A-Z April Challenge 2015: Thank you! See you in April 2016

Google Images

When I joined the A-Z April Challenge this year, though I was confident of completing it, I never expected to enjoy it so much. As I had mentioned in my “theme reveal”, I had tried the challenge last year but unfortunately, couldn’t complete it.

I love to write and hence my blogs. I enjoy writing fiction and have a few published novels and a collection of short stories to my name along with a few short stories on my website. I have an opinion about anything and everything and my blog is the best place that I can air them.

I have never been fond of contests. I find them too negative for my liking. I feel that competition eats into one’s creativity. I always steer clear of them. But the April Challenge is exactly what it says it is. A Challenge - one where you pit against yourself.

You decide on a theme - only if you want to. You can write about anything under the sun; in any form - prose, poetry or even pictures. Your posts are preferred to follow the alphabet - it could be names, adjectives, nouns, just about any damn thing.

This year, I decided to write stories from Indian mythology. Just in case I couldn’t find the names or topics to suit the alphabet, I gave myself the freedom of borrowing from Grimm’s Fairy tales and European mythology – wrote two for ‘C’ & ‘X’. I was sure I would never find anyone in Indian mythology for Z and had planned to write about Zeus. But the response I got for my typically Indian stories was so overwhelming that I challenged myself to write a post from Indian mythology for the last letter of the alphabet. And that’s how Zealous Little Squirrel from the Ramayana was born.

I must say I loved every bit of the challenge while I made a number of new friends as we interacted with one another via our blogs. Better yet, I was amazed at the ideas my fellow bloggers came up with while presenting their posts. Simply incredible! It’s been a wonderful journey and for that I have to thank the team of “Blogging from A to Z Challenge” for organising such a wonderful blogging exercise - one without too many rules - the only kind that I love.

Thank you so much Arlee Bird, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Jeremy Hawkins, Stephen Tremp, Tim Brannan, Rob Z Tobor, J Lenni Dorner, Jenny Pearson, Jeffrey Bushman and a host of others who have made this humongous effort possible.

Catch you all next year during A-Z April Challenge 2016!

A-Z April Challenge 2015: Y for YUYUTSU, SON OF SUGADA & DRITHARASHTRA

Y for Yuyutsu held by his father Dritharashtra
Google Pics

“Traitor,” accused Duryodhana, glaring with his reddened, tempestuous eyes at his half-brother Yuyutsu. “How dare you take the side of our enemies, the Pandavas?”

Dhitharashtra turned his head this way and that, trying to understand what was going on. “Duryodhana,” called his father, “Whom are you calling a traitor? Who’s taking the Pandavas’s side?” 

“Pitaashri, it’s Daasi-putra Yuyutsu, he’s the traitor,” roared Duryodhana in accusation, a tremor running through his body as his temper blew out of proportion. 

On hearing this, the blind king turned to his left, where he presumed his second son Yuyutsu to be as Duryodhana’s voice came from his right. “Yuyutsu, why are you upsetting your elder brother?” he asked. Duryodhana was his favourite and Dritharashtra wouldn’t dream of taking his younger son’s side, that too, the son of his maid Sugada, not Queen Gandhari. 

“Pranaam Pitaashri! I feel it only right that the sons of Uncle Pandu be given their share of the kingdom. We have insulted them enough with this game of dice. Shaming Draupadi Baabhi as did Dushashana, cannot be permitted by any code of honour. Going forward, we are laying the foundation for the ruin of the Kaurava dynasty. Please make Duryodhana understand Pitaashri,” pleaded Yuyutsu, hoping against hope that their father will have some kind of influence over the eldest Kaurava prince.

Duryodhana didn’t wait for their father to respond. “Get out Yuyutsu, get away from the kingdom. If Yudhistir and his brothers are so important to you, go and join them. I don’t want traitors in our midst!” he ordered, a hand pointing to the entrance of the throne room. 

