Recap:
Narobha’s treachery and murder of Tungabhadra led to a kingdom steeped in conflict. Narobha is killed by Tungabhadra’s vengeful son, Pasupati, who is then murdered by Narobha’s son, Jeyasinghan, seizing the throne. Princes Srikrishna and Anirudhdhan, Tungabhadra’s grandsons, survive Jeyasinghan’s assassination attempt with Sivappi’s sacrifice. They return, overthrow Jeyasinghan, and, under Parvata Vardini’s guidance, Srikrishna is declared Rajah with Anirudhdhan as his deputy. A marriage alliance between Srikrishna and Anirudhdhan’s sister, Sudakshina, is announced to ensure peace.
Chapter 26/26: Zenith of Wisdom
Part 2/2 of the novella ‘The cursed keris of Taravati’
A few months had passed since Parvata Vardini had crowned Srikrishna and Anirudhdhan. It was the predawn hours, before even the roosters announced the coming day.
As instructed, no guards lined the route from the palace to the Manvi River. Parvata Vardini left her residence, her figure a silhouette as she reached the royal court and pushed open its towering doors. She stepped inside, her gaze lingering on the empty court for a while before settling on the keris displayed near a shield. After a moment’s hesitation, she took the keris in her hand, a slight struggle evident, and walked out of the court and the palace without a backward glance.
Stepping out of the court, the chilled breeze once again enveloped her, raising goosebumps on her elderly skin. Reaching the riverbanks, the earthy scent of algae mingled with the fresh water, filling her senses. As if guided by an unseen hand, she descended into the river without hesitation, offered a silent prayer, immersed herself in the cool water, and then emerged. She stretched out both hands, water streaming from them, the cursed keris resting on her open palm. With a final release, she let the keris slip into the flowing water, then dipped herself several more times, as if cleansing herself of something defiling.
Finally, she stilled and stood in the water, gasping softly. She stepped out of the river in the lingering darkness, leaving her discarded footwear behind. Her bare feet sank into the powdered sand of the Manvi’s bank as she began walking along the path leading out of Taravati – decades after she had been abducted and brought into it.
This was the same route, she recalled, that Tungabhadra had taken her in his chariot, stealing her away. The memory quickened her pace, each soft thud of her bare feet audible in the stillness. With a decisive mental thud, she severed the thought as if it were a lingering dream, and with each subsequent step, she shed another layer of her past burdens. She felt like a mere instrument, free from responsibility for all that had transpired, just as her Goddess had promised through Valli’s words.
After a long walk, as she reached the gates of Purvadasa Nagadutta, her father’s monastery, the sun finally broke the horizon in the east.
The End
I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z
Note:
- This fiction is a retelling influenced by a series of historic events.
- Images generated with ImageFx of Google Gemini.
- Awkward sentences are removed by AI for a smoother reading experience.
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What a fitting end to a beautiful tale. The sense of peace and calmness after so much bloodshed and struggle brought a unique kind of serenity to my mind. Parvata Vardhini has been an incredibly strong and inspiring character—life was never easy for her, yet she gave her best as both a queen and a mother.
On the other hand, Narobha, despite many chances, failed everyone, as did his son. In contrast, Parvata Vardhini’s sons are truly deserving of the responsibility to rule the kingdom, carrying forward her values and morality.
Thank you for taking us to the enchanting land of Taravati and mesmerizing us with your storytelling. It was an immersive journey through the rulings, struggles, and triumphs of the land. What a remarkable end to a wonderful series. Thank you!
There’s something quietly powerful about Parvata Vardini’s journey—each step steeped in memory, grief, and liberation. The pacing mirrors her emotional transformation beautifully.
“With a decisive mental thud, she severed the thought as if it were a lingering dream, and with each subsequent step, she shed another layer of her past burdens.”- encapsulates the emotional climax of the passage—it’s where resolve triumphs over memory. It marks a psychological release that aligns perfectly with her physical journey, making it a pivotal moment of transformation.
The imagery of Jeyasinghan’s lifeless body returning to the palace was haunting, yet it signified the end of tyranny. Parvata Vardini’s emergence as a leader, adorned not with jewels but with wisdom and strength, was truly inspiring. Her decision to honor Sivappi as a war goddess touched me deeply; it beautifully acknowledged the sacrifices made for the greater good. The court scene, filled with diverse voices and unified hope, painted a vivid picture of a community ready to heal and rebuild. I was particularly moved by the inclusion of various religious leaders, emphasizing unity in diversity. The appointment of Panbalan as the chief of the army felt well-deserved, recognizing his unwavering loyalty and bravery. This story masterfully weaves themes of redemption, leadership, and communal harmony. Thank you for taking us on this unforgettable journey through Taravati.
Lots of sacrifices before peace could be restored. Loved reading the series
Beautiful ending – though it did take me by surprise and left me misty eyed.
This story deserves to be a web series.
Brilliant writing and I am glad I got to read this. All the best for your writing journey, Ramaiah.
“She felt like a mere instrument, free from responsibility for all that had transpired, just as her Goddess had promised through Valli’s words.” Doesn’t it serve as one of the main message of this story?
I am still living in the trance of this story and now, this beautiful closing chapter takes me to recall all that happened in the past chapters. After a quick rewind of the whole story, now, this one line brings me the summary of the keris saga.
I appreciate you for choosing to write a short ending chapter – it left the readers awestruck and in a reverie of the story.
Kudos to you for writing the keris saga and portraying such a beautiful tale. Congratulations and best wishes.
What a nice ending…neengal idhai oru puthagathil pathivu seiyalame? 🙂
Enjoyed the series of posts and an interesting story. Congrats for completing A2Z
Battles are always painful. Her story is touching, where she finally chooses to come out of the place where she was abducted. The way you have presented the pain, anger, and anguish within her over years (the dipping into water as if cleansing herself) and as she walks away leaving everything she had there, even her slippers, recollecting that this was the very path she was brought in on when abducted, shows that bad memories never go away. The freeing was necessary. We all some way or the other, do fall into this situation, and we should also cleanse ourselves of these burdens and feel the freedom to live so that our future life will be beautiful.