Mrithyunjay had been avoiding his mother ever since he reached. He had kept himself busy on one pretext or the other. His mother had come to meet him a couple of times and he simply ran away from that place not knowing how to face her. His guilt that he hadn't been able to save his own father clung to him.

The ladies were busy at the moment. They were all preparing food. But knowing his mother as he did, Mrithyunjay knew she would insist on feeding him with her own hands. He had just finished discussing their further plans when the sweet smell of food wafted up his nostrils.

Katyayani was waiting at the entrance of the hut with rice, lentils and vegetable stew served on a palm leaf plate. Mrithyunjay's companions took leave of him. She set the plate on a small wooden desk and unfurled a mat in front of it for him to sit.

"Wash you hands and come", she said. "I'll be waiting for you."

Mrithyunjay washed his hands in the courtyard where a pitcher of water had been kept for this purpose and seated himself before the food. Katyayani sat beside him waving a handmade fan to beat the sweltering heat and humidity. He nodded occasionally to his mother's observations or remarks but did not venture any remarks of his own. He concentrated solely upon the food placed before him. He finished the food and washed his hands before returning to the room.

Katyayani sighed, "My son has really grown up. We used to have so much to speak to each other when you were small. Now you hardly have anything to say to your mother."

Mrithyunjay held up his palm in front of her mouth, "Please don't say like that, mother. I missed those old times. I have so much I want to say. But I hardly know how to begin."

"Are you blaming yourself for your father? Or do you feel I will hold you responsible for it?"

Mrithyunjay broke out crying in her lap, "I didn't know it was him. I would have never let him sacrifice his life if only I knew."

She patted him gently, "I've lived more than fourteen summers and winters with neither husband nor son beside me. At least now, I have my son. Am I not lucky?"

She wiped his tears with the hem of her striped cotton saree, "In the many years of our marriage, every time your father left me and went, I knew that there was this possibility that he would never come back again. Everyone sees the bravery of a warrior in the battle field. They sings ballads in its praise. But they never see the bravery of the woman who sends her husband, her sons, her brothers or her father to the battle field with a smiling face knowing fully well that she might be the one left behind to lead her life all alone."

"How can you be so calm about it, mother? I still cannot accept even to myself that he is gone?"

"Your father has gone to a place where neither sorrow nor pain can touch him. Why should I cry for him? I just have to pick up the broken pieces of my life and memories and carry on with it."

Calm and strength descended upon both of them. He asked his mother, "Mother, would you say 'No' if I tell you now that I have to go again?"

After a brief pause, she asked, "When is it? I was planning to make your favorite ladoos. I'll pack them for your journey."

"Pack a little bit more than you usually do. I want my bride to taste my mother's wonderful cooking."

Shock and surprise were writ on her face. She hastily recollected herself, "How silly of me! You are nearly twenty-four. Of course, you must have a bride. Who is she? Tell me all about her."

He said, "She is our Princess Bhagiradhi. She doesn't have even one ounce of pride despite her royal birth. She is so sweet, modest and unassuming. One cannot help but fall in love with her, mother."

Katyayani's mouth opened wide when she heard about who his bride really was but she quickly reaccustomed herself to the idea. Bhagiradhi's thoughts unconsciously brought a slight smile to Mrithyunjay's face. She teased him, "Your bride must really be very special if just her memory brings such a broad smile to your face. Bring her along with you when you come back. I can't wait to be acquainted with my daughter."
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In the open seas,
Simhamukha and Shatadru stood on the open deck of their ship starring at vast expanse of water as they drifted far away from the coastline of Mahishmati. The black flag with a human skull and bones fluttered in the heavy breeze. The fading light of the day gave them an opportunity to slip past the security cordon surrounding the port. They had escaped with the remnants of the army Athikay's private army before they were captured when they realised that the military coup was doomed for failure.

"My empire building dreams are over. Back to the open seas", Simhamukha said.

