*From To Sathish* - Thread 3 - Page 61

Gossamer


Every waking moment is a moment to make up the mind and set upon a path
Every waking moment is either a concrete dream or just another wispy day-dream
So little time and so many thoughts of so many needs and wants
So little time and so much that my souls wants to say and do
Futile,my being whispers and yet don't turn hostile it cajoles
It is what it is and what is will be and then again never be

I wake up with these delicate tendrils of thoughts
They do cling on sometimes and they hang on for long
and sometimes remain when i try to write,put down them into words
Like cockroaches fleeing when the light is switched on
These delicate,gossamer thoughts and feelings flee and hide
I clench my fists,grind my teeth and am about to burst a vessel
cursing why then do you cling,why then do you leave behind tendrils of your entrails
but not the heart and soul of what you want to convey
My brain,my mind,my thoughts,my silent screams

I MONO,YOU MONO AND TOGETHER WE STEREO

Single mono speaker,one dimensional squeaky audio
just like that in our old Murphy and bush radio and television
Single mind,single soul he sat singing solo and felt hollow
His song was his voice and it surrounded him like a bubble
Then she came a single mono singing her solitary reaper song

He mono,she mono and two voices moaning about life and broken dreams
Then his two lips tasted her tulip colored two lips
and their voices became one
He mono,she mono and now they faced life and sang in stereo

Redemption 101 the Goodbye chapter

"I don't know when we'll see each other again or what the world will be like when we do. We may both have seen many horrible things. But I will think of you every time I need to be reminded that there is beauty and goodness in the world."



A goodbye from long ago

The mighty warrior was reduced to a bumbling and frightened boy as he saw what had been done to the one he loved the most and would never love anyone again as he did her.He gently put his arms under her and placed her on his lap and whispered " mother,mother i have come back.I am here and i am scared and don't know what to do.Please dont leave me alone for i will be truly lost without you and will follow you for i have no purpose or will without you by my side."

The eyes flickered open in her blood streaked face and avini saw the light of azhagan and felt his strong arms around her and tried to speak,but the blood from her throat spilled out of her mouth and she coughed and nearly choked with it.

Avini whispered " azhaga,my son,dont be scared for you are not alone and will never be.Take care of yourself my child.I know i dont have much time so let me thank you for coming into my womb and bringing life and light into my life.Thank you my son.I am truly blessed and the only thing that saddens me is that i have never been able to see you with my eyes and now i go with that one wish left unfulfilled.But then i guess one cannot wish for everything good to happen to only them."


Azhagan screamed in pain and the green light that had died down when he had sat besides his mother now rose like bonfire and it entered avinis body.the green fire took hold of her body and entered her soul and it worked magic on her and now even her eyes shone with the strange green light.

Avini felt the pulse of power from her sons body and she recognised the familiar touch and time fell away and her mind raced back in time to the genesis of her and azhagan.

(Avini stumbled and reached out with both her hands and went forward and that is when she saw the light or did she feel it. A hand gently took her hands and avini felt the man's embrace.she knew the voice was a man and before she could react,the man kissed her and avini's world was never the same again.The magic took her and she felt the kiss in her lips.she felt the kiss in her body and she felt the kiss in her womb and the light moved into her.) chapter 21

The world was black but the world of avini and azhagan was green and jade in color and she feebly blinked and opened her eyes and she saw the beautiful face of her son and her heart broke as she his eyes full of tears and fear.

Avini smiled " i see you azhaga.i see you are the light,the same light that entered my body.You are more beautiful than i thought and imagined you would be.Listen to me my son for you are not alone and were never alone.There are forces and lights that will protect you and guide you when you call for them.I love you my son.I have loved you,thought about you and loved you more when you came into my body.Please dont worry and cry for me for i die happily now with your face as my last memory.azhaga.'

That was the last word that slipped out of avinis lips as the life slipped out from her broken body.


Goodbye my child

" parents are like a bow, And children are like arrows. The more the bow bends and stretches, the farther the arrow flies. I fly, not because I am special, but because they stretched for me."Khalil Gibran


Malar bowed to her father who gently raised her chin and both looked at each other and his soul whispered to her " gentle,brave flower.life and death are just moments in this universe.But what is important is what we do with those moments.If we don't see each other again,remember that i love you very much and i want you to carry this fight forward.There is a war coming and it is just over the horizon and our lord will beckon and demand our support and we must be there for him when he comes.It does not matter if only one of us go but see to it that we go.Go in peace,go with wrath and fight with the mountain god in your soul and he will lead you into light."

Malar nodded and then she turned to the others and whispered her byes to all of them and then they rested on the love of her life.

Koothan looked at Jothi " brave warrior,go with malar until the edge of the forest and return soon."

Jothi nodded and followed Malar as she merged into the forest and soon they were out of sight of the rest of their clan.


