Dreaming of Yesterday - Part III Vinayak

Kumaran nervously fiddled with the ring on his finger until he reached that familiar ridge where copper gave way to gold. He loved that ring just as he loved Valli. When they were both children, Kumaran had playfully asked for her nose ring and she had pulled it out without thinking. There was blood everywhere. It was a day he would never forget and it was the last thing he had ever asked her. He had worn that nose ring on his finger from that day on, adding copper to the gold widening it year after year. Now there was more copper than gold to that ring, but it was a constant reminder of how precious his prin.. queen was.

How could she doubt him? Why did she doubt him? Was it a dream? He had so many questions and he had no clue where or how to start. He started pacing restlessly across the dark room that he knew so well, with Guru shadowing him with his watchful gaze. Suddenly he came to a halt. There was but one answer. There was but one person to whom he could turn for help. He had to call Vinayak. Vinayaka Vignahara, the remover of all obstacles: He would know what to do.

The relief was instantaneous. Just then, the morning sun broke through and lifted the darkness in the room. Kumaran actually managed a smile. Guru, seeing his smiling visage, hoped that Kumaran had a solution. Kumaran turned towards him and just said the name. Guru's furrowed brow uncreased and Kumaran could see that he agreed with him. Guru just stepped to the side, indicating that Kumaran should get moving. Kumaran strode with purpose towards the aviary, but he was not in search of any pigeon but the pigeon keeper's daughter, Urmi. As luck would have it, he did not have to go all the way to the aviary. He spied her lithe form chasing after a stray cat in the palace gardens. She caught up to the cat but let it run again, and again. She sensed Kumaran watching her and gave up on the farce to turn and face him. Kumaran had no sooner begun to call her name out, when she was next to him. Again, he only had to utter the name and she was off. Just as he turned back, he saw Guru coming towards him. This time they took to pacing together, like royal sentries, guarding the flower patch. Now they had to wait, hopefully not for long. Hopefully his brother would have an answer...