“Duryodhana,” began the blind king, trying to pacify his hot-tempered eldest born.

Only Duryodhana wouldn’t let their father finish what he wanted to say. He didn’t want to hear anything that would prove an advantage to his hated cousins, the Pandavas. “Go Yuyutsu. Get out of my sight before I kill you with my bare hands.”

Yuyutsu left, much to the Kauravas’s disadvantage. He knew all the war secrets and strengths of the Kauravas and was a great boon to the Pandavas during the Kurukshetra War. 

On Day 18 of the war, Yuyutsu looked at the battlefield, tears in his eyes. His warning had fallen on deaf years. His half-brother had refused to listen. The Kaurava dynasty had come to an end. 

Glossary:

1. Pitaashri - Father
2. Daasi-putra - Son of servant

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy

A-Z April Challenge 2015: W for WISE SAHADEVA

W for Wise Sahadeva
Google Images

The council met late in the night before the Kurukshetra war began. There was Sri Krishna, Yudhisthira, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva along with the many sons of the Pandavas. A discussion came up – was there a way to stop the war with the Kauravas?

One person suggested, “The war can be stopped if Draupadi’s hair is shorn off.”

Another said, “If Bheema’s gada is shattered, there will be no fight.”

A third one said, “If Arjuna’s gandiva is broken, there will be no war.”

That’s when Sahadeva got up to give his opinion. He was a wise soul and a man of few words. So whenever he spoke, all tended to remain quiet and listen well.

“The only way to stop the war with our cousins,” Sahadeva smiled as he turned to look at Sri Krishna, “is if Krishna is tied up. He’s the cause of all this. If he’s bound, all this will come to a stop.”

All those present were shocked. Tie up Krishna? Was such a thing possible? Was something wrong with Sahadeva? How could he make such a suggestion?

A soft smile broke out on Sri Krishna’s lips as he looked at Sahadeva with great affection. “How do you think that’s going to happen, Sahadeva? Is there a person born who can tie me up?”

His brothers did their best to stop Sahadeva from saying anything, but in vain. Unperturbed, Sahadeva looked Krishna deeply in the eye as he said, “I will do it, Krishna.”

Sri Krishna got up from his seat, stood in the middle of the conference hall as he began to grow in size, the tip of his crown touching the rafters. Everyone in the hall stood up, awed as they watched Sri Krishna’s Vishwaroopa, their jaws dropping as their hands automatically came together in worship.

But Sahadeva was unshaken. He also had his hands together as he uttered a shloka to propitiate the lord, as he knew full well that it was Lord Mahavishnu who was born as Krishna. Sri Krishna just shrank back in size and he was tightly bound with ropes, as he stood in front of the praying Sahadeva.

Sri Krishna’s smile never disappeared as he blessed the youngest Pandava prince. The lord was but playing a game to show the world the devotion Sahadeva had for his God.

Glossary:

Gadha – mace
Gandiva – a special bow belonging to Arjuna
Vishwaroopa – a special darshan of Lord Mahavishnu in full form
Shloka – prayer

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy
The Moving Quill by Shailaja Vishwanath

A-Z April Challenge 2015: N for NAKULA, THE 4th PANDAVA

N for Nakula with Panchali
Google Images

Panchali’s hands trembled in excitement as she arranged the royal blue vastra over her lush breasts. She looked into the mirror and smiled into her own eyes that shone brilliantly, like black grapes freshly plucked off the vine. She bit her lips to make them redder than they already were, as she tilted her head to look out of the window. A full moon was rising up in the sky just as the sun had slid down the horizon at the other end. Her heart pumped harder as she awaited her lover for the night.

Panchali didn’t know if she was lucky or not, for she did have five men to love her. But then, she found the eldest Yudhishthira quite staid. He went about making love just the same as he would go about running his kingdom – out of a sense of duty. That was not the best way to keep a woman happy.

