The eye of the bird

Duryodhana was going to attend his classes and he hated it. He did not hate the classes themselves, he just hated learning these arts along with the blasted Pandavas. He could not believe it. The five brothers who had come to the kingdom looking like poor beggars were now learning the way of the warrior along with him and is brothers....He felt it beneath his dignity to learn the use of the arms with his poor cousins....They definitely did not deserve to learn anything much less as his equal...as the disciple of Dronacharya. Thinking of Dronacharya made Duruyodhana all the more angry. His guru....had a favourite student....Just thinking about it made Duryodhana's blood boil.

He could not understand what Dronacharya liked about Arjuna. He was just like the rest of them and still the teacher treated him like he was someone from heaven. Duryodhana thought contemptuously.

The very next day, Duryodhana talked with his brothers while making sure Dronacharya heard him.... 'This Dronacharya!' He hissed in atypical stage whisper. 'He just pretends that Arjuna is better than all of us....Arjuna is nothing more than us...It is all Dronacharya's ruse....Left to himself Arjuna is nothing!' Duruyodhana said making sure Dronacharya had heard him.

Dronacharya had heard him, but he said nothing. He just smiled sadly at the jealous young prince. He realized that Duryodhana was so blinded by his jealousy that he could not sense the basic truth. Arjuna was a class apart. None of the princes he had taught so far could come even close to what Arjuna was... Dronacharya sighed. He knew of a way to make Duryodhana understand that....

The next day when the princes got ready with their bow and arrow to practice archery, Dronacharya took them to the far side of the clearing. There was a tall tree and he asked them to stop a hundred yards away.

'Children!' He smiled at all of them. 'There in that tree, there is a bird! Today's class is to hit the bird with a single arrow!' His students looked at each other with surprise. Did their teacher really expect them to hit a bird a hundred yards away which was hidden between the trees and that too with a single arrow? What kind of a test was this?

Before the general murmur got any further, Dronacharya clapped his hands. 'Children! I will call out all of you! Come forward and stand beside me! Answer my questions, then if I say fire, shoot your arrow!'

The children obediently stood as they looked at the teacher. 'Yudhishtara!' Dronacharya called. As Yudhishtara was the eldest he was called first. 'Take your weapon and aim the bird!' Yudhishtara pulled back the arrow...He took a deep breath as he strained and found the bird in the tree. Yudhishtara however did not let go. He remembered his teacher's orders.

'Do you see the bird?' Drona asked. Yudhishtara nodded. 'Yes sir! I do!

Drona nodded. 'Good! What else do you see?'

'Yudhishtara looked surprised at the question. 'Why sir? I can see everything! The bird, the tree, the leaves...You and my brothers too!'

Dronacharya smiled sadly and shook his head. 'Put your weapon down son! You cannot bring the bird down with one arrow!'

Yudhishtara obediently put his weapon down and walked back to his place looking a little crestfallen. Duryodhana smirked at him when he heard his teacher. 'Duryodhana! Come forward!'

Elated at being given an opportunity to get the better of the Pandavas, Duryodhana went forward with his bow and arrow.

He focused on the bird easily and was about to pull back the arrow when Dronacharya called out. 'What do you see son?

'I see the bird, the tree and you sir!' Duryodhana said still aiming at the bird. Dronacharya shook his head imperceptibly. 'Don't waste your arrow! Put down your weapon.'

Frowning Duryodhana went back to his place.

Dronacharya called all the princes one by one and sent back all of them without firing a single arrow. The only one who remained were Ashwattama and Arjuna.

Ashwattama came forward as he took aim of the bird. 'Tell me what you see son!' Dronacharya asked a little fondly. After all Ashwattama was his own son.

'Father, I see the bird...nothing else!'

A hush fell among the princes as they heard the reply of Ashwattama. Dronacharya probed him further. 'What else do you see about the bird?'

'It is wooden, father!'

'And its eye?' Dronacharya asked raising his eyebrow in appreciation.

Ashwattama frowned looking at the bird. 'I cannot see its eye properly father!'

Reluctantly Dronacharya told his son. 'Put down your weapon Ashwattama!'

Ashwattam looked surprised but he lowered his weapon looking jealously at the last student left.

'Come forward!' Drona said looking at Arjuna. Arjuna came forward with a quiet confidence. He was standing lightly and totally relaxed.

Drona pointed at the tree. 'What do you see Arjuna?

'The wooden bird with its open eye sir!' Arjuna said as he pointed his arrow at the bird. Drona's eyes opened wide as he asked. 'What else do you see?'

Arjuna shrugged imperceptibly. 'Its head is round! Other than that nothing!'

Drona blinked inspite of himself. 'Its legs, its wings ...don't you see it?'

Arjuna said confidently. 'No sir! I don't!'

Drona shook his head in wonder. 'Fire!' No sooner had the words been uttered the princes watched as a wooden bird fell on the ground a hundred yards away with an arrow in its eye!

Dronacharya turned to Ashwattama sadly. 'You could have hit the bird,then again you could not have...It was a matter of chance. That is why I asked you not to fire at it!' Ashwattama looked crestfallen as he heard the words of his father....

He turned to the other princes. 'That is how you learn anything....' He said patting Arjuna and looking at him with pride. 'This is how you do anything...with the target in mind! While trying to do something, never waver from what your end goal and do not lose sight of it....If you have eyes for your goal and nothing else, you have as good as won what you are after!'

Ravana and Yama - Part 1 of 2

Ravana, the king of Lanka looked around Lanka with pride. His Lanka! Ravana had firmly established his rule in the kingdom and the people of Lanka adored him. But somehow this never satisfied Ravana. He wanted more and more. I have after all received the greatest boons from Brahma. I am more or less invincible. Yes! thought Ravana fiercely. I cannot be satisfied with a puny island in the sea. I want the entire earth….Why just the earth….I want all the three worlds for myself….

Ravana thought back to the day when he had met his great grandfather for the first time….

Even when he was young Ravana realized that physical power alone was not sufficient. He knew that he had to perform penances and win the favour of the Gods. Once he had the boons from the Gods, he knew that nothing could come in his way. Ravana had long since kept away from Lord Vishnu. Somehow Ravan never felt comfortable with the Lord. So he had to perform boons either towards Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma.

