Lakuma slept but late night. Aruna could not sleep at all that night. The flashes of her early marital life moved across her mind like pictures on the silver screen. Krishnan the handsome promising director in the film field was tying knot in her neck ... while the clarinet was singing sweet melodies .. another scene.. she rested her head on his shoulder while he was driving Maruti 1000 cc. In those days it was the latest, the biggest and the most prestigious. The clarinet was singing sweet melodies. Aruna's marriage was video graphed very poorly. The videographer used clarinet as the background music. She likes clarinet. clarinet is next to dance to her. So she did not mind video. She recorded her marriage in her mind and stored in her heart. She recalls the clarinet music. It stands for her marriage and generates romantic feelings. For some people it is el passo perfume and for some people it is Rangoon creeper for some people it is the clarinet music strange though.. That music brings heavenly feelings too.
Another scene on her mind ... First time she went into a cafeteria with Krishnan. He was a Malayalee classical film director. She is Telugu dancer. She acted in two films in his direction. They both sat in a corner. Krishnan ordered coffee. He had admiration for dance. They was nothing else between them. But a newspaper wrote about the affair between Aruna and Krihanan. That newspaper was lying on the table. People were whispering. Tears were swelling in Aruna's eyes. Her hand were on the coffee table. There is hanky in her hands. She did not try to wipe her tears nor did she try to hide them. Krishnan laid his hand on Aruna's hands. He gently took the hanky from hands and started wiping her tears. All the customers of the cafeteria turned their heads. She was staring at him quite dazed. He was looking deep into her eyes. There was not a single word between them yet they communicated. They did not have coffee. They forgot that it was brought and placed on the table. The boy even waved his hand on their faces but in vain. Suddenly the media swarmed around. They rose from the chairs. Krishnan took Aruna's hand into his " we are marrying" He said.
Another scene .... Krishnan shouted cut... cut .. cut... "you spoiled my mood with your dance" He shouted again .. This is the sixth time she is doing the same dance steps in a temple premises. "The light was falling, my patience too. Pack up!!!" He shouted. The unit moved from the location. Aruna fearfully sat beside Krishnan in the car. They reached Oberai hotel. In the suite .. the man who looked upset suddenly pounced on Aruna and pushed her on to the bed, kissed her all over her waist. Aruna pushed him and got up. She stood in front of him. He sat on the bed and looked amorously at her wait and breast. She was still in the dance apparel. She did not hide her charms. They were man and wife. The clarinet was singing sweet tunes in her ears. He demanded the same dance movements particularly the movements of the wait. Aruna shivered like a tender leaf. Your moving waist's irresistible charm has spoiled my mood. He pulled her on to the bed. The clarinet was singing sweetest melodies ever during the bedroom marathon
Another quick snap shot of audio release function moved across her mind. Later a movie release function. Aruna sighed How fast the time moved. Three consecutive hits. Aruna was pregnant. The fourth movie was such a big flop that nobody came for his direction later. He became the producer. It was his fifth film as a director and the first film as a producer. Oh... no. The film was declared failure the very next day of release. Pity is that it has worsened his reputation. Aruna was getting chances. she commanded good dance roles. She did only dance roles.
Another hot scene I am acting as a heroine of the movie even a vamp role only to clear the debts. Please stop films and do some other business. said Aruna.. That night Krishnan did not come home. Aruna slept with her baby. The baby was crying for milk. Aruna got up to prepare milk for her baby. She came into this world from her reveries ( dreaming). She went into Lakuma's room and saw Lakuma sleeping. She gazed at her babygrown up into a nubile girl. She sighed deeply and went back to her room. She had wink of sleep in the wee hours.
***
Dawn broke in Dwaraka. The light of heaven shattered into dyes. The sky looks like a canvas of mixed colors of purple and orange. Dwaraka villa with a beautiful green garden shines like a gold girdle studded with emerald stones. The zephyr whistles in the garden.
The brilliant stars at night
started fading out of sight
The sun's warm rays slant
had night's stars supplant
In the blue velvet sky
A black bird sits high
is singing pure liberty
the wind blew naughty
the sun crawls up like turtle
the sky's no more red and purple.