Goodbye my lover

"beneath the stars that drift; she sighed and said
"Every tale of a love can only be a tale of ghosts that linger
in these spaces we can never hold,""as the wind gave echo" John Daniel Thieme



Soon they reached the edge of the forest and both stood watching the lights of the city as it shimmered in the distance and they turned to each other and gazed deeply into each others eyes.

Jothi whose full name was Arul jothi cupped Malars face and planted soft kisses all over it and whispered " i wish i was going with you and i really wish i had more time,a little more time to put it in words what i feel for you."

Malar shook her head " you don't have to for you are right here in my soul and my heart beats and whispers your name with every quiver.Don't fill your head with thoughts of what will be and will not be and just focus on what is right now and what needs to be done.If we don't meet again then remember the wetness of my lips.'

She stood on her toes and kissed him deeply and their tears mingled as one and then she left him and quickly merged into the darkness and hugging it entered the realm of the city.

Jothi stood and lived an eternity though only a few minutes had passed.The wetness of her lips was still on his and her tears still stained his bare chest and then a growl rumbled in his body and the warrior in him marched back to meet his clan and march out to face their foe as they had been doing secretly for many hundreds of years.


Fifteen members of the clan called suryavamsam remained and went into hiding and the remaining marched behind Koothan as he slowly led them with a heavy heart as he worried for his daughter malar and as he worried for the people that looked up to him for guidance and direction.



Goodbye my mother

You are not just a son to me. You're my life, my soul, my heart and most of all, the reason for my existence.

Rakesh was in full uniform as he stepped out of the house and then turned back to stare at his mother Devaki and slowly came forward and held his arms open and she came into them and the bright khaki shirt was stained dark with her uncontrollable tears.

Rakesh held her tight and whispered " Mother,Thank you for everything and thank you for all the love.If your son is going away so boldly to meet and face danger,then he is going with the blood that you have blessed him with.Remember all those Vadakkanpattu songs you used to sing and the stories of the great warrior Thacholi Othenan you used to tell me about as i sat on your lap while i was child.I have not forgotten them and i will never forget them."

Devaki slowly raised her head and stared into her sons eyes and then they flared with anger and courage " Kill them all.kill them all."

Rakesh nodded and gently placing a kiss on her head swiftly turned and walked away and got into his jeep in which he had driven home from the police headquarters.

Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan or Mepayil Tacholi Manikoth Kovilakathu Kunji Othena Kurup (Udayana Kurup of Thacholi Manikoth House) or more popularly Thacholi Othenan was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in North Malabar region of Kerala, India. He is praised about in Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Malabar).

Othenan was born into Family of a Padakurup in Thacholi near Vatakara. The Family is one of the 30 Koottams of Kurumbranad Royal Family called as Kurumbra Swaroopam or Kurumbiathiri.[citation needed] The Capital of the Kingdom was at Vatakara.[citation needed] (His father, Kotakkad Kovilakath Puthuppanathu Mooppil Vazhunnor was a Desavazhi of a small fiefdom) a small town in Kerala. He practised Kalarippayattu (ancient martial art form of kerala) from a very young age and grew up to be an extraordinarily brave and skilled warrior. Legends portray him as being a merciless opponent to enemies and a friend to the helpless. Even the powerful Zamorin of Calicut respected him. Mathiloor Gurukkal was his trainer, while Kandachery Chappan was his best companion.The legendary Thacholi Chandu was his nephew. A famous temple in Vatakara named Lokanarkavu Temple is considered to be the family temple of Othenan.

Othenan beheaded Chandan Nambiar, who was regarded at that time as the best warrior in entire North Malabar, with the help of a martial art technique known as Poozhikkadakan learned from his colleague Payyamvelli Chanthu. He also killed a number of other very prominent warriors such as Punnora Kelappan and Puramala Nambi Kurup. He defeated Kadhirur Gurukkal in ankam (duel/war) and killed him. But one of the Gurukkal's disciples (Parunthunkal Emman Panicker) arranged a Moplah mercenary (Mayin Kutty) who killed Othenan through treachery at the age of 32. The legend says that Othenan was shot while he was walking home through a rice field.

The Northern Ballads or the Vadakkan Pattukal extol the adventures of brave men and women, set against a feudal and medieval background, the stories celebrate the valour and skills of the renowned characters. The Vadakkan Pattukal reflect the peak of Kerala folk-poetry. These ballads are associated with North Malabar. The movie Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha capitalised on the popularity of these stories.