"Yes, mine too. We got away while the going was good", Shatadru replied. "Poor Athikay! Beaten by a mere slip of a boy!"

"We were too, remember Shatadru. We would be ruling over an empire if only he wasn't there. All those years I spent looting ships and recruiting mercenaries for Athikay went to naught. At least, we can rule over the seas now."

"Yes, we will make these seas quake with terror", Shatadru said raising up the toast.
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In Narasimha's chamber,
Narasimha was aroused from his sleep by a slight rustling sound. He pretended to be asleep to lull the intruders. His hand travelled to the sword he always kept ready for emergencies near his bed. He heard two pair of footsteps behind the green curtain.

Narasimha lunged towards it and instantly pulled down the cord of the curtain. He backed both of them against the wall with his sword and was about to sound the alarm when he heard the sweet, startled voice of his friend, "It's me, Bhavani. Everyone convinced me it was going to be useless. But I knew you would listen to me."

Narasimha eased himself and allowed her and her companion to emerge from the shadows, "How did both of you come to my room undetected?"

"There is a secret passage in this palace from 'The Floating Hallway of the Hundred Pillars'. The other secret passages were destroyed by Subahu. But this one still remains", her companion said.

"What did both of you want to see me about?" Narasimha asked.

"Meet my uncle, Aditya Varma."

Bhavani turned towards her companion and introduced him to Narasimha. Narasimha acknowledged him with a nod of his head.

She paced about the room with excitement, "I just learned something really momentous from him. You are not really Subahu's son. You are the son of Mahendra Baahubali. He tells me you actually know this. Is it true?"

Narasimha's brows creased with irritation, "Not that story again! How many times must I tell people I don't believe a single word of it!"

He thumped the side table beside his bed in frustration. Bhavani immediately gestured him not to make any noise and alert the guards about their presence in his chamber. Just as she feared, one of his guards who was guarding the door asked, "Do you need anything, Prince?"

"No, I just accidentally kicked my side table. Thank you."

"I shouldn't have come here as matters stand between Kunthala and Mahishmati. But I trusted you to come so far. Listen to whatever I say with an open mind", she said. "I know it is very difficult for you to believe and come to terms with all this. If you depose Maharaj Subahu and declare yourself as the king, we will all support you. This war won't happen either. I believe it can be done easily too. You have the full support of the council of ministers and the army."

"But I will never do it. I would rather die fighting", said Narasimha with his chin held up high.

"The consequences are going to be horrible. You will be fighting your own elder sister, Bhagiradhi because of your misplaced loyalties. And she has no other option but to fight you because you are on Maharaj Subahu's side", said Bhavani wringing her hands. "One sibling against the other. History is repeating itself."

"I didn't call for the war. She declared it. I never intervened when Kunthala, Ashwakootam or Vijayapuri declared their independence. I am merely protecting what is mine."

"It is all yours, Gajendra", Aditya Varma said. "But you are fighting on behalf of Subahu. He is fighting for his life now. But he is going to wake up one day and all this is again going to go back to him because you kept it safe for him. I will suggest another alternative. Just stay out of this war.Don't fight. Remain neutral."

Narasimha folded his hands, "You ask the impossible from a warrior." After a long pause, he said, "I will distract the guards and attendants outside. This will give both of you the opportunity to slip away unnoticed."

He sent the sentries who were guarding his chamber on an errand. He turned to Bhavani and Aditya Varma to inform them that the coast was clear. Bhavani's face paled. As they were leaving, she said, "We part now. We'll meet again after three days; but this time as foes; on the battlefield."

Narasimha did not say anything. He sat on his bed; his eyes wide open. He turned the sand dial on his side table upside down. After the last particle of sand had trickled down and the early rays of the sun filtered in through the curtains, he summoned the officer in charge of the palace security. He showed him the secret passage in the hallway, "Destroy this pillar and passage. Forever!"

A heavy weight settled itself on his shoulders and chest as he turned back. His shoulders drooped. His sunny and cheery expression had deserted him.
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