Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable

(A/N):

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The princess Indhumati looked at them in confusion of why they were doing it for their enemy.

"Why are they doing that?"

One of the soldiers nearby heard her question and turned.

"King Devaratha ordered it."

Indhumati looked at him in surprised.

"The Rakshasas?"

The soldier nodded.

"All of them."

"He ordered that every fallen warrior be given proper rites."

"Even those who fought against us."

Indhumati remained silent.

"...."

Nearby, several Rakshasa prisoners were watching their fallen comrades being prepared for burial.

They had expected something completely different.

They had expected their dead to be thrown aside.

That was what had happened in most wars they had witnessed.

The victorious side would take care of their own dead and leave the Rakshasa bodies where they had fallen.

Sometimes their corpses were left for animals to devour.

Sometimes they were simply abandoned until the elements reduced them to bones.

There had been exceptions.

A few rulers had shown enough honour to allow Rakshasas proper funerary rites.

But those were rare.

For most of the Rakshasas standing there...

This was something they had never experienced.

One elderly Rakshasa stared at the soldiers preparing a funeral pyre for his fallen companion.

His expression slowly changed.

He lowered his head.

"...He was my brother."

The human soldier beside him quietly answered,

"Then stand with him."

The Rakshasa looked at him in surprise.

The soldier simply returned to his work.

Another Rakshasa clenched his fists.

His eyes had become wet.

He had spent the entire war believing humans were nothing but enemies.

Yet the king they had fought...

Had ordered his people to honour their dead.

No humiliation. No hatred. No distinction.

Just the final rites owed to a warrior who had fallen on the battlefield.

Several Rakshasas quietly bowed their heads.

For the first time...

Some of them began wondering whether the king they had fought was truly the monster Pushpasura had described.

Indhumati watched silently for a few moments.

"...."

A small smile appeared on her face.

That was Devaratha.

Even after winning...

He had not allowed hatred to decide what happened next.

But she couldn’t remain standing there.

Her eyes had already begun searching through the allied soldiers.

She looked from one group to another.

A soldier carrying a spear.

Another wearing a damaged helmet.

A commander speaking with several officers.

A group of wounded warriors being escorted toward the medical tents.

None of them.

Her eyes moved further.

"Where is he?"

She whispered.

Queen Devayani came up beside her.

"Who are you looking for?"

Indhumati didn’t answer.

She already knew.

Her eyes continued moving through the enormous army.

She searched among the chariots.

The command tents.

The wounded soldiers.

The groups gathered around the funeral pyres.

Every time she saw someone wearing dark clothing or carrying a spear, her heart jumped for a moment before she realized it wasn’t him.

She took another step forward.

Then another.

Her hands unconsciously tightened together.

She had spent so many days wondering whether she would ever see him again.

Now he was somewhere in this very army.

Alive.

She could feel her heartbeat becoming faster.

"Devara..."

she whispered again.

Her eyes continued scanning the crowd.

Somewhere among the countless warriors who had survived the hundred-and-one-day war...

She was certain he was there.

She only had to find him.

Indhumati’s search finally came to an end.

Her eyes moved past a group of soldiers carrying the wounded, past the chariots gathered near the command area, and then stopped.

She saw him.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

The man sitting upon a large stone a short distance away hardly resembled the Devaratha she remembered.

His skin was still pitch black, the sacred sandalwood markings remained across his body, and the thick iron chains were wrapped around his arms, chest and waist.

His long hair was still wild from the transformation,

While the enormous Aruval rested against the stone beside him and the spear lay across his lap.

Even though Pushpasura had been defeated and the war was over, the terrifying presence of Sangili Karuppan still surrounded him.

Yet Indhumati didn’t see the frightening guardian.

She saw Devaratha.

The man she had spent the last day believing she had lost.

Her lips parted slightly.

"Devara..."

She didn’t even realize she had spoken his name aloud.

She started walking.

Then her pace increased.

And before anyone could stop her...

She ran.

Devaratha was sitting on the stone with his eyes closed, trying to bring his body back to its normal state.

The transformation had been useful during the battle,

But now he had no intention of walking around looking like a terrifying village guardian deity while meeting everyone.

Unfortunately...

It wasn’t working.

He had already tried several times.

The black colour remained.

The chains refused to disappear.

The sandalwood markings stayed exactly where they were.

Even his moustache stubbornly remained.

Lord Hanuman had been watching him with a thoughtful expression.

"Perhaps you should concentrate on your original appearance."

"I have been doing that,"

Devaratha replied hearing the suggestion.

Lord Parashurama folded his arms.

"Try suppressing the authority of the will of this transformation first."

"I already tried."

Ashwatthama scratched his chin.

"Perhaps you should remove the chains?"

"They aren’t physical chains."

Karna, who had been quietly observing the whole thing, finally spoke.

"Then perhaps simply tell them to disappear."

Devaratha slowly opened one eye.

