SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 2 - TANGLES OF HATRED

A solution was found

When Madanrekha reached Kusumavali, Pushpalata had come there with the medicine. She was waiting for Madanrekha only.
She curiously asked Madanrekha, “Have you spoken with the commander?”
“Yes, he has been informed of the entire scenario. Now we can do our work without any hesitation!”
Pushpalata gave the medicine which was in liquid form to Kusumavali.
“This way, the medicine has to be taken twice a day. The work will be done on the seventh day.”
“Very good. If the work gets done and my mind becomes sinless, at least the disinterest towards the king will vanish!”
“It will, queen! You keep patience for seven days now. Then both, your mind and body will become healthy.”
“Mother, how much pain you are taking for me! And this Madanrekha! She is taking care of me like a sister. Even a sister doesn’t do so much.”
“Enough, queen. Don’t build bridges of our praises or else we’ll bloat away!”
“This plan of ours should be kept very confidential. No one should get any hint about it. It should stay within this room.”
“You relax, queen. Don’t worry at all. The whole plan has been made in such a way that no one will get to know anything.”
The medicine treatment also started off well.
The syrup would be consumed by the queen twice a day. Seven days passed with the blink of an eye.
But success was not achieved!
The being in the womb had come with such powerful life-determining karma that no remedy was effective to kill him. He didn’t die but the use of this medicine had adverse effect on Kusumavali’s body!
Kusumavali’s entire body turned black and weak. Due to the failure of the remedy, the queen also drowned in depression.
She said to Pushpalata, “Is there any other medicine more powerful than this?”
“No, queen! We can’t take any more risk now! Anyway, your body has already shown reactions. Now no other strong medicine should be used.”
“But, this sinful desire is eating me up. I can neither sleep nor rest. Only one cry rises from within, ‘I shall feed on the King’s intestines!’ What should I say? To whom do I say? The plan of abortion was also unsuccessful. Now bring poison and give it to me. So that I have it and surrender my life to death. If I die, the child will burn along with my dead body!”
“No, queen! Don’t think such negative things.”
This conversation was going on when the king entered the bedroom. He looked at Kusumavali!
• Pale face
• Withered body
• Dark complexion
He said, “Devi, what is this happening! Is any of your wish not being fulfilled or has someone disobeyed your orders? Or is your heart angry because of any mistake of mine? Just look at your face in the mirror! Tell me, what should I do for you? I’ll do whatever you want!”
“Swami, I am fed up of life. I want death but I am not getting it! What should I do? You only tell me.”
“But why? Why are you getting so sad?”
“My misfortune!”
Queen Kusumavali started weeping.
The king became silent. He changed the topic of the conversation. After spending some time chatting casually, he got out of the room. He gestured Madanrekha to follow him. Madanrekha came out.
The king said in a very soft voice, “All you friends of the queen, come and meet me in my cabinet. I need to talk to you urgently.’’
The king left. Madanrekha stood stunned and speechless like a statue! Panic spread in her heart! Would the king have come to know about the abortion? Are we being called together because of that?
She called Pushpalata and said, “All of us have been called by the king. Come on.’’
Pushpalata started sweating, “Oh no! What will happen now? Will the king punish us? Will he remove us from the palace?”
“Nothing will happen, don’t panic! The commander is also with us. Then why are you afraid? Stop worrying and come along. Shubhankara, Priyankara, everyone has been called. They have to come too!”
The entire group of friends with Madanrekha walking in the front entered the king’s cabinet.
Everyone greeted the king.
“Come inside everyone, I’m glad all of you have come,” he said.
“How can we serve you?” Madanrekha said is in a very polite voice.
The king’s face turned intense. Shadows of pain floated in his eyes. His voice was heavy with agony.
“Madanrekha, you are all clever, capable, you know the queen since childhood. Then why are you neglecting her?”
“We are neglecting? And that too, the queen? Who has filled your ears with such a white lie? All of us stay with her every moment and take utmost care of her. She is more precious to us than our lives.”
“Then what has made such condition of the queen? Her body has shrunk so much! Her body has become so dark. Even her eyes have gone inside. And the shadow of despair has spread in her entire personality. Moreover, now she is thinking of dying too.”
“Your Majesty, do you think that we are not worried about her condition? We are all upset and restless because of her grief, but what can we do?”
“Madanrekha, I know very well and certainly believe that some desire has arisen in Kusumavali’s mind. It is natural for a pregnant woman to have various cravings. You should find out which such desire has become intense in her mind. I am capable of fulfilling every wish of hers! Nothing is impossible for me!”
‘’Your Majesty, we, innocent women, are criminals by nature. Ignorance is also natural in us. I know the intense desire of the queen’s mind. Even the nursemaid knows about this.’’
“You know all this? Then you should tell me!”
“It’s not worth talking about, since it is impossible.”
“So what? What you think is impossible, can be possible for me! You must make me aware of the queen’s desire.”
Madanrekha fell into dilemma! She looked at Pushpalata.
Pushpalata  said, “Madanrekha, tell everything to the king. There is no need to hide things. We couldn’t do anyting. Maybe he will find out some solution for it.”
Madanrekha told everything, from the dream to the desire of eating his intestine. She also shared about the abortion attempts.
Hearing this, the king suddenly stood up from the throne!
He got emotional and said, “Really, how much affection the queen has for me! For my safety, she is even ready to let go of her child! She has immense love for me in her heart, even more than her son!
