Raja Viraj struggled to open his eyes to find the structure of the tent above his head. One of the nurses murmured something, and the next moment, he could feel some of them walking around in urgency. He tried hard to open his eyes fully, but he felt drowsy. Observing how his pain was numbed, he assumed it was the medication and fell back asleep. The next time he woke was because he heard the trinkets of a royal lady near him.
“Smriti?” He whispered as his lips moved a little and he once again tried to open his eyes.
“What are you trying to say?” The old medicine man leaned in. The Maharani of Neelambargarh walked up to the other side of the bed.
“No, it’s me. Priya.” She said, leaning a little over him. “Are you fine now?” Her voice trembled. Raja Viraj opened his eyes with great difficulty. Seeing Priyambada made him a little disoriented. Where was he? Was he dreaming?
“You killed him.” The medicine man said, “And now you are fine. Have some wine.” He chuckled, amused himself before gathering his bundle and bowing to the queen, who sat down on his spot.
“Do you want me to tell her?” Raja Viraj frowned, a little disoriented at Priyambada. He wasn’t hallucinating. What was she doing there?
“Priya.” He managed. “It is… not safe…” A faint smile appeared in the corner of Priyambada’s lips at his words.
“So, he keeps saying. But it’s all over now.” She sounded confident. “I assure you.”
“The war is over?” Raja Viraj repeated the words as though he couldn’t believe it. “Did we win?” How many days was he unconscious?
“Well…” Priyambada shrugged.
Near the temples of the Blue-Necked One, on the border of Suryapali, the Maya often flooded the banks. Legends said a part of the Maya often ran under the temple base, and it was a miracle. Ishaan Dev had grown up hearing about those legends from his aunt. So, he wasn’t surprised when his offer to sit and talk was accepted by Ravi Varman, who wanted to meet there. It was a secluded spot, a little away from the main battlefield. The dawn hence heard no conch shells or metals clashing. The soldiers in both camps were alert and tired, hoping it was all over. Ishaan Dev had asked Raja Girik to accompany him to the talk. Raja Girik was eager too, because he wanted to thank Ravi Varman for not taking his life. And if the treaty worked in peace, he would give both brothers a piece of news he had received a few days earlier. He was going to be a father soon.
Ravi Varman had bathed and dressed, as the servants helped him with the attire and jewellery. When he was handed over the crown of Suryapali, he stared at the gem-studded golden crown just for a while before placing it down and shaking his head. “I am going to see my brother today.” He murmured almost to himself. Raja Sarthak of Gandak was insisting that he should accompany the Maharaja. Ravi Varman declined his offer as politely as he could. Instead, he decided to take one of the surviving generals, one of the finest of Suryapali, along. It stunned Raja Sarthak.
“You are my family. Even if I don’t agree with your ways, you are still my daughter’s…”
“I am going to meet my brother and my brother-in-law. They are family, too.” Raja Sarthak wondered what an emotional fool and unfit ruler the king of Suryapali was. Raja Sarthak had given in to his impulsive choices and told his daughter to leave for Suryapali from Gandak. She must be on her way. He knew the letter from Maharani Sumedha that he received after the battle the previous day had changed his mind, whatever the reasons were. He wondered about how Devastuti promised him to be an important aid to Suryapali. Did she not see how the queen held influence over the king, enough to change his mind about a war? Raja Sarthak made a mental note to let Devastuti have a piece of his mind about her wrong observations once the baby was there. Perhaps the baby would change their equation.
Raja Girik rode ahead of Maharaja Ishaan Dev of Neelambargarh and reached the clearing first. The general from Suryapali bowed to him, and Maharaja Ravi Varman of Suryapali walked out from the temple premises to surprise him with an informal greeting of a hug. He found it odd how Ravi Varman was there with only the general. Perhaps he wanted to come across as trustworthy, like Ishaan Dev did. Raja Girik’s senses were alerted. Usually, such cases involve bluffing from either or both parties. He might not know, but there could be soldiers lurking around, perhaps raiders too. He could not die without seeing Nayantara now. The leaves rustled, jolting him from his thoughts as Ishaan Dev came out of the clearing, and Vidyut stopped. He got down from his horse and observed how Ravi Varman chose not to wear his title to the treaty the way he did. Whether it was emotions or simply strategy, who could tell? But after a long time, when Ravi Varman approached him for a hug, Ishaan Dev felt a sense of nostalgia. He did not remember the last time they had acted like brothers.
