Read Online MAHABHARATA SERIES BOOK#2: The Seeds of War (Mba) by Ashok K. Banker - Free Book Online
Authors: Ashok K. Banker
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suffered a grave insult by the danavas and as a result her father had threatened to leave his post as preceptor to the asuras. King Vrishaparva had offered him anything he pleased in order to make him stay. ‘My father told the danava to ask me what I wished,’ she said proudly. ‘I asked for a thousand maids and to live in a manner befitting one of my superior status.’
Yayati knew better than to enquire what she meant by phrases like ‘superior status’. He had gained an indication of Devayani’s self-pandering opinions already. He was more interested in the maid seated immediately behind her, the one who somehow managed to appear to be observing his every move and gesture without looking at him directly. It was a method he knew well as a hunter: beasts of prey grew conscious of a predator’s eyes fixed on them for too long. Therefore it was important to observe without staring constantly at them, using one’s peripheral vision. He did the same with her, and because of this, as Devayani rattled along with her obnoxious prattle, he began to feel a powerful erotic attraction to the maid. ‘How fascinating,’ he said politely, interrupting Devayani in mid-flow as she described at some length the various luxuries she now enjoyed in the palace of the asuras. ‘By the way, what is that maid’s name? Who is she? The one seated immediately behind you, I mean.’
There was a moment of silence from Devayani, while the giggly chatter of the maids continued in the background. Devayani looked frostily at Yayati. ‘Why do you show interest in her, yuvraj? She is merely a maid, one of a thousand who serve me. She is of no importance.’
Yayati licked his lips. ‘Yes, of course. I suppose you are right. I just thought perhaps she might be a companion or friend. She is reasonably attractive of face and body. Quite beautiful in fact. And she has lovely…’ he stopped himself from saying too much and settled for simply, ‘…eyebrows.’
He caught a flash of those dark pupils as the one he was speaking of finally acknowledged him with a direct look. And what a look! It was unguarded, smouldering, and openly provocative. There was no doubting that woman’s invitation. Nor the amusement playing upon those thick sensual lips at his praising her…eyebrows!
Devayani’s eyes narrowed and she snapped her head about as quickly as a cobra lunging. But Sharmishtha was folding a blanket, seemingly intent on the task, her eyes now lowered to the embroidered quilt.
Devayani turned back to Yayati with a disapproving look, made an obvious effort to clear her mind of the irritation she had felt over the interest he had shown in her maid and said, ‘Enough about me, Yuvraj. Tell me about yourself. You are clearly a sovereign of a great kingdom and high birth and upbringing. Your speech and literate manner suggest you are a man of learning. Do tell me about yourself. Whose son are you? Which kingdom do you govern? Tell me everything.’
Yayati was not pleased with her brusque manner and imperious queries. It was obvious that she was jealous of her maid and resented the interest he showed in the girl. That in itself suggested a petty spiteful nature. But to summarily make demands of him about his father and family was unbecoming. It was the kind of question her parents would have been entitled to ask, and even they would have used a more polite and respectful tone. Devayani acted as if she were an empress and he a visiting suitor. He began to wonder what he had ever seen in this girl. It was quite evident that the vision he had rescued that day was more a creature of his imagining than reality. He wished only to leave and continue with his hunt. Besides, he was genuinely thirsty, as were his horses, and the river was the only source of water for yojanas around. He noticed that Devayani had been dipping her feet in a container of water to wash off the unguents and oils her maid had used to massage them with, so she had water to
Yayati knew better than to enquire what she meant by phrases like ‘superior status’. He had gained an indication of Devayani’s self-pandering opinions already. He was more interested in the maid seated immediately behind her, the one who somehow managed to appear to be observing his every move and gesture without looking at him directly. It was a method he knew well as a hunter: beasts of prey grew conscious of a predator’s eyes fixed on them for too long. Therefore it was important to observe without staring constantly at them, using one’s peripheral vision. He did the same with her, and because of this, as Devayani rattled along with her obnoxious prattle, he began to feel a powerful erotic attraction to the maid. ‘How fascinating,’ he said politely, interrupting Devayani in mid-flow as she described at some length the various luxuries she now enjoyed in the palace of the asuras. ‘By the way, what is that maid’s name? Who is she? The one seated immediately behind you, I mean.’
There was a moment of silence from Devayani, while the giggly chatter of the maids continued in the background. Devayani looked frostily at Yayati. ‘Why do you show interest in her, yuvraj? She is merely a maid, one of a thousand who serve me. She is of no importance.’
Yayati licked his lips. ‘Yes, of course. I suppose you are right. I just thought perhaps she might be a companion or friend. She is reasonably attractive of face and body. Quite beautiful in fact. And she has lovely…’ he stopped himself from saying too much and settled for simply, ‘…eyebrows.’
He caught a flash of those dark pupils as the one he was speaking of finally acknowledged him with a direct look. And what a look! It was unguarded, smouldering, and openly provocative. There was no doubting that woman’s invitation. Nor the amusement playing upon those thick sensual lips at his praising her…eyebrows!
Devayani’s eyes narrowed and she snapped her head about as quickly as a cobra lunging. But Sharmishtha was folding a blanket, seemingly intent on the task, her eyes now lowered to the embroidered quilt.
Devayani turned back to Yayati with a disapproving look, made an obvious effort to clear her mind of the irritation she had felt over the interest he had shown in her maid and said, ‘Enough about me, Yuvraj. Tell me about yourself. You are clearly a sovereign of a great kingdom and high birth and upbringing. Your speech and literate manner suggest you are a man of learning. Do tell me about yourself. Whose son are you? Which kingdom do you govern? Tell me everything.’
Yayati was not pleased with her brusque manner and imperious queries. It was obvious that she was jealous of her maid and resented the interest he showed in the girl. That in itself suggested a petty spiteful nature. But to summarily make demands of him about his father and family was unbecoming. It was the kind of question her parents would have been entitled to ask, and even they would have used a more polite and respectful tone. Devayani acted as if she were an empress and he a visiting suitor. He began to wonder what he had ever seen in this girl. It was quite evident that the vision he had rescued that day was more a creature of his imagining than reality. He wished only to leave and continue with his hunt. Besides, he was genuinely thirsty, as were his horses, and the river was the only source of water for yojanas around. He noticed that Devayani had been dipping her feet in a container of water to wash off the unguents and oils her maid had used to massage them with, so she had water to
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