But a small bubble of joy started growing bigger and bigger and then it filled my whole mind. Fr
ee at last! Free from the protective wings of mother bird. Now what was there to stop me? No morals of a bygone era, no voice of a strict mother, no one who I really respected, to tie me down with the ropes of tradition. Ravana was no longer a boy. Kingship, from then on, would not be a burden to carry. It came naturally to me. I enjoyed being the King, the Emperor, the Lord of the world. That morning, on the day of my marriage, Ravana was born again.
Like all my dreams, this one too, was also shattered by none other than Prahastha. He said the bride was waiting to be married and the prisoner to be punished. Wearily I stood up and went to finish off my chores. In the days to come, I would dream and dream again. I had found the elixir of youth. The elixir was never exhausted as long as I kept dreaming on a grand scale. And my dreams became my story.
22 Revolutionaries
Bhadra
I fell into the mouth of death, into the howling ocean. Just as I was about to give up, my head bobbed above the heaving waters. I spluttered and coughed as another huge wave took me under. It hurt in a hundred different parts of my body. It would have been so easy to let go and sink deeper into the bosom of the sea. But the images of my wife and my girl butchered by the Deva devils, danced before my eyes. It gave strength to my arms and power to my legs. I started kicking again. As I came to the surface again, I could see the heaving ships like dots on the distant horizon. I was being lashed by the tropical hurricane. Sheets of water fell on my face. I tried to keep my head above the waves but did not know where to swim to. I bobbed helpless in the pitch dark, howling, heaving sea, with a threatening, grey sky covering this boiling and bubbling pot of rage.
Something was floating a few feet away. I swam towards that and was horrified to see a slain soldier drifting like a log. I swam away as fast as I could and tried staying afloat on my back. After a while I saw an old log floating at a distance of a few hundred feet. I was afraid to swim towards it lest it turned out to be another dead soldier or pirate. Finally, I decided to take the chance and swam towards it. It was an old tree trunk and I climbed on. I was dead tired and clung on with all my strength. Twice I was knocked over by rogue waves, but the sea was evidently calming. The rain weakened to a drizzle and the stars came out in the inky sky. I took off my turban and tied myself to the log and slept. When I woke, I stared at a once-familiar face. I tried to recollect the face but my head throbb Prbuen I wed.
“Will he live?” I heard a deep voice asking.
“I hope so,” a female voice answered. It came to me in a flash – Mala! Mala, my mistress, my forgotten sweetheart. I tried to sit up but she shoved me back. I wanted to ask her why she left me for that traitor. I wanted to scream at her, tear her hair and kick her. I wanted to kiss her, and feel her rounded hips. But, the impotent man I was, I just lay there, a tired and beaten Asura.
A shadow moved behind her, towards the lone burning oil lamp and half the face was lit in the flickering light. I thanked Shiva for not letting me open my mouth. It was none other than Vidyutjihva. Had he recognized me, I would have been long dead. Anger and jealousy hit me with a force greater than the hurricane I had escaped. The bitch was living with him. He was sleeping with her. The tall, fair Asura with the flowing mane and aristocratic nose, the deep, black eyes and broad shoulders, the brilliant orator and master strategist, the hero of hundreds of people, and the rival of my master, Ravana, stood there with a contemptuous smile playing on his lips. I pitied myself. I could now understand why Mala chose him over me. I was a nothing, a black pot-bellied Asura with crooked, yellow teeth and curly hair, short and plump. Could I expect a beauty like Mala to choose me over this hero? ‘But I will get you man. One day, you will fall at my feet and beg. Then I will make you pay for that contemptuous smile.’ With the dreams of my grand revenge, I slowly faded back to sleep.
When I woke again, it was almost afternoon. There was some cold gruel on the crude, unpolished wooden table near the bed. I removed a dead housefly floating on the surface and drank the gruel in quick gulps. Everything was still outside. I was surprised to find the door was unlocked. I stood outside the thatched hut and squinted in the blazing white sun.
