

At least an answer that waspractical.‘There must be a way.’‘There is one remote possibility, My Lord,’ said Ayurvati. But it doesn’t appear to be healinghis brain.’‘What do we do?’Ayurvati remained silent. I may injure some other vital function with my instruments.’‘The Somras.’‘It has stopped the bleeding, My Lord. If we remove this apparatus, he willdie.’‘Then why can’t you repair his brain?’‘I told you, My Lord, a brain surgery cannot be done while the patient is unconscious. ‘Then why is thatapparatus required?’‘The bleeding has harmed the parts of his brain that control his breathing, My Lord,’ saidAyurvati, in the calm manner she always willed herself into when faced with a medicalcrisis. To see a mansuch as Parvateshwar in this helpless state was too much for him. ‘He is not getting worse.’The vision of the apparatus attached to the General’s nose shook Shiva. Therewas a pumping apparatus attached to the General’s nose in order to ease his breathing.‘The haemorrhaging has stopped, My Lord,’ said Ayurvati.

Mastrak and Dhruvini, Ayurvati’sassistants, sat at the bedside, rubbing the juice of neem leaves under his nails. ‘My lady!’‘You’ve prepared it correctly?’‘Yes, my lady.’Ayurvati rushed into Parvateshwar’s room. Parvateshwar was lying on a bed in the far corner. Hang on.’Mastrak came in panting, holding a small wooden bottle. ‘I have sent Mastrak to my quarters for some.’Shiva snorted in frustration and turned towards Parvateshwar’s room.

We don’t keep any at the ayuralay.’‘It’s coming, My Lord,’ assured Ayurvati. ‘But we don’t really have large quantities of theSomras.
