Yakshagni - An odyssey of unbroken devotion - II

 21) The Heart has its Reasons

Shankaran Murthy was delighted to receive a mail from Dushyant Bhadera and felt privileged to accompany his friend to dig into the archives of the old library in Thanjavur. Saraswathi Mahal Library, established in the 16th century by one of the ruling Nayaks had on display some of the rarest palm leaf manuscripts. Shankaran was elated that he would have a chance now to find his way into the vault of ancient knowledge.

When there was no response from Maurya regarding his visit to Avadhi, Shankaran made a call to the younger man's office and learnt that Maurya was in hospital. He wasn't certain about the nature of the accident but he was worried for the younger man.

A week later, he met Dushyant in Thanjavur. Dushyant briefed Shankaran about his father's advice; that he would find some lead in the scripts that were eternalized for succeeding generations in one of Asia's oldest libraries.

"So Dushyant, what is the topic that I should look for?"

"Ancient kingdoms, rivers... or cities that had been built on the banks of rivers that flow no more. You know, some hint about a secret that guarded a kingdom or a river."

The two men spent the entire day, attempting to read as many manuscripts as possible but soon, it was time for the library to close for the day and they had to make an exit.

Late evening, when Shankaran and Dushyant met for dinner, the latter spoke about the ancient dynasty, about which, his ancestors had narrated to their descendants.

"You know Shankaran, there was this belief then that a prophecy about a love had brought down the powerful kingdom."

"What kind of a prophecy?"

"From what I understood, it was about an innocent love between an unmatched pair that had spelt doom for the kingdom."

"So, what about the forest that was burnt down? You said that its inhabitants cursed the kingdom."

Dushyant answered with a sigh, "There are so many tales that I have heard, Shankaran. I don't know which is real and which is myth. All I know is that I have to find a secret that had guarded the dynasty and let our posterity live in peace."

"But Dushyant, you must have some idea about the topic."

"What I am searching for, is a manuscript pertaining to ancient rivers in India. Apparently, this river holds the secret that would release the curse of the prophecy. My forefathers believed that the kingdom was home to many types of tribes. One of the tribes who worshipped rivers as their deity lived in the forest and they had something to do with the downfall of the kingdom."

"Good, at least now I know what I am looking for."

The next morning, Dushyant and Shankaran were the first ones inside the library. By mid-afternoon, they had various manuscripts and books spread on the table. They poured over each one and took notes from some. The palm-leaf manuscripts had to be handled very carefully. Photography was prohibited inside the library; hence they took as many notes as possible. One manuscript written in Nandinagari script interested Dushyant.

"Shankaran, this is written in Nandinagari script. I remember that you used to translate this script to Mahendran, sir."

Shankaran nodded, reaching for the manuscript. He read the first few leaves and said, "This document is about the significance of water and how we should conserve it. It talks about the divinity of water and how in Vedic times, water was thought to bring happiness, peace, good health and wealth. Oh wait! It is only one of the many volumes. This one is called 'Water and Universe'. Dushyant, there are many volumes here. This is volume -3. Let us search for others."

Half an hour later, Dushyant found volume-2 which was titled, 'Water and its gods'. They also discovered volume - 1, 'Water as a primeval element'.

"The contents in these volumes are so interesting Dushyant. According to Rig Veda, water is the foundation of all in this universe. Look at this volume, I got hold of. It is volume-4 and it talks about 'Water and Vedas"."

"I am sure, we will get some clue in one of the volumes. How many volumes are there?"

"I am not sure. These palm leaf manuscripts have more than a hundred volumes."

"So, it might take more than a week to find out. And it is even possible that we don't find anything useful. Are you prepared for the gruelling task Shankaran? I hope you don't have anything urgent to go back to," Dushyant asked doubtfully.

"No, nothing urgent there. I am grateful that you invited me here. It is truly an enriching experience to read through these scripts and learn so much about our world. I haven't come across such in-depth conclusions in modern books. Such an overall mastery of any topic under the sun is astonishing. We really had some enlightened men then," Shankaran observed enthusiastically.

He was very excited to spend hours in the brightly lit room where the learned men, through their logic and understanding, created storehouses of knowledge. Three days later, they found volume-9, 'Water and Prithvi'. The volume had many segments. One of the segments was Rivers. However, the segments were written in different manuscripts. One thing that they were certain about, was that they would find what they were searching in one of the volumes. The library stored more than 25000 palm leaf manuscripts and the bulk of them were written in scripts like Grantha, Devanagari, Nandinagari, Tamil, and Telugu. Shankaran and Dushyant were prepared to toil through the manuscripts however long it took them.

