Procession to Mount Gaja

Pilgrimage to Mount Gaja was a slow yet immensely venerated procession from Kavish. About a quarter of the kingdom's citizens had joined the procession to go with the Ganesha murti to Mount Gaja. Throughout the journey, it had been clouds of red and yellow powder as the worshippers threw turmeric and vermillion to mark the celebration, all the while with showers of flowers and a never-ending song of devotion.

The procession was headed by the crown prince, Yuvaraja Nakul Heramba, and general Pasupathi with his fifty cavalry behind them. Followed by the chariot carrying the massive Ganesha statue of which hundreds of worshipers gathered pulled the rope of the chariot. The worshippers took turn to pull the chariot despite the presences of designated workforce by the palace. Although there was no compulsion imposed to the citizen of Kavish, they do it as a vocation for their devotion.

Meanwhile, at the end of the procession on horsebacks were Rajkumar Parthiban, Rajkumar Nathan and Rajakumari Nakshathra with a hundred infantry and a hundred cavalry sandwiching the citizens for protection. While the children of the royal family accompanied their people on foot and horseback, the king, the queen and wives of the princes travelled in Ratha Vimana, a flying chariot invented by the engineers from Takash kingdom.

The fourteen-day procession from Kavish to Mount Gaja had been a long and an arduous journey. Although the worshippers decline any additional day to rest, the crown prince had ordered for camps to be raised enough for everyone to rest for another night. For a journey that demands energy and stamina, Nakul was praised for his consideration and thoughtfulness.

As the night fall, the folks of Kavish gathered up in groups to share many of their divine encounters and stories that has been passed down for generation around the campfires. One of the stories revolved around the very temple they were to visit the next day. Legend has it that the Neer Gaja temple up the hill rests in a mysteriously flowing water pool. The water was said to have healing power on those who drinks it. It was also believed that the effect of the water only works on the hill and if taken away from the hill the water will no longer have its effect.

While numerous stories were narrated in various groups, two entities excused themselves from the camping ground and headed towards a place distant from the gathering. Nathan had pulled out Parthiban from the general's circle to share a report that reached him.

"I received a message before we left the city gate. The number of missing people is increasing and I doubt it's them," said Nathan, his voice sounded resolute on the suspect.

"Let's not make any assumption, Nathan. We need to investigate. How many of them are missing? Where and when? How long has it been?" asked the pragmatic Parthiban. Being the Chief of Law and Police of Kavish, it was his responsibility to make sure the safety of his people and with the increasing number of disappearance cases being reported every fortnight has begun to worry him more than he showed. Despite him having doubts as his brother that they might have been abducted by their foe kingdom, Parthiban chose to stand by his duty than his intuition.

"I couldn't get all that information. I'll send someone." The young prince held on to the hilt of his sword on alert to strike if there were an ambush to happen.

"No. Maybe I should go back and see to it myself," Parthiban intervened.

Nathan stopped on his track. "Have you forgotten? Madhuvahini will be waiting for us and you are talking about going back? If she finds you not there, she is going to make sure you don't get to see her the coming year or if you happen to meet her. She is for sure to strike you with the same techniques you have thought her," he said and settled on the riverbank of clear water glimmering under the moonlight that runs along smooth and enormous stones.

Madhuvahini, Nathan's twin sister who was married to the youngest prince of Ambikeya a year ago, had written a letter two month prior to the Vinayagar Chaturthi requesting all of them to be in Mount Gaja for the celebration. The tight knitted siblings not only share goodwill, at times they do share threats as well. Madhuvahini was one of them who would make sure the threats she made comes true if her words weren't followed.

Parthiban heaved an exasperated sigh. He resigned from the thought of returning and settled on a small rock. "Fine, what do we do now?"

"For the matter back home? All I want is to declare war with Durja but......"

"We don't have enough resources." Parthiban completed Nathan.

"Absolutely! It frustrates me knowing that they are superior in all aspects. Hmph... wait till Nakshathra hears this."

"She shouldn't. Not now, she will bring hell loose. Nakshathra already has a sour take on father and his family rules. When she learns about the increasing number and the little action, she isn't going to sit and talk like us."

