Lakshmi

Chapter 6 Maps

The sun was on its day duty. The stretched limbs of Karuppiah in this morning had found a new vigour in his blood, and  the window had allowed  the brightness of the sun, and illuminated his place. After checking all his belongings once again in their order, Karuppiah was ready to be escorted to the stable of the horses, by a soldier. In the morning, Karuppiah looked around the inner area of the fort. It was vast. Somehow he wanted to get the entire  fort known.

A soldier escorted him to the stable. The stable  was larger. It was facing an enlarged ground of atleast half acre and more with lushy grass. Half way of its fence was near to the west side of the temple of Perumal deity. The area was fenced with poles of best wooden planks; an area where the horses could have exercises, when they were not taken out for a ride beyond the fence.

At the stable, Karuppiah saw  two beautiful horses. As per the description that his grandfather had told during his visit to the hamlet, both the horses should have been a mix of Marwar and Kathiawar breeds, he assumed. Breeds of native of Kutch and mixed with Arabian breeds, he further assumed. As he neared the stable, both the horses tilted their heads down, twisted their ears on the sides, and looked at him in silence. It appeared they were harmlessly liking Karuppiah.

Grandfather had explained the body languages of the horses, as to when they would be happy, or when they were  angry, or stressed, or when they wanted to run away, or when they could be dangerous.Karuppiah was also aware of the needs of the horses. 

The horses needed food in the morning and in the evening. They needed each at least eight pots of water both in the morning and in the evening. They required exercises atleast five days in a week. Better body massage. Their stable  should be clean. Their sleeping places should be with hay bed. They must be free from urine smell. They required daily mucking out of all wastes from the stable. More specifically the fenced area for their exercises should be free from any sharp points lest the horses get hurt. Fence therefore needed every day check up.

Further most importantly, their hooves had to be checked periodically for any damage. They required best horse shoes. They would experience sickness. Their teeth needed a constant watch. Grandfather had told him to listen to the horses by its tails, by the ears, by the posture of the head, by the acts of the hind legs, and  the way they toss or oscillate  their body. Grandfather had also told him that they were like kids, and they appreciated calling their names, patting, kissing, and hugging, and often massaging. They liked small rides.

The soldier now took Karuppiah closer to the horses. Both the horses smelled  Karuppiah, and twisted their ears sideways and one horse nosed at his hands by its muzzle. Soldier told him that one horse was a male, by name Ron,  and the other a female, by name Seeta. Imported from Rajasthan exclusively for the king.

Karuppiah extended his hands and patted each of the horses telling them their names. He introduced his name to both of them. Both the horses tilted down their heads and blinked at him. The horses started to  sway and wiggle  their tails like a pendulum, and stomped their hind legs very gently, while  jerking their bodies slightly. Soldier now had left Karuppiah with the horses,   and proceeded to the barracks, to check whether some food was available for Karuppiah.

Karuppiah now inspected the stable, and the adjoining room where feeds and hay stock were available.  He checked the water buckets, feed buckets, the forks for mucking out the waste, the conditions of the brooms, big and small. 

The stable to Karuppiah appeared large. Fenced with  three stone  walls with a thatched roof over the walls, they could hold a minimum of seven horses. He inspected the barn room,  and the hay stock on the left side, specifically looking for any rat. He  also saw the water trough on the right side. 

With out waiting for any order, he untied the horses and led them both to the place of horse washing racks. The racks were built for a quick dry. Then Karuppiah started to remove the old hay beds by the fork, mucking out the waste, ensuring a clean dried place for the horses with fresh hay beds. 

Then he gave the horses best wash and a good massage. He brought the horses back into the stable, fed them and provided water. Horses liked these, wiggling their tails and often trying to nudge  him, nuzzling him.  He checked their bodies for any dirts,  and examined their hooves.He felt he needed better improvement in the washing of the horses. Thought he would discuss it with the farrer, the horse shoe maker. 

He saw the horses now safe in the stable. Went to his place, had a quick wash, and returned back to the stable, and started to wait for the soldier. After a few minutes he saw the soldier returning back with two other men. He was introduced to them. He came to know one was the farrer, the horse shoe maker.

 The other was  his escort in the evening to show him  the geography of the fort. They had a chat and then went to the barracks, the dining area. Had their early meals. Karuppiah excused himself, and quickly returned to the stable. He checked the horses with a pat on them, and went into his room to find out the assets that his grandfather had left for him. 

Grandfather was genuine in his life. No covetousness had been found in him. He had drawn several pictures on the walls with the charcoal, and ensured the room airy. Karuppiah dusted out the small rope cot, where  his grandfather used to sleep. He organized the mud pots and mud cups on the sides of the wall using the  bricks to hold them. He opened up the small cloth  bundle of his grandfather, only to find several worn out clothes. 

