He had sired sons on all three of his wives and had spent passionate nights in the embrace of various concubines but last night, for the first time, he had felt complete. It was as if they were two halves of a whole who could attain fulfilment only by coming together.
Yet, come to think of it, he hadn’t even asked her name! He looked at the girl lying next to him, her body completely exposed to his sight, and could not help admiring it once again. She was flawless and even in the morning light he could not find any faults or imperfections in her. Her long dark hair spread around her head like a halo and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed contentedly. Her ivory complexion seemed so pure that it might get spoiled with a single touch. Taking care not to wake her up, he stood up lightly and walked out of the hut.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air, and felt the first rays of the sun warming his bare body. The sky had cleared completely and he decided to walk to the ocean for a quick swim before she woke up. He would need to arrange for her transport quickly so that she could go back to her home.
Menaka opened her eyes as soon as Vishwamitra stepped out of the hut. She herself didn’t require to sleep for so long since her internal clock was tuned to Swarg’s diurnal rhythm. Yet, she had lain there, enjoying the feel of his body next to hers. She was trained in the art of seduction and love-making and it was no surprise that he had enjoyed the night but she could not remember the last time she had felt so complete. Perhaps it was because of the boorish wild passion of a human who had denied himself the pleasures of the flesh for many years. Maybe, she thought, it would be fun to spend more time with him.
She got up and wrapped the tiny garment around her body, requesting Kama to present himself. The handsome god appeared before her and said with a broad smile, ‘So mission accomplished, I presume?’
Menaka nodded and replied, ‘The poor fellow fell for my story hook, line and sinker and you were bloody brilliant with all the gusts of wind and thunder and lightning!’
Kama smiled. ‘Pleasure to be of assistance. And mind you, your histrionics were no less convincing,’ he said with a wink.
The Apsara shrugged and declared, ‘Well, it was no big deal for me. I was born and brought up for the specific purpose of providing pleasure and I daresay that I enjoy every bit of it myself. However, last night was an experience I have never had before and I would like to make the most of it!’
Kama was surprised; he studied her face for some moments and replied, ‘As you wish. I shall return to Swarg and inform Indra that you will be spending some more time here. Do you want me to convey a message to our lord?’
Menaka thought carefully and said, ‘Just tell him that I shall return once the threat is completely neutralized. I do not believe in leaving things midway and shall come back only when I am satisfied that I have accomplished the objective I was sent here for.’
Kama gave a slight tilt to his head and disappeared in a flash just as Vishwamitra stepped into her line of sight. As he walked towards her, she could not stop herself from admiring his physical beauty again. The clean lines of his body and the tan he had acquired living in the forest complimented his persona. His gait was majestic and she felt as if the king of the jungle himself was walking towards her while she looked on like a helpless doe.
He saw her standing at the doorstep, looking ravishing even in this rumpled early morning state. A smile inadvertently lit his face and, as he came closer, she rushed to embrace him. He was taken aback for a moment but then he wrapped his arms around her as well.
As they stood together, enveloped in each other’s arms, the angavastra slipped from Menaka’s body and her soft naked flesh pressed against his hard contours. Desire came over Vishwamitra again and he carried her over the threshold and into the hut. As he lay her down Menaka locked her deep-blue eyes with his, proclaiming her consent for what he was about to do.
They spent the next praher making love, their bodies intertwined so as to resemble a single being. Even when they separated, they did not move away and lay next to each other panting. Vishwamitra did not trust his own heart any more and decided to stay silent.
Menaka took the opportunity to further strengthen her plans and said softly, ‘I do not wish to go away. I feel complete here and do not wish to be separated from you for a single moment.’
Vishwamitra’s heart skipped a beat and he swallowed deeply before replying, ‘What happened between us was just a result of our unfulfilled physical needs. I do not think it would be a good idea to continue it further; you have a full life ahead of you and I am already an ascetic.’
‘It may be an infatuation but I want to experience every bit of it. What else do I have to look forward to in life anyway?’ Menaka looked straight into his eyes, beseeching with her own. ‘If you send me back to the city my relatives will disown me and no one will want to marry me. Left on my own, I will either turn into a nun or, more probably, a whore, now that I have tasted the pleasures of the body . . . your body . . . and will pine for it if you send me away.’
Vishwamitra smiled at the last sentence and looked at her with kind eyes. ‘Your arguments are as excellent as your love-making and it is hard for me to believe you are the same girl I saw crying at the beach, trembling and shaking.’
Menaka returned his smile and said, ‘It’s not just my own desire, you will be doing my family and me a favour by letting me stay here. If I stay with you without wedlock, it will nullify the curse on my marital life and ensure the safety of my relatives and I shall repay your kindness by taking care of your ashram and turning your hut into a home worth living in.’
Vishwamitra thought about what she had said and knew it was making sense.
Menaka came closer to him and said in a sombre tone, ‘I was contemplating ending my life when you arrived at the beach. I did not want to attract your attention and was hoping you would leave without noticing me. But now I am glad that you stopped for it was your kindness that saved my life.’