“Where were you? I thought you had gone back to the mainland.” Mala had come from behind the house and stood with a pile of washing over her left arm. Water dripped from the clothes and formed curious designs on the sand.
“I worked here and there doing odd jobs, trying to make a living.” I did not want her to know what I had been doing. I smiled. “And what were you doing?” Sleeping with that bastard, I wanted to ask, but looked away. I could imagine them together. She sensed what I was feeling and came near me and said coldly, “You left me and only he was there.”
I tried to think of a dozen repartees that would sting her but could not come up with one. Instead, I smiled like a fool.
“Besides, you always treated me like a whore, just a thing of pleasure, even though I tried to love you. He treats me like a real woman.”
“I’m poor man and not a handsome hero with ambitions of overthrowing the king. So. . .”
“Go ahead, Bhadra, talk about all your shortcomings. You get some perverse pleasure in talking about yourself like that. I’ve heard all this a hundred times before from you.”
I wanted to grab and hit her till she was black and blue. She walked past me, beads of sweat gleaming on her back. I moved towards her and put my hands around her waist. The clothes fell from her hands and she hugged me. For a moment there was an animal passion between us. I pressed myself against her firm body and our lips met. With a hurriedness that comes from deprival, I tried touching her everywhere at once. Two hands were not enough. I almost bit her lips and she returned my kiss with equal passion. Then all of a sudden, she pushed me back. I tried to grab her again, but she pushed me back again. “No. . .no. . .” she sobbing hysterically.
Anger, jealousy and sadness, washed over me in waves. I felt like tearing her apart. Suddenly I was seized with a sense of utter helplessness. I left her there and walked towards the cliffs. I felt like jumping off and finishing everything there and then. I felt so lonely, so unwanted. I sat on a rock, afraid to jump and afraid to go back to life. I could see the golden flag of my King flying above the castle, flapping in the wind against a dark, black storm cloud. I sat there for hours until the first drop of rain hit me. Then I walked back to my life. By the time I reached my hut, I was wet through but too tired to care. I lay on my bed and watched a lizard waiting to pounce on a fly, when I heard a soft rap on the door. Before I could stand, Mala entered the room. I watched her with mounting irritation but before I could give vent to it, the tall figure of Vidyutjihva came in.
“Be seated, be seated,” he told me. “Mala says you are looking for a job. This is a fighting organization and not a trade guild. There is no specific job defined for each.” He became animated and walking to and fro, his arms moving in an exaggerated fashion. “We are here to create an equal and just world. There is no place for tyrants like Ravana in the world we want to create. Everyone will be equal. There will not be kings or landlords. There will not be any exploiters of the people like priests, magicians or traders. All people will be equal in the new world I create.” He paused for breath and the subtle change from ‘we’ to ‘I’ did not escape my notice.
“The evil of the caste system will be wiped off. I will abolish trade guilds. A council of people will determine what each one of us should have. I will not accept any form of exploitation. Blood-sucking leeches like Kubera, will be killed. The Ravanas of the world will be crushed. There won’t be any Gods. The Indras of the world will be vanquished. There will be no Godmen, nothing called money. People will serve each other and be happy. The world will belong to people like Bhadra, ordinary, common folk. I will create a paradise for people like you, Bhadra. Join us in this final fight for an ideal world.”
I do not say that I was not
moved. The idea of owning the world was appealing. I did not even own two pieces of good clothes, let alone a brave new world. But then, the idiot that I am, I never believed him. I acted as if I was excited by his idea, but deep down I knew he was just another tyrant in the making. My limited intelligence refused to grasp the great man’s vision. I felt he was a hypocrite like all the others, like me, like Ravana, like every human being I had ever seen. Mine was a cynical view of the world, a far cry from Ravana’s vision of a grand revival of Asura civilization, or Vidyutjihva’s dream of an equitable social order, where he could play God. The philosophy of the common man, in Vidyuatjihva’s words, could be summarized in six words, What is in it for me? I was all for an equitable world. Or even for a grand Asura civilization, if I could benefit from it. I wanted my revenge, two square meals, sex, and if possible, a chance to acquire wealth and position so that I could continue to treat other common men in the same way they were treating me now – with contempt.
