Jogini : A fight for honour

Chp 5:- Venkateshwara Bramhahotsava

Dressing up in my best attire, I was ready for the nine day long festival.

"Your the lead dancer." Said Tavarika entering my room.

"Yes." I nodded.

"You remember the steps I...."

"Yes I do remember all of it." I replied.

"The rath yaatra will be in the evening." Said akka.

It was time for the pooja, which would be done by the king and the queen. Raja Ekchandra Mudiraj and his two queens Maharani Pullamma Devi and Rani Maalavi Devi.

Leaving my room, I went to the temple courtyard which was decorated with flowers of different shades. The fragrance of the insense and the fruits offered to the deity mingled and made me feel naucious.
The aroma of the prasadam being made in the temple kitchen made me feel full and I nearly puked with the mix and jazz of smell that filtered through my nostrils.

"RAJA EKCHANDRA MUDIRAJ HAS ARRIVED...."

The announcement, alerted all the people. Young and the old alike flocked to see the king and the queen's who were extremely decorated for the day's festivities.

Alongside the king was another man, he is the brother of the second queen Rani Maalavi Devi, Kumara Subbayya. He was tall and dark, with a well built warrior physique.

I stood at the entrance of the temple to welcome the royal entourage with a welcome dance....

As I did so along with the other three dancers Menaka, Tavarika and Chaitra Kumara Subbayya's intense gaze was fixed on me. I smiled inwardly and continued to dance to the rythem of the musical instruments playing in the background.

With showers of flower petals and praises the king entered the temple and began doing the pooja.

My gaze shifted to Kumara Subbayya, was filled with lust as he watched me feet to head and down. I tossed my head and looked at the king and the queen performing the rituals.

The blue morning sky gave way to a pink and purple hue with cool breeze blown by the coconut palms in the courtyard. The idol of Venkateshwara Swami was taken out and placed on a rath (chariot) with five, huge stone wheel's to each side.

Stripping off my garment's I was only in my jewelry which barely covered anything. I joined Menaka, Tavarika and Chaitra who were also only in jewelry, with our lusterous locks left open. The gentle wind played with our hair and caressed our waist making us giggle. With the pundit's managing the rath, shaped like a Garuda (eagle) we began dancing ahead of the chariot.

The royal entourage watched the procession on a raised platform while the common folk, followed the rath hailing praises while we danced.

As I danced, I didn't notice Kumara Subbayya beside me. I gasped and stood still when I felt his touch around my waist.

"From this night to the last night of this festival." He whispered under his alcoholic breath that made me nauseous.

I turned around with gleeming eyes and pressed myself against him whispering "Right now ?"

"I cannot wait." He murmured back in lust.

Nine days and nine nights he came to me for all the pleasure he ever wanted in his life. I was extremely wonderful at the art of teasing as he begged me to stop, but I smirked continuing to tickle his senses. In the similar fashion I had many men at my feet when it was time to rock their senses at night, but during the day I had to remain in front of my swami serving him by singing hymns and dancing for him. Night, was completely different as we were God's virgin's at day and prostitute's at night.

The festivities cane to an end soon enough and I realized that I was pregnant.

"That's good news." Said akka with a smile.

I sat down on the bed shocked to my deepest core.

"I can't left my child suffer this...... I can't let my baby be a jogini ....no ... No, no what .... What should I do ....." I cried.

What could I do other than crying? Huh! Not even the one whom I had accepted as my husband was saving me from all this atrocities. Now, posed a new challenge put forth by Swami himself; I believe....

Five months later ......

"It will be a girl..." Beamed akka. "This means that we will have another devadasi in this temple. Jai Venkateshwara Swami !"

"No swami no. Not a girl. I must do something... I can't let this happen to my girl...." I said to myself....

What will Chandramukhi do to save her baby's future? Will she fight or will her daughter be a jogini ? Don't forget to vote, comment and share ....