*From To Sathish* - Thread 3 - Page 24

That was a really quick and interesting chapter!
Thanks!

Chapter 76



"My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results... but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight."-George R.R. Martin


From books,from movies,from history they came these larger than life personalities who stood alone and fought for the good of others.We read these stories about them and secretly wish we could be like them,stand and fight against many,help and save those that are too weak to fight for themselves.Why,why do they beckon us and call out to us to rise and fight for ourselves and others like ourselves.Why do we feel charged and why do we feel more motivated by their feats when they all walked the cruel and lonely path of loneliness and many a time a painful death.

Why did jesus let himself be crucified and die a slow and painful death ? why did buddha walk away alone and in search of the truth that would liberate the suffering ? why did gandhi take it up on himself to fight the mighty british empire ?



King of men meets the King of souls


" Azhagan,Azhagan " was the only thing that could be heard and the only name being chanted. the king,his son Maravarman,Thenmozhi and everyone heard it and it brought great joy to all of them but for one. it brought pain and jealousy to Maravarman for he now knew that the young boy of the past was striding through his kingdom with giant steps.

But the joy that shone in Thenmozhi's face was the one thing that he could not bear to look at or digest and add to it that the happiness that his king and brother was displaying,it felt like someone was repeatedly shoving a dagger into his chest.Maravarman knew there was nothing he could do about it but watch in silence as a young man became more famous and powerful than the king and he also knew that the slayer of moorkan and a small army single handedly was not someone to mess with and maybe it was true that he was blessed and watched over by the gods themselves.

King Kulashekaran pandyan stood weakly with the support of thenmozhi on one side and nikantan on one side.He wanted to stand even though it was very difficult and put a huge strain on his body for he wanted to personally welcome the hero who had brought honor back to his land and kingdom.He had given back the pandyan kingdom their pride and will to live and that was something he himself had been unable to do.

Azhagan saw the king standing and waiting to receive him and he quickened his step and on reaching him bent low and touched his feet.But kulashekaran with his good and strong hand pulled azhagan up and embraced him tightly and tears of joy poured down his face.

" The boy from my dreams,the one who raised me from darkness now stands before me as a mighty warrior who has raised the pandyan kingdom from the darkness that it had fallen in to.Ask me my son,ask me,no demand what ever you want and i will see that it is done.This kingdom is yours and we are at your service and forever in your debt.Gold,diamonds,lands,cattle,horses,servants ask and everything will be given to you."

Azhagan shook his head and smiling gently said " my king,i want for nothing.I am happy just to see you happy and healthy.That is enough for me and more over i have done my duty as a citizen of this country and i don't expect anything for that.I am at your service and at your beck and call.Your wish is my command and i will see it done."

Kulashekaran could not speak for he was overcome with emotion and gratitude and all he could whisper was " where were you all these hundreds of years.Why were you born in the village when your rightful place is here in the palace for you are not only a great and mighty warrior but one of the most purest souls i have had the privilege to meet.But come now and stay with me here in the palace as this old mans years are running out and bring peace to my soul."

Azhagan bowed his head and thanked the king for his love " my king,all these people are my people and from my village.Many more are from the land of the chola empire and they have come to stay in my village for a great tragedy has taken place in Gangaikonda cholapuram.Please see to it that they are all well looked after for they are my family."

Kulashekaran was astonished by these words of azhagan and gave orders to his ministers " all these people are the guests of mine and each and everyone should be treated the way i am treated."

The people who had come with azhagan roared king kulashekaran's name and when azhagan signaled to a few,they stepped forward and paid their respects to the pandyan king.

Azhagan informed the king that they were the ministers of the chola empire and that he would explain everything once the court was assembled.

The king nodded okay and then holding on to azhagans shoulder slowly limped into the palace.

Azhagan glanced to his right and caught Thenmozhi's eyes and both exchanged smiles.Thenmozhi felt a disturbance in her being and she felt that something had changed in Azhagan,for he seemed different.She saw deep into his eyes and saw a flicker of orange flame and her eyes flickered green.It brought a slight fear and also filled her mind with wariness and it left her very confused and at the same time very irritated.She held back and turned and went towards her rooms with her handmaidens following her.

Thenmozhi knew that the time had come for her and Azhagan to decide their future and also the future of their race.If he did not fall in line then she would make him see sense and somehow force him to fall in line with her plans For it was time that he became king and she his queen and she knew that they would rule wisely and bring peace to all lands.Together they would conquer all the kingdoms and become the undisputed rulers and history would be rewritten with the names of Azhagan and Thenmozhi.

