Shatru Sesham: Sequel of Baahubali ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Document 6: Memoir of Queen Komalavalli (Amarendra's biological mother)
I was born in the tribe of the Vaithalikkas, the tribe that ruled over most of the lands of what is the kingdom of present day Mahishmati. Approximately three hundred years ago, we were cheated and driven out of what was originally ours by an usurper and upstart from Kadarimandalam, Uttama Varma, an ancestor of the present King of Mahishmati, Maharaj Somadeva.

We have been branded as rebels, dacoits, thieves, and even worse, demons in human form. Did we deserve to be called all that? Maybe yes......because losers have no choice in the way posterity perceives them. Propaganda is a powerful weapon. You say the same lie in ten different ways in ten different places; that lie becomes even more powerful than the truth. Truth needs authentication and proofs but a lie needs none. It travels faster and penetrates into those dark corners truth can never enter.

Every Vaithalikka King has been fighting ever since to regain our kingdom, to find that home which we lost because of one man's ambition, to win back our sacred Gauri Parvat, our mother. We, children of the mountain, were fighting for the mountain from which we were driven away.

These were the stories on which all of us grew. These were the memories and visions that stirred up in the eyes of every Vaithalikka child. This was the dream every warrior king of Vaithalikka had and which led to his early grave. The grave was their only constant bed. But every king preferred this to a bed of roses.

My father, Bhutharaya died five years ago leading a military coup against King Somadeva of Mahishmati. I didn't have tears in my eyes on my father's death. Only pride that he lost his life for a noble cause. Today or tomorrow, I might see my brother, Kadhiravan meet a similar fate. But I, Komalavalli, daughter of Bhutharaya and sister of Kadhiravan, will not cry. I will steel my heart and take up the mantle of responsibility for the sake of my tribe. I will continue that fight from where my father and brother left off.

I hated everyone connected with Mahishmati. I wanted to see this empire crumble to ashes. Its prosperity reminded me of everything that I and my people had lost. Everything that could have been but wasn't. It was during this period that one of our scouts ran in with the news that the Prince of Mahishmati, Mahadeva and the Mahapradhana of Mahishmati, Sivagami were approaching our headquarters with a white flag of truce flying above their chariot.

How could I forget these two people? They were the ones who were instrumental in thwarting our military coup five years ago. They were the people who upheld everything when we had won almost half the battle. Everything was well-planned and executed until it all went wrong at the last moment.

It was a surprise night attack that was to be staged during the Mahamakam festivities.

Mahadeva got wind of this. He was severely wounded but he managed to alert the army of Mahishmati in time to take retaliatory action. My father had almost intruded into Maharaj Somadeva's chamber along with another accomplice. The king was alone and unguarded, but this girl Sivagami poked her nose into this. I do not know the exact details. But somehow she was responsible for my father's death and for saving the King of Mahishmati.

This Sivagami got promoted as a Bhoomipathi, a powerful feudal position under the King and Prince Mahadeva received the title of Vikramadeva, a title awarded only to bravest of kings after a spectacular military victory.

I growled and hissed like a wounded tigress, "Kadhir, finish them off. This could be a trap. We cannot allow them to come here."

My brother was reluctant, "But the flag of truce?...."

"We lost the previous time because of these two. We cannot trust..." I argued.

"Yes, you are right. Send in our men!" Kadhir ordered.
-
-
-
Mahadeva and Sivagami's chariot was surrounded by masked soldiers. Mahadeva spoke, "I am Prince Mahadeva, son of Maharaj Somadeva. We have not come here to fight. We are here for talks....."