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Rajini Rewritten Trilogy (Part 2) - Trimurti Katha
Epilogue
The Clown
Vettaiyan examined the neatly arranged clothes. He checked each, without disturbing their folds. Admist the sets of similar white outfits, one stood apart by being brighter. He isolated it from the lot and carried it with him to the window. He unfolded his laundered suit and lifted it towards the sunlight entering into his chamber. He checked the outifit by briskly turning it between his hands. He steadied it over the light. Gradually, the tiny pinhole perforated on the clothing, through which the sunshine permeated, revealed the message :
The hunter's stone misses the bone,
The Two birds have flown to a destination known.
Comes the time to moarn when the war horns are blown,
Hurry to call the Clown whose control you only own.
- The Poet
Vettaiyan whispered 'Kochadaiiyaan' and stromed out of his Palace Chamber throwing the clothing on the fire of the chimney in fury.
The four faithful hounds followed their master to the Caves of Malliga.
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And in the battle of three, only one will stand.
The final part of Rajini Rewritten Trilogy - Chaturmukha Part 3 - will resume shortly.
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...0&d=1459539293
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5 Attachment(s)
Extracts from Chaturmukha Part Three
All human wisdom is contained in these two words, Faith and Hope. - Kochadaiiyaan
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...4&d=1460633314
There is neither happiness nor misery, but only the comparison of one state with another. - Sena
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...5&d=1460633326
Convincing the heart with the spirit of something your mind knows is a lie, is called confusion. - Rana
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...6&d=1460633338
Peacock dances in the rain, As happy as a mane. - The Poet
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...7&d=1460633344
Good always Wins, but Evil never Fails. - Vettaiyan
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...8&d=1460633352
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...9&d=1460638724
svetAsvatara UpaniSad 2:14
yathaiva bimbaM mRdayopaliptaM
tejo-mayaM bhrAjate tat sudhAntam
tad vAtma-tattvaM prasamIkSya dehI
ekaH kRtArtho bhavate vIta-zokaH
As a mirror with dirt smeared
Brightly shines when well cleaned
So too the true self having seen the emboided
One, it's goal acheived becomes freed from sorrow
Battle Begins.
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Strictly for Adults Only
The story so far ...
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...7&d=1460981711
A war to end all wars never ended. The Rulers of Light and the Rulers of Darkness fought for their supremacy over the Living World. The war of the worlds walked over a new timeline created by the birth of Kochadaiiyaan, a son of God. He carried the curse of his parents by experiencing a devine power under his human skin. He was tasked to remove the demons from the Living World, but before he could accomplish his mission, all evil inside a new single form took charge of the earth which was divided into five Kingdoms.
Before Kochadaiiyaan's blood rained down to the ground, he had planted two seeds, his sons Rana and Sena, to carry forward what he could not finish. Gone were the demons and monsters from the face of the earth, now all were well installed inside the human heart and mind itself. A new battle has begun, led by the Brothers to face Vettaiyan - the Emperor of the Living World, the ruler of Chaos and the ambassador to the Dark World.
Geared-up with all the mystical gadgets and advices left behind by their Father, the Brothers, seperated during childhood, have finally met. In their reunion they have woken up their own shadow which is none other than Vettaiyan, the Hunter.
And in the battle of three, only one will stand.
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Chaturmukaha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Prologue
Cosmos in a Kangaroo's Pouch
(Chapter Title adapted from Vladimir Nabokov's "Speak, Memory")
"Two men, bonded by blood, are breathing portraits of Endurance and Trust", Kochadaiiyaan narrated to his wife Yaghavi.
The evening sky was covered with a thick blue blanket. Yaghavi and Kochadaiiyaan were watching their kids through the window of their living room. Yaghavi had her face over her "Life's" shoulder. Kochadaiyaan gripped to his "Change" close. Thier children were in the company of their friends, playing in the graden.
Rana, dressed in a light blue shirt, assumed the role of a King amoung his comrades by passing orders and pronouncing judgements to petty cases brought to him by his companions posing as villagers. Ocassionally Rana took a majestic sitting position on an elevated platform and pressed his right hand over his laps, just as his Father would sit while listening attentively. A blue cape, a piece torn from his mother's cloth, was attached to his neck and flew from his back.
Sena, wearing a light red top was seated on a small isolated rock. He was looking into the sky, starring at the vast emptiness not caring the noises around him.
"Rana, as cheerful as always but Sena's aloofness scares me", Yaghavi worried to her Husband.