The sun,a red dot on a gray horizon with clouds streaming all around
I closed my eyes and tried to recollect where i had seen this before
i knuckled my head and chuckled ' you idiot"
Every Hindu woman wears the red of the sun on her forehead
bathing and doing her prayers first thing after rising from bed
the horizon her forehead,the red sun her kum kum
the dark clouds her wet hair a halo around her face
the sea her face and the waves,shapes of her lips
in many moods and in many tastes

Browns,greens and the light of life

The dry leaves spin from one tree and the flowers,buds rain from the neem tree
The crows divided between one part black and part gray fight with the men in black,Ravens
saadha kaaka,andang kaaka and the raven wins and th loser glides lower to another haven
their arguments set loose old,dry and brown leaves and sometimes new,young green ones
They spin,rotate and glide here,there and there is no competition
for the green is the hare and the dried one is the tortoise
and unlike the story the hare wins,heavier and richer with green and life
and the brown,old,withered taking its time when its time is over
they gather around the car,around my feet and i stand and gaze
as the days are slipping by,days,months,years
and i ask myself,was it yesterday that i felt so
and i squint,furrow and think hard
and then it comes that i felt the same the last summer
another place,another time,another tree
The salty sea has caressed some breeze and they
tunnel through my narrow street and funnel down
and pass me leaving behind salt,sea and fish
they pass and in their invisible arms,tendrils,claws
they lift the dried ones,the dead leaves
and they run,roll and head off in the west
sometimes one leaf heads the procession
followed by many others and it reminds me of my old address
and the times when every day was filled with funeral processions
goodbye,goodbye i used to whisper and rest in peace
and now the leaves are leaving in processions
and then a stronger gust lifts a few green,still full of life and beans
just a moment,just an observation,a narrow street,dried leaves,green leaves
and yet so many young,good go before their time
and i,you stand and watch as old,brown are blown away with young and green
the neem leaves part,the tender boughs sway and a beam hits the head
and i look up and face the early sun and let the still yellow
caress and stroke my face and i whisper,not yet,not yet

Redemption 102


Assistant superintendent of police Rakesh menon gently lowered the jeep into the soft,muddy road that ran away into the darkness of the forest and from Tar paved black ribbon road,he rode softly on the sandy,slippery road mad of earth and leaves.He pulled the lever beneath his seat and the jeep went from two wheel drive to four wheel drive and now the vehicle glided effortlessly and soon even the headlights of his jeep vanished from sight.He drove slowly for nearly fifteen minutes and then saw lights of other vehicles ahead of him and knew that he could now put a face to the voice and could now know who was behind all the killings

This only added to his energy and excitement and halting and switching off the engine he got out of the jeep and strained to see who or how many had come to meet him at this late hour.The lights of four vehicles beamed brightly on rakesh and he gently strode and stood between his vehicle and the other vehicles.

A loud snap of fingers cut out the lights from three vehicles and then from the darkness strode a man and rakesh could not help wondering how handsome and majestic the man appeared and he thought to himself,he walks like a king and also talks like a king.The man was a couple of inches shorter than rakesh and yet he oozed an aura that made him appear like a giant in rakesh's eyes.

Both men gazed at each other,both their eyes staring into each other's souls as if trying to read what the other was planning to do and then the man spoke.

'Assistant superintendent of police Rakesh menon,welcome to my land,the land of my forefathers and the land of my ancestors.'

Rakesh smiled " thank you,i can see that you have still not left behind the ways of your ancestors and their ancestors,primates and predators.Pity for though you appear to be a magnificient example of us homosapiens,your heart and soul still remains rooted in the ways of ancestors.'

The man's face lit up in anger but then he roared in laughter and pointing to rakesh he turned to those who lay hidden in the darkness behind the lights 'this guy is so funny.it breaks my heart that i have to meet him in these circumstances rather than sit and chat over a drink and listen to him and his funny examples.'

Turning to rakesh ' i am rajadurai and that is all i am going to tell about myself for it does not matter or won't help you in the place where you will soon be going to.Now,can you hand over the folder that the journalist so foolishly trusted you with.'

' you think i am that stupid to bring the folder along with me when i know for sure that this might be my last moments in this life.Sorry to disappoint you but it is on its way to the proper authorities and soon you and your activities will be known to people and they will come,more men like me and they will hunt you down and will not rest until you and your men have been put down like the rabid dogs that you are.'

Rajadurai looked up at the sky and nodding turned in the direction of his men and flicked his fingers.

Rakesh watched as someone or something stepped forward from the darkness and for the first time in his life he felt a mortal fear grip his heart,which very nearly froze for the person who stepped out and towards them was nearly seven feet tall and huge in size.He moved like a small,black hill and yet he gently bowed to raja durai and handed over a package.

Rajadurai lifted the package and rakesh saw it was the same one that he had sent to his dad via registered post and sweat broke out and ran over his face drenching his body.

'police man,is this the package that you were talking about and the one which is supposed to reach the proper authorities.sorry that it did not work out as you planned for like i told you,i am the king of this land and nothing happens without my knowledge.well,what do you have to say for yourself now.'

