SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 2 - TANGLES OF HATRED

Preparing to destroy the root

In the secret room of the palace, well-known healers of Jaipur had started their mantra-experiments. The masters of tantra had also started laying a web of their tantra experiments. All this was happening hidden from Kusumavali. King Sinh’s permission had already been obtained.
The king’s heart was throbbing with agony. ‘The queen insulted me.’ It was not anguish but he was troubled with Kusumavali’s deteriorating mental condition. Day by day, the condition of Kusumavali was worsening. Nobody was understanding anything. Finally, the masters of mantra-tantra were invited by Madanrekha to solve this issue.
The gentleness of Kusumavali’s face had faded. Layers of hardness and roughness had settled on her face. The fountain of affection which would always flow in her eyes, had dried up in the fire of grief, as if intense flames of alienation were rising in her eyes. Her honey-like sweet tongue was brimming with bitterness and pungency. It was as if her entire personality had become corrupt. Her beauty was fading like a palash leaf!
Kusumavali ’s mother Muktavali also came to meet her after receiving the news of her pregnancy. The king welcomed her. Muktavali went to Kusumavali. She was shocked on seeing her! Her heart suddenly became apprehensive and terrified by her changed appearance.
“Daughter, are you okay? Is your pregnancy healthy?”
Kusumavali suddenly stood up and hugged Muktavali. Her heart shattered and she broke down.
“Mother, I’m not at peace even for a moment! My head is exploding. The whole world seems to be spinning like a whirlwind. I don’t like anything, neither any object nor any person.”
“Is any treatment going on?”
“The king asks me to take medication but I refuse.”
“But why?”
“Mother, I don’t feel like doing anything!”
Muktavali looked at Madanrekha who was standing there.
Madanrekha said to Muktavali, “I have a request for you. Please ask the queen not to behave inappropriately with the king and humiliate him in every small matter.”
‘’What am I hearing, Kusum? You insulted the king? This is like moonlight creating a burning sensation. Is it true, Kusum?”
Kusumavali could not control herself. She blinked rapidly and her eyes turned moist.
Muktavali pulled Kusum in her lap. Muktavali also started crying.
“Mother, are you crying? Why are you crying because of my sins? Oh this fate! I am making everyone sad and anxious. How unfortunate of me!”
“No change can be brought in the situation by merely crying or pondering over it. It would be appropriate if you speak your mind and explain why is all this happening? Which such thing is growing like poison in you? Well, if you don’t want to tell me, then tell your mother. This dark sheet of your sadness has taken away the happiness of the entire palace!”
Kusumavali raised her eyelids and looked at Madanrekha. Madanrekha was her childhood friend. After Kusumavali’s marriage, she also came with Kusumavali. She herself was from a small house. But she was married to Jaipal, the commander of the state. Commander Jaipal was a loyal friend of Sinhraja. He was just and dutiful. He was a great warrior!
Jaipal was aware of Kusumavali and Madanrekha’s friendship.
So, Madanrekha had complete freedom to go to the palace and live with Kusumavali whenever she wanted. Their bodies were separate but their minds seemed to be one! They never hid their thoughts from each other! But today, Madanrekha felt that Kusumavali was hiding something from her. Thus, Madanrekha told her clearly in the presence of Muktavali herself.
“But Madan, you tell me, have I ever hidden anything from you?”
“Yes, ever since you’re pregnant, there is something that you are trying to hide from me and even from the king. Well, I don’t feel upset about it. I am upset with your behaviour that has changed towards the king! My heart breaks into pieces when I see a God-like king leaving sad and disappointed from here.
“Kusum, this is a huge mistake of yours! There is no other sin like unreasonable insult of a husband who loves you more than his life. You have gone astray. Your intellect has changed. Why is all this happening? After all, what is it that is separating you from the king? Say something.”
“Do you want to listen? Your heart will be depressed after you hear it!”
“Don’t worry about that. Whatever it is, empty your heart by talking to me.”