All through his life Ravana had always been a great devotee of Lord Shiva. But now Ravana had decided that Lord Brahma was the best person to grant him the boon he was after. After all Lord Braham was the Lord of Creation and it was within his power to grant any person immortality if he chose to….Or so Ravana believed. Besides Ravana knew that Lord Brahma was his own great-Grandfather [Ravana was the son of Sage Vishravas. Vishravas was the son of Sage Pulatsya who was one of the ten ‘Manas Putras’ of Lord Brahma] So the odds of Lord Brahma granting him the boon he was after, was high.

And so Ravana began his penance.

Ravana was arrogant and haughty and rarely respected any other person. But he had some good qualities as well. One of them was his utter, almost ferocious concentration to get a thing done, once he set his mind to it. Ravana started his meditation and kept at him. Days passed….years passed….nothing happened. But Ravana did not stop. He kept up with his penance.

Then one day, suddenly Lord Braham found himself dragged before Ravana because of the sheer power of his meditation.

‘Son! Open your eyes!’ Lord Brahma said as he sprinkled some water from his kamandalam on Ravana. The minute the holy water touched the king, Ravana woke up as if from a deep dream. He opened his eyes and saw the four faced Lord Brahma and bowed deep before him.

‘My Lord! You have come!’ Ravana exclaimed.

Lord Brahma nodded. Lord Brahma looked at the sacrificial fire before him and shook his head in wonder. ‘My son! The penance you have done is unmatched! I have yet to see something even remotely like it!’ Ravana’s face glowed with pride. Probably his great-grandfather would grant him the elusive boon he was after….

Lord Brahma continued. ‘What boon do you wish, my son? Anything you want and I will grant it to you!’ Lord Brahma said with utter sincerity.

‘Please make me immortal, my Lord!’ Ravana said. He had long decided that that was the only thing he would ever want. Once he was immortal….Ravana shivered, then he would become unstoppable…..

Ravana saw with dismay as Lord Brahma’s shoulders dropped. He shook his head. ‘My son! I cannot grant you that! It is against the law of nature. Whoever is born, has to die! I cannot change that law of nature, for anyone!’

But the Devas…they don’t die! Ravana wanted to scream.

But he held his tongue and slowly thought what Lord Brahma had told him. ‘My Lord, since you cannot make me immortal, then give me the nectar of immortality, which the Devas possess!’ Ravana’s eyes glowed as he said the words. ‘Then I will be equal to them!’ Lord Brahma looked at Ravana and realized how dangerous it was to grant the boon to Ravana. But then there was precious little he could do about it. The power of Ravana’s penance had dragged him here and he had to give what Ravana wanted….Lord Brahma grudgingly nodded his head. ‘Fine! You shall have it!’ Ravana smiled happily. ‘I wish to have the nectar stored in my navel! Till I have the nectar in my possession….I will be invincible!’ Ravana said with glittering eyes.

Lord Brahma nodded his head and a second later, Ravana felt a strange power coursing through his body…Ravana touched his stomach and found that the nectar was stored there and its power raced all though his body from there giving him greater strength than ever.

However Ravana was far from done. His rigorous penance merited him more boons. He turned and looked at Lord Brahma. ‘Lord! There is one more boon I seek!’ Lord Brahma had a very bad feeling about this but nodded his head with little enthusiasm. ‘I wish I am more powerful than Gods, heavenly beings, ganas, yakshas, rakshas, snakes and all wild animals and I should never be defeated by any of them….And I also wish to rule over all of them!’ Lord Brahma felt utter despair when he nodded his head.

Unaware of his great-grandfather’s dismayed feeling, Ravana’s eyes glowed as he happily nodded his head, feeling greater power course through him.

As part of the boon, Ravana also received divine weapons and magic…Lord Brahma vanished from there, before Ravana asked for something else from him. But Ravana was done. He flexed his muscles as he realized that  now absolutely nothing could stop him. He was for all purposes invincible…Ravana smiled….

Ravana’s reign of terror started. He started attacking all the kingdoms of the earth, randomly without rhyme or reason. He attacked the kingdom and owing to his boons, the king could not match up to the ferocity or power of Ravana. He just destroyed kingdoms and looted all the wealth of the kingdom and took away the women he liked….He did this to kingdom after kingdom…..

Ravana finally arrived at the Kingdom of Ayodhya which was being ruled by a great King Anaranya . The two kings fought for the long time, however Ravana had the advantage of being younger and stronger. Ravana hit the other king on the head while battling. Even while he fell, the Ayodhyan king showed no fear. He looked straight at Ravana’s eyes and spoke his final words. ‘You are arrogant!’ He wheezed as he felt the life being sucked out of him. ‘Your arrogance will be put to an end, by one of my own descendants! That is a dying man’s last wish!’ The Ayodhyan king breathed his last. Ravana jeered seeing the King no more…..

Ravana continued destroying kingdom after kingdom….Sage Narada who could take this no more went and spoke with him, before one of his attacks over another kingdom. ‘Narayana! Narayana!’ Sage Narada spoke as Ravana watched with disgust. He could not bear anyone singing praises of Lord Vishnu. ‘What do you want?’ He barked angrily at Sage Narada.

Sage Narada spoke with twinkling eyes. ‘My friend! You are making a mistake by attacking humans to show off your strength!’ Ravana wanted to curtly say that he was not Narada’s friend. But the sage’s words intrigued him. ‘What do you mean?’ Ravana asked inspite of himself.

Sage Narada smiled. ‘You are attacking humans….why don’t you attack Gods?’ Ravana looked stumped for a few minutes as Sage Narada continued. ‘One God in particular! How about Yama, the Lord of Death!’ Ravana looked at Sage Narada, wondering why this idea had not stuck him before….Ravana the conqueror of Yama…that definitely had a nice ring to it…He nodded as Sage Narada continued. ‘Yes, my friend! Once people know that even the Lord of Death bows to you, I don’t think any other man would even think of opposing you! Ever!’ Sage Narada said with twinkling eyes.

Ravana and Yama - Part 2 of 2

Ravana nodded his head curtly and smiled. He was soon going to spread the word around that attacking the Lord of Death was his idea….after he had won!

Sage Narada left the place with a smile in his lips. He felt he had done all he could….Lord Yama was the Lord of Death and Lord Brahma had granted him a particular weapon….It was called Kala Danda….The weapon once fired would kill anybody before it…no matter what boons he had to protect himself….Ravana had sealed his fate by falling for Narada’s words….Narada smiled.

