Embrace the Snow

REFORMED FOR MY SAKE

Mihira recovered slowly but steadily. During his recovery, Nila sat by his bedside. She sang him many songs and told him many stories. She shared events from her childhood with him. One day, she was humming a song while Mihira was asleep. It suddenly struck her that she didn't know much about Mihira's past. 

She gently pulled her hands away from the sleeping Mihira's grasp. She walked outside the tent and found Gauri, "Please walk with me" Nila said. 

Gauri walked side by side with her, "When you were gone, my lord went mad with grief. He drank copious amounts of alcohol. He often went for a swim, stark naked, in the icy cold climate in the rivers. He stopped eating food, sleeping and drinking water properly. Drunk, he would have intercourse with a new woman, each day, but he would keep calling out your name" 

"Is that why he fell sick?" Nila asked.

"Yes, my lady. He was lovesick and so, he fell sick with the amount of neglect he put his body and mind through" replied Gauri

Gauri continued, "My lord came to me for advice. Like a child, he cried in my lap and asked me why you chose to leave. I explained to him that he failed to show his love for you through his actions. He claimed to love you but he never proved his love for you. You asked my Lord only one thing and one thing only - to spare your people but he refused to do that. I told him that that's why you left him." 

"Then, he decided to wage war..." Nila said

"Yes, he decided to wage war as Kings go to war. Conquerors choose to expand their territory. It is their duty to their people. However, as a man who claimed to love you, he decided to prove his claims. By choosing to forgive and forget the past for your sake. He let go of his hatred and need for revenge for the years of discrimination he endured just for you!" 

"Gauri" Nila asked, "Tell me about his past..."

"His childhood, oh, there is so much to tell. He was one of the bastard sons born of an affair between the late Hun King Toramana and a half-Hun girl in Madra. After Toramana left, the Hun girl moved to Malwa seeking her fortunes there. Malwa was a place of prosperity. I used to live in Malwa and I became close friends with Mihira's mother. I met her when she was pregnant. She chose to make a living there but unfortunately, because of her ethnicity, she was kicked out of jobs. Finally, she made a living by selling her body. Since her Hun features were considered to be exotic, men flocked to her. However, one day, a bunch of drunk rowdy clients gang-raped her and murdered her. If she was a wealthy courtesan, she could have gotten justice but she was only a poor prostitute"

"Was this around the time that I ran into Mihira and saved him from being attacked by the boys on the street?" Nila asked. 

"Yes, it was barely a day since his mother was raped and murdered that the boys of the neighborhood tried to kill Mihira" Gauri responded, "However, even, much before, since the day Mihira was born, he only experienced cruelty, isolation, bullying and discrimination from the citizens of the Gupta Empire because of his Hun features." 

Nila's heart ached for Mihira's suffering and her heart raged at the injustice he suffered. 

Gauri continued, "During this time, Mihira realized enough was enough. Promising to set foot again in Malwa only to take his revenge, Mihira left Malwa with me. We travelled to Kashmir during which time the Hun King Toramana was recruiting new men into his troops. Mihira volunteered and he was so hardworking and diligent that Toramana was extremely impressed with him. Over the years, Mihira rose through the ranks. As Mihira grew older, Toramana sensed the physical resemblance between them. I confirmed to Toramana that Mihira was his own flesh and blood - his son. Toramana was overjoyed. The Huns do not believe that blood alone determines an heir, they believe that it is a man's capability that decides he is a worthy heir. So, Toramana chose Mihira among all his sons to be his heir!"

Nila's felt pride swell in her heart at Mihira's capability. 

"I am sure a bitter rivalry would have broken out at this" Nila asked. 

"Yes, it did. Toramana's legitimate and illegitimate sons were not pleased with this. It was a bloody war among the brothers. A game of survival of the fittest. Mihirana, with Toramana's blessings, slaughtered his brothers and ascended the throne. Over time, Toramana, passed away due to ill-health and Mihira became the Hun King" said Gauri.

"A man so heartless, how did he change at all?" Nila asked. 

"For you, my lady. You were his moral compass then, now and always. As a Hun King, Mihira has rather different standards of morality from you, a Gupta civilian. However, he believes you are his sounding board and compass to guide his morality. For your sake, he could raze cities to the ground and for your sake, he can forgive the Gupta citizens for what they did to his mother and him"  

Gauri said with a soft sigh, "For your sake, my lady. He has reformed for your sake" 

He is now reformed for my sake? 

Gauri said, "You spilled no blood. You have not conquered lands. You have not commanded men. But you have commanded and conquered the heart of a conqueror stopping him from spilling blood. You may have been no queen earlier but I assure you that you are the empress of his heart. He would die for you in a heartbeat, my lady, that is how much he treasures you. He will not be able to live without you" 

"That's enough, Gauri" a familiar voice said, I turned around to see Mihira standing outside his tent, "My Paradise on Earth, how long will you keep me waiting for you? Was seven years not enough waiting time for you?" 

Mihira knelt on one knee on the snowy ground, "Paradise on Earth, will you marry me?"

Nila squealed, "Yes!!!" as she knelt on the ground and embraced Mihira in the snow.