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part unresPssst Shru - this is Nyna's mind sneaking in to let you know that the full unres will let take a couple of days. Her heart has thrown a massive tantrum and is currently still bawling in some corner of itselfI tried to reason with it - it is only a story and the end will be a happy SwaSan-licious one and got beaten to an inch of my sanity. Nyna has also spent a couple of sleepless nights on this account. I will attempt to get her heart to see some reason and then we will completely unres.I am thinking you are fully recovered - tantrum throwing hearts are difficult to handle - trust me, I knowthinkingly yours,Nyna's mind______________________________________________________Complete UnresDear Shru,Trust that you are feeling much better. Please take rest and care.Dearest Nyna 🤗And onto Chapter 26 - INFERNO - truly a burning chapter (my heart is still smoking slightly😡)I did set a fire huh? And not of the nice kind either 😉- that I hope I saved for 27! 😃"The path to paradise begins in hell" (Dante Alighieri) that was the what the ending portrayed - as Sanskaar decided to battle for his love on receiving the news that perhaps it was a little too late for him and Swara. Not that he thinks that way - for he is a man who would prove true the saying " A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions had never overcome them" (Carl Jung) - Battles forecast! But then I am getting ahead of myself and so will start from the beginning.Perfectly drew in my title to the man who wrote the work 👏 and how appropriate for parts of DK! I think you will have seen from 27 that your fears were unfounded and that Sanskaar never thought it too late for them at all? Although the rest of your para made me think you were on the same page after all? 😕The opening scene was mindblowing- in sheer majesty of settings and the underlying messages it carried: the assured warrior and finest archer who is almost casual about his abilities and lights the fire on the first try; his seeking of Swara's pleasure being the only reward he sought, the symbolism that lighting of the torch was only reserved for those who were or would be king (does this portend a future declaration of Sanskaar as King or is it a mere coincidence???)So glad you liked the opening sequence! I love archery as well as other forms of medieval combat and couldn't resist "showing off" Sanskaar again 😳😆. Ah there were clear mentions of how that honour is usually a sign of kingship so let's see what happens here- does that perhaps not go down well with everyone perhaps? Not the time to say for sure yet! 😉Durga Prasad had been determined that Sanskaar has the honour of lighting the torch in the light of his achievements irrespective of what everyone else would read into his actions. The interaction between him and Sanskaar; Sanskaar accepting the former's public apology gracefully but quickly so as not to protract it and actually rejoicing when his army of men were elevated to an elite status. Truly a mark of a man - to be happy and proud when due recognition is awarded to those whom he considers his own.I am glad you saw good in the interaction between uncle and nephew- I myself thought it sweet in its way. And high time some good relations were re-established? Of course Sanskaar is the perfect General just as he is perfect in every other way I so love this man!! 😳 Not that it isn't obvious 😆It was also commendable on Durga Prasad's part to elevate Pawan to a minor Saamvant status, which by official mandate did make him a lord (this might ease at least a couple of hurdles in his unacknowledged and yet uncommenced relationship with Uttara?).😆 everyone sees how happy Uttara would be with this development. As for this removing some hurdles, perhaps but there are much else that are still very much prevalent!But the final act of publicly acknowledging Swara - that was the highlight of the event - and the numerous emotions it evoked - Swara was stunned, Sanskaar beaming with joy, Shekhar relieved, and then the women folk - flabergasted. But somehow, I cannot help thinking that his public commendation of Swara was the what started off the chain of the subsequent events - if he had not brought such open public notice of Swara in such a fashion then maybe she might not have caught the fancy of Saamvant RanjitYou are spot on about the recognition for Swara 😊. I wanted that to happen as felt it only right given what she did. Everyone's reaction was as you say and yes! Very much so- in some ways that threw Swara almost into sharp focus so it made the proposal such an easy "sell" but also sometimes getting good recognition can actually set rumours flying especially when the recipient of such honour is a woman- the lovely world they especially lived in 😡I agree that keeping in view the time period in which the tale is set, a match from Saamvant Ranjit, despite being a widower with a child and much older than Swara, would be considered desirable by most. Even Janaki, to whom finally Swara confess that she is love with Sanskaar, advocated the match (despite admitting that they had been attempting an alliance between him and her sister, Urvashi); it is saddening but so true of those times (and in some instances even in the current times).See- this was exactly my point. Matches then were hardly made for any other reason than political alliances and given the situation Swara was in and the rest of their hare brained running around, fighting ego battles and confusion, I felt that this wasn't unlikely.But then I take heart from the fact that Janaki has assured her that she will not be forced and all is not lost.She had said that but when it came to it, how much she could really stop anything happening was also doubtful. Once before too they had forced Swara to agree to marry Lakshya 🤢Sanskaar has also confessed his love for Swara to Annapurna, and surprisingly her reaction and pain are similar to Janaki- both are pained at their inability to help their beloved children as they are effectively tied down by the dictates of society; both of them admit their helplessness and while sympathising with Sanskaar / Swara's impossible love, caution them to tread with care. So while Swara sinks into further helplessness, Sanskaar prepares for a battle that would be bigger than any he has or would fight; the battle for his love and life.Looking forward to the battle!Yes indeed, Annapurna too- bound by queenly pressures which whether we like it or not, were so much a part of their psyche and lives they have to work in that ambit even if they break out time and again 😊 If it a love worth fighting for, fight you must huh?Finally thank you for the scene where Sanskaar climbs through the window to meet Swara - though it was fraught with tension of unspoken confessions (I felt like screaming - how long does it take to say "I Love you, you idiots' but then I guess it is easier said than done, especially if the one speaking is a non-existent character in the tale 😉) and softly expressed concerns amidst fear of being caught together, it was a dreamy scene.Glad you liked the window climbing and what it implied. As for the speed of them confessing, I take the entire blame for that 😆. I feel things had to get to a certain point to make it all that much more meaningful and I'll await your verdict on the next chapter in this respect 😉😃lots of love,NynaPS: I think the above post is not a very structured one and that is because I was feeling so wretched when I first read this chapter that my mind sneaked off somewhere to preserve its sanity. My apologies for the more than usual ramblings. 😭It was very well structured! And I am really sorry for having caused such aggro and pain I hope the later sequences will make some recompense 😉 And please don't apologise! These are not ramblings, they are the gems that keep me going with the story! 🤗
Nyna dearest,
Replied in blue above. Hope the heart and mind both will be much happier in the next set of comments 😉
Lots of love,
Shru xoxo
CID
