Mauri, page 10
A hooting sound interrupted their conversation. Ghatotkacha hurried to the door and looked down the hillock that was their new home now after Alambusha’s faction had started raiding Hidimba’s settlement. Ghatotkacha’s followers had fortified the hillock with watch posts camouflaged by a wild cover. The bushes, trees and boulders—everything—was on the watch for suspicious movements. The hoot, Ghatotkacha knew, was not from a real owl but from the hidden Rakshasa guard.
Ghatotkacha stiffened, sensing movement at the foot of the hillock. Hidimba joined him. She pointed at the lone figure that was walking towards the hillock and looked at Ghatotkacha. His expression dramatically changed from caution to disbelief. “What! She? This can’t be!”
Chapter Seventeen
Journeying alone proved to be a painful process for Mauri this time around. During her last trip to Jwalamukhi, she had successfully managed to hoodwink her uncle and Dhatri, each thinking that she was with the other. But this time she had to use all her convincing skills on Dhatri. And that included weaving a story about the Supreme Goddess coming in her dreams and ordering her to take the journey to Jwala alone. Dhatri had finally agreed, though reluctantly.
Mauri laughed at the memory. The Goddess indeed made things easier. Her journey until the northern forests had been largely uneventful. A lover of solitude that she was, Mauri felt strangely free in these forests. The only precaution she had to take was to find a safe shelter by nightfall. Everything had been going well until she sensed a sudden movement above her. She barely had the time to look up before the net came down. It was only because of her years of training that she slipped aside in time, as quick as a snake slithering out of a predator’s reach.
That was close! she thought, getting back to her feet and surveying the surroundings. Those who set the trap would not be far. She had to move quickly. Mauri thought fast, backing away, her hand instinctively drawing her straight sword. How could she gauge the strength of the enemy? Her ears caught a faint rustle behind her. Mauri froze, holding her breath. Whoever it was came closer. Close enough to grip her from behind. Mauri ducked in a flash and arched her back almost into a somersault. Her legs leapt into the air surprising her would-be captor with a strong kick to the chest. But the opponent was stronger and stood his ground. No sooner had her legs landed on the ground than he held her down.
With an angry grunt, Mauri struggled to free herself but in vain.
“Forests aren’t very safe for forgetful people, My Lady!”
The words cost him. Mauri, with an effort, shoved him off her back and pointed her dagger at him. The familiarity of the voice hit her at the same time that she saw him. “It’s you!”
Ghatotkacha laughed, pushing the dagger away.
“That was a rude surprise, you fool!”
“You talk about the foolishness of a forest dweller when it is you who roams about strange parts alone!” He held out his hand. Something about her never failed to fascinate him. “What brings you here, Mauri?”
The annoyance stayed on her features as she ignored his outstretched hand and rose to her feet on her own. “I heard that the northern forests were safer than the urban settlements around, thanks to a certain Rakshasa prince but I could be wrong.” She giggled, sensing his sudden discomfort.
Ghatotkacha’s cheeks reddened and he nodded, then shook his head, struggling to find a smart response. “You trust what you hear more than you should. The truth could be something else.”
“Just tell me if I heard it all wrong, Prince of Rakshasas?”
Her mischievous wink took his breath away. His grip on her arm became tender, setting right the folds of her upper garment. “A lot has happened in the last few years, Mauri. It was foolhardy of you to venture this way.”
“Ghatotkacha, bring her in.”
They turned at Hidimba’s voice. The caution in her words made Ghatotkacha comply without a word, and thankfully Mauri followed them to the secluded residence without argument.
“You’ve chosen the right day!” Hidimba beamed at Mauri, her eyes flooding with relief as soon as they entered the large cave camouflaged by wild growth.
When Mauri looked at him askance, Ghatotkacha flushed. “I am supposed to take over the leadership of the clan today,” he mumbled, simply. “So, what are you doing in the forests?”