Bheema was... Panchali searched her mind for the right word... his appetite for food outshone all his other appetites. She couldn’t stop grinning to herself as she passed this judgement over the second Pandava. Well, there was no other way to describe it.

Prince Arjuna! Well, he was handsome, he was a warrior through and through. And it was he who had won Panchali at the swayamvara. But did that make him the best lover? Panchali saw her head shaking in the mirror. Arjuna was too much of himself. He counted himself first and foremost. Everything else followed after that. His wife was probably way down in his list, she was sure.

Now Nakula... Panchali blushed a fiery red, her cheeks turning hot to the touch. He was the handsomest of the five. In spite of that, and despite the fact that he shared Panchali with his four brothers, Nakula had never thought of getting married again. All the other four had many wives. But not Nakula!

Panchali felt cherished by the 4th Pandava prince. He knew how to make a woman happy – both mentally and physically. Was it any wonder that Panchali eagerly awaited her turn with him? She quietly juggled the schedules of the other princes so that she got to spend more time with Nakula. It wasn’t too difficult as they did have other wives to keep happy.

Wasn’t Panchali lucky that she had got Prince Nakula in the package deal when Arjuna won her at the swayamvara?

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy
The Moving Quill by Shailaja Vishwanath

A-Z April Challenge 2015: J for JARASANDHA’S REIGN OF TERROR

1. The queens giving birth to two halves of one baby; 2. Jara, the demon brings the two halves together to give life to Jarasandha
Google Images

At sixteen, the Prince of Magadha was built like a small mountain. And he had a temper to match. What drove him was hatred. When he was born, Jarasandha had been thrown out with the garbage, literally. His eyes turned red as the prince refused to shed the tears of anger that drove him to violence. Neither of his mothers – he had two unlike the rest of the world – had wanted him. Both the royal queens had shun him at birth. Was it his fault that he had been born in two pieces?

While the demon Jara had had the sense to bring the two halves of his body together and breathe life into him, his own parents had just thrown him away. Jarasandha paced up and down the corridor, restless. He had to become the greatest emperor on earth and prove to the king and his queens that he did not need them at any level. 

He turned around to slap the maid servant who had brought him a glass of wine. A sneer turned Jarasandha’s face harsher than ever. Yes! He had no use for women. He hated the species. Once he was emperor, he would turn all women into slaves, to serve him and his warriors.

And thus began Jarasandha’s reign of terror... 

Click Here to read the story of Jarasandha’s birth... 

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy

A-Z April Challenge 2015: G for GANDHARI... WHAT IF?

G for Gandhari
Google Images

WHAT IF...

Gandhari is left with no choice when her father, the King of Gandhar makes a pact with Bheeshma to wed her to Prince Dritharashtra. Worse it yet to come, as she’s unaware that the prince who she’s going to wed has been blind since birth. 

Her brother Prince Shakuni is greatly upset with his father when he gets to know the truth. “Gandhari, there is no need for you to marry a man who’s blind since birth. Allow me to send a messenger across to Bheeshma, cancelling the alliance,” pleaded Shakuni to his only sister. “I’m ready to face the consequences, even if we have to go to war with Hastinapura.”

Gandhari shook her head to say, “It’s on the part of a daughter to fulfil the wishes of her father. I will not go against the promise that our father has made to the ruler of Hastinapura. Let the wedding take place as planned.”

Gandhari decided to accept her fate. She planned to help the blind prince, heir to the throne of Hastinapura, rule his kingdom to the best of his ability. He could definitely do it. She had a strong enough vision, both literally and figuratively, to take care of his kingdom.

That’s how Gandhari married Dritharashtra and became his eyes. Impressed by her cleverness and wisdom, Bheeshma decided to crown Dritharashtra the king of Hastinapura. The king and queen of Hastinapura lived long and ruled wisely.

And they all lived happily ever after! 