Rakesh smiled as his thoughts traveled back to earlier that day when he had hurriedly xeroxed and had made multiple copies of the content in the folder and had couriered one to his dads army office and another one to his residence in trivandrum.

' I have nothing to say but i have a few things to do and that is put a bullet in your head and kill as many of your men before they kill me.'

Police officers as per code wear their handguns on the left hand side and when they have to draw it,they have to cross and reach out and then aim and fire.But rakesh had attached his holster on his right hip,so that he could reach it more quickly,in a similar way that he had watched his favourite actor Clint eastwood do in numerous cowboy movies.

One thing rajadurai had not anticipated was the hand speed of rakesh who had out of a whim and fancy,practiced this move from the time he was a child,he had practiced with plastic guns and then he had practiced with the real thing and now,his mind commanded and his body responded.

Rajadurai watched in awe as rakesh's right hand moved in a blurring speed and even before rajadurai's lips could form a word,a warning the hand gun jumped out and was spitting bullets and they raced one after another.

The first bullet drew blood as it streaked past,slicing his ear and by the time the second bullet came searching for his eyes,the giant pushed him away from the line of fire and rushed towards rakesh.

The handgun rakesh was using was Glock 17 model and its clip had 17 bullets and rakesh had fired three of them in rapid succession at rajadurai and now he quickly adjusted his sights as the giant rushed towards him.

The only mistake that rakesh made which would nearly cost him his life was the decision to wound rather than kill and he pumped bullets at the giants knees and legs but then the tide and momentum shifted for the giant absorbed nearly five bullets in his massive thighs and then he was upon rakesh and the last thing he remembered was him being held by his throat as the giant squeezed the life out of him.


Then from all directions came the roar and the chants of light and the clan of suryavamsam rushed into battle and the eternal war between dark and light,between good and bad started.

Rajadurai held his bleeding ear and watched as the warriors of suryavamsam chanted loudly ' Pakalon,Maasilan,Kathiravan,Meykandan,Koman,Nikaran,engal deivam Kavin.' and fought against his giants.

I,without I there is no you
Without you there is no me
Without you and me there is no we
Without we there is no them
Without them,there is no you and me
I,you,me,we,them are all one
Just a speck of dust floating in the sky
A blue planet called Earth as small as a fly
Our home,a beautiful home and through Hubble
Many have gazed deep into the cosmic bubble
And have yet to find another home,another life
No matter how hard they try

Redemption 103


The last thing Rakesh remembered was hearing a huge roar and then he had blacked out.

Rakesh's eyes flickered open as he regained consciousness and they opened to a scene of chaos. Slowly regaining his senses he tried and failed to get back on to his feet.Sitting on his backside he saw nearly a dozen men who looked like tribals attacking three huge man and then his sense of purpose came to him and he remembered why he was here and his eyes sought out Rajadurai among the dust,roars and feet and he saw the man running towards his vehicle.

He tried and managed with great difficulty to push aside the giant who lay dead on his feet with his back pierced by two spears and screamed a warning at the people who were fighting with the other giants,but only squeaks came out of his bruised throat.

Rajadurai reached in and brought out an evil looking gun and rakesh recognised it as a uzi machine gun and used only by the special forces and as his mind wondered how such a gun had found its way in to the hands of a criminal in madurai,Rajadurai raked the men who were fighting the giants with a long burst of bullets and nearly ten warriors fell to the ground,dead or dying.

Rajadurai roared " stop fighting and drop your weapons right now or the rest will join the dogs who are on the ground.I will not repeat the order again so drop your sticks,swords and spears and step away or i will fire and fire until nothing is left of you to be identified by those cowards of your clan who i know have stayed behind and wait for you to return."

The two headlights of the vehicle spat its photons and in its light Rakesh saw that only five men stood facing the remaining three giants and nearly fifteen to twenty of the tribals lay dead or mortally wounded on the ground.

Rakesh saw that the remaining three giants who stood guard around their leader were bleeding from grevious injuries and yet they stood protecting their master Rajadurai without an expression of pain.

Then from the light and from the remaining five tribals,rakesh saw a tall young man step forward with a spear in his hand.

Jothi stared at rajadurai in anger " Cowards,who do you dare call cowards when it is you who have attacked and killed my people from behind and that too with a machine gun.You call yourself Rajadurai and the last king of your ancient and forgotten dynasty and maybe it is true for the villain and coward who faced our god acted in the same way as you have just done and do you remember how he met his end for that is the same fate that you will meet tonight.

Flashback of chapters 103 and 104 from the boy who went into the dark and came back with light

Long ago on a battlefield


Rajendra cholan taunted azhagan " You come to fight me and these mighty warriors with the help of a crippled,old man and a tribal woman.Have you also brought along cooking vessels to prepare your meals and mats to take a nap.But good that they are here,for somebody needs to collect what is left of you after me and my men have finished with you."