He pulled her close to his chest and kissed the top of her head.
‘The desire for your continued company is driving me mad as well,’ he said, ‘but I did not want to be selfish by keeping you away from your life in the city. Though letting you stay would probably be the best thing under the current circumstances. However, you will have to at least tell me your name before I officially agree to your proposal!’
Menaka smiled and hugged him tightly. ‘I was called Mena by my family and you may call me the same if you wish. How do I address you, my older lover?’ she said with a naughty smile.
Vishwamitra lightly pinched her ear and said, ‘You may be younger to me in years but I accept you as an equal partner in my life. You may call me Vishwamitra if you so please or give me any other name that suits your fancy.’
Menaka looked at his honest face and said, ‘For me, you have turned out to be a saviour in both literal as well as figurative terms and done what even my own family couldn’t. I shall call you Mitra, my friend in the truest sense of the word.’
He caressed her hair and then lifted her chin to look at her. She seemed happy and he was glad she was staying. Even though he had left the world and come here to achieve an almost impossible goal, it felt good to have someone to talk to once in a while. He was sure she would get bored of his company in a month or two since he spent the entire day meditating, and maybe she herself would suggest leaving. Till then, he could relive some parts of his old life and simultaneously work towards his goal.
It may turn out to be a win-win situation for both.
Adhyaye 27
Menaka was happy.
Not because she had accomplished the first mission Indra had given her but because for the first time in life she was with someone who truly cared for her.
Her life in Swarg had been extremely comfortable, always surrounded by attendants and admirers. Yet, the feeling of belonging to someone special was completely different. With a sigh she acknowledged to herself that she, the great se
ductress from Swarg, had fallen hopelessly in love with a human.
Her affection was not because of his physical attributes alone. He was caring and loving and showered as much attention on her as his daily routine allowed, which, she had noticed, he was trying to modify as well. Instead of his usual dawn-to-dusk sessions, he was taking short breaks in between to spend time with her and have their meals together—meals that she had been cooking with his help! Her culinary skills were nothing to boast about since she had hardly ever lifted a finger in Swarg but here she felt happy trying new recipes with whatever limited ingredients they had access to and waited for his compliments. In the afternoon, they would sit under the shade of a large magnolia tree and have their simple meal and in the evening they would sit beside the fire and talk endlessly.
His mystical powers had grown to a considerable extent and he could conjure up whatever material stuff she felt the need for. She now had fifteen outfits to choose from, a stack of utensils for cooking, paints and canvases for passing her time, a veena to indulge her musical inclinations and, most importantly, a mirror that she used to groom not only herself but Vishwamitra as well.
After eight years of sporting facial hair, Vishwamitra was clean-shaven again. She would run her hand over his smooth, chiselled jaw and tease him that he looked much younger than his thirty years.
Together they had expanded the small hut and it was now spacious enough to hold guests even though he often joked that no one would come to visit them in the jungle. She, however, knew that the arrival of a small guest was imminent for they had been having intercourse without any protection since the very first day they had met. The only reason she had not conceived till now was because she had control over her body functions and did not menstruate like the women of Earth. Somewhere deep inside, she had a guilt nagging and tugging at her for even though this man had given himself completely to her, she hid her true identity from him even today.
What would happen if she told him the truth? Would he still accept her or would he turn completely against her in rage?
She thought of broaching the subject indirectly at lunch time and started telling him the story of his ancestor Pururavas who had fallen in love with an Apsara, Urvashi. She had known Urvashi personally and had been one of her few friends before her dalliance with the mortal king. That relationship had ended quite positively for them, for seeing their love Indra had invited Pururavas to stay with Urvashi forever.
After narrating their story she asked, ‘Do you think they could have lived happily ever after? Can two people from such diverse backgrounds find happiness to last a lifetime?’
Vishwarath had been enjoying the bajra roti she had prepared with lentils and took a while to respond.
He said thoughtfully, ‘If two people are compatible with each other in the broader aspects of life, I don’t think their backgrounds matter too much for it is only the less important things that differ in everyone’s upbringing. I have personally seen my grandfather Kushanabh and grandmother Ghritachi have a similar relationship. I believe where there’s love, people change and adjust according to each other.
‘I have lost count of the many moons that have passed since the day I first set eyes on you and, look at us, we are still going strong. Before I met you, the only desire I had was to become more powerful than Vasishth, but now I am content with meditating for my mental peace and spending the rest of my time with you. You have given my life a new pursuit—the pursuit of happiness.’
Menaka’s eyes filled with tears. She had been lying to this man for years now while he had accepted her completely into his life and even modified his goals to include her in them. She hoped she would not have to leave him and go back to Swarg, for Indra had been sending missives asking about her return quite frequently. She had managed to stall him by saying the task was still unfinished but he was bound to get suspicious with this domesticated avatar of hers!
Maybe she should make a quick visit to Swarg while the rishi meditated this evening, she thought and, when he left for his evening session, Menaka used her magical powers to access the portal that could transport her right to Swarg. As soon as she arrived, she changed into her usual attire and went to meet Indra.
