CHAPTER
3- THE LOST CITY
பூங்குழலி
was
so immersed in her own thoughts that she dints notice the sea that
has retreated to about 20-30 meters. Her sister after waking her into
real world went on to see what is happening in the sea. Even for
பூங்குழலி
this
is a new event. She has always seen the sea enter into their shore
during storms and in the full moon days bur never have seen the sea
retreating.
As
she walked towards the retreated sea, she saw curious people talking
to each other about the unusual activity of their sea. Enthusiastic
children taking their opportunity of the new reclaimed land were
playing the sea and venturing to sea while their mothers scolding at
them no to go too fat into the sea. As she walked into newly formed
land, she could feel the soft sand that is wetting her legs. There
were rocks hidden into the sea. She walked slowly towards the sea
without listening to the commotion that is happening around. Her ears
seemed to have lost its hearing ability. A deep silence has fulfilled
her heart; she walked until water wetted her kegs, bringing her back
to senses. She could now see waves that ear approaching thick and
fact. Something seemed to be unusual and unknown.
பூங்குழலி
could
hear cries asking her and others to fall back. She looked into the
waves, which are now starting to kick in. But these waves are
different. They are bigger and taller than it usual ones and fast,
real faster. All her instincts told her only one thing. RUN RUN RUN
Poongulali RUN. When she was reached her hut, Water is already knee
deep. Men around her were urging all to enter into the city of Puhar.
பூங்குழலி
thought
of changing her direction and run towards the fort but quickly
changed it and entered into her hut. She searched something and
finally when her face become brighter we she knew she found it, It
was a pot. She swiftly puts her hand onto it and grabs hold of a
anklet. She closed her wrist and secures it. Came out of the hut and
started her journey towards the gates of பூகார்
.
She could see that the waves are huge, almost the height of a palm
tree, dashing onto the port. பூங்குழலி
dint
waste a moment, Running and almost swimming she made her way towards
the fort. On the way she could see the ships that were docked that
the ports of poomphuar were dashing into each other. Some of them
even pulled out of the anchors and coming towards the fort by the
force of the sea and water.
By
a distant she could see the mighty gates of the பூம்புகார் ,
made of teak and steel are closing. From her childhood she had never
seen the gates closing. It was always opened to all the people who
were coming to the பூகார்.
Puhar was a palce was cultural and economic co-existence. Solders
were struggling to close the gates against the enormous force of the
sea. Water has now risen above the thighs. She has almost reached the
gates. If at all they could spare a moment she could enter into the
city before the gates closed. RUN Poongulali RUN RUN FAST. Jumping
and swimming doing everything she could do, she managed to enter into
the gates just in time. As she entered she could hear the doors
shutting it down and latching it. She dares to look back.,.
Scene
inside the city was almost horrible same as it was outside. Even
inside the city water is knee deep. Chaos everywhere. She dono where
to go. She could hear a drum beating asking the people to go the
எகந்தனாபர்
temple.
எகந்தனாபர்
she
thought, If there is one place that could be die for, it is it.
“THADAL”-A
huge sound disturbed her thoughts. She turned to see only to lose her
balance by a sudden rush of water. Gates have been broken through by
a ship dashing into it. May be the ship wishes to see the
எகந்தனாபர் ,
she thought.
Water
is drowning her. She tried to swim. But everywhere there is debris,
she is unable to free neither her arms nor her legs. She tried as
much as she could to reach the temple. At last a glimpse of the lord
before she could die would be good. She has lost her hope. She knew
she was going to die. After all, only nature can destroy the Chola
City. Water is pulling her down. பூங்குழலி
made
immense efforts to pull up and to breath. Everytime she came up from
the water she could see the temple Gopuram. She tried her best to
swim towards it.
Almost
there she thought. எகந்தனாபர்
-
as the name depicts built in Puhar to make Puhar a happiest place for
the people to live. What sin have we made to kill us god? What
mistake? Has it because of the not celebrating the indra vila for
you. God don’t you have mercy on your children. Can’t you excuse
us, can’t you forgive us? She has to come up for air. She stretched
her legs to come up. This time the distance seemed to be longer. As
she comes up she could no longer see the Gopuram. Water must have
gone above it, because the Fort is drowned, water is overflowing out
of the massive walls surrounding the fort. She could no longer swim,
nor did she have the energy to do it. She was slowly losing out the
consciousness. Everything around her are going hazy. She could feel
her eyes closing down. Her eye lids were meeting each other slowly
and steadily.
Poongulali
could see her father holding her hands and teaching her to swim. Next
moment she could see a body burning in the cremation
ground. She
was standing there holding her hands to another girl who looked like
her sister. இளமாறன்.
இளமாறன்
was
there swimming with her. There were walking in the banks of the river
Cauvery. He was giving something to her, something like a anklet as a
token of love. Anklet. Anklet. Poongulali regained her consciousness.
Closed her fist tightly to feel the anklet still closed inside her
palms. She could feel the silver beads inside her palm. Poongulali
felt something hitting her back. She is going down. Everything went
back.
புகார்
-
When VijayaRajendraCholan named this town as Puhar-He named it
because none of the enemies can enter into the City. It is true till
day that never enemies have entered into the city, all that entered
was their worshipful god. Puhar meaning no one can enter.
2004
A.D- 16 nautical mailes of the coast of Karaikal Port.
A
team of Indo-Japanese archaeological researchers in a fibre boat.
“Ah
look what I have found” sounded a young man pulling out the diving
gear from his face.
“It
looks like silver, let’s examine it under microscope” said
another.
“Looks
like something is carved into it”
“It
must be in Tamil. Lets call Archaeologist Prabhu”
“Hey
guys I am here. What have you found?”
“It’s
a silver thing. And something is carved in it”
“Hey
guys, It’s a jewel, precisely an ankle and it has written
POON—KU—LA—LI”
THE
END.
Dedicated
to all the Tsunami victims of 2003 and to my dad from whom I gained
by reading habit
Thanks
to ANNA CENTEATRY LIBRARY
References:
Patinapalai
by Seethalai sathanar.
Silapathikaram
by Elangoadikal
No comments:
Post a Comment