Animosity

Welcome to this week's edition of the Loose Bloggers Consortium. This is where Akanksha, Anu, Ashok, Conrad, Delirious, gaelikaa, Grannymar, Magpie11, Maria the Silver Fox, Nema, Noor, Padmum, Paul, Ramana Sir, Will knot, Rohit and I write on the same agreed topic. Please feel free to also visit my fellow blogger's pages, and immerse yourself in bloggery delights. This week's topic has been chosen by Padmini.

Animosity.

Like all cousins and family, ours are deeply rooted into the ground with strong hatred for one another. Never have I, or even try to remember, a moment where peace was not a signed agreement, and free of public announcements of cease fire.

Welcome to Hastinapur.

The five of us, we just happen to have the best things life had to offer. After all, being born into the royal house of the Pandu has its perks. Being the youngest of the five, along with my twin brother Nakul, I could not comprehend what was all the fuss about. For all I cared, the elder brothers would have their hands full keeping our cousins and their issues at bay. I'd rather focus on the stables. My first love, horses.

Ah, horses. Magnificent creatures. They actually can understand what we speak, I talk to them every time I visit the stables. My favourite among the many magnificent animals there is Trishulin, a rare horse given to us as a gift from the distant kingdoms of the west. I named him Trishulin for it had a distinct trident shaped birthmark just above the left ear. A fast runner, he's my choice whenever I go hunting.

It was a beautiful morning; third day of the month normally would start with beautiful mornings and drizzle with sporadic rains closer towards dusk. Today, however, the clouds seemed to move in spectacular fashion. Mother always said to look for omens in the clouds. The faster the clouds move, it normally signalled a distinct shift in destiny. I never really understood her words. So did she. All will be answered, today.

Animosity.

I broke the silence what was engulfing the courtyard. Fear and uncertainty seemed to have made mice out of men today. War is imminent. Thus our ultimate goal to bring the Pandus down to earth will be realised. Alas, I see everyone quaking in fear. It saddens me, for our army has now been bolstered with one hundred thousand men. One hundred thousand warriors from Krishna's kingdom, the one whom they call God amongst men. Now I, am God!

I am God! I am God!

My father is still very partial towards his brother's brood of insolent fools. I despise them with love. The deepest pits of my blackened heart cannot be lighted by any form of light, for it is emptied with hate. And father is blinded, not only physically but in all aspects, not being able to see how much power we, the Kauravas, could hold once these pests are out of the way.

Pests.

Pests!

In two days’ time, our armies will march to the great plains of Kurushektra, and I am destined to be the victor. And once again, I will walk with my heads held high, the conqueror of the Pandu kingdom, and vanquish all those who have mocked me in the past. Till then, my brothers, all of you, let us all enjoy what is left of our mortal coils. Let us now drink, make merry, and even bear new wives!

Embrace your destiny, my beloved Kauravas! I command you to do so!

And so speaks, Duryodhan!

I yearn for only one thing. Their death. My victory.

Ascension. Power. Rooted in deep animosity.

-fin

**Author's note - I was truly, deeply inspired by the Mahabharata, and had this idea of exploring the faces and thoughts of the characters in the tome. It is just an interpretation; none of these conversations was recorded in the actual Mahabharata. Just in case someone decides to burn me at the stake, let me tell you it is COMPLETELY done out of creativity. ***

My Childhood

A new box arrived today, and it looks bigger than what it was the last time. Dad outdid it this time, for the last one, was a little boring. I hope its the one I asked for, please, oh please, let it be a castle set this time....

I rummaged through the wrapper, lo and behold! The Lego castle set! Just as I wanted!

"But Dad, why is it not Lego? It says, LOGO here"

"It’s the same, son. Go on, play with it"

"NO!!!!!" I screamed, disappointed on the choice of brand. Marketing seemed to have worked on me, a 5 year old kid.

Disgusted, the entire contents of the box were hurriedly chucked away into the bin. Dad broke his promise.