Azhagan smiled " the mighty king is all talk and no action.I am here,right before you and all you do is chatter like an excited and nervous monkey.Yet,nothing is lost for there is a chance for a peaceful solution to this problem of yours."

Rajendra cholan's face darkened with rage and shame.

He turned to the brothers and the son of Moorkan and asked them to destroy azhagan.

Azhagan calmly raised his hand " fair enough that you have brought along moorkan's family for help but i want to know what the huge army is for.Are they here to do your dirty work and are they here to help regain your lost pride and honor.But tell me,what honor was there in killing a blind woman and some innocent old villagers who had nothing to do with you or your evil affairs."

The words of azhagan were like sharp arrows that tore into his body and for a second he was embarrassed and ashamed of his actions and felt humiliated that they were being reminded to him before everybody.

Azhagan now growled " rajendra chola,if you want to regain your honor and lost pride,then you will have begin by saying sorry for all the wrong that you have done so far.But more importantly,you have to first ask forgiveness from the great man who sacrificed his own life to bring justice to me and my people.can you do that."

Rajendra cholan roared in anger " enough talk.all that you have said is now dust in the wind and that includes my father for i am now king.My word is now the command for your people and mine.pride and honor is all good,but i am above all that and my actions cannot be questioned by you or anyone."

Azhagan sighed deeply in sadness and resignation for he knew that the man was beyond reason and words and all that was left to do was go with the flow of things.

He closed his eyes and whispered to the source " forgive me for my actions.every thought and every action is yours and my hands are guided by your will.your breath flows in my soul and if you can hear me then stand by me now."

Azhagan looked at malar and kulashekaran pandyan and requested them to step back and gently placed the stick in the king's hands.

He looked at rajendra cholan " you want to fight me.okay,i am ready.but what if you lose this fight.what will be your position and with what face will you go back to your kingdom.Have you thought about that.most importantly what if you die here today."

Rajendra cholan felt fear clutch his heart for what azhagan spoke was true but then again he had a army of nearly twenty thousand men waiting to unleash hell and surely one man couldn't vanquish an entire army for that would be a miracle and miracles were the domain of gods that dwelled in the heavens.

But looking at azhagan standing alone all those doubts vanished and a smile bloomed on rajendran's face " we will see what we will see."

He turned to moorkan's brothers and his son to attack azhagan.

So it started and it sent doubts racing through everyone's minds.

Thenmozhi remembered how easily azhagan had killed moorkan and then attacked the group that had been chasing them.But that was one moorkan and a few dozen people but what azhagan faced was four giants and a massive army and to defeat them would be a truly an impossible task


Malar's heart lost a beat as she saw the giants advance on him and she whimpered in fear and clutched her stomach and she felt the heat and a glow in her womb.At first she was not able to understand what she was feeling but then a woman knows and malar knew she was carrying his child and she knew that she was going to be a mother.She sank to the ground frozen in happiness and terror.

In one voice kulashekaran pandyan and the chola people who now called perumalvaram their home roared " azhagan,Pakalon,Maasilan,Kathiravan,Meykandan,Koman,Nikaran,Mamannan kavin."

They circled him and came at him at once and only found air and themselves for azhagan had jumped over them and stood smiling at them.It had happened so fast that nobody had seen him move and yet he had moved.

With bloodcurdling roars they charged at him and this time rather than move,azhagan stood his ground and in the last moment threw a heavy punch at the nearest giant and the sound of fist hitting flesh and the sound of bones cracking was so loud that everybody winced and jumped in fright.

The eldest of the four lay dead with his chest caved in and blood spilling out of his mouth and pouring out of his nose.

Seeing him maddened the other three and with huge swords they flung themselves at azhagan who stepped aside and casually lifted one giant high in the air and flung him to the ground.

The giant landed on his head and the sound of his neck breaking was like the sound of lightning as it crackled and raced from the clouds to embrace terra ferma.

The other two looked at each other and knew that it was either kill or be killed.But unlike rajendra cholan they had brave blood coursing through their veins and were not ready to back down.

It flickered,embers of orange fire and they flickered deep in his eyes and then the light sprang from his body and he stood in the aura and light for his senses were completely aroused and now beyond control.

The remaining two again charged and just as they neared him,azhagan flung both his arms out and held them in his arms.Like the steel coils of a massive python they clenched and in a single effort he broke both their backs and dropped their lifeless bodies.

Azhagan stood sadly looking at the dead people who had been alive just minutes earlier and then looked up at rajendra cholan " i just killed four people,four of the best you could throw in single combat and unarmed.Now,tell me are you still willing to fight.I am ready.come let us end this madness of yours forever."

