‘But do you think Guru Vishwamitra and Guru Vashishtha will agree?’ asked Sita.
‘I don’t know,’ said Hanuman. Then looking at Ram, he continued, ‘Guru Vishwamitra was very angry that Guru Vashishtha has told you that he expects you to be the Vishnu.’
Ram remained silent.
Hanuman continued. ‘Your brother Lakshman is a brave and loyal man. He will die for you. But he can, sometimes, let out secrets that he shouldn’t.’
Ram smiled apologetically. ‘Yes, he said it in front of Arishtanemiji. Lakshman doesn’t mean any harm. He is …’
‘Of course,’ agreed Hanuman. ‘He is very proud of you. He loves you a great deal. But because of that love, he sometimes makes mistakes. Please don’t misunderstand. But I would suggest that you don’t tell him about your little arrangement. Or, about me for that matter. At least for now.’
Ram nodded. Agreeing.
‘What is the reason for the enmity between Guru Vashishtha and Guru Vishwamitra?’ asked Sita. ‘I have never been able to find out.’
‘Yes,’ said Ram. ‘Even Guru Vashishtha refuses to speak about it.’
‘I am not sure either,’ said Hanuman. ‘But I have heard that a woman called Nandini may have played a role.’
‘Really?’ asked Sita. ‘A woman caused the rift between them? What a cliché.’
Hanuman smiled. ‘Apparently, there were other problems as well. But nobody is sure. These are just speculations.’
‘Anyway, what’s more important is, do you think the Malayaputras and Vayuputras can come together on this?’ asked Ram. ‘Will they agree to the two of us being Vishnus? I’ve been told by Sita that there is no law against it. But it is certainly against the standard protocol for Vishnus and Mahadevs, right?’
Hanuman laughed softly. ‘Prince Ram, do you know how long the institutions of the Vishnu and Mahadev have been running?’
Ram shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Thousands of years? Since Lord Manu’s times, I guess. If not earlier.’
‘Right. And do you know exactly how many Vishnus and Mahadevs, in the many millennia, have actually emerged according to the plans and protocols laid down by the tribes left behind by the previous Vishnu or Mahadev?’
Ram looked at Sita. And then, back at Hanuman. ‘I don’t know.’
Hanuman’s eyes were twinkling. ‘Precisely zero.’
‘Really?’
‘Not once, not once has any Vishnu or Mahadev emerged exactly according to plan. The best laid plans always have a tendency to get spoilt. There have always been surprises.’
Ram laughed softly. ‘We are a country that does not like order and plans.’
‘That we are!’ said Hanuman. ‘The Mahadevs or the Vishnus didn’t succeed in their missions because “plans were implemented exactly”. They succeeded because they were willing to give their all for our great land. And they were followed by many who also felt exactly the same way. That is the secret. Passion. Not plans.’
‘So, you think we will succeed in getting the Malayaputras and Vayuputras to agree?’ asked Sita.
‘Of course we will,’ answered Hanuman. ‘Don’t they love India? But if you ask me how exactly we will succeed, my answer is: I don’t know. No plans as of yet! But we have time. Nothing can be done till the both of you return to the Sapt Sindhu.’
It had been more than thirteen years of exile now. In less than a year, Ram, Sita, and Lakshman would head back to the Sapt Sindhu and begin their life’s greatest karma. Hanuman had, over time, managed to get the Vayuputras to accept Sita. And Arishtanemi, along with a few other Malayaputras, had begun to favour Ram. Vashishtha, of course, had no problem with Ram and Sita being the Vishnus together. But Vishwamitra … well, he was another matter altogether. If he held out, the Malayaputras could not be counted on to be completely on board. After all, they were a relatively disciplined organisation that followed their leader.
But this was not occupying the minds of Ram and Sita right now. They lounged around in their section of the camp, watching the setting sun as it coloured the sky with glorious hues. Unexpectedly, the avian alarm system was triggered; the flock of birds in the cage had suddenly fluttered away noisily. Someone had breached their camp perimeter.
‘What was that?’ asked Lakshman.
Ram’s instincts told him that the intruders were not animals.
‘Weapons,’ ordered Ram calmly.
Sita and Lakshman tied their sword scabbards around their waist. Lakshman handed Ram his bow, before picking up his own. The brothers quickly strung their bows. Jatayu and his men rushed in, armed and ready, just as Ram and Lakshman tied quivers full of arrows to their backs. Sita picked up a long spear, as Ram tied his sword scabbard to his waist. They already wore a smaller knife scabbard, tied horizontally across the small of their backs; a weapon they kept on their person at all times.
‘Who could they be?’ asked Jatayu.
‘I don’t know,’ said Ram.
‘Lakshman’s Wall?’ asked Sita.
Lakshman’s Wall was an ingenious defensive feature designed by him to the east of the main hut. It was five feet in height; it covered three sides of a small square completely, leaving the inner side facing the main hut partially open; like a cubicle. The entire structure gave the impression that it was an enclosed kitchen. In fact, the cubicle was bare, providing adequate mobility to warriors. But unseen by enemies on the other side of the wall. They would have to be on their knees, though. A small tandoor, a cooking platform, emerged on the outside from the south-facing wall. Half the enclosure was roof-covered, completing the camouflage of a cooking area. It afforded protection from enemy arrows.
The south, east, and north-facing walls were drilled with well-spaced holes. These holes were narrow on the inner side and broad on the outer side, giving the impression of ventilation required for cooking. Their actual purpose was to give those on the inside a good view of the approaching enemy, while preventing those on the outside from looking in. The holes could also be used to shoot arrows. Made from mud, it was not strong enough to withstand a sustained assault by a large force. Having said that, it was good enough for defence against small bands sent on assassination bids. Which is what Lakshman suspected they would face.
Designed by Lakshman, it had been built by everyone in the camp; Makrant had named it ‘Lakshman’s Wall’.
‘Yes,’ said Ram.
Everyone rushed to the wall and crouched low, keeping their weapons ready. Waiting.