||Prologue||
||Om Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadra-Kali Kapalini Durga Kshama Shivaa Dhaatri Svaha Svadha namo-stu-te||
Shivaa chanted this shloka as she prepared to sleep. It was the first shloka she had learnt as a kid. Chanting it had become a habit since her grandmother had suggested it to her before a tough exam.
Like every night , she lay back wondering. So many ideas and they had to select a unisex-sounding name. Why not Kshama? Or Durga? Or well, anything... Anything more... gender specific. She quietened her mind and continued to another mantra- One that she dared not chant aloud. Not while she slept next to her Dadima.
OM. I adore the Divine Self who illuminates the three worlds --
physical, astral and causal; I offer my prayers to that God who
shines like the Sun. May He enlighten our intellect.
-~-
In another household a young Ajay stared at the same shloka on his bedroom wall. His parents hoped his decorated walls would take him down simpler, more suitable pursuits.
He had no restrictions as such. In fact, he had no restrictions at all. So much so, that he wished to be stopped sometimes. That was, inside his home. At least Ajay thought that there were no restrictions.
"Chacha, I need a new pen."
His butler looked as if Ajay had blasphemed. "Baba 20th this month!"
"Please, I wouldn't want to disturb them with this!"
"Yes Baba."
I wouldn't want to disturb them with anything. Ever.
***