The fight went out of him just as air leaks out of a balloon and he desperately looked at his generals not knowing what to do or how to save his life.He had heard they story of azhagan killing moorkan from eye-witnesses and yet he had doubted them but there was no doubt left now.

The speed and the ease in which azhagan killed all four of moorkan's family not only left rajendra cholan shivering in his clothes but it put the fear of death in everybody who stood by the chola king..Even from far away the huge army of the chola king was witness to the mighty feat and although it started with a few,soon many took up and roared his name " azhagan,azhagan."

As now and as then and as it has been throughout history,heroes and acts of heroism are priced and valued above all,even above mighty kings and gods.Nearly half of the chola army slowly shuffled and now assembled behind azhagan,malar and kulashekaran pandyan.The soldiers laid down their arms and shouted their support to kulashekaran pandyan.This was not a sudden turn of events but an explosion of anger and resentment against rajendra cholan and his henchmen.


Rajendra cholan was at his wits end and looked around for a way to make his escape like a rat does when it is found in our kitchens.

Then azhagan did an astounding thing and yet it turned out to be the greatest moment in the history of the pandyan kingdom.

Azhagan shook his head in pity " rajendra cholan,i know what you are thinking after seeing me kill those four giants.But do not worry for i am not going to fight you.There is a greater and mightier warrior here who is waiting for his chance to regain the pride of the pandyas.you can fight him for that will be a fair fight."

Rajendra cholan was surprised as was everybody who were there and all looked to see who this warrior was who could be mightier than azhagan,for that was impossible.

Azhagan turned to Kulashekaran pandyan " come my king,come forth for this was the day you have been hoping for and this is the moment you have been dreaming about."

Kulashekaran pandyan roared his challenge and stepped forward with his shield and sword ready.

Rajendra cholan did not know how to react when he saw the old king step forward but he smirked " i accept defeat and i will leave but i will not fight a crippled old man."

Azhagan laughed " you will leave and sneak of like a coward but you are unwilling to fight to regain what you just lost here.But i am sorry,if you leave now then you leave not as a king but a coward running away from the battlefield.Fight now and win or lose you can leave as a king.so decide."


The few generals of rajendra cholan whispered to him " fight my lord,fight for you have been training really hard for this moment and you can defeat this old man easily."

Reluctantly Rajendra cholan agreed and taking his sword and shield faced Kulshekaran pandyan.

Not a single leaf stirred,not a single hair blew in the wind,not one bird spoke or sang and everything was silent and it felt as if time had come to a halt.

Then suddenly Rajendra cholan charged with an angry roar and Kulashekaran raised his shield and absorbed the blow easily but did not strike back.Again and again Rajendra cholan struck mighty blows on the shield that Kulashekaran pandyan was carrying but it did little to damage it.But for Azhagan not even Kulashekaran pandyan knew what that shield was made of for any normal shield would have at least cracked and shown signs of damage from the tremendous blows that Rajendra Cholan was raining on it.

The Chola king continued to strike and attack Kulashekaran but slowly and steadily his arms started to tire and Azhagan caught Kulashekaran's eye and nodded.

With a roar that would put a lion to shame Kulashekaran launched himself and struck at Rajendra Cholan and it was only due to the rigorous training that he saved himself from the mighty blow.

The second the blow fell on his shield,Rajendra cholan knew he was doomed for the impact was not absorbed by the shield and was directly transferred to his left wrist holding his shield and it broke like a twig.

With a pitiful cry he dropped the shield and looked at Kulashekaran in shock and in resignation.

With just one blow the old king had put an end to the fight and with just one blow the chola empire had been brought to its knees.

Kulashekaran pandyan walked up to Rajendra cholan " do not worry for i am not going to kill you.It is not in our customs to kill injured,weak and old people.run away now and never return.but remember this for from this day onwards the land of Pandyas is free,free from your rule.

I am sparing your life totally aware that you would not have spared mine.I am doing this out of respect for your father and the mighty king Kulothunga cholan who though strict was fair and wise in ruling us.

So take your men and leave these lands and never return.If your father was here and maybe he is for his remains are blowing in our lands he would agree with my actions.rule wisely and treat people fairly for that is the job of a king.You are a king because people look up to you and respect you otherwise you are just an object,a namesake,a puppet.

So rise now Rajendra cholan,rise and become the great king your father dreamed you would become.I give you my hand in friendship and in memory of your father."

Rajendra cholan rose and stared daggers at Kulashekaran pandyan and spat at the ground.He turned and started walking away towards his men.

Azhagan threw his senses and read everyone's thoughts and he realised what was going to happen.He knew he could not be at two places in one moment and he moved like a blur.

Rajendra cholan screamed " Kill the old man.kill the crippled king."