"Do you think I haven’t tried that?"

Karna grinned hearing his helplessness.

"I had to make sure."

Shakuni, who had recovered enough to stand with the others, gave a small laugh.

"You know, brother-in-law, you could always keep this appearance. It certainly makes you look more intimidating."

Devaratha glanced at him.

"I am considering throwing you back into the medical tent with a permanently stitched mouth."

Shakuni immediately became silent just thinking about it made his shudder.

"...."

King Padmanabha Varma and the crown prince stood nearby, listening to the discussion while occasionally offering their own suggestions.

"Perhaps the transformation will naturally disappear after some time,"

The king suggested after a deep thought.

"That would be preferable,"

Devaratha muttered helplessly.

He had barely finished speaking when something caught his attention.

Footsteps. Fast ones.

He turned his head.

And his eyes widened.

Princess Indhumati was running straight toward him.

"Indhu...?"

He barely managed to say her name.

She reached him.

Then threw her arms around him.

Devaratha froze. Completely.

"...."

"...."

"...."

The entire group froze with him.

For several seconds passed,

Nobody said anything.

Princess Indhumati had wrapped both arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest.

Devaratha’s hands remained awkwardly suspended in the air.

His expression was one of complete confusion.

Hanuman’s eyebrows slowly rose.

Karna’s grin widened.

Ashwatthama looked away while trying very hard not to laugh.

Shakuni’s eyes practically lit up with amusement.

King Padmanabha Varma stared at his daughter.

The crown prince stared at his sister.

"...."

"...."

Then the two exchanged a glance.

The crown prince cleared his throat loudly.

"Ahem."

Indhumati didn’t react.

Her grip around Devaratha only tightened.

The crown prince tried again.

"AHEM."

Still nothing.

Padmanabha Varma coughed into his fist.

"Indhumati."

This time she finally seemed to remember that other people existed.

She slowly lifted her head.

Her cheeks immediately turned red.

She looked around.

Everyone was staring at her.

Her father. Her brother. The royal family. The generals.

Lord Hanuman.

Lord Parashurama.

Karna.

Shakuni.

Even several soldiers nearby had turned their heads.

Indhumati’s face became even redder.

But despite her embarrassment...

She didn’t let go.

Instead, she looked back at Devaratha.

Her eyes immediately began moving over him.

"Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine."

"You’re bleeding?"

"No."

"Does anything hurt?"

"Nothing."

She reached up and touched his arm.

Then his shoulder.

Then his chest.

She checked him almost like she was making absolutely certain that he was really standing in front of her.

Devaratha allowed her to do it.

There was something strange about his body.

Even after the battle was over, heat seemed to radiate from him.

It wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn’t burning.

It was simply warm.

Indhumati placed her palm against his arm and frowned slightly.

"You’re warm."

Devaratha glanced down at himself.

"I noticed."

She looked at his dark skin again.

"Doesn’t it hurt?"

She hesitated. Then quietly asked,

"You’re really alive?"

The question came out much softer than the others.

Devaratha’s expression immediately changed.

He understood.

"...."

She wasn’t asking whether his heart was beating.

She was asking whether he was truly there.

Whether the man she had spent the last day mourning in her heart had actually returned.

His expression softened.

"I’m alive."

Indhumati’s eyes became moist. She smiled.

"Good."

She hugged him again.

This time Devaratha finally lowered his arms and gently placed one around her.

The sight made several people nearby smile.

Karna leaned toward Ashwatthama.

"I don’t think he’s getting out of that hug anytime soon."

Ashwatthama quietly nodded.

"Definitely not."

Shakuni chuckled seeing his brother in law as he suspected made the princess fall for him.

"At least someone is happy to see him."

Indhumati immediately looked over.

"Brother-in-law?"

Shakuni stopped smiling.

"I said nothing."

She gave him a suspicious look before turning back.

After a few moments, she finally released Devaratha and walked toward her father and brother.

The moment she reached them, the crown prince gave her an exaggerated look.

"So..."

He folded his arms.

"Apparently you forgot that we were standing there."

Indhumati’s cheeks flushed again.

"I did not. You ran past everyone."

"I was worried about him!"

Her brother raised an eyebrow.

"Worried enough to forget your father and elder brother?"

Padmanabha Varma laughed softly.

"Your brother has a point."

Indhumati stared at both of them.

Then slowly reached out.

She pinched her brother’s ear.

"Ow!"

She immediately grabbed his ear.

"Big sister!"

"You have quite a lot to say now, don’t you?"

"I was only teasing!"

"Then continue."

She twisted his ear slightly harder.

"I’m sorry!"

The surrounding soldiers burst into laughter.

Even Devaratha couldn’t stop himself from chuckling.

Padmanabha Varma shook his head with an amused smile.

"Some things apparently haven’t changed."

Indhumati finally released her brother’s ear.

He immediately rubbed it while glaring at her.

"You haven’t changed either."

