I. (Cont.)
Maharaja Birchandra Manikya however, had no idea about the identity of that young Kuki man who had collapsed to meet his whim. Lal Chokla is a sworn enemy of the royal family and the fact that the king was attempting to capture Lal Chokla's direct descendant by black magic had spread like a wildfire. The tension that could lead to another Kuki rebellion was therefore hanging by a fine thread. Maharaja was deeply confused, despite many reasonings and weighing of factors he could not simply get to the bottom of it. In Sonamura, there was no place for official medical treatment. The locals were simply drinking potions of milk-pushkarini to deter, remedy and even cure all ailments. The nearest option was Kumilla: about five or six miles from the current location. Maharaj knew that there was an esteemed homeopathic physician there. He had mounted Biru Chokla, the then-unconscious Kuki man, on his personal elephant and without any unnecessary prolongation, was on his way to Kumilla. Much to his relief, Biru Chokla had become completely well within just one day.
After that event, Maharaja has entirely abandoned the idea of photographing his subjects.
"How would they know what a photograph is? How many of them have ever even seen their own faces clearly, let alone a photograph? Born into this earth as man, then retraced back to the weavings of the soil without having ever seen themself as man... How tragic..." When the daily meal is uncertain, and the wear as minimal as a single piece of cloth— in such jungle-huts, the mirror is a grand luxury. The women usually see their faces on still waters. The problem, however, is that the stagnant waters are usually tinged; and on the other hand, the crystalline waters of rivers and lakes have too much flow to sustain a clear image. So, the water kept in earthen pots, which is bleached over the span of two or three days become the mirror in the clear sun of the noons. Women look at their reflections in deep hypnosis. The womenkind is much predisposed to beauty and its pursuits. Men do not usually have these concerns. Some behaviours are better suited for women, for men to attempt these is demeaning. If some curious teenage boy happens to glance at these pots kept for reflectory purposes, he is met with scorn from the father figures. Sometimes they even take drastic measures such as subjecting them to tracing their noses across the cold, hard soil. Curious boys and youths like these, if they happen to travel to or simply pass by bodies of waters like a fountain or a lake. Maybe if their sole intention was to drink; having accidentally or intentionally seen their faces, a deeply curious yet mesmerising inquiry rises to the mind: "is this me"?
Cuntitled #23
Melancholia Mk. 2 XLVII / Kärlek IV