Aravalli. . .

Sachi raised her hand to stop the entourage. They were just two days away from their agreed sheltered place. She had made a pact with Dahan to be given a safe passage through the Asura Kingdom. The courtiers didn't have any idea how their queen managed to do this. Also, they didn't have a moment to think about this as their king had managed to return with an injured arm and alarming blood loss. No sooner had Indra's eyes met his wife's, he collapsed. Fortunately, he fell on the opposite side of his injured arm, so there were only bruises on his other arm.

The royal doctor on stand-by had treated him. A carriage was arranged and currently, he was being carried in it. He was regaining his strength excruciatingly slowly. The carriage ride added more to his recovery time. She sighed. For the information Sundara Mahish shared, I could only arrange for a safe path. Stay strong Indra, we shall overcome this. This was a gamble too. It's been more than three weeks since the war, why isn't he replying. I need more information on Sanjeevani herb and that woman.

What should I do once I have my hands on this herb? How much can we share with them? Will history repeat itself again? Will we be waging wars for this plant again? Dahan will definitely get to know about it. What if he gets it before us? Then he will definitely have an upper hand. Yet can we negotiate using my father's name? I don't think so. . . Only if we had won this war! Her brother gave us enough trouble when he was alive, this woman is proving even more troublesome.

Devloka. . .

Mahishi's spies informed that Dahan had given safe passage to Indra's and his entourage; she did find it a little suspicious. But then it shouldn't have been much of a surprise as Sachi was an Asura princess before her marriage; she assumed there must have been a pact between them. Sometimes, she wondered that had she agreed to Dahan's proposal, he might have given back Devloka to Indra. After all, current Deva Queen's father Puloman was Dahan's mentor. As soon as he ascended the throne, he ordered Rambha to be banished. When the mentor hated her family, the disciple was bound to follow it.

Mahishi sighed. Did Puloman banish my father as my mother was from a lowly tribe? Didn't his own daughter marry Indra, who is a Deva? The rules are different when societal status comes into play. Wasn't his daughter too presumptuous to go announcing everywhere that she has conquered her husband?

She smiled. Aren't Asuras and Devas enemies? Or is something being schemed by these two kingdoms to maintain power play? She laughed. I wonder if this cooperation will continue once it is revealed that Sanjeevani herb is not extinct. What would you do at that time, Sachi? Will you give it to Devas and share partial information to Asuras? Will you feign ignorance to Dahan that you had no idea?

Actually you are the most dangerous woman right now. If the reports of my spies are correct, you've predicted most of my moves correctly. I was lucky because the husband you conquered didn't heed your advice. You've given me no choice but to dig more information on you.

Her attention turned towards a few Deva soldiers who were held as prisoners of war. Since she was engaged in her thoughts, the courtroom waited for her to ask questions. She asked, "Tell me more about your Queen Sachi."

One of them laughed, "Our Queen Sachi? She is our Goddess."

"Isn't that quite an adoration for a person who was an Asura princess?"

Another soldier chuckled, "She might have been an Asura but we know her contributions to the Devas. Her marriage was proposed by Guru Brihaspati himself."

She smiled. So Puloman made sure the rumour of marriage proposal through Guru Brihaspati was spread in the kingdom. Even though it was him who sent the proposal for marriage!

"Then can you tell me why you regard her as your Goddess? There must be some story that the masses love talking about, doesn't they?"

The first prisoner replied, "Yes, we can tell you one story so that you can understand how near your end is."

No sooner did he say that than Kaal, Sundara Mahish and soldiers next to the prisoners drew their swords out. She waved her hand, "I shall decide their punishment later, tell me the story so that I can understand my end. Although you know that your King has lost wars against us; twice."

His smile disappeared and started narrating, "After the sacrifice of the great Rishi Dadhichi, our King went for a long penance. During this period Queen Sachi administered the kingdom. Yet it was decided by council members that a new acting King was required. The Devas chose Nahusha as the new King."

Of course! Even if a woman is competent enough to manage a kingdom, a man should be present. I wonder how long it will be until my courtiers will start pestering me.

He continued, "Nahusha ruled our empire for a considerably long time and carried out his duties very well. But as the time passed, he became arrogant. Also, he was smitten by the beauty of our Queen. Even though she was already married, he kept forcing her to marry him. Disturbed by his advances, she stayed in a servant's quarters in Guru Brihaspati's home."

Smart of her to leave the palace so that no rumours of her infidelity will circulate. Absolutely loved the touch of a classic Queen staying in servant's quarters! No wonder Devas love to narrate this story!