Mauri paused with the pretext of setting her hair right. She saw Hidimba look up at her sharply at the delay in her response. “I am on the way to Jwalamukhi. Just fulfilling an errand for Mahadevi Dhatri.” She saw Hidimba and Ghatotkacha share an unconvinced glance. Of course that won’t work! How believable was it to say Dhatri would let me go alone. Mauri bit her tongue and hesitated, scratching her ear. “And I had this silly bet with Nandini that I could do the pilgrimage all by myself. So I left a message and strayed away from the guards who had come with me.”
“What!”
“Trust me, my progress has been a lot quicker travelling alone. Anyway, the caravans would not come this deep in the forests during this time of the year for some reason.” Mauri’s words were hurried.
“That was foolhardy, child.” Hidimba’s eyes were stern. “And must I add irresponsible!” She softened after some thought. “Stay with us tonight. Ghatotkacha shall accompany you to the temple of Jwala and back.”
Mauri wanted to protest but stopped herself. Any hint of rebellion from her side would make Hidimba send a message to Dhatri and this was precisely what she wanted to avoid.
She stayed on to witness Ghatotkacha’s coronation, a mellow ceremony considering the dwindling number of Rakshasas that remained with Hidimba. She did not need any clues about whom the remaining Rakshasas had joined. Watching Ghatotkacha take the oath to lead the clan and restore its honour stirred something inside her. Would he be hurt when he got to know of her friendship with his arch-rival? Would he be angry? The more she thought about it, the more she fidgeted. She had to get rid of Ghatotkacha on their trip to Jwala or perhaps sneak away to meet Alambusha. Her luck had been with her till now. It could not desert her yet, not when she was this close to the goal!
Ghatotkacha, on the other hand, seemed delirious with joy, so much so that Hidimba had to remind him even about the essentials to take on the journey.
“I should have given this to you yesterday itself!” Hidimba handed him an amulet of carved ivory beads. Her smile turned tender and nostalgic. “Your father and I hunted down that tusker together when you were an infant!”
Ghatotkacha saw the names of his parents engraved on the largest bead and took the amulet with fondness.
“For your protection,” Hidimba said and smiled.
Ghatotkacha let her tie it around his arm. He treasured any memory of the time his parents had been together, even if he was sceptical of the amulet’s protective value. But he was too happy to argue with her before they set out.
It turned out to be an emotion that proved to be short-lived. From the beginning, Mauri was careful to distance herself from him. She did not allow for any small talk or friendly banter.
More than once she asked him pointedly, “Are you sure you want to leave your mother alone when it looks like she needs you here?”
“It’s either this or you going back to Kamarupa,” Ghatotkacha told her. “Mother would not have sent you alone.”
“I thought you were the king after yesterday!” Mauri pointed a finger at him and walked ahead. “And kings make their decisions by themselves.”
“Alright, consider it mine then,” he replied.
Neither of them spoke as they crossed the rougher part of the terrain. When they finally stopped for food, the temple of Jwala was still a good couple of days’ hike away.
Lighting a fire, Ghatotkacha tried to start a conversation but her responses were lukewarm. It was plain that she did not want his company. But why? Ghatotkacha was confused and hurt.
“I know it was long back but do you remember the Rajasuya?” he asked. “I remember searching for you in the palace gardens of Indraprastha. But you had disappeared!” Mauri continued to stare at the ground like she had not heard him. “I was worried but then when I came to check at your guest house, you had left Indraprastha.”
“Yes, we had to leave,” she responded, stoically. “The empress had called the mahadevi and others for the ceremonial farewell and I joined them. Possibly you might not have seen us all. Dhatri was annoyed that I came into the palace alone and pulled me away from there.”
“She did not seem to be the kind of person who would have been annoyed by something like that,” Ghatotkacha said, frowning as he roasted the hare he had caught. There seemed to be neither apology nor any words of regret forthcoming.
“So, what, you think I left by myself just because I wanted to trouble you?” Mauri hissed, glaring at him.
