LET THE CHILDREN PLAY
The aroma of the food made the ganas go completely mad. They started jumping about and grabbing the plates, picking up full cauldrons and emptying them into their own plates and even garments. Some were seen stuffing full loaves of bread into their enormous gullets, which suddenly did not seem deformed any more, but were showing their tremendous utility!
It was as if most of these creatures were born to eat.
Others were pushing everyone else in a bid to get to newer dishes.
Even Daksha’s ministers were not spared; women folk too, had to take care and daintily stepped backwards as the melee continued. Within no time at all, the dignified dining hall bore resemblance to an Akhada, an open air gym where little battles of physical prowess and manoeuvre were routinely fought between sparring athletes and musclemen.
Daksha allowed his contrived smile to slip into an unadulterated frown.He looked towards Sati to evoke some empathy from Her. But She was looking dreamily at Shiva, too happy to be with Her eternal treasure to be bothered by trivia of mannerism and etiquette.
Shiva however, was amused.
“My Lord!” said the kitcheneer, visibly distressed, to Him.“They are excited, maybe over excited, don’t you think? Your ‘men’ are in a great rush...Or are they very hungry? If you could tell them there is plenty of food to feed a whole kingdom for a full week, perhaps they will calm down and this ruckus could be avoided…”
“They are not hungry. They are like children,” said Shiva.
“And yes, like children, get excited when wonderful things are happening in their lives. Getting Sati, as their mother, is the best thing to ever ‘happen’ to these ‘men’, Many of them, have felt motherless in the world where they were born, before they came to Kailash to join ranks with the ganas of the far mountains.” There was a striking depth in His voice, which immediately calmed the minister.
“If the provisions are enough, why worry?” Shiva concluded, “Let the children play.”
It was as if most of these creatures were born to eat.
Others were pushing everyone else in a bid to get to newer dishes.
Even Daksha’s ministers were not spared; women folk too, had to take care and daintily stepped backwards as the melee continued. Within no time at all, the dignified dining hall bore resemblance to an Akhada, an open air gym where little battles of physical prowess and manoeuvre were routinely fought between sparring athletes and musclemen.
Daksha allowed his contrived smile to slip into an unadulterated frown.He looked towards Sati to evoke some empathy from Her. But She was looking dreamily at Shiva, too happy to be with Her eternal treasure to be bothered by trivia of mannerism and etiquette.
Shiva however, was amused.
“My Lord!” said the kitcheneer, visibly distressed, to Him.“They are excited, maybe over excited, don’t you think? Your ‘men’ are in a great rush...Or are they very hungry? If you could tell them there is plenty of food to feed a whole kingdom for a full week, perhaps they will calm down and this ruckus could be avoided…”
“They are not hungry. They are like children,” said Shiva.
“And yes, like children, get excited when wonderful things are happening in their lives. Getting Sati, as their mother, is the best thing to ever ‘happen’ to these ‘men’, Many of them, have felt motherless in the world where they were born, before they came to Kailash to join ranks with the ganas of the far mountains.” There was a striking depth in His voice, which immediately calmed the minister.
“If the provisions are enough, why worry?” Shiva concluded, “Let the children play.”
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