Lego is all I wanted, and yet, he gets me a LOGO. A cheaper cousin. Fake goods!

Daddy doesn't love me anymore.

I ran to my room, locked the door, slammed myself shut, and cried my hearts out te whole night. It was the end of the world for me.

Armageddon.

I think I must have fell asleep, tired of all the tearing that night.

I woke up to the familiar aroma of eggs and toast the next morning. Saturday breakfast was usually eggs, toast, and baked beans made Indian style, which is usually baked beans straight form the can, heated up with sautéed onions, mixed with Indian curry powder. Well, at least, Dad got it right this time. But I still wanted my Lego castle.

What would my friend think? A Logo set? I might as well not have any friends at all!

I dragged myself to the dining table, pyjamas intact. Breakfast without brushing my teeth! Now, this is rebellion to it's extreme. I am going to make a mission statement here. No more rules. I only want my Lego.

Dad was busy in the kitchen, and he's making coffee. Strong, black coffee. Dad's favourite, apparently it is the choice breakfast of cowboys. He loved his cowboy movies, and I think he would have been one had he stayed back in India. India must have had cowboys, for they surely had cows!

I pulled up a chair, dragging it's legs, screeching, it belts out the most irritating noise one could have in the morning. It broke the silence. Dad came by the table, plate in hand. Normally, I would be thrilled to gobble up everything on that plate. This time, it was incomplete. I refused to look at him, instead, the floor seemed to be very interesting at that time. I could finally see the intricate artwork, te pulling of the chair, the legs making fine white lines on the parquet flooring. I am now an artist!

Dad placed the plate on the table, and gave a peck on my head. I tried to brush him off, and it is then I caught something in the corner of my eye.

A castle. A completely built castle. It was magnificent!

I rushed over to the living room, and found a castle play set, made of Logo bricks, complete with knights and horses, soldiers wielding swords, maidens, archers on the towers, a working drawbridge.

But, how did it come here? Wait a minute, it says LOGO all over.

I ran to the kitchen, and hugged Dad.

"Son, I know you wanted the Lego set, but this is all I could afford for now. I just lost my job, and..."

I hugged him even harder, this time, I cut him off.

"Dad, Thank you. And I'm sorry as well"

I still have baked beans, eggs and toast on Saturday mornings, whenever I can. I don't have the castle set anymore, and so is Dad. But my childhood was always happy. He made it happy for me.

I love you, Dad.

*This is my first post as a member of the LBC - Loose Bloggers Consortium*

one crazy afternoon

Hips, locked into position, poised, ready to strike.

I now strike a pose, hair swaying from one direction to the other, even warriors, fear me now.

I looked down, on the parched ground that was once fertile,  this is where it all began.

One crazy afternoon, when i decide to start dancing.

Thing is, when I dance, it evokes the power cosmic. I have no inhibitions, no regrets, fear dissolves the moment I gaze upon it, my majestic grace simply rolls everything around me in motion. My motionless stance reverberates every single atom around me, I am now, the beat.

Dance! I am power! I am grace! I am time!

I am destruction!

I am birth!

I am death!

I am liberty!

I strike the ground, waiting for no one, but Shakti.

Shakti, you are now, me.

kala kutta!

I wag my tail, hunger begets life
We've been walking all day long, no rest, no stop
Yet I seem invisible to you, still, I wag my tail
Whenever you glance at me

I pounce upon your enemies, gnarling, rabid like
Expect nothing, well, some bits of your food would be heavenly
yet you ignore me, shooing me off with sticks and stone
i am a dog, after all

Yet I seem invisible, after all, I'm not your designated pet
I came to you by design
your coming was an accident, yet you choose to turn away
deliberately
viciously

tonight, I enjoy my bone, the one I picked
your collarbone seemed worthy
you did not ignore me
but you blinded yourself from what i was to say
walk with me, I will protect you - you blind, deaf, oaf!

now, I, the ignored dog
chew upon your collarbone, as you lie motionless.
the swig of your cold, dry blood now satiates my hunger.
thank you, o' Creator!