“We should sit down here.” Raja Girik looked a little alarmed.
“Look, I could have continued the war. But I don’t wish to because of the losses incurred by my people. Our people. They have suffered enough.” Ravi Varman spoke first. He wanted to make it sound like he did have the resources to continue, even if he was unsure for how long. Ishaan Dev nodded in agreement. They were sitting down, legs folded at the shrine of the Lord, and both the general and Raja Girik were assigned the task of carrying scrolls of the conditions. "And I know you will also honour Father's wishes." Ishaan Dev nodded silently. Ravi Varman still found his silence a little intimidating as he cleared his throat. A smile formed on the tip of Ishaan Dev's lips as though he could read his brother's mind. He seemed pleased with it,
“I simply want you to respect the territories and stay within the borders.” Ravi Varman had expected a backlash. Perhaps a cold stare or even abuse. Instead, Ishaan Dev cleared his throat and continued. “And just to be clear, the kingdoms without a king now, Meendeep, Aswar, and Mait, are ours.” Ravi Varman frowned a little. “We won over Meendeep fairly.”
“You can have the other islands. I am not letting Meendeep go. Vairath is yours.” Ravi Varman realised there was no point starting another feud over the island. He nodded.
“I will hand over your mother to you. She is healthy and well.” Ravi Varman said as Ishaan Dev’s jaws tightened.
“Fair enough, but I want justice on her behalf.” He said, remembering Priyambada’s reminder about the non-negotiable last condition.
“But you already have it, Trishaan is…” For the first time, the brothers looked at each other at his mention and inhaled. Were they fools to be played by his elaborate plans, or did he simply turn the keys where it worked? Tempted them with things they wanted to be tempted by. More often than not, people blame others because they can’t accept their flaws and mistakes. It is always easy to blame someone who cannot defend themselves. Was Trishaan that?
“I am not talking about the imprisonment. I am talking about the poisoning.” Ravi Varman looked up at Ishaan Dev’s tense face as he nodded, embarrassed. “I swear, Ishaan, neither Sumedha nor I knew… We already have her in prison.”
“Execute her.” Ishaan Dev’s words made Raja Girik gasp, as he silently put his hand over the handle of his sword. He was sure the brothers were going to kill each other any moment then.
“Ishaan… she is my mother…” Ravi Varman appeared calm, though droplets of perspiration were visible on his forehead under the morning sun.
“And she killed our father.” Ishaan Dev spoke firmly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.” Ravi Varman sighed.
“I assumed it was Trishaan. In revenge for his mother…” Ravi Varman shook his head.
“But it wasn’t. He wanted the throne, he wanted us dead, yes. But not father. He waited all his life for his approval and affection and…”
“I never knew he could be a contender to the throne… none of us did, right?” Ravi Varman lamented. Ishaan Dev shook his head.
“He told me aunt knew, and if she did so, do our mothers…” An eerie silence followed as the breeze rustled against the dried leaves and the birds chirped. Once in a while, the horses neighed, and an animal or two could be heard in the distance.
“I will do that.” Ishaan Dev looked up as Ravi Varman nodded. “I will execute her. She put the future of the state in jeopardy; she killed the king. She…” Suddenly, there was a lump in his throat, and he stopped. I did it for you. He could hear Ratnawati’s voice ring in his ears. Ishaan Dev knew what he was thinking.
“Don’t blame yourself for her choices,” he said in a brotherly tone. “You were taught to want what she wanted.”
“Yet I am not ready to give it up, too.” Ravi Varman confessed. “At any cost.” Ishaan Dev observed him keenly. Was it a threat? Perhaps not. It was honesty.
“We should honour Father’s wishes properly." Ishaan Dev nodded.
“And sign a treaty not to overstep each other’s boundaries in the future.” Ravi Varman agreed.
“As long as I am king, you have my word on it, but Neelambargarh will not help Suryapali in its battles, nor do we expect you to side with us.” Ravi Varman nodded as Ishaan Dev spoke.
“And neither will the respective allies.” He added.
“This is the first time in history, perhaps…” Raja Girik wondered aloud. “That Suryapali and Neelambargarh are entering a peace treaty after a war.”