"Of course, if she gets to know later, she will haunt us down for not keeping her informed before catching up with father on why the search and war are on hold," affirmed Nathan.

"God! Why do we have such violent blood craving sisters?" Parthiban cried.

"Because we raised them, what else," remarked Nathan and the brothers burst into laughter. And that little phrase sparked fond memories of their childhood as the conversation took a turn before returning to their primary topic of discussion.

"I wish things were handled differently by father," said Nathan as he pondered on solving their problems in much efficient way.

"What's the use of talking things that are far from possible. We can only wait for Nakul to ascend the throne to see the changes we dream of since long. Anyway, I'll send someone to do the investigation and send a word to Parasu to take charge on it till we get back." Parthiban suggested their cousin brother to follow on the matter as he rose on his feet and ready to return to the camp.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Nakshathra had excused herself to her camp when Arunya, her lady in waiting and friend invited her to sit with the rest of the ladies for the night. With troubled mind she laid on the makeshift bed, vacantly staring at nothing in particular. However, her mind kept wandering when a few weeks ago, raja vaithiyar Agathiyan had asked her make an observation of the people in the procession as her task that he would explain later.

She obliged; it was an easy task for her. After severe observation she distinguished two distinct group of worshippers in the procession. One of them were of an excited and devoted group while the other was a group of sad sorrowful worshippers. Nakshathra had always seen the procession filled with exuberant devotees when comes to Vinayagar Chaturthi but never seen anyone heartbroken before. Perhaps, she failed to notice these people and felt disturbed and confused.

When she approached Agathiyan to discuss on the matter, he had evaded her saying "I'll speak to you about this later."

What would have caused them to be sad while going on a pilgrimage? Who can help? Her mind questioned. Just as her mind contemplated on possible names who might help enlighten her, in came her brothers into her tent.

Finding her curled into ball on the makeshift bed, Parthiban hurried to her side and check for her temperature placing his palm on her forehead. The lines of worry marred his forehead eased; her temperature seemed fine for him.

"How are you feeling? Why are you curled up like this?" asked Nathan with his hands on his hips.

"I'm fine just not in the mood for chats," she replied nonchalantly.

"Did anything happen while we were away?" asked Parthiban as he watched Nathan dashed out of the tent.

"No, nothing big but a few weeks ago, raja Vaithyar gave me a task to observe the people in the procession and I did it diligently." She narrated what she had discovered in her observation. "Since I did not get any answer from raja vaithiyar, I asked those who were, you know, looking sad and sorrow. They replied that the journey to Mount Gaja reminds them of their husbands and sons who died during the massacre. I felt sorry and helpless for them when I came to know about it. What can we do for the lost souls?" Nakshathra mumbled as she remained laid on her bed.

Meanwhile, Nathan who had left the tent came back with Nakul in tow. They joined when Nakshathra concluded.

"We could only pray for their soul, Nakshathra," pacified the troubled Parthiban, caressing her hair.

"Hmm... Durja is lucky that they stopped killing our innocent people. Had they continued . . ." Nakshathra clenched her fist as she sat up with a resolution on her face.

The two younger brothers looked at each other as they recalled their conversation earlier.

"What you would have done?" asked Nakul.

"I would have declared war," she announced.

Nakul shook his head disagreeing to her. "That's not that easy, Nakshathra. We first need to have a wise plan, make sure we don't harm the innocents. Then you need to know about your opponent's strength only then we think of our next action. You can't simply declare war. Even if we do, you are aware of our shortage in weapons and army strength, right," he explained while keeping his anger in check. Nakshathra nodded and shifted slightly away from her brother, uncomfortable with his intense stare and calm tone.

Nakshathra was aware of the shortcoming of her kingdom. But does it stop them from protecting their people, she refrained herself from asking. The king had always been a careful ruler, always calculating and with the same thought, they have lost quite a number of people in the past. Yet Nakshathra wanted nothing but improvement in the army, at least it will help them to build stronger defence.

"Right. With father around ruling the land, we won't be able to double our armies," she enunciated each word with ire. 

**********

Here is a not so professionally made map for the story.

Hope you are enjoying the read :)