Thanks for writing the chapters in such quick succession, Satish.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Hindi)

Thank you.I am humbled and motivated to write faster and post the chapters as the characters speak and write for themselves.I myself find the story and characters amusing,interesting and thought provoking and find that all of them are lives we meet and hear about in our daily lives.
The only time when i stretch my mind is when i try to bring twists and turns to the story and pander to my ego which whispers " come now,more shocks,more out of the worlds and truly magical moments and scenes."

I try to make sense and remain logical but then i realise i am telling a story,no,singing a story that has no boundaries or limits.

I realise that my stories are meant to bring joy, a relief from the mundane and cliched life and so i give in to the magic,myths,legends and illusion.

Life now,death any moment and when it is so and the only reality that can be trusted then let us bask in magic and illusions for our brief moments that we call life on the this blue planet and the third rock from the sun.

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." Rumi

Chapter 77

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." ~ Joseph Campbell
"Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all part of the fairy tale."? Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn
"Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with."? Brodi Ashton, Everneath


The most difficult thing to do in today's world is to stay honest and unbiased.The most difficult thing to do is not to take sides and stay neutral specially when you know it is your best friend and that they are wrong.The most difficult thing to do is to say no,i have had enough.The easiest thing to do it seems is to smile and say i am happy even when you are unhappy and we say that because the situation demands it.But the toughest thing to do is to speak your mind frankly and honestly even knowing that your best friends might become your enemies.These four lines i have written contain all that is wrong and broken in todays world and yet they are the mantras being practiced by most people.Me,if you ask me,well i am neither a hero nor a total zero and i will give myself the more of the hero marks.Yes,a foot here and a foot there and carefully balancing myself lest i fall and tear my middles and fall flat on my face.


Mortals remember and recollect an Immortal


Much to the disappointment of many who had expected to be there in the palace when the king officially felicitated Azhagan,the affair was postponed at Azhagan's request and an emergency and hush hush meeting was arranged in the court.Only the most important ministers and army generals were allowed access
along with some of the minsters from the chola empire who had followed azhagan with their king's body.

Breaking all norms,kulashekaran opted not to sit on the throne and rather opted to sit next to azhagan and the others.It was obvious to everyone that the king looked more stronger and healthier from the time Azhagan had entered madurai and they were really happy to see him so charged and motivated.

After everyone had taken their places Azhagan stood up and introduced the ministers who had graced the chola court and asked the oldest minister to explain what had happened and sat down.But before the minister could speak Maravarman rose in anger " my king,your trust on this azhagan seems to have no limits.but i feel that safety and security of you and the kingdom is more important now.how do we know that these ministers are not traitors in disguise and have entered our land planning a invasion and a secret attack."

Before Azhagan could respond,Kulashekaran stopped him " Azhagan, do you now see for yourself the state of the mind of the supposedly future king.He talks about plots and secret attacks when we are already part of the chola empire and are paying taxes to their lord kulothungan cholan.The mighty emperor has already wreaked his anger by burning down the coronation hall and crippled me with the pain of seeing it.Then,rather than wait in patience he charges into the capital of the chola empire and is nearly killed and nearly causes the death of thenmozhi and the others with her.Thanks to you, they were saved and now with you here and after all that has happened,this man stands up and throws these foolish allegations.i beg you to forgive him for his stupid actions."

Kulashekaran pandyan glared angrily at Maravarman pandyan " stupid oaf.Sit down quietly and speak when you have listened and understood all that has been said.Dont speak from your heart and speak only from your mind.Haven't you forgotten your manners after all these years in this court.Sit quietly or i will have you removed and if you dare speak another word i will have your tongue removed."

Maravarman knew that he had spoken out of turn and mumbling an apology meekly sat down and the elderly minister from the chola empire spoke.

" King Kulashekaran pandyan,my salutations to you and our humble thanks and gratitude for treating us with so much respect and kindness.All the credit for this, me and the rest of us place it at the feet of Azhagan,in whose footsteps we will follow until our last breath.My lord,i stand before you in great sadness and the bringer of news about a great tragedy that has befallen the kingdom of chola empire.Our mighty and great king Kulothungan cholan is no more."

The news shocked everybody and everyone looked at each other wondering what was going on and Kulashekaran " What,what are you saying.Appanar iyya just brought the message that your king was travelling to our kingdom to meet me and azhagan in person and you are saying he is dead.How can this be.Are you sure about this ?"

The minister with tears in his eyes " My lord,i was there when the great man plunged a sword into his own chest and died in our arms."

