My take
Devsena stood at the courtyard. The sky was overcast and it was about to rain. She knew with each rain, her worn out saree would grow heavier, so would the shackles. The courtyard would turn slippery, and her feet would sway, she would trip and the heavy shackles would make her fall and no one would hold her, no one would prevent her from falling.
The mighty king's words echoed through her ears, " no one remembers him. No one. "
Devsena slowly walked up to the armoured men who stood around the courtyard like statues. She found the oldest among them, a man in his sixties probably. She slowly walked to him carrying her heavy shackles. The man didn't stir. Devsena stared for sometime at him. And then softly uttered, " Don't you remember him?"
The man stood like a statue. Devsena waited. And uttered again, " Don't you remember Am..."
A young soldier shouted, " get back to your place woman. "
Devsena sighed. As she turned to walked, a fragile voice hit her ears. " I do."
Devsena didn't look back. She walked straight and tall, tears streamed down her fiery eyes, while rain streamed down the sky.
No one takes his name in Mahishmathi. Because if they do, they'll have to pay for it with their lives. Foolish king. Devsena laughed out loud, all drenched. The king believes he can make people forget god just by forcing them to not utter his name. She sighed and looked up to the sky. The raindrops hit her face hard, her pale tanned skin pained even more.
" Amara, I had requested you to not take me a hostage. You had kept my words. Had you told me about your intentions to leave me forever, I would have been your hostage. At least I would know, the man I fell before, was the man who would hold me when I fall. Instead I fell before a man, who laughed when I fell.
Amarendra, we had so much more to do? Why did you leave? "
Her wail that night pierced every doors and windows of Mahishmathi. Every soul shed tears that night with the sky. And deep down, every soul uttered silently, " At least you were to remain alive Mahendra! Your mother has had enough. It should have been your turn to pay back! "
Only one soul swallowed her tears, stoned and uttered, " Return Mahendra! I know you will."
comment:
p_commentcount