SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 4 - DISORDER OF ENMITY

Black magic on Dhan

On the morning of the third day, Dhanshri practised black magic on Dhan. She made a plan to kill him ruthlessly. She had been wishing to kill him since many lives. That wish was not letting her live peacefully.
She practised black magic so secretly that neither Dhan nor Nandak had any idea about it. Dhanshri behaved nicely with both of them. The result of black magic would be visible after seven days.
Dhan’s stomach started hurting. ‘By changing my food habits, the pain will go away.' Thinking so, he did not take any medicines! Due to this, his stomach started bloating and the pain increased. Along with that, his hands started drying up. It seemed as if his internal fat and blood had become invisible. His face had swollen up. The swelling kept on increasing. His strong shoulders weakened.
A few days passed. There were wounds on his hands and feet. There was pus in them. His hunger had totally died. He was constantly thirsty; water would not stay in his stomach. Suddenly, in the middle of the sea, Dhan suffered from a major illness. Nandak was frightened. The bodyguards became sad and quiet. The captain of the ship also got worried. Only Dhanshri was happy from within, though she pretended to be sad, worried and upset. She had also started with her emotional drama!
Nandak asked Dhanshri, “How did Dhan fall so sick? What will happen now? My friend, my master is fighting for his life. And we have no medicines or treatment here. How can we cure him?”
Dhanshri put up an expression of sadness on her face and said, “Nandak, maybe it’s travel sickness. I can’t see any other reason!”
Nandak said, “The port that which we had to reach, is nearby now. Surdev has said that as soon as we reach the port, we will look for a doctor and get Dhan treated without any delay. If something happens to Dhan, then how will I face Vaishraman? Not only that, it will be difficult for me to survive!” Nandak started crying. 
Dhanshri also started weeping.
Dhan consoled them and said, “Nandak and Dhanshri, don’t cry. My sinful karmas have suddenly started giving results. It has been truly said that ill fate can arise at anytime. There is no need for you all to be upset. I am bearing the pain patiently.”
Though Dhan was consoling them, but he himself was moved from within! For the first time in his life, he had fallen ill so severely. He was very discouraged. One thought constantly arose in his mind, ‘Should I commit suicide? No! By doing so, Nandak will be very upset. I should not think like a coward! My mother had said to me, “Son, do not be a coward when you get into difficulties.” Our destination is close. We will soon reach the port. Once we reach there, I will get my treatment done. And I will give the business responsibilities to Nandak. As it is, Nandak is well versed with the business now.’
He said to Nandak, “Karma has a strange way of showing up. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? I want to tell you two things. Listen to me calmly. Firstly, I appoint you as the sole heir to my entire property and wealth. Secondly, if I die, please take Dhanshri to my house. Do me these two favours. The port that which we have to reach is close by. You take me secretly to get treated once we reach there. I have full trust on your loyalty. That’s why, I am handing everything over to you!”
Dhan then addressed Dhanshri and said, “Devi, either due to ill fate or my life span, if I die, you follow Nandak’s instructions. He will take you to Susharm.”
Hearing Dhan, Nandak burst into tears. Dhanshri too pretended to cry. It was difficult for Dhan to speak.
Inspite of that, when he saw Nandak crying, he got upset and said, “Friend, don’t be sad! At this point of time, you should be strong. Get busy in doing the work I have given you. Reduce the attachment you have for me! This affection is making you sad. Understand the situation! You should cope with unforeseen situations! Those who do so, become worthy of praise. Don’t lose your excitement! Keep up with your enthusiasm. You will be able to overcome the obstacles for sure!”
Captain Surdev came and said, “Tomorrow morning, we will reach the port named Mahakatak. As soon as we reach there, I will call a doctor. I know this port well. I have come here before!”
Dhan could not sleep even for a minute. Nandak sat next to him. Dhanshri too sat with him against her wishes. The soldiers stood alert the entire night in all corners of the ship. The ship was moving ahead on its route in the calm sea.
***
The ship was anchored on the Mahakatak Port. The ship stood still in the water. After handing over the ship to his assistant, Surdev sat in a boat and reached the shore. From there, he went to the city. He explained the situation to the doctor. The doctor took some medicines and accompanied Surdev. He started Dhan’s treatment.
Nandak said to Surdev, “You stay here only, next to Dhan. Give the doctors whatever they need. I am going to the city. I will have to carry on with the business transactions also.”
He reached the city with a gem in a golden plate to gift to the king. He went to the king, greeted him and gifted him the gem. He introduced his master to the king. ‘He is suffering from a severe illness. That’s why, he could not come.’ He explained this clearly. The king gave permission to carry out the trade. Nandak returned to the ship. He unloaded all the commodities from the ship. Then he stored them in a rented warehouse in the market and started trading quickly.
Meanwhile, Dhan’s treatment was going on in the ship.
Nandak had requested the doctors, “You are all like God. Do whatever you want, but make sure you cure our master. You will be paid how much ever you ask for.”
The doctors had already started the treatment and left no stone unturned. Days passed by. Nandak, the captain and all the soldiers were eager to see Dhan cured. But fifteen days passed, the doctors had done all they could do to cure him, but no medicine worked on Dhan. Nandak thought, ‘Inspite of so many remedies, Dhan is not healing. Now, it’s not appropriate to stay here for long. We should return home as soon as possible. It seems he will be alright only once we reach our homeland.
He said to Surdev, “Surdev, we should try to return home fast. I want to take Dhan to our homeland immediately. I will wrap up the business within two to three days.”
“Nandak, you are right. I too feel the same. We will be able to reach Tamralipti soon since the wind is favourable. I will sail the ship, so you wrap up the business.”