Kochadaiyaan smiled and started his narration. "But fate had seperated them" continued Kochadaiiyaan. "Once the younger brother, who was always energetic, asked his Uncle about an Another Man who was considered more generous than himself. He was yet to discover that this Man was his elder brother."
The Demi-God walked to the fruit basket and fetched an apple along with a cutting knife. He called his sons and gave the fruit to Rana and the knife to Sena. The brothers ran outside, Rana yelling in joy, while Sena hopping back onto his rock chair with the cutting tool in his hand.
"His Uncle did not explain to him", the Mystical Man told Yaghavi, "but asked his nephew to meet him in the morning. The following day, the Uncle handed over a mountain of wealth to the youngman and informed him to be empty before dusk. The younger brother called upon his army of friends, with their help chopped down the wealth from the hill and distributed it to every single person in the surrounding. People thronged the place and he ensured no one was rewarded twice. He felt proud while hearing to laurrels passed by the gifted men and women. The setting sun announced it's depature, but the mountain was only half empty. Failing to fulfil the condition, the younger brother confessed to his uncle."
Rana showed the apple to all his friends. He tasted the apple infornt of everyone by taking tiny bites and making a face as though it tasted delicious. Once he finished crunching, he gave a comanding cry asking his friends to follow him. Their leader marched them to the orchard. Soon, every single kid who followed Rana came happily running with an apple in their pocession. They all sat in a circle and enjoyed the delecious fruit together.
"The Uncle walked his nephew through a narrow path" said the Saviour to his wife. "They reached another mountain full of wealth beneath which a elderly man, weak and fragile, was squatted down. The owner of the mountain informed them that a generous Man gave him all this wealth and now he had no clue about what to do with it. The Uncle then told the younger brother that as soon as he gave the mountain to his contester, the Generous Man had immediately handed it over to the elderly person who was the first one to have crossed by. He did not even wait to hear what the gifted man had to say but rode away towards the dawn, all the while his nephew had taken the whole day to distribute the wealth."
Her husband paused and then pronounced, "Desire and Aim are different, my dear."
Sena was seated on a small rock motionless.
Sometime later, at the dinner table, the Father rolled an apple on the surface. It slowly went round and round before settling before Sena. When the apple was rotating, he gently slided the cutting knife towards Rana which came to a halt infront of him, taking the same time the apple had taken to cross the table. Sena held the apple in his hand and requested the knife from his brother. He cut the apple into two halves. He shared an half with Rana. Then, he stood up and walked around the table. He sliced the other half into two. He offered one half to his mother. Further, he divided the quater of the apple with his father. He pressed his share with two fingers and lent the sweet juice stained finger to the lips of his baby sister Yamuna, who was siting over the lap of their mother. The baby enjoyed the nectar and smiled happily at her brother, kicking both her legs. Sena winked at his sister and popping his tiny share inside his mouth, he hopped back to his chair contented that his whole family had tasted the best fruit.
Yaghavi looked at her sleeping children. The act of Sena had moved her, and her Husband saw it in her eyes.
"The seperated brothers discovered their life on thier own, the elder became a Saint and the younger became a King", Kochadaiiyaan continued from where he had left. "Under the heavy rain, few pilgrims reached the doorless hut of the Saint. They needed dry wood to prepare food for the rest of their members, woman and infants, sheltering inside a traveller's inn. The elder brother had no logs, but gave them an information more valuble than the seeked wood. He told them to reach the castle where his brother was the King. The gaurds did not permit the pilgrims entry. Being aware of people waiting at his gates during a severe weather, the younger brother came to meet them. After hearing them, he ordered his men to load the woods for the pilgrims. But the gaurds returned empty handed, as the storage room was flooded with rain water and all the logs were wet. Without hesitation, the King ordered his workers to break the sandalwood door, which stood fabulously decorating the grand enterance of his palace, and safely parcel the dry wood for the pilgrims."
"All human wisdom is contained in these two words, Hope and Faith, Yaghavi. Sena and Rana are its seeds, one will Show the way, the other will Guide", inferred the Master.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukaha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter One - Latest from the Final Years
A Statue for the Leader
The Politician and the Architect were walking towards the gallery where the Emperor's life size statue was being sculpted on a single block of natural marble.
