Book Excerpt - 'Abhaya'
- In Book Reviews
- 03:14 PM, Dec 01, 2015
- Saiswaroopa Iyer
On the western shores of Saurashtra, the turbulent waves were in incessant competition with the bustling activity of the port. The region that had once been a centre for sea trade had faced a period of lull and gloom due to the repeated raids by pirates of Punyajana. Traders had faced dangers at every step. Those who escaped the attention of the Punyajanas often had to face highway robbers and wild animals on their way to Avanthi. The new city of Anagha had, to an extent, helped the traders face the perils on the land. But the troubles on the sea had continued till a confederation of the Yadu tribes from the North came to settle on the western shores. The Yadavas, who had come in search of new home, were trained warriors who could overcome the pirates. Thus, at last, the seas were safe again, and the last five years had seen an increase in the activity of trade through the western seas.
With trade, the economy had flourished. Port cities had attracted labour and talent alike. Carpenters were always in demand to make new ships. Youth mastered the skill of sailing bigger boats. To a new comer, the port city of Prabhasa presented a festive picture of a flourishing economy, trade, talent, valour and religion.
A fleet of bigger ships were anchored off shore, some distance away from the port, ships that needed repairs and reinforcement to structural elements after a long journey on the seas. Carpenters set themselves to work. The smiles on their faces anticipated the generous pay they would receive at the end of the day’s labour. Architects who worked on the structural aspect sat some distance away discussing stronger designs of the vessels. Anyone who had known these parts for long could tell the difference that the Yadava cities had made. Apart from the wealth they had created in the last couple of years, they had also fostered hope, faith and aspiration. A day did not pass without the citizens giving mental thanks to the person who had wrought this change.
Krishna Vaasudeva.
The enthusiasm of the workmen working on the ship that belonged to his family was palpable. It wasn't every day that Krishna himself supervised their work, and they all bent to their labours with added inspiration. Krishna walked around, examining the structure they were working on atop a vessel. A year or two less than thirty springs, he could be often mistaken to be far younger. Nothing got past him; he had a way of checking the exact places that could cause structural weaknesses. The structure consisted of a shelter over the deck wide enough to shelter two people. Aestheticism was not compromised even as robustness remained the top priority. Krishna examined the wooden roof of the small shelter under which workmen were working on honing the surfaces. As his hand touched the wood, his intuition signalled that something was wrong. Amidst the sounds of the tools being used, his ears did not miss the sound of a crack. The roof was about to come crashing down on the two artisans working under it.
It happened, just as this realization struck him. His hands rose automatically to support the roof. But he was in one corner. It could still come down on the artisans from the other corner. Exactly when he expected it to collapse at the opposite corner, he saw two additional hands support it. A momentary smile appeared on his face, despite the strain when he saw the lustrous plait of hair falling over the shoulder of the woman who shared the burden. Her strained smile greeted him. Assistance poured in the next minute and the workmen rushed out of the shelter relieving them.
Relief was writ large on her face as she stepped back, panting for breath. An unimpressed frown knit her brows. “What if I had not reached in time?” Before Krishna could respond, she added. “Well, I know you would have made it to the middle of the structure somehow and taken it upon yourself to save them. Never giving a thought to the possibility that the roof might be more than a match to your muscle Vaasudeva!”
Krishna laughed. “An unforeseen danger often is an eye opener that makes us realize our true potential, Dhaarmaseni.” She saw the twinkle in his eyes, his usual inscrutable smile.
“And which strength of yours did this damned thing make you realize, Krishna!”
“May be…,” Krishna winked, “...my destiny of attracting a friend in the moment of need, Abhaya.”
“How dare you try to flatter me!” Abhaya pulled her arm back. “When did you last think of this ‘friend’? Not your fault again when you have bride after bride keeping you busy. Why would you remember us at all?”
“That’s quite an allegation!” Krishna exclaimed in a tone of dramatic heights. “Especially coming from a ‘friend’ who never cared to grace any wedding of mine.”
“As if you don’t know why,” Abhaya’s eyes fell at the counter. “Curse the diplomatic compulsions. The twin princes of Avanthi, Vinda and Anuvinda, our dear long time ‘friends’ or, to be more accurate, overlords. They cannot abide our getting friendly with the Yadavas.”
“And why exactly did the princess of Anagha disregard those 'friends' to meet me now?” Krishna turned away, crossing his arms across his breast in mock displeasure.
“Anger doesn’t suit you.” Abhaya commented with a giggle. She then sighed. “Don’t forget, I have a real friend too at Avanthi. Princess Mitravinda. Vaasudeva, do you remember her?”
Krishna’s brows knitted in concern. “Isn’t she going to choose her groom at her Swayamvara in two months' time?”
“Swayamvara indeed! A Swayamvara where the groom is pre-decided by her brothers, insulting its very spirit! A Swayamvara, where invitations are sent to only crony supporters and not to the valiant ones who deserve to be considered as suitors. A Swayamvara to which the man she loves is not invited.” She turned to face him, “to which you, Vaasudeva, are not invited.”
“Dhaarmaseni, did Mitravinda tell you this herself?”
Abhaya nodded. “She also said that she would either consume poison or stab herself if you did not show up at the Swayamvara.” Krishna sensed her pain as she looked at him, swallowing hard. “Krishna, will you?”
He turned away. His hesitation, she knew, was not unfounded. After all, he was already married to not one but three women the princesses of Vidarbha, Madra and Kekaya.
Staring into the horizon, Krishna saw a face smile at him. His eyes closed. Air filled his lungs.
“Dhaarmaseni” Krishna spoke suddenly. The decisive tone took her by surprise. “Please tell Mitra not to worry. Assure her that she will not be wedded to anyone against her wishes”
“Krishna!” Abhaya smiled in relief. “I shall be by her side on the big day.” Her hands came together in the customary salutation as she took a step back.
Krishna caught her hands stopping her. “It is now past sunset, Abhaya.”
“Yes, I need to get back to patrolling the highway.” She smiled. “Remember we made a pact to take turns in keeping the path safe for the travellers. I’ll join my soldiers.”
“When did you start patrolling?”
“Today,” Abhaya laughed. “I had to find a way to get to you, without coming to Dwaraka or being spotted by any spy of Avanthi!”
Krishna held on to her hands, pulling her a step closer. “You are too young for these intrigues, Abhaya.”
“Seventeen was the age when my grandfather killed a tiger.” She declared tossing her plait over her shoulder and grasping the hilt of her sword. “Besides, problems don’t ask for our age when they confront us, Vaasudeva.” She chuckled and added with a wink. “They instead make us realize how much we’ve grown.”
Krishna smiled in response and let go of her hands. He then pulled out a dagger that was hanging from his belt and handed it to her. “For you.”
Abhaya took the weapon. “Well, it has been really long since you last gifted me something!” She winked, clasping the stem of the dagger close to her chest. “And, now I have something to make all your wives jealous, if and when I get to meet them!”
They exchanged smiles. His glance refused to leave her and it took some willpower to turn away from it.
Who would not welcome an adventure? The courageous are undaunted. Glory favours the dauntless!
Abhaya smiled to herself as she jumped on to her horse.
The following is an excerpt from Saiswaroopa Iyer’s book ‘Abhaya’. To read more, you can purchase the book here http://www.amazon.in/Abhaya-Saiswaroopa-Iyer-ebook/dp/B018ITMZ3Y/
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