I smiled at my own philosophy and Vidyutjihva took it as agreement. He slapped m
e on my shoulders and hugged me, careful to keep our bodies apart. All men may be equal, but not that equal. “Come over to our training class. Mala, see that he is fed and clothed properly. And ask him to bathe.” Vidyutjihva went out with his silk robes flowing behind. His equal, Bhadra, stood there with his mistress, Mala. Is mine bigger than his or is it equal? I kept wondering.
“You do not believe him?” Mala asked.
“Do you?” MۀDhis ala let out a sigh and went out. I followed her, curious to know the training the rebels were imparting. I was handed over some bathing herbs and a towel, by another equal of Vidyutjihva’s, a puny Asura with sores on his bare toes, who wore torn clothes. I walked towards the small well to bathe. I scrubbed the places Vidyutjihva had touched. But the stench of equality stuck. Soon, I got used to that too.
23 Revolution comes home
Bhadra
I had become Vidyutjihva’s confidante in a matter of days. News kept coming in from the palace from the rebel leader’s spies. I learnt Varuna had been captured. After punishing the pirate-king, Ravana had let him take charge of protecting the Lankan coast and any territory Ravana might capture in the future. I doubted the wisdom of making the pirate-King the admiral of the royal navy, but the learned ones knew better. I also learnt that the King’s mother has left the island after a spat with her son. Prince Kumbakarna was now a total addict to drugs, bhang, alcohol, gambling, and women, not always in that order. Ravana had extended control over all of Lanka, except the small north-eastern tip, which was wild country and where my new master’s sway was not strong.
I had yet to decide who my master would be, whether I should hitch my fortune to Ravana or Vidyutjihva. For now, the chances favoured Ravana, and I should have gone back. But something kept telling me that my future was linked to the charismatic rebel leader. Moreover, he seemed gullible, and except for his grand ego and fantastic theories about social equality, he was the better person to be around. Even though his attempts at treating us all as his social equals was just play acting, the cadres went along with it as no one had even pretended to be like this. Once in a while, I would sneak kisses with Mala, though I had yet to share her bed. This added to the appeal of staying put with the rebel leader.
One day, Vidyutjihva called me to the beach. It was late evening and there was a full moon. The sea glistened silver and there was the fragrance of jasmine in the air. A song drifted lazily from the camps, a song of love lost and found and the ecstasy of reunion, which men yearn for when their stomachs are full and their bodies healthy. The leader was standing on a rock jutting over the sea. I climbed up. I was afraid. Had he found out I had kissed his mistress?
“Are you ready for a night cruise?” I could not see his face, so I could not decide whether he was angry.
“Yes.” I mumbled. He pushed me aside and started down the rough-cut steps to the beach. A small country boat bobbed up and down in the water. He jumped into it and I stumbled in behind. With broad sweeps of the oar he cut across the waves. After a few minutes, he motioned me to take over. I started pulling the oars and steered the boat in the direction he pointed. As we approached, I could see the dark silhouette of the castle on the cliff. Mist had crept over the higher slopes of Trikota hill. In the night, the palace looked eerie. It was as if it was haunted by demons. All the old stories about evil spirits and Rakshasas began to play tricks in my mind. Slowly the boat reached shore.
“Stay here till I come.” Vidyutjihva moved towards the rear gate of the fort. He walked with the confident gait of a man who had done this a hundred times. I was in my old master’s palace, with the rebel leader. If I got caught, death was certain. Instinctively, I moved towards the shadows of the rocks. It was getting cold and I rubbed my handހDhi palas together. The water was comparatively warmer. It was almost an hour before my master returned in an expressive and joyous mood, humming a song. The tune haunted me long after we had reached our shore and my master had retired to his cottage. I took the song to my bed that night.