Slowly he told the king and the people who were gathered there what all had taken place and everyone were moved by the sad tale.

King kulashekaran pandyan " Azhagan,I am sorry for our loss and i no mere words will not heal the wounds in your soul.There is nothing i can do to match the sacrifice of this great man,Kulothungan who took his own life to bring justice to you and your village.I bow to him and realise now that there was lots of truth and great morals in his life and the way he lived it.I bow to him and accept him as my king and emperor.I had decided on honoring your dead mother at the same time when i felicitated you and your village and now i am going to add the king kulothungan cholan and honor his memory at the same time."

Azhagan remained silent and glimpsed a movement in the corner of his left eye and saw Thenmozhi step closer to the king.He shook his head and wondered what all confusion was going to take place and pleaded with his eyes to her asking her to wait for a more suitable moment to bring the subject up.But Thenmozhi glared at him and expressed through her beautiful eyes that she couldn't wait any longer and had to take the plunge.

King Kulashekaran pandyan gently held Azhagan's arm and then looking at everybody " Many of you already know what is in my mind and what is in my heart.We have already spoken about it and discussed it in detail and now all that remains is to officially inform this mighty warrior about our thoughts and beg of him to humbly accept our proposals."

Kulashekaran pandyan turned to Azhagan and looked at him with great love and Azhagan smiled gently although there was a storm raging in his soul.

Without closing his eyes as he normally did,he reached out with his senses to his old master and whispered " master,what am i supposed to do now.'

He heard his master's voice in his soul " child,you know what you have to do and have known it for sometime.So listen to your soul and follow it and you will be all right.Love is truly a beautiful emotion and one which makes life and everything possible.The source from which we all flow from is made of love.But then love has various steps and it is up to you to decide if you want to climb the steps of love to reach the pinnacle and discover what it means to be one with the source or remain in the first few steps which is love for your body,love for fame and wealth,love for power and the need to leave a legacy."

Azhagan 's eyes brimmed with tears " but why does it hurt master,why do i feel this bond with her and it is one which i felt from my earliest days of life."

The old master whispered in Azhagan's mind " All that will be revealed and you will understand who you are and who Thenmozhi is.But that is for another day and for another time and right now you are faced with what you have to do in the present.Steady your mind and remain in the light and child,remember that the light is just the beginning for there is so much more to be seen and understood apart from the light and dark.So rise Azhagan,rise now for in your light others will seek shelter and support from the dark and the evil that it brings."

All this took place in the blink of an eye and Azhagan heard the king " My heart has decided that Maravarman pandyan will be the next king although my mind tells me that he is not ready to become one yet and my soul tells me that i should crown this mighty warrior as the future king .But this will only lay the grounds for discontent and future problems and so i am going to announce the coronation of maravarman as the next king and i request humbly this mighty warior to be the general of all our forces.I am also going to make it a law that Azhagan should be consulted in all matters of the country before the king makes any decisions."

Everybody loudly acknowledged the announcements and told the king that he had made the right choices and wise decisions.

Kulashekaran thanked them " now, you all know that i love one person more than anybody else and that includes even our queen and that person is Thenmozhi,the daughter i should have had and yet have been blessed to have by my side.She as you know is one of the most intelligent and bravest person i have known and so it was an easy decision to announce her wedding with maravarman and make her the next queen."

" I will not marry Maravarman for i love somebody else."

These words from Thenmozhi were like the sound of thunder from storm filled clouds.And everybody could see that there was a storm raging in thenmzohi's face.

Kulashekaran although shocked,composed himself " Thenmozhi,my sweet child.Are you sure about what you are saying,for we are in counsel here deciding the future of the kingdom."

Thenmozhi " King,you are deciding the future of this kingdom but who are you to decide my future."

Everyone were shocked and then their shock turned to anger for although Thenmozhi was the darling of the king,she still had broken laws and spoken against the king.Some of the generals found this impertinence of Thenmozhi very insulting and stood up in anger.

Kulashekaran raised his hand and signaled to them to sit down and be patient.

" This is a matter between a father and a child and it is also a matter between the king and his subject.Let me and her handle this on our own and if any of you cannot hold their tongues and emotions in check can leave right now."

King Kulashekaran pandyan gently smiled at Thenmozhi " My child.i am sorry for taking this decision on my own and without even consulting you about it.But please understand that i made this decision only with your best interests and our country's best interests in my mind.I want you to marry Maravarman for i think you will be a better queen than he will ever be a king.Even after we are gone,my soul will be in peace knowing that this land is in your safe hands and also safer with Azhagan guarding it as this nations general.So please forgive me for deciding your future.But come now and let us discuss about the love and the man in your heart.I can find a princess from another country for maravarman and i will also make you the highest ranking minister in our court,even higher than your father Nikantan's post.So forget about your marriage to maravarman and tell us about this man who has stolen your heart."


