Bhagiradhi and Gajendra Baahubali issued out of Subahu's chamber. The royal physician gave them a detailed update on his health condition. He shook his head as he said, "Maharaj Subahu has degenerated into the vegetative state. His health condition shows no signs of improvement."

Bhagiradhi's lips were pursed and her face wore a very circumspect look. Gajendra crossed his arms and followed her. He did not lift his eyes that were glued to the ground.

They walked slowly. They reached Bhagiradhi's chamber. The doors closed behind them. Bhagiradhi sat on the divan and Gajendra stood in front of her. The silence stretched and expanded until it swallowed the whole chamber.

"It just doesn't make any sense", she said. She thrummed and massaged her temple with her right hand fingers. Her left hand fingers tugged and pulled out a loose, gnarled thread out of the divan.

Gajendra Baahubali sat down at her feet and caught hold of her right hand. He took it to his brow as he pleaded with her, "He is beyond the scope of your hatred, Akka."

His tears wetted her hand. She wrenched her hand from his grasp. Her eyes dilated with the emotion she held back from expressing.

"He cannot stay here", Bhagiradhi said.

"Send him away from here but just let him live. Time has already punished him for his actions", Gajendra mumbled beneath his breath. He wept, "After all the truths I learnt, I still haven't learnt to hate him."

"So be it then", she replied. "I cannot risk him and Mrithyunjay coming into contact with each other once again. I lost my family once because of him. I won't lose it again."

Gajendra nodded his head in acquiescence. He returned to his chamber and sat down on his bed. He picked up Eiravati's letter that lay on the side table. He opened it and read. He reread it numerous times before he placed it back where it originally was. He stretched himself on the bed and lay down. Every single word and alphabet was etched in stone within his psyche.

"Dear Son,
I think of you every moment of the day. It is quite peaceful here in this monastery. I am happy with my decision to stay here permanently. Trinethrini revels in this kind of life. I have made peace with whatever has happened.

I thought my life would be meaningless without your father or his love. But I find I can live and I can find meaning in it too. My fears were unfounded. I simply clung to an affection and a way of life I knew. I should have simply let go of things.

Your father was always like this. I knew your father was wrong. I chose not to see it. Forgive him if you can. If only your grandmother hadn't filled his entire life with the poison of hatred, he would have turned out differently.

Whatever you or I gave him later on was never enough to heal the past or fill up the huge void in his heart.

With love and blessings,
Mother."

The next day, Subahu had been placed within a cart. The royal physician and two of his assistants got ready to depart. They were leaving Mahishmati forever along with their invalid patient. Bhagiradhi handed over two bags of coins, "You can purchase a small farm outside the borders of Mahishmati with this money. The income from that farm and this second bag of coins will keep all of you in tolerable comfort."

Gajendra watched bleary-eyed as the cart chugged and rolled on its way. He sighed, "I have forgiven him. But will I ever have him back? The father I loved."

Bhagiradhi stood beside him. She looked into Gajendra's eyes as she said, "When I look at you, I see me fourteen years ago. But at least he lives. You must be satisfied with that."

She continued, "I received news just now that Mrithyunjay is coming back with the retrieved treasury. He isn't going to be very happy when I greet him with this news."

Gajendra weakly nodded his head. He caught hold of Bhagiradhi's hand and cried, "Thank you, Akka. I know how much you have at stake. I promise you will never regret making this decision. I will ensure that."

"Come let's go in", she said. "The past is past."

Sister and brother entered the palace towards their new destiny. Mrithyunjay returned home to a hero's welcome. The people lifted him up on their shoulders and brought him in a victory procession till the entrance of the palace. They sang ballads and poems about his exploits at sea.

Bhagiradhi stood near the entrance of the palace. She performed the Arthi and applied the vermilion mark on his forehead to ward off the evil eye. The common people showered him with flower petals. He bent down and whispered in her ear, "I missed you. How has everything been in my absence?"

Mrithyunjay smiled happily. His expressions were animated and his manner warm and open. Bhagiradhi squirmed and looked towards Gajendra. He hung his head down. She too followed suit.

Mrithyunjay bent down to touch his mother, Katyayani's feet and take her blessings. She raised her palms up and blessed him, "God bless you, my son!"

When they were all comfortably seated in the court hall, Mrithyunjay raised the topic of Subahu. He said, "I think we should all discuss what should be done with the former emperor now. Has the court made its decision?"

The ministers kept studiously silent. They did not venture anything. Gajendra cleared his throat to speak. Bhagiradhi stilled him with her hand. She paused over each of her words as she spoke, "He has been banished from this kingdom. He left this morning."

"Was it the court's decision?" There was a slight start in Mrithyunjay's manner. He tried his best to conceal the look of shock from being evident to the others in the courtroom.

The ministers shuffled in their seats. Gajendra's face wore a troubled look.

"No, it was my decision", she said. Her voice faltered as she replied.

Mrithyunjay nodded in a daze. "Who will take responsibility if this decision backfires?" His voice was low but the sharpness and sting in it did not escape Bhagiradhi.

"I will", replied Gajendra coming to the rescue of his sister who was gripping the sides of her throne real hard and whose power to speak had deserted her for the moment.

"You know how I feel about this. You could have asked me, couldn't you?" His eyes were fixed on Bhagiradhi. He hastily corrected his words, "I mean the court could have been consulted?"

Bhagiradhi's eyes dropped down as she defensively said, "A queen is not answerable for every action or decision she takes. You don't ask me everything. You didn't ask me when you went to Mahishmati instead of Malava. I merely showed mercy to a person who was almost dead."

Mrithyunjay looked as though he had been punched in his gut. He said, "I see. If you took me as an example, the disastrous result of my decision should have warned you against this. Your mercy is misplaced. But since the deed is already done, I have no wish to argue any further. I am tired. I request the court to excuse me."

Mrithyunjay stormed out of the court. Gajendra rose up to follow behind him, "Bhava, it's my fault. I insisted."

Bhagiradhi stopped him saying, "Let him go, Gajendra. He will understand. Eventually."