannot be a Meluhan. The legend says that the Neelkanth will
be a foreigner. He cannot be from the Sapt-Sindhu. And that he will get a blue throat on
drinking the Somras.’
Shiva did not answer. He looked stunned as truth suddenly dawned upon him.
Srinagar. The first night. Somras. That’s how my body got repaired. That’s why I’m feeling
stronger than ever.
Daksha and Kanakhala looked at Shiva breathlessly, waiting for his decision. Praying for his
right decision.
But why only me? All the Gunas were given the Somras. Was my uncle right? Do I really
have a destiny?
Parvateshwar stared at Shiva with narrowed eyes.
I don’t deserve any destiny. But maybe this is my chance to redeem myself.
But first...
Shiva asked with controlled politeness, ‘Your Highness, before I answer, may I ask you a
singke
(singke)
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