I wiped away the imaginary spittle and smiled. I was with Mother in the tent. The caravan had camped for the night and Mother was snoring beside me. She rolled, faced away, and broke wind. Mother! I stifled a chuckle. Another reason not to grow old.
Then, a small pain seared my heart. I missed Kovalan. Tears slipped out of the corners of my eyes and I sniffed.
But Mother Nature had her ways, and she embraced and carried me into a dream-filled sleep. She was kind. She rewarded me with several short happy dreams. But one dream discomforted.
Kovalan, riding hard on his horse, caught up with a thick Arakan who was hurrying away with me slung over his sweaty shoulder. Kovalan leaned to his side and grabbed me. With one arm, he scooped up my lithe body and sat me in front of his saddle. The horse veered and carried us away from my abductor, as more howling Arakans appeared from the thickets and gave chase. The Arakans, though fleet footed, were no match for us. Kovalan urged his horse and our hips moved in rhythm with the gallop. Kovalan had one hand on his reins and the other wrapped around my waist. His hand slipped over my smooth silks and I tensed.
‘Wake up! The sun is up.’
Mother delivered a slap to my buttocks and disappeared into the blinding sunlight outside. All around the tent, I heard people going about with breakfast and other chores.
I tried to recollect my dreams but only the risqué dream filled my mind’s eyes. I wondered if I should share this dream incident, as I came to refer to it, with Chinnamma. But I discarded the idea. She was an approachable woman, but I suspected she would not entertain such matters. During my time in the farm, she proved me right. Below her jovial veneer, she was quite similar to Mother, but I took several months to recognise this side of her.
Copyright @ Eric Alagan, 2019
Thank you all for having followed these excerpts. Those were the first 3 chapters.
I hope you pick up a copy of Song of the Ankle Rings.
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Eric your ability to describe so we feel we are in the story ourselves watching or participating is amazing. You have great talent my friend. 🙂
Thank you, Ian,
I enjoyed writing this story. Glad that you are enjoying it too 🙂
That’s an honour, Ian – to be addressed as “friend”. Thank you 🙂
All good wishes,
Eric
Great dream description, just enough to complement the story. She was fortunate that it went so well – is it a for-runner to the way this story is to develop?
Hello Jane,
No Arakans in the original story. I introduced the sub-plot and their life style for contrast with the puritan life style of the “city dwellers”. In Song of the Ankle Rings, the Arakans play a major part in realising Kannagi’s destiny.
All good wishes,
Eric
Wonderful contrast of two older women trying to raise young girls properly and a young girl making fun of the inevitable consequences of aging. Good story, Eric.
Hello Ina,
Thank you for your presence and comment.
This is a first for me – writing in the first person from a female POV. Some readers commented that the female voice/viewpoint comes through. Encouraging, to say the least.
Cheers!
Eric
Oh, what a romantic and arousing dream, and mother had to spoil it.
“Mother!”
Yes, that’s what Kannagi would say. LOL.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Eric