They crossed the main entrance and took the muddy alley behind the main building to reach the grand workshop where the prestigious activity was carried out. The path was heavily bordered by bamboo fence. Several artisans and their assistances were moving up and down the passage. Most of them carried tiny wounds and scars on their skin. They greeted the Kingsmen through respect bowing and pleasing smile. Behind the barrier the Politician remarked a long chain of ant mounds, some were smaller and many were huge. The nests were so close to each other as though a tunnel system allowed a passage for its habitants to travel back and forth. At the end of the pathway, a narrow pipe made of cloth climbed over from the anthill. The cloth pipe rised upto the roof and was attached with rope joints to the vast ceiling of the grand gallery. The light weight pipiline crawled over the upper-floor like a serpent and ended its journey above the staute of Vettaiyan at the center of the hall. The pipe's mouth was tightly tied with a rope.
"I never knew our Emperor used a bow", exclaimed Minister Narendhira Verman to Architect Vitara on the way.
"I have accompanied him once to the hunting grounds, but never seen him carrying one neither", affirmed Vitara. "Even in the private Armory of the Emperor that I had designed does not contain a room for a bow. But, there is a secret chamber constructed by the instruction of our King where rests a glass box specially made to contain a bow and it's twin arrows", explained the Architect to the Politian.
"What is it with these ant mounds", wondered the Politician. Vitara moving forward briskly teased his companion, "You will find it yourself, soon".
They entered the grand workshop. In the middle, a huge white block was standing errect. A huge beam of sunlight dropped on it from the side wall through the mural window. A large canvas potrait of King Dashakantha holding a bow was hung behind the unfinshed statue. Mural windows shed light over the painting.
Only one sculptor was working on the sculpture.
The Kingsmen stood before their Emperor's statue. Minister Narendhira Verman admired the artistry; the life size statue looked real - the hairline and the facial hair, the cheek muscles, the sharp eyes under the curved eyebrows, the pleats over the clothing, the miniture craving inside the hip belt, the boots - except that the human form before him was not breathing. He took a step forward to examine the bow gripped to the staue's right hand when his friend stopped him.
"I brought you here to witness the completion of a prestigious work which had started five years ago", explained the Architect. "It's a gift to our Emperor as I repented that there was not a single staue of our King present in our Great Nation. Next week, the Emperor himself will inaugurate the Symbol of Himself. For which, I assume, the security preparations are been carried out by your team around the Plaza. This statue will be installed there before a grand gathering".
The Politician was overwhelmed by the love of the Architect towards their King.
Vitara pointed at the cloth pipes above. "Myrmecia Pyriformis", he said.
"My ... what ?!?", exclaimed the Politician.
Vitara laughed,"You can call them Bull Ants, used to drill the bow in the King's hand", to which Narendhira Verman put an incomprehinsible face.
"A statue out of a single block of marble is a rarity, but they do exist", said the Architect. "I wished to tie a string of originality to it. As our Emperor is a great lover of culture and art, I decided to suprise him. He wished for his statue with a bow in his hand. And the suprise element is the bow itself."
Vitara gentlely ushered Narendhira Verman close to the statue.
"Tying the string of the bow looked as a disgrace to the creation", continued Vitara, "as the string groove will be protruding from the carved structure. Our Nation is glorified for the art and architecture, I wished to leave behind a work which would be talked for an eternity. Everyone will be wondering how we had acheived such a finish, a secret that I wanted to share with you."
He paused and gestured his hand pointing towards the bow, "The Bow which will hold the string entirely inside, the thread shall pass through the bow limbs", he said.
Vitara explained, "When a pack of soldiers were attacked by an army of ants, none lived after that though, I mean the soldiers ; I was curious to know more about this colony of pyriformis. We gathered a few and breeded them. I designed the statue to be started with the bow. The sculptor chiseled it out of the rock before continuing the work on the other parts. Sweet syrup was poured in drops at the top of the bow and allowed to be dried. The cloth pipe allowed the ants to go back and forth from their nest. With their powerful jaws they scratched the sugar from the stone, drilling their way inside. The process has come to its final phase. Another round of the syrup should allow us to insert the string directly inside the bow limb. We are here to witness it."
Vitara continued without giving a pause, "Bull Ants are tiny but deadly creatures. Like all ants they work together, but they are a group of aggressive nocturnal foragers. Their mandibles (the jaws) are broader with tiny teeth, about 6 to 7 depending on the size of the ant, and their clypeus (ant's face) is covered with hair making them look ferocious. With their strong mandibles they chew anything out of their way. I used the ant as a machine to drill the bow."
The Politician took a look at the sculptor. He had wounds and scars all over his hand.