The increasing white radiance is like angels hosting peace in the sky. God's spreading a white shawl on the shoulders of the noble mother-earth to honour her for her love and kindness. The rivers are curling and brooks are purling. The early morning birds are chirping. The entire nature is overwhelmed in the joy. It is the largest felicitation ceremony in the universe that happens everyday.
served a a wake up call to Aruna. She woke up too bath and got fresh. With a fresh smile she went into Lakuma's room with a cup of coffee. They both sat in the garden with cups of coffee. The nature is so beautiful and so graceful like mother's face. A tiny humming bird was sucking nectar from red flowers. "Mom, why don't you buy this extraordinary villa ?" Aruna smiled and said " It costs 10 crores! It is meant for the extra ordinary!" replied Aruna. " You are extraordinary, aren't you? " No, I am not. that is why I am paying fifty thousand towards rent." Don't you have ten crores!" exclaimed Aruna.
It is good that you asked me, my income is three and five lakhs a month.
Shame on you ! you are a film star!
Off course! I acted in films and made good money but your father made films with that money too. His films failed flat at the box office. I am paying some of his loans now.
That is why I decided to act in films and later make films. Good films!
I will never let that happen. don't even think of films.concentrate on studies get a good career. It is not necessary that everybody in family act in films. who will give you chances ?
Mr. Naidu gives me a chance. I am willing to act.
don't show your demi-wits. Naidu is a demon. This path is full of thorns and cobbles stones.
Your morning preaching began! You are always like that
what about studies? You are in the final year. Concentrate on studies,
I will quit studies. and join films.
No.. I have told you that this path is full of thorns and cobbles stones.
If that is true how did you walk the path?
This is not the time to argue. It is time to understand for the good of your own life.
No chance , I have made up my mind and Naidu too. He will give me a chance.
I had never dreamed that one day the acquaintance with Naidu will lead to your divorce from studies and down fall. Oh my head is breaking! where is Kesava? I want some tea. saying so Aruna walked into his bedroom. She saw the empty bed and a white letter lying on it. It was a handwritten letter. Aruna took the letter with surprise filled eyes and was shocked after reading. O God! Ah! Kesava ! where did you go away. she screamed in pain.
Lakuma was annoyed at the screaming of her mother and said " You shouting through the roof as if the hell broke down on Dwaraka. Let him go if he doesn't like.
Aruna's face turned red and eyes were showing flames.
Exactly at that time Lakuma said "Who cares the orphan fellow!"
Before Lakuma finished Aruna's hand hand landed on Lakuma's jaw.
Poor orphan boy ! Where have you gone! with tears in her eyes her she called up the inspector and went into bath later Aruna finished her bath and dressing up at the mirror Lakuma was crying in the hall. Aruna knew well that it is an act of vindication. When Aruna refused to meet her demands she would often break down into tears, crying in sobs she will achieve her ends. " Very strategic girl!" said Aruna loudly and entered the hall. Lakuma stopped crying. The inspector was standing at the door. Aruna gave the inspector kesava's photo, and said " The boy could have been deeply hurt by this girl, inspector somehow fetch the poor boy please!" " Don't worry ! I will get me in a few hours" the inspector assured her and left.
Lakuma " Is it my mistake if he left the house? You are blaming me for no fault of mine. I will not stay with you. I will go to my dad in Kerala" Lakuma showed a grave face!
Her face reminded Aruna of Lakuma's childhood days. She used to cry for everything like that. Lakuma once saw a monkey with a beggar. She liked the monkey so Aruna let her play with it. But fifteen minutes later she started crying for the monkey. The whole day She showed the same kind of face. Aruna kept laughing and laughing. Aruna came out of past. Lakuma looked like a child. Aruna showered smiles, with bland language and motherly love she took her into her bedroom. They both sat on Aruna's bed.
You want to act in films, right ? why don't you try in other fields like dance and music? saying so she went to the cupboard opened it and took out a historical photo of the dancer. This picture is handed down for generations , from children to children and children to children. My forefather s gave it to my great grand mother and she gave it to my grand mother and she gave it to my mother. Finally my mother gave it to me. what do you think about this picture? said Aruna.
