MAHABHARATA SERIES BOOK#2: The Seeds of War (Mba) by Ashok K. Banker

demand.’
    Vrishaparva answered without hesitation. ‘It shall be as you say.’ He sent his aide to fetch Sharmishtha from the palace. The aide rode back at furious speed, then informed the daiimaa who was matron of the princess to fetch her mistress to the ashram at once. Accompanied by her father’s guard, Sharmishtha travelled by palanquin to the forest hermitage where she presented herself before Vrishaparva and Devayani. She was surprised to see other girls her age arriving at the same time, and recognized all her friends, companions and daughters of other asura nobles and regals. 
    ‘My daughter,’ Vrishaparva said, ‘You must do as Devayani says. From this day forth, you and these other girls shall all serve as Devayani’s maids. Her every wish is your command. Do you follow?’
    Sharmishtha answered at once, ‘Yes, father. I shall do as you command.’
    Devayani added shrewdly, ‘No. You shall do as I command. Is that understood?’
    Sharmishtha looked up at her father, then at the faces of the other asura nobles and royals gathered around, all sombre and stern-faced. She bowed before Devayani. ‘Yes, mistress.’
    Once all the thousand girls had assembled, Vrishaparva and the other asuras departed the ashram. Sharmishtha and Devayani were alone again, for the first time since their fight in the forest. 
    Devayani turned to stare triumphantly at her rival. ‘So, here we are again. Do you remember what you said to me the last time we saw each other?’
    Sharmishtha knew the only right answer was silence. She hung her head. 
    Devayani went on. ‘You said that day that I was the daughter of a man who begs like a dog for your father’s scraps, and lives off alms, saying anything to gain favour. Yet now as you see, you are my slave. How is this possible?’
    Sharmishtha tried to stay silent but Devayani strode towards her and commanded, ‘Speak! I order you to answer me! You are my servant and will do my bidding!’
    Sharmishtha looked up hesitantly, choosing her words carefully. ‘You are as my own sister and when one’s sister is in need, one cannot refuse to help. I will do everything you say.’ 
    Devayani’s eyes narrowed. The answer was a little too circumspect for her liking. ‘You do know that your help will be for the rest of your life? This is not a temporary assignment. You will be my servant for as long as we both live. Even after I am married.’
    Sharmishtha bowed her head. ‘I shall follow you wherever your father bestows you.’ 
    Devayani was still not satisfied. She suspected that Sharmishtha still possessed great pride and resentment. But she had won a major victory. She had no wish to enter into another war of words and wits with the other girl. In any case, Sharmishtha was her slave now. Whatever she said or did not say hardly mattered. What mattered was that Devayani owned her, body and soul, and nothing Sharmishtha said or did could ever change that reality! 
    She contented herself by gloating over her newfound power and ordering her maids to collect her belongings and prepare for a trip. ‘Where to, milady?’ they asked. But she did not bother to answer. 
    She went to her father and said to him, ‘Father, I am appeased by Vrishaparva’s donation of his daughter and a thousand maids. Now that I possess such a large entourage, we cannot house them here. The king has always offered you apartments in his own palace. Sharmishtha’s own palatial residence is lying unoccupied now. Let us go and reside in the palace. I shall live in the princesses’ palace where my maids can have access to all that is needed to serve my every desire.’
    Maharishi Kavya Ushanas was only too happy to agree. They went to the palace and took up residence there. Devayani and her father were welcomed and greeted by all the danavas with great honour and homage, for they were relieved at being forgiven and to still have their guru. Devayani lived in Sharmishtha’s own palatial palace within the