Then Narada hurriedly made his way to the abode of Yama.

‘My Lord!’ Narada called out on reaching the palace. Yama came out as Narada bowed to him. Yama looked surprised seeing Narada there. ‘Sage Narada? What are you doing here?’ He asked looking puzzled.

Sage Narada looked a little apprehensive. He finally told him. ‘I asked Ravana to come and attack you!’

Yama looked a little puzzled. He could not believe that any human would be stupid enough to come after him….He was after all the God of Death….As he was thinking, both of them heard a loud roar outside the palace. Yama was staring with utter bewilderment as he saw a huge army making its way to his palace…an army headed by Ravana. Yama let out a deep breath. He called his guards. ‘Guards be prepared! We are under attack!’

The guard was himself perplexed! The God of Death was under attack! But he anyway called the others and they all stood guard and they watched an ordinary human come and begin their attack…..To their surprise the guards found that Ravana fought brilliantly. He was slowly and systematically decimating the forces of Yama.

Watching the massacre done by Ravana and hearing the screams of his men, Yama could take it no more….In utter anger he pulled out his Kala Danda…the weapon of Death. Narada smiled as he watched Yama aim the weapon at Ravana. His mission was going to be accomplished. Ravana’s menace was going to come to an end…

Unfortunately Sage Narada had not counted on one thing….a person in fact….his father….

As Yama was about to fire the weapon, he and Sage Narada stared with wonder as time literally stopped still. Standing before them was none other than Lord Brahma himself….A flustered looking Yama and Sage Narada bowed to Lord Brahma.

‘Please son! Do not fire the weapon!’ Lord Brahma spoke with pleading tones. Sage Narada and Yama looked at each other with utter bewilderment. Had Lord Brahma actually asked them not to hurt Ravana! Yama was wondering whether this was some magic on the part of Ravana and hastily shook his head turned his attention to the weapon.

Lord Brahma came forward. ‘Please no! Don’t do this!’

Yama and Sage Narada looked at each other and then at Lord Brahma. Sage Narada spoke in a reasonable voice. ‘Sir! This is the best way! The Kaladanda cannot miss…that was the boon you gave Yama! Ravana will die, when Yama fires the weapons….People everywhere would be safe!’

Lord Brahma said with tears in his face. ‘You are going to make me a liar!’ There was utter desperation in the voice.

‘What?’ Yama asked.

Lord Brahma continued listlessly. ‘I promised Ravana, he could not be defeated by any God! If you fire the Kaladanda at him….either way I become a liar….I will lose face with the world!’ Yama was still looking a little puzzled.

However Sage Narada understood. If Yama fired the weapon, only two things could happen –either Ravana could die or he could survive. If Ravana died, Lord Brahma’s boon to Ravana that he could not be destroyed by any God, would become false. If Ravana survived, his boon to Yama’s Kaladanda as the ultimate weapon of destruction, would become false! Sage Narada shook his head wondering why his father made such rash promises and expected others to keep it up for him.

Slowly Lord Brahma explained to Lord Yama, why he should not fire the weapon. Yama looked frustrated, understandably so. ‘What do you want me to do?’ He fumed as he looked at Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma took a deep breath. ‘Just stop the war! Go away! Please!’

Yama looked flustered for a few seconds. ‘You want me to walk away from killing this excuse of a human being….so that the word you gave him may be true? Is that it?’ Yama pursed his lips angrily looking at Lord Brahma.

Lord Brahma bowed his head down not able to say anything. Yama took a deep breath and with a curt nod to Sage Narada and Lord Brahma, vanished from there.

Lord Brahma let out a noisy breath and he looked regretfully at Ravana and also vanished from there along with a disgruntled Sage Narada.

Ravana felt like he had woken up from a deep sleep and shook his head. He had a powerful weapon in his hands and looked around and saw that he had no one to fire it on! He remembered having come here to fight to Yama. The God had pulled out some great weapon and then suddenly everything went blank until now…..

Ravana looked with pride. So the fool ran away from him, instead of giving him a fight….Ravana grinned and shouted at his men. ‘I am Ravana, the conqueror of Yama!’

‘All hail Ravana, the conqueror of Death!’ The Asuas bellowed after him as Ravana left the place and went back to Lanka.

Duryodhana and the five arrows of Bhishma - Part 1 of 3

Duryodhana looked around his court with glee…The Pandavas were gone....Deprived of their kingdom, now forced to live in forest struggling for existence….Duryodhana was really happy, for he had always hated the Pandavas…right from the time the sages had brought the five fatherless Pandavas from the forest to Hastinapur. He never liked them….Probably Duryodhana, even at that young age realized that the Pandavas were going to be his worst enemies…

Duryodhana was not in favour of granting the wretched Pandavas any land…But his father, the blind King Dhirdarashtra, bowing to people’s wishes had given the Pandavas a portion of the land in Khadavaprasta as their own to rule….Duryodhana had manipulated his father in such a way that Dhirdarashtra gave some portions of waste lands in the country to the Pandavas. Duryodhana sighed as he thought about how it had failed to stop the Pandavas. The Pandavas had developed Khandavaprasta to be the finest kingdom inhabited by prosperous and hard working citizens [Khandavaprasta was renamed Indraprastha] And to add fuel to fire, Yudhishtara had conducted the greatest yagna to showcase the power and prosperity of his kingdom….

Duryodhana burned with jealousy and with the connivance of his uncle Shakuni invited the ‘noble’ Yudhishtara for a game of dice. Duryodhana could not believe exactly how much of a fool Yudhishtara was….Shakuni was a master in the game of dice and this was known to all….Yet Yudhishtara had agreed to play the game and the outcome was no surprise..Yudhishtara lost….lost everything in the game….everything from his kingdom to his brothers and….even Draupadi….

Duryodhana was almost scared when Draupadi argued brilliantly in the court and got back everything that Yudhishtara lost in the game of dice. Only Durodhana’s tactics of inviting Yudhishtara to another game of dice saved the day for him. Because Duryodhana was sure, if the Pandavas ever got a chance they would not settle for anything but war….Not that Duryodhana was against war…He welcomed it….But he did not want the war now….Not just yet…He had to gather more allies and when he fought the war….he did not want to just defeat the Pandavas, he wanted to vanquish them….Make sure they never raised their heads again….

