Chaturanga by Anand NeelaKantan

Author:Anand NeelaKantan [NeelaKantan, Anand]
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789389152449
Published: 2020-09-02T02:03:31+00:00

THIRTEEN

Kattappa

Kattappa destroyed the Kali statue. This slave is a bigger traitor than his brother' General Hiranya said as he placed a sheaf of palm leaves before the king. Parameswara stood behind the old general.

Kattappa waited, tense, knowing and dreading what was about to come. He was in the chamber of Maharaja Somadeva for his customary tasting of the king’s food before the maharaja could eat. Kattappa waited for the punishment. He would most probably be hanged in the morrow. He would die a dishonourable death. He had failed his father. He had failed himself. He choked with emotions and bit the tail of his turban to stop himself from breaking down. He felt the cold hand of the general on his shoulder. Kattappa pulled himself up and stood erect, the customary stoic expression back on his face.

‘Your Highness, allow me to deal with him my way—’ General Hiranya said. The king raised his hand and cut him off.

‘Who killed that girl?’ the king asked Kattappa. The abruptness of the question from the maharaja took him by surprise. He knew his shock had given him away. Kattappa froze.

‘We are sure it wasn’t your brother' Parameswara said.

‘Tell the truth, was it my son Bijjala?’ the maharaja asked.

Kattappa remained silent.

'Give me permission to take him to my chamber, Your Highness' Hiranya said, holding Kattappa by the scruff of his neck. The king stopped him with a gesture.

‘Speak, son' the king said, caressing the hilt of his sword. The smile on his thin lips hadn’t vanished, but Kattappa saw that it didn’t reach his eyes. He stood, barely breathing. His mouth was set in a firm line, his eyes had a faraway look. There was a swoosh of air and he felt the coldness of steel on his neck. He closed his eyes, but other than that, not a nerve twitched, nor a hair moved.

‘It is an order,' Somadeva said.

Silence.

The slave remained standing with his eyes closed, not wanting to face his king, yet unwilling to go against the ancient code of honour. No slave would reveal his master’s secret. He would take Bijjala’s secret to the grave. He waited for the sword to fall. A hearty laugh filled the room and he opened his eyes in surprise. The king’s arms were on his shoulders. Somadeva pressed him to his chest, like a father would a son. Kattappa’s first impulse was to tell the king that he shouldn't have touched him. Now the king would have to bathe before having his dinner. But he was choked with emotion.

The king led him to his ornate chair, encrusted with diamonds and pearls, and covered with smooth silk. Somadeva sat in the chair and gestured for Kattappa to sit beside him, on the floor. The slave squatted on his haunches and crossed his arms over his shoulders in the traditional gesture of abject surrender.

General Hiranya was staring at the scene with unmasked displeasure. Maharaja Somadeva ran his fingers over the bald head of Kattappa, like one would with a dog, and said, ‘General, I would’ve been surprised if he had given away any secret.

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