"Accidents do happen", Vitara shrugged his shoulders.
The sculptor made a cone out of a cloth. He attached it to a long thin stick. He then dipped it into the syrup and gently inserted it into the bow line. The thin stick entered the upper limb and glided smothly through the inner body and reached the tip of the lower limb. It's free movement hit the bottom. Satisfied the artist removed the baton. He then slowly untied the mouth of the cloth pipe and carefully inserted the unlocked part above the bow's tip.
Minister Narendhira Verman noticed enormous moment inside the cloth channel. Seconds later, grinding and screeching noises came out of the statue.
The sculptor was proud, and bent before his masters while taking his hand backward. In his enthusiasm, he failed to notice the tiny bottle of syrup behind him. He toppled it and few drops of thick liquid fell on his feet, at the same time a Bull Ant's deadly claw jaw peeped out of the bottom tip of the bow. The tunnel through the bow was dug.
Couple of foragers escaped through the tiny gap and rushed to the feet of the sculptor. In no time they tore the flesh sticking to the sugar syrup. He cried out in pain. Vitara reacted immediately by stamping the escaped ants flat to the ground. He took out a wax block coated with oil and sealed the hallow. He turned to his friend and said, "Our little furious friends are allergic to tea tree oil". He then called couple of his assistants to attend to the sculptor's wound.
A while later, the cloth pipe's end was tied. Vitara removed the wax seal and invited Minister Narendhira Verman to insert the bow string. The thin thread effortlessly passed through the stone bow structure. The politican joined the two ends of the bow string with a smile.
"The Emperor will open His statue by tieing the nocking point", announced the Architect proudly.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukaha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter One - Latest from the Final Years
Sweet Death (Part 1/2)
The main Plaza before the Vettaiyan Palace was decorated with lights and flowers. Soldiers, gaurds and mercenaries controlled the huge crowd gathered in front of the stately home to participate in the opening ceremony of sculpture of their Emperor.
Citizens were stopped at the front yard enterance by assembling the gathered thousands inside a semi circular perimeter. The outer ring was heavily gaurded. The people were cheering and many were carrying flowers for their King, mostly all the arrangement was a setup by the Politician. The General and his team of masked fighters circled randomly around the castle. The security was tightened as the major crimes in the Central Kingdom were the assasination attempts on the Emperor.
A raised platform was at the center of the vacant falt ground before the uncontrolable throng. On the decorated elevation, the statue of Vettaiyan holding a bow in his had was errected. The staircase of the Palace, famous for its architectural structure, mounted across the statue. The throne chair of Emperor Dhashakantha was placed at the top landing where the long corridors met. The Palace hallway was decorated with hanged velvet curtains inscribed with the Kingdom's emblem. Flowers lined the small walls. On both sides of each step, two prince chairs were arranged next to each other for the political invitees - Lords, Cheiftans, Supporters, Noblemen and Rulers. On the final stairs below the throne, the pair of chairs were reserved for the Kings of the four Kingdoms - Karimedai, Katrupuzha, Kottaipattinam and Kalingapuri.
Beside the Throne there were a pair of chairs on each side. On the left Vaithiyar Kreesnama Muni, the Godfather of Vettaiyan was seated. The place beside him was reserved for Vitara, the Architect. On the right, a chair was always unoccupied during any ceremony and beside it Minister Narendhira Verman would share the podium with the Emperor.
The guests arrived and occupied their respective seats, only two places were still empty. King Sorubhan, the ruler of Katrupuzha sat next to King Gauthama, the aged majesty of Karimedai. The couple of chairs across to them were vacant. Murmurs were stating about the tension prevailing in Kottaipattinam and Kalingapuri, a kind of civil war that had broken when an young warrior led the people against their own Kings.
The view over the stairs from the Plaza looked like a pyramid whose lines of symmetry were formed by the guests with the Emperor crowning it as capstone.
Archers started gathering on the tower top of the Palace. The General and his servicemen slowly marched across the empty flat ground and assembled at the bottom of the stairs - the General on his horse positioned himself in the middle and his warrior stood on either side covering the entire entrance of the staircase. They were heavily armoured with a fierce mask covering their faces. Their stance was vigilant and they were holding steady their mastered weapons. Smoke bombs and grenades hung around thier hip belt. Vitara and Narendhira Verman stayed close to the statue at the center of the Plaza.
The waiting crowd cheered when the longhorns were blazed. The King has finally arrived.