As he was sitting in the court thinking these things, Duryodhana saw his brother Dushasana and Karna come inside the court. Duryodhana smiled subconsciously as he looked at Karna. Duryodhana could not explain to anyone, not even to himself but somehow looking at Karna made him feel complete. True, Dushasana was his own brother and Karna was just a friend…. But deep down, Duryodhana realized that Karna was a part of him. When Duryodhana saw Karna he did not see the son of a charioteer, he saw a noble man….a good king who was capable of great things. A man who would stand by him even at the worst of times. Duryodhana realized with sudden clarity that Karna was the one person he relied on implicitly….he would do anything for Karna….Duryodhana also knew that Karna thought the same about him…

Even as Karna was looking quietly, Dushasana laughed. ‘Brother’ he said his eyes glinting with pride… ‘I am almost feeling giddy with joy’. I cannot believe that the Pandavas are gone….’ Shakuni, Duryodhana’s uncle also entered the court. He spoke with a crooked smile. ‘Yes! Imagine, the great king who had conducted the Rajasuya yagna, is now in the forest….wearing clothes made of tree bark instead of finery, like us…’ Shakuni said with a hint of pride…He had been directly responsible for the downfall of the Pandavas and he was proud of it…

Duryodhana looked at Dushasana and Shakuni, ‘The great Panchali the wife of the Pandavas must be slaving in the forest, while my queens here live in luxury….’ Duryodhana’s eyes suddenly glinted, ‘I say.. why don’t we conduct a Ghosha yatra?’ All eyes turned to Duryodhana. A ghosha yatra was undertaken by the sovereign or someone under him, whereby they went to any place in the kingdom for inspection and checked all the cows and other property in the place to make sure everything was fine in that part of the kingdom.

Dushasana looked mystified. ‘Why do you want to undertake a ghosha yatra now?’ Shakuni also was equally mystified at the sudden change of topic by his nephew. Karna looked at Duryodhana and said quietly. ‘Which part of the kingdom do you want to undertake a ghosha yatra to, my king?’

Duryodhana’s face lit up. He knew Karna would understand. ‘I was thinking of going to the area near the place where the Pandavas are at present staying….’ Shakuni nodded his head finally understanding. His nephew wanted to see the Pandavas suffer in the forest… 

Duryodhana saw Karna looking at him as if he did not approve of the plan. But then Duryodhana was not surprised. Karna the king of Anga, was a noble man…. He did not do cheap things like showing off wealth…or watch others in distress to derive pleasure from it…. 

But then Duryodhana also knew that Karna would not protest against his decision. He would go along with his wishes..

Shakuni slyly suggested. ‘Why don’t you take your queens with you? I am sure they would also like the travel….I am sure they would travel with all their finery…..’ Duryodhana nodded his head liking this plan more and more.

So soon all preparations were made for Duryodhana’s Ghosha yatra. His queens were also taken along. Dushasana, Karna and Shakuni accompanied Duryodhana….

Duryodhana set camp near the river. Through his spies he knew well that the Pandavas were in the forest near the river. He set up a huge camp, with all the finery right then and there. He knew he would see the Pandavas eventually. This was the only river in the area, so the Pandavas would definitely come there….

After setting up camp, Duryodhana eyed the river…The waters from the river looked remarkably cool after the hot journey. He decided to go for a swim in the water and enjoy himself….He sent his men to scout the river for any enemies before going for the swim….

The two soldiers whom he had sent came back after a long time and came back looking badly scared. ‘What happened?’ Duryodhana asked looking surprised.

‘Gan…gandharvas sir!’ One of the soldiers said trembling a little.

Karna came inside Duryodhana’s camp. ‘What gandharvas?’ He asked.

‘Sir, when we went a little further down the river, we saw a group of gandharvas….we asked the gandharvas to vacate the place….because you were here…..’ The soldier trembled a little unable to go on…

‘WHAT HAPPENED?’ Duryodhana asked his voice raising an octave, his anger building up.

The other guard spoke. ‘The gandharvas laughed at us sir!’ The soldier looked mortified even speaking to Duryodhana who had turned beet red in anger.

‘WHAT?’ Duryodhana shouted again. Some foolish Gandharvas had the audacity to laugh at him….Him, the prince of Hastinapur….They had to be taught a lesson for such behaviour…

‘What happened then?’ Karna asked quietly. Dushasana also came inside the camp hearing his brother’s shout.

‘The gandharvas asked us to vacate the place sir….or….’ The soldier wisely stopped from continuing the sentence. A vein in Duryodhana’s neck pulsed….The last thing anybody wanted was Duryodhana to get angry….The prince’s anger was legendary.

‘Or else what…?’ Dushasana asked looking as angry as his brother.  

Unable to evade an answer, the soldier spoke in a soft voice, ‘They said they were going to come and drive away all of us….’

Duryodhana did not say anything. He did not need to….Karna had already gone out to give orders to the men to organise and prepare for battle. Duryodhana was scarcely aware of how he had gotten his army ready for battle…the words of the gandharva repeating again and again in his mind….

And so Duryodhana and his men marched towards the Gandharvas….To his left was Karna and behind him was the might of the Hastinapur army. The gandharvas hearing the conch of battle came forward. Duryodhana saw red when he saw the gandharvas not looking any way scared. They in fact had the audacity to laugh at him….

Duryodhana and the five arrows of Bhishma - Part 2 of 3

King Chitrasena, leader of the gandharvas was elated to hear the conch... everything was proceeding exactly as per the plan…. He was here on a purpose.

Gandharvas were not from this planet. They were heavenly beings, far stronger, more powerful and much faster than humans. Most of the gandharvas were interested in dancing and singing and arts in general. That was the reason humans dismissed gandharvas as singing people of the heavens. Humans never understood exactly how ferocious a gandharva could be in battle….

Chitrasena still remembered with joy when Arjuna, the third Pandava had come to the heavens. Arjuna had performed a great penance and even won the Pashupatastra from the three eyed blue God – Shiva. Arjuna had also come to the heavens to help Indra [Indra was the biological father of Arjuna] fight the Nivatakavachas and the Kalakeyas.

Chitrasena had been much impressed with Arjuna. After winning the battle against the Nivatakavachas and the Kalakeyas, Arjuna had stayed behind in the heavens. There Chitrasena himself had taught Arjuna the art of dancing and singing. Chitrasena was amazed.. Arjuna learned singing and dancing with the same fervor and passion that he did everything else…..Arjuna soon became a master in the arts…as good as Chitrasena himself. Chitrasena loved Arjuna like his own son….

