"You shall not go against the rules of Mayur Vyasha." [A dance form depicted in the Allora caves by apsaras (dancing deities of Hindu mythology). This dance form was said to bring rain from the skies on earth,when destruction struck,by a great devotee for Shiva. Due to various prejudices in the society, this dance was forbidden to women.]
"Really? How slant could you be Angara? All these years what did you gain by following the rules of Mayur Vyasha? Not even a single drop fell from the skies when you danced in Ekachakranagiri. The rules of Mayur Vyasha were not laid by the gods, but by you men." Meenakshi yells at her husband in front of all the villagers.
It was the usual congregation of the villagers whose families had escaped from the droughts in Ekachakranagiri. They grew up as refugees in the neighbouring village,Vihara. Angara taught men Mayur Vyasha in hope to bring rains to the grounds of Ekachakranagiri. He and Meenakshi were very well respected by others. Though Angara was an excellent teacher and a leader, he was against women learning Mayur Vyasha. This stance of his always irked and infuriated Meenakshi, but today she could not hold down her anger and spat it all out.
"You dare doubt my forte?" No one dared to cumber or uphold any of them.
"No Angara. I would never do that! But you must learn to accept everyone in this society as an equal. Shiva never said that women could not perform Mayur Vyasha. It is not the failure of your talent or anyone's that is making the gods disgruntled. It is the ignorance of men!"
"Stop it, Meenakshi! Before you regret it!" Angara lashes out his anger.
" I have never regretted anything I have done in my entire life! I will perform Mayur Vyasha!"
"And who is going to teach you?"
"Well, I already know it. My father taught me." This takes Angara aback.
"At least my father wasn't like you and other men. I am very grateful to god to give me such a father who regarded everyone as god's children, as an equal." She pauses to breathe.
"I will perform Mayur Vyasha on the next Chaturdarshi (In the Hindu calender it is the 14th day of the wanning phase of the moon) and nothing shall come on my way." Meenakshi proclaims the second time.
"Take back your words!"
"No! I have never done and will never do!"
Angara becomes irated and shouts,"I swear on Shiva, you will regret it, Meenakshi!"
"I do not care, Angara! I will perform Mayur Vyasha."
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"Angara calm down. Let her do what she wants. And when she fails, then she shall be the centre of mockery in the village. She will know her worth and quieten down."
"No, keshav. I will have to teach her a lesson. She can't scorn me like that!"
"Then what do you intend to do? Renounce her? "
"Much worse."
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"Meenakshi have the food!"
"I will! Just let me think!"
"About what, Meenakshi?" Asks Madhavi, Meenakshi's sister in law.
"I can't believe it! Nowhere in the vedas (scriptures) it is mentioned that women are not allowed to do anything, but still we are restricted by the dominance of men. Long time back women were not educated, so they believed what these foolish men blabbered. Now when we are, no one seems to even care!"
"Meenakshi just by not eating you can't save anyone."
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"Ahh....."
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Thank you for reading!
-DS
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Vichitramaya (Strange delusion) Book 1- The Encounter
Historical Fiction"But I want to know who you are." "Well, a non-humane person with meagre abilities." "What abilities?" "Hmm... what do they say? Ah yes! To fool people around ." "Do you mind repeating that again?" "To destroy the world. What's yours?" "To mend your...
