In the practice arena,
Mahendra and Bhagiradhi were still practicing their sword fighting moves when a messenger intervened. While still practicing, he asked the messenger to give the message with a slight tilt of his head and expression of the eyes.

"Maharaj, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the army, Kattappa has summoned an emergency meeting."

Mahendra said, "Avanthika....."

He did not complete the sentence but his wife understood what he intended to say. She reassured him, "You carry on. I will stay with Bhagiradhi and take care of her."

Mahendra with his eyes brimming with tears of gratitude, "Thank you......and sorry......I assured you that this time would be yours and Bhagiradhi's but....."

"It's alright! Everything that is yours is mine....Your duties, responsibilities and goals as well......So in discharging them you are actually spending time with me."

Mahendra and Rajmata Devasena left hastily while Avanthika and Bhagiradhi remained behind.

Bhagiradhi: Where did father go Amma?

Avanthika: He had some important work darling.

Bhagiradhi: But he promised me!

Avanthika: But I am here for you, am I not?

Bhagiradhi: You are there.......You are always there.......But father isn't?

Avanthika: Your father and I are one and the same. Our goals, priorities, duties, responsibilities, and dreams are shared. There are times when I cannot be there or do things for you. Then your father will be both your mother and father for you. Similarly there are times when your father cannot be with you. During those times, I will be both your mother and father.

Bhagiradhi: Amma, everyone keeps telling that a son will come this time and take care of all of us and Mahishmati. I feel happy that I am going to have a brother to play with and share everything that I have. But at times I do feel bad that I mean so little to everyone. Even to Kattappa Thatha who usually makes much of me. These days all he talks and thinks about is Gajendra. Everyone talks as though I am a temporary guest and that I am going to go somewhere while Gajendra will remain here forever. Is only Gajendra everything and Bhagiradhi nothing? Can't I take care of Mahishmati and you and father just like Gajendra?

Avanthika: Before I answer your questions, tell me who this particular Gajendra is of whom you seem to be so jealous?

Just then Avanthika momentarily stopped as though she was hit hard by something within her body.

Bhagiradhi: Oh.......that. That is the name I have given to my little brother. See how strong and powerful he is. He literally throws you overboard when he kicks just like he did now.

Avanthika: Bhagiradhi, how come you never shared this with me? I share my everything with you.

Bhagiradhi: I told only father about this yesterday night after you fell asleep.

Avanthika: Oh.......In that case, I ought to be jealous of your father which I am not. I know I mean just as much to you as your father. Similarly, we care just as much for you as we care for your brother....... I know that what you are feeling at the present moment is natural and also human. You think that everyone cares about your brother......But you have not seen how it was when you were born......I have seen it......and I know how much everyone loves you.....
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Four and half years ago,
The populace of Mahishmati were dancing with joy. Celebrations were held in every corner of the kingdom. Sweets were distributed and lamps were lit. Fire crackers were being burst. Thanksgiving prayers were being offered in all the places of worship. People spoke to one another, "Mana devata......mana Sivagami Amma malli ee rupam lo vachindi!" (Our Goddess......our Sivagami Amma has come again to us in this form!)

Holding up a newborn to the skies, a jubilant Mahendra proclaimed, "She is our pride, our strength, our honor, our love, my heir, my Bhagiradhi. I name her after our mother to whom we owe our everything; that mother with whom our lives begin and with whom they end; the life-giving Jeevanadhi (Living River) in our kingdom, Bhagiradhi. Bhagiradhi, who keeps running perpetually; she who keeps changing her course when she encounters obstacles but never stagnates; seasons and ages pass by but she remains constant; she purifies and sanctifies all our sins and impurities but remains pure, pristine and uncontaminated; she who gives but never asks anything in return; the mother who nourishes our fields and brings the rains unfailingly years after year; the mother who feeds us like Mata Annapoorna with food grains, prosperity and bounty; the guardian angel of our history and civilization; the one on whose banks religion and education flourish. Please give my Bhagiradhi too the same love and support that you gave me when her time to rule you comes."
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Back to the Present,
Avanthika: Do you know when all this happened?

Bhagiradhi (with curiosity): When?

Avanthika: When you were born! You are our hope....OUR FUTURE........MAHISHMATI'S FUTURE!

Bhagiradhi: I am sorry mother. I will never think like this in future.

Avanthika: Always remember one thing. A son and daughter are different and unique in their own ways. But a daughter will mean just as much as a son to her parents. One day you are going to rule over this kingdom. The greatest kingdoms fall apart not because of external conflict or enemies but because of internal decay. A big banyan does not fear the woodcutter who cuts a few external branches. Neither does it fear the storms of life. But it fears the worms that eat its roots. The roots of any kingdom become weak and falls a prey to these internal worms when it stops growing its roots again and again due to paucity of thought and dearth of fresh ideas to adapt to the changing times.

Bhagiradi: Amma, there are many times when I think...what if I wasn't the Princess of Mahishmati? ........What if there weren't so many expectations from me?..........What if I could just lead an ordinary life?.....If father was not the Emperor of Mahishmati, he would have remained with us forever....with you and me.....wouldn't he?

Avanthika: Bhagiradhi that choice is not ours to make. The almighty places us in certain positions and we are expected to deliver.....No....Bhagiradhi whether your father was an emperor or an ordinary man, he couldn't have remained with us always......If he was a farmer, his fields would always keep taking him away from us.......If he was a goldsmith, his jewels would keep taking him away from us......If he was a warrior, his battles would keep taking him away from us.....If he was a patriot, the nation would keep taking him away from us.....If he is a son, his duties as a son would keep taking him away from us......And your father is an emperor, son, warrior, and patriot.....So he has to attend to all these priorities......before attending to us

Bhagiradhi: But mother....shouldn't both of us feel sad for that?

Avanthika: No......because wherever your father is during the day.......whatever be his dispensation......he returns only to both of us at night........
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In the Raj Sabha,
Mahendra ordered,"Let the proceedings begin!"

Katappa took charge from there, "I summoned this emergency meeting. There are two very pressing issues on the agenda. These things came to my notice just now. I felt that they could not wait any longer. May I ask our food and agriculture minister, Karthikeya to present the first issue.

Minister Karthikeya began, "The rains have failed for two consecutive years in Mahishmati. The western parts of our kingdom to which the waters of Bhagiradhi cannot be diverted through cannals are severely drought-hit. The crops have failed and people in those regions are starving. The people are in no position to pay the taxes. This situation has been exploited by a cartel of merchants in those regions who are hoarding food grains and selling them at exhorbitantly high rates. To compound matters, a few of our own officers have been reported misbehaving with the people and trying to collect taxes forcibly. Whatever help we have been dispensing from here is being looted en route by bandits. Mutiny has been brewing in those regions."

Rajmata Devasena questioned, "Why has all this come to our notice so late? It must have been going on since a long while. Our people have been suffering and we have been ignorant of it."

Katappa: I investigated further when this second issue came to my notice. I found out several even more disturbing things. The failure of the rains was a natural calamity. But the rest of the things are not. They are being orchestrated in such a manner as to destabilize the ruling establishment and create a situation of unrest among the people and make Maharaj Mahendra unpopular.

Mahendra: But who?

Katappa: Bijjaladeva, Vijayamarthanda, and Kalanemi....

Mahendra: Bijjaladeva is our old enemy. We know that he means no good.....He never meant any good......But who are these new enemies who have surfaced now? .......Who?
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