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...

Dreaming of yesterday Part II - Kumaran

"You beckoned, my princess?", the soft, firm, familiar whisper, acted like a drug, giving her energy, even as she turned in reply. "Oh! Kumaran", she thought; She wanted to run into his arms like always, drowning into the sea of comfort, that were his arms. The sound of Guru's footsteps, broke her reverie and she steeled her resolve before looking up at Kumaran again. The flickering light of the torch fell upon the queer pair of the old guard and the keen young man and she could see the earnestness in their faces. She knew they loved her unquestioningly and were waiting for her mere word to embark on any quest of her choice. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and asked the question that was burning her tongue, "Who is she?"

Kumaran knew that the question was addressed to him and raked his mind furiously to make sense of her query. Finding, no answer within, he decided to wait for his Valli to elaborate. Valli saw the clueless look on his face and decided a more direct approach was in order. She breathed out an audible sigh and began again "Who is it that you love so much? Who is she?" Kumaran again saw that the question was directed at him. Finding no greater clarity in the elaboration, he decided to finally voice his concern. "I love you, my princess. I know not of this other she that you refer to." 'Princess', Valli seethed at that word. She was the queen now, but everywhere she was the Princess of Madurai, the girl ruler, the kid. It was enough to drive her up the wall, especially that night. She controlled herself with difficulty and said with clenched teeth, biting the words apart, "My parents died when I was 11. I have been ruler of this country ever since I was 16. I think it is about time you call me Queen Valli."

Kumaran was oblivious to her anger and playfully replied, "To me you will always be my princess." He breathed out a sigh of relief. Valli was just being petulant. He had not seen her much over the last month. He would spend the next day with her, he decided. Valli nearly screamed out. Then she saw Guru rustling and was brought back to reality. She was surprised at her anger: What did it matter, if she was called Queen or Princess? If fate would have it Madurai as she knew it would not exist. She chewed back all the arguments and with slow deliberation broke Kumaran's happy thoughts and asked him again "Kumara this is very important. Please do tell me who is this woman that you love?" But no sooner had she asked, she knew it was to no avail. He was not going to tell her. Why was he doing this to her? Weren't they engaged to be married, for four years now. It was her idea to wait, but he had seemed so enthusiastic in his acceptance of her decision. Why wouldn't he at least tell her who she was. Was she not owed that much? They had known each other for 17 years and what was it worth? What should she do now? What should she do now? She tilted her head back and clenched her eyelids, holding back her tears of desperation and wishing it were all a dream. Ha! What a stupid thought! Her stupid dream had gotten her here. No sooner did she think this, when the image of the quiet majesty of Vishram's face came to her.

There lay her answer. She had enough trust in Kumaran to leave him unguarded. And of course there was Guru; she knew she did not have to give him any explicit orders. He wouldn't leave Kumaran out of his sight now. Not after he heard their exchange. So she silently left the room, with Keerthi running to catch up with her. Suddenly left in darkness, Kumaran was lost. Who was this mystery woman that she kept asking about? If she wanted him to call her queen, he would of course do that; with no misgivings or a second's thought. Did she not love him anymore? He hardly knew if there was any explanation out there. He had been so sure that he had been beckoned to witness another dream...

Dreaming of yesterday Part I - Valli

She woke up with a start. It was a familiar feeling. A feeling of certainty, but this time there was fear as well. She called out to the guard, who she knew, was standing outside. She heard the rustling of curtains, followed by the slightest clank of metal against metal, then the heavy thuds of footsteps. From the heavy thuds, she knew it was Guru who was on duty tonight. He was thoughtful that way. The seemingly pointless thudding gave her time to get her thoughts in order and get out of her huge bed. The soft mattress and the thick curtains that she so loved were annoying her as she struggled to get out of the giant bed. Just as she managed to get on her feet, the crack of light from her door way widened ever so slowly and was eventually engulfed by the large silhouette of Guru.

She hastily beckoned him towards her and bid him to lower his large frame so that she could whisper the name into his ears. The name she loved, the name she lived for and the name she had been wanting to scream out ever since she woke up "Kumaran".. Guru seemed to understand this cryptic message and smartly turned on his heels, almost capsizing her slender figure in his wake and left the room in large purposeful strides. All this silent commotion had woken up Keerthi and no sooner did she open her eyes, she hurried to her mistress' side. By this time, the princess had lost her fear and only certainty remained in her beautiful eyes. She visibly tightened her expression, her full lips receding until there was but a slit of determination left. Keerthi knew this expression well and rushed to get her mistress' clothes and a torch while she was at it.

Valli, princess of Madurai, thoonganaragam (the city that never sleeps)  was known around the seven kingdoms for her wit, her beauty and her kindness. But more importantly, she was lesser known for her ability to dream. Guru, of course knew of this ability and his steps quickened as he saw that his destination was at reach. He was sweating, but he knew it was not of exhaustion or effort. At last he came upon the door of his desire and he took no time or thought to bang on it. When Guru bangs on a door the whole neighborhood usually wakes up, but thankfully, the house of his target was an isolated one, being as it was inside the royal forest. The youth that came to the door, looked neither surprised nor angered and the minute he saw that it was Guru merely left the door open and went back inside. No sooner had Guru stepped into the threshold that he beheld the young man dressed and ready to leave. And together they left...