...THE KURUKSHETRA WAR WOULD NEVER HAVE COME ABOUT

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy
The Moving Quill by Shailaja Vishwanath

A-Z April Challenge 2015: E for EKLAVYA VICTIMISED

E for Eklavya
Google Images

Eklavya stood with both hands folded in front of the clay statue of Dronacharya. He prayed to the man he had accepted as his own Guru and began practising his archery late into the night. Well, during the day, Eklavya had been busy watching the Acharya teach the Kaurava and Pandava princes. That is how he had been learning the skill so well.

One night, some of the princes happened along the path where Eklavya was practising his archery. Arjuna was amazed at the Nishadh boy’s prowess. Drona followed his students and was equally impressed. But soon, the Acharya’s mind began to play. What if this boy became a better archer than Prince Arjuna? That’s when he decided to ask for Gurudakshina.

Eklavya’s surrender to his Guru was so complete that he agreed to give Dronacharya any Gurudakshina that he sought. He did not even wait to find out what was it that the Acharya sought. 

And Drona could not have asked for anything worse. It would have been better if he had asked for Eklavya’s life. The cunning Dronacharya requested Eklavya for his right thumb, the thumb without which the boy would never be able to wield an arrow. Did Eklavya refuse? Of course not. He did not even hesitate before taking out a small knife that he carried in his waistband and cutting off his thumb, presented it to his Guru. 

While Dronacharya had done his best to remove Arjuna’s competition, he never foresaw Eklavya’s determination to become a skilled archer. That he became, despite the lack of his thumb. It is proof of his greatness that Eklavya never sought to compete with Arjuna nor did he ever lose respect for his Guru in the process. 

Glossary:
Acharya / Guru - Teacher
Gurudakshina - Teacher's fee

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy
The Moving Quill by Shailaja Vishwanath

A-Z April Challenge 2015: D for DRITHARASHTRA’S HEARTBREAK

D for Dritharashtra
Google Images

Dritharashtra thrashed around like a mad bull elephant. The servants stayed away from the prince for their own safety. He appeared capable of crushing someone with his bare hands. But no strength or intelligence of his had been enough to garner Dritharashtra the throne of Hastinapura. And all because he had been born blind!

Dritharashtra pressed both his hands against his blind eyes, wishing to pull them out of their sockets. Oh why! Why had he not been born normal? Why had he learned all the scriptures and the many methods of warfare? To what avail? Why had Bheeshma had him trained in all the virtues of a king if he had never meant him to become one? They could have killed him as a child. It would have been so much better. Dritharashtra rued his fate.

And hatred gushed from him towards Bheeshma, mother Satyavathi and his brother Pandu. Pandu had no qualms about accepting the crown of Hastinapura. How dared he? Did that mean that his, Dritharashtra’s, descendants would never ascend the thrown?

The keening sound emanating from Dritharashtra’s chambers made the servants move further away. They did not want to bear the brunt of the Arya prince’s anger. But Gandhari could sense her husband’s pain, his heartbreaking disappointment. She shed tears of sorrow for his broken dreams, his aspirations to rule the mighty kingdom of Hastinapura. She walked into the chamber to commiserate with her husband. And that night, that very night, Gandhari was impregnated. 

All the disappointment, anger and jealousy in Dritharashtra got transferred to her womb – to be born as the hundred Kauravas. That night the seed of Kurukshetra was sown in Gandhari’s womb by Dritharashtra’s heartbreak. 

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy

A-Z April Challenge 2015: B for BAKASURA VS BHEEMA

B for Bakasura vs Bheema
Google Images

The earth trembled from the sound of the snores emanating from the sleeping Bakasura. He had been completely satisfied with the meal the villagers of Ekachakra had sent him the earlier day – five jugs of wine, one cow, two goats, a few baskets of fruits and vegetables along with two huge containers of cooked rice. Even better was the hefty man who had brought the cartload of food. Bakasura snored louder, a smile on his harsh face as he dreamt of the next meal he was to receive that very day.