“Well then mother, you also listen! Ever since I got pregnant, I have developed lack and dislike towards the king. And with the growth of the womb, this distance is also increasing! My anger towards him is also inflating. Is this possible by me? But this is the fault of the creature who came in my womb! It is because of this evil creature that my ill-will and misbehaviour towards the king is growing. This is not my mere imagination or wave of mind. I had a terrible dream the night I got pregnant.”
“What was that dream?” Madanrekha was desperate.
“A black snake entered my mouth and reached my womb. After some time, it came out and bit the king who was sitting on the throne. The king fell on the ground and collapsed.”
Madanrekha said, “Oh! This clearly explains the reason behind the change in your nature. Its because of this sinful creature that all this mishap is happening.”
Madanrekha looked at Muktavali.
Being wise and experienced, Muktavali said, “The remedy will definitely be found in mantra and tantra experiments!”
“Then I will look into this matter.”
There was silence in the room. All three women sank into deep thought.
After a few moments, Madanrekha asked, “Queen, did you share about your dream with the king?”
“No, Madan.”
“Good.”
“Till then, I had a lot of love for him. There was an infinite affection! I used to love him with all my heart. But as this womb is getting bigger, my attitude and feelings towards him...”
“Calm down daughter, all this is the crookedness of karmas. Everything will be fine once good karmas arise! Have faith in God!”
“Mother, may your words be true,” said Madanrekha.
Muktavali caressed Kusumavali’s head and went away.
***
Madanrekha went to the secret section. The mantra-tantra healers had completed their respective practices.
The chief healer said, “There is no shadow of any demonic element on the queen. There is no effect of any external element either.”
Everyone else had the same opinion.
“After diagnosis, we have also reached the same conclusion that there is no possession of any devil on the queen. The cause isn’t external but internal.”
Madanrekha acknowledged them and sent them with their reward. Madanrekha’s mind had already been resolved earlier. Everything became clear from Kusumavali’s dream. Now there was only one remedy left, and that was - the bad effect of the foetus should not influence the mother’s mind too much! Madanrekha thought a lot.
‘There might definitely be someone in the entire state who can do such a remedy! The effect of the womb should not affect the mother under any circumstances!’
She couldn’t find any such person! She thought of another method. ‘The king shall meet Kusumavali as rarely as possible so that the pain of seeing the queen does not arise!’ She explained Priyankara and Shubhankara in her own way regarding how to make the king return from the door of the room itself.
She herself started spending more time with Kusumavali. Pushpalata also used to roam around Kusumavali’s room. The queen was also trying her best to keep her mind happy. But after all, these were all external measures.
In the mind of Kusumavali, the flow of bad thoughts was continuously going on! In her spare time, she would often be surrounded by cruel and murderous thoughts! One day, a terrible desire arose in her mind. That insatiable desire was to eat the king’s intestines.
The thought arose and kept on flashing. It burdened and made  Kusumavali wildly nervous. ‘How awful did I think? It is all because of this sinful creature in my womb. I don’t want such a son! Shall I abort the child? So then I’ll be freed from the clutches of terrible thoughts! This creature will cause harm to his father. But that will happen if he is born, right? I will not give birth to it at all. I will break him into pieces in my womb!”
She soon called Pushpalata and Madanrekha to her room.
Priyankara was given strict information to sit outside the room. “Don’t let anyone in.’’
Kusumavali said, “Look, you both are very trustworthy. You can digest the matter. So there is one important thing to tell you.”
“Say it without any hesitation,” Madanrekha said.
“Look, I want to get rid of the womb. I don’t want a child now. Think of a way out.”
“What does that mean? Speak clearly.”
“It is due to the sin of this womb that I have been dominated by a terrible and evil thought since morning! There has been a highly sinful craving. I will give up my life, I will accept death, but I will not let such a disgusting wish come true!”
“What kind of desire, queen? Atleast say something.”
“The desire of eating the king’s intestine.”
“Queen, such a cheap craving?”
“That’s why I called you! I don’t want a creature that generates such desires! I will live without a son but I don’t want a son who harms my husband and hurts his own father! I don’t even want to give birth to him! You get me such medicine that will cause abortion.”