Madanrekha, if her wish is not fulfilled then she will suffer. The unborn baby will be harmed. I think and find some way out. Then you act as per my instructions. Okay, you can go now!”
The friends left.
The king was sitting alone, immersed in deep thought!
He couldn’t figure out anything, his confusion was increasing! Suddenly, he remembered Minister Sumtisagar and immediately sent an attendant to call him.
The minister came.
The king gave him a befitting welcome. Since the era of King Purushdutt, Minister Sumtisagar was holding the post of leading minister with utmost devotion and dedication. He had immense affection for Sinhraja.
Seeing lines of anxiety on the face of his beloved king, he asked, “Your majesty, why do you seem to be so worried? This employee of yours is eager to serve you day and night. Still, you are taking stress, this is shameful to my capabilities. Speak freely. You can openly share the problem with me. For me, you are my boss first, king later.”
The king told about Kusumavali’s dream. As soon as the days of pregnancy started increasing, neglect and disinterest in the queen’s behavior started hiking. He also shared about her intense craving of having his intestine and the unsuccessful attempts of abortion.
The minister listened to everything carefully. This was the first time such a complex issue had come up in his life. But he was intelligent, mature and far-sighted. Giving up was not a part of his nature.
‘If there is a problem, there must be a solution. The difference is in finding it’ – this was his motto.
He said, “Your Majesty, I will get back to you in the evening. The queen’s wish will be fulfilled, and you will not get the slightest scratch. I will find such a solution.’’
The king got up and went to the door to bid the minister. He felt quite light. There was hope of finding a solution to the problem. In many incidents, he had experienced the minister’s intellect. His faith in him had become stronger.
The king had a sleepless night the previous day. Kusumavali’s tension had not let him sleep the entire night. Now that his stress had lightened, the weight of sleep descended on his eyelids. He went to his bedroom and fell asleep.
***
It was only an hour before sunset that king’s eyes opened. When he got down from the bed, Madanrekha entered the room with a plate of food in her hand.
“Your Majesty, only one hour is left for the sun to set. Have your meal!”
“But how did you bring food today?”
Madanrekha said, “The queen ordered me.”
“Oh! She takes care of me even in such a dreadful situation. Well, serve it. I am very hungry today.”
The king had his meal. Taking the plate, Madanrekha was about to leave. She looked at the king for a moment.
The king noticed the question in her eyes.
He said, “Don’t worry, a solution will be found. And if possible, we will fulfill the queen’s wish tomorrow itself.”
“But the queen will not agree to it.”
“The minister will convince her.”
“But still…”
“Stop worrying and have faith in the blessings of the Almighty. We have to continue our efforts.”
Madanrekha got some rays of hope.
The maid entered the room and said, “The minister is waiting for you in the cabinet.”
Immediately, the king reached the cabinet. The minister greeted him. He sent the servant outside and closed the door. He came and sat beside the king.
“Your Majesty, the solution has been found.’’
“Very nice!”
“Tomorrow, you will have to fast. After passing stools, you will be blindfolded. An artificial intestinal net will be laid on your stomach. A cloth strap will be tied tightly on it. With your upper garment on top, you will be asked to lie down and the intestines will be removed in front of the queen. All this will have to be done with great tact and care.’’
“The idea is good. But what if the queen does not agree?” the king recollected Madanrekha’s response and asked.
“I will convince the queen,” the minister said.
“Then I will fast tomorrow. I will take medicines and pass stools in the morning.”
“I have to get the artificial intestines made. My trusted craftsman will make the intestines out of edible items.”
“When will you go to the queen then?”
“Tomorrow morning!”
The minister left. The king went to meet Queen Kusumavali in her room.
***
The minister called a very trusted craftsman and explained the method of making artificial intestines.
“Just like the intestine that is removed from the stomach is stained with blood and flesh, a similar intestine should be made. You have to make four intestines. Even if it is tied on the stomach, it should not be noticeable. Wrap it with a fake skin membrane. That’s all you have to do. After this, I will do the work of removing them in my own way. I need it ready by tomorrow night. One thing should be kept in mind, all the substances filled in it should be edible.”
The minister packed thousand gold coins and gave it to the craftsman. He got happy. After taking leave, he went to do his work.
The minister came to the palace.
Reaching Kusumavali’s bedroom, he said to Priyankara, “Go and inform the queen that I want to meet her.”
Priyankara went inside the room and told her about the minister’s arrival.”
Kusumavali said, “Bring him inside with due respect.”
Kusumavali adjusted her clothes, tied her hair, got down from the bed and sat on the seat.
The minister greeted the queen. Kusumavali also respectfully bowed to the minister and welcomed him.
Kusumavali sent all her maids outside the room.
“Queen, as long as your desire is not fulfilled, your body will become weaker. So, the desire has to be fulfilled! The king has told me. I will fulfill your wish.’’
‘’But how? Will the king be able to live after his intestines are removed? I don’t want to live by killing the king!’’
‘’I agree with your sentiment. But if I remove his intestine and give it to you in such a way that the king’s life isn’t harmed, then? The king will immediately be given best medical treatment by skilled doctors. His wound will soon be healed. He will be fine soon. Your wish will also be fulfilled.”
Kusumavali agreed and said, “Okay, my wish will be fulfilled. But after birth, this child will only cause harm to his father. That’s why, I don’t want to keep him alive by giving him birth!”
“We will think about this later. We will find a find a solution as per your wish.”
“I will never forget your obligation.”
“What obligation, queen? This is my duty. I will fulfill my duty. Be relaxed.”