A Story of Love to Motherland and a Man (Part-1)
Chitralekha-1
Chitralekha was a beautiful royal dancer in the court of the king Vishnubhava, the king of Avantikapur . She was the center of attraction of all the courtiers. King Vishnubhava was also proud of her as she was intelligent and equally patriotic. Though she was aware of her beauty and fame she was quite down to earth and used to pay attention to her admirers calmly. She never entertained anybody for any misbehaviour. She was having a great respect for her position as a royal dancer.
King Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjaini wanted to conquer the kingdom of Avantikapur. He tried to attack on it several times but he was unsuccessful due to great will-power and patriotism in the army of Vishnubhava. So finally he decided to play another trick to conquer Avantikapur. King Vishnubhava was knowing that though Vikramaditya couldn't succeed to win, he will never give up the desire to conquer Avantikapur. So he trained most of his citizens to fight in the war including ladies. Also he tried to cultivate the feeling of patriotism in his citizens. All his courtiers had taken the owth of being loyal to Avantikapur.
One fine day Chitralekha was roaming in the garden of Avantikapur with her friends. Suddenly they come across a young, handsome man who wanted some help to get into the palace to meet the royal dancer Chitralekha. He had heard about her beauty and wanted to make a sculpture of her. He was not knowing that he was asking to Chitralekha and her friends. Just to check for his intentions Chitralekha tells him that she is her servant and if he follows her she can take him to Chitralekha. After taking him to her palace Chitralekha asks him to wait and goes inside and sends one of her beautiful servants as Chitralekha to meet him. He asks her permission to make her sculpture and decide some time.
Meanwhile he asks original Chitralekha to whom he was thinking as her servant to give him company as he was new to the place. He tells her that though he heard about Chitralekha's beauty but her servant is more beautiful. So he shows his desire to make a sculpture of her. Days passed..........and he made a sculpture of both Chitralekha and her servant. Meanwhile king Vishnubhava comes to know that a person is making a sculpture of Chitralekha and wants to see his creation. He was believeing that nobody else than God can creat a beauty as Chitralekha. So Vishnubhava announces that if the sculpture of Chitralekha will be equal or more beautiful than herself then he will give awatd to the person.
This young sculpture maker and original Chitralekha realises that they have fallen in love but he refuses her because he wanted to go back to his country after receiving the award. So he tells her that he has decided never to marry any lady. She tries to convince him but invain. Chitralekha's heart breaks as she was in deep love with him. The day rises when the king Vishnubhava comes to see his creation. He asks the king to recognize the sculpture of Chitralekha whose face was covered. He purposefully keeps both the sculptures (Chitralekha's and her servant's) there to make the king aware of his art. King Vishnubhava recognizes and points out towards the sculpture of original Chitralekha. The sculpture maker tells the king that he has misunderstood as it is the sculpture of Chitralekha's servant. King laughs at him and says, "you don't know, she is Chitralekha, a great royal dancer of my court."
.........continued in the next post