Four Monkeys - A Tale of Twists - Part 5 - Apareekshitakarakam

5. अपरीक्षितकारकम् (Ill-Considered Actions)

But, all was not lost for Pushkara. At least not yet. Ghati stipulated that his teaming up with Dhanu-Shiri is subject to two conditions. One, Dhanu-Shiri will formally sever his partnership with Pushkara, and two, Karatala has to be consulted and convinced to be a part of the team. It would either be a team with all three or no team at all. While Dhanu-Shiri readily complied with the first condition, the second one oddly brought a sly smile on to Pushkara’s face. He was pretty sure that Karatala would not extend his support with no strings attached. The wily langur was too smart not to see this as an opportunity to claim his share in the throne.

The gorilla deduced that one of the two scenarios could unfold. Either Karatala stalls announcing his decision long enough that the oranges rot and the Nirvachana is declared null and void, which would mean that he would have time to rebuild his popularity. Remember that Karatala could not even manage half the number of oranges as Pushkara.

The second scenario could be that Karatala could say that he would join the team, however at a price that the Mahamatra post would now be a shared one. This arrangement would be something that the proud Dhanu-Shiri. There was enough ego in the team to delay the consensus enough that the oranges will rot before any common agreement could be reached.

In any case, the oranges will rot and the Nirvachana would go void. Pushkara can highlight the greed on the part of the trio as the reason for the failure of a process that a great sage like Bhimasarata had formulated. He saw himself giving the speech, “Making a mockery of the process solely to satisfy one’s own greed, as done by this trio, is not just an insult of the forest folk, but is also insulting Bhimasarata”. If any other scenario starts to emerge, the trusty Koshadhuma was always there to nudge the process in his favour.

While Pushkara was analysing these possibilities, a frustrated Koshadhuma was pacing in his tree house. His irritation knew no bounds. Firstly, the oranges would be starting to show signs of mould. Secondly, Pushkara’s failure to come up with enough number of oranges had now complicated matters and Koshadhuma was facing pressure from the Dandakaranya lot to ensure that either Pushkara is chosen as the leader or the Nirvachana process is declared null and void. However, the rules of Bhimasarata precisely forbids this. He has to ensure that there is no other possible candidate to the leadership throne, before the Nirvachana can be declared null and void.

Just to be done with it as a formality, Koshadhuma asked  Dhanu-Shiri and Ghati if they can gather some support and come up with the requisite number of oranges. As expected, Ghati said that they would be able to give a clear decision only after consulting with Karatala and thus would require two days’ time for completing the consultations. This seemed to be some progress, but also slightly worrying for the baboon. What if the trio manage to come to an agreement? A rider had to be put in place to safeguard the interests Pushkara. Thus, Koshadhuma agreed for the two days’ time. But, on two conditions

1. The throne would now go to the person or team who comes to Koshadhuma with at least a dozen dozen oranges. He would no longer be approaching any candidate asking them if they were willing to stake claim to the throne.
2. If nobody comes to Koshadhuma within two days time, the Nirvachana would be declared null and void at the expiry of the time period.

Day one started with the talks between Ghati and Karatala. Surprisingly, Karatala seemed to be very receptive to the idea of a three monkey team, much to the disappointment of Pushkara. However, Karatala was very reluctant to give his final seal of approval to be part of the trio. The talks went all night and as the second day dawned, it seemed that the trio would indeed come together.

The only issue to be sorted out was to decide who would hold the post of the King. With more at stake, a more sombre Dhanu-Shiri was prepared to share the Mahamatra post, if the others wanted it to be so. Karatala was content on being the ‘king maker’ and removed himself as a contender. Though Dhanu-Shiri fully expected Ghati to claim his pound of flesh, Ghati sprung another surprise. A pleasant one for Dhanu-Shiri and a not so pleasant one for Pushkara.  He too removed himself  from the contendership. The trio was all set to combine their three baskets of oranges and stake claim to the throne the next morning.

Pushkara was completely dejected. He had never anticipated such a radical turn of events. As the sun descended and the moon rose, he was hoping that a miracle happens before the next day dawns.

It seemed that the forest spirits had heard Pushkara’s plea, for something interesting was brewing in the other camp. Ghati’s son Dantin (दन्तिन्) was quite disappointed by the manner in which his father let the Mahamatra slip away. He could not understand why his father did not press for a shared tenure as Mahamatra, particularly when Ghati had secured almost as many oranges as Dhanu-Shiri had.

Dantin being the designated ‘keeper of oranges’ for Ghati, resolved that he has to do something. He felt that he deserved a better deal than what he was getting from Dhanu-Shiri. With a mere eight Muhurtas left for the expiry of Koshadhuma’s deadline, Dantin approached Pushkara and declared that he is ready to support, if Pushkara is interested. Pushkara grabbed this golden opportunity. He ran to Koshadhuma’s house with his basket of oranges, with Dantin by his side and claimed that he now wished to stake claim to the throne as he now had thirteen dozen oranges. Nine his own, and four of Ghati’s which his representative Dantin is pledging.

The relieved Koshadhuma immediately swore in Pushkara as the Mahamatra and Dantin as his deputy. In all this mayhem, Koshadhuma ignored the fact that only Pushkara’s share of oranges were brought to him. Dantin did not bring any oranges with him, it was only his word.The oranges were in fact still with Ghati. The newly appointed Pushkara too failed to realise that by aligning himself with Dantin, he himself was now subject to the criticism of “making a mockery of Nirvachana, and being greedy” that he was accusing the trio of.

On learning of his son’s behaviour, Ghati was visibly upset. But, he was too seasoned a player to mull over such matters, that too at such a crucial time. He wasted no time and gathered  both Dhanu-Shiri and Karatala and with their baskets of  oranges to Koshadhuma’s place. He brought his own basket too.

The enraged Ghati accused Koshadhuma and Pushkara of collusion. For how else can someone be appointed as Mahamatra without physically showing possession of orange majority? He then dragged Dantin by his ears and made him withdraw from the post of the Mahamatra’s deputy. Knowing what is to come next, Pushkara too voluntarily resigned from the Mahamatra’s post.

Finally, Ghanti showed Koshadhuma the three baskets in his possession, which held twelve and a half dozen oranges in them, just as the last muhurta of the stipulated time was on. A reluctant, and thoroughly discredited  was left with no other option other than to appoint Dhanu-Shiri as the Mahamatra, Karatala as his adviser and Ghati as his commander.

The once strong gorilla, Pushkara had neither power nor a moral high ground left with him. His own ill-considered and hasty action of accepting Dantin’s offer without doing due diligence, led to him putting himself in such a tight spot.