The Mythical Mornings

Ahilya

"Ahilya..Ahilya..Where are you dear?"the voice of the old man echoed in the foliage,as he seeked the child,his daughter..

But where was Ahilya? Ahilya had walked towards the river early morning,with her little pot,to bathe. But since then she had not returned..

"Rishi Garg..Have you seen Ahilya? She is missing from morning"her father,the sage asked..

But Rishi Garg just looked down. All around him looked down. The frail men,with body thin enough to be blown away by wind,with body barely covered up,looked down as if something had happened..

Ahilya's father looked at them,their bowed heads in horror. And he could hear,the cries of his wife and the other women living in the foliage..

Ahilya was gone.

A young girl woke up with a splash of water on her face. Her eyes were red. Her mind slugged. She looked like a tiny baby deer caught in light. How cute..But wish,the situation was like that. It was not cute at all..

She looked at the people. They were laughing and speaking. But the language was unknown. Their bright clothes were so contrasting to her white small cloth,that was half of the saree of her mother. They were torn into two to give some other girl cloth,to cover her body. But the people infront of her were dressed so brightly. It almost caught her in daze.

They were very strange. Tall,strong. She was like a tiny child.

Her eyes darted around in wonder. Alas. The price of ignorance she had to pay.

They were still laughing at something. May be her. She could understand that from the way they behaved. But there was nothing she could do,except huddling into the corner.

After three days Ahilya was found. Sitting on a stone,near the same river.

As her mother and others saw her,they stilled. But walked away,as if she was not there. But the faint heart breaking sniffles were heard. But Ahilya was just sitting. Sitting still.

For a long time,no one came near her. She was sitting still. As if her heart was one with the river. As if Ahilya had long become the free flowing river. As if her heart had long lost herself.

The next day when the women came,they saw something more. The stone was almost red with blood. Blood from the body of the girl sitting on the stone.

As her body was leaning on the stone,no one saw it. But it was long lifeless.

They said nothing. They just walked away. To the forest and found few dried wigs. And put it together. Thankfully it was the bathing area where the women bathed.

For three days,everyday they collected few dried weeds. Finally somehow they managed to bring a little lamp with oil. And with steely gaze they put her on the pyre. The flame,as if a gentle mother,embraced her.

Ahilya was no more. No one asked where she was. No one cared. The life of the sages went on. The ashes washed away by river,to far off place,and the white cloth, coloured with ashes laid. To remind her mother of her. But after a few washes,it too washed away.

The ashes of Ahilya..