She smiled innocently.

The momentary laughter helped break the heaviness that had followed the war.

For the first time in many days...

They were no longer discussing death.

They were no longer wondering who would survive the next sunrise.

They were simply standing together.

Alive.

The laughter around them had barely settled when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind the group.

"Narayana... Narayana..."

"Well, this is certainly an interesting sight."

Everyone turned.

A figure was walking toward them through the rain-soaked battlefield, veena resting comfortably against his shoulder and a familiar smile playing upon his face.

The moment they recognized him, the mood immediately changed.

Lord Hanuman folded his hands.

Lord Parashurama gave a respectful nod.

Bhishma, Karna, Ashwatthama, Shakuni, King Padmanabha Varma and the others also greeted him with respect.

"Devarshi Narada."

Narada smiled and raised his hand in blessing.

"May Dharma continue to guide all of you."

His eyes soon moved toward Devaratha.

He paused.

Then looked him up and down.

The black skin.

The sandalwood markings.

The chains. The Aruval. The spear.

The enormous moustache.

Narada’s smile widened.

"I see you’ve acquired quite an impressive appearance."

Devaratha sighed hearing him.

"Don’t remind me."

He gestured toward himself.

"I’ve been trying to return to normal for some time."

Narada chuckled hearing his helplessness.

"I gathered as much from the discussion I overheard."

Karna immediately stepped forward.

"Do you know how to reverse it?"

Narada stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Perhaps."

Devaratha looked at him with renewed interest.

"Perhaps?"

"Don’t sound so desperate, Devaratha."

"I’m sitting here looking like a guardian deity who hasn’t slept in several centuries."

Shakuni muttered,

"That description is surprisingly accurate."

Devaratha gave him a look.

Shakuni immediately looked elsewhere.

Narada laughed.

"Your problem is actually quite simple."

He walked around Devaratha once, observing the strange aura surrounding him.

"The form you’ve taken carries an immense amount of heat and protective energy."

"Your body has not yet completely settled after the transformation."

"That is why you are unable to return to your ordinary appearance."

Devaratha frowned.

"So how do I settle it?"

Narada’s expression became thoughtful.

"You need to cool your body."

Everyone listened.

"How?"

Narada pointed toward the sandalwood markings already covering Devaratha’s body.

"With sandal paste."

Devaratha blinked hearing the solution.

"...Sandal paste?"

Narada nodded.

"Cover your body with it."

"The sandalwood will absorb the excess heat and help calm the energy circulating through your body."

"Once the heat settles, the transformation should naturally recede."

Devaratha looked at the sandalwood markings across his arms and chest.

"That’s it?"

"That is my suggestion."

Lord Parashurama nodded thoughtfully.

"It makes sense."

Hanuman also agreed.

"The sandalwood has cooling properties and is commonly used when the body carries excessive heat."

Karna looked toward the attendants.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Several soldiers immediately hurried away to gather sandalwood paste.

Indhumati watched Devaratha with a small smile.

"You heard them."

Devaratha sighed.

"I’ve fought a Rakshasa king for one hundred and one days."

"And somehow... this is what finally defeats me."

Indhumati laughed.

Shakuni immediately added,

"Don’t worry, brother-in-law. At least you won’t have to fight the sandalwood."

Devaratha slowly turned toward him.

Shakuni raised both hands.

"I’ll stop."

Within a short time, attendants arrived carrying bowls filled with freshly prepared sandalwood paste.

Narada gestured toward Devaratha.

"Cover the areas where the heat is strongest."

The attendants carefully began applying the cool paste over his arms, shoulders, chest and forehead, spreading it across the dark skin of his transformed body.

The effect was almost immediate.

Devaratha’s expression changed.

"That..."

He closed his eyes.

"...actually feels good."

Narada smiled.

"Of course."

More sandal paste was applied across his body.

The heat radiating from him gradually began to decrease.

The chains wrapped around his body started becoming lighter.

The fierce aura surrounding him slowly weakened.

The dark colour of his skin began fading.

The enormous moustache gradually disappeared.

The sandalwood markings that had originally been part of the guardian form dissolved into the paste covering his body.

The Aruval and spear slowly faded into streams of light.

The iron chains gave one final metallic sound.

KLANG...

Then vanished.

Devaratha’s normal appearance finally returned.

His familiar skin tone. His ordinary hair. His usual face.

He opened his eyes and looked down at himself.

For several seconds, he simply stared.

Then he sighed in relief.

"Finally."

Narada smiled seeing his way has worked.

"Welcome back."

Indhumati looked at him and smiled.

"Much better."

Devaratha glanced at her.

"You didn’t like the other appearance?"

She shook her head.

"I liked seeing you alive."

Then she smiled.

"But this one is easier to recognize."

Devaratha chuckled.

Around them, everyone finally relaxed.

The terrifying guardian who had walked out of the earth...

Had finally returned to being their king.

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