Chitrasena’s thoughts flew back to the previous day, when Indra had come to see him. Indra was looking angry. ‘That vile Duryodhana….he just cannot leave the Pandavas in peace….’ Chitrasena had followed the destiny of the Pandavas and was feeling sad that decent people like the Pandavas had to undergo so much hardship. He bowed to Indra. ‘Is there anything you want me to do?’

Indra nodded. ‘Yes…’ Indra explained to Chitrasena what Duryodhana had planned and Chitrasena grew more and more angry as he listened. ‘I want you to go to the forest near the river and make sure that Duryodhana never tries to mess with my son anymore!’ Chitrasena nodded his head and left with his men to the forests.

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Now looking at the Kaurava army, Chitrasena realized that the Kauravas had played right into his hands. Duryodhana wanted battle. Chitrasena looked at his men and back at Duryodhana….It was going to be a very short battle and one that Duryodhana would never forget….

Karna gave the sign for the attack to begin. The Kaurava army advanced….They were surprised to see a quick blur come straight towards them….Wherever the blur hit the Kaurava troops it was followed by screams of the Kaurava soldiers….Duryodhana watched in panic as the well-trained Kaurava troops were systematically being decimated by Chitrasena and his men…. Karna was fighting the gandharvas in a remote corner and soon went out of sight…In a short while the Kaurava army was reduced to rubble….

Duryodhana was staring in disbelief as a tall gandharva came forward with his men and captured Dushasana, himself and all his queens and took them prisoners….

Chitrasena spoke to Duryodhana in anger. ‘You came here to show-off did you not?…’ Chitrasena looked at the downcast Duryodhana and smiled to himself leaving the Kaurava prince in the prison….

***********************

Meanwhile two Kaurava soldiers who had escaped the massacre ran helter-skelter. They knew that the Pandavas were nearby….The two soldiers almost stumbled into the Pandava’s hermitage where Yudhishtara came forward to meet them.

Yudhishtara calmly noticed the uniforms of the Kaurava soldiers and their panic.

The guards panted out. ‘Kaurava forces destroyed by gandharvas….Duryodhana taken prisoner….’ The soldiers took a deep breath….’Please help!’ They said looking desperately at the Pandavas.

Predictably it was Bheema who broke out in a derisive laugh, ‘Help? Who should we help? We ought to reward the gandharvas for helping us!’ He looked at his brothers. ‘Probably we will go and see the great Duryodhana in his prison….Are you coming? We will thank the gandharvas for their help….’

Arjuna looked at the Kaurava soldiers. ‘Gandharvas are ferocious warriors….Why did Duryodhana go and fight against them?....They kill all their prisoners….’ Arjuna said in a matter-of-fact voice. The guards paled a little. They desperately looked at Yudhishtra hoping he would save their king.

Yudhishtara turned to Arjuna and Bheema, his lips set in a firm line. ‘Save Duryodhana now!’

Both Arjuna and Bheema looked at Yudhishtara wondering whether they had heard right. Arjuna told Yudhishtara. ‘I do not need to save that evil man…He invited this problem….I have no obligation to save a sworn enemy….’ Bheema also snorted in disgust as he looked at his elder brother.  

Yudhishtara looked at Arjuna first and then at Bheema. ‘If the gandharvas kill Duryodhana….whom will you have your revenge against?’ Yudhishtara turned to Bheema. ‘To the gandharvas we must seem like a united front….whatever may be our personal differences….We cannot show others how divided we are…Go now!’ Yudhishtara said. The words of Yudhishtara about revenge hit both Arjuna and Bheema.

The four brothers – Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva followed the two Kaurava soldiers. They came to the clearing where the battle had taken place. Then Bheema shouted. ‘Gandharvas! Come out! Come out and show your faces….Come out and fight with us….’

A few gandharva soldiers came out and saw four people and howled in laughter. ‘We just decimated an entire army…you think four of you would be any challenge to us?’

Arjuna twanged his bow as Bheema shouted , ‘We four represent four armies…Come out and fight!!’ A few gandharvas came and fought with the four brothers….But it was the turn of the gandharvas to be shocked… The four brothers fought like demons….The gandharvas wilted under the attack of the brothers….The gandharvas ran to Chitrasena, their king. Surprised at the bravery of four humans, Chitrasena followed his soldiers….He was still in the thick forest not seeing the Pandavas. He shouted, ‘Who are you? What do you want?’

‘We are the cousins of the people you just imprisoned. Release them….’ Arjuna shouted back.

‘They lost the battle fairly!’ Chitrasena replied. There was a sudden doubt in his voice. ‘Who are you? I have heard your voice before…’ Chitrasena came out into the open and looked at the four brothers….He was in for a shock….Standing before him were the four Pandavas. As he saw them, Chitrasena also realized that the gandharvas losing to the Pandavas was no big deal ….The Pandavas could not be defeated...

‘My friend Arjuna!’ Chitrasena ran towards the third Pandava.

Shocked on seeing his heavenly friend Arjuna was elated as Chitrasena hugged him. ‘How are you my friend? enquired Chitrasena in an excited voice. Arjuna introduced his brothers to Chitrasena. After the introductions, Arjuna requested Chitrasena. ‘Friend! I have a favour to ask of you! Please release Duryodhana, his relatives and his queens…Please!’

Chitrasena looked astounded. ‘I thought you would be happy that I have imprisoned them….Why do you want them released? In fact I am here at the request of your father….Indra!’

Arjuna looked wistful and then said. ‘No my friend! Duryodhana and his friends are destined to be defeated and killed in our hands…It is our duty to put an end to their menace….I thank you and my father for your well-meaning actions….But please release Duryodhana now….’

Chitrasena looked at Arjuna and the other Pandavas partly in wonder and partly with pride. He studied Arjuna for some time and then nodded his head. He turned to his soldiers. ‘Bring the prisoners here….We will release them….’

The soldiers went away when Chitrasena looked at Arjuna. ‘I take it you are still practicing your singing and dancing my friend!’ Arjuna smiled as he nodded his head. Arjuna did not know exactly how useful the dancing and singing skills would be….[In the second dice game, Duryodhana had placed a bet that if the Pandavas lost, they had to spend twelve years in the forest and one year in hiding. If Duryodhana found them out during the one year of hiding, the Pandavas would have to go for another 12 years exile and one year hiding….Arjuna spent the last one year as Brihanalla in the court of Virata, teaching dance and singing to Virata’s daughter – Uttarakumari.]