Decorative curtains hung around the palace corridor hid the face of the King when he walked briskly through the corridor. His feet made quick firm steps to which his hands went forward and backward rhythmically. He wore a copper bangle in his right hand. At places where the curtains were suspended low, the people got a glimpse of their Emperor's hair which was chattering with the breeze. A thick spiral hair curled over his forehead. As he advanced further, the other set of curtains swaying in the wind exposed his goatee. Few lucky ones got a chance to see his sparkling white teeth dancing out from his smile. The entire Plaza echoed his footsteps majestically. The King of kings reached his throne, and the citizens and the Noblemen gazed at the valliant form of their Emperor in his white kings robe. The whole Plaza errupted diminishing the loud sound of the drums. People did not mind their deafened ears, but cheered continously when their Emperor waved his hand with a baby smile on his face.
It took a while for the energetic crowd to settle down, and Vettiayan waited patienly over his throne looking at his people.
Vettaiyan stood up and looked at the empty chair to his right which was always reserved for his friend who goes by the name The Poet, the person who was absent every single time. He took the blessings of Vaithiyar before climbing down the stairs. On the way, he greeted all the guests standing at the corner of each step with his hand gesture. He joined with Minister Narendhira Verman and Architect Vitara at the bottom of the statue. He tapped the shoulders of the Archiect expressing his happiness.
Two teenage girls brought a bow string placed on a traw. Vettaiyan smiled at the girls and took the thread in his hands. He started tieing it to upper-end of the bow. Vitara interrupted him gentely. He explained in sign language by cupping his left hand and inserting his right index finger into it's gap. Vettaiyan immediately turned and looked at the two girls and then returned his look back at his Architect. Vitara smiled, the girls giggled. The Architect bent close to Vettaiyan and whispered into his ears. Vettaiyan seemed awestuck. He slowly inserted the string through the tiny hole on top of the bow. The thread glided smoothly and he collected it back at the bottom of the bow. He pulled the string slowly to make it meet it's other end and in the center he made a nocking point with a huge smile in his face.
The crowd errupted once again. The first Statue of the Emperor was officially open for the people to worship.
Vettaiyan felicitated the Architech, this time with immense joy and walked back briskly to his throne. On the midway, a boy blocked his path by standing at a distance before him. Vettaiyan gave a surprised look at the grandson of Vitara. The kid was holding a blown bladder. Without an alarm he threw it at Vettaiyan. It hit the left shoulder of Vettaiyan and bursted to stain his white kings rode with blue ink. The color quickly spread down turing the entire left part of his top blue. Narendhira Verman looked at Vitara. He gestured through a smile that it was indeed a staged sociability. The kid ran away before Vettiayan could near him. The Emperor turned to face the people and with a sad face pointed at his own robe. The citizens laughed. Vettaiyan quickly turned and jogged back to his throne climbing the stairs just as he had descended.
The cultural events began. While everyone one were enjoying the dance shows, few men from the crowd closed in the semi circle perimeter. Two men stood directly behind each gaurd. One sat to the ground and the other closed behind the soldier. In one swift move, the standing man slit the throat of the gaurd, at the same time the squating man held the legs of the dying soldier to stop him from falling off. Each pair positioned themselves holding the dead gaurds upright. No alarms were raised.
For the next event, a group of ten masked dancers took positions around the newly inaugurated statue. The dancers started their performance by paying their respects to the idol. Vettaiyan smiled. The leader of the group was dressed as an hunter and held a spear in his hand. The others in the group were covered in dark clothes. They performed a foot thumping dance movements for intense music. When the act came close to the end, the atmosphere was turning extreme that Vettaiyan himself skid forward in his throne. He seemed throughly enjoying the spectacle. The crowd was contantly cheering and the finishing touch of their mesmerizing performance was a fabulous gymnastics.
The dancers helped three of their members to stand on the shoulders. When the thrid one found his balance on the top, the rest six bent onto the ground making a sort of human steps behind their standing members. The leader climbed over the human stairs and reached the shoulders of the top man standing. Without decreasing his momentum, he jumped high up by pushing himself from the shoulders of his standing partner. He flew in the air, almost floating at the height of the throne where Vettaiyan was watching him rise.
