Sharing The Pain

“That was how I was born.” Varsha said taking a deep breath. “In a land where the normal height was between 40-70 feet, I was considered an aberration measuring less than the standard five feet for a new-born baby. I wonder if they could see me at all.”

There was a shocked silence for a few minutes with the humans trying to digest this startling piece of information. “If you were a princess, and your parents’ combined height was 130 feet, how come you were so small?” Vishal Bhargav, the Director of the Film asked.

“That was because she was born during a fierce battle.” The tribal Chief Kamalaiah Dora said. Vishal was surprised and the others were shocked. “How do you know that?” he asked the old man.

“Because, it was I who witnessed the event with my inner eye.” Hameed chuckled at the remark. “It requires a lot of discipline, practice, dedication and deep meditation to awaken the inner eye. Not everyone can do it.” His eyes flashed the disdain he felt for the indisciplined youth. Hameed’s face burned as he kept quiet. Varsha spoke trying to defuse the tension. “I was told that during the battle my mother was exposed to the flash of a very powerful thunderbolt which caused a mutation in the foetus and reduced the size. My voice was normal as per their standards.”

“And they bought that theory?” Hameed asked looking incredulous.

“That was the most logical explanation at that time to explain my absurd tininess.” She explained. “No other explanation seemed to be right.”

“What happened to the queen ma’am? I mean your mother.” Hema asked diverting the topic for which Varsha gave her a grateful smile and dived back into the story.

Empress Kavitha stirred as if she felt the presence of her husband and opened her eyes to witness her wish standing before her. Tears of joy flowed from her eyes as she beckoned him forward. Manoj walked to her side and knelt taking her hand in his. They were silent for a while enjoying each other’s company their eyes speaking a lot of things unsaid verbally. It was the reunion of two souls that, parted for a while, had come together again. No words could express the love that rose from the deep bond between a husband and wife.

“I knew you would come.”

“I was afraid I would not be able to.”

“The baby....”

“I have seen.”

“It’s a princess.”

“She will be the heir as per law.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Perhaps I am.”

“Would you stop loving her for what she appears to be?”

“Can I ever stop loving a part of myself?”

“We lost too many loved ones today.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“They died fighting for me.”

“And so it is our duty to give them a state funeral with full honour.”

“Yes, we shall.”

“If you will excuse me, I will see to the arrangements.”

“Who did we lose?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you truly believe you can deceive me?”

“.......”

“Who is it?”

“........”

“Alright. Who’s there?” a guard entered and bowed to them. “Prepare my palanquin. I will visit the Royal Morgue.”

“My Empress, there is no need for that.”

“Then, answer my question, My lord.”

“We....we....we lost Prince Srinivas.” There was shriek of pain and the empress fainted. “Water!” the soldier ran to the corner, filled a gold tumbler with water and ran back to the emperor who grabbed it, sprinkling water on his wife’s face. She held his hand tightly trying to compose herself. Though she was not crying, he could feel her heart throbbing wildly at the tragic news. Prince Srinivas had been her dearest sister’s son and heir to the Karnikapuram realm. She had treated him like her own son and he too had been very sweet, bonding with her more. He had been a brave, kind, generous boy always gentle to the ladies. She couldn’t believe that this chivalrous, virtuous boy was lying lifeless in the royal morgue. It was too insane; it was so unjust; so painful.

She didn’t know who to curse or who to blame. “Why do men always fight?” her pain echoed in her voice. “Why do they have to kill each other? Why can’t they let innocent people live?”

Manoj sat on the bed and held her head in his lap signalling the guard away. She closed her eyes and held him tight, both of them sharing the pain and sorrow together. It is moments like these that strengthen the bond between a couple. The silent thoughts that are exchanged by the souls communicating in a language that only they can understand, is the most beautiful moment in the whole universe that cannot be described in words.

“Why? Why did he have to leave us?”

“I asked that question myself several times,” he replied. “and I have still not found the answer.” A tear fell on her cheek making her look up at his face which was clouded with sorrow. Her heart ached to see him like this – very vulnerable – the side he hid from the world but nor her. The thought brought a smile on her face. He looked like a child that had lost his favourite toy. And he looked very cute. She passed a hand over his face startling him out of his thoughts, an amazed look on his face.

“He was dear to me too, Kavi.” His voice condensed all the pain in his heart. “He made me and Kishore swear an oath on you to convince us.”

“For what?”

“To let him take Kishore’s place as Chief War General disguised as Kishore.” He took a deep breath. “It killed me when I had to send Kishore to Avanthipura Province in Srini’s place. It was as if he had a premonition. He refused to take no for an answer.” He sobbed, tears flowing freely down his clean shaven face. Kavitha let him cry out his sorrow, joining him in his grief silently, sharing the tragedy with him like a true wife.

The couple sat like that for a long time, unconcerned about the outside world, swallowed by their immense anguish. It was just the two of them trying to come to terms with a cruel world – the fact they rules one of the biggest empires of the universe – a great irony.