Bipasha Ray Sokhey
“They have landed baba, it will take 1 hour to reach.”
“Pitambar would have never wanted this. His sons are almost here to give up his fields for industrialisation. The fertility of our fields carry the divine essence of Maithili being a part of our existence. The sacred abode of mother Sita, a small temple we constructed together isn't situated very far from there. If the land goes the temple goes with it. I feel entirely helpless Bhumi.”
“Baba! we are the Sitamarhi people, we don't give up”, said Bhumi calmly. Motherless Bhumi was raised by Bhairu with a firm vision of Sita in his mind, sculpted her like an idol. Sukhhi and Rudra jerk Bhairu out of his turbulent thoughts.
“Bhumi didi! We are here.” A gasping Sukhhi blurts. “Do you remember what you got to do?”
“Yes, precisely didi.”
“Are you going to fight them?” Bhairu asks with a little glint of hope in his eyes before the horn honks outside.
Post a scrumptious welcome meal the outlanders, Rohit and Rony meet a vital fact regarding Pitamber's fields.
Sukhhi – “Rudra! Were you there in that old Sita temple yesternight? I saw some lights flickering there.”
Rudra- “No! I thought it was you. Are the rumours true then? That's disastrous, as if the land goes, the temple goes too and the legend shall carve an eternity of doom over us and them”
Rudra points a finger at the NRIs raising their hair a bit while a clueless Bhairu tries to catch a hold of everything.
Rohit- “What legend? What temple? We're here to sell our father's land.”
Sukhhi- “Wait, what? You're unaware of such an enthralling fact? Your father and Bhairu uncle built a temple together brushing their lands as an immortal token of their friendship. It's said that a Holy spirit protects it.”
Rudra- “Sukhhi! Better show than tell. Let's venture to the fields at night.” Rohit and Rony agreed with a mocking disbelief in gesture.
The boys reached the fields. Something felt uncanny not only to the outlanders but to all. The psithurism played whimsical tunes that touched symphonies of old tales. Enlightenment enshrined yet blanketed by a mysterious figure. “There she is, the legend, bow! bow! Hail mother Sita.” Enormous strands of hair swaying wild, gleaming trident in a hand, lotus in another, draping a fierce Kashta she stood there like a stern pillar encompassing the strength of universe, cosmic strips of dancing flames grasping it's sheath made the brothers weak at the knees, drenched in sweat and insanity they preferred to leave the place.
Sukhhi entered the house screaming "Well done didi! What a performance, you looked ethereal.....”
Bhumi- "Who? I couldn't leave, twisted my ankle, are you pissed at me for ghosting the plan?"
The next day brothers decided to sell the land to Bhairu at an agreeable price.
Baba- Father
Maithili - The other of Goddess Sita
Kashta - A warrior drape ( draping a saree in a particular pattern that helps women fight is called a warrior drape/Kashta)
Bipasha Ray Sokhey is a 33 years old writer from India, fortunate enough to have her work recently published in two anthologies compiled and edited by esteemed authors, Anita Nahal, Meenakshi Mohan, Roopali Sircar. Writing serves as a tool for her to portray her mind, unleash her strength in words and a passion that keeps her thriving towards imagination. The topic 'Ancient Mythology' had Bipasha turn over a new leaf.
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