Breaking Free by VAASANTHI

Author:VAASANTHI
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: Harper Perennial India
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

17

KASTURI’S HEART WAS pounding so hard that she felt it might break in two.

I hear both of them were beaten up badly.

Suppuni wouldn’t have said that without being sure of it. ‘The times are bad, Kasturi. I can’t tell what is wrong or right any more. The British cannot be taken lightly. Their kicks can kill. This achari is a bachelor, they say, but Sundaramurthi is a family man.’

Before the young priest had finished speaking, she had reached the entrance. It seemed he said something further. Though she didn’t have the patience to stop and listen, his words came chasing after her. They dashed against the pillars of the outer pathway that she had run across and travelled up to the rafters. Mixing with the flapping noise of the bats whose sleep had been disrupted, they scattered and fell inside the temple and near the entrance, echoing frightfully.

‘They got thrashed … badly thrashed.’

In panic, her feet faltered. Fortunately, Muthu had driven her to the temple in the cart. He had told her nearly the same thing: ‘The times are bad, Akka. You shouldn’t go to the temple alone like you used to.’

‘Oh Lord, why should things turn out this way?’

Earlier that day, news that Raja was not in town had brought her great relief. She had planned to go directly to bed after returning from the temple. The feeling of exhaustion from the trip to Madras had not left her yet. She had wanted to meet Singaram the next day and tell him about her inaugural concert in the city, though she had no idea how it might be possible.

Then Suppuni had told her the terrible news. The moment she heard it, she experienced severe anguish. She couldn’t understand why she was feeling so agitated. What was the connection between her and Singaram? Thus far, she had barely spoken to him. He did not even look at her directly while addressing her. If she asked him a question, he answered with his eyes on the ground. Suppuni’s words—beaten up badly—invaded her brain and paralysed her.

On seeing her running towards him, gasping for breath, Muthu was alarmed. ‘What’s wrong, Akka?’ he said.

Steadying herself, she said, ‘I heard that Sundaramurthi Mama and that man were beaten up during the procession yesterday. After arresting them, the police took them away because they were seriously injured.’

Muthu was surprised. ‘Aiyaiyo! How did I not know this? Let’s go to Mama’s house. Brother Singaram will be there for sure.’

It seemed Muthu said it in all innocence. Without a word, she climbed into the cart quickly and sat down.

‘Both of them are very strong mentally. No matter how badly he was beaten, Mama stood up again, holding the flag. Singaram is his true disciple. No one knows when this struggle might end. The British are sitting tight. Inspired by that man Gandhi, these people have dared to oppose them.’

Why won’t he shut up for some time, Kasturi thought.

Singaram stands before her with a blood-smeared face. ‘How can we win freedom if we are afraid to die?’ he says.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.