Avan, Aval Adhu 268
Gayatri tentatively approached Partha and standing by his side, ' what do you mean by saying you hope Ravi spares them? How can you say that when there are nearly six criminals out there hunting us? Is there something that I don't know about Ravi?'
Partha looked at her with a ghost of a smile on his lips and asked, ' Do you know what Jallikattu means?'
' Yes, I do and have taken photos of that bull-taming competition a long time ago for the 2017 National Geographic special edition about India. That was the year when massive protests broke out all over Tamil Nadu when the central Govt decided to ban the tradition of Jallikattu. What's that got to do with Ravi?'
Daksha whispered, ' because Ravi was a five-time jallikattu champion back in his twenties. His record for taming the most dangerous breeds still stands for nobody has conquered a Kangeyam bull and a Pulikulam bull in one competition.'
Gayatri's voice was full of shock and awe, ' Ravi is a jallikattu champion?'
Partha nodded his head, ' Yes he is and a whole lot more than a jallikattu champion. He is also an Adimurai master and a silambam master and his reputation is well known in and around Madurai.'
' Adimurai, Adimurai. Why does that word sound so familiar to me?'
Partha smiled and looked at Daksha who sniggered sarcastically, ' maybe you took some photos of them too?'
Gayatri smiled understandingly for she knew the reason for the anger and sarcasm that Daksha was sending her way and said, ' No photos but I have seen it being practised. Live and right before my eyes. Adimurai is a child of Kalaripayattu and Silambam is fighting with a stick. I have seen both of them.'
Then in a soft voice, ' a long time ago. In another time and in another world.'
Gayatri closed her eyes and as the tears once again flowed down her cheeks, she remembered Madhu leaping away from the ground and landing in a fighting pose and then her memory flooded back and opening her eyes she said, ' samanilai, pirivunilai and thayarnilai ' and looked at Partha who smiled and clapped softly ' Not bad. Not bad at all '.
Daksha looking out into the darkness whispered ominously, ' Take a man who beats and brings down bulls weighing half a ton or more and who also happens to be a master in ancient fighting skills. Then add to that 25 years of pain, anger and a broken heart ' and she slowly turned and stared at Gayatri, ' then you take a woman who he has fallen in love with who insults him and hurts him not knowing what or who he is like a silly, spoilt brat.'
Sighing sadly, she turned away and said, ' he is going to slaughter them. But, knowing him I am sure he will warn them and give them a chance to walk away from the fight.'
Gayatri could not help the sob that escaped from her soul and crying softly, she mumbled, ' I have no choice and I stand no chance against her. That is why I ...............'
Both, Partha and Gayatri looked at her in confusion for they could not make sense of her words.
They would not and none would at the present but eventually, all of them would.
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