Free The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi

temples all along the road, giving it an aura of spirituality.’
    ‘Kashi wasn’t attacked and conquered?’
    ‘On the contrary, My Lord,’ continued Bhagirath, ‘their intense commitment to Lord Rudra’s teachings almost made Kashi sacred. Nobody could attack this city, for it would be seen as an insult to Lord Rudra. It became a land of supreme peace and hence prosperity. Suppressed people from across the confederacy found solace here. Traders found that this was the safest place to base their business. Peace and nonalignment to any other kingdom in Swadweep has actually made Kashi an oasis of stability.’
    ‘Is that why you find so many Brangas here?’
    ‘Yes, My Lord. Where else would they be safe? Everybody is out of harm’s way in Kashi. But the Brangas have tested even the famed Kashi patience and hospitality.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Apparently, they are very difficult to get along with. Kashi is a cosmopolitan city and nobody is forced to change their way of life. But the Brangas wanted their own area because they have certain special customs. The Kashi royal family advises its citizens that the Brangas have suffered a lot in their homeland and that Kashi denizens should be compassionate. But most people find that difficult. In fact, a few years back, it was rumoured that the situation came to such a pass that the king of Kashi was about to order the eviction of the Brangas.’
    ‘And then what happened?’ asked Shiva.
    ‘Gold managed to do what good intentions couldn’t. Branga is by far the richest land today. The king of Branga had apparently sent gold equivalent to ten years of Kashi’s tax collections. And the eviction order was buried.’
    ‘Why would the Branga king spend his own money to help people who have abandoned his country?’
    ‘I don’t know, My Lord. I think we can put that down as another strange characteristic of the Brangas.’
    The ship docked softly at Assi Ghat and Shiva looked towards the multitudes gathered there to welcome him. Parvateshwar was already organising the place so that Shiva could alight. He saw Drapaku at a distance giving orders to Nandi and Veerbhadra. Bhagirath had already bounded down the gangway in search of the Kashi head of police. Sati tapped Shiva lightly. He turned to look at her and she gestured delicately with her eyes. Shiva looked in the direction she had indicated. In the distance, away from the melee, letting his nobles and the Ayodhya aristocracy hog the frontlines of the Neelkanth’s welcome, under an understated royal umbrella, stood a sombre old man. Shiva joined his hands in a polite namaste and bowed slightly to Athithigva, the king of Kashi. Athithigva in turn bowed low in respect to the Neelkanth. Sati could not be sure from the distance, but it appeared as though the king had tears in his eyes.

 
    Chapter 5
    A Small wrong?
     
    ‘Mmm,’ mumbled Shiva as Sati softly kissed him awake. He cupped her face gently. ‘Are my eyes deceiving me or are you getting more beautiful every day?’
    Sati smiled, running her hand along her belly. ‘Stop flattering me so early in the morning!’
    Shiva edged up on his elbows, kissing her again. ‘So there is a fixed schedule for compliments now?’
    Sati laughed again, slowly getting off the bed. ‘Why don’t you go wash? I have requested for breakfast to be served in our room.’
    ‘Ahh! You are finally learning my ways!’ Shiva always hated eating at the organised and civilised dining room gatherings that Sati liked.
    As Shiva walked into the comfortable washroom attached to their chamber at the Kashi palace, Sati looked out. The famous ring road, also called the Sacred Avenue, was clearly visible. It was an awe-inspiring sight. Unlike the congested city of Kashi itself, the avenue was very broad, allowing even six carts to pass simultaneously. There was a breathtaking profusion of trees around the road, with probably all the species of flora from the Indian subcontinent represented. Beyond