Dawn in Darkness Part 1

Kamsa was furious. His most trusted driver had called in sick. Today was the day Kamsa’s dear sister, his beloved Devaki was getting wedded to Vasudeva. And Kamsa had ordered that a new chariot, light and speedy be made for the new couple. Cursing his driver and his stars, Kamsa decided that he would himself be the charioteer for his sister and his brother in law. He yoked the horses, the finest in his kingdom, to the glittering chariot and drove it over to the palace where the wedding was to take place. 

The couple had reached separately and the wedding ceremony started with Kamsa’s arrival. The people were surprised to see the formidable Kamsa shedding tears during the wedding. And like all people of all eras, they forgot the tyranny Kamsa had subjected them to and praised his love for his sister.

“Kings will be kings! They mean no offense” was the word on the street.

They even felt elated when Kamsa declared that he would be the charioteer for his sister and brother in law.

Shouts of “Kamsa Maharaja ki Jai ho!” were heard for miles around.

“Idiots! If only my driver had turned up for work, I wouldn’t have had to struggle with these ruddy horses. But hey, heaven knows I can definitely do with some positive press”, Kamsa thought to himself.

And so the procession moved on, with all the townsfolk following the chariot still singing praises of Kamsa. Suddenly, there was thunder and lightning. “The skies are breaking out in music for the wedding”, said one of the citizens working with a pro-establishment media outlet.

Kamsa beamed at him and threw him a pearl necklace. It was up in the air, truly Ravi Shastri style, but before it reached him, a bodyless voice boomed out of nowhere and pierced through the crowd like a tracer bullet.

“KAMSA!”

Kamsa frantically looked at the crowd to see if this was a cruel trick they were playing on him, but no, they looked as shocked as he was.

“KAMSA!” Again.

“KAMSA! YOU FAT OAF!”

“Sarathi! Is that you?” Kamsa mumbled, since he thought the only person missing in the crowd was his charioteer.

The crowd wondered if Kamsa’s Sarathi regularly referred to him as a fat oaf.

“YOU FOOL! YOUR END IS NEAR!”

“Sarathi! I know. I drove the chariot today. Your seat is not comfortable at all. I’ll get it fixed. I’ll double your pay. Please stop this.” Kamsa was at his wit’s end. His crown had risen a full two inches off his head, with all his hair standing upright.

“I’M NOT YOUR SARATHI, YOU DOOFUS! BEHOLD, FOR I AM GOING TO MAKE A PROPHECY ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, WHICH I’D SAY IS RATHER BLEAK.”

This caught the attention of the citizens. All praise forgotten, they were listening intently like the dog on a certain brand of gramophones.

“YOUR SISTER’S EIGHTH CHILD WILL BE YOUR YAMA”

“What? What are you saying?”

But the Wizard of Oz wannabe was long gone. No response was made.

Kamsa turned around to look at his sister. She was already cowering in fear, with allegiances having shifted quickly from brother to husband. Vasudeva was embracing her protectively, but he knew that he was no match for Kamsa’s legendary strength and fighting prowess.

Kamsa pulled his sword out from the sheath and roared, “Move away, Vasudeva! I have nothing against you.”

“But Kamsa! This is your sister. Your blood.”

“A cousin. And yet, I brought her up as my own. Like a princess. She’s going to give birth to my killer, huh?”

“Kamsa, please! Some random voice says something and for that you’re going to slay your sister? What madness is this?”

“Move away. I know about these voices and their prophecies. I’m going to make this one false.”

“Please calm down Kamsa. If that’s all you want, I’ll bring to you the eighth child of Devaki and you can do what you want to do with it.”

Kamsa was too enraged to pay any attention to this, but Vasudeva stood up. Even though frail in comparison to Kamsa’s massive frame, he stood steadfast.

“I, Vasudeva, hereby promise to bring the eighth child of Devaki to you, soon after it is born.”

Thus ends Part 1. For Part 2, please click----> http://jeys-abode.blogspot.in/2013/08/dawn-in-darkness-part-2.html