Everyone stared at Thenmozhi and she looked at all of them and then with a smile turned and pointed to Azhagan who sat with his head bowed and eyes cast downwards.

Thenmozhi,my dear Thenmozhi.
You dream of ruling this realm
He dreams of love and souls.
You dream of war and conquests
He dreams of peace and harmony.
You dream of history and leaving a legacy
He dreams of solitude and a journey that is inwards.
Yet he loves you and will do anything for you,even giving up his life for you.



Aarum Adhu Aazham Illa Adhu Saerum Kadalum Aazham Illa
Aazham Edhu Ayya Andha Pombala Manasu Dhaanya
Adi Ammaadi Adhan Aazham Paathadhaaru
Adi Aathaadi Adha Paatha Paera Kooru Nee
Aarum Adhu Aazham Illa Adhu Serum Kadalum Aazham Illa
Aazham Edhu Ayya Andha Pombala Manasu Dhaanya

Song from Mudhal vasantham

Nice thoughts about the sounds of rain and the pressure cooker...

Health

1. Proteins
Protein helps repair our bodies after workouts and avocados contain high quality protein. Getting protein from avocados is healthier than getting protein from processed foods such as many commercial brands of peanut butter, bread, and cereal.

2. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps rid the body harmful chemicals such as free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage to our bodies' cells.

3. Heart Disease
Avocados contain key acids, which lower LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, and increase HDL, which is considered the good cholesterol. Avocados have high amounts of fiber, which lowers the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity.

4. Cancer Fighter
Consuming avocados regularly decreases the risks of various cancers such as breast and prostate.

5. Digestion
Avocados help ease the sensitive parts of the stomach, helping to soothe an unsettled stomach. They also helps prevent constipation and increase the absorption of certain nutrients.

6. Blood Pressure
Avocados are the most vitamin- and nutrient-rich fruit. One of the most abundant vitamins is potassium, which is known to lower blood pressure.

7. Eyesight
Lutein is abundant in avocados, and improves eyesight, protecting the eyes from cataracts and other eye diseases affiliated with old age.

8. Bad Breath
Bad breath actually begins in your intestines and stomach. Avocados help break down imbalances in your digestive system which will aid in freshening your breath.

9. Babies
Between healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, avocados should be an addition to any baby's diet. These components are important to a child's development and the consistency of avocados make them easy for babies to eat.

10. Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal
Butter fruit contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which benefit women in menopause. It aids in insomnia, constipation, ulcer, and nervous problems.

11. Weight Management
Healthy, high-fat content in avocados provide a feeling of fullness to help curb cravings. Specifically, the mono-saturated fat increases the body's metabolic rate.

12. Arthritis
Anti-inflammatory properties help stimulate cartilage growth and can treat arthritis in various joints.

13. Boosts Immunity
The high vitamin E level helps boost the immunity of skin against natural factors and stress.

Body

14. Reduces Marks and Wrinkles
Avocado turned into a paste and applied with shea butter is great at lightening scars and leaving your skin looking radiant.

15. Cure Psoriasis
Applying avocado to affected skin can slowly remove the flakes of skin and promote healing. Avocados are also great at nourishing dry skin to help relive itchiness.

16. Reduces and Prevents Wrinkles
The abundance of antioxidants allows avocados to fight premature wrinkles, which are caused by free radicals. Sunlight directly placed on the skin can cause free radicals in the body. The antioxidants also help protect your skin from sun damage.

17. Clear Skin
A regular diet of avocados can help control acne breakouts. An additional benefit includes increasing blood circulation to keep skin rejuvenated which in turn helps remove dead skin cells.

Hair

18. Avocado Hair Mask
Avocados help nourish, moisturize, and rejuvenate hair. Vitamin E and B vitamins help bring strength and protection to hair and hair follicles.

19. Conditioner
Massaging your hair with an avocado paste results in soft and healthy looking hair. It helps tame frizzy hair, split ends while also conditioning damaged and dry hair.

20. Shiny Hair
The vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids in avocado help provide a beautiful and shiny glow to your hair.

21. Regulates Hair Growth
Avocados are a great natural moisturizer for the hair. Hair loss begins when your hair is dry and damaged. The moisture and vitamins in avocado help stimulate growth and can control hair loss.

Sources: Livestrong, StyleCraze