He woke up a few hours later, thirsty. His huge hand reached out to the last jug of wine that he had retained for the morning and drank it in one single gulp. Sitting, he was as tall as most of the trees in the forest and taller than some. Raising a paw of a hand to scratch his beard, Bakasura turned towards the direction of Ekachakra. The sun was riding high in the sky and it was on its way down. Where was his food?

Bakasura rose to his feet, knocking a few trees down, without making an effort. He took a couple of giant steps towards the village and let out a roar. It was followed by an uproar as animals and birds that stayed a few miles away, took away in a hurry, not wanting to fall prey to the asura. 

Bheema, who was sitting about a hundred feet away, heard the roar. A smile on his face, he continued to eat the food that he had brought from the village – the cartload that was meant for Bakasura. 

Taking a whiff, Bakasura smelled human flesh and walked towards Bheema. The sight that greeted him made the asura roar again, as he beat his fists against his chest. Though hugely built for a man, Bheema was barely half the size of Bakasura. How dared he eat the food meant for the asura? 

The villagers quaked as they heard Bakasura’s roar. They turned anxiously to look at Kunti and her four sons, surprised to see them smiling. Soon, they heard a keening sound of pain. That surely must be Bheema. The old Brahman who should have sent his son that day, had tears in his eyes. He had sinned by sending his guest in the place of his son. Will God ever forgive him?

A few hours later, the villagers of Ekachakra came out to see the strangest sight. Bheema was dragging the heavy cart that held the corpse of Bakasura. Cheers rent the air as the crowd celebrated the death of the asura who had been killing the people one by one. 

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Jayantiblogsphere

The Multicolored Diary by Zalka Csenge Virág

Author Stephen Tremp

A-Z April Challenge 2015: A for ARJUNA’S FOCUS

A for Arjuna (with Drona)
Google Images

Drona was out early in the morning with all his students. Excitement was rife as they were set to enter an archery contest that their teacher had planned for them. Duryodhana was clear that this was one opportunity that he did not plan to miss to outwit the third Pandava. He was quite sick of the way their teacher played favouritism with Arjuna. He waited along with his brothers and cousins, impatient for the contest to begin.

Yudhisthira came forward to take up the challenge. Drona pointed to a wooden bird that he had placed on the highest branch of a tree and asked the eldest Pandava Prince what he was able to see. “I can see the sun’s rays falling on the bird Acharya. The bird is partly hidden amidst the branches.” Saying this, Yudhisthira let go of his arrow that went and pierced the branch next to where sat the bird, quite unharmed.

The Kauravas laughed even as the four Pandavas commiserated with their eldest brother. Next, it was Duryodhana’s turn. He was prancing about in nervous excitement, overconfident of winning. Even before Drona could explain what was required, he said, “You want me to hit the bird, right? Just watch me do just that.” His arrow pierced the main trunk that was about two feet away from the wooden bird. He walked away in a temper, refusing to look at his smirking cousins in the eye.

After a couple of more tries by Bheema and Dushashana, it was Arjuna’s turn – the teacher’s favourite. Arjuna walked forward to stand next to Drona. “What do you see, my son?” asked Drona. 

“A black eye,” replied Arjuna. He did not hear the Kauravas’ laughter. Duryodhana and his brothers spoke among themselves, wondering what kind of a fool was the third Pandava. Couldn’t he see the bird? They were sure he was going to fail the test. 

A proud Drona gestured for Arjuna to release his arrow. Standing there majestically with his feet apart, the right one a few inches ahead, Arjuna’s head was raised to the skies, his eyes focussed completely on the wooden bird’s eye. His hands were steady as he strung his bow and held it at the ready, the tip of his arrow shining in the morning light. Uttering a short mantra, Arjuna released his arrow that landed exactly in the spot suggested by his teacher – in the bird’s eye. 

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Jayantiblogsphere

The Multicolored Diary by Zalka Csenge Virág

Author Stephen Tremp