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Chapter 4 - Dream Four

उत्सवोनामनतुकस्यचित्स्वामित्वम्अस्ति, किन्तुसर्वेषाम्एकत्रसमागमः।

("A festival belongs to no single person; it is the joyful gathering of all.")

"Do enlighten me with the tale." I asked him, not sure when I will be relieved of this uncalled duty.

And so began Tamobhuwan retelling his chronicle, I have translated as below:

 ***

Tamobhuvan's tale: -

The Royal Family was about to arrive at the hall of celebrations. The ambience was decorated and curated with finest pieces of art and music across the kingdom. Elites and nobles were laughing, whispering and they exchanged talks of all kinds when the announcement was made that the family was due in next few moments. People moved back to their comfortable places and patiently waited for their King and Queen to arrive. They were supposed to come from the Royal Palace at the top of the mount Meru to the hall of celebrations at the bottom of the Meru. The hall was built eons ago by Vishwakarma and was one of his finest architectural specimens. Made with Black and white marble, it stood on one pillar, so disguised that one who saw was certain that it stood on air. Four water streams ran from terrace to bottom, two besides each side of entrance. Water was perfumed with sweet fragrance. The austerity of palace made it more sombre and beautiful. Arches were intricately designed and detailed.

 The whizzing sound came from distant clouds and a white aeronautical vehicle emerged from it. The vehicle had a peculiar design, with four trunks protruding from the front. Some said that the trunks played role of turrets while in combat mode. They could fire anything, ranging from old and tested cannon balls to iron melting laser beams. But nobody had seen this in action for a long while. It was said that Lord Sakra wanted it designed this way specifically as he had a white elephant as a pet when he was a kid, and the death of Airavat had pained him deeply. This was his way of remembering his childhood friend.

While landing, four pillars emerged from its base. Engines came to a halt. One could say that the aesthetic of the vehicle reminded of a white elephant. That was the majestic carrier of Lord Sakra, the current Indra of this age.

The head of the elephant-ride split up and from it emerged four beautiful beings, Lord Sakra and Lady Sachi holding their hands. Behind them were their two children, Jayanta and Sashti.

Everyone cheered and welcomed the royal family while they walked in the hall. Special lights lit up the place which enhanced the ambience of the hall. Lady Sachi had draped an elegant purple saree and worn a tiara with richest jewels of the state. Her beauty could still rival one of the finest maidens in the entire kingdom after all the ages.

In the forefront of the elites were the eleven Adityas, all dressed in glory. They greeted the King and he Queen with a humble namaste. Behind them stood other officials in accordance to their hierarchy.

The King raised his hands and all went silent at once.

Mitra, one of the Adityas, gave a monologue on how happy the people of the kingdom were to celebrate the anniversary of the couple. That his kingdom rejoiced in his reign. And the promising days that are coming in the future of the kingdom. Followed by this, Lady Sachi let out her heartfelt words and was visibly near tears

What followed was a typical speech By Lord Sakra suited of a king addressing his subjects.

Once the King had finished addressing, the people cheered and then the celebrations began. A huge cake-like delicacy was brought forward to the couple. It was a real piece of art, shaped in form of two grand palaces joined by a bridge. It was meant to symbolise the love between the couple and the fruitful years they have lived by. Color palette of one palace matched Lord Sakra's dressing and other matched Lady Sachi's attire.

The couple cut the cake and then the feasting began. Different delicacies were being served to the guests. Music of Gandharvas was elevating the tone of eve. Nartaki's moved graciously dancing on a stage set apart. In Midst, Lord Agni demonstrated a beautiful set of fireworks. The crackers burst in a shape of a large heart beating across the sky. The next fireworks portrayed two spiralling celestial beings fooling around in the sky. It was visually spell bounding to say the least. Green, blue, red, orange, the sky was filled with coloured sparks! Shots after shots echoed the whole Meru. The fire maestro Agni was pleased with his own work. He twirled his moustache in pride. After fire-show, it was time for the dance of the evening to be performed, and it was none other than Tilottama herself.

The hall visibly burst in cheers on the appearance of the celestial nymph Tilottama. Except, if one noticed carefully there was a slight irritation in the eyes of Lady Sachi. When you are one of the favourite courtiers in the eyes of Lord Sakra, eventually things are bound to go sour in any household. And lady Sachi had been little too paranoid about the past situation. Rumours travel fast, and people need some spicy hearsay tales to live by. Lady Sachi did not want to be a loser in such a tale. Her love and her pride, they would not succumb to that of Tilottama's. 

The dance started, with Tilottama floating like a butterfly. Her dainty hand and limbs cut through the air and mesmerized the attendees. The Gandharvas changed the beat and the tempo increased. Sitar and tabla echoed though the hall.

Now she moved in circles, and slowly she began to circle Lord Sakra and Lady Sachi. The circles became smaller and smaller.

Lord Indra was visibly stressed as this would not go in news circles properly, as that incidents of millennia ago still haunt him. That time he had not married Sachi yet, but his involvement with Tilottama was deeply condemned and Sakra did have to pay his price for that. The repentance had been harsh, and he worked hard to remove that news from the social circles as much as he could. But do such things fade away? Hardly.

The circles went smaller and smaller. Now Lady Sachi did not hide her resentment any more. Was all of this essential?

Smaller circles. Music intensified.

Lord Sakra sensed uneasiness of Lady Sachi.

And then- BOOM-.

Chaos ensued. Flames and burning flesh, that was all that remained of Tilottama.

 ***

I paused Tamobhuvan. What is he was doing is blatantly using mythic characters etched in Indian history and spin a tale.

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