Originally posted by: napstermonster
Here's the thing. That could happen. The man Rudra is --that could happen, the shock, the immediate manic reaction, the flaring fury prompting a split second decision that he, then, cannot, live with. And the way Paro would absolve him--tending to her Major Saab, even as her life blood flows out of her body, until the very last moment of her breath. Yes, that too, could happen.
And that is what makes this an incredible, incredible piece. I'm not saying that because its a Navarasa piece, and you are my very own. No. If I could dismiss it, for its implausibility, I could move on with a shrug and a quick comment saying..."nice job." that would be easier, given the fact its ripped my heart out, and that didn't feel so good. But its like an accident, yeah? Like a tragedy you know you want to avert your eyes from, but cant? Its a piece that should be reread, not because you don't understand it the first time through--- because it does have simple language, gorgeous, straightforward location, even a sly symbolic use (handkerchief--doll..I see what you did there, you smart thing!) but that is not its main fascination. Its the fact that- he WOULD do this, even now, even today. And this reaction is so much a part of his darkness, his love is so entwined with his obsessive need for her, his refusal to countenance any existence without her, is so frightening--this could happen.
I cannot thank you enough for taking the initiative, you and Anky, for restarting the Navarasas--the fact is, people have been waiting on me and Noyoti, and we have thankfully ceded ground to you writers instead of selfishly holding up the line, so thank you so very much for getting this done. And secondly--thank you, my love, for being---true. True to the man we seen onscreen, the actual deep trauma behind Rudra following his wife around, behind his need to be the only one she sees, cares for, worries about, touches,. A man jealous of his own mother's demands upon his wife's time--yes, the shades of mad devotion do get flipped around in real and reel life, to shades of mad rage doing an unspeakable thing. Thank you for unflinchingly bringing that out----this was an act of Raudra, indeed--pure bind rage that does not stain Paro's innocence, but ends Rudra's life--as ---poetic justice--- it should.
The simplicity of it, the length of it---I didn't see the emotion coming. It didn't try to be clever, sly, it did not try to load the narrative down with background or story telling. It didn't need to--that was the power of the concept--and of you. It packed a wallop, because of spare prose, simple story-telling--and psychologically accurate insight. AND that is why, Baisa, I'm glad I'm alone in my bedroom, re-reading this tonight. I discounted your instructions from the author's note about the tissues. I'm regretting that, Baisa. This could happen.
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