Shakra was pleasantly surprised and welcomed her with open arms. ‘You are here at last! It’s so good to see you back, Menaka,’ he said with a smile.
She acknowledged his welcome with a slight curtsey and then clarified, ‘Yes, I am back, Devraj, but only to give you an update. I will be returning to Earth shortly for my mission is still not complete.’
Shakra looked at her with a frown and said, ‘You’ve been on Earth for many years now, Menaka! What’s going on between you and that human? I admit you have done a lot to assuage my worries and kept him remarkably occupied but you have the right to come back and resume your life. Your obligation towards me was fulfilled long ago.’
Menaka smiled; she would have given anything to hear these words from Shakra earlier but now all she wanted was to rush back to her lover’s arms.
She replied, ‘Yes, my obligations towards you were fulfilled, Devraj, but your mission opened my eyes to a different aspect of life. Coming here after half a decade, nothing seems to have changed and I realize how boring and utterly monotonous my life would have been here.
‘Instead, I have spent these years living my life to the full along with that human. I have seen the changing seasons and grown with the years. If you permit, I would like to spend some more time on Earth and figure out the direction I would like to take in the future.’
Shakra was alarmed at this change in Menaka but said equably, ‘If that is how you feel, I will not stop you. But do not forget, that the human will die sooner or later and you will have no choice but to return to Swarg.’
Menaka nodded slowly. In the excitement of living with Vishwamitra, she had almost forgotten the short lives mortals had and Shakra’s parting words had made her face the reality.
However, she realized she would still prefer to spend more time with the man she loved right now rather than worry about how long he was going to live in the future.
Bowing to Shakra once, she took his leave and left for Earth.
Adhyaye 28
Shakra looked at Menaka’s receding form thoughtfully.
He had earlier lost Urvashi, the prize of Swarglok, to another Chandravanshi. He had given in to their love and accepted one human into his realm but he could not afford to lose another one of his Apsaras to this man who in all probability would become his sworn enemy once Menaka left him.
He analysed the situation and decided to call Agni, Kama and Vayu for counsel in his personal chamber. He would need their opinions before deciding how to end this affair without hurting Menaka.
Kama arrived in an instant. He seemed to have risen from an orgy for his upper body was covered with red marks. Shakra smiled; this guy was incorrigible.
Vayu came next. He was in good spirits for he and Varun had been engaged in blowing tornadoes in the ocean and apparently had had a great time. His stocky body was shaking with mirth and his chubby face was creased with laughter as he told Shakra of their exploits.
Agni was the last to appear. He had been a part of a five-year long yagnya being conducted by the Suryavanshi king Mandhata and had returned sluggish and tired, complaining about the copious amounts of ghee he had been fed, turning him round in shape. Shakra laughed at that and asked the three to take seats.
Then he narrated the entire episode from the beginning. Agni was the first one to react. ‘I knew the day I gave him the Divya Astras that he would use them to turn against us but was helpless in the face of Brahma dev’s directive!’
Shakra nodded his head in understanding for all of them were bound by the rules set by the Creator in the beginning of Time. Devas were supposed to help any deserving human and aid in their advancement, both spiritual as well as technological.
Vayu had a grievance with the Chandravanshis since the time Kadhi’s sisters had re
fused his hand in marriage. He had no reason to like Kadhi’s son now and he agreed with their assessment.
Kama was the only neutral party and he gave his frank opinion. ‘I believe we are being too hasty in our judgement of this man. He is ambitious, I agree, but till date he hasn’t done anything directly against Swarg. Granted, his attack on the Brahmarishi was foolish but I don’t believe he has set eyes on the Indra-aasan.’
Shakra smiled and said, ‘You, my boy, have a heart filled only with love. I knew you would play devil’s advocate and I am happy to have a difference in perspective to balance our discussion. But do keep in mind that even though Menaka’s presence has slowed down Vishwamitra’s penance, he has still managed to attain the eight primary siddhis.
‘The powers of Aṇimā, reducing one’s size to that of an atom; Mahima, expanding to the size of a mountain; Garima, becoming infinitely heavy; Laghima, becoming weightless; Prāpti, access to all places at all times; Prākāmya, fulfilling all material desires; Ishat.va, absolute lordship above the material world; and Vashatva, the power to subjugate any living being, have made him a siddha and I doubt he will hesitate to use them against us.’
Agni agreed. ‘I do believe that these spiritual siddhis will be a useful addition to the physical weapons he already possesses thanks to our generosity. We need to find out a way to break his progress completely.’
Shakra was glad to get some support for his argument and said, ‘Your observation is correct, my friend, and that’s where my next question is headed. I want to know, Kama, your reading of the bond that exists between the human and Menaka.’
Kama thought for a moment and replied, ‘Well, there I believe you may have a problem.’
‘What do you mean?’ Shakra asked.
‘I have taken many missives from you to her over all these years and her responses have always been vague. I had believed her the first time when she said that she would like to stay in order to complete the task to perfection, yet lately I have been getting the feeling that she has fallen in love with Vishwamitra.’
Vishwamitra Page 13