I have a habit of going through the stuff of all my girl friends. It not only keeps me posted about the stuff they have, but is also a way to know what they have and what can be borrowed if needed. As such I knew that I am not going to discover anything from my granny’s wardrobe, but I wanted to explore that corner too for once. And that day she was sleeping.
Those clothes with faded smell and faded shine were disturbing to the sight but I managed to ignore them. A piece of greenish blue small cloth caught my eye. As I was going to pick it up, I knew that that piece is not going to disappoint me. It was a small shimmery thin laced top. Now, I was eager for the granny to wake up and tell me the tale of those glorious days.
Some hours later, I walked her with that top in my hand, curiosity in my heart and smile on my face. She knew that something fishy was on my plate for her.
She asked me, “what happened?”
“What happened?”, I queried her with a smirk on my face in return.
“Oh! That. Come, sit.”, it seemed as if a flashback filled her.
Of all the places she went to, she told me that she was skipping to Hampi as a gift to my love for her.
She started.
“I was dragging myself to work more and more for the house. I must tell you girl that it is a difficult task to keep everyone together and close. I wanted to build such a home in which our husbands would like to come back after working hard in field.” She paused.
After her marriage she came to South India in a well behaved Brahman family. But she things never turn out to be the way they are thought of. They may be similar, but never same. In our home we never fought. But we knew that not everyone was happy. The idea of joint family is good, it keeps the culture in place but sometimes people hold grudges. She wanted to come out of that grim faces. She wanted to go to a place where she belonged. Luckily, her husband was supportive and it kind if made him happy to see her like that, roaming. She eloped to Hampi, alone.
She wrote a poem when she was going. It was her first solo trip. And with thrill came an adrenaline rush. My grandpa himself went to the bus stop to wish her good luck.
I feel something in my veins,
And it is not just blood.
It’s is the lava out of my brain,
And the pain of my adrenaline
Which cries inside deep,
And burn me from within.
Here I go,
With the rain,
With the storm.
Here I run out of this world
Where I do not belong. I know.
Oh and the rush hour halts.
Finally.
She found a room with beautiful view from top. Although it was not that much spacious but she found it safe.
“It was a normal village. I thought that it was not a good idea to come here. Anyways, I took refreshing bath and went out. Hampi is a place with a lot of history and mythological truths hidden beneath its layers. I did not know much. When I was entering the main campus, a guide approached me. He told me that he was going to charge me Rs 2. I went on looking forward while ignoring him. Again, he came up to me with an offer of Rs 1. This time I did not hesitate.”
While they were roaming there, her curiosity went up. He told her that Hampi is a place of Hanuman’s birth. Mythology says Ram waited some days while he was on his way to find Sita. In Vittala Temple, there is a chariot which was partially destroyed by Sultanate troops in 1565 A.D. It is a 4 wheeled chariot. Apart from this the guide told her that there is one in Sun Temple, konark with 24 wheels and one in Mahabalipuram with 2 wheels.
She also told me Barter system was prominent during that time. Chinese and Portuguese traders came there for trading Horses in exchange of gold and silver.
With a lot of history and a lot of passion, this place is decorated with mythological architecture. Beautiful ladies dancing and Kamasutra positions are also made on walls. You still can find the traces of life there. The rocks are kept one over the other as if they were arranged by some power. There was a confused confidence on her face.
Everything was so fascinating, it was like I could spend more hours listening about Hampi. She told me that she could only spend two days in the city and earlier thought of going back to the place once again. But some or the other reason stopped her. Now as much as I know, I am definitely going to that place soon not just because it is still holding some unsolved mysteries but because I have to complete a journey.
About the dress which I found earlier, my granny purchased it from a seller there. The beautiful part is, it was small and my grandpa liked her in it.
Supriya Sahu 
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