Read Online Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi - Free Book Online

lady to defend himself while at the same time keeping them engaged in combat.
    All of a sudden the hooded figure disengaged from the battle and stepped back. He began to tread backwards as he continued to point both his swords ahead, one at Shiva and the other at the lady. His men had all disappeared into the trees. As he reached a safe distance, he turned and ran behind his men. Shiva considered chasing him but almost immediately decided against it. He might just rush into an ambush.
    Shiva turned to the lady warrior and inquired, ‘Are you alright?’
    ‘Yes I am,’ ‘she nodded before asking with a sombre expression. Are you injured?’
    ‘Nothing serious. I’ll survive!’ he grinned.
    In the meantime, Krittika came running down the temple steps and asked breathlessly, ‘My lady. Are you alright?’
    ‘Yes I am,’ she answered. ‘Thanks to this foreigner here.’
    Krittika turned to Shiva and said, ‘Thank you very much. You have helped a very important woman.’
    Shiva did not seem to be listening though. He continued to stare at Krittika’s mistress as if he were possessed. Krittika struggled to conceal a smile.
    The noble woman averted her eyes in embarrassment, but said politely, ‘I am sorry, but I am quite sure that we have not met earlier.’
    ‘No it’s not that,’ said a smiling Shiva. ‘It’s just that in our society, women don’t fight. You move your sword quite well for a woman.’
    O hell! That came out all wrong.
    ‘Excuse me?’ she said, a slightly belligerent tone in her voice, clearly upset about the for-a-woman remark. You don’t fight too badly either for a barbarian.’
    ‘Not too badly?! I’m an exceptional sword fighter! Do you want to try me?’
    O bloody hell! What am I saying? I’m not going to impress her like this!
    Her expression resumed its detached, supercilious look once again. ‘I have no interest in duelling with you, foreigner.’
    ‘No. No. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t want to duel with you. I just wanted to tell you that I am quite good at sword-fighting. I am good at other things as well. And it came out all wrong. I rather like the fact that you fought for yourself. You are a very good swordsman. I mean a swordswoman. In fact, you are quite a woman...,’ bumbled Shiva, losing the filter of judgement, exactiy at the time when he needed it the most.
    Krittika, with her head bowed, smiled at the increasingly appealing exchange.
    Her mistress, on the other hand, wanted to chastise the foreigner for his highly inappropriate words. But he had saved her life. She was bound by the Meluhan code of conduct. ‘Thank you for your help, foreigner. I owe you my life and you will not find me ungrateful. If you ever need my help, do call on me.’
    ‘Can I call on you even if I don’t need your help?’
    Shit! What am I saying?!
    She glared at the caste-unmarked foreigner who clearly did not know his place. With superhuman effort, she controlled herself, nodded politely and said, ‘Namaste.’
    With that, the aristocratic woman turned around to leave. Krittika continued to stare at Shiva with admiring eyes.
    However, on seeing her mistress leaving, she too turned hurriedly to follow.
    ‘At least tell me your name,’ said Shiva, walking to keep pace with her.
    She turned around, staring even more gravely at Shiva.
    ‘Look, how will I find you if I need your help?’ asked Shiva sincerely.
    For a moment, she was out of words or a glare. The request seemed reasonable. She turned towards Krittika and nodded.
    ‘You can find us at Devagiri,’ answered Krittika. ‘Ask anyone in the city for Lady Sati.’
    ‘Sati...,’ said Shiva, letting the ethereal name roll over his tongue. ‘My name is Shiva.’
    ‘Namaste, Shiva. And I promise you, I will honour my word if you ever need my help,’ said Sati as she turned and climbed into her chariot, followed by Krittika.
    Expertly turning the chariot, Sati urged her horses into a smooth trot. Without a backward look she