‘One is always comfortable in the place one looks upon as home,’ smiled Arishtanemi.
Sita was surprised to not find Samichi with him. This was unorthodox. Samichi should have escorted the senior officer, with respect, to her chambers.
‘My apologies, Arishtanemiji. Samichi should have led you to my chambers. I am sure that she meant no disrespect, but I will speak with her.’
‘No, no,’ said Arishtanemi, raising his hand reassuringly. ‘I told her that I wanted to meet you alone.’
‘Of course. I hope you are satisfied with the accommodation, especially for Guru Vishwamitra and the princes of Ayodhya.’
Arishtanemi smiled. Sita had come to the point quickly. ‘Guru Vishwamitra is comfortable in his usual set of rooms at the palace. But Prince Ram and Prince Lakshman have been accommodated in the Bees Quarter.’
‘Bees Quarter?!’ Sita was aghast.
Has Samichi gone mad?
Almost as if he had heard her thought, Arishtanemi said, ‘Actually, Guruji himself wanted the princes to stay in there.’
Sita raised her hands in exasperation. ‘Why? They are the princes of Ayodhya. Ram is the Crown Prince of the empire. Ayodhya will see this as a terrible insult. I do not want Mithila getting into any trouble because of …’
‘Prince Ram does not see it as an insult,’ interrupted Arishtanemi. ‘He is a mature man of great understanding. We need to keep his presence in Mithila a secret, for now. And, even you must avoid meeting him for a few days.’
Sita was losing her patience. ‘Secret? He has to participate in the swayamvar, Arishtanemiji. That’s why he is here, isn’t he? How can we keep this a secret?’
‘There is a problem, princess.’
‘What problem?’
Arishtanemi sighed. He paused for a few seconds and whispered, ‘Raavan.’
‘It is wise of you to have not met him till now,’ said Samichi.
Sita and Samichi were in the royal section of the state armoury. A special room was reserved in this wing for the favourite personal weapons of the royalty. Sita sat on a chair, carefully oiling the Pinaka, the great bow of Lord Rudra.
Her conversation with Arishtanemi had upset her. Frankly, she had had her suspicions about what the Malayaputras were planning. She knew that they wouldn’t go against her. She was crucial to their plans. But Ram was not.
If only I had someone to talk to. I wish Hanu bhaiya or Radhika were here …
Sita looked up at Samichi and continued oiling the already gleaming Pinaka.
Samichi looked nervous. She seemed to be in a state of inner struggle. ‘I have to tell you something. I don’t care what the others say. But it is the truth, Sita. Prince Ram’s life is in danger. You have to send him home, somehow.’
Sita stopped oiling the bow and looked up. ‘His life has been in danger since the day he was born.’
Samichi shook her head. ‘No. I mean real danger.’
‘What exactly is unreal danger, Samichi? There is nothing that …’
‘Please, listen to me …’
‘What are you hiding, Samichi?’
Samichi straightened up. ‘Nothing, princess.’
‘You have been acting strange these past few days.’
‘Forget about me. I am not important. Have I ever told you anything that is not in your interest? Please trust me. Send Prince Ram home, if you can.’
Sita stared at Samichi. ‘That’s not happening.’
‘There are bigger forces at play, Sita. And, you are not in control. Trust me. Please. Send him home before he gets hurt.’
Sita didn’t respond. She looked at the Pinaka and resumed oiling the bow.
Lord Rudra, tell me what to do …
‘My fellow Mithilans actually clapped?’ asked Sita, eyes wide in incredulity.
Arishtanemi had just walked into Sita’s private office. With disturbing, yet expected, news. Raavan had arrived in Mithila to participate in Sita’s swayamvar. His Pushpak Vimaan, the legendary flying vehicle, had just landed outside the city. He was accompanied by his brother Kumbhakarna and a few key officers. His bodyguard corps of ten thousand Lankan soldiers had marched in separately and set up camp outside the city.
Sita was bemused by the news that the Mithilans had applauded the spectacle of the Pushpak Vimaan landing in the fields beyond the city moat.
‘Most normal human beings applaud the first time they see the Pushpak Vimaan, Sita,’ said Arishtanemi. ‘But that is not important. What is important is that we stop Ram from leaving.’
‘Is Ram leaving? Why? I thought he would want to prove a point to Raavan …’
‘He hasn’t made up his mind as yet. But I’m afraid Lakshman may talk his elder brother into leaving.’
‘So, you would like me to speak with him in Lakshman’s absence.’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you …’
‘I’ve spoken to him already. But I don’t think I had much of an impact …’
‘Can you think of someone else who can speak to him?’
Arishtanemi shook his head. ‘I don’t think even Guru Vishwamitra will be able to convince Ram.’
‘But …’
‘It’s up to you, Sita,’ said Arishtanemi. ‘If Ram leaves, we will have to cancel this swayamvar.’
‘What in Lord Rudra’s name can I tell him? He has never even met me. What do I tell him to convince him to stay?’
‘I have no idea.’
Sita laughed and shook her head. ‘Thank you.’
‘Sita … I know it’s …’
‘It’s okay. I’ll do it.’
I must find a way. Some path will emerge.
Arishtanemi seemed unusually tense. ‘There’s more, Sita …’
‘More?’
‘The situation may be a little more complicated.’
‘How so?’
‘Ram was … in a way … tricked into coming here.’
‘What?’
‘He was made to understand that he was merely accompanying Guru Vishwamitra on an important mission in Mithila. Since Emperor Dashrath had commanded Ram to strictly follow Guru Vishwamitra’s orders, he could not say no … He wasn’t informed about the fact that he was expected to participate in this swayamvar. Till he arrived in Mithila, that is.’
Sita was shocked. ‘You have got to be joking!’
‘But he did agree to the swayamvar finally, a few days ago. On the same day that you had that fight in the marketplace to save that boy-thief …’
Sita held her head and closed her eyes. ‘I can’t believe that the Malayaputras have done this.’
‘The ends justify the means, Sita.’
‘Not when I’m expected to live with the consequences!’
‘But he did agree to participate in the swayamvar, eventually.’
‘That was before the arrival of Raavan, right?’
‘Yes.’
Sita rolled her eyes. Lord Rudra help me.
Chapter 19