Week 12 Storytelling : Damayanti's journey.

Its been days since Nala I have seen Nala. I woke with only half the robe. I just know he wouldn’t abandon me. I really just wish he had left those dice alone. Maybe we would still be in our lovely palace, rather than roaming the forest.  I’ll keep searching for him.

Today, the Asectices  advised me to go home to my father. I can’t, I must find Nala. I will look everywhere.

I’m still alone today. All I can think about is Nala trying to catch those birds. It still makes me laugh. I needed something to make me smile…at least I have that. He tried to sneak up on them like a cat… to bad he couldn’t step quietly even if his life depended on it. He then tried to use the robe to drape over him as they pecked that ground. I sat under a tree, wrote in my journal and watched. After a few hours he paraded over to me empty handed. He looked defeated. I held his hand and he explained that the largest of the birds flew off with his robe. I assured him, we could share mine. That was two nights before I woke up without him.

(Journaling: Emma Larkins)

Its been two days since my last entry. I have happened upon a traveling caravan. I hope I can figure out where they are heading. Maybe I will find Nala along the way. I just hate being alone…that’s why I am going to follow them!

They are headed to the kindom of Chedi. I have never been there…but there is a first time for everything. We head out in the next few minutes. I don’t know anyone from the caravan. I hope this isn’t a mistake. Maybe I should have gone home to my father. My father would have probably helped me find Nala.

It’s the next day. We are no where near Chedi yet. I miss Nala so much my body is aching. My chest is tight and I just need his hand to hold or hug. Who knew this would be so hard. I’m not alone, but I feel so alone.  I guess you could say I am homesick. Homesick for something that is familiar, or routine.  I probably should have just gone home. Something doesn’t feel right and I can’t pinpoint what is wrong. We will be in Chedi in about two days.

Author's Note: I wanted to expand the story of Nala and Damayanti. I had no idea what path this story would take as I wrote. I just started typing and this is what happened. 

Week 9 Storytelling: Our Wedding Day

This is my last morning as Gandhari the unmarried. This evening I marry my love; the preparation has been going on for weeks, if only I would have gotten to help plan my own wedding. I am not even sure where the wedding will take place. I will be brought there by chariot when it is time for me to walk down the aisle. The wedding is one of the most important days of our lives. It could last for days…I hope not. I just want to be with my love in our new home.

I haven’t seen my beloved Dhitarashtra in days, and I am troubled he will change his mind before the ceremony. I am supposed to spend a majority of the day meditating in the garden, but no one has come to take me there.  Maybe I should just head there myself? Then the thought pours out of my mouth, as if I have no filter…”What if he changed his mind!” Wouldn't I know by now?…surely I would have gotten some hint of trouble at breakfast. No one around here can keep a secret. They always let on that something is going on. Part of me is a little sad to be leaving them, its such a long journey back. 
 

After several hours, a servant finally comes to accompany me to the garden. Its a place I normally go on my own. I guess today calls for special circumstances. I picked up my journal, and as I walked by the mirror I stopped to drink myself in. A deep breath and I was out the door. I wish the servant would have given me some sort of news. I just wish I knew when we were leaving. 

(Meditation Garden; Wiki)

Down the spiral staircase, and out through the courtyard it's going to be so weird not making that journey ever again. We have now reached the meditation garden; I give the servant a nod to thank her for her company. I often come here to write in my journal; there is something therapeutic about putting pen to paper. Most people come and just sit with their thoughts or try to clear them completely. I write. This journal contains my deepest thoughts, although it’s a little worn…It's my second and is almost full.  I have even planned out my dream wedding in this thing, but its not like any one knows that. I wrote that entry long before I met Dhitarashtra. Then my thoughts stray to him and what he is doing at this exact moment. Is he meditating as well?  I wish I could be holding his hand right now. I hope that (as we enjoy breakfast together tomorrow) I can paint him a picture with words of what our newly decorated home looks like. I also plan to describe the colors of our wedding to him. With all these wedding secrets being kept from me, I have one of my own. I plan to cover my eyes, so I two will be blinded. In my case, blind by love.

Author's Note: I wanted to do a storytelling post based on Gandhari's feelings about her wedding. I wanted to document the moments leading up to her wedding. You always hear about pre-wedding jitters or “cold feet.” I figured she would feel the same thing.  I wanted her to question whether or not he would be there waiting for her when it was time to walk down the aisle. Marriage is a big commitment and I think anyone who decides to take that leap has a moment of doubt. Also every bride wants to document her wedding day, and what better way then in a reflective journal entry?I also wanted to showcase her love for her new husband and highlight the fact that she covered her eyes.  I thought there was something beautiful about the way she did that in the original story.  Plus I love a good love story and this let me try my hand at writing my own. It was fun to think about what if someone else planned your wedding and you were just a participant. I don’t think I would like that…but it would take away a lot of the stress. Adapted from the story Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.