The Secret of the Forest

King Jai was worried. He ruled Lepan, a prosperous kingdom nestled within the Himalayas. His messengers had brought news that the forces of Mutir advanced towards his kingdom. Plundering lands in his path, the cruel conqueror had now set his heart upon the capture of Lepan.

The mountains had served as the natural sentinels of Lepan. The rulers maintained excellent diplomatic relationships with the neighboring countries and spent on welfare rather than warfare. The country produced tea, coffee and wool. Peace and prosperity reigned. All that would shortly change because Mutir’s infantry and horses had mastered the art of scaling treacherous mountain peaks.

Jai rode his chariot at a furious pace and reached the forests. His forefathers had said that those forbidden lands had answers to most of their problems. The woods were out of bounds for the common citizenry. Malevolent creatures lurked inside. To protect citizens from harm, armed soldiers guarded the boundaries. Only the reigning king, if he carried the royal sword, was immune from the dark forces.

When the full moon rose in the sky, Jai realized how deep he had ventured. Sadly, his forefathers advise had failed. He had not found any remedy for his anxiety. Shaking his head, he prepared to return.

“Wooah! Wooah! Wooah!” the sound of a baby reached the king’s ears. He nudged the horses in the direction of the cry and reached a clearing where an amazing spectacle greeted his eyes. A beautiful black woman wearing white robes sat on a throne. A large vulture perched next to her. A monstrous cobra had raised his hood over her like an umbrella. A luminous gem shined in the cobra’s neck.

The scene filled Jai with awe. The serpent looked fierce, the vulture menacing. The lady cradled a baby who obviously was the source of the cry. A mellifluous voice emerged from her, “Advance, King Jai. Do not fear.”

He felt her magnetic pull. He got down from the chariot and tiptoed up to them. The moonbeams scattered around her ebony body like a muslin veil. Her lovely eyes shined with kindness.

“I am Padmini, the Spirit of these forests,” the lady, said waving her hand around them. “This is Nagraj, the celestial serpent.” She pointed to the cobra.” The vulture hopped up to her as if feeling neglected. She caressed his bald head. “This is Pakshiraj, my messenger.”

Padmini extended her arms, holding the infant in her hands. Jai saw a naked girlchild eye him with wonder. Trembling, he took the baby in his arms. The touch evoked feelings in him that he never knew existed. Momentarily, he forgot his concerns. He only wished to cuddle and pamper the live porcelain doll.

Padmini caressed the baby’s head, “She likes you. She doesn’t cry.” There was an unmistakable hint of sadness in her voice.

“I want to see her once before we let you go.” It was an impatient male voice, slightly gruff, almost domineering. It belonged to Nagraj, the serpent.

The king held out the baby before his formidable gaze. He felt no fear now, but the snake did something astonishing. It lowered its mighty head and bit the baby’s wrist. She opened her mouth to yell as the sharp fangs dug into her skin drawing blood. Jai looked aghast but the next moment, Nagraj flicked his moist tongue over the wound which healed instantaneously, and instead of crying, the baby started giggling. The same act was repeated with the other hand.

“You should go now.” It was Pakshiraj, the vulture. He sounded impatient. “You should prepare yourself against Mutir. He is a formidable foe.”

Jai found his voice at last. “How do I protect my kingdom with my small army?” he asked. He realized that he stood between friends who knew his predicament.

“You have her,” spoke Nagraj, the serpent, looking at the kid.

Seeing the king’s confusion, Padmini spoke out.

“This child possesses special powers. All the creatures of this forest owe our existence to your family. For centuries, your forefathers have zealously guarded the secret of the gold mines in these forests. She is our tribute to your ancestors.”

Jai knew about the mines in the woods. His family had cultivated stories of the malevolent creatures and the special sword to discourage greedy prospectors. Passionate about the environment, his family had decided to conserve the forests. They had developed other means of sustenance and avoided mining altogether.

Padmini continued. “The mines cannot remain a secret from the invaders for long. They will cut trees and slaughter animals to find the gold. We will be helpless because an ancient oath binds our allegiance to the one who sits on the throne. Only this child can stop them.”

Jai wondered how the beatific creature in his arms could keep at bay the forces of Mutir

“What powers does she have?” he insisted.

The serpent replied in an irritated voice. “You ask too many questions. You need to know only one thing. To keep her powers, she must remain celibate for life.”

The king started to protest that harsh condition but found himself speaking to vacant space. They had all vanished. Only the baby in his arms reminded him that he was not dreaming. And the bite marks on her wrists.

Jai removed his turban and wrapped the child in it. Placing her at his feet on the floor of the chariot, he raced back to the palace. The remarkable incident had momentarily erased his grave concern. Instead, he wondered how his queen, Rupa, would react.

His concerns proved to be completely unfounded because Queen Rupa fell in love at first sight. Though Jai carefully narrated the entire episode, she scarcely listened. Death, she knew, raced towards them. But her happiness knew no bounds because the baby would end her childlessness.