Thenmozhi knew this was the moment to strike and she drew an arrow dipped in a concoction of deadly poisons and let loose it towards malar's womb.

The generals let loose their arrows at kulashekaran pandyan and they raced towards his body.

Everyone saw everything that happened and thought it happened in a split second for azhagan it was like in slow motion.He absorbed Thenmozhis thought and Rajendra cholans intentions and he moved just as they moved.Yet,in that one instant,in that one moment,in that micro second he knew he had to save malar for more than her it was the new life that he wanted to protect.He wanted to protect the new life,not because it was his but it was innocent and had nothing to do with what was happening outside its mothers womb.

Azhagan moved,moved as fast as light,faster than the arrow from thenmozhis bow and he reached malar as the arrow reached them.He took the arrow in his bare chest and it plunged deep into his body ( instantly fatal to an ordinary man).In the next second azhagan raced towards kulashekaran pandyan but he was too late to stop all the arrows.

The first arrow hit kulashekaran in his right arm (not fatal),the second hit him in his chest( fatal but still minutes before life ebbed out),the third hit him in his neck( fatal as blood pumped out of the carotid artery) and the fourth hit Azhagan in the back ( fatal for an ordinary mortal).

Kulashekaran screamed in pain and in anger at the betrayal and azhagan roared in anger at both thenmozhi and rajendra cholan.

Rajendra cholan reached for his trumpet and blew a note signalling to the rest of the army to charge and kill Azhagan.

Thousands of soldiers ran towards the group brandishing spears and swords.

Maravarman pandyan stood frozen in shock seeing his brother and his king lying on the ground mortally wounded and then his heart raced as his body pumped adrenaline and his limbs moved fast,really fast an in one movement he unsheathed his sword and in the same fluid movement he chopped rajendra cholans head clean off his body.It flew dripping blood still not knowing it was dead and his brain still focused and thinking of azhagan.

The arms still held the trumpet with which he had signalled his army to attack azhagan and his people.


Back to 1985 as rajadurai faces jothi


Arul jothi smiled as he saw the memories of betrayal,stories of legends and gods flashing across rajadurai's face " good,so you do remember.It is good that you still remember history and the cowardly way in which your ancestor attacked the real king and yet here you stand before us,accusing us of being cowards.

Rakesh watched as anger flared in rajadurais eyes and his expression in the dim light made him look like a demon whose mask had been torn off and his true identity had been finally revealed to the world.

Taking a deep breath,rakesh raised his handgun and steadying his still trembling arms fired at rajadurais hand which held the uzi and with that action became part of the suryavamsam clan's history

The bullet from the glock hit the right wrist of rajadurai and screaming in pain he dropped the machine gun and turned towards the man who he had thought dead and gone.

The right hand that held the gun and his eyes never wavered from its sights as rakesh used his left hand to slowly get up and entered the light that held the tribals in its arms and stood next to arul jothi.

Rakesh spat the dust and sand that filled his mouth and the spit landed at rajadurai's feet and he looked at the villain with utter contempt " rajadurai,king and master of these lands and yet a common criminal,a murderer of innocent children,women and men."

Rakesh took a deep breath and looked at the men who stood next to him and then looked at rajadurai " these are the true kings of this land and its culture,true warriors and see for yourself as they stand in the light and as the light illuminates their bravery and their willingness to die for the sake of good.Now,look where you stand,in the darkness,in hiding like cockroaches and rats do.You are nothing but a scavenger that feeds of the dead and that preys on the weak and you call yourself a king.Why,even a prostitute will have more integrity than you,a beggar will have more dignity than you and yet you call yourself the last king of your dynasty.Surely,you are not joking and i wish i had the time to know more about this dynasty which breeds such cowards.But right now i am going to arrest you for attacking a police officer and then while you are inside i will gather evidence of all killings and criminal activities and see that you and your men are hung to death."

Saying this rakesh leveled his hand gun at rajadurais forehead and started to move towards him but then the tall man raised a hand " Sir,i respect you for trying to do your duty for many in your uniform have not done that and for the money this man throws at them,have helped him and they themselves have indulged in criminal activities such as kidnapping and murder."

Jothi with his eyes still watching rajadurai and the other three giants stood shoulder to shoulder with rakesh " sir,what do you think will happen when you arrest this man and take him to the police station and present him in the court tomorrow ? Have you thought about what charges you are going to bring against him and are you prepared to face the wrath of this snake when he strikes after getting out on bail?

Rakesh his throat still hurting whispered " what else can we do than follow the law of this land? what else can my department do other than arrest him and file a case against him ?"

Jothi smiled " there is lot that we can do that you cannot do" and turned towards rajadurai who stood cursing holding his bleeding hand " This stranger does not know the true nature of you and me and the war that has been raging between our people and yet he honed in and spoke about light and dark.Do you think it is is by chance that he is here standing between you and me? No,somehow me and my people know that he is of vital importance to certain matters and we have been given the task of guarding him even if it means everyone of us laying down our lives and we stand ready to do so."

