As a new ruler Vikramaditya started ruling directly. He was more aggressive and warned the enemies not to make any trouble for Malwa or they will be serverely dealt with. In a few previous battles Vikramaditya had proved his daredevilry. The enemies in fact feared him. Malwa Union was secure and safe. It already was prosperous state and well governed. The people were happy. There was no struggle or battle for the throne. The elder brother renounced the throne on his own will and put his competent and able younger brother on throne. Everything worked smoothly and systematically. The royal court regularly held its sessions on most of the days and Vikramaditya discussed the affairs of the state.
One day a fierce looking occultist (Tantrik) arrived in the court of Vikramaditya. The king welcomed the mystical visitor and asked the reason for honouring Malwa court with his visit.
“Raja!” Tantrik spoke, “For a specific cause I come here. It is a mission.”
“Please reveal your mission, holy sir. We are ready to help in whatever way possible.”
“Then, listen, Raja. In the cremation ground I intend to perform a mystical occult rite at night time as prescribed.”
“Holy sir, if money or any other material is required by you it shall be provided. No problem you just have to tell us how we can serve your cause,” said Vikramaditya generously.
“I don’t need any money or material, Sovereign.”
“How can I be of any help to you, sir? Tell me and it shall be done if possible.”
With his finger raised, the Tantrik spoke as if making a great proclamation, “The coming moonless night I shall commence the occult rite of great mystical importance. The nocturnal predators or evil spirits may try to hurt me or disturb me. Raja, you must stand guard to protect me.”
“Don’t worry holy sir. I will send soldiers to guard you,” Raja Vikramaditya promised.
“No, no…no…!” Tantrik protested. “The soldiers won’t do. No less than valiant Raja Vikramaditya will serve my purpose because only blue eyes of a royal like you can see evil forces at work.”
“I see. I will be glad to offer my services to you holy sir. Come to me at the right time and we shall proceed on your mission,” Raja promised.
The long haired, beaded and weird looking Tantrik departed from the court after receiving the assurance from Vikramaditya.
On the day of the moonless night the Tantrik came to Vikramaditya after sunset and asked the latter to accompany him to the cremation ground. Raja Vikramaditya got up and followed the Tantrik. He was sitting ready waiting for the Tantrik.
In the creamation ground several funeral pyres were burning here and there in their last flickers. There was no one else visible. The atmosphere was very eerie. The wind was whistling. Bats zipped through the air. Jackals bayed. Any ordinary soul would get scared but Tantrik and Vikramaditya appeared calm and collected.
Vikaramaditya was holding his gleaming sword in his hand to deal with any attacker. Tantrik walked ahead with Raja in tow. In the middle of the ground Tantrik stopped. A fire pit had been prepared there for the occult ritual. Nearby lay a pile of wood and some ritual material. Tantrik nodded his head at Vikramaditya signalling that it was his preparation.
Tantrik put wood pieces in the pit incanting some mantra in a particular pattern. Then the ingredients of the ritual were placed in the centre of the wood arrangement. He picked up a burning stick from a nearby funeral pyre and set his wood pile aflame. He sat cross legged infront of pit and began to offer oblations to the fire invoking strange mantras. Vikramaditya stood guard at a distance nonchalantly.
After some incanting, rites and rituals Tantrik turned to Vikramaditya and spoke, “Raja! Here I need your services.”
“Spell it, holy sir?” Vikramaditya responded.
“See, far away from here there is a tree?” Tantrik pointed towards a direction. Vikramaditya nodded his head in affirmation. “On it lives a corpse ghost called Betal slouched over a branch. Get it here for a ritual but make sure you do not speak a word,” revealed Tantrik.
“As you wish,” spoke Vikramaditya ignoring the weirdness of the request after all the occultist and sorcerers are known for praticising crazy rituals. He set out towards the directions of that tree.
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