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Mutir's army arrived at the borders of Lepan and assembled on the plains of Ipanpat. When Jai went to bid adieu to his wife, the maid informed him that she had left for the temple with the baby. She intended to pray for Lepan the whole day.

Jai's charioteer drove him to the battlefield. The sight filled Jai with trepidation Though stouthearted as a lion, he had underestimated the sheer expanse of Mutir’s forces. They covered the grounds like specks of sand in a desert.

The king turned to face his men. “Remember one thing. The enemy is strong, but they stand for evil. They covet our wealth and lust for our women. We fight for justice and for the honor of our mothers and sisters. We will take a hundred arrows on our chest but not one on our back. Glory to Lepan!”

The speech produced an electrifying effect on the soldiers. They all cried in unison, “Long live our king!”

Jai asked his charioteer to drive to the center. Mutir met him midway on his horse. Tall and well-built, he had a swarthy face and unkempt hair. He stared at Jai with bloodshot eyes. Jai noted how Mutir eyed his charioteer.

“Are all your women as beautiful as her?” Mutir questioned, a lustful sigh escaping his lips.

“Women!” exclaimed Jai.

The charioteer removed the turban and revealed a mane of waist length lustrous black hair. To his utter horror, Jai realized that she was his wife.

“Rupa!” he screamed.

She turned to face him. “Don’t worry, my Lord,” she said and placed her hand on her pendant. Jai knew that it contained a deadly poison which she meant to consume if defeated. What he didn’t know was that she carried enough for two. “And there are other women fighting next to our soldiers today. Do you expect us to sit quietly while they slaughter our men!” she said.

The discovery strengthened Jai’s resolve. He confronted Mutir. “It would be best for your men to leave in peace.”

Mutir replied in a contemptuous tone. “If you value your life, you should run. Leave her for me.” He pointed toward Rupa. The comment filled Jai with revulsion, and he drew his sword.

A baby’s cry filled the air. Rupa grimaced and looked at the bundle at her feet. She had brought the infant with her. She meant to pour poison down her throat if need be. Then, she would kill her own self. No way was she going to allow her daughter to fall in the hands of Mutir’s men. The baby hardly cried, and Rupa was confident of concealing her. But today, she had other ideas.

“What have you done, Rupa?” cried Jai with disbelief.

Before she could answer, they heard Mutir's voice.

“Show her to me!” Mutir asked. He had dismounted his horse and looked at them with astonishment. Somehow, he had guessed that the baby was a girl.

“No!” replied Jai in a defiant voice.

Rupa picked up the bundle lying at her feet. With one swift movement, Mutir lunged towards her and snatched the baby. Jai leapt down from the chariot with his sword unsheathed.

“Wait!” Rupa told Jai. She saw Mutir’s stare at the marks on the girl’s wrists. For long, a strange dream had haunted him in his sleep. He had dreamed of a celestial child he would meet on the battlefield. The child would have distinct snake bites on her hands. He had had a vision where he had seen this child's mother cure his dying son.

Mutir hugged the child to his chest now. “Where did you find her?” he asked Jai in a respectful voice.

“In the forests,” Jai replied.

He gave the child back to Rupa and kneeled before her. “She is no ordinary girl. Her mother is my mother too. Please forgive me for what I said. From now on, your protection will be my responsibility.”

He offered his sword to her with tears streaking down his eyes. "Behead me if you want but please forgive me, mother."

Rupa stared at him in amazement. "I forgive you," she said at last.

“You can ask anything from me, mother. I am your servant. Whatever you want, will be yours,” Mutir entreated. There was relief in his voice because he had been forgiven.

“Only one thing,” Rupa said.

‘Yes, mother.”

“I need a promise that you will stop harming women and children.”

“You have my word. But I need something, mother.”

“Ask.”

“I will bring my dying son to you. Only you can cure him!”

“I don’t know what I can do!” exclaimed Rupa with disbelief.

“He only needs your blessings.”

“Why me?” Rupa asked.

“Only her mother can cure my child!” Mutir replied, pointing at the baby.

“I am not her natural mother. We found her in the forests,” Rupa explained.

“But it is your milk she drinks.”

“How does he know?” Rupa wondered in amazement. Only the previous night, she had discovered that she was lactating. The physician was puzzled because she was not pregnant. She had been able to suckle her child. She hadn't even yet told her husband. From the corner of her eye, she saw the bewildered look on her husband's face. She gestured to him that she would explain.

“You are welcome. But you must come as a friend and without your army. I cannot promise anything, but we have an excellent physician who can try,” she said at last. Mutir prostrated before her and kissed her feet.

Riding back towards his soldiers, Mutir shouted with joy, “We have found her! We will return home.” The men shouted with glee.

Up in the sky, Pakshiraj, the vulture Jai had met in the forests, observed the proceedings with amazement. Mutir did not realize that he had averted a hideous death. Pakshiraj was prepared to gouge out his eyes. He hurried back to Padmini, the spirit of the forests. She would know the reason for Mutir’s change of heart.



WC 1974