Nandak sold the entire stock, bought whatever he had to buy from there and loaded it on the ship.
He asked the doctor, “Why is your treatment not working? What is the problem? Is it difficult to diagnose the illness or is it something else?”
“See, as far as medicines are concerned, we have given the best medication. But we think that some black magic has been practised on Dhan. On hearing this, Dhanshri started shivering. There was fear in her eyes. The ground below her feet seemed to disappear. She left the room.
The doctor said, “And that’s why our treatment is not working. What can we do? Even we are helpless. Please forgive us.”
Nandak paid the doctors and bid them goodbye.
He asked Surdev, “Do we have enough food items to last us till we reach Tamralipti?”
“Yes, Nandak, we have taken food and water.”
“Alright, then free the ships and let the ship sail in the sea.”
The doctors had given Nandak some medication which would give Dhan some relief. But the statement of the doctors – ‘Some sort of black magic has been practised on Dhan.’ Those words kept on repeating in his mind. ‘For sure, they were right. If the diagnosis of the doctors is right and what they said is true, then this is definitely done by Dhanshri. It could not be anyone else! I don’t want to tell her anything right now. She is like a poisonous snake. Once we reach our homeland I will get the necessary treatment done! It is dangerous to keep this woman with Dhan!’
Dhanshri thought, ‘After practising black magic, Dhan should not have survived for so many days! He should have died! But it seems, I have not used the spells properly. That’s why, he is not dying. Moreover, Nandak has thought of returning home. I wont be able to kill him once we reach home. It seems Nandak has come to know that I have planned to kill  so that I can runaway with him. So, he is being an obstacle in my plan! He does not understand that I am doing this for his happiness and trying to remove the person who is a thorn in our way. But he is doing whatever he can to save Dhan. He does not leave him even for a minute. If he goes out, he asks Surdev to be next to Dhan. Even the soldiers stay around him day and night!
What should I do? The black magic gave the disease but it has not resulted in his death!’
The ship was sailing smoothly in the sea. It was sailing at a good speed. Captain Surdev was directing the ship properly as per the sea breeze.
One day Surdev said to Nandak in Dhanshri’s presence, “Nandak once we reach Tamralipti, I will get a person who is well versed in black magic. If Dhan is suffering due to that, then he will be cured! I know that person very well.”
“Who is that person?” Dhanshri’s voice was filled with curiosity.
“She is a female saint.”
“Oh! She is a hermitess.”
“Yes!”
Dhanshri was startled. Her restlessness could not be hidden from Nandak’s sharp eyes. His suspicion got strong but he did not say anything!
Surdev continued, “The prince of Tamralipti faced a similar problem. His stepmother had done black magic on him. These kinds of plots are common in the royal family. The stepmother wanted her son to become the king. And he could only sit on the throne when the prince would be killed! The queen secretly called a mantra practitioner from her mother’s house and tried spells on the prince. Though, the queen wanted to kill him directly, the practitioner suggested to strike the spell of suffering first. Then they would use the spell of killing if required.
The prince was struck with such a severe illness that cannot be described. The king tried various remedies, he left no stone unturned. But nothing helped. The problem worsened. Everyone thought that the prince would not survive that night. At that time, a female saint came to the palace. The watchman stopped her. She said, ‘If you wish to save the prince, then let me go in! Take me to him immediately.’ 
The watchman said, ‘Wait here, I will take the king’s permission.’ The watchman informed the king. The king gave an order to let her in immediately. 
The hermitess went to the prince. She sent everyone out except the king. Then she said to the king, “Black magic has been practiced on the prince. Don’t ask me who did it or got it done. I will immediately try to nullify the spell.” The hermitess went ahead and sprinkled water on the prince’s body and encircled him thrice.
She banged her bone stick three times on the prince’s bed and the prince got up on his own. The king was very happy. He removed his expensive necklace, gave it to her and asked, “Now you tell me who had done this to the prince and on whose instructions?”
“I will tell you the name but there is one condition! You will not sentence that person to death. You may remove him from the kingdom!”
“Alright. I promise you!”
“This was done by the prince’s stepmother with the help of a mantra practitioner. It was good that I got to know about this and I arrived here immediately. Or else tonight would have been a deadly night for the prince.”
Nandak asked, “Surdev, does the hermitess live in Tamralipti?”
“Yes Nandak, most of the time, she lives in Tamralipti. Sometimes, she goes out! But don’t worry. I will go fetch her where ever she is!”
“But does she respect you that much?”
“Absolutely! I had once saved her from the claws of death. She hasn’t forgotten this obligation!”
“How did you save her life?” Dhan asked Surdev. He was listening very carefully to Surdev.
Surdev said, “Once I was standing on the deck of my ship. The hermitess had come to bathe in the sea. As soon as she took a dive in the water, a crocodile caught her feet and dragged her into the sea. She started shouting for help! I saw her. Instantly, I took my sword and jumped into the water. I struck the crocodile thrice with my sword. The crocodile left her foot and slipped into the sea. Since then, she respects me.”
Dhanshri started sweating. She started shivering in fright. She thought, ‘If the ship reaches Tamralipti, then the plan will fail. It's better if I kill Dhan before we reach there!’ 
It was the last quarter of the night.
Dhan was awake. Nandak was asleep. Dhanshri was not sleepy.
Dhan told Dhanshri, “I want to use the washroom. Please hold my hand and take me till there. I also want to wash my hands and legs.”
Dhanshri was very happy. It seemed as if she had gotten a golden opportunity! Her eyes started twinkling. She held Dhan's hand and took him to the restroom. After using the bathroom, he washed his hands and legs. He was looking at the sea. At that time, Dhanshri pushed Dhan and he fell into the sea! A sound of splash was followed by silence again.