The Gall of Gammon

Disclaimer: This story is my humble attempt to write a fanfiction of the epic Mahabharata. My intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiment.

Aum Namah Shivay!!

Major Jayant Roy, SM is a fictitious character. Any similarity with any living person is merely a coincidence.

Chapter 10

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Jayant/ Duryodhana POV

I opened my eyes, and saw the Sun God was just coming out from the sky. My head was feeling heavy, and body was aching.

I tried to organise the thoughts in my mind. What was the last thing that I could remember?

Oh...yes, my thoughts were getting more organised now. I went with kulguru Kripacharya to his sister's house. There, I met mata Kripi and Ashwatthama. Then, we took them into Hastinapur. After coming back, I met my brothers and Guha, who were bullied by Bheem. I asked Vikarna to fetch the royal vaidya.

"The journey was very tiring. I probably overslept." I thought to myself. But, some invisible sense was telling me that something gone horribly wrong. I forced those thoughts out of my mind. I stood up from my bed, and walked outside of the room. I walked out towards the palace gates to go to the Ganga River. But, I hadn't missed the astonished and shocked looks in those palace guard's eyes.

I don't know what is happening to me today.

I don't know why I am walking towards the river alone.

I somehow reached the riverbank, and took a dip in the water. The calm and cool touch of mata Ganga was soothing my body and mind. I went outside of the river, crossed my hands and closed my eyes, preparing myself for chanting the Tandava.

But, what was happening to me? Why I couldn't remember those hymns? I tried and tried, but, couldn't remember a single word. I tried to remember the other Shiva hymns, but failed miserably. Tears were coming out from my eyes now.

"No, no, no, no, no! This can't happen to me! Never! Mahadev cannot leave me like that! What is this? Am I losing my mind?" My mind was creating havoc now. I started running towards the palace. I need to go to the temple, right now.

I ran like a madman, and reached the palace. I went to the Shiva temple and bowed in front of the deity.

"Prabhu, what is happening to me? How can I forget the mantras? ", I whispered. The Tandava and other Shiva Mantras were the only source of solace and peace in my childhood. When I forgot them, it felt like a part of my soul was severed. I again tried to remember those mantras, but failed again.

I was now becoming desperate. I had to do something, anything now. But what could I do? I hadn't felt so helpless in my entire life.

I didn't know what came up in my mind then. I started banging my head in front of the Shiva lingam. I was banging my head like a possessed man, when suddenly I heard a voice behind me.

"You forgot your boon, putra!"

I was startled. I turned my head, and saw a figure standing. But it was not a man. It was a Devta. His body had a heavenly glow. I somehow crossed my head and bowed to him.

"Ayushmaan bhava!" the Devta gave his blessings. His peaceful smile calmed down my turbulent mind a little.

"Mahadev is now doing penance, putra. I went to the Kailas Mountain to visit them. Mata Parvati then instructed me to go to you, and answer your questions."

I was shocked and awed. Then, I bowed down my head again to the Adi Shakti. The Devta smiled again after noticing my gesture.

"Prabhu, please bless me by giving your introduction." I said to him.

The Devta now started laughing whole heartedly. A few moments later, he spoke in perfect English," Well, well, coming into this Yuga has benefited you a lot. People of Kali Yuga spoke in such languages, sometimes I have to wash my ears with holy water of Ganga after hearing them. As, for my introduction, I am giving you hints, find the answer from it. Can you do it?"

I smiled and nodded. I liked riddles in my childhood. I and my sister were solving riddles all the time.

The Devta said," In some places, I ride on a goose. I ride on an elephant in some places too. But, I don't use the thunder. Who am I?"

In a second, the answer flashed into my head. I crossed my hands and bowed my head again.

"Pranipaat, Sri Sri Viswakarma."

Sri Sri Viswakarma smiled and blessed me again. Then he looked at me, and I could feel that the funny, joking personality was being replaced by seriousness.

"Putra, what is the last thing that you remembered?"

"I ordered Vikarna to get the doctor. Then, I probably slept." But, why was he asking me that?

Sri Sri Viswakarma heaved a sigh. Then he said, " You are from Kali Yuga originally. So let me give you a demo in Kali Yuga style."

Then suddenly, a laptop came onto his hands out of nowhere. He pulled open the monitor and started pressing the keyboard. Then he turned the monitor towards me.

"You should see this then." He tapped the touchpad.

A video was playing in the screen. I saw myself threatening Yudhisthir with a knife. Then an angry Bheem came to the room. He fought with me, but I knocked him down. Then I threatened all of them and left the room. A few seconds later, I saw maharani Kunti getting unconscious. Then I saw pitamah and mahamantri Vidura. Pitamah was angry like an erupting volcano, and that anger was directed to me!!

"What the fu..." I somehow controlled my tongue. Then I looked at the God of engineering standing in front of me.

"You are not oversleeping. You were unconscious for the last two days." Sri Sri Viswakarma's voice entered into my ears.

"What?", I could not believe that. But, then what was that in the video? Why those guards had the shocking expression on their face after seeing me?

"Putra, listen to me very carefully. A virus can corrupt the whole system of this laptop. Just like that, something is corrupting your soul. You forgetting the mantras were just the first steps."

I was dumbfounded.

"I don't have much time. But you remember one thing. Just, to clean the virus, you use an anti-virus program or malware or firewall. Your soul will also need something like that."

"But what or who is corrupting my soul?"

Sri Sri Viswakarma gave me a small smile," Sorry, putra. I am forbidden to tell you that. But remember; only God can purify your soul. You just have to find your own anti-virus."

I bowed my head to him and thanked him. Sri Sri Viswakarma blessed me and left the room.

I stood alone in the temple. The words said by the architect of the Gods were creating havoc in my head. Something was corrupting my soul, which means it wanted me to take the path of evil.

"Listen, if you can hear me, then hear it carefully. I am not a puppet with strings, that someone could manipulate me. I will prove that I could rule better than those half-devtas. This human will be better than them by his own might. I do not need any conspiracies. I have the courage to stand in front of the God himself. Do you think that you could corrupt me by making me forget those mantras? Try again. This human will stand up in front of you like a fortress." I thought to myself.

I crossed my hands and closed my eyes again. This time, my mind was calm. This thing erased the mantras from my mind, but it could not erase the one thing from my inner soul.

I poured all my devotion, all my will power in my mind and focused them into a pinpoint. I concentrated hard, and then the sacred sound came from my mouth.

"AUM!!"

So, this is chapter 10.

In North India, Sri Sri Viswakarma is worshipped as riding on goose, but only in West Bengal, he is worshipped as riding on elephant.

Please read, vote and Comment.