The crowd went nuts, but not the personnel gaurds of Vettaiyan.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukaha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter One - Latest from the Final Years
Sweet Death (Part 2/2)
(Rated-R)
'Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured'. - Mark Twain
The first cry of alarm was a woman's voice coming from behind the mask of an alert warrior of the General. She had been carefully following the moves of the lead dancer as he was the only one armed with a spear. But she stood at ease as the grip on the pole was not aggressive and the bayonet was never directly pointed at the Emperor. During the final acrobats, the leaping leader suddenly changed his grip into an attack clutch and while in mid air, he aimed with his left hand and guided the spear with his right to a target across him.
Immediately, another masked fighter next to her reacted to the warning; he shot a single arrow at the flying assassin before she finished her yell. But it was already too late. The leader who was briefly suspended in the air vaulted his spear at Vettaiyan. It all happened quickly that Vettaiyan could only see the javalin fastly approaching him as a flying snake.
Shooting the pike at the Emperor, the assassin disguised as a dancer, pushed the single arrow before it wounded him. He landed before the General's horse. Few amoung the crowd noted the murder attempt that they shouted at the sharp object cutting through the wind towards their King. The rest of the gaurds were in no position to react as the deadly weapon had already reached it's target.
Silence engulfed the entire square.
The General growled, "Full draw". The whole Plaza echoed the noise from the bow string when the archers on the tower tops of the Palace pulled the chord alligning their drawing hand at the anchor point. Their chief passed the command, "Fire". Hundreds of arrows rained down the Plaza. Several arrow heads hit to the head, throat and heart of the three standing dancers. The other two behind them were pierced by the sharp objects tearing them apart. They fell over the remaining four of their group members protecting them from the rain of arrows. Few darts managed to wound the sheltering assassins.
Calmness was restored. The leader stood breathing heavily before the General. The four survived dancers pushed the dead bodies above them and took position behind their leader, during their approach, they plucked and broke the arrows sticking to their shoulders and thighs. The assassin team, five fallen and five standing, looked up towards the throne.
Blame the wind or blame the aim or blame the fate, the killer's weapon had struck it's target but failed to hit the bulls eye.
Vettaiyan moved back on his seat from it's edge. He knew that the shooting spear will kill him before he got up and he was not in a position to roll forward. Looking at the direction the weapon was advancing, he sensed that the spear was aimed at his heart. He leaned tightly to the back of his throne chair and pushed himself down hard on the cushion, at the same time forced himself to move to his left. The pike struck him hard and entered his torso just below the right clavicle. It was not a miracle, but the strategic positioning of Vettaiyan which revoked the bayonet from puncturing his lungs. He was pinned to his throne and soaked in red liquid leaking from the spear wound. A moment later he coughed blood. Blurred vision of sharp arrows killing the dancers on the Plaza floor ran before him.
Vaithiyar was quickly instructing to several of his assistances. Vettaiyan was surrounded by his bodyguard who blocked his view. Vettaiyan whispered, "Move". Everyone around the Emperor scattered. Vettaiyan kept his eyes on his killer. He gripped the arm rest tightly. All of a sudden he pushed forward, liberating himself from the clutches of the spear. Not a sound escaped from him, but only heavy breathe. Vettaiyan fell to his knees before his throne. Others rushed to his aid. Vettaiyan whispered, "Move". He kept his eye on his murderer.
Vettaiyan got up to his feet. Blood leaked out of the hole on his right shoulder turning that side of his white top into red. Pressing the wound firmly with his left hand, Vettaiyan moved forward. Two hounds came from each side of the corridor and quickly got into position before him. Two other dogs leaped from the back of the throne and followed their Master. One half of the kings robe was blue - the ink thrown at him by the grandson of Vitara, and the other part red - soaked in his own blood, Vettaiyan descended the stairs slowly along with his Kukkuras.
King Dashakantha stood face to face with the dance group leader. The Hunter Dogs from Hell sat before each of the other four dancers. Vettaiyan stared at the mask of his killer. The General approached to remove the mask but his Commander stopped him.
"A coward dies as a coward", he said softly. Loooking at the crowd he said softly, "My General, no one should leave from this place". Immediately shifting his eyes and staring at his killer, he ordered, "He should not move from this place".[/I]
"Anger will kill the planet", complained Minister Narendhira Verman to Vitara. "My setup and your staging is getting fried in his rage. An execution on this auspicious day before the representatives, diplomats and citizens is going to harm our bad reputions further. Soon a civil war will break where we will be forced to slaughter our own people", finishing his sentence with immense repentance, Minister Narendhira Verman walked away through the corridors.