"She returned to the palace after devising a plan. She placed a condition for him to marry her - he had to sit on a throne that would be carried on the shoulders of four renowned sages to her quarters.

He had agreed almost instantly and found four sages who were ready to carry his palanquin. However, one of them was not as tall as others, so he couldn't keep up the pace. Nahusha kicked Rishi and ordered, 'Sarupa, sarupa'."

Sundara Mahishi asked, "Sarupa meaning faster?"

He nodded. "The embarrassed sage cursed him to become a sarpa, meaning snake. After being humiliated, Nahusha was removed from the Deva kingdom. Our Queen got rid of him without declaring a war."

Mahishi snickered. So this is how you demoted and banished an acting King. You're truly an Asura princess to lure him to call into your quarters. It's easy to guess that you must have arranged those four sages. To get him cursed, you knew exactly what would have riled him. I am starting to get an idea on how you would plan to remove me. There will be no war this time, there will be manipulation.

Kaal interrupted her thoughts, "Your Highness, we await your further orders."

She ordered, "Throw them back in the dungeons."

One of them heaved a sigh of relief. She smiled at him and added, "Since they uttered words of disrespect earlier, slash their tongues before locking them up."

*

Upon the request of Sumali, Mahishi allowed Sundara Mahish to join the proceedings of the assembly. While Nilakukshi and Kaal felt it was not necessary for a mercenary army to do so, she understood it was an uncle's request. So far things were going according to his plan.

He was paid the requested amount and an upfront payment to keep his army inside Amravathi. The culture of the mercenary army had disappeared when Devas and Asuras were in continuous wars. They couldn't wait for an army to arrive when they could be attacked. Once wars had reduced, Sundara Mahishi decided to start his own. The war with Indra provided a perfect reason to show how effective it was. Within an hour, his army had emerged victorious.

He had inkling of Mahishi's thinking, hence he didn't join the battle in the morning. His army was outside Amravathi, sheltered in a forest. Even though he could have joined earlier, he didn't because he wanted to create a demand. So, she would be compelled to use his support; to make it essential to keep him and his army by her side.

Sumali had leaked the war strategy of their Queen to him, before the war had begun. Her plan was quite risky, he had to play his cards carefully. At dawn, his army started marching slowly, making sure to reach the battleground before Mahishi would enter it. On their way, they stumbled upon a small portion of Deva Lord Dhruva's army. Leaving behind a small portion of his army to engage in battle, he left with the rest of the army for the battle.

This encounter delayed his original calculations but he was able to reach it in time. He had mentioned to his uncle that to give an alert in case she was in danger. Within a few minutes of reaching, he saw Sumali's signal of the danger to the Queen. Later, her spies confirmed the same thing, which is why she paid the amount he had asked.

She had to be kept alive because he wanted to know the location of Sanjeevani herb. Sumali's only son had died in the war fought between Mahishasura and Goodess Durga. He was like an elder brother to Sundara Mahish. It was revealed accidentally by a young doctor in ayuralaya that the minister's son could have been saved, had they got the medicine that their Queen had given. Most of it was used to revive Anjan. The fact that she prioritized having a man revived over numerous others irked them.

Yet the most fascinating part was the description of the uses of medicine she had brought. It matched exactly with that of Sanjeevani herb. Sumali suspected that the young doctor feigned innocence but knew what this was. He had sneaked into ayuralaya after the first war between Mahishi and Indra. He saw there was a separate hall where Mahishi was closely monitoring the dosage of the medicine. They understood it was Sanjeevani herb being used.

The uncle and the nephew felt that since Mahishi has been misusing the concept of Ekam for her benefit, she shouldn't be allowed to use this sacred herb. That's when they hatched the plan to overthrow her by enticing the Deva Queen into this.

Sundara Mahish looked out of his window, gazing at the night sky filled with numerous stars. Sending two messages within three weeks, Queen Sachi? Isn't it desperate from your end? Let me make you wait some more days... it's necessary for you to accept your husband's capabilities.

Your father used the pretext of Guru Shukracharya's first lesson that Devas and Asuras must stay united. He couldn't let anyone else know that it was his daughter who had fallen heads over heels for him. Once she knows the location of Sanjeevani herb, she will keep it for the Devas. It's the gift received to Guru Shukracharya by Lord Shiva. Only we disciples should keep it.

He sighed and retired to his bed. He had barely closed his eyes when he heard a loud bang and muffled screams.

***

Here I am with an update after 2 weeks and ending it with a cliffhanger!  Sorry for no updates for past weeks, there was a lot going on in my professional and personal life.

Thank you for reading.