****************

Maurya was generally in a belligerent mood after his discharge from the hospital. The workload had mounted and appointments had piled up. For the past one week, he had been in and out of meetings. Moreover, the unreasonable time spent cloistered in the airconditioned rooms was causing him excessive headache. Nonetheless, what really bugged him was that not once had Dharma enquired about his accident. It should not anger him so much but it did and he had no logical explanation for it.

He was reading a document when Tapan knocked.

"Good morning Maurya, I must say that you are looking much better than the last time I saw you."

"When did you see me last?" Maurya asked, glad to be interrupted by his baneful thoughts about the world in general.

"I guess, a couple of days ago, at the meeting with the production department regarding the quality of the fabrics."

"Right! I feel much better today."

"There is a rumour going around in the office that there will be a big announcement today," Tapan probed.

Maurya's face shot up and he regarded Tapan with interest, "I haven't come across a bigger busybody than you. Where do you gather so much gossip?"

Tapan laughed and dropped heavily on the chair, "I guess old habits die hard. So, is there an announcement?"

Vasukinath Krishna was holding a party at his house that evening and he planned to announce a date for Rashika and Maurya's wedding.

"Yes, Vasukinath plans to announce the date for the wedding," Maurya replied, contemplating the view outside his window.

"No wonder, you look depressed," Tapan murmured and Maurya eyed him sharply. A guardedness sneaked into his eyes now and he quizzed, "You said something?"

"No, nothing! I just went through Dharma's designs for the show and they are excellent. The collection is really unique. I wouldn't mind being part of the show and contributing my bit. They are amazing."

"If you are done waxing eloquent about her collection, I suggest that you focus your sight on our upcoming India Textile and Fabric Expo," Maurya's biting answer irritated Tapan.

"What have you got against her? Her designs are absolutely brilliant."

"Why are you falling over yourself to impress her? You want to hit on Dharma, do it. Don't trouble me with all your devotion."

Maurya's long legs took him to the window. An unexplained rage rose out of nowhere, unsettling him.

"Oh my god! You are jealous," Tapan uttered in surprise. Maurya swivelled around in fury. The incongruity of Tapan's words made him lash out at the talented designer.

"What? Mind your bloody business Tapan. Don't cross the limit. I don't understand how you come up with such rubbish," Maurya scoffed.

"I just made an observation," Tapan muttered, his shrewd eyes taking note of Maurya's discomfiture.

"Well, next time keep your observations to yourself. Is that all or do you want to say something else?"

"Yes, I had something important to talk about Dharma. But since you are in such a foul mood, I think I will not add to your troubles," Tapan countered, baffling Maurya.

"Spill it out. What are you waiting for?" Maurya snarled but Tapan rose from the chair, "No, another time probably..."

"Tapan..." Maurya bellowed but Tapan had left the room and Maurya sighed in frustration. Damn! What did Tapan want to say about Dharma? He hoped that she was doing fine. Or was she ill or something? Is that why she didn't call him when he was in the hospital? Unable to contain his intense desire to know about her wellbeing, he called her.

"Hello..."

She sounded fine and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hello? Maurya?" her voice came out tentatively and he answered, "Hi, yeah Dharma, is the collection ready for a trial run?"

"No, that would take one more week."

She sounded fit and fine. It spurred him to rebuke, "Why so late? It should have been ready by now. This is no time to procrastinate. I want to see the collection by Monday," he ended the call before she gave him an answer.

Maurya marched out of the office as his assistant and receptionist gaped at him.

*************

Dharma was filled with a primitive emotion that urged her to fling the phone on the floor. Procrastinate? How dare he? She was working day and night to get the collection ready, that too without any help from Lekha or Rashika; and the man had the audacity to accuse her of procrastinating. She clenched her teeth and slumped on the chair. How can she get the collection ready by Monday? It was already Friday and some garments had to be sewed. Sighing, she rubbed her forehead wearily.

She was checking the box of silk threads when the office boy gave her an invitation card.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Oh, it is the invitation for a party at Rashika's house," Pooja stated.

