The Companion of Honour

3 - DEBT OF THE RED RICE

Virudhukkalvetti

Ravidasan was relieved only when he saw some of his acquaintances among the new recruits. They too were surprised when they saw him. He didn't know whether it was their presence or the fact that they all are as clueless as him that soothed his anxiety. Their thalapathi, Menandros, really enjoyed their confusion and amazement.

"My boys, life is full of surprises. I was born in a place called Athenai. I no longer remember what the air smells like or sky looks like in my native. Similarly, we all go where this life takes us."

He peered into their eyes intently. "Now you are a group of 200 people. This is your last chance. If you just leave now, we will forget each other. But if you try to leave after joining us, you and your families will be annihilated. I will be back in an hour." Menandros himself opened the windows and doors of the hall they were seated in and left.

That one hour felt like one hundred years. If he leaves this place, he can easily get a job as a soldier, administrator or a priest in any part of this vast bharatavarsham. What if this is his destiny? When a yavanan works so loyally for Veera Pandyan, is it right that a pandyan like himself is thinking like this? He looked around and saw that everyone is engaged in thoughts like him.

One hour must have been up as someone blew conchshells and closed the openings of the hall, except one. Menandros gave instructions to his attendants to go there or do this. They all rose up and bowed down as Veera Pandyan and Jatilavarman entered the hall. Veera Pandyan gestured them to sit down as he sat on a raised platform. Jatilan sat near Ravidasan.

The priests chanted prayers to Kotravai and some men danced with ecstasy. A woman placed a big banana leaf before him and served blood red rice on it. The king ate some of the rice and made a ball out of a handful of rice. Menandros gestured to Jatilan to go to his father. Tears were flowing from Veera Pandyan's eyes as he fed the rice ball to the young prince. Then one by one, he fed the rice to the old guards including Menandros. Ravidasan was the first one from the new batch to be fed. Though it was just one ball of rice, he felt energetic like he had a full feast.

°°°°°°°°°°

Madurai

Ravidasan's heart beat rapidly as he approached his home. He didn't dare to imagine the reaction of his poor widowed mother. The mother and the motherland are both exalted than heaven. This is the right thing. He saw amma spreading chillies and dried turmeric on a mat. She too must have seen him as she was telling someone about his arrival. Looks like annan is home. Good.

"Ravi, it's been so long. You look so tired". Annan hugged him tightly. Anni complained to amma that she hasn't prepared anything special as she served the rice. He secretly mixed the mud he kept at hand in the rice.

"Everyone, please come here. I need to tell you something. You all should hear this with equanimity". He touched everyone's feet, placed his hands on his eyes and hardened his heart. He took out the pouch of gold coins and placed it at the feet of his mother.

"Here, I am submitting the money for your upkeep in my absence. I bear the debt of the red rice to our Emperor. Bless me and send me away".

"What have you done, Ravi?", Soman annan was babbling incoherently like a mad-man. Anni requested him not to shout but Amma just stared into the void with tearful eyes. Soman held Amma as if he feared that she is going to faint. He kept on ranting about Ravidasan's foolishness. What and who is he fighting for? Couldn't he have thought about their old mother? Amma wiped her tears and stood straight.

"Stop. Why did I give birth to sons if it isn't for our Emperor? Light an aarati, Kokile."

She placed her hands on Ravidasan's head and shivered like a possessed woman.

"May the swords raised against them stop on you. May the fire approaching them consume you. May the poison meant for them kill you. May the arrows aimed at them pierce you. May you be the fortress, weapon and shield of our Emperor. Go forth, kill and die for him".

She circulated the aarti plate around his head and gave the plate to her daughter in law who repeated her actions and took the plate inside. She stared at him with an intense expression.

"Did you mix dirt in the rice you ate from here?"

"Yes."

"I would have broken your skull if you hadn't. You aren't my son or his brother anymore. You belong to the emperor and the empire. If I had known this, I would have washed these feet and welcomed you. I am so glad and proud".

Soman occasionally opened his mouth to ask some things but he couldn't attend vocalise anything. Ravidasan understood that he is trying to ask about their plans. Unfortunately that can't be shared with others, not even his mother's other son.

"Soman anne, Kokila akka, I can tell you only one thing. Take good care of this Amma".

"I gave birth to him, yet I am not crying. Why are you men crying as if I died? Kokila, ask your husband and brother-in-law to stop this drama".

Helpless Kolika didn't know whether to snap at her mother-in-law, scold the brother-in-law or console her husband. Ravidasan touched their feet again and left their home without any tarrying further. The whole Pandya country is his home and mother. His brothers are the people who partook in the debt of the red rice with him. He is a walking sacrifice.