A soldier walked to one of the combatant of the General. He looked tiny before the huge man. The masked warrior was addressed as 'Big Man' who held a sledgehammer to the ground before him. He did not move. The lady warrior shook his body with the handle of her sword. He woke up and saw the two nails that the tiny man before him was holding. They moved in towards the criminal. Vettaiyan slowly walked away and stood before his statue. The dogs stood gaurd before the cuprits. Vaithiyar started treating Vettaiyan's wound while he was instructing to his General. Vaithiyar stuffed the hole with a mashed green color lump. No reaction from Vettaiyan. He then bandaged the wound with a white cloth which in notime turned red.
The soldier carrying two big nails accompanied by Big Man reached the dance group leader. Without any warning, he bent down and placed one rivet on the right foot of the criminal and the Big Man immediately hit the head of the spike hard with his sledgehammer. The nail entered piercing the flesh and crushing through the bones and got struck firmly to the floor. The leader let out a cry of agony. Without hesitation and not minding the victim's pain, the soldier placed the second rivet on the left foot and the Big Man nailed it to the floor. The leader stood pinned to the bloody ground.
Vettaiyan sounded a wolf whistle. The dogs immediately pounced on the dancers before them and detached their throat with thier powerful jaws. The dancers were dead even before hitting the ground. The hounds slowly advanced licking their mouth and joined their Master.
A group of workers poured honey mixed with lamp oil in straight lines from the pinned leader. They made eight such lines around him. Then they bathed him with the 'Honey-Lamp Oil' mixture. The leader turned to look at Vettaiyan. Vettaiyan did not react, but noted that the vision of his killer was fixed behind him. Vettaiyan turned and saw a young woman holding a little boy in front of her. Vettaiyan smiled at the leader and moved towards the young lady. She weeped but did not resist when Vettaiyan carried the son of the leader with his left hand. He came back and took position before the statue with the kid in his arms.
Eight men arrived, each holding a medium size wooden box and stood before the outer end of the 'Honey Oil' Line. The box was sealed with a wooded cork. Vettaiyan nodded his head. They placed the box on the ground and removed the cork. The Bull Ants raced out collecting the honey on their way and rushedly climbed over the leader in the center. The pain from their bites was unendurable that no sound escaped the victim's mouth when he was been chewed alive by a group of tiny ants. He trembled vigorously. Vettaiyan nodded his head again. The workers lighted the line with a wooded torch. The lamp oil caught fire and the flame travelled through the honey path and alighted the martyr along with the ants.
Vettaiyan gentely shaked the chin of the weeping child in his arms with his fingers and whispered "Sweet Death".
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukaha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter One - Latest from the Final Years
Memories of a Bad Memory
(Rated-R)
The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Holding Myil, which was dancing inside a glass in his hand, Vettaiyan took a deep look at himself in the mirror. He raised his free hand to his forehead and plucked a grey hair which was distinctly hanging from a bunch of dark ones. He brought the curly silver line before his eyes and clenched his teeth at it before dropping it to the ground.
The pain on his right shoulders burdened him. The effect of painkillers prescribed by Vaithiyar had wore off. He slowly limped from the mirror being careful not to put too much weight and movement on his wounded upper arm. Standing at the center of his chamber he drank Myil, the ecstasy tonic, in one shot and dropped the small glass which landed softly on the oriental rug decorating the floor. Mayil gave him strength - Mayil brought him focus - Mayil activated his memories - Mayil allowed him to illuminate the dark cells in his cerebrum. The Magic of Mayil enlarged the Vision of Vettaiyan.
The recreational drug started it's stimulant effect on his body that allowed him to groove. Vettaiyan made tiny irregular steps, initially moving forward and backward and then turning in small circles before Mayil carried him to his armchair. Vettaiyan nearly fell off the chair, but managed to steady himself with a smile, a smile thrown at his own state. He raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. The clicking sound echoed around the room and two courtesans magically sprang out from behind the crutain. One was dressed in blue and the other in red, both revealing more flesh in thier transparent gowns. The Vettaiyan salves brushed their hands all over their Master and each one settled on his laps - the blue on the left and the other on his right. Vettaiyan moved his hands around and up and down with half-closed eyes - Memories of Chandramukhi flooded his mind :
Narukukana was at the southern part of the Centrail Kingdom. Being an amusement galore, the habour city was crowded with immigrants. The place was majorly occupied by pirates and a newly settled colony of relegious workers called The House which had started to establish their righteousness. Eventhough there was voilence amoung the two groups, they both had a common target - Emperor Vettaiyan. The laws governing the state was not favourable for them - the pirates were on a constant run and the House could not expand.