She is a beautiful dancer. From the pose we can infer that it is Bharatanatyam. She must be regal whore! We can deduce it from the stone pillars in the background. said Lakuma. "Stop feeling like Sherlock Holmes! Court dancers aren't whores! They are artistes. The pose and the attire shows that she is a kathak dancer. Kathak a popular dance form in Akbar's time. Kathak has two forms, romantic and devotional. The former is exhibited in king's court and the latter in temples. She took a pause and threw an angry look at her daughter. Lakuma stood up, with a vexed face she turned side ways. Aruna looked at her slant and said " Hello, Sherlock Holmes! the stone pillars in the background are temple pillars. It is a long temple corridor like Rameswaram temple." taunted Aruna.
Okay! My deductions are wrong. You need not give me the title Sherlock Holmes! said Lakuma. But have given the title to your ancestor several generations behind. She is your great grand mother." said Aruna. Lakuma looked surprised. She took the picture into her hands and passed her hand gently over the picture. It was a painting. " umh. umh. she adjusted her throat and said generally anybody gets carried away for the looks which form impressions" " Yes, that is the big mistake you are doing." said Aruna and continued " A white man is regarded as intellectual. Anyone who wears a suit is regarded as superior, a Film actor is a hero, film career is heaven. This is gross result of your deductions (assumptions)" replied Aruna. This is what the whole world thinks burst Lakuma. Aruna broke into laughter. The whole world never thinks so, stupid people only can think like that. What you see with eyes must be checked with your intellect that comes from education and common sense. You have to end the movies craze and work towards a nobler goal of bringing back our traditions. " People are not thinking of traditions , they are following trends" said Lakuma coolly. At least for our ancestors' sake you have to give it a trial." said Aruna. Mom, You learned dace you are popular in media for your dance. I am not, Off course I can learn but is the use? asked Lakuma with questioning tone. " The traditions will survive." pat came the reply from Aruna. What If I become a dancer like you will the traditions survive? Lakuma laughed. Aruna's face reddened she maintained her cool " How difficult it is to talk to a fool" she said to herself and spoke out " when I ask you to follow the family traditions I am asking all the youngsters to follow the ancestors. If all young people learn the family traditions and trade the culture thrives on its own"
Lakuma " Your lecture on culture has begun! give your lectures to uneducated people I am studying B. Tech. How can we do the same nasty thing those dancers have done with kings in those days. The courtesans were merely whores.
Aruna " I have never seen you reading anything besides your textbooks, such dull head speaks in the same way. Everything looks green to a jaundiced eye. You think that courtesans are whores. Have you ever read about Rupmati, Hajrat Mahal , Guljar and Ranadil. They despite being court dancers , self motivated , courageous patriots with wit and wisdom. Above all they are self-respecting and never stooped to the level of whores.
Rupmati was a world famous for her beauty. She was living with Malwa king. You can call that live together. But the court dancers were quite dedicated to whom they live with. They loved them with all their heart. Rupmati was an example of such character. Akbar with a great lust for Rupmati wanted to have her. He declared war against Malwa and won. When Rupmati got the news Rupmati consumed poison and ended her life. She preferred death to wealth. Akbar was stronger and wealthier but it is Rupmati's selfrespect that has won. Akbar felt defeated by Rupmati. Aurangjeb killed his brother Dara and sent message for Dara's mistress Ranadil through a messenger who said the king was greatly attracted to her. Ranadil asked the messenger what in her is the attraction to the king. The messenger said that it was her face. then without waiting a second Ranadil cut her face and gave the skin and blood to the messenger. Many hundreds of court dancers not only donated money to the freedom movement but also took to streets. They were beaten black and blue by the British soldiers. They are the unsung heroines. Aruna was continuing ..
Lakuma : How do you know all these things ?
Aruna : because I am educated..
Lakuma felt very small for her ignorance but she covered it with her arrogance she said " You mean I am not educated?" Her voice was loud but not strong, Her face was pale.
Aruna "Only studying text books is not education but many people think like that. One who thinks like that stinks!!!You have least influence of education. I wonder If you have any common sense!
Well Mom, I understood. You don't want me to act in films! I know will never help me. You are doing everything to discourage me, I have no doubt that you will turn against me and foil my efforts using your influence but I am going to act in films. Remember kites fly against the wind.
You are already acting in life why in films?
I am acting in life!!??
What is that you have been doing for eighteen years?! What is all that you are doing in the name of college education? How many people really love education? Aruna asked the million dollar question and walked out peevishly. She got into the car and left.
***