The soldiers dragged Duryodhana and his relatives before Chitrasena and the Pandavas. Chitrasena looked haughtily at Duryodhana. Duryodhana’s eyes burned with shame…He had come here to show off….Instead he was standing bound and tied, before the wretched Pandavas…Duryodhana felt he would rather die of shame….

Chitrasena continued arrogantly. ‘I would have made you my servant and kept you in my heavenly palace….Instead my friends here….’ Chitrasena pointed at the Pandavas.. ‘…they want you fools to be released….’ Chitrasena shrugged. ‘So, much against my wishes, I am releasing you…GO!’ Chitrasena said not even looking at Duryodhana.

Duryodhana prayed that the earth would cave in and swallow him.…He wished he could turn invisible, instead of standing and watching the smug smile on Bheema’s face. Nakula and Sahadeva looked like they were trying their level best not to laugh. Arjuna looked grim, his face expressionless.

The gandharva soldiers were jeering as they let Duryodhana go. His hands free, Duryodhana gruffly approached Arjuna. He saw no one else and paid no attention to anybody else. He spoke slowly as if unable to get the words out. ‘You…Today .you have given me my freedom back….I am a man who respects my honour. You can ask me one boon anytime and I will grant it to you….anything!’ Duryodhana said seriously. Arjuna was tempted to snipe at him and laugh out loud. But he held his tongue. Besides Arjuna was too seasoned a warrior to enter into a war of words with a defeated enemy. His face still grim he nodded his head. ‘I will ask you, when the time is right!’ Arjuna found himself saying.

The gandharvas left for their heavenly abode and the Pandavas went back to their hermitage.

His heart burning with revenge and hatred, Duryodhana, with his queens and relatives went back to Hastinapur….

Duryodhana and the five arrows of Bhishma - Part 3 of 3

After the successful completion of the one year in hiding, the Pandavas came to Duryodhana asking for their Indraprasta. Duryodhana flatly refused. A priest was sent to the Kauravas asking for their kingdom back to prevent war. Duryodhana ridiculed the priest and sent him back. Krishna himself came and pleaded brilliantly for atleast five villages for the pandavas to avoid the war….Duryodhana did not budge…War was inevitable…

And so started the terrible 18 day war between the Kauravas and their allies and the Pandavas with their allies….

During the first ten days of the battle, the general of the Kaurava army was Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Bhishma was bound by his vow to serve the family ruling Hastinapur, so he fought on the side of the Kauravas. However Bhishma loved the Pandavas and he also felt that the Pandavas were right….Duryodhana who knew this thought that Bhishma, though a fine warrior was purposely not killing the five brothers because of his love for them…. On one night after a dismal show by the Kauravas, in the battle, Duryodhana went to Bhishma.

‘Grandsire! I am ashamed of your way of fighting!’ He spoke with undisguised anger. Bhishma looked at Duryodhana, his face expressionless. Duryodhana continued. ‘You…you are supposed to be the greatest warrior in the world….And you are finding it difficult to kill five pathetic humans….’ Bhishma still said nothing as Duryodhana started ranting. ‘I think you are actually fighting on behalf of the Pandavas….You are in my army but you are fighting for the Pandavas…’ Duryodhana said each word distinctly, his face beet red with anger. 

Bhishma took a deep breath trying to calm himself but he couldn’t. The words of Duryodhana kept ringing in his head. How could he make Duryodhana believe? With great difficulty Bhishma pulled out five of his arrows and touched them closing his eyes. Duryodhana watched the entire scene with bewilderment wondering what his grandfather was doing….Suddenly Duryodhana gasped. A force left Bhishma and entered the five arrows. The five arrows gleamed…looked menacing…Duryodhana looked at the gleaming weapons afraid to touch them. He asked Bhishma in a whisper. ‘What is this Pitamah? [grandsire]’

Bhishma looked a little weak as the creases on his face were even more accentuated for a few seconds. Bhishma then look a deep breath trying to control himself…Bhishma felt his energy drain from him inexharoubly….Bhishma knew that what he had done would definitely seal the fate of the Pandavas…but as the General of the Kaurava army he had no choice, he was bound to serve his king…..

Bhishma spoke haltingly. ‘I have put my life force inside these arrows…The force within me….got through my powers of mind…in these arrows…these five arrows would not fail…One each for each of the Pandavas….’ Bhishma shook his head looking almost sad. ‘There is no escape from this arrow…when it is fired…it will kill the person for whom it is made!’ Duryodhana’s eyes gleamed as he eyed the arrows…Tomorrow there would be no Pandavas….He had done it….Duryodhana was about to laugh when he saw the expression on Bhishma’s face. His grandfather looked….looked like he was sorry for what he had done….Duryodhana thought quickly….If he left the arrows with Bhishma, it was very possible that the fool might, out of his sense of righteousness lose the arrows or worse hand them over to the Pandavas….Duryodhana shook his head. He could not let that happen….He looked at Bhishma. ‘Grandsire! I wish to keep the arrows with me. Bhishma looked at Duryodhana with a sad smile. Duryodhana still did not trust him…Bhishma spoke in a shaken voice. ‘I have created these weapons…I think it would be best if it is with me….’

Duryodhana shook his head nervously. ‘No! NO!’ he said rapidly. ‘I want to keep them safe with me and will give them to you in the morning….!’

Bhishma tried arguing with Duryodhana but his grandson was adamant. Finally Bhishma gave in and Duryodhana carried the five arrows back with him to his own camp. He lovingly looked at the arrows….The war was going to end tomorrow…Of that he had no doubt…The Pandavas were gone….

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Krishna slept badly that night. He was wondering why….Then Krishna sensed it and his spies had confirmed it….Bhishma had made what he had been dreading…..the five arrows…Krishna knew that Bhishma had the capacity to make these arrows….Krishna had been wondering what he could do about it….He knew that once those arrows were fired, there was precious little he could do to save the Pandavas….

