Soorpanaka wailed. She screamed. She growled and gurgled her fury. So long has she waited, alone and cut off (she had to smile at herself- the irony there was hard to be ignored), and now she was alone again. Again!
She scrambled to the main room, tearing through chests and boxes. It had to be here somewhere.
She could feel the events of the past few days trying to push their way into her mind, but she was determined not to let them overwhelm her.
Whispered promises made in the dark. Love song carried on hushed breath. Then the clash of war bells.
Soorpanaka hastily brushed a traitorous tear from her cheek. Here it was- the last thing that Tharna had given her, and the key to finding him. Her eyes still stinging, she read:
"My mistress' eyes burn terribly as the sun;
her lips coal black, not rosy red;
Her stature is short, and her breasts are none;
A grimace so foul, all would surely dread.
I have smelt lilies fair, both pink and yellow;
no such perfume from my lady comes;
A battle cry she shouts, a bellow;
No harps are heard, but only drums.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare."
There might yet be a time for tears, but Soorpanaka would not let it be today. Tharna had made her feel once more like a woman, but she was a demon still. Those who fought against him would learn what that truly meant. All her life, Soorpanaka had fought her world. Today, she fought with purpose. She fought for her world. Hurtling down the mountainside, Soorpanaka threw back her head, moonlight illuminating the grisly holes where her nose and ears had been, and howled her battle cry.
To start I love you're image and felt that immediatly set the tone for your story. From the very beginning, you feel like you are in Soorpanakas situation. You're authors notes go in great detail on why and has inspired me to write more on mine.
ReplyDeleteWow, Maya! This story had me hooked from the start. The picture you choose is perfect for the story’s gristly tone, and your writing is descriptive and tangible. I could understand Soorpanaka’s desperation. My favorite part is definitely your adaptation of Shakespeare’s sonnet. I could tell it was familiar to me, but you added in the details of Soorpanaka’s mutilation. I also laughed at your author’s note, calling it a discount Shakespearian sonnet. I actually wrote a Shakespearian sonnet for a story this week, and it was incredibly hard, so I understand feeling inadequate next to the Bard! I still liked yours, though.
ReplyDeleteI love Soorpanaka’s internal shift at the end, deciding to fight for the world rather than against it. The physical details seemed unclear to me, though. Who was attacking, and how would she fight? Since your goal is to make Soorpanaka the heroine, what if —instead of BEING attacked—she swooped into battle to save Tharna and took a more active role in that? I really like your interpretation of this part of Ramayana. The episode didn’t stick out to me at first, but you’ve made Soorpanaka a very sympathetic character and I want her to succeed!