Читать книгу The Swan Song онлайн

The Kings indulged in conversations and musings with their neighbours. The air within the coliseum began brewing with power and determination. Each king spoke with a voice louder and heavier than the other, each began to sharpen up their wits in occasional pauses. The commotion of mixed emotions captivated the universe within the coliseum as some Kings grew impatient and began flirting with pride and anger among other emotions.

Suddenly a dead silence conquered the universe as Damayanti entered the coliseum. The Kings retired to their courteous behavior fitting for a royalty and were eager to hear the challenges that awaited them. She bowed down in reverence to the assembled kings as the Swayamvara of Damayanti was about to commence. She passed the first few rows of the assembly without uttering a single word. Confused and unsure, the kings didn't turn to look.

Damayanti walked by several lines of suitors. Silence grew as the King’s began to wonder what was to unfold. No challenge was yet announced, no trial was yet laid out but Damayanti walked with a sense of determined task.

"There he is! I can sense him there!" – she said to herself as she approached one end of a long row she was walking past. She began to walk briskly in the direction her heart dictated and took a sharp turn to the left. She came to a sudden halt as a bewildering sight assailed her senses. "What kind of sorcery is this?" she exclaimed to her now numbminded self, which presented her with five men who bore an uncanny resemblance to her beloved, Nal, seated before her. The radiant glow on her face dimmed as she began contemplating an escape. She, in her truest heart, had chosen Nal as her Champion and was attracted by his very presence in that corner of the majestic coliseum. As she stood in her frozen tracks, she gazed in amaze at the five identical men with every physical and meta physical that her lover Nal exuded. She delved into the depths of her soul, questioning, "How can I discern my true love among them? They all appear identical, even their essence feels the same." Her inquiry carried a resolute determination to seek assistance. Moments later, she offered a prayer with the pride of a lioness and the humility of a saint.