‘So Bhishma has these arrows with him?’ Krishna said thinking aloud.. The spy shook his head. ‘Duryodhana has them in his camp sir!’ Krishna was startled out of his thoughts. ‘What?’ He asked incredulously. The spy nodded his head. He told Krishna all about the conversation between Bhishma and Duryodhana. At the end of the story his face broke into a happy smile. He dismissed the spy. Krishna hurriedly went to Arjuna’s camp….

***********************

While the Kaurava army slept, tired from the day’s battle, a hooded figure marched through the camp….It had been a simple matter to disarm the guards and go to the one camp the figure wanted….The man was not here to fight….

The figure entered Duryodhana’s camp. He saw that Duryodhana was awake. He was looking at five arrows lovingly in front of him. The hooded figure let out a gasp…He had no doubt that once fired…He spoke softly, ‘Duryodhana!’ Duryodhana startled and turned violently. As a reflex action he picked up his mace and pointed it towards the figure coming towards him. Only some instinct prevented him from swinging the mace. The voice of the figure was familiar….

Duryodhana clutched the mace and spoke quietly. ‘How did you get in? Who are you? Speak or I will kill you!’ The man removed his hood and Duryodhana glanced incredulously at Arjuna. He blinked….Arjuna was the last person Duryodhana expected to see here….Arjuna…Duryodhana knew was a noble man, he would never attack another man from behind or without warning….Feeling suddenly afraid Duryodhana spoke harshly. ‘What do you want, Arjuna?’

Arjuna came forward with a calm smile. ‘You promised me a boon once, remember?’ As if Duryodhana could forget…Every single event on that wretched day was etched in Duryodhana’s memory….’What of it?’ Duryodhana asked his voice still sounding harsh.

‘I have come to ask for the boon, Duryodhana!’ Arjuna said.

Duryodhana found that the words stuck in his throat as he was unable to talk. With trembling hands he signaled Arjuna to continue. Arjuna pointed to the five arrows. ‘I want them! I want the five arrows that Bhishma made! That is the boon I want from you!’

Duryodhana felt like an idiot as the intelligent words of his grandfather came to him. Duryodhana tried to hide the arrows from Arjuna. No…NO! He could not give away the arrows… But Duryodhana realized that if he ever broke his promise, he would never be able to respect himself…He had promised this wretch and Duryodhana with a broken heart realized that he was trapped.…Why did he have to bring the arrows with him…Duryodhana cursed himself. He watched with a defeated expression as Arjuna picked up the arrows and was about to leave the camp.

‘Who told you about the arrows?’ He asked listlessly.

Arjuna smiled. ‘Krishna!’

Duryodhana bit back a curse as he fell on the bed as Arjuna walked out with the arrows. That dark cowherd was going to be the ruin of him….Krishna…that vile intelligent Krishna….For the first time Duryodhana was afraid of the Dark Lord. Krishna was frighteningly clever…Duryodhana had heard of rumours that Krishna was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu…He had always dismissed them as pure talk…But now Duryodhana was afraid….Duryodhana realized with frightening accuracy that the black man could take away the entire war from him….not by his weapons but by the sharpness by his mind…. Duryodhana regretted choosing the armies of Krishna…If only he had chosen Krishna himself…. Duryodhana shivered.

Stumbling, Duryodhana walked back to the camp of his grandfather who looked deep in sleep. Unmindful, Duryodhana woke him up. Bhishma woke up and saw Duryodhana who looked like he had the fright of his life. He did not look like the jubilant Duryodhana of a few hours back. ‘What is it, my child?’ Bhishma asked looking anxiously.

Duryodhana fumbled as he muttered. ‘Arjuna took away the arrows!’ Bhishma looked aghast. Slowly with tears in his eyes Duryodhana explained everything. He kept quiet not saying anything. ‘You were the one who made the arrows…can you make them again?’ Duryodhana asked feeling desperate. He could not come so close to winning the battle and have it so tantalizingly out of reach….

Bhishma let out a tired laugh. ‘Son! I put my life force in those arrows…The powers of my penance…’ Bhishma shook his head sadly. ‘I….I cannot do that again….I do not have the power or the energy for it….’ Duryodhana’s hopes sank as he saw Bhishma.

He looked at Bhishma. Bhishma looked pathetically at Duryodhana. ‘I begged you to give the weapons to me…I was not bound by any word to give Arjuna anything….So the weapon would have been safe with me…Instead you distrusted me and now….’ Bhishma did not complete the sentence as Duryodhana felt tears in his eyes….

In frightening clarity, Duryodhana wondered for the first time….was he going to lose the war? Was that what was written for him…? Was the entire war just a means of destroying him and his allies so that the Pandavas could rule without any problems…..

Duryodhana came to know after the end of the eighteen day war that he was meant to lose it…..And it was not because of the weapons of his enemies…It was because of the shrewdness of one man in particular…Krishna was single handedly responsible for the defeat of the Kauravas in the battlefield of Kurukshetra… Krishna without his weapons was more dangerous than the might of the entire Kaurava army.…..

Rukmini and Krishna - Part 1 of 3

Bhishmaka, the King of Vidharba, looked around his court with pride. His five sons were strong and powerful and were always around to protect him. Bhishmaka particularly relied on his eldest son – Rukmi, who was the strongest of them all.

However, now when King Bhishmaka thought of Rukmi, he became a little uncomfortable...,....Of late he was worried about the company that his son kept....Sishupala, Dandavakra, Jarasandha, Salva, Viduratha....They were not exactly role models for someone to follow. .Not good at all....Far from it..........

Bhishmaka reminded himself that he would have to speak to his son about that....Bhishmaka coughed as he looked at his court. His coughing fits were getting bad and he was relying more and more on his eldest son...Bhishmaka sighed...He was not as young as he used to be....He had to give the affairs of the kingdom to his son...and retire to the forests....But before that....Bhishmaka looked to his left and saw his beautiful daughter Rukmini sitting beside him. He had to find a good mate for her.....

Bhishmaka flushed with pride as he saw Rukmini keenly observing the happenings in the court. But then that was no surprise. Rukmini had always attended court. She always sat through court, ever since she had been a child. As Rukmini grew up, the habit continued. Bhishmaka was the first to acknowledge that on many occasions it was Rukmini who had helped out in the matters of the court...she was a natural at diplomacy and negotiating.

Rukmini was the apple of his eye or for that matter, everybody in his court liked Rukmini...There was something in the keen gaze with which she looked, her infectious laughter and her razor sharp intellect. People found themselves answering to her beck and call...Yes! Bhishmaka thought with fierce pride...His daughter was a gem...she deserved to be happy all through her life...Bhishmaka intended to make it happen....