After duly checking out the bundle for any other valuables, his eyes looked at the floor carpet. He removed it. He found a washerman seed on the floor. He was curious at the seed. He took an iron shrapnel and began to pierce the floor for any evidence of any concealed item. At one time, he felt some thing was hiding inside the floor. He could find it. It was a bundle of worn out clothes wrapping an iron box. He opened it and saw a number of palm leaves, and three white linen clothes, two larger, and one smaller insides. 

Karuppiah took  the linen clothes. He opened the big one, and what he saw was the  blue print of the fort, clarity wise well drawn with brown coloured lines. The other smaller linen cloth was a map of the territory of the entire Nayak kingdom. There was yet another small note as another piece of linen. A letter from the king. The king had requested by writing to  his grandfather to safeguard these maps, for they were the treasure of the kingdom. What a trust had the king on his grandfather!

Karuppiah determined to read the fort geographical map, the blue print. He ensured no one approaching him from the soldiers group. He opened up the map. He saw that the fort had been designed in the pattern of  a 12 rosatee Islamic design of half circles joining with other half circles, going in a round and finally joining with the first half circle.

 His grandfather, at an earlier visit of him at the hamlet, informed him that there were  two temples with in the fort premise. One of god Perumal. The other of Shiva. They were built by the  Pallava kings twelve centuries before. The king had accommodated them within the fort.

The king had designed four gates, one on the east, one on the west, one on the north, and the other on the south. These gates were made as wedges between two half circles, as per the map. Between the north and south gates, the distance could be a  peacock mile. Between the east and west gates, the distance could be another  peacock mile. Within this Rosatee design the space could be one square peacock mile, more spacious enough to accommodate many buildings, grounds, and household areas. 

Karuppiah recalled the information from his grandfather that  the Rosatee designed  fort was built on a multiple sloppy granite rocks, called tiger skin rock. King also had ensured the circle walls were built by cut stones from the nearby granite mount. King had made the four gates from the strong native woods. King had ensured great security of the fort.

Karuppiah now looked at the map, which showed temples, of places where soldiers, and famililes of priests and other temple attendants reside. He saw the Perumal temple was so constructed as a cave temple carving the granite mound. He saw symbols of trees and gardens. 

He also saw that the Perumal temple can be viewed from the horse stable.He saw the other temple, which had been dedicated to Shiva deity, was facing the east gate. At a later time he understood that the common people at all auspicious days would be allowed to enter the Shiva temple only for worship. Karuppiah also learned from the escort, later that evening that the Perumal temple near the horse stable was meant exclusively for the king, even though the king would often participate at the Shiva worship.

 He saw in the map, outside the fort, a big square place for the daily marketing, for daily rations, vegetables and groceries. Beyond the market, there was an Ayyanar statue, as that of one at  his hamlet. Behind that statue was a big pond for common people to take bath. He also saw indications of several houses further beyond the pond. The map also  showed a series of houses adjoining the south east walls. 

Karuppiah felt the fort must be a prison. Prison for the soldiers and him. He did not understand few others living inside the fort were also like prisoners  He saw the indication of few houses behind the Shiva temple. He saw the  symbols of several houses between the east and south walls

Behind the Shiva temple, inside the fort, the map indicated a line of row houses, first about five  houses with a sparrow symbol, and there was a well, and then there were another three  more houses with a peacock symbol. Karuppiah could not deduce what these symbols would mean. Perhaps he should enquire with the escort diligently.

Karuppiah also saw a thin brown line on the west side of the peacock symbol houses, indicating a large separation wall. The separation wall was connecting  the backside of the Perunal temple with  the north side fort wall, further indicating that the families behind this separation wall must be people of exclusivity.

Karuppiah stopped now. He wished to study the maps after his tour on the fort. He looked forward to the help of his escort in the evening. He packed all the maps and carefully concealed them inside the iron metal box, pushing  under the carpet, so that the box would go  correctly into its assigned place. He ensured the room intact, well arranged. And he slept nicely for another an hour, only to be awaken by the escort.

Karuppiah had a lengthy  day dream. He saw the girl in her peacock color petticoat. He tried to discern the face of her. He felt the girl was knocking at his door, calling his name. The escort man was infact knocking at the door, instead of his dream girl. Karuppiah was ashamed at what was happening to him. He was smiling at his dream. Quickly he made himself ready to go with the escort. Up on the ceiling of his room, behind the loft, was hiding the kitten. It was in smile. 

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Lakshmi the daughter of the priest of the temple of Perumal was talking with her mother Devi.

" Amma, I saw the  young man in grandfathers' room. It appears to me he must be Karuppiah".

Devi replied. " I think so. Why don't you meet him and find it out. The soldiers would have warned him not to come near the temple. But you have a promise to that grandfather. Fulfill it. Lord Perumal is with you. I am aware of love and how it works. When you meet him first time, go in a good dress. Like the peacock coloured ones. I am sure you reach a good future with him". Devi hugged her, and kissed her. Lakshmi' face turned rose in her blush. She looked forward to holding the face of Karuppiah in her hands. She knew it is destiny.