Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 6

#7

It was raining appreciations on Anjali for the performance as Niyamika ran to her mother to hug, Ajith and Niranjan stayed with the crowd awestruck by the dance. Never before had any of them witnessed Anjali risking her joints to dance as all her performances used to be subtle. She was clearly influenced by the dance practice of Sahasra in the premises of Achutraya.

The next performance resumed after a break. The family left the premises after offering their prayers to the deity. All these time Sahasra was making her final round rehearsals in the temple complex of Achutraya. She had forgotten all her friends and family by then. Only thing in her mind was about the 10^th day morning of Dusshera. Her performance was scheduled between 6 am and 8 am. 

Never in the nearest century had anyone thought about performing in the Mahanavami Dibba. Media and press were barred from meeting her considering her privacy to practice and rehearse. The natives of Hampi also made sure that she did not have to face any kind of hardship.

At the end of 6th day's performance by the children, Ramu along with the Panchayat president approached Sahasra to let her know that they have found an alternate trainer for the children so as to lesser her burden and to concentrate on her practice for the Arpana

Furious, Sahasra raised her voice for the first time without realizing that Ramu only thought for the betterment of her. That was the first time the Hampi natives witnessed her anger. But they understood it is some kind of misunderstanding in communication that made her furious.

What they did not know was, if she walked out of her duties because she had a personal reason. The selfishness would cost her the sanctity of Arpana. She made sure that they didn't get offended and continued saying 

"Had not Chinna Devi mentioned about Arpana, I would not have considered about the performance. When my arpana is not my performance alone but also the performance of 20 dancers for 9 days as an offering to Lord Shiva and Raja Krishnadevaraya, I can't walk out of it at any point to make my performance better". 

Startled and Puzzled, the Panchayat President and Ramu looked at each other on the references of Chinna Devi, but matured were the thoughts of Hampi residents. The president and Ramu soon left the scene adding that she could approach them for any kind of help.

Neither Sahasra nor others who were excited to see her performing had not bothered or thought about the costume she would be wearing. While the residents had their reason to not bother, Sahasra had her reason. For the residents, Sahasra was a dancer who travelled to perform. While Sahasra believed that the 15th century dancer’s costumes are already ready in the grooming room.

Pandals were erected and seats were organized in the Royal Courtyard. The Main stage was elevated 10 feet from the ground as a replica of the Mahanavami Dibba. The seats were aligned in three directions. Facing to the north there were fifteen rows consisting of eight columns allocated for the Archaeology department employees and the people that fall under VIP category. Towards the east and west were twenty rows with ten columns. The Dusshera committee made sure that the children occupied the first three rows in both the sides. Final leg practice was on and that is when the residents near Achutraya complex heard a personalized version of Shiva tandav sthothram instead of the usual “tha thim thim tha” barathanatyam padham. It was now clear Sahasra had been practicing to perform Thandav. The most powerful dance expression in Barathanatyam.

8.00 pm on the 9^th day of Dusshera. Anjali rushed to Sahasra who was resting her back in Virupaksha temple complex after the day long rehearsals. With folded hands she thanked Sahasra for being an inspiration to push her limits in dancing skills.

Had she not seen the practice session of Sahasra, Anjali would have performed the usual subtle track. Sahasra had kept the mehandi mix all ready to apply. After a chit chat about the next day's performance, Anjali quizzed Sahasra about the costume for the performance. Sahasra readily informed about the Rani's commitment to her about keeping her costumes ready as a surprise in the grooming room. "Rani?” Anjali exclaimed with surprise and laughed it away thinking Sahasra cracked a joke. 

Anjali then continued about her wish of designing her the costumes for the performance as a gratitude. Sahasra politely rejected citing that Rani would be disappointed. Repeated reference of Rani did not bother Anjali. She pulled out the dress, chain and ankle chain from the bag that she had brought with her. After an hour of discussion, Sahasra accepted to use the costumes that Anjali had brought for her. With only six hours left for the event Anjali retired to her hotel to come back the next day.