Pushpalata was skilled in such tasks. She used to do such work quickly and cleverly. But this proposal was from the queen. Abortion cannot be done only by the will of the queen. It also requires the consent of the king.
She said, “Queen, you have boundless love for the king in your heart. And we can understand that such an idea has arisen in your mind as a consequence of that affection. But for this, it is necessary to take the king’s consent as well. Doing anything like this without his permission is dangerous. If he finds out any day...”
“Why are you worrying about it? You will not face any kind of punishment. All responsibility of the abortion is mine! I will solve that out.”
Yet, Pushpalata’s heart was not agreeing! Some other responsible person should also get involved in it.
She thought and told Madanrekha, “Shall we talk about this to Queen Muktavali?”
“Then everything will be goofy. Muktavali herself wants to see her daughter become a mother. Instead of joining hands in this plan, she will punish both of us!”
“Okay will you do one thing?”
“You discuss this with the commander. But with great secrecy! If any kind of problem arises in future, at least he’ll be our support. Moreover, he is also a close friend of the king! He will handle the king’s anger if required.”
Madanrekha thought for a moment. She analysed the repercussions and agreed.
“That’s it. So, I’ll bring the medicine tonight. Okay?”
“But give the queen some time to think about the consequences!”
“This is my final decision, Madan! I have taken this decision after quite some thinking. You don’t know what a poisonous snake it is! I will not give birth to it. Pushpalata, you go and bring the medicines in such a way that no one gets to know.”
Madanrekha said, “And I will go home and explain the situation to Jaipal. We’ll have to take him on our side right? Since the future son of the king...”
“Enough, no need to speak further, Madan! You go and do your work! I will have Priyankara and Shubhankara with me all day today!”
“There is one more trustworthy maidservant. I am sending her to you.”
“Alright, send her.”
***
Madanrekha reached home.
Commander Jaipal was preparing to go out. He saw that Madanrekha was somewhat restless.
Laughing, he asked Madanrekha, ‘’What is the matter? Have you fought with the queen today or has she insulted you?”
“No. There is nothing like that. Is it okay if you don’t go out today?”
“So, order, Devi.”
“You have to order. I only have to request. But I want some time of yours.”
“Okay, I’m ready. Say.”
“Not here. We’ll sit in the cabinet and discuss.”
“Is it such a serious issue of the royal palace?”
“Yes!”
Jaipal’s figure was quite tall and muscular. He had a prominent nose and broad forehead. His eyes were glossy and bright. A precious chain was swinging down his neck. Dressed in beautiful clothes, his body seemed to be graceful and attractive. For Madanrekha, it was all a legacy of dreams she had cherished over the years. He had good command over the entire kingdom. His warfare skills were praised everywhere.
Both of them went to the cabinet and sat down. Madanrekha narrated the entire story of Kusumavali. She said everything very carefully! Jaipal listened with utter concentration. He stood up before coming up to a conclusion. He started walking in the room. An hour passed this way.
Madanrekha said, “I am eager to know your decision.”
He said, “Okay, do whatever the queen wishes. I take responsibility of the king.”
All the anxiety on Madanrekha’s face washed away like water. Her face blossomed like a rose flower. She ran and Jaipal called her.
“Wait, you want to go to the palace, right? Come with me in the chariot. I too have to go to meet the king for some work. But firstly, my empty stomach is complaining.”
“Oh I forgot you haven’t eaten.”
“Yes, if you had not come, we were going to have dinner with the king in the palace itself. But now that you are here, I will be satisfied only with the taste of your food moistened with affection. Then we’ll go to the palace.”
Madanrekha immediately prepared food and served it. She herself sat next to Jaipal with a hand-fan.
While eating, Jaipal said, “How noble is the queen’s love for the king! Otherwise women are more attached to the child than the husband.”
“The queen did so many prayers to get a son! She had such an intense desire for a son! And today, she!”
Madanrekha noticed the maid in the kitchen and became quite.
What pleases today, becomes intolerable tomorrow. What is disliked today, becomes pleasing tomorrow! This is man’s dependency!
Change and transformation is his fate!
The meal got over.
Both the husband and wife sat in the chariot and headed towards the palace.