I accompanied my master again on his nightly sojourns. I grew more and more curious about what was happening. I wondered how he entered Ravana’s fort undetected and came back unharmed. It was obvious that an insider helped him. But it was big risk to take. The King’s entire army was searching for him dead or alive, and here he was, roaming around the King’s grounds with impunity. The audacity of the act was awe-inspiring.
I was called once more to be his oarsman. I wanted to put an end to my burning curiosity and decided to follow him. I waited for a few seconds and then started behind him. He walked fast, without looking back, not even caring to keep to the shadows. As he reached the fort gate, he turned left. I was perplexed. As far as I knew, there was no gate or entrance there. As I got closer, I saw the answer – a rope dangled down the sheer wall. He climbed up and vanished over the high wall in a trice. I went close and examined the rope. It swayed and I tugged it to see whether it would hold my weight. It was a foolish thing to have done since I had seen it take the weight of a giant like Vidyutjihva.
I climbed up with great difficulty. By the time I reached the top, I was drenched in sweat and puffing and panting. I cursed as I slowly dropped into the fort compound. The silence was total and frightening. Somewhere an owl hooted. Instinctively I reached for my dagger but I had forgotten it. Cursing myself again, I tried to get my bearings. Odd rays of light flickered through bushes in the garden. The sky was overcast and heavy. There was a noise like the rustling of clothes and a muted whisper somewhere nearby. I slowly moved towards the sounds. In the darkness, two shadows were embracing each other and kissing passionately. I could see the tall figure of Vidyutjihva. The woman seemed familiar, but I could not place her. I watched for a few minutes and then the woman moved back. Princess Soorpanakha! Cozying up to the arch enemy of the State! I was shocked.
A plan formed in my mind. This was the chance to do away my rival. It was at that moment that I chose between my two masters. By the time I reached near the palace, I was bubbling with joy and enthusiasm. I would kill many birds at once. I would eliminate my rival Vidyutjihva, enter the good books of Ravana, own Mala, and ensure that the Asura clan would not be divided between two charismatic and powerful leaders. Vidyutjihva had foolishly entered Ravana’s fort alone, unprotected, unguarded mentally and physically. This was my chance to strike. I needed to see the King privately and pass on the news.
I was not sure where his chamber was located. Surely it would be heavily guarded? The only thing I could be sure of was the basic lethargy of my race. It was late and the guards would be asleep or drunk. The ferocious Asura of daytime battlefields was a different creature from the fun-loving, woman-chasing, brawler of the night. This could have been one of the Asura’s best kept secrets. To defeat the Asuras, attack late at night. This could be why the ancient Asura code insisted on Dharmayudha, where war was based on ethical principles and the most important thing was that no
battles were fought at night.
I went around the palace once, keeping to the cover of the hedges, to see which was the best access point. I scrambled up a mango tree and hoped that the balcony windows would be open. It was hot and humid. Somebody coughed and I froze. I could hear my heart thumping. I stood still for a few minutes and then moved again. All the winn. dows wdows opening onto the verandahs were closed. I cursed. Time was running short. If Vidyutjihva returned to the boat or the princess saw me on her way back, I could start my last prayers. One window was open. I moved near it. Someone was sleeping on the bed inside the room. I wasn’t sure if it was the king as there was no bride beside him. But his profile resembled the king. I hesitated, but I knew time was running out. A small oil lamp burned near the bed. The face lay in shadow.
I entered the room and whispered, “Your Highness. . .” There was no response and I moved closer to make sure it was Ravana. Suddenly, like a pouncing tiger, the man jumped on me and seized me by the throat. I was too frightened to speak. With his other hand, he brightened the lamp. To my horror, I found I was in the wrong room. Not to say that the treatment would have been different had I been in the right room. But it was terrifying. The man holding me by my throat was Vibhishana. Of all the people in the palace, I had ended up in the room of this pious rascal. I was more afraid as he was unpredictable. I trembled with fear. He slowly loosened his grip and set me down and I collapsed onto the floor. He towered over me with his sword drawn.
“Don’t kill me, my Lord, please do not harm me.” I cried.
Asura- Tale of the Vanquished Page 19