The Secret of the Nagas

court, Athithigva.’

Athithigva smiled. ‘No My Lord, it’s just that...’

‘My apologies for interrupting, Your Highness,’ said Shiva to Athithigva, before turning to Daksha. ‘I thought it would be a good idea for you to meet your children in private.’

Veerini perked up immediately. ‘Where are they, Lord Neelkanth?’

Just then Veerbhadra walked in. Followed by Sati.

‘My child!’ said a smiling Daksha, forgetting the slight from Shiva. ‘Why didn’t you bring my grandson along?’

‘I have,’ said Sati.

Ganesh entered the room. Behind him was Kali.

Shiva was staring hard at Daksha’s face. The Meluhan Emperor’s eyes sprung wide open in recognition. His jaw dropped in shock.

He knows!

Then Daksha swallowed hard, straightening up.

He’s afraid. He’s hiding something.

Shiva also noticed Veerini’s expression. Profound sadness. Eyebrows joined together, but her lips curled up slightly in a smile struggling to break through. Her eyes moist.

She knows too. And she loves them.

Daksha turned to Athithigva and blustered. ‘How dare you consort with terrorists, King of Kashi?’

‘They aren’t terrorists,’ said Sati. ‘Terrorists kill innocents. Kali and Ganesh have never done that.’

‘Does Sati speak for the King of Kashi now?’

‘Don’t speak to him, father,’ said Sati. ‘Speak to me.’

‘What for?’ asked Daksha, pointing at Ganesh and Kali. ‘What do you have to do with them?’

‘Everything! Their place is with me. Should have always been with me.’

‘What? Vile Nagas have only one place. South of the Narmada! They are not allowed into the Sapt Sindhu!’

‘My sister and son are not vile. They are my blood! Your blood!’

Daksha stood, stepping up to Sati. ‘Sister! Son! What nonsense? Don’t believe the rubbish these scum tell you. Of course, they hate me. They will say anything to malign me. I am their sworn enemy. I am the ruler of Meluha! Under oath to destroy them!’

Kali reached for her sword. ‘I am in the mood to challenge you to an Agnipariksha right now, you repulsive goat!’

‘Don’t you have any shame?’ Daksha shouted at Kali. ‘Do penance for your past life sins quietly instead of creating bad blood between a loving father and his daughter!

What lies have you told her about me?’

‘They haven’t said a word, father,’ said Sati. ‘But their existence says a lot about you.’

‘It’s not me. They exist because of your mother. Her past life sins have led to this. We never had Nagas in our family before her.’

Sati’s jaw fell. She was seeing the levels to which her father could stoop to for the first time.

Veerini was staring at Daksha, silent anger smouldering in her eyes.

‘This is not about past lives, father,’ said Sati. ‘It is about this life. You knew. Yet you didn’t tell me.’

‘I am your father. I have loved you all my life. I have fought the world for you. Will you trust me or some deformed animals?’

‘They are not deformed animals! They are my family!’

‘You want to make these people your family? People who lie to you? Who turn you against your own father?’

‘They never lied to me!’ shouted Sati. ‘You did.’