Rajadurai nodded and then sneered at jothi and looked at rakesh " if all of you are here,then who is going to protect his mother who is all alone in the city and with just four constables for protection and all of who are loyal to me and my power."

Fear gripped rakesh and he growled his anger " you wicked snake.You would dare attack an old lady to get at me.Is there no depths to which you won't sink to."

Rakesh with tears in his eyes turned and tried to walk away towards his jeep but jothi stopped him.

" sir,please calm down for your mother is well protected for we have sent one of our bravest and most skillful warrior to watch over her."

Rakesh blurted in fear " one,just one warrior.But we don't know how many of them have been sent to attack my mother."

Jothi smiled " i know it sounds shocking to you but that one warrior is more than enough to handle these jackals and more importantly she will be facing normal men and not these lumbering fat giants."

Rakesh grabbed jothi's arm and looked searchingly into the eyes of the young man " she,did you just say she.You mean a woman.Imean no offence, but a single woman to face these criminals."

Jothi gently grabbed rakesh's shoulder " don't worry about it for i think she will be done with her work and will join us very soon."

Jothi stepped forward " rajadurai,i challenge you to a fight and if you say you are the man that you proclaim to be then step forward and do battle with me or else shave your head and slink away to a far away place and never ever show your face again in these parts for you will be killed on sight."

Rajadurai raised his wounded arm " fight, after i have been shot and wounded.That is rather kind and cunning of you.Better still,why don't you shoot and cripple me and then call me for a fight."

Jothi looked at the remaining few of his clan and asked them to check for any survivors and with heavy hearts they found just three barely alive and jothi asked them to take them away to safety.

Seeing the sneer on rajadurai's face,jothi smiled " no,we are not done yet.You say your arm is wounded.okay,i will fight you with just one hand and the other tied behind,useless as you say yours is.Now can we begin and put an end to this drama?"

Rajadurais face reflected the dread and panic on hearing jothi's words and rakesh could see it clearly even in the dim light and his respect for the young man jothi increased tremendously.

Rajadurai looked at both of them " no,i will not fight you but i challenge you to fight my giants.And if you win then i will obey your orders.what do you say for that?"

Each word was like thunder in rakesh's ears and he could not believe what he was hearing and even more incredible were the words of the young jothi who with a smile roared " I accept your challenge but on one condition, i will fight all three of them at the same time."

Rakesh's eyes went wide in shock and he first looked at each of the three giants and then he looked at the slim,muscular young man who stood next to him and then his sanity returned and he looked at jothi " what is wrong with you? are you crazy? how do you plan on taking on all those three monsters at the same time?"

" sir,your world and life are very different from us and yet the light in our souls are the same.All i can tell you is that it is okay and we can leave soon.so just step back and don't let that rat out of the sights of your gun."


Rajadurai taunted jothi " young man,you must be either raving mad or you must have taken all those stories of the legend they call Azhagan to your heart and foolishly think that you can do the same things that he could.Do you realise that you have signed your own death warrant by going against all three of my giants.Each one is capable of taking on twenty or more of warriors like you and yet here you are foolishly stepping into combat with them."

Jothi looked at rajadurai " do you know why i am called arul jothi.You don't,but i do and i will tell you after a few minutes.But since you mentioned our hero and legend Azhagan,i have to agree on one point.The story says that our leader slayed four such giants in a blink of an eye and their leader Moorkan in one single movement.I am sorry for i am neither azhagan nor do i possess his powers but then we have been trained and brought up with his sayings from the day we were born.We listened to stories of his feats,his noble and brave heart even when we were in our mothers wombs and that is enough to take on not just these three but a few more of these giants."

Jothi turned to rakesh who stood spellbound and mesmerised by the young man " sir,surely you must have heard the blunders that two mighty empires and their armies made when they invaded the land of russia."

Rakesh nodded " you mean the invasion of russia by napoleon and hitler.But what do those two tales have to do with what you are facing right now?"

Jothi shrugged casually " simple sir,history is going to repeat itself.Now step back and like i warned you,keep your eyes on that rabid dog while i have fun with his three toys."

The three giants roared their challenge and stepped towards jothi who knelt down and placed both his hands on the ground and whispered " father,my lord,my king.I go into battle with your name as protection.Bless me my lord."

Jothi stood up and rakesh stepped back in fear for the young man was somehow transformed and appeared totally different from what he had been just a few moments ago.

In the darkness not very far from them the form moved and its eyes spat green light in fury and slowly it made its way towards the place where a young man was once again going into battle against the forces of dark and evil and moved to join the war and to honor the promise that was made.