'Sage Narada has come to court sir!' The guard came and announced with a smile, breaking the thoughts of the king.

The guard did not miss that both Bhishmaka's and Rukmini's eyes lit up at the mention of Narada's name. The guard wondered how a rishi could bring such joy to the King and the Princess....

Sage Narada was received with honour as the King and the Princess led him to their inside palace and gave him a very tasty meal. The rishi enjoyed the meal and later on rested for some time as the King and Rukmini left him alone.

The rishi woke up and looked with twinkling eyes and saw that Rukmini was looking at him impatiently but not saying anything. Sage Narada smiled....

He sat up and looked at King Bhishmaka, 'So what would you like to hear today, your majesty?' For that was what Sage Narada did. He traveled all over the world and brought news from all over and narrated them to the kings....

However of late, in the kingdom of Vidharba, Sage Narada had been narrating stories of only one person....Bhishmaka and Rukmini did not seem to be interested in any other person....

'Krishna… I want to hear the stories of Krishna...' Rukmini blurted out as the sage and the king looked at her with amused eyes.

Sage Narada cast a shrewd eye on Rukmini...He did not need any special powers to understand true love when he saw it....However, he wondered…how was it that a person could love another, even without meeting that person....But then Narada realised......He could not say that....He could never say that Rukmini did not know Krishna....

Sage Narada never got tired of repeating the stories of Krishna to Rukmini and Rukmini never got tired of hearing them....And so the sage narrated the latest adventures of Krishna. Rukmini listened with rapt attention as she heard about the bravery of her Krishna, the diplomacy of Krishna, the fighting prowess of Krishna....it seemed to go on and on....Rukmini was lost in her own world thinking of Krishna.....She imagined the black Krishna, with a beautiful smile in his face and twinkling eyes....She could see it all so clearly as the Sage narrated the stories.....Listening about Krishna somehow made her feel complete.....

King Bhishmaka looked at his daughter as she listened to the stories of Krishna...The thrill, the love in her eyes was unmistakable...King Bhishmaka happily nodded his head...His daughter was now a beautiful young woman and Krishna would make a perfect husband for her....

The sage left after he had told the two of them all the stories of the Dark Lord, even repeating many of them. But neither of them cared...as long as the stories were about Krishna's bravery, diplomacy and kindness....

As Sage Narada left Vidharba, he decided that now that he had seen Rukmini, the next obvious move would be to go and see the other half....He left for Dwaraka with a smile as he strummed his tamboora....

After the sage left, King Bhishmaka spoke to his daughter, 'Rukmini!’, the king said partly with happiness and partly with regret...'You are no longer a young child...You are mature enough to have your own family and start your own life ....'

Rukmini blushed furiously as she tried to scold her father playfully, 'Father!....'

King Bhishmaka tried his best to keep his face straight as he continued, 'Looking at you, I am sure, you have even chosen a good man for yourself....'

Rukmini blushed even more as she shyly nodded her head. King Bhishmaka continued, 'Well, who is he?'

'Krishna...' Rukmini said shyly as she studied her feet, not looking anywhere at her father.

Bhishmaka looked at Rukmini, pretended to be surprised, 'Krishna? The Lord of Dwaraka? But you have never even met him!'

Rukmini looked Bhishmaka with unseeing eyes, 'You are right father, I have never met him! But I know him...' Rukmini said it with a conviction that amazed Bhishmaka, '...And I love him for what he is....'

Bhishmaka watched his daughter. He could not understand the expression behind them,..Just for a minute there he thought that Rukmini actually had seen Krishna...The way, she said 'I know him...' Bhishmaka felt almost as if Rukmini had been with Krishna forever.....

Bhishmaka shook himself as he kissed his daughter on the forehead, 'He is a very good man for you! I am sure he will keep you happy....'

Rukmini fell at her father's feet as her father blessed her....

King Bhishmaka went to speak with his eldest son, 'Rukmi! I wish to talk with you...' He said as a coughing fit enveloped him....

Rukmi hurriedly seated his father and gave Bhishmaka some water. As the coughing stopped, Bhishmaka took a deep breath and continued...'As I was saying I have something to tell you!'

Rukmi looked concerned as he studied his father. His father was getting old and found it difficult to manage the affairs of the state. Rukmi nodded to himself as he realized what his father may want to talk to him....In fact that was exactly what he had in mind too. He waited patiently for his father to bring up the topic.

'It is about Rukmini...She is not a child anymore....' King Bhishmaka began guardedly...for some strange reason, the king felt hesitant to talk to his own son... But Rukmi enthusiastically nodded his head. 'That is exactly what I have in mind father! That is what I wanted to talk to you about'.

Bhishmaka relaxed. He continued hurriedly before his son could say anything. 'Good! Good! Then you must agree, that Krishna is the best match for Rukmini....'

Bhishmaka saw Rukmi's face change a dark shade as his eyes became red, 'Do you mean, that cowherd, who is now pretending to be the king of Dwaraka?'

Bhishmaka stood mute as he watched his son become more and more aggressive.. 'I thought you loved your daughter....' Bhishmaka could not say anything as Rukmi spoke in disgust, 'Is this how you show your love to your beloved daughter? You get her married to a liar? A coward?' Rukmi spat out. 'I will not let you do such a thing to my sister.'

Bhishmaka was troubled. With a weary heart he asked his son. 'If you think that Krishna is not the right choice for Rukmini, who do you think is the right choice?'

'Sishupala, of course.' Rukmi snorted. Bhishmaka felt terrible as he heard his son talk like this. Rukmi continued. 'King Sishupala, the king of chedi, the son of Damoghosha is the right choice for my sister....' Rukmi said with a finality that brook no further argument.

Bhishmaka tried his level best to talk Rukmi out of the idea. Sishupala was an arrogant man and was not even remotely the right mate for his daughter. Besides, Rukmini already loved Krishna, so there really was no question about changing her mind....

But Rukmi was adamant. He could not accept the fact that his sister had fallen in love with a man who was not born a king...a man whom Rukmi considered his enemy. He just could not allow it.

To thwart his sister and his father, Rukmi hastily arranged the wedding of Rukmini with Sishupala even without giving his sister a chance to voice out her opinion, as was the custom in those days.