Vettiayan adored the clumpsy suituation at Narukukanna. No order of any sort, the place resembled civilisation moving backwards. Vettaiyan saw an originality of mankind in it's dwellers - Beast feeding over Beast.
Upon a special message delivered by The Poet, the anonymous friend of Vettaiyan, the Emperor sent his best assassin, Moonflower, to eradicate the immediate danger.
Chandramukhi, pseudonym Moonflower, was the spy who had kissed Vettaiyan and the same spy who had killed Vettaiyan. She was the daughter of Kanika, a famous dancer in the Kingdom. Born to an unknown father, she was raised by her mother and uncle. Minister Verman, a close assosiate to her uncle, recomended her to Vettiayan and since then she became his Dream Merchant.
The pigeon held the message around it's left leg.
The freebooters want their earning,
Will not stop until the burning,
The hunter is what they are seeking,
At night they will come striking
- Moonflower
Indeed Chandramukhi had met up with The Poet, Vettaiyan smiled. His flow of thoughts suddenly started to wander around his childhood, a walk by the river Daboya with his friend The Poet - When was the last time he had seen his White Shadow ?
Without his permission, the memory blocks shifted to the present day assassination attempt during the statue ceremony. The Emperor was quite used to the plots against him - standing face to face with a killer after opening the door ; a ninja jumping out behing him from the dark skies ; explosive barrels inviting him at the Palace enterance ; a venomous snake jumping out of the cup of honey ; and much more. But Vettaiyan suspected a treacherous back-stabbing in the morning event. The plan was neatly executed admist his own armed gaurds.
Just like a sway of a leaf, Vettaiyan's thoughts shifted back to the warning from Chandramukhi who had been stationed at Narukukana by her Master. That night Vettaiyan awaited the attack of the Pirates. He posed to be suprised to see the Pirate leader Aadi knocking his gates at dinner time. He graciously welcomed him and accepted his gift of ten huge baskets of jamine buds, the favourite flower of the Emperor. Aadi sat across Vettaiyan at the garden dining table, surrounded with the flower containers. Vettiayn appreciated the scent of jasmine that had created an aromatic ambience.
As expected, a freebooter jumped out of each basket. Vettaiyan over reacted with fear. Aadi took full control of the suituation and threatened the Emperor to back-off from taxing even the pirates. Vettiayan made himself steady with a smile, a sign to the ninja hiding in the bush behind him. Aadi saw a man dressed in black appear from nowhere and before he could react, the heads of his ten warriors rolled around him on the ground, each one sliced simultaneously by one circular swing of the Vettaiyan Ninja with his chain sickle.
Vettiayan approached Aadi and ordered softly, "From now, no tax. What you loot is mine". He showed him the gates and said, "Sail for life Captain", sending off the Pirate Leader with a salute.
Back to actuality, Vettaiyan pounded over who could be responsible for today's attempt. It should be a plan by insiders, well executed as an organised mesmerizing killer act. Almost flawless, the only defect in the ploy was the target itself - The Emperor cannot be destroyed. Only five men were capable of pulling off such an endeavour, and all were guilty by circumstance :
His companion failed to averte him.
Narendhira Verman was incharge of the security.
Vitara proposed to open a statue for Vettiayan out of the blue.
Kynasura reacted late to command, and his warrior's arrow missed the killer.
Kreesnama Muni who shied away frequently, was a slient spectator of the whole event.
The Poet was his gaurdian, who had saved him from every single danger. The Minister was his motivation, who wanted to see him as an Emperor. The Architect was his ambition, who turned his dreams into reality. The General was his protector, who carried out his orders without hesitation. The Vaithiyar was his saviour, the creator of Mayil. Why would any of them go against him ?
And then it struck to Vettaiyan as a tiny spark of piercing light.
Vettaiyan opened his eyes and looked around him wide-eyed. Beside him on the carpet, the girl in blue was floating on her own red liquid and the other girl had her body flat above the gound but her face was facing the floor - her neck was completely twisted. Vettaiyan got up from the chair and moved away quickly from the unbreathing women. He was frightened, as the eyes of the girl in blue scared him. They reminded him of the rabbit that he was still searching for.
Vettaiyan's back bumped on the dressing table. He turned and noticed the neatly arranged clothes. He picked up the brightest outfit and walked to the window. The message it revealed, forced Vettaiyan to strom out of his Palace Chamber in fury, throwing the clothing into the fire on his way.
... to be continued ...