"You mean Rashika has invited us for a party? Did the Sun rise in the west today?" joking, Dharma slit open the envelope and examined the card.

All the employees were cordially invited for a special gathering at Rashika's house.

"There is going to be a big announcement today," Pooja added with excitement.

"Oh, what announcement?" Dharma asked distractedly.

"I guess it is Rashika ma'am's wedding..."

Dharma shot a glance at Pooja, "Meaning?"

"I think her father is going to announce the date for Rashika ma'am and Maurya sir's marriage."

Dharma went pale and she inspected the invitation card once more. Her mind tried to conjure a picture of Maurya and Rashika together but she could not, her brain blanked out the image. She shut her eyes in dejection but a tenebrous image of someone placing a band of flowers on her head shimmered behind her closed eyes. She jerked open her eyes at once, her pulses picking up pace and beads of sweat forming above her eyes.

"Are you alright Dharma?" Pooja asked with concern.

Nodding, Dharma rushed to the washroom. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her nerves. What was that dreamlike impression? Who was placing a band of flowers on her head? Was her memory coming back in bits and flashes? And why did it come now when she was troubled by the invitation?

Splashing water on her face, she returned to her desk and decided not to attend the event. Sonia came by and asked, "Who all are attending the event? I can arrange a vehicle for you. Rashika has conveyed that she would be glad to have you all."

At once, Dharma knew she wouldn't go, especially to please Rashika.

"Dharma, you are coming, right?" Sonia queried.

"I am not sure, Sonia. I may have to go to my friend's school."

"Rashika will not like if you don't turn up," Sonia warned. Nevertheless, Dharma was certain that Rashika will not like if she turned up.

After Sonia left, Dharma mulled over the invitation, regarding it with testy eyes. Diverting her attention from it, she left office. On her way, she received a call from Tapan.

"Hi Dharma, what's up?"

"All fine here."

"Good! I saw your designs at the workshop and they are amazing."

"You should have said the same to Maurya. He bawled at me for delaying the trial run."

"Seriously?" Tapan's face took on a devilish amusement as an idea formed in his head.

"Hey, are you attending the party tonight at Rashika's house?"

"No, I don't want to spoil her mood by showing my face there," Dharma responded.

"How about spoiling Maurya's mood?"

"What?"

"I will pick you up in an hour. We will go together," Tapan growled with excitement.

"Together? I told you I am not coming," Dharma snapped, oblivious to Tapan's wicked schemes.

"Dharma, you are coming with me as my date. And wear your prettiest dress," Tapan ended the call before Dharma could protest.

When Dharma told Kamya, her friend encouraged her to enjoy the party, "But as his date? Is he interested in you, Dharma?"

"Of course not! Tapan may be a very gifted man but he is also this mischievous child at heart. He loves to create troubles, and then sit back and enjoy its consequences," Dharma's description of Tapan elicited giggle from Kamya. Keen that Dharma should impress the playful Tapan, Kamya offered her prettiest dress to Dharma.

It was a long gown in black with silver sequins. It clung to Dharma's body lovingly, leaving her shoulder and arms bare. The halter necked gown reached up to Dharma's ankle and a thin belt cinched the gown at her waist. Dharma had a black ankle strap stilettos and when she wore it, she looked really tall in the outfit. With the dark shadow over her eyes and a dusky lipstick, she completed her ensemble.

"My god Dharma, you look like a super model."

"Do I?" Dharma asked doubtfully, "You don't think I am overdressed for the occasion?"

"Of course not, dear. Look at you, there is hardly any jewellery. I would suggest some bracelet. Here, take this one from me..."

But Dharma refused to wear any jewellery. Except for the hoops on her ears, she wore no other ornament. Her hair had grown after coming to Delhi and the thick swathe of mane reached her shoulders. She left it open.

Worried that she was out of her element, Dharma felt good when Tapan blew a whistle as soon as she appeared. Draping a stole over her gown, Dharma greeted Tapan as she slid into his car.

"So what mischief are you planning Tapan?"

"You think I am scheming something? You are so wrong Dharma. I just want to enjoy the party. I swear I am not planning anything," a chuckling Tapan replied. His answer made Dharma uneasy but she pushed it to the back of her mind when Tapan praised her collection.

Tapan felt unutterably excited at the approaching climax. His face beamed in gleeful anticipation; striving to decipher Maurya's possible reaction. He knew he was playing with fire but what was life without some bits of spark?