Ghatotkacha looked up, taken aback at her sudden vehemence. He saw her clench her jaw with a rage that none of his questions warranted. There was something in her that he wanted to confront. If she disliked talking to him, he wanted her to be upfront about it rather than treating him like this. “Mauri, is there something that you dislike…”
Before he finished the sentence, a roar startled them both. Ghatotkacha grabbed his long dagger from his sack and simultaneously picked up a flaming log from the fire. To his dismay, he saw the panther closer to Mauri than he was. “Back away, Mauri!”
“I can handle this one!” Mauri replied without turning, pointing her weapon at the beast.
Ghatotkacha rushed forward. But the panther was swifter in selecting what it thought to be the weaker target. “Mauri!” He need not have worried for Mauri was quick in warding off the beast with her dagger. The panther pounced at her again. This time she ducked, frustrating its outstretched paw again. But she failed to notice a large stone that tripped her and sent her sprawling to the ground. Ghatotkacha grunted and leapt, landing between the panther and her. He waved the flame in front of the animal. “Are you alright?” he called, not taking his eyes off the predator. He saw it back away uncertainly but its emerald eyes spoke of hunger. A hunger that could make it take on an enemy bigger than its match. With a blood-curdling cry, Ghatotkacha leapt again, this time right at the beast, which jumped back, climbing up a tree. Ghatotkacha and Mauri saw it disappear between the thick branches. They knew that the retreat was treacherous. Ghatotkacha looked around frantically, trying to scrutinise every opening. He could not spot the cat but his instincts knew it was manoeuvring through the branches noiselessly, waiting for them to lower their guard.
“Let’s just leave!” Mauri shouted and attempted to leave the place.
“No! Fool! Get back here!” The indignation in his words only infuriated her. She turned and stalked off down the hillock. Stomping his foot in frustration, Ghatotkacha hurried to catch up with her.
His worst fears proved true; the panther leapt out of the branches and attacked Mauri.
“Watch out!”
Racing forward, he heard the muffled roars of the beast and a painful grunt from the girl. Horrified at the sight of the blood he saw when he reached them, Ghatotkacha ran at the beast with his dagger raised. He pushed it off Mauri and stabbed it repeatedly. Its paws clawed into his flesh, drawing spurts of blood. But in his frenzied rage, he continued to stab and tear into its body. Eventually, the panther’s roars turned into subdued whines. When it made a futile attempt to back away and collapse, Ghatotkacha realised what a monster the encounter had turned him into. Compassionate killing was a practice that his mother had adhered to and had taught him to espouse. A flood of shame overwhelmed him. Ghatotkacha leaned forward and cut the beast’s jugular, relieving it of its agony. The panther died. He turned to check on Mauri checking her shoulder where the beast had scratched her. His concern for her had turned him into a beast and, to make matters worse, all he felt was contempt when he looked in her eyes.
“You need not have interfered. I could have killed it myself!” she hissed, unimpressed even at the blood that had been shed for her safety.
“Interfered! Are you out of your mind!” he thundered, gripping her in frustrated rage.
“This is just a surficial wound, Ghatotkacha! It is you who has taken leave of your senses! Let go of me!”
“Heartless woman! Can’t you see what you have made me do?!”
In the dimming light of the dying torch flame, Mauri saw the suppressed emotion in his eyes. His grip left welts on her arms but the tenderness in his eyes frightened her more than his aggression did.
“You … you lost it seeing my … my … b … blood?” Words struggled to come out of her lips. When he released her, his eyes bore a sense of defeat that filled her with guilt. Because what she saw in his eyes was an emotion which she could never savour, never return, never live. Why? She did not know. “Ghatotkacha…”
“Let’s keep moving,” he said, tearing his gaze from her.
“Wait! These wounds need tending, especially yours!” she called. He did not stop.
“Fool! How are you going to protect me after losing so much blood?” She saw him stagger, then lean against a boulder and clutch his shoulder where the panther had torn into his flesh. Hurrying to his side, Mauri undid a long strip of cloth she had tied around her left arm and bandaged his wound. “Let us find some water to clean ourselves.”
He avoided looking at her.
“You hate me now?” She saw him shoot a glance at her, hurt and confusion still writ large in his eyes. Something in her chest stirred. Mauri threw her arms around him. “Don’t set your heart on me, Ghatotkacha. You are bound to get hurt.” Her words broke. Her eyes filled, much to her shame and she had to bury her face against his chest to hide the tears from his sight. He did nothing to force her to meet his eye. But his right arm wound around her and gently patted her head. A sob that grew beyond her strength to suppress escaped her lips. Mauri felt his other arm hold her.
She knew she could never taste this warmth again and a part of her ached for this heart-warming comfort, for this love. Why not revel in it while I can? If not for life, just for a night. For one night?
Chapter Eighteen
When he awoke the next morning, Ghatotkacha found that it was well past sunrise. His lips curved as he remembered the intimacy of the previous night. He turned to his side wanting to draw Mauri closer but she wasn’t there. He became alert in an instant, his heart racing with an ominous foreboding. He could sense it—a hostile presence right behind him! Trying to not show his desperation, Ghatotkacha tried to feel for his weapons. They were not where he had placed them. That was when he heard the familiar laughter.
“Wake up, lad! What a prize catch when we expected it the least!”
“Alambusha!” He tried to rise to his feet. Only to find two swords and a spear pointing at him. His immediate concerns were for Mauri. He frantically looked all around for her and finally saw her standing at a distance, flanked by Alambusha’s followers. “Mauri!” He turned his blazing eyes towards Alambusha. “Let her go! She has nothing to do with our rivalry.”
Alambusha smirked, then turned to Mauri and swept his arm in mock deference. “Who is holding her back?”
Ghatotkacha looked at Mauri, imploring her to get away as far as she could. Mauri would not meet his eyes and turned back to Alambusha. The rogue Rakshasa lord laughed and she responded with an uncomfortable smile.
This has to be a nightmare! The one whose life I saved standing right next to the man I hate! Ghatotkacha could speak no more. He saw her take a step back before turning her gaze away from him.
“We will be late,” he heard her tell Alambusha. Like they were headed somewhere together! Late for what? How could she betray me this way? How did she even know Alambusha? Leaping to his feet, he grabbed the sharp edge of the spear and tripped the Rakshasa who held it. But another Rakshasa hit him from behind with his club. The pain stunned him, but it was nowhere as excruciating as that which tore his heart. “Traitor! I shall…”
“Now, back down, lad. I don’t want to send your remains to your mother. I would rather use you as bait to lure her out of her hideaway.”
Wresting the spear away from his opponent, Ghatotkacha took on the one with the club, anger adding to his brute strength. It also made him miscalculate the position of another opponent behind him and, before he could do any more damage, a club hit his head again. Before the world went dark, he saw her again. Her lips were parted in concern. That can’t be real. Nothing about her is real!
When he returned to his senses, Ghatotkacha found himself bound in a cave. It could not have been very far from where he had been captured but he had no way to verify this. It was pitch dark with the mouth of the cave closed by an enormous boulder that would take the brute strength of at least three Rakshasas to move. And before he could even try breaking out, he had to first escape his bonds. Mauri’s betrayal made him want to tear his skin out with his nails! His infatuation had put his entire clan in danger. He had to find his way out of this captivity! He had to return home to prevent his mother from … Ghatotkacha’s tongue went bitter, imagining the worst. He struggled painfully against his bonds, shouting aloud at every frustrated attempt. But weak with hunger and loss of blood, he soon fell into a faint again.
He awoke, thrashing about with his hands and legs against the nightmares that had plagued his unconscious mind. Strong arms held him firmly down.
“Relax, little one. You are safe.”
The tenderness in the voice was familiar and made a striking contrast to the strong arms that held him. It was dark, long after sunset, but he did not need light to recognise that voice. Ghatotkacha’s eyes shot open.
“Father?”
Bhima held him down, holding a gourd of water to his lips. “My son! Who on this earth dared to…”
