Shiva- An Untold Saga- A one shot by Roshni Menon
disclaimer: This is purely a work of fiction and I don't intend to hurt any particular religious or cultural belief with this. it's just something for entertainment and I won't be responsible for wrong perception people draw from it
"Om Namah Shivaaya!' The low yet devotional chants echoed in air as the sky is yet to be free from the shades of black. The jingle of the temple bells that kept ringing reached the banks of the river that is spread up to the horizon. It reflected the dark sky at the dawn and looked absolutely calm and tranquil apart from the small ripples caused by fishes. Not so far, pyres burned, marking an end to the physical existence of people who took birth, lived, loved and died in the land.
He sat on one of the steps at the river bank, looking at the pyres that kept burning while his black eyeballs well reflected the blazing fire. His chin rested on his left hand while his right hand ran through his lush hairs. Shiva; that's his name. Rough, tough and hardhearted; that's how he looks for any outsider. But for who knows the purity inside him, he is indeed a reflection of lord Shiva. This graveyard has been his abode much like the lord. His origin is also unknown; god knows which womb borne him for 9 months and then took the pain of bringing him to the world. Yet, he is the son of Shamshaankhand, the place famous for graveyards. He, as an infant fell to the hands of a grumpy old man who used to burn pyres for the public. He still doesn't have a clue why the man adopted him, for that man never loved him. Even in his initial, faded memories, he remembers how that old man used to shout at him, treating him in the most unsympathetic way. Corpses were always his buddies, the loud chants and shouts of the aghoris served as lullaby to him while the graveyard became his home. He was barely five when he first started helping the man with the pyres. Setting fire to the stiffened, pale dead bodies, his fear died with those burning bodies. Neither the weird smell of the burning corpses nor the disturbing sound of the cracking skull succeeded in frightening him. The tranquility and harmony was nothing less than that of the lord. He always remained as calm as a plain water body even when his stomach burned in hunger, even when his heart yearned for a drop of affection. The remnants of the offerings for the lord at the nearby Shiva temple quenched his hunger at times, while kind hearts fed him other times. When the great lord himself can be a vagabond, what about this silly creature? While Lord Shiva medicated, the letters which the priest introduced to him became his medication. Knowledge served as his salvation, moulding him to an enlightened individual.
Years passed in a gush. His insecurities fear and limitations has burned in the pyres. Shiva became the life of Shamshaankhand. Indeed he was Shiva, short tempered yet easily pleasing. Hard as rock yet soft as butter. While he became support for the weak, he became destruction for the cruel, just like Shiva became the kaal of negativity. An invisible trident rested in the fierceness of his eyes, warning all the evil. Meanwhile he spread the light of knowledge and modernity to the residents of the village, being the bridge between Gu (darkness) and Ru (Light) and thus indirectly being their Guru. The once just graveyard Shamshaankhand became a heaven eradicating the eeriness.
Eventually, the spring in the life of lord came to his life too. A girl with her beautiful smile and grace ripped through his heart just like sati impressed Shiva. She became his ardhangini, awakening the affectionate and ardent side of him. He melted in her love, while she became his 'shakti' his power.
The third eye of the lord opens when evil tries to suppress the weak and the same happened here too. NandkishoreChauhan, a Jaipur based millionaire could easily price their land, their legacy. Shamshaankhand wasn't just hectares of land for them, it meant a lot more. It was the final grave of lot of souls that NK snatched from them through his illegal ways. Shiva had to open his third eye of violence, when even the law became in favor of the powerful.
Breaking in to Chauhan house with his men, he transformed it in to a Shamsaan, showing NK his right place. Yes, it was violence, but the violence for justice. He threw NK in to the unburned pyre, just like the lord burned the demons with the fire from his third eye. No one could resist that terror and so NK. He got their land back to them, in the way of the same law which stood against them. That's it! Nothing more, he left the house in silence.
Coming back to Shamshaankhand, the eyes of many shined for him and blessed him while some saw the lord in him. He felt happy and satisfied but things didn't end there. NK's sons did come to clash with him for the disrespect and terror their father went through. But they were nothing for Shiva. The truth was on his side and so he was sure none could touch him. The boys had to come on their knees before Shiva. The boys did indeed realize that Shiva hasn't thrown their father to pyre, instead he has thrown the ego and evilness indie NK, making him understand that he wasn't the ultimate power. Moreover, Shiva's action killed NK's ego and transformed him from the ruthless and unsympathetic individual to a grounded man. The enlightenment did happen.
Now sitting in this river bank in silence and isolation, he just recalled about the day closing his while he felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked back, only to see the same girl, his soul mate by him.
"I'm not wrong right?' he asked.
"No you're not. And you will never be!' said his girl, his power leaning on his shoulder. He smiled, caressed her hair and rested his head against her closing his eyes. Back in the Shiva temple too, the lord remained calm , tranquil blessing the world.
How many slaps for me? I'm sure Manish will kill me if he see this, I'm sure!!! Well, I'm ready to receive slaps but I love new trials. And now, about Shiva's girl I didn't write any specific name for her as I thought it will be better to give you all the liberty to name her. but I'm sure that there is only face in all your hearts for that character. Hmmm, baba Roshni predicts that it's Avika. isn't it? Jokes apart, I really need comments from you people now. Coz this being a new attempt I will definitely love to know your view, no matter if it's negative